HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[perlster]

The post is also about Anna & Elsa conquering even more territory.

Set sail in the direction of Halloween Carnival at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree from September 12 through October 31! Here, a world of themed offerings await you, including special Halloween entertainment and activities, pumpkin carvers, yummy treats and the return of The Pirates League. Recruits three and older can chart their own course, choosing from a selection of pirate-inspired looks that are both swashbuckling and spooky.

Now, Halloween Time wouldn’t be same without a little help from our Fairy Godmother, or in our case our Fairy Godmothers-in-Training at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Keeping with their simply sweet tradition, we welcome back the Halloween Minnie Mouse-inspired transformation through October 31. Just a quick reminder, transformations at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Fantasyland at Disneyland park are only for our younger fans, ages 3 – 12 years. Quick Tip: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will offer extended operating hours on Mickey’s Halloween Party nights for any Trick-or-Treaters in need of a royal transformation.

 

[Sherry E]

The post is also about Anna & Elsa conquering even more territory.

Set sail in the direction of Halloween Carnival at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree from September 12 through October 31! Here, a world of themed offerings await you, including special Halloween entertainment and activities, pumpkin carvers, yummy treats and the return of The Pirates League. Recruits three and older can chart their own course, choosing from a selection of pirate-inspired looks that are both swashbuckling and spooky.

Now, Halloween Time wouldn’t be same without a little help from our Fairy Godmother, or in our case our Fairy Godmothers-in-Training at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Keeping with their simply sweet tradition, we welcome back the Halloween Minnie Mouse-inspired transformation through October 31. Just a quick reminder, transformations at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Fantasyland at Disneyland park are only for our younger fans, ages 3 – 12 years. Quick Tip: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will offer extended operating hours on Mickey’s Halloween Party nights for any Trick-or-Treaters in need of a royal transformation.

perlster --

I chuckled at the "breaking non-news" heading of your post! There has really been a lot of non-news or, let's say, "typical news" coming from the official Disney camps as far as Halloween Time is concerned, and there has been nothing announced about the holiday season yet at all, which is not consistent with the way things have gone in August for the last couple of years.

I kept thinking Disney might add in something a bit new -- maybe one little new Halloween-ish thing -- to DCA or wherever, and do a blog about it, but so far...no such luck. There is still time to do it, of course, but who knows?

I saw the Elsa and Anna Boutique thing mentioned in the Parks Blog a little earlier, and I was surprised to see that it would be taking place in Studio Disney 365. I wonder if that entire location is now going to be Frozen-themed all year long, every year.

I didn't read far enough down the page, however, to see the reference to the "Halloween Minnie Mouse-inspired transformation" or the extended hours at the BBB on MHP nights, so I'm glad you posted because it brought my attention to what I missed!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

perlster -- I chuckled at the "breaking non-news" heading of your post! There has really been a lot of non-news or, let's say, "typical news" coming from the official Disney camps as far as Halloween Time is concerned, and there has been nothing announced about the holiday season yet at all, which is not consistent with the way things have gone in August for the last couple of years. I kept thinking Disney might add in something a bit new -- maybe one little new Halloween-ish thing -- to DCA or wherever, and do a blog about it, but so far...no such luck. There is still time to do it, of course, but who knows? I saw the Elsa and Anna Boutique thing mentioned in the Parks Blog a little earlier, and I was surprised to see that it would be taking place in Studio Disney 365. I wonder if that entire location is now going to be Frozen-themed all year long, every year. I didn't read far enough down the page, however, to see the reference to the "Halloween Minnie Mouse-inspired transformation" or the extended hours at the BBB on MHP nights, so I'm glad you posted because it brought my attention to what I missed!

There has been some conversation on these boards about the SD365 becoming Frozen inspired. They are in fact currently under refurbishment or just about to go down to make it a Frozen store. There were some early reports that they would lose the makeover aspect, ironically the same week the announced the Frozen makeovers, but more current reports are saying they will reopen with the Frozen hairstyles and possible revamped older styles.

