HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[Sherry E]

I'm confused. I thought you were given a bag when you checked in for MHP.

LisaT91403 --

I posted photos on the previous page -- one of them was of a tote bag. There are usually 2 or 3 tote bags that are sold in the parks each year, and many people buy them for their candy collecting because the plastic bags that we are given at the MHP don't hold too much candy. One tote bag is twinkly and costs more (about $10). One is cheaper (about $5) and is less sturdy.

What I was commenting on (which you asked me about) was in response to ricardol's questions about the tote bag in my photo (it's orange and black), not about the bags handed out at the MHP.:

Back in 2011 the consensus was the CM's gave you a bit more candy when you trick or treat using the tote bags. The small bags they give when you enter you can probably fill pretty quick with candy they don't hold much volume.

Now you don't have to use a disney bag but hey it is a cool tote bag!

ricardol --

I like it! I still have my green and black bag (which is exactly like the orange and black bag), which I got in 2011 and used for candy. It was in hot demand that year. It's a cool bag because you can press a button and it twinkles, which is fun!

 

[KOUKLI]

All these photos are making me so excited! I hope there is still that much merch around by the time I get there. Seems very doubtful though

 

[LisaT91403]

Thank for the clarification on the tote bags vs. the "free" bags handed out at MHP. We will adjust our candy storage strategy accordingly

 

[figment_jii]

Back in 2011 the consensus was the CM's gave you a bit more candy when you trick or treat using the tote bags. The small bags they give when you enter you can probably fill pretty quick with candy they don't hold much volume.

I didn't notice any difference in amount of candy being handed out in 2012 or 2013 and I've used both the free bags and the purchased totes. I think it's just a matter of which CMs you get. Some grab bigger handfuls of candy than others.

All these photos are making me so excited! I hope there is still that much merch around by the time I get there. Seems very doubtful though

On the bright side...you might get there when the first of the Christmas/Holiday merchandise starts to appear.

Thank for the clarification on the tote bags vs. the "free" bags handed out at MHP. We will adjust our candy storage strategy accordingly

I knew I'd measured the bags last year! The plastic candy bags that Disneyland provides upon entry to the MHP are 9” tall, by 7” wide, by 3” deep. The totes that they sell (like the one Sherry described are 15.5" tall by 11.5" wide by 6" deep. So the free bags hold a little less than a gallon ziploc bag full of candy, whereas the bags you buy can hold over 4.5 gallon bags!

 

[LisaT91403]

I knew I'd measured the bags last year! The plastic candy bags that Disneyland provides upon entry to the MHP are 9” tall, by 7” wide, by 3” deep. The totes that they sell (like the one Sherry described are 15.5" tall by 11.5" wide by 6" deep. So the free bags hold a little less than a gallon ziploc bag full of candy, whereas the bags you buy can hold over 4.5 gallon bags!

I'm assuming the totes are only sold in-park, as I don't see them on the Disney Store site. What are the odds they will still have them available for the 10/10 party? Or is there a way to purchase them ahead of time?

 

[Kilala]

I'm assuming the totes are only sold in-park, as I don't see them on the Disney Store site. What are the odds they will still have them available for the 10/10 party? Or is there a way to purchase them ahead of time?

You can go to DTD and there should be stores there that sell them. I found them there in the past. I will probally do that again this October 3rd.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm assuming the totes are only sold in-park, as I don't see them on the Disney Store site. What are the odds they will still have them available for the 10/10 party? Or is there a way to purchase them ahead of time?

LisaT91403 --

As I was telling figment_jii and ricardol above, the twinkly, good tote bags for $10 (I bought one) were in hot demand back in 2011. I went to the second MHP of that season, and the bags were already gone from all stores I checked but one. Then, the Disney Showcase store found another stash of bags in the back, shortly before the MHP was to start.

I think that the cheaper, less sturdy tote bags (for $5) were a bit more available.

figment_jii was saying that the tote bags were available well into October last year.

I think it can change from year to year -- some years the bags will be more or less popular, and some years more or fewer people will buy them, so I don't think it's predictable other than to say that the twinkly bags like the one in my photo on the previous page are very popular, and a lot of people get both versions (the good bag and the cheaper bag) of the tote bags for candy collecting!

 

[LisaT91403]

LisaT91403 --

As I was telling figment_jii and ricardol above, the twinkly, good tote bags for $10 (I bought one) were in hot demand back in 2011. I went to the second MHP of that season, and the bags were already gone from all stores I checked but one. Then, the Disney Showcase store found another stash of bags in the back, shortly before the MHP was to start.

I think that the cheaper, less sturdy tote bags (for $5) were a bit more available.

figment_jii was saying that the tote bags were available well into October last year.

I think it can change from year to year -- some years the bags will be more or less popular, and some years more or fewer people will buy them, so I don't think it's predictable other than to say that the twinkly bags like the one in my photo on the previous page are very popular, and a lot of people get both versions (the good bag and the cheaper bag) of the tote bags for candy collecting!

Thanks for the recap -- I didn't read carefully enough the first time!

On another note, this past weekend I gave my nephews (just turned 9 & 11) MHP tickets for their birthdays. I also got them Mickey skeleton "boo" t-shirts from the Disney Store. They are BEYOND excited about the gift! They will be joining DS(6), DH and myself...all going to our first MHP. Can't wait!

On a different note, I have a fast pass question. I know that there are no FP's during MHP. I'm guessing that means that FP's for Ghost Galaxy and the like will be gone very early since the latest return time would be before 7:00pm. Does that sound correct? We will arrive in the parks around 2:00pm, and I'm trying to figure out if there will be FP's available for any attraction at that point...or if it will just be too late.

