HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[figment_jii]

Thank you, figment_jii, for clarifying the locker info! It is very important to know, as there will inevitably be many guests who are only there for one day or for the MHP and nothing else, and having a locker could be pivotal.

The last time I rented a DL locker was, I think, 2010 -- and not for a Halloween party but just to stash things for the day. I don't think I rented one at DLR on any day trip since then, although maybe I am forgetting something.

I wonder when the Main Street lockers will reopen? I think that the back alley work was scheduled to be done by "Fall," but that covers a broad spectrum! It could be the front end of Fall -- like right when it hits in September -- or the back end, right before Christmas! I think that having the Main Street lockers available to guests for the MHP will be helpful, so they don't have to rely only on the ones in the Esplanade.

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For my family, we don't tend to go back to the hotel room during the day, we take out sweatshirts/jackets with us in the morning to the parks. We don't really like to carry them around all day, so we get a locker to store the jackets. As some might have guessed, we also like to shop and buy souvenir food containers. So having a lockers is great place to store all of that stuff. So my family is exactly the opposite, we get a locker everyday on our trip! On party nights, it's a great place to store the candy (that way our bag looks empty and we can go get some more without feeling guilty ).

I really do hope that the DL lockers re-open by the MHPs. Having to outside of DL and then back in whenever we wanted to get stuff or put stuff into the locker was no where as convenient as normal. I'd still get one, but it wasn't as quick of a process.

 

[Sherry E]

After I posted my reply to Davidg83 on the previous page, I gleefully went searching on the Internet for this wondrous seasonal Jif product of which he spoke.

And here it is -- Pumpkin Pie Spice Jif Whips!!! Along with Maple Brown Sugar Jif Whips!!!


On top of that... Limited Edition Pumpkin Pie Pillsbury Toaster Strudel!!!!! Apparently it has already been out for 2 weeks!

I love this paragraph from the accompanying article about the Strudel:

"For years, we’ve chronicled the terrifying rise of holiday creep, a phenomenon where retailers put holiday-related items out before any rational person would shop for Santa hats or turkey centerpieces. Other retail seasons creep, too, like back-to-school. And pumpkin season."

Bring on the "holiday creep," I say! Or, more specifically, right now, at this moment, bring on "pumpkin season"! I am ready for it!

In honor of the holiday/pumpkin creep, here is Creepy Dancing Guy!

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Let us know when YOU start spotting signs of Fall/Harvest/October/Halloween at your local stores (or in Disneyland, if you are visiting before September!!!!), and any fun seasonal products you discover!

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[Kilala]

I'm going shopping tomorrow so I can take pictures for everyone here.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm going shopping tomorrow so I can take pictures for everyone here.

Kilala --

Oh good! I remember last year you spotted an early Halloween/Fall item or two at the store and reported back, so I'll be curious to see if you spot anything that hasn't leaked out online yet (besides the Jif product and the Toaster Strudel)!

There have got to be more things lurking in the stock rooms of certain stores, waiting until August begins to appear on the shelves! I would bet that certain store managers are thinking, "Well, it's too early to put out Halloween stuff in July, but in August, anything goes!"

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Carters (children's clothing) had their Halloween costumes out on Wed. I think other stores like Target, will wait to get rid of their Back to School stuff and the immediately start changing over to Halloween. I was able to buy peppermint mocha coffee creamer there the other day, though I don't know if it's now offered year round (it wasn't in the past) and it's certainly not Winter Wonderland ice cream, but it'll do!

 

[Sherry E]

Carters (children's clothing) had their Halloween costumes out on Wed. I think other stores like Target, will wait to get rid of their Back to School stuff and the immediately start changing over to Halloween. I was able to buy peppermint mocha coffee creamer there the other day, though I don't know if it's now offered year round (it wasn't in the past) and it's certainly not Winter Wonderland ice cream, but it'll do!

Jamie --

Is it Coffee Mate Peppermint Mocha? I wonder if it is sold year round now? I haven't checked the creamers recently, but it seems like the last limited edition flavor of Coffee Mate that I saw may have been something Girl Scout Cookie-ish? Did you see that one? I can't recall the actual flavor. Several products in the Nestle Family (including Dreyer's, Nestle Crunch and Coffee Mate, I believe) have put out a limited Girl Scout Cookie flavor here and there.

This seems like it would be unusually early for peppermint mocha creamer in the "seasonal" realm, so maybe they've made it an all-year deal.

I don't think I'm ready to eat peppermint ice cream yet -- other ice cream, yes, but not peppermint -- and probably won't be until September and beyond. However, after last year's sketchy, unpredictable availability/unavailability of that flavor of Dreyer's in and out of DLR, and into the first half of this year!!!!, I don't think I trust Dreyer's to put out the peppermint ice cream when I need it, in a couple of months! So I feel like I should hoard it and stash it if I happen to see it in a store relatively soon.

