HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[Sherry E]

OK, I actually just laughed out loud at that.

Remember how hard it was for me to adjust to later planning on the DL side of things? Well, I'm adjusting and actually starting to embrace that side of it. But still, it was hard to watch Christmas and Halloween party tickets go on sale in the past week on the WDW side of things. I'm really hoping for something a teensy bit earlier than December! LOL. Maybe November?

I'm really glad we saw the Christmas parade 4 times over the past 2 years. I feel like we've done that thoroughly and now look forward to embracing a new season. Although the thought of experiencing the debut of a new hard ticket event would still call my name.........

It wouldn't be right if I wasn't conflicted about something, right?

The good part is that we never experienced the party in DL. So if it moves, it won't feel like a lesser event to us.

Very true.

I still can't figure out why Disney assumes that no one -- not even the locals -- wants to know details and dates well in advance, but that seems to be the case. I couldn't believe it when I saw that the Halloween and Christmas party tickets had gone on sale for WDW, and yet I know it happens every year. They are way ahead of us in terms of lining up their special events. Their Candlelight narrators should be announced very soon, too, shouldn't they? Whereas our CP narrators are kept a mystery because Disney doesn't want to draw attention to the fact that there is a CP at DL before it happens.

I guess the question is, if you go forward with planning to visit for Halloween Time and set the planning wheels in motion, how late would be too late to suddenly change the trip to a holiday trip if some big 'holiday season event news' were to come out? In other words, is there a month at which point it would be too late to switch from Halloween to Christmas if we were to find out about some sort of party? Or would you be more inclined to keep the Halloween trip plan and then just try to squeeze in a short holiday season trip?

 

[lorijohnhill]

I was talking on the phone with a CM about a DVA question. You can use it to pay for room only at WDW but not at DLR. I said it was as if Disneyland was the "red-headed step-child" and he got quite a laugh out of that. We both agreed that it made no sense seeing as how Disneyland is where it all began!

 

[mom2rtk]

Very true.

I still can't figure out why Disney assumes that no one -- not even the locals -- wants to know details and dates well in advance, but that seems to be the case. I couldn't believe it when I saw that the Halloween and Christmas party tickets had gone on sale for WDW, and yet I know it happens every year. They are way ahead of us in terms of lining up their special events. Their Candlelight narrators should be announced very soon, too, shouldn't they? Whereas our CP narrators are kept a mystery because Disney doesn't want to draw attention to the fact that there is a CP at DL before it happens.

I guess the question is, if you go forward with planning to visit for Halloween Time and set the planning wheels in motion, how late would be too late to suddenly change the trip to a holiday trip if some big 'holiday season event news' were to come out? In other words, is there a month at which point it would be too late to switch from Halloween to Christmas if we were to find out about some sort of party? Or would you be more inclined to keep the Halloween trip plan and then just try to squeeze in a short holiday season trip?

For me the point of no return will be when I make the Halloweenified princess gown Katie and I have been kicking around for several years. Once I cut fabric, I will be fully committed! (Or ready to BE committed! )

I jest. A little........

I think any hotel reservation we make could be changed. And we usually fly Southwest, and those tickets can be changed without penalty. Maybe I NEED something to pin me down!

I don't think the CP narrators at WDW are announced until summer, maybe late July? And even then there are usually some holes in the lineup while they are waiting for the stars to commit. I suppose it's possible even some celebrities don't like to plan as far ahead as WDW does!

I would love to try and squeeze in 2 holiday trips. But we can't do Halloween until the very last week because I think Katie will be playing volleyball and won't finish up until just before then. And since she's starting high school I don't want her to miss any days late in the semester, so December is out. So that leaves only November if we want to do Christmas. I doubt I can sell anyone here on two trips 2 weeks apart!

 

[lorijohnhill]

I doubt I can sell anyone here on two trips 2 weeks apart!

What about one really long trip???

 

[mom2rtk]

What about one really long trip???

I do like your thinking!

But I'm pushing my luck already. She has one day off already that last week of October so she'd miss 4 days of school. Anything more and she'd have too big a battle catching up when we get back.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Yeah, I tell ya', life does have a way of getting in the way of Disney plans.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yeah, I tell ya', life does have a way of getting in the way of Disney plans.

Precisely!

 

[iKristin]

I've only experienced Christmas at Disneyland once, so I'm super happy to be able to go whenever I want now and go this year!! My birthday is during the Christmas time so I really want to go for my birthday for once. Halloween is still my favorite though But it's also my favorite time of year and my favorite holiday!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Just checked my Alaska flights on a whim... And they changed the times--and for once it worked out in my favor! We now arrive at SNA 30 minutes earlier on 10/25 (9 am now) and leave two hours later on 10/29 (3:10 pm now)! Now I can really justify that last day park hopper. I was struggling with doing a 5 day when our flight left at 1 pm. Knowing we would only have maybe 8-10 am in the park that morning... Now we have till lunch time! Whoot whoot!