ETA: I see they now have it going down Sept. 2nd. That is pushed back from the early Aug date originally given.

 

[Sherry E]

There has been some conversation on these boards about the SD365 becoming Frozen inspired. They are in fact currently under refurbishment or just about to go down to make it a Frozen store. There were some early reports that they would lose the makeover aspect, ironically the same week the announced the Frozen makeovers, but more current reports are saying they will reopen with the Frozen hairstyles and possible revamped older styles.

ETA: I see they now have it going down Sept. 2nd. That is pushed back from the early Aug date originally given.

I always felt that SD365 was forgotten about to a large degree. Or it was missing something. It seemed like a space that could be used in a better way. I would venture to say that there were probably a lot of DLR guests who didn't even know it was there. If you enter DTD from the GCH you walk right past SD365 and out into DTD, but if people don't venture into any of the hotels or even into DTD while they are at DLR, they probably don't realize it's there.

I guess that Disney wants to strike while the iron is hot and Frozen is still fresh on people's minds. Also, when the holiday season rolls around and the Olaf ice rink inevitably returns to DTD, having Elsa and Anna's Boutique nearby won't hurt. It will keep people in that Frozen mindset.

Heck, at this rate, I'll be surprised if Disney doesn't turn DTD into one big Frozen festival, all holiday season long, with the Winter Village becoming Olaf's Village. The only problem with that would be that the DTD restaurants don't fit in with that theme at all, and it would be awkward to have an all-Frozen DTD with the restaurants and shops remaining as is....that is, unless ESPN Zone wants to have a giant Olaf holding a basketball as its mascot, stationed out in front of the restaurant.

 

[mummabear]

The post is also about Anna & Elsa conquering even more territory.

Set sail in the direction of Halloween Carnival at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree from September 12 through October 31! Here, a world of themed offerings await you, including special Halloween entertainment and activities, pumpkin carvers, yummy treats and the return of The Pirates League. Recruits three and older can chart their own course, choosing from a selection of pirate-inspired looks that are both swashbuckling and spooky.

Now, Halloween Time wouldn’t be same without a little help from our Fairy Godmother, or in our case our Fairy Godmothers-in-Training at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Keeping with their simply sweet tradition, we welcome back the Halloween Minnie Mouse-inspired transformation through October 31. Just a quick reminder, transformations at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Fantasyland at Disneyland park are only for our younger fans, ages 3 – 12 years. Quick Tip: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will offer extended operating hours on Mickey’s Halloween Party nights for any Trick-or-Treaters in need of a royal transformation.

Well I will be calling tomorrow to book into the new Studio 365!

 

[CassieF]

Has there been any info on the Happiest Haunt Tour that is combined with the Halloween Party? Do you get reserved seating for the fireworks and/or calvacade with it? I seem to remember reading that the combo tour/party had some extra perks. We want to spend most of our time with characters, not staking out a spot for fireworks but we still want a decent view! Any idea on how early we'd need to wait for the sept 30th party (early in the season and weekday...hoping for low(er) crowds) for a good spot?

 

[Sherry E]

Caramel Apple Twizzlers have been spotted at Walgreens!!

​

Has there been any info on the Happiest Haunt Tour that is combined with the Halloween Party? Do you get reserved seating for the fireworks and/or calvacade with it? I seem to remember reading that the combo tour/party had some extra perks. We want to spend most of our time with characters, not staking out a spot for fireworks but we still want a decent view! Any idea on how early we'd need to wait for the sept 30th party (early in the season and weekday...hoping for low(er) crowds) for a good spot?

CassieF --

A couple of people (including fellow DIS'er Amilo) called DLR 2 or 3 weeks ago and were told by the CMs on the phone that the Ultimate Experience (which is the name of the MHP-Happiest Haunts tour combo package) was not going to be offered this year. The HH tour will still be offered (in fact, it should be open for booking/reservations now, for the earlier September tour dates).

However -- just to put out this disclaimer, because I have seen what has happened in the past -- the CMs on the phone are often not up-to-date or 'in the know' about things that are happening in advance, especially not outside of a 6-week window of time. They are often the very last ones to know anything, and they sometimes give out incorrect or outdated information.

