HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[Priory]

Sherry, thank you for the news on the other local events!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Any idea whether the Hatbox Ghost would still be visible during the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay?

No idea. This will be the first Haunted Mansion Holiday year when the Hatbox Ghost has been part of the regular Mansion ride. I have no clue whatsoever -- and I could be completely wrong (as it seems I am going to be about the start date of Halloween Time! ) -- but my hunch is that Disney will find a way to keep him on display, even during Haunted Mansion Holiday. They may throw a bow on him, or wrap him up in Christmas paper , but I feel that since he had been gone from the Mansion for so, so, so long, and it was a big deal when he returned, Disney might find a way to work him into the storyline of this year's HMH.

Sherry, thank you for the news on the other local events!!!

No problem! As soon as I saw the start date and the news of the new maze for HHN, as well as the Hayride's theme, I thought of you! I think that Halloween in general is becoming a bigger deal each year, and more people are kind of jumping on the Halloween bandwagon, so it seems like it would be wise for ALL of the Halloween attractions (both horror-based and family-friendly) in SoCal to release their info well in advance, so they can all compete with each other (including Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest, the Los Angeles Zoo's Boo at the Zoo, the Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns -- which is apparently already rapidly selling tickets for its two SoCal locations this year, etc.).

 

[kylie71]

Any idea whether the Hatbox Ghost would still be visible during the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay?

I am wondering this too.... I also am wanting the park hours for early Sept to post........ so I can plan my attack!

--Lori

 

[BobearQSI]

wdwinfo has changed their post to say Sept 11 as the start now too:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/events.html (Scroll down to October, Halloween Time)

 

[Sherry E]

wdwinfo has changed their post to say Sept 11 as the start now too:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/events.html (Scroll down to October, Halloween Time)

wdwinfo is our sister site (or maybe parent site?) -- it's part of the same family as DISboards! It actually said September 11th a long, long time ago -- which did not go unnoticed by some people on this board. But maybe it was removed and then Tom Bell put it back? In any case, it's Tom Bell who updates that info, and he posted here that he can confirm the Haunted Mansion closure dates that were posted on MiceChat.

 

[maltdizzy]

Any idea whether the Hatbox Ghost would still be visible during the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay?

No idea. This will be the first Haunted Mansion Holiday year when the Hatbox Ghost has been part of the regular Mansion ride. I have no clue whatsoever -- and I could be completely wrong (as it seems I am going to be about the start date of Halloween Time! ) -- but my hunch is that Disney will find a way to keep him on display, even during Haunted Mansion Holiday. They may throw a bow on him, or wrap him up in Christmas paper , but I feel that since he had been gone from the Mansion for so, so, so long, and it was a big deal when he returned, Disney might find a way to work him into the storyline of this year's HMH.

I would bet against it. It would be really hard to build a context for the Hotbox Ghost without it seeming forced. HMH is a big draw already. They can save the hatbox Ghost to get people to come back next year. The post-holidays rebuild is often when they make noticeable changes to the attic area.

Would I like to see him when there in October?...kinda, but not out of context.

 

[Sherry E]

I would bet against it. It would be really hard to build a context for the Hotbox Ghost without it seeming forced. HMH is a big draw already. They can save the hatbox Ghost to get people to come back next year.

Would I like to see him when there in October?...kinda, but not out of context.

We shall see what happens! I have a feeling that when the Parks Blog finally starts releasing info about Halloween Time and the various aspects of it (including the annual blogs about Haunted Mansion Holiday), if the Hatbox Ghost is not going to be worked into HMH somehow, they will avoid questions about it when people start asking about HBG in the blog comments! However, if he is being worked into the overlay, they will make sure to include that tidbit in a blog somewhere, I think.

 

[BobearQSI]

I am wondering this too.... I also am wanting the park hours for early Sept to post........ so I can plan my attack!

--Lori

You can at least get an estimate of park hours based on dining reservation availability.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/

For example, if I filter out to only show Disneyland, and try to make an 8am reservation next week, I have an option for 8:10am, which matches the official opening time of 8am. Ignore Plaza Inn, because they do pre-opening character breakfasts.

Wed Sept 2, I can only get a Carnation Cafe reservation for 10am or later. For evening, I can only get 7:50pm. Wed Sept 9, is the same. This matches the typical September weekday schedule of 10am-8pm for Disneyland.

Also keep in mind many of the restaurants close before the park does it, but only if the park is open later.

 

[Kilala]

Here are some drawings of the Halloween cat costume I will be working on in the next couple of weeks.

The sides

the front and back. I have been working on the wig for this costume. More pictures to come. Hopefully I will take a photo shoot in my Electra costume by this Friday. I was going to do it yesterday but, a screwdriver fell on my left foot. It busied with a small hole in it

 

[BobearQSI]

Ha! Using my own advice, I also found out some other info for those of you going around Halloween Time start. The week before Halloween Time is usually when they close Disneyland early for the cast member appreciation party. According to the dining calendar, it looks like this is happening Thursday September 10th. Disneyland will open an hour earlier, 9am, and close at 5pm (this is the times from the last 2 years). Latest reservation I could get at DL is 3:50pm, but at CA I could reserve all evening.