It's funny because it's hot enough to where I am parched and guzzling water non-stop, and I keep thinking, "I could go for a really good glass of refreshing lemonade." (The trouble is, I don't know where to get a really good glass of lemonade anymore!) A nice summery beverage. Or a nice fruit salad, with juicy peaches, berries and sweet pineapple.

The next day, I have already abandoned summer in my mind and I am thinking, "Yay! Pumpkin Pie Spice Jif Whips and Pumpkin Pie Toaster Strudel! Wheeeeeeee!"

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Jamie -- Is it Coffee Mate Peppermint Mocha? I wonder if it is sold year round now? I haven't checked the creamers recently, but it seems like the last limited edition flavor of Coffee Mate that I saw may have been something Girl Scout Cookie-ish? Did you see that one? I can't recall the actual flavor. Several products in the Nestle Family (including Dreyer's, Nestle Crunch and Coffee Mate, I believe) have put out a limited Girl Scout Cookie flavor here and there. This seems like it would be unusually early for peppermint mocha creamer in the "seasonal" realm, so maybe they've made it an all-year deal. I don't think I'm ready to eat peppermint ice cream yet -- other ice cream, yes, but not peppermint -- and probably won't be until September and beyond. However, after last year's sketchy, unpredictable availability/unavailability of that flavor of Dreyer's in and out of DLR, and into the first half of this year!!!!, I don't think I trust Dreyer's to put out the peppermint ice cream when I need it, in a couple of months! So I feel like I should hoard it and stash it if I happen to see it in a store relatively soon. It's funny because it's hot enough to where I am parched and guzzling water non-stop, and I keep thinking, "I could go for a really good glass of refreshing lemonade." (The trouble is, I don't know where to get a really good glass of lemonade anymore!) A nice summery beverage. Or a nice fruit salad, with juicy peaches, berries and sweet pineapple. The next day, I have already abandoned summer in my mind and I am thinking, "Yay! Pumpkin Pie Spice Jif Whips and Pumpkin Pie Toaster Strudel! Wheeeeeeee!"

Yes, the Coffee Mate Peppermint Mocha. I don't know if I didn't pay attention before and it was there or if it's just coming back out. The Girl Scout ones (Thin Mint & Samoa) are still out and may end up being year round. The benefit of the climate up here is that we are heavily fogged in in the morning, so I can happily pretend we're close to Fall/Winter - and then it warms up and I'm guzzling water like you. We are in the countdown to back to school (just under 3 weeks!) which signifies the (unofficial) beginning of Fall to me.

 

[Sherry E]

Yes, the Coffee Mate Peppermint Mocha. I don't know if I didn't pay attention before and it was there or if it's just coming back out. The Girl Scout ones (Thin Mint & Samoa) are still out and may end up being year round. The benefit of the climate up here is that we are heavily fogged in in the morning, so I can happily pretend we're close to Fall/Winter - and then it warms up and I'm guzzling water like you. We are in the countdown to back to school (just under 3 weeks!) which signifies the (unofficial) beginning of Fall to me.

That is, indeed, a benefit -- we don't have too, too many heavy fog mornings down here, at least not this far away from the ocean. Every once in a while it happens, but not often.

I don't have kids, but I am perfectly fine with considering back-to-school time in 3 weeks to be the unofficial beginning of Fall too! That works for me! If it means that I can mentally cut summer short in my mind, I'm all for it!

 

[aidensmom31]

I have called several times (getting different CMs each time) and each time I have been told that the Ultimate Experience is out this year but the Happy Haunts Tour will be available they just dont have the info on it yet. I know it sounds a little crazy to call more than once but with how often you hear more than one thing from them I decided to do a little research

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

That is, indeed, a benefit -- we don't have too, too many heavy fog mornings down here, at least not this far away from the ocean. Every once in a while it happens, but not often. I don't have kids, but I am perfectly fine with considering back-to-school time in 3 weeks to be the unofficial beginning of Fall too! That works for me! If it means that I can mentally cut summer short in my mind, I'm all for it!

Glad you're on board

So I called again about our MHP tickets. He says he shows the email was sent and not bounced back, yet I don't have it and again we confirmed the email address was correct. He said they won't resend them, but did confirm that taking my confirmation number & ID to a ticket booth is enough to have them printed down there. He said the hotel can't do it, which I suspected, but was worth a shot. So is there a time of day that ticket booths are the least busy? We arrive at about 9pm Thursday night - I think DL will close at 10pm - would that be a good time to do it or just go sometime Friday before the party?