 

[figment_jii]

On a different note, I have a fast pass question. I know that there are no FP's during MHP. I'm guessing that means that FP's for Ghost Galaxy and the like will be gone very early since the latest return time would be before 7:00pm. Does that sound correct? We will arrive in the parks around 2:00pm, and I'm trying to figure out if there will be FP's available for any attraction at that point...or if it will just be too late.

I do think that there will still be some FPs available for some of the rides. I do think SMGG will be iffy...so I would check out SMGG as soon as you arrive.

 

[LisaT91403]

I do think that there will still be some FPs available for some of the rides. I do think SMGG will be iffy...so I would check out SMGG as soon as you arrive.

Star Tours is DS's favorite. I would think we'd have a better chance with that than SMGG or HMH (if they even have any for this). BTMM is also a possibility, I'd think. Hoping someone will post about the situation once the parties start.

 

[laura&fam]

So off to the next idea. I REALLY would love to have us all wearing a group costume, and we are leaning towards The Incredibles. It would be a pretty easy set of costumes to get together and pretty comfortable also. :

We did Incredibles costumes 2 years ago and they were very simple. We just got long sleeved red shirts and bought iron on designs (from ebay I think). Add some red pants with black athletic shorts over the top and you're done. They were much easier than the Toy Story costumes we're doing this year. It takes forever to paint a pair of pants with green wall paint

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

We heard our first Halloweentime at Disneyland ad on the radio today They have been playing for awhile, but it's the first for us!

We used the free bags when we went two years ago and just dumped into larger bags. The free bags are about the only size the little ones can carry for very long.

 

[Dot2Vegas]

We heard our first Halloweentime at Disneyland ad on the radio today They have been playing for awhile, but it's the first for

Yay! I love hearing the adds while driving. We saw the commercial for the first time this season this morning. I can not wait!!

 

[momof6princesses]

Only 36 days for us! I'm trying to make our plans but can't remember what time Alice and the Mad Hatter play musical chairs, does anyone know? Thanks

 

[bearette]

I do think that there will still be some FPs available for some of the rides. I do think SMGG will be iffy...so I would check out SMGG as soon as you arrive.

I had an annual pass last year and arriving in the afternoon you could never get a fast pass for ghost galaxy. It always had at least a 45 min wait too. The nights I visited on party days the park was super crowded so plan for a long wait.


Going to try to visit this week to see all the Halloween stuff we can be for the party.

 

[ClosetDisneyJunkie]

Star Tours is DS's favorite. I would think we'd have a better chance with that than SMGG or HMH (if they even have any for this). BTMM is also a possibility, I'd think. Hoping someone will post about the situation once the parties start.

I'll be in the park on Friday the 26th (and going to the party that night!) and will check on the fastpass situation around 2pm as an example. Feel free to send me a private message if I forget to post the update by Sept 29 or so after I get back!

Also, at some point please remember to toast me while you are at MHP, because 10/10 is my birthday.

 

[figment_jii]

I'm assuming the totes are only sold in-park, as I don't see them on the Disney Store site. What are the odds they will still have them available for the 10/10 party? Or is there a way to purchase them ahead of time?

Yes, I think the twinkly light bag is only available in the park. The non-twinkly light bag is available from the DisneyStore.com. I don't think there is any way to reliably predict if they'll still have them on 10/10. The best you can do is ask periodically if folks are still seeing them in the park (i.e., are they everywhere, only a few stores, etc.). If you're willing to pay for shipping (which can be pricey), you can see if Disneyland Merchandise Mail Order ((877) 560-6477) can send them to you.

Star Tours is DS's favorite. I would think we'd have a better chance with that than SMGG or HMH (if they even have any for this). BTMM is also a possibility, I'd think. Hoping someone will post about the situation once the parties start.

They did not have HMH FPs last year, so the guessing is that they won't have them again this year. I think BTMRR and Star Tours are possiblities for still having FPs in the afternoon. My guess is the SMGG and Indy will run out first...maybe Splash, but only if the weather is hot/warm. Still, I would either head straight to SMGG when you get in or head to the Times Board and they might be able to tell you if there are still SMGG FPs being distributed.

I had an annual pass last year and arriving in the afternoon you could never get a fast pass for ghost galaxy. It always had at least a 45 min wait too. The nights I visited on party days the park was super crowded so plan for a long wait.

It's kind of double-whammy to me...Space is already a fairly popular rides and FPs can run out early even without the Halloween overlay. Waits of 45 minutes are pretty common throughout the year (at least when I've been there). I do think there is a chance that FPs will still be available on some days, primarily because the party goers won't get into the parks until 3 or 4 pm. At that point, I doubt FPs will still be available.

We used the free bags when we went two years ago and just dumped into larger bags. The free bags are about the only size the little ones can carry for very long.

I did this too! After the first round of trick-or-treating, the big bag went into the locker. We tried carrying around the candy one year and it got heavy!

 

[letitsnow]

Do you think there will be soft openings today?

 

[figment_jii]

Do you think there will be soft openings today?

That's a good question. My guess is that they probably won't do a soft opening because this isn't like a major refurb where they need to see how it does under normal operating conditions (like when they refurb'ed BTMRR). They're done these overlays for years, so it should be pretty smooth to install. At most, either ride might be running intermittently during the day or for a short period. I'd be surprised to hear that either ride was running the entire day.

 

[SusanMatt]

We got our tickets and document portfolio from the Disneyland Hotel today!