Even though the CMs may have told Amilo and others that there would be no Ultimate Experience offered this year, I would not be 100% certain of that fact until we get to the 30-day point before the MHP begins, give or take a day.

In other words, on or around August 26th (because the MHP starts on 9/26), I would check back with DLR about the Ultimate Experience again. It could be that the UE just wasn't showing in the DLR system at the point the other DIS'ers got the information, or it could be that the combo package will have a new name (something catchier than "Ultimate Experience"). You never know. I just wouldn't count anything out until we get to the 30-days-before-the-start-of-the-MHP stage.

I'm not sure if Cavalcade seating is/was included in the Happiest Haunts tour/MHP combo package. I know you get priority boarding on Ghost Galaxy, Haunted Mansion Holiday and Tower of Terror. You may get an extra ride or two thrown in there too -- like BTMRR or Snow White (those have been randomly included in the past, but not consistently). You get a treat of some kind, and a collectible pin.

The Cavalcade is not quite the big production that A Christmas Fantasy Parade is, so the tour seats for ACFP are more of a big deal and more of a selling point for the Holiday tour than the Cavalcade/mini-parade would be for the Happiest Haunts tour, I think.

There will still be a lot of people waiting for the fireworks, even though it is a limited ticket event. Halloween Screams is one of the main reasons people buy a ticket to the MHP, so the fact that it's an early weeknight probably won't make a difference. I think that the last time I did the MHP I walked up to the Hub maybe 20 minutes before Halloween Screams was due to start, and there were already many, many people all around the Hub.

Maybe Bret/mvf-m11c has more insight into how early you should wait for the fireworks!

I think that Cheshirecatty did the Ultimate Experience either last year or the year before, so maybe she can add some insight as to whether or not there were seats for the Cavalcade. Beth/mommaU4 reported back about the UE in 2012, and she did not mention any seats for the Cavalcade. Her recap is HERE.

​

 

[2tinkerbell]

I thought Disney put their park hours out 45 days in advance. Our trip is in 41 days and when I checked the official Disneyland website the hours are only listed to the 27th. Is this normal?

Obviously they don't realize that I am excited and anxious.



Oh, and Pottery Barn has their Halloween decorations up and their catalog this time has Halloween decorations. Not that I can afford Pottery Barn, but, it was fun to look at.

 

[Sherry E]

I thought Disney put their park hours out 45 days in advance. Our trip is in 41 days and when I checked the official Disneyland website the hours are only listed to the 27th. Is this normal?

Obviously they don't realize that I am excited and anxious.

2tinkerbell --



Their typical pattern seems to be to start updating their Entertainment Calendar and hours 6 weeks in advance (and the CMs on the phone will claim that they update 6 weeks ahead of time), but it's not always reliable.

And, even when they do put the hours and some of the entertainment up, sometimes they still end up adjusting the schedule later on, or removing things and adding them back in later.

ETA: I can't afford Pottery Barn either, but I love seeing the seasonal things popping up in the stores! Woohoo!

 

[2tinkerbell]

Thanks Sherry. I guess I will be patient a little longer.

 

[Sherry E]

This is not Halloween Time-specific news, nor is it even a Halloween-specific rumor...but it is something that could affect Halloween Time down the road, if the rumor turns out to be true.

A helpful DIS'er (shout out to Misskitty3!) in my Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread just alerted us to an article posted on MiceAge yesterday. (For some odd reason, I could only see the first paragraph of this article yesterday, and today I can see that there is a whole section about a possible Frozen mini-land coming to DCA this holiday season!)

In this MiceAge Update/article from yesterday, there is talk about the rumored Star Wars addition to DL (a Star Wars land, I guess it would be), whereas Marvel would have more of a presence in DCA.

In any event, all along people have assumed that a 'Star Wars land' would somehow take over Tomorrowland, or would be wedged into Tomorrowland somewhere. However, MiceAge is claiming -- and they are not an official Disney source, so this may all turn out to be nothing -- that it's actually Toontown that would be torn down and used for Star Wars Land.

