HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[westcoastminnie]

All this talk about Halloween reminds me I need to figure out costumes for our trip this year! In 2013 we went as relations of Billy Hill and the Hillbillies! I was Milly Hill Boy I sure missed those guys this last trip!

 

[corinne76]

I'm back! I followed this thread a little last year, mainly because I wanted to see all the festive decor (and talk to SherryE about the orange and yellow trees)

This year we are going! DD has a week off from school in October we we're looking at Oct 3-10. Hotel is booked but so far that's it. We plan to do 5 days, plus a MHP.

 

[Sherry E]

Welcome back, corinne76! Yes -- the conspicuously autumnal trees in random, non-autumnal spots around the parks! Those trees make me giggle -- they are pretty, but so arbitrary.


Welcome to everyone who has recently joined us here for the first time!


As most of you probably know, many (but not all) of the events and highlights coming up for Disneyland's 60th anniversary this year were officially announced last night.


The Disney Parks Blog has done many pieces on the Diamond Celebration so far:



"All-New ‘World of Color’ Show Coming to Disney California Adventure Park for Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration, Beginning May 22" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on January 28th, 2015 by Shawn Slater, Communications Manager, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Creative Entertainment

"‘Paint the Night’ Parade Starts May 22 as Part of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on January 28th, 2015 by Shawn Slater, Communications Manager, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Creative Entertainment

"‘Disneyland Forever’ Fireworks Spectacular Announced for Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on January 28th, 2015 by Shawn Slater, Communications Manager, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Creative Entertainment

"Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration to Begin May 22, Will Feature Sparkling Decor and More" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on January 28th, 2015 by Erin Glover, Social Media Director, Disneyland Resort

"Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration to Begin May 22 with New Nighttime Spectaculars and More" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on January 29th, 2015 by Erin Glover, Social Media Director, Disneyland Resort

"Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration – 60 Years of Popcorn" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on January 29th, 2015 by Rachel Brent, Food & Beverage Marketing Communications Coordinator

"Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration Merchandise Art Revealed" -- Disney Parks Blog; posted on January 30th, 2015 by Michelle Harker, Manager, Merchandise Marketing & Communications, Disneyland Resort






And, for a more consolidated overview of what's happening, Disneyland News posted a couple of press releases:



Disneyland Resort Adds Dazzling, New Nighttime Spectaculars for Its Diamond Celebration, Beginning May 22 - Disneyland News; January 28, 2015


Sleeping Beauty Castle Will Sparkle for Diamond Celebration -- Disneyland News; January 28, 2015




And Tom Bell from The DIS/DIS Unplugged did a blog as well, after attending the announcement event last night:

"Disneyland announces Diamond Celebration details" -- January 29, 2015




So, we can expect:

• Paint the Night (nighttime parade)

• Disneyland Forever fireworks spectacular

• World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney

• Sparkly decorations on the Castle and on the Carthay Circle Theatre, as well as Diamond Anniversary-related decorations around Disneyland.

Someone on MiceChat said that it was stated (at the Q&A following the announcement last night) by Disney that there will be no Christmas fireworks this year, and the fate of the Christmas parade is still uncertain.


So... how will the Diamond Celebration affect Halloween Time and, specifically, Mickey's Halloween Party? Will it have any effect on the MHP at all?

We've already talked a bit about the possible impact of the 60th on Mickey's Halloween Party in this thread, but it is worth repeating that there is a rumor (which has been 'out there' since the 2014 Halloween Time season) that the MHP will move back to California Adventure this year, and that "big changes" are coming to the MHP.

There is another rumor to indicate that extra nights will be added in to the party, and that the party will start earlier in September than it usually does.

However, if the party were to move back to DCA, there would be no Halloween Screams fireworks -- which is a big loss to the MHP. Why would anyone want more nights to be added in to the party if there is less entertainment?

