HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[Sherry E]

Welcome, kkmcan! I knew you'd get here to join us soon!

Yes, see, what you described about the Peppermint Mocha creamer is exactly what I fear will happen with my beloved Dreyer's Peppermint Wonderland ice cream. I am afraid that if it starts to become too available at random times of year (like this year, for example, people were spotting that ice cream at Grocery Outlet in spring and up to June, and I saw it at CVS in April), I will lose interest in it. The novelty will be lost. I think that Dreyer's/Edy's got the word last year that the peppermint ice cream was in hot demand -- suddenly, many more people were hunting for it than had been the case in the past, and word was spreading around the Internet -- and they made too much of the product...which stayed in stores for way too long, and way past the holiday season. It used to be that the ice cream would hit the shelves in September or even October, in some cases, and stick around through December. That was it. I like the seasonal products to stay seasonal, so I have time to get excited for them to appear!

I had no idea that Thomas's made a Pumpkin spice bagel! I know that there is probably a whole hotbed o' seasonal versions of foods and drinks out there that have escaped me. I usually zero in on the regular, expected ones -- the Oreos, the M&Ms, Reese's, ice cream brands, etc. Often times I don't think to check out other types of foods that may have been given the Halloween or holiday treatment! Even though I am not the biggest pumpkin-flavored fan, I am willing to try certain things because some pumpkin flavoring is better than others.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Welcome, kkmcan! I knew you'd get here to join us soon! Yes, see, what you described about the Peppermint Mocha creamer is exactly what I fear will happen with my beloved Dreyer's Peppermint Wonderland ice cream. I am afraid that if it starts to become too available at random times of year (like this year, for example, people were spotting that ice cream at Grocery Outlet in spring and up to June, and I saw it at CVS in April), I will lose interest in it. The novelty will be lost. I think that Dreyer's/Edy's got the word last year that the peppermint ice cream was in hot demand -- suddenly, many more people were hunting for it than had been the case in the past, and word was spreading around the Internet -- and they made too much of the product...which stayed in stores for way too long, and way past the holiday season. It used to be that the ice cream would hit the shelves in September or even October, in some cases, and stick around through December. That was it. I like the seasonal products to stay seasonal, so I have time to get excited for them to appear! I had no idea that Thomas's made a Pumpkin spice bagel! I know that there is probably a whole hotbed o' seasonal versions of foods and drinks out there that have escaped me. I usually zero in on the regular, expected ones -- the Oreos, the M&Ms, Reese's, ice cream brands, etc. Often times I don't think to check out other types of foods that may have been given the Halloween or holiday treatment! Even though I am not the biggest pumpkin-flavored fan, I am willing to try certain things because some pumpkin flavoring is better than others.

I totally agree with you. There is something about these coming out for the season, much like the red cup at Starbucks, that make is special. I look forward to the Winter Wonderland ice cream every year - it's my special treat and I don't think it would be special if offered year round.

 

[Sherry E]

I totally agree with you. There is something about these coming out for the season, much like the red cup at Starbucks, that make is special. I look forward to the Winter Wonderland ice cream every year - it's my special treat and I don't think it would be special if offered year round.

That's exactly it, Jamie!

If certain season-specific goodies (and they could be specific to any season, not just Fall or Winter) suddenly became accessible year-round, they would lose their specialness. Imagine Candy Corn Oreos available 365 days a year!

I think that Coffee-Mate jumped the gun in thinking that they needed to make the Peppermint Mocha flavor available all year. They (or Nestle, the parent company) probably saw that they had a hit on their hands with that flavor, and they thought they would try to profit off of it all year. However, I would bet that a huge part of the reason why that flavor was a hit was because it was seasonal and not available all year! It's the novelty that draws people in.

It's the same thing for me with Halloween TV specials (like any of Travel Channel's Halloween celebration/activities-related shows) and Christmas movies/TV specials. Yes, it is fun to get a little glimpse of them at a non-seasonal, unexpected time of year (like, say, Christmas in July or something), but I really don't want to be able to watch them all year long -- only in specific months. I may start watching those TV shows/movies way before other people do, and my "seasons" may start earlier than other people's seasons do (in my mind!), but after the New Year I don't want to watch those kinds of shows or movies for at least 6 months, and then, after mid-July, I have to take another break of maybe 2 months or so, to have time to get in the spirit of the season and build up excitement again.

Novelty is a good thing! It makes it so much more thrilling when Caramel Apple Milky Ways, Gingerbread Jell-O and Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins hit the shelves!