But here is the part that would affect Halloween Time (and the holiday season too, but especially Halloween Time) if the rumors turned out to be true -- part of the proposed, rumored Star Wars expansion would involve taking over Big Thunder Ranch.

Big Thunder Ranch is where the Halloween Carnival is held, as well as the Jingle Jangle Jamboree during the holidays, and the Springtime Roundup around Easter, etc. This area is most important to Halloween Time, I think, more than the other seasons.

Without the Halloween Carnival, a huge chunk of the daytime Halloween festivities would be gone, leaving Haunted Mansion Holiday, Ghost Galaxy, the Dia de los Muertos display, the Ray Bradbury Halloween Tree and the pumpkins on Main Street (and above the turnstiles) as the only real Halloween Time offerings in DL.

The Carnival is where the Conjure a Villain tent is; it's where Pirates League is; it's where the pumpkin carvers are; it's where the Halloween crafts and games are; and it's where the characters in Halloween garb can be found outside of the MHP. The Villains would have to be relocated again (maybe to a better photo spot this time around), and the pumpkin carvers would have to go somewhere else.

Anyway, none of this is official and it may not come to fruition at all, but IF Disney has Big Thunder Ranch in mind for part of the Star Wars expansion (if there is going to be a Star Wars expansion at all), they would probably announce it next year at the D23 Expo, and the work would probably commence in 2016.

So, if the Ranch is on the chopping block, we may have this coming Halloween Time season and next year's Halloween Time to enjoy the Halloween Carnival, and then, after that...who knows?

...All the more reason for Disney to hustle and start bringing some Halloween back to DCA!

 

[Kristina4109]

The last time I was at CA during Halloween time was at least five years ago, but I loved how they played candy inspired music. I also loved the candy corn theme going around the place.

 

[mikana876]

I would be very sad if they tore down ToonTown

 

[Dot2Vegas]

This is not Halloween Time-specific news, nor is it even a Halloween-specific rumor...but it is something that could affect Halloween Time down the road, if the rumor turns out to be true.

A helpful DIS'er (shout out to Misskitty3!) in my Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread just alerted us to an article posted on MiceAge yesterday. (For some odd reason, I could only see the first paragraph of this article yesterday, and today I can see that there is a whole section about a possible Frozen mini-land coming to DCA this holiday season!)

In this MiceAge Update/article from yesterday, there is talk about the rumored Star Wars addition to DL (a Star Wars land, I guess it would be), whereas Marvel would have more of a presence in DCA.

In any event, all along people have assumed that a 'Star Wars land' would somehow take over Tomorrowland, or would be wedged into Tomorrowland somewhere. However, MiceAge is claiming -- and they are not an official Disney source, so this may all turn out to be nothing -- that it's actually Toontown that would be torn down and used for Star Wars Land.

But here is the part that would affect Halloween Time (and the holiday season too, but especially Halloween Time) if the rumors turned out to be true -- part of the proposed, rumored Star Wars expansion would involve taking over Big Thunder Ranch.

Big Thunder Ranch is where the Halloween Carnival is held, as well as the Jingle Jangle Jamboree during the holidays, and the Springtime Roundup around Easter, etc. This area is most important to Halloween Time, I think, more than the other seasons.

Without the Halloween Carnival, a huge chunk of the daytime Halloween festivities would be gone, leaving Haunted Mansion Holiday, Ghost Galaxy, the Dia de los Muertos display, the Ray Bradbury Halloween Tree and the pumpkins on Main Street (and above the turnstiles) as the only real Halloween Time offerings in DL.

The Carnival is where the Conjure a Villain tent is; it's where Pirates League is; it's where the pumpkin carvers are; it's where the Halloween crafts and games are; and it's where the characters in Halloween garb can be found outside of the MHP. The Villains would have to be relocated again (maybe to a better photo spot this time around), and the pumpkin carvers would have to go somewhere else.

