HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[gavakie]

WE did the Halloween party last year and are going back again this year. We are going to be at the party on Halloween this year. Is it any different?

 

[bethwc101]

So does that mean the 8-11 they will be putting up the decorations? We will be there and were hoping to miss the opening week of Halloween craze. Ugh looks like we just hit it

 

[wdwfan22]

I think my question got lost in the flurry of activity a couple pages ago. Does anyone know how late I can make a dining reservation on a party night that I am not staying for??

I am deciding between 1 or 2 parties, so if I just go for one, I would like to make the latest reservation possible at Café Orleans so we can sit outside and maybe see some costumes and maybe a foggy Rivers of America. I am not trying to partake of any party activities and will leave as soon as our meal is over.

I know someone knows the answer to this! Thanks so much!!

 

[V.I.N.C.E.N.T.]

Decorations in place, HM and Space open. If there is a Halloween tour again, they would start that day. Treats in the shops, merchandise, etc.

Thank you!

So does that mean the 8-11 they will be putting up the decorations? We will be there and were hoping to miss the opening week of Halloween craze. Ugh looks like we just hit it

We will be there the 6-11. Not too concerned, I've been to the park as the Christmas decorations went up. Was not bad at all. I think most people wait until October and/or the Halloween parties to go. Friday should be more crowded than the rest of the week anyway. Would be a good time to reserve a dinner at the Blue Bayou and take it slow

 

[jammyjam25]

I think my question got lost in the flurry of activity a couple pages ago. Does anyone know how late I can make a dining reservation on a party night that I am not staying for??

I am deciding between 1 or 2 parties, so if I just go for one, I would like to make the latest reservation possible at Café Orleans so we can sit outside and maybe see some costumes and maybe a foggy Rivers of America. I am not trying to partake of any party activities and will leave as soon as our meal is over.

I know someone knows the answer to this! Thanks so much!!

My understanding is that all non-party guests have to be completely out by the time the party starts (6 or 7 depending on the night), so I don't think they'd let any reservations be made late enough that would allow non-party guests to "linger" to see any of the festivities. I guess we'll have to wait until the reservation calendar goes out far enough to the first party date to see what the options are!

Also, you will be able to see costumes even without a dinner reservation because party guests are allowed in three hours prior to the start time.

 

[adalsolica]

Erin just now confirmed that Paint the Night will run every night during Halloween time!!!

 

[tzeitel]

Has anyone gone to the Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns? The DLR Halloween party prices are a little high for us this year so I was looking around the area for other Halloween activities. We don't want anything too scary (don't know how DD would react) and this looked good. Checked TripAdvisor and it only has 5 reviews (4 good ones). Anyway, has anyone gone? There are 2 locations - Santa Anita Park in Arcadia and Descanso Gardens - is one better than the other?

 

[paul16451]

Darn it...I made a decision that I would apply for a Disney Visa card so I could buy my Halloween party tickets a week in advance, only to be told that the card approval process can take up to 10 business days. I stopped the process before finalizing the card, as I don't really need or want another credit card, but this particular Disney perk convinced me to try, LOL! Other perks offered by the card don't interest me, as I plan on buying a Premier annual pass while I'm down there (as I have an additional weeklong trip to DW scheduled this December!), and the perks from that nice big pass are equivalent or better than a Disney Visa card.

So now I have to rely that at least 4 tickets for the eve we need to go...in fact, the only eve we CAN go (Oct 2)...will still be available on July 29.... I'll probably be OK since the earlier parties have a history of not selling out so quickly...(*crosses fingers*)...

 

[gavakie]

Darn it...I made a decision that I would apply for a Disney Visa card so I could buy my Halloween party tickets a week in advance, only to be told that the card approval process can take up to 10 business days. I stopped the process before finalizing the card, as I don't really need or want another credit card, but this particular Disney perk convinced me to try, LOL! Other perks offered by the card don't interest me, as I plan on buying a Premier annual pass while I'm down there (as I have an additional weeklong trip to DW scheduled this December!), and the perks from that nice big pass are equivalent or better than a Disney Visa card.

So now I have to rely that at least 4 tickets for the eve we need to go...in fact, the only eve we CAN go (Oct 2)...will still be available on July 29.... I'll probably be OK since the earlier parties have a history of not selling out so quickly...(*crosses fingers*)...

You can open up a checking with Chase and get there Disney Visa. You can still order early. We did this last year.

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Does anyone think they'll show Fantasmic during the week on non-party nights?

 

[Comicbookmommy]

WOOO yeah!! Going to go to MHP Halloween night!!

 

[bcwife76]

Erin just now confirmed that Paint the Night will run every night during Halloween time!!!

Phew!!! Thank goodness. We are NOT doing the party and our only opportunity to see both the Disneyland Forever fireworks and PTN would be Thurs Oct 1.

 

[mummabear]

OK, I'm glad dates are out. But I'm not really as excited as I thought I'd be about all of this. I was looking forward to the costume cavalcade which is not happening. I was already going to see Paint the Night. I know some get excited about the trick or treating, but we don't care that much about it.