 

[SusanMatt]

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

We are also doing the 60 day happy dance since Sunday. I was super surprised to see Blue Bayou early reservations get filled up so fast. I got busy at work yesterday morning and couldn't go book it till after 2p. All the 11:30a tables were gone already. I snagged one this morning for the next day instead.

 

[mummabear]

Well last year they announced Pirates League on Aug 1st. I have my fingers crossed this Mondays #GetHappier will be the announcement.

 

[Sherry E]

Well last year they announced Pirates League on Aug 1st. I have my fingers crossed this Mondays #GetHappier will be the announcement.

I am crossing my fingers for you, mummabear, and sending out good thoughts! I know you have been hoping all along that PL would return this year, so let's hope it does!

If -- and "if" is the operative word -- it is true that Disneyland is removing the Ultimate Experience (tour-party combo package) from its Halloween Time offerings this year (and I am still waiting until we get to mid/late August to see what happens with that), I certainly hope that they are not discontinuing Pirates League too!

At this rate, unless DLR starts adding in some "Halloween" to DCA, if they keep removing things from the season, there won't be much left of Halloween Time other than the MHP in a few years!

We won't even get "Billy Hill and the Haunted Hillbillies" at the Halloween Carnival this year, so who knows what the musical entertainment will be?

 

[abminer]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but... We're going to DLR for Gay Days Anaheim which occurs the first weekend of Oct. We'd like to go to MHP that Friday, Oct 3. Our hotel and park tickets were discounted through group sales, but are there group discounts for the Halloween party? I'm sorry this wasn't clear on either the gay days page or Disneyland's. I can't find the group sales phone number either.

 

[figment_jii]

I have not heard of there being any discounted group sale tickets for MHP. The only discounts that I am aware of for AP, DVC, Disney Visa Card holders and the advance purchase discount.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but... We're going to DLR for Gay Days Anaheim which occurs the first weekend of Oct. We'd like to go to MHP that Friday, Oct 3. Our hotel and park tickets were discounted through group sales, but are there group discounts for the Halloween party? I'm sorry this wasn't clear on either the gay days page or Disneyland's. I can't find the group sales phone number either.

abminer --

I could be wrong -- and if anyone is out there who knows differently, please jump in and give us the correct info-- but I don't think there are group discounts on the MHP tickets. If you don't see any mentioned on the Gay Days site, I am inclined to think there are none.

I have never heard of group discounts on the MHP, though it is entirely possible that there could be.

You may end up with just the regular pre-purchase discount for 10/3/14 ($56 for AP holders/DVC members/Disney Rewards Visa holders, and/or $63 for General Public Advance Purchase), but only 8 tickets can be purchased at a discount through each of those options.

 

[ashleysev]

The family we're supposed to go with in October still hasn't decided on a date they want to go, so we haven't purchased our tickets yet. And now... now, I'm feeling that it may be a blessing... 'Cause I'm just not feeling it.

I'm a 2nd year grad student and I don't have a break in school until Christmas. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed trying to throw a trip in there! Going to give it a week to see if I feel differently.

 

[Sherry E]

The family we're supposed to go with in October still hasn't decided on a date they want to go, so we haven't purchased our tickets yet. And now... now, I'm feeling that it may be a blessing... 'Cause I'm just not feeling it.

I'm a 2nd year grad student and I don't have a break in school until Christmas. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed trying to throw a trip in there! Going to give it a week to see if I feel differently.

ashleysev --

Oh no!

Well, as you said, maybe the fact that the family is taking a while to decide on a date is a blessing. Maybe it is working out for the best if you are truly not feeling it. Only you know if it will be worthwhile to you to push forward with the plan, despite your hectic schedule. With no break in school for several months, it would definitely be tricky to squeeze in a trip -- albeit, a fun trip!

I think that mulling it over in a week is a good idea. Maybe this is just a passing moment of doubt and in a few days you will be gung ho to go, or will decide that a trip is not the wisest choice at the moment.

 

[aidensmom31]

Has anyone here done the Happy Haunts tour? Feedback? What was included? Did you get a special pin? Trying to decide if my son and me want to do this tour or not. So many choices and just not enough time

Thank you for any feedback.

 

[Sherry E]

Has anyone here done the Happy Haunts tour? Feedback? What was included? Did you get a special pin? Trying to decide if my son and me want to do this tour or not. So many choices and just not enough time

Thank you for any feedback.

aidensmom31 -

I know that somewhere in my subscribed threads there was a more recent thread, but this one from 2011 (provided by GeneralTso) offers a good review, although it is mistakenly referred to as the "Happy Hauntings" tour -- when it is actually called the "Happiest Haunts" tour:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2805377

I don't think the tour has changed too much since then.