Anyway, none of this is official and it may not come to fruition at all, but IF Disney has Big Thunder Ranch in mind for part of the Star Wars expansion (if there is going to be a Star Wars expansion at all), they would probably announce it next year at the D23 Expo, and the work would probably commence in 2016.

So, if the Ranch is on the chopping block, we may have this coming Halloween Time season and next year's Halloween Time to enjoy the Halloween Carnival, and then, after that...who knows?

...All the more reason for Disney to hustle and start bringing some Halloween back to DCA!

I have mixed feelings about this if it does come true. I would not miss Toon Town. Never been a fan. However DD8 gasped and said "But where will Mickey and Minnie live?!?!". I love the Big Thunder ranch area and would miss that. But, overall, its an under used space so it makes sense.
As for Halloween time- when we made our first Halloween visit in 2008 or 2009 I remember that the villains were over near IASW during the day. I wonder if they could do this again in place of the conjure a villain? And maybe incorporate some other aspects from within Big Thunder jamboree. Just a thought if this rumor does come true!

 

[Sherry E]

The last time I was at CA during Halloween time was at least five years ago, but I loved how they played candy inspired music. I also loved the candy corn theme going around the place.

Kristina4109 --

I remember always hearing "I Want Candy" played in DCA! I loved the themed music in DCA (sometimes they played songs like "Monster Mash" or other appropriate Halloween-ish tunes). And I loved Candy Corn Acres, with all of the candy corn "plants" and the candy corn hanging from the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as the candy corn tower/factory.

At one point there was even a candy corn version of the CALIFORNIA letters in front of DCA.

That's all gone. In fact, Candy Corn Acres hasn't been there since 2009, so you probably saw it in its final year.

DCA has been sorely lacking in Halloween décor and music over the last several years. There's a Halloween version of the Mad T Party, but it's not really obvious to a lot of people and it's tucked out of the way. Also, Duffy has a photo spot and he is wearing a pumpkin costume.

I would be very sad if they tore down ToonTown

mikana876 --

I would be as well. Even though I really only make a point of spending time back there during the holiday season (when all of the wonderful themed decorations are up), I actually love the Car Toon Spin ride. That land is one of the best lands in terms of the famous Disney details, which is why I love it. I see something new every time I go -- not that new things are being added, but I am just noticing them for the first time. There is always something to see.

Toontown was the first all-new land that went up since I began going to DLR (all of the other lands were already built and in place in my younger years, though Bear Country changed to Critter Country over time, and Fantasyland had its expansion/makeover in 1983), and I remember the excitement my friends and I felt over being able to see an all-new land from the start, before it was 'worn in.' We spent a lot of time in TT back in the '90s.

I can't even imagine a Star Wars Land taking over Toontown and the Ranch, and it may never happen at all -- but we will probably find out next year, at the Expo!

I have mixed feelings about this if it does come true. I would not miss Toon Town. Never been a fan. However DD8 gasped and said "But where will Mickey and Minnie live?!?!". I love the Big Thunder ranch area and would miss that. But, overall, its an under used space so it makes sense.
As for Halloween time- when we made our first Halloween visit in 2008 or 2009 I remember that the villains were over near IASW during the day. I wonder if they could do this again in place of the conjure a villain? And maybe incorporate some other aspects from within Big Thunder jamboree. Just a thought if this rumor does come true!

Dot2Vegas --

The Villains used to be in DCA (there were several of them out and about in the Hollywood area), through Halloween Time 2008. In 2009 the Villains moved over to one concentrated photo spot near IASW (where you saw them), and there were often 3 of them there to meet at a time. They remained near IASW through 2011.

In 2012, the Halloween Carnival opened up at the Ranch (and it expanded the existing concept of the Halloween Roundup), and the silly Conjure a Villain tent was the new place to meet Villains -- except for that people could literally only meet one Villain at a time, and if they wanted to meet more than that they would have to get back in line or return later in the day. Even then, they were not guaranteed to meet a different Villain than the one they had just met earlier in the day because there was no way to see who was being "Conjured."