 

[Sherry E]

I have called several times (getting different CMs each time) and each time I have been told that the Ultimate Experience is out this year but the Happy Haunts Tour will be available they just dont have the info on it yet. I know it sounds a little crazy to call more than once but with how often you hear more than one thing from them I decided to do a little research

Very true, aidensmom31! Good thinking!

It's quite possible that there won't be an Ultimate Experience, but I'm still curious to see what happens.

The Happiest Haunts tour should be available for booking on August 12th or 13th, I would think.

If there were going to be an Ultimate Experience this year (or some newly-named tour/party combo), it's possible that the tour/party package might not be available for purchase until 30 days out from the first MHP night (so, on August 26th-ish, or right around there).

A lot of times the CMs that people reach on the phone at DLR have last year's schedule (or another year) in their systems. I remember that, one time, someone in my Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread was trying to find out info on the Holiday tour. I told her it was too early, and that no info about the tour would be out besides the info from previous years. She called DLR and a CM on the phone gave her info about the Holiday tour -- from 2 holiday seasons/years past!!! It wasn't even info from the previous year. It was from 2 years prior! But the CM didn't realize that he/she was pulling up old info because there was no obvious mention of it in their system.

So let's wait and see what mid-to-late August brings us. The telephone CMs may be right this time, but as I always advise, they are usually the last to know anything. They may have even been led to think that there will be no Ultimate Experience for the time being, while Disney sorts out details of it behind the scenes. Anything is possible.

Glad you're on board

So I called again about our MHP tickets. He says he shows the email was sent and not bounced back, yet I don't have it and again we confirmed the email address was correct. He said they won't resend them, but did confirm that taking my confirmation number & ID to a ticket booth is enough to have them printed down there. He said the hotel can't do it, which I suspected, but was worth a shot. So is there a time of day that ticket booths are the least busy? We arrive at about 9pm Thursday night - I think DL will close at 10pm - would that be a good time to do it or just go sometime Friday before the party?

Jamie --

Hmmm... That's really too bad that they cannot resend the email. It would save you so much time and hassle. At least it's not a lost cause though, and you will be able to get in! That's the most important thing.

I had to take care of some nighttime ticket booth business a few years ago, and I remember a few people in line -- but it was not busy at all.

For some reason, my first instinct was to think that dealing with the ticket booths on Friday may be more hectic, although you'd probably have a wider range of time in which to deal with them on Friday than the night before.

 

[LisaT91403]

Just got back from a Costco run, and they had an aisle full of...HALLOWEEN COSTUMES! I couldn't believe it...Halloween in July!

 

[Amilo]

I have called several times (getting different CMs each time) and each time I have been told that the Ultimate Experience is out this year but the Happy Haunts Tour will be available they just dont have the info on it yet. I know it sounds a little crazy to call more than once but with how often you hear more than one thing from them I decided to do a little research

Awesome! That sounds like it's pretty definite then! Thanks for your sleuthing!

 

[Sherry E]

Just got back from a Costco run, and they had an aisle full of...HALLOWEEN COSTUMES! I couldn't believe it...Halloween in July!

LisaT91403 --

Well, that is certainly a leap from when Halloween costumes and décor used to pop up in stores when I was a kid -- which was certainly not 3 months before Halloween! Then again, back in those days Halloween wasn't nearly the huge thing that it is today, and people were not decorating their houses with elaborate lights and effects that take 2 months to install, or turning their homes into wild haunted attractions.

If I didn't have such a problem with summer, heat, sun and all of that, I might be annoyed at these early signs of Autumn... but I really don't mind it! As I told Jamie above, if her unofficial start of Fall is in 3 weeks, when it's back to school time, then that will be my unofficial start of Fall too!

 

[MermaidHair]

Count me in for the Halloween party on Halloween itself! We got tickets for our family of 4 yesterday and my sister's family got hers today. We will be there for 2 nights and 3 days staying at GCH - thanks to the friends and family rate! Got 2 day park hoppers for Sat & Sun so all is ready. This will be a trip of firsts- first Halloween party, first time traveling to DLR with another family, first time for sis' s family to stay at GCH. I am so looking forward to this trip! Now I need to come up with costumes...

 

[2tinkerbell]

I am doing the 'happy 60 day' dance today. I am so excited!

I work by the airport and watch the planes take off and land outside my window every day. This morning it was 60 more days and I will be on a plane to Disneyland!

It is getting harder and harder to keep this big secret. I am just plain and simply really excited. The last time we went I was running a 1/2 marathon and I was focused on my training and nervous. This time is so totally different. I am glad that we are doing it.