And if the MHP were to stay in Disneyland, would Disney work the new Disneyland Forever fireworks show and Paint the Night parade into the party, or would they still run Halloween Screams and the Cavalcade?

It's possible that the new World of Color -- Celebrate could take on a Halloween theme and become the focal point of a party in DCA, but there would have to be something else added in as well. They couldn't just have one lone Halloween element in DCA and nothing else, and suddenly try to sell 20 nights of a party as a hard ticket event.

So that begs the question -- is Halloween finally going to return to California Adventure? It's been missing from that park (as far as big decorations and what not, as well as the party) for the last 5 Halloween Time seasons.

Even though the Halloween party technically began back in the '90s and took place on a few nights over 2 different years, it was shelved for 9 years after that. Out of sight, out of mind. The 'real' Halloween party -- as a big event -- started 10 years ago, in California Adventure, while the bulk of the festivities for the 50th anniversary were taking place in Disneyland.

I think it would be nice for the MHP to return to DCA, the park where it really all began 10 years ago -- and it would be less disruptive to do it that way -- than to try to work it into DL with all the focus on the 60th anniversary.

However, DCA in its usual non-Halloween-ish state is not going to fly. Disney would have to trot out some Halloween decorations packages -- for Buena Vista Street and Cars Land, at the very least, if not A Bug's Land too. Maybe they could have a 'seaside' Halloween Carnival in the Paradise Pier area. I'm sure that the whole Grizzly Peak area could be used in some cool way for Halloween Time.

Unfortunately, this year's Halloween Time and the MHP -- as impacted by the Diamond Celebration -- remain a mystery! They will definitely still happen -- the Halloween party is too big of a hit to not happen -- but where and when it will all take place, and what will be included in it, is the biggest question mark!

​

 

[HopLow1968]

Unfortunately, this year's Halloween Time and the MHP -- as impacted by the Diamond Celebration -- remain a mystery! They will definitely still happen -- the Halloween party is too big of a hit to not happen -- but where and when it will all take place,..., is the biggest question mark!

I'm just hoping they announce all this stuff soon enough for me to do all my planning. So much of my trip seems to hinge on this.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

I'm just hoping they announce all this stuff soon enough for me to do all my planning. So much of my trip seems to hinge on this.

Ack, ours too! My one kid (who knows, the other doesn't) was really looking forward to tick or treating at DL/DCA.

I'm sure they'll move the MHP back to DCA in order to keep the DL anniversary feeling going. This would be all kinds of awesome for those of us spending 3+ days at the park because then we could get lots of celebrating in. I'd hope they'd trade off the new WOC with the HS show, seeing as how MHP isn't every night throughout HTime anyway.

I'm also hoping there'll be Frozen stuff still going on in October, and not ENDING ending (if you catch my drift) in April or whenever they said.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm just hoping they announce all this stuff soon enough for me to do all my planning. So much of my trip seems to hinge on this.

That's one of Disneyland's biggest flaws -- waiting forever to release info! I don't doubt that there will be a party -- they will definitely have a Halloween party, but -- as the rumors suggested last year -- there could be "big changes" on the horizon for this year's party.

Ack, ours too! My one kid (who knows, the other doesn't) was really looking forward to tick or treating at DL/DCA.

I'm sure they'll move the MHP back to DCA in order to keep the DL anniversary feeling going. This would be all kinds of awesome for those of us spending 3+ days at the park because then we could get lots of celebrating in. I'd hope they'd trade off the new WOC with the HS show, seeing as how MHP isn't every night throughout HTime anyway.

I'm also hoping there'll be Frozen stuff still going on in October, and not ENDING ending (if you catch my drift) in April or whenever they said.

When I first read the rumor (this past Halloween Time) about the MHP moving back to DCA in 2015, I thought that the person who reported it was probably mistaken, or had misinterpreted some bit of information.