What's left for us, and what will get me to still buy tickets is meeting the villains. Can those who have been there before give me a rundown on which villains they met and how hard it is to find all of them? Do they have set spots and times or do I just have to be lucky to find them. I remember reading about "Conjure up a Villain" but don't remember if that was what they did during the party or during regular park hours.

I suppose since all the parties generally sell out, I will need to commit on doing one party or two well in advance so I need to evaluate this now.

Conjure a villain is available during normal park hours, I don't know if it is available during the parties.
It took us about 45 minutes a time between he wait in line and the "show" part
It is cool but frustrating as you have no idea who you will meet so you can invest that time and end up with the same villain as last time.
When we did it we noticed a lot of people leaving once the villain was revealed presumably because they had wanted a different one

 

[mom2rtk]

Conjure a villain is available during normal park hours, I don't know if it is available during the parties.
It took us about 45 minutes a time between he wait in line and the "show" part
It is cool but frustrating as you have no idea who you will meet so you can invest that time and end up with the same villain as last time.
When we did it we noticed a lot of people leaving once the villain was revealed presumably because they had wanted a different one

Sounds as frustrating as it used to be looking for a specific princess at Princess Fantasy Faire. Yuck.

I hope they have a different arrangement during the parties.

 

[kaoden39]

I have a question for you all. I know in past years there has been holiday related food. Does anyone have any ideas of different offerings they might have?

 

[mummabear]

I think my question got lost in the flurry of activity a couple pages ago. Does anyone know how late I can make a dining reservation on a party night that I am not staying for??

I am deciding between 1 or 2 parties, so if I just go for one, I would like to make the latest reservation possible at Café Orleans so we can sit outside and maybe see some costumes and maybe a foggy Rivers of America. I am not trying to partake of any party activities and will leave as soon as our meal is over.

I know someone knows the answer to this! Thanks so much!!

I know at WDW you can make an ADR for 5 minutes before closing time but not after "closing" time unless you have a party ticket.
A CM will escort you out and you are not allowed to stop for anything even the bathroom.
This however doesn't really mean anything for DLR

Sounds as frustrating as it used to be looking for a specific princess at Princess Fantasy Faire. Yuck.

I hope they have a different arrangement during the parties.

Even worse, at least with the princesses they would tell you who was there before you wait in line

 

[mom2rtk]

Even worse, at least with the princesses they would tell you who was there before you wait in line

They do now. But they didn't when PFF was over where Mickey and the Magical Map is now. They wouldn't even tell you when you were next to go in. And that line was much slower because there was only one set ever meeting at one time.

 

[JessieD]

So, this will be my husband and son's first time at the parks. I haven't been since 2001-2002ish and I know air has changed since then. We will be in CA 26-31st of October with the 26 and 31 being travel days. We plan on doing the party the Tuesday the 27th. My son will turn 5 during our trip. So, my question is should I get a 3 day hopper pass for wed, thurs, fri or get a 2 day hopper pass and have a "down" day. I want to be in the parks as much as possible, but I'm not sure how much is too much for a 5 year old.

 

[nicolispicoli]

So, this will be my husband and son's first time at the parks. I haven't been since 2001-2002ish and I know air has changed since then. We will be in CA 26-31st of October with the 26 and 31 being travel days. We plan on doing the party the Tuesday the 27th. My son will turn 5 during our trip. So, my question is should I get a 3 day hopper pass for wed, thurs, fri or get a 2 day hopper pass and have a "down" day. I want to be in the parks as much as possible, but I'm not sure how much is too much for a 5 year old.

I think you'll be fine with 3 days, just do 3 at a slower pace. I mean, you know your son better, but my dd is 4 and we usually do 4 days no problem. She manages to make it to fireworks each night and then she's out like a light on the way back to wherever we're staying. I should add we usually go when I consider it to be fairly quiet (February/November), so the hours are usually 10-8 except for any weekend days we go, that helps a lot. She doesn't nap at all, but we usually have to go back to the room and chill out for a bit so she doesn't turn into a crab apple.

 

[lorijohnhill]

So, this will be my husband and son's first time at the parks. I haven't been since 2001-2002ish and I know air has changed since then. We will be in CA 26-31st of October with the 26 and 31 being travel days. We plan on doing the party the Tuesday the 27th. My son will turn 5 during our trip. So, my question is should I get a 3 day hopper pass for wed, thurs, fri or get a 2 day hopper pass and have a "down" day. I want to be in the parks as much as possible, but I'm not sure how much is too much for a 5 year old.

It really depends upon your child's energy level and whether he needs naps. We went when my daughter had just turned 4 (for Thanksgiving) and she did just fine for 4 days (and with no stroller). We didn't do the fireworks with her because she couldn't handle the noise at the time, but we also did not go back during the day for rest or naps. You could always purchase the 2 day hopper and gauge it as you go... you can upgrade your 2 day to a three day any time during your trip.