 

[Sherry E]

Well, if Halloween Time is starting on 9/11 or anytime before 9/14, it won't conflict with my jury duty -- so that's a good thing! It will probably be ridiculously hot, but at least I won't have to worry about missing something at DLR because I have to go to the courthouse. I have a feeling that if I tried to postpone jury duty, they would reassign me to December -- which would then interfere with holiday season fun. I'd rather just get it over with, but hopefully it won't conflict with Halloween Time's opening day.

 

[kylie71]

You can at least get an estimate of park hours based on dining reservation availability.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/

For example, if I filter out to only show Disneyland, and try to make an 8am reservation next week, I have an option for 8:10am, which matches the official opening time of 8am. Ignore Plaza Inn, because they do pre-opening character breakfasts.

Wed Sept 2, I can only get a Carnation Cafe reservation for 10am or later. For evening, I can only get 7:50pm. Wed Sept 9, is the same. This matches the typical September weekday schedule of 10am-8pm for Disneyland.

Also keep in mind many of the restaurants close before the park does it, but only if the park is open later.

Thank You, what a cool trick! Now I see the park is closing early on the 10th, so if I want to go, I will have to buy a Halloween Party ticket? Hmmmmmmm that was not in my plan that week.

Thanks again!

--Lori

 

[Sherry E]

Thank You, what a cool trick! Now I see the park is closing early on the 10th, so if I want to go, I will have to buy a Halloween Party ticket? Hmmmmmmm that was not in my plan that week.

Thanks again!

--Lori

Unless we find out differently from the Parks Blog, presumably the Halloween Party is not beginning until 9/25/15. It's Halloween Time that is most likely starting on 9/11.

 

[kylie71]

OK, I mis-read, the 10th is a cast member party....... Jeez, I jumped the gun. Thanks Sherry!
Party On CM's, you deserve it!!
--Lori

 

[Jeff314]

Unless we find out differently from the Parks Blog, presumably the Halloween Party is not beginning until 9/25/15. It's Halloween Time that is most likely starting on 9/11.

We planned, booked and paid for the hopes of a 9/25 Halloween party months ago. We are there for 4 days but only got 3 day passes (buying the MHP tickets when they go on sale for that 4th day) all this delay and speculation is stressing us out haha so the last couple of days of 9/11 being the Halloween start date and 9/25 MHP start date is getting us excited again

 

[BobearQSI]

OK, I mis-read, the 10th is a cast member party...

Just a guess, based on past years, but likely. And remember, DCA is still open until normal time. When I did this week before, we left DL at 5 and used that evening to experience Ariel's Grotto and watch World of Color.

 

[Sherry E]

It's interesting that, in reading some comments around the Internet (now and in past weeks), people either seem surprised or even disappointed that all signs point to Halloween Time and especially the Holiday season commencing as usual (with the exception of maybe a couple of the holiday nighttime events not happening).

I know that the 60th anniversary is a big deal, but most likely all of the nighttime entertainment for the Diamond Celebration is going to carry on for the rest of the year and into next -- so people will probably be able to enjoy all of the new entertainment through the next couple of seasons.

But why would anyone have thought that the 60th anniversary would totally obliterate Holiday season decorations or the pumpkins on Main Street? The actual 60th anniversary decorations, such as they are, are not enough to totally take the place of a fully immersive Holiday decorations package, which involves theme-specific décor all over both parks, in the hotels, restaurants, etc. Disney takes its holiday season celebration very seriously -- it's not a casual, "Hmm... should we celebrate the holidays or not this year?" It's a huge deal, and many people plan annual trips just to be there for the season. The pumpkins on Main Street are integral to the whole Halloween Time experience as well. Some blue bunting here and there and some random diamond-studded things are not going to replace all of the Halloween and Holiday season décor. They may be integrated into the Holiday décor, but I'm pretty sure they will not replace all (or most) of it.

 

[maltdizzy]

I expect their will be some 60th additions to both Halloween and holiday decorations, even if small ones (a 60th pumpkin; diamonds; etc.). But come January, I would expect the 60th to kick back into fullswing and last until next September and parade and fireworks long after that.

 

[Sherry E]

I expect their will be some 60th additions to both Halloween and holiday decorations, even if small ones (a 60th pumpkin; diamonds; etc.). But come January, I would expect the 60th to kick back into fullswing and last until next September and parade and fireworks long after that.

That is what I expect as well. I think that some of the existing 60th 'diamond-y' things will stay up. I expect that most of the Halloween and Holiday season décor will return to its usual spots. And I expect that there may be some new pieces added in -- as you said, a 60th pumpkin, or a diamond pumpkin (which sounds weird ), a diamond-decorated Christmas tree somewhere around DLR, maybe some extra sparkly Christmas decorations in certain spots, etc. But it will be back. That 'Castle cake' in the GCH lobby is not going to be there all year, so I'm sure that another gingerbread creation is coming to the GCH lobby for the holidays.

 

[Tablefor5]

So, what is everyone thinking for fireworks during Halloween Time?
I love the Halloween Screams but I am also wanting to see the Disneyland Forever...