I need to make sure I have this right: You can make ADR's 60 days out. Disney posts the Park hours 45 days out. Right or wrong?

 

[Sherry E]

I am doing the 'happy 60 day' dance today. I am so excited!

I work by the airport and watch the planes take off and land outside my window every day. This morning it was 60 more days and I will be on a plane to Disneyland!

It is getting harder and harder to keep this big secret. I am just plain and simply really excited. The last time we went I was running a 1/2 marathon and I was focused on my training and nervous. This time is so totally different. I am glad that we are doing it.

I need to make sure I have this right: You can make ADR's 60 days out. Disney posts the Park hours 45 days out. Right or wrong?

2tinkerbell --

Right! You can book your meals at the 60-day point, and the entertainment schedule/hours/calendar are supposed to be updated 6 weeks in advance, so there should be something filled in every day or every week.

(And anyone who wants to book the Happiest Haunts tour will probably be able to start booking by August 12th or 13th, I would guess.)

However, I should point out that even when things appear or do not appear on the calendar (well within that 6-week time frame), that is not always the final schedule! Sometimes DLR skips around and adds certain things to certain days, but not to others. It is very frustrating, but it happens.

For example, last year there was something missing from the calendar on a bunch of days in November and December (the Castle lighting), but it was showing on the schedule for other days. I knew that the Castle lighting would happen every night even if it wasn't showing on the calendar for certain days, but it's hard to convince other people on this board of that!

So, inevitably, I had to contact my "source" -- which is definitely not anyone on the phones at CM, as they are the last ones to know anything -- to confirm that, indeed, the Castle lighting was taking place every night, even though it was only showing on the calendar for certain nights. It was an oversight.

It seems that there is no division or section of Disney that can be relied upon 100%, as there has been misinformation, misprints and missing information taking place quite a bit more than should be the case over the last couple of years!

You'll have a great trip! I am excited for you!

 

[2tinkerbell]

Thanks Sherry!

My DD was playing her game last night as we were walking. She asked, "What ride is the first ride you would want to go on?" I answered, "Matterhorn." I asked her the same question and she wants, "California Screamin'" That is my least favorite because I am scared to death of getting stuck and them having to evacuate me. I actually think they would have to sedate me to get me out of the ride car. LOL! Seeing as I have tickets for MHP our first day and we will still have the 3 day park hoppers, I guess my first ride is going to be California Screamin. Yikes!

 

[kkmcan]

I jumped ship from the Christmas/Holidays board over to here since we changed our holiday trip in November to an Oct Halloween trip.

Booked us at Paradise Pier for 2 nights. First time staying there. Our friends are going with us so we are super excited. Then we all head down to San Diego for 4 nights of relaxation on the beach after Disney.

On another note..... I've been reading about all the fall food sightings and I saw Coffeemate Peppermint Mocha mentioned. It used to be that was only out for fall and through Christmas but there was such a demand that the company decided to sell it all year long. I used to stock pile that stuff! It was my absolute fav and I would get so happy when it hit shelves and so sad when it disappeared. I would buy 3 at a time to keep my stock pile going as long as could before I ran out and it was gone for the year. Somewhere along the way after many years I got bored with the flavor and haven't really even liked it the last few times I bought it. So sad!

Last year I discovered Thomas's made a Pumpkin spice bagel. That was yum! I love pumpkin products but not the spice part. This one was not spiced at all or so little I didn't notice. Hope they come back again this year!

Also last year I bought several boxes of Archer Farms Pumpkin pancake and waffle mix from Target. I think they might carry this year round but it is yummy also!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

. On another note..... I've been reading about all the fall food sightings and I saw Coffeemate Peppermint Mocha mentioned. It used to be that was only out for fall and through Christmas but there was such a demand that the company decided to sell it all year long. I used to stock pile that stuff! It was my absolute fav and I would get so happy when it hit shelves and so sad when it disappeared. I would buy 3 at a time to keep my stock pile going as long as could before I ran out and it was gone for the year. Somewhere along the way after many years I got bored with the flavor and haven't really even liked it the last few times I bought it. So sad! Last year I discovered Thomas's made a Pumpkin spice bagel. That was yum! I love pumpkin products but not the spice part. This one was not spiced at all or so little I didn't notice. Hope they come back again this year! Also last year I bought several boxes of Archer Farms Pumpkin pancake and waffle mix from Target. I think they might carry this year round but it is yummy also!

Thanks for the answer about the Coffeemate Peppermint Mocha. I also used to wait all year for it come back out, but in the past year or so hadn't paid as much attention to it. I still used it during the winter months, but as it warmed up, I didn't really keep looking for it.

I'm not a fan of pumpkin flavored stuff