 

[TLPL]

I have a question but I am afraid you guys might flame me:
What is it so special about this Halloween party? Seriously I would like to know if it worth going.
The reason I asked is that we are planning a trip to Disneyland Resort at the beginning of October. We will be staying on site for 4 nights. I am trying to decide which ticket to get for my trip. I understand the per day cost would be cheaper if I purchase a 4 or 5 day pass and the Halloween party is a separate ticket event. If I decide to go to the party I will need to buy the party ticket on top of the regular multi day tickets. I am trying to figure out if it worth the extra money.
What do you get for the extra party ticket that you can't get during the regular non party park time?
Please help me decide if it worth the extra money or should I use it for some other experience during my trip.

Thanks

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

We've done two parties, and I know Halloweentime has gotten a lot busier. But what we like about the parties is the decor, relatively short ride lines (especially early when everyone is hoarding candy), the uniqueness of trick or treating in Disneyland (which we do later after the candy lines have died down), we even like the meet and greets... But we don't go stand in long lines for those, we kinda wander and if a line is short we'll hop in it lol

Depending on when a party hits for us, we will probably do the parks in the morning, go back for a nap and get cleaned up and then the party that night... So we will need a day ticket as well. Others use that day as a sleep in, do the pools etc hotel day, and then hit the party as soon as it opens that night.

 

[Sherry E]

I have a question but I am afraid you guys might flame me:
What is it so special about this Halloween party? Seriously I would like to know if it worth going.
The reason I asked is that we are planning a trip to Disneyland Resort at the beginning of October. We will be staying on site for 4 nights. I am trying to decide which ticket to get for my trip. I understand the per day cost would be cheaper if I purchase a 4 or 5 day pass and the Halloween party is a separate ticket event. If I decide to go to the party I will need to buy the party ticket on top of the regular multi day tickets. I am trying to figure out if it worth the extra money.
What do you get for the extra party ticket that you can't get during the regular non party park time?
Please help me decide if it worth the extra money or should I use it for some other experience during my trip.

Thanks

TLPL --

Oh goodness, no -- we won't flame you! If you've skimmed through any of the pages of this thread you will see that we are friendly people. This is not a 'flaming kind of thread.' We're here to help, and to give useful information. I have been managing this Halloween Time Superthread (starting with the original version of it) for years now, and although I encourage people to visit for Halloween Time I have always been vocal about the season's strengths and weaknesses, as well as whether or not I think Mickey's Halloween Party is worth the cost. I will always give an honest opinion, but that opinion could change over time.

I will start by saying that I enjoy Mickey's Halloween Party. I think it's fun. I like the interesting treat trails around Disneyland. I like the eerie nighttime effects (such as the projections and lighting on the Castle) and extra decorations that go up in a few places. I like the crazy costumes that many of the guests wear. I like the special photo spots with characters (some of whom don't appear anywhere outside of the party). I like the Halloween Screams fireworks (a party exclusive). It's just an overall good time.

What I don't like about the party is that the tickets keep getting more expensive even though nothing new is really being added in to the roster of party-specific entertainment, but I guess that is typical. I also don't like that the party feels more crowded than it should for a hard ticket, exclusive event. I think that Disney oversells the tickets and it shouldn't feel as crowded.

I think the issue is that Mickey's Halloween Party has become almost necessary to be able to fully enjoy Halloween Time at Disneyland. Disneyland Resort has scaled back its Halloween décor quite a bit from what it once was. California Adventure has been almost completely lacking in Halloween décor since 2010, and feels very detached from the season. There are generally no noteworthy, annual, Halloween-specific events or decorations to be found at any of the hotels or even in Downtown Disney (unlike at WDW, where some of the resort CMs get involved in a pumpkin carving contest). Disneyland park pretty much has the bulk of all things Halloween, and even then, the decorations are primarily concentrated on Main Street and in Frontierland, though you will find Haunted Mansion Holiday in New Orleans Square and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy in Tomorrowland. The rest of Disneyland doesn't feel very Halloween-ish to me, honestly.

Personally, I can go to the park, skip the actual party and still have a good day of Halloween Time fun, while still thinking that Disney should increase the Halloween Time offerings around the whole resort. Other people -- like, perhaps, those who have never been to Disneyland for Halloween Time -- may find that, outside of the party and the 2 ride overlays, the offerings are a little thin. And they wouldn't be incorrect about that. The Halloween Carnival in Frontierland is a great place with a lot of things going on (including incredible pumpkin carvers), but it is one location -- and it's a location that a lot of people never even visit because it's out of their way.