Also, I like this blog from the Disney Food Blog, also from 2011 --

"Dining in Disneyland: Storytellers Cafe and the Happiest Haunts Tour" -- Disney Food Blog; Oct 13th, 2011 by Heather Sievers

​

 

[zanzibar138]

With all this talk of seasonal peppermint coffee creamer and ice-cream, I'm a little confused Don't you usually have peppermint flavoured things in the US? Peppermint is one of my favourite flavours for pretty much everything! I'd be devastated if I could only get it at Christmas time

We really don't get seasonal flavoured things over here. The seasonal products are more just in different shapes and colours than anything else. We do get 'Scream Eggs' for Halloween (Creme Eggs), but they are the same flavour, the 'yolk' is just coloured green instead of yellow. We don't get any seasonal Oreos or coffee yet.

I love pumpkin, but I'm not sure how I would feel about pumpkin flavoured things. It's similar with banana or cherry - I like the fruit, but not the flavour.

What on earth is candy corn and what does it taste like???

 

[Sherry E]

I'm going to recommend another Halloween-ish thing to do if you happen to be heading out to Southern California and visiting Disneyland, and you find yourself with an extra day or night to play. And this one seems AWESOME (and family-friendly!)!!!!!!!!

It's called....



Rise of the Jack O' Lanterns!!!!!



Here is the "Rise" website.



From October 3rd to November 2nd, "Rise" (featuring over 5,000 hand-carved Jack O'Lanterns!) is taking place at a location called Descanso Gardens, in La Canada Flintridge, which is near Pasadena (for those who are unfamiliar with the area). From Anaheim, it's approximately 42 minutes' drive time, and 35 miles/56 km, according to Travel Math.

From Descanso Gardens' Facebook page:

"The RISE is a night-time Halloween experience suitable for all ages which will be on display from October 3 to November 2 at Descanso Gardens. Imagine more than 5,000 artist-carved jack o' lanterns depicting celebrities, seasonal themes, pop culture, as well as sculptures created from carved jack o'lanterns.

Celebrity artist Ray Villafane (The Food Network's "Halloween Wars") will kick off The RISE on October 3 and 4 by demonstrating his jack o' lantern sculpting skills."

Tickets to The RISE are sold in advance and online only -- there are no tickets available at the gate. Get your tickets here: http://www.therise.org/dgsocial

I've never attended "Rise," but it sounds and looks amazing -- and it's a great, alternate option for something else Halloween-ish to do, either before or after you head to Disneyland!

​

With all this talk of seasonal peppermint coffee creamer and ice-cream, I'm a little confused Don't you usually have peppermint flavoured things in the US? Peppermint is one of my favourite flavours for pretty much everything! I'd be devastated if I could only get it at Christmas time

We really don't get seasonal flavoured things over here. The seasonal products are more just in different shapes and colours than anything else. We do get 'Scream Eggs' for Halloween (Creme Eggs), but they are the same flavour, the 'yolk' is just coloured green instead of yellow. We don't get any seasonal Oreos or coffee yet.

I love pumpkin, but I'm not sure how I would feel about pumpkin flavoured things. It's similar with banana or cherry - I like the fruit, but not the flavour.

What on earth is candy corn and what does it taste like???

zanzibar138 --

We have all kinds of mint-flavored things out here year-round, but they tend to often be green or even white a lot of the time.

The pink peppermint things -- or the ones that are red and white-swirled -- have a slightly different flavor and are more associated with Christmas and the holiday season, such as Dreyer's/Edy's Peppermint Wonderland ice cream. Baskin-Robbins is one place that serves pink peppermint ice cream year-round, and there are others, but it is a flavor strongly connected with the holidays.

A lot of our regular products -- foods, candles, bath products -- get seasonal versions, and the flavors/scents tend to be peppermint, gingerbread, pumpkin pie, cinnamon, eggnog, nutmeg, pine, etc. Or, if it's something like a room spray or candle, it could be called "Autumn Rain" or something similar!

Some pumpkin-flavored things are definitely better than others. I know what you mean -- I love bananas and cherries, but not all banana-flavored and cherry-flavored things are good.

Candy corn -- how can I describe it? Well, you've probably seen pictures of it. It's shaped like a little triangle, basically, and it's striped with yellow, orange and white. There are also Christmas and Easter versions of it, colored in appropriate seasonal hues!

I think that candy corn is one of those things people either like or don't like. It's sweet. It's not a soft candy like chocolate. It's kind of hard and chewy -- almost like a jelly bean, in a way. I mainly like it for color and for decoration, because it brightens up a room if it's placed in a nice glass vase or bowl or something. I don't really love the flavor of candy corn. It's okay, but I couldn't eat a lot of it.