Then, as I began to kind of map out how it could all work in my mind, I realized that, yes, they could still keep the MHP in DL and not change anything, but it would be more likely that the party would move across the Esplanade to free up Disneyland to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Then, upon reading that the Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks are supposedly not happening this year, I thought that the chances of Halloween Screams taking place are possibly lower. I thought, "Yep. California Adventure seems like the logical place for a Halloween party this year."

What I suspect will happen with the Frozen Fun is that it will disappear for only a short while -- some of it may linger past May, and then other elements may disappear... but then it will reappear later in the year, "by popular demand."

If DCA is to once again get in on the Halloween action, they could throw some sort of "Freeze the Fright" or "Frightfully Frozen Fun" element into Hollywood Land, as part of the seasonal activities. Disney would have to really throw in any possible Halloween-ish thing they could manage to round up to get DCA back in the Halloween sing, because it has been lacking Halloween fun for a long time.

 

[KalamityJane]

Ack! This makes it so much harder to resist Halloweentime! We were planning on Christmastime at DL but with the news about the fireworks/parades... we may be back for Halloweentime instead.

We also have placeholder bookings on the DCL 5 night Mexico cruises in October, so it would be cool to pair them with some time at Disney.

I really really hope they go all out and do HalloweenTime at DCA. Think of ToT all decked out! California SCREAMIN plays right in... They could even decorate Mickey's Fun Wheel of Death (for real )

 

[Sherry E]

Ack! This makes it so much harder to resist Halloweentime! We were planning on Christmastime at DL but with the news about the fireworks/parades... we may be back for Halloweentime instead.

We also have placeholder bookings on the DCL 5 night Mexico cruises in October, so it would be cool to pair them with some time at Disney.

I really really hope they go all out and do HalloweenTime at DCA. Think of ToT all decked out! California SCREAMIN plays right in... They could even decorate Mickey's Fun Wheel of Death (for real )

I agree!

I just can't see how the Halloween Party would work in Disneyland this year, without causing disruption to the 60th anniversary events. I suppose it's possible that the party could still happen in DL, but to me it doesn't seem very likely unless the plan is to scale back the schedule for Paint the Night and Disneyland Forever after summer ends.

But for some odd reason no one asked or answered any Halloween Time-related questions at the Q&A after the announcement last night. The holidays were mentioned, as we know, but Halloween Time is the giant elephant in the room, as it involves a popular Halloween party and fireworks that would probably take place on at least 14 nights, if not more -- some of which would include several Fridays and a Saturday.

Clearly Disney is not going to miss out on a chance to make lots of money from MHP ticket sales, so they will definitely have the party -- but where, when and how? They can't very well make Paint the Night and Disneyland Forever paid Halloween party exclusives, when they are going to be running those for the general public from May 22nd on through 2016!

So, the more I think about it, I think the party will have to be held in DCA this year. It just makes sense. Something will have to be the selling point of the party in DCA, but there is a lot of potential there if they actually tap into it!

I really think they could do a seaside Halloween Carnival (with that same fortune teller who appeared at the Halloween Carnival in DL last year), and they could use Grizzly Peak to their advantage with the fog and spooky projections. Hollywood Land would work too, if they played up a sort of monster movie theme (or Frightfully Frozen Fun). Buena Vista Street could get retro Halloween décor (just like the window displays on Main Street). Cars Land has tons of whimsical Halloween potential! DLR just has to have a couple of selling points to make people want to buy tickets.

 

[KalamityJane]

They could use Monsters Inc/Monsters University for a monster theme too, that is back there in HollywoodLand. The more I think about it, the better I think it would work at DCA

 

[dolphingirl47]

This was supposed to be a no Disneyland year for me, but I still have some spare leave plus an annual pass and I wonder if I can swing a quick trip (a week) in the second half of September. I need my Halloween fix and I really want to experience the 60th anniversary celebration.

Corinna

 

[KalamityJane]

This was supposed to be a no Disneyland year for me, but I still have some spare leave plus an annual pass and I wonder if I can swing a quick trip (a week) in the second half of September. I need my Halloween fix and I really want to experience the 60th anniversary celebration.