So I think that the Halloween party itself becomes more integral to the Halloween season simply because it 'fills in the gaps,' I guess you could say. It kind of completes the whole Halloween picture and makes Halloween Time at DLR a more fully-fleshed out season. I don't need to do Mickey's Halloween Party every year -- I can skip it here and there -- but other people go every year and love it. It's worth it for me... sometimes, but not always. Some people will feel the ticket price is worth it, and some will not.

This post that will tell you all about Mickey's Halloween Party, and if click the link near the top of the post to read reviews -- from first-timers and veterans -- of the party you will find out what kinds of experiences were had: http://www.disboards.com/threads/ha...ut-halloween-time-2015.3270919/#post-51326916

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[HopLow1968]

I haven't been to the Park in 20 years (excited to go again soon!), but one thing I remember from the halloween party I went to way back when was that they had a ton of smoke machines going at night along the river front in NOS. So much so that at times you could almost think you were in a Victorian London scene (ok, maybe it was just the thick "fog" and the lamp-posts). I haven't heard anybody mention whether Disneyland uses smoke machines during MHP. Seems like a good relatively cheap way to add to the ambience.

 

[lorijohnhill]

We loved the Halloween Carnival, though you don't need party tickets to experience it during the day. The pre-party was really fun. Only ticket holders can enter and the characters had different costumes than they wore during the day.

 

[Sherry E]

I haven't been to the Park in 20 years (excited to go again soon!), but one thing I remember from the halloween party I went to way back when was that they had a ton of smoke machines going at night along the river front in NOS. So much so that at times you could almost think you were in a Victorian London scene (ok, maybe it was just the thick "fog" and the lamp-posts). I haven't heard anybody mention whether Disneyland uses smoke machines during MHP. Seems like a good relatively cheap way to add to the ambience.

My goodness! You have a lot of catching up to do at Disneyland after all that time away! A lot of things will seem familiar, and a lot of things will seem so new and different.

One person in my Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread went to DLR last year for her first trip in over 30 years. I expected it to be more overwhelming for her than it was -- so many things had changed since her previous trip. Certain things were gone forever; certain things were brand new; certain things had been moved around or remodeled. There was a whole extra park, two extra hotels and Downtown Disney added in since her trip in the '80s! Plus, on top of all of that, she had all of the holiday events and décor to take in. I was really impressed that she seemed to go in expecting the huge changes (and she had been keeping up with all of the news as well), dealing with them accordingly, knowing what she wanted to see, do and eat in the two parks and at the hotels, and coming out of it having had a great time, and not too terribly overwhelmed.

They do have a "fog effect" along the river front and over the Rivers of America during Mickey's Halloween Party. It's very cool. There is also a bit of fog and some nifty lighting effects in spots along the Big Thunder Trail.

I didn't go to the party back when it was held in Disneyland in the mid-'90s, but after that it was shelved completely for almost a decade, only to finally make its grand return at California Adventure in 2005 (coincidentally, the year of DL's 50th anniversary). And then in 2010 the party moved over to Disneyland again. Who knows what will happen this year? I can't wait to find out!

 

[keishashadow]

Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy ??? I need to research this, first I've seen it referenced. more stuff is good lol

TLPL referenced buying both regular park tix and the party tix for the same day. I had assumed we could just enter with the party tix either at the state time or perhaps a bit earlier (WDW's versions starts at 7 pm but permits entrance @ 4 pm).

 

[iKristin]

Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy ??? I need to research this, first I've seen it referenced. more stuff is good lol

TLPL referenced buying both regular park tix and the party tix for the same day. I had assumed we could just enter with the party tix either at the state time or perhaps a bit earlier (WDW's versions starts at 7 pm but permits entrance @ 4 pm).

Ghost Galaxy is pretty neat, but the projectors inside Space Mountain are definitely in need of updating soon. I like the music more than the projections of weird skeleton aliens trying to chase you down in the coaster (which again, bad projectors...you can't see much really well). Though I DO love that the inside and outside has been taken over during it as well. I love the sounds and lights on the outside of the ride I use the first part of the ride sound as my halloween ring tone every year hehe. Enjoy a great video of the ride below. The video has been altered so the projections are brighter than they actually are when you're on the ride. Also, if staying anywhere within visual range of Space Mountain (hotels, motels...) you can hear the outside sounds even after closing. They are really loud.

OUTSIDE:

INSIDE:

 

[keishashadow]

iKristen thank you so much! I cannot wait to see it in RL

 

[iKristin]

iKristen thank you so much! I cannot wait to see it in RL

I think you'll love it

 

[White Rose]

Weird question....we are going in Oct....does anyone sell the music from ghost galaxy? My hubby loves it. We do a big Halloween display and we have halloween Disney music...but not the ghost galaxy sounds...