So, to that end, relocating the Villains and putting them back into some sort of multi-Villain photo spot out in the open (where everyone could see who they were meeting) would be better. I suspect/think that Disney is trying to limit the Villains in the daytime and make them more exclusive to the Halloween Party so people will buy tickets to meet them.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Sherry, today was the first day of school - aka the official "unofficial" start of Fall It's been totally overcast here all day, although we're supposed to warm up later this week.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Hi CassieF!

Like Sherry said, we did do the Ultimate Experience, a couple of years ago!

Boy howdy, Sherry, I knew you were good, but I can't believe you remembered that!g!

We did get priority seating on the three attractions Sherry mentioned(Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror, Space Mt. Ghost Galaxy), and also Big Thunder Mt. RR(pre-renovation!)

We got treats(can't remember what they were---sorry), hot apple cider, and really cute pins.

We were not given priority seating for the Cavalcade OR the Fireworks---Darn! We would have loved that!.

Our Ultimate Experience began at 3:30pm(check-in time at 3:15pm), and ended about 6:30pm(1/2 an hour after the Halloween Party had started---we did the UE on a Tuesday).

They were still tweaking things, when we did the UE, so I believe a few things may have changed after that!

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, today was the first day of school - aka the official "unofficial" start of Fall It's been totally overcast here all day, although we're supposed to warm up later this week.

Jamie -

Woohoo! That's good for me -- it will be Fall here too, as far as I'm concerned! Let's make it Fall for everyone! (It's supposed to get hotter by the weekend here as well.) I'm surprised that kids have to go back to school on a Wednesday -- that seems like an odd day to start school! Whatever happened to Monday start days?

Well, what better way to kick off the new school year and the unofficial start of Fall than with Caramel Apple Oreos -- which are now on sale at Target (exclusively)?! I just got an alert on my RSS feed that the Caramel Apple Oreos arrive today. I wonder if the "apple" taste would be any good. The filling is half-green and half-brown, so the colors are fitting. I have tried the lemon Oreos and those are great (if you like lemon cookies), but I just wonder how good the Caramel Apple versions would be. Hmmm....

Hi CassieF!

Like Sherry said, we did do the Ultimate Experience, a couple of years ago!

Boy howdy, Sherry, I knew you were good, but I can't believe you remembered that!g!

We did get priority seating on the three attractions Sherry mentioned(Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror, Space Mt. Ghost Galaxy), and also Big Thunder Mt. RR(pre-renovation!)

We got treats(can't remember what they were---sorry), hot apple cider, and really cute pins.

We were not given priority seating for the Cavalcade OR the Fireworks---Darn! We would have loved that!.

Our Ultimate Experience began at 3:30pm(check-in time at 3:15pm), and ended about 6:30pm(1/2 an hour after the Halloween Party had started---we did the UE on a Tuesday).

They were still tweaking things, when we did the UE, so I believe a few things may have changed after that!

Cheshirecatty --

I am slipping! I only remembered that you had spoken of doing the UE in the past, but I couldn't recall if you said that you did it in 2013 or in 2012. Thank you for coming in to give the details. (Hopefully Cassie will come back!)

I love the idea of the hot apple cider (as opposed to the hot chocolate on the Holiday tour) -- it would be nice if the weather were actually cool enough to fully appreciate the cider, so let's hope for a drop in temperatures in the Fall. Fall cannot get here soon enough for me -- although it usually takes until November for the weather to truly get cooler.

 

[Kilala]

It's 2 weeks before I go back to work. I work at a elementary school in Tustin and we don't start until September 3rd. The school in Orange where I live started today 9/20




I forgot to mention that NONE of the MHP's dated have sold out yet. I will buy my ticket for the 26th of September 3rd. And if I can afford it I will get my ticket for the 31st next month after I get food for myself and my cats. I have been trying to manage my money better since April. So far it is working.

 

[SusanMatt]

They stopped updating the park calendar at Sept. 27th. I keep refreshing the page daily for the day we will arrive, 9/28, but it's not there. I'm starting to feel paranoid.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/accessible-calendar/month/2014-09-01/