Corinna

DO IT!!

Also, how's the weather end of October? We went in '12 for Gay Days and it was HOT (like it had been above 100 the week before and was in the 90s while we were there). Does it average a bit cooler later? Trying to figure out when we would go, and my hubs gets grumpy with hot weather.

 

[Kilala]

DO IT!!

Also, how's the weather end of October? We went in '12 for Gay Days and it was HOT (like it had been above 100 the week before and was in the 90s while we were there). Does it average a bit cooler later? Trying to figure out when we would go, and my hubs gets grumpy with hot weather.

It will be cooler at night at the end of October. The weather is all over the place in October
I have decided it open a new Photobucket account. This will be only for my costumes only. I will add more space on it next month. My other photobucket will be for trip and family things



Here is are some photos of one of the characters Demeter from the musical Cats. I will be doing a cross between tour 5 and tour 4 and a little freestlye.

Tour 5

tour 4
I have the yellow painted on the unitard. I will do a touch up on the yellow and then I will put the black stripes on it hopefully today. I will have progress pictures up by next weekend

 

[iKristin]

YEEEEESSSSS I am BACK in the Halloween time game this year!!

 

[KalamityJane]

It will be cooler at night at the end of October. The weather is all over the place in October
I have decided it open a new Photobucket account. This will be only for my costumes only. I will add more space on it next month. My other photobucket will be for trip and family things

Wow, your costumes are AWESOME! Definitely upping the ante here

Ok, crowdwise, which week is more ideal? Oct 18-24 or 24-31 (I'd probably switch up the dates but trying to get a gauge on things). We could also go midweek to midweek. Not looking for the Gay Days crowds, it was a little too crazy and hot for us last time.

 

[iKristin]

I always would go the week before halloween (usually between the 18th - 23rd) and the crowds were never bad

 

[Kilala]

I always would go the week before halloween (usually between the 18th - 23rd) and the crowds were never bad

I agree. Although I went the second night of MHP and there was hardly any crowds. Don't go on Halloween night it was crazy crowded.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Ok, I want to give the MHP another try. I now know a good company for renting my scooter, so that problem should be solved. Does anyone have any idea when dates may be announced and ticket sales will begin? I know it's really early yet. I'm just trying to get a gauge on my planning.

9/3/15 will be our 10th anniversary; 9/29 is DH's birthday; 10/2 is my birthday; and 10/20 is our daughter's birthday. So, I've decided we need to celebrate at DLR. (I haven't broken the news to my husband yet).

Our passes expire on 10/18, so we will need to go before then.

Needless to say, I will be keeping my eyes glued to this thread to keep up on the news!

 

[HopLow1968]

I really think they could do a seaside Halloween Carnival (with that same fortune teller who appeared at the Halloween Carnival in DL last year).

Well, if they do a Halloween Carnival than they should definetly tap into, and give a nod to, Disney's movie version of "Something Wicked This Way Comes" A very underrated movie in my opinion.

 

[Kilala]

Here is are some photos of one of the characters Demeter from the musical Cats. I will be doing a cross between tour 5 and tour 4 and a little freestlye.

Tour 5

tour 4
I have the yellow painted on the unitard. I will do a touch up on the yellow and then I will put the black stripes on it hopefully today. I will have progress pictures up by next weekend

Just to let you guys know I did NOT make these costumes. These are from productions of CATS. I wil be sewing up three unitards tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

I'm going to go as Merida. I've picked out my costume from Halloween Wholesalers (and buy through ebates to get some cashback) and I have the wig from when my daughter wanted to be Merida (it fits my small head!), so I'll be all set to go! I think we'll send the girls through the BBB that afternoon after our planned break around lunch and then they'll be in costume and ready for the trick-or-treating that night. My oldest DD is so excited to be ToT in the park this year! Her little sister doesn't know when we're leaving - I'm not telling her til the night before.