Much like Christmas is associated with candy canes, and Easter is associated with jelly beans, and Valentine's Day is associated with conversation hearts, Halloween has candy corn!

​

 

[zanzibar138]

Thanks for clearing that up, Sherry

We have candy canes over here which are red and white striped and peppermint flavoured. Is that a similar sort of thing? I've never really heard of pink peppermint before Obviously we associate candy canes with Christmas, but not really peppermint flavour in general. Gingerbread is pretty common though, and we do the gingerbread Christmas houses/villages etc, so I could see that being a seasonal flavour for us.

I have seen pictures of candy corn, but never a description of what it actually is. So, it's just candy? It has nothing to do with actual corn?

The jack o'lantern thing sounds great! Wish it started a bit earlier.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for clearing that up, Sherry

We have candy canes over here which are red and white striped and peppermint flavoured. Is that a similar sort of thing? I've never really heard of pink peppermint before Obviously we associate candy canes with Christmas, but not really peppermint flavour in general. Gingerbread is pretty common though, and we do the gingerbread Christmas houses/villages etc, so I could see that being a seasonal flavour for us.

I have seen pictures of candy corn, but never a description of what it actually is. So, it's just candy? It has nothing to do with actual corn?

The jack o'lantern thing sounds great! Wish it started a bit earlier.

Take a look at all of this pink peppermint ice cream. Our peppermint ice cream (Peppermint Wonderland, Peppermint Stick, Candy Cane, etc.) often involves that pink coloring, and crushed up pieces of candy canes, or swirly, red and white peppermint sticks or candies. So, because of the candy cane connection, it is associated with the holidays. There are also things that come out around then like peppermint tea and the previously mentioned peppermint mocha goodies. You can also find peppermint baked goods.


What is sold year-round and is commonly known as maybe "mint chocolate chip" ice cream, or something similar, is usually green in color, as shown here -- and not really associated with the holidays. It's also a slightly different kind of mint flavor than the other kind.


Candy corn is just candy, but I think it was given its original name because of the shape. Supposedly the shape resembles a kernel of corn, but it's kind of a long kernel of corn if that's the case!


I thought of you when I saw the Rise of the Jack O' Lanterns thing (with Ray Villafane from "Halloween Wars" appearing for a couple of nights, which I forgot to mention above). I was thinking that you'd already be gone! If only the other Halloween events around town could start as early as Halloween Time begins at DLR -- but they all seem to start in late September or in October.

 

[Wrangler]

Our last day in DL is Sept 19, what are the chances we'll see some of the characters in costumes?

 

[Sherry E]

Our last day in DL is Sept 19, what are the chances we'll see some of the characters in costumes?

Wrangler --

I'd say your chances are very good for at least a few character costumes! Sometimes the characters may wear different themed attire in the daytime from they wear at the Halloween Party, and other times it's the same outfits.

Since you won't be attending the MHP, your best chances for characters in costumes will be at the Halloween Carnival in Frontierland. That's where Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, Donald and other characters in Halloween-ish garb usually greet guests, assuming nothing will have changed this year. Donald wears a pumpkin costume. Goofy often dresses as a skeleton. That's also where you will be able to Conjure a Villain, see the pumpkin carvers, play Halloween games, etc.

 

[TulipsNZ]

The family we're supposed to go with in October still hasn't decided on a date they want to go, so we haven't purchased our tickets yet. And now... now, I'm feeling that it may be a blessing... 'Cause I'm just not feeling it.

I'm a 2nd year grad student and I don't have a break in school until Christmas. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed trying to throw a trip in there! Going to give it a week to see if I feel differently.

Sometimes a change is as good as a rest, it may be just the pick me up you need to get through to Christmas. I found I could get quite overwhelmed by study and even a short complete out could bring back my enthusiasm. Good luck whatever you choose.

Thanks for clearing that up, Sherry

We have candy canes over here which are red and white striped and peppermint flavoured. Is that a similar sort of thing? I've never really heard of pink peppermint before Obviously we associate candy canes with Christmas, but not really peppermint flavour in general. Gingerbread is pretty common though, and we do the gingerbread Christmas houses/villages etc, so I could see that being a seasonal flavour for us.

I have seen pictures of candy corn, but never a description of what it actually is. So, it's just candy? It has nothing to do with actual corn?

The jack o'lantern thing sounds great! Wish it started a bit earlier.

There's an American store near me that imports American candy, I always thought it meant the coloured sugared popcorn but no I was quite surprised when I saw it.