HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[rreading]

Digging through the pages but unable to find an answer

We're going to be at DLR for 2 1/2 days Oct 9-11.

Had planned to to the Halloween Party with the parade/fireworks and catch a few rides. Then we'd have to decide on Fantasmic/WOC/DF over the next two nights.

Bringing my parents who've never been to DL but WDW tons of times.

My question is regarding crowds: if many are worried about the parties "selling out" - does that mean the the crowds for rides (Space Mountain, others...) will not be too bad, or is it pretty much like a normal night?

TIA

 

[Sherry E]

Digging through the pages but unable to find an answer

We're going to be at DLR for 2 1/2 days Oct 9-11.

Had planned to to the Halloween Party with the parade/fireworks and catch a few rides. Then we'd have to decide on Fantasmic/WOC/DF over the next two nights.

Bringing my parents who've never been to DL but WDW tons of times.

My question is regarding crowds: if many are worried about the parties "selling out" - does that mean the the crowds for rides (Space Mountain, others...) will not be too bad, or is it pretty much like a normal night?

TIA

The lines for rides like Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday will still be on the long-ish side -- because they're so popular. They may not be as long as they could be on a normal night or day, but there will still be a lot of people. A lot of the other rides will have short lines, or will be walk-ons.

 

[JinglePoem]

On the MHP page on the DLR website it says:
"

• Take a spooky stroll down Main Street, U.S.A., which is transformed into a Pumpkin Festival with hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins on display—and no two alike."

That is good news, but it doesn't mean they will have the pumpkin carving at the Carnival area, sadly. And now I'm with Sherry, in being worried there won't BE a Carnival nor a Jingle Jangle...and both are huge hits with my six year old (and, to be honest, with me as well)

(Feeling that nagging resentment over the 60th, again, lol!)

 

[Sherry E]

That is good news, but it doesn't mean they will have the pumpkin carving at the Carnival area, sadly. And now I'm with Sherry, in being worried there won't BE a Carnival nor a Jingle Jangle...and both are huge hits with my six year old (and, to be honest, with me as well)

(Feeling that nagging resentment over the 60th, again, lol!)

Well, before it was just a suspicion of mine -- when Erin did not mention the Carnival in the blog, but she specifically mentioned other things, my Halloween radar went off and I wondered. But now that I have seen first-hand that the carvers have not been lined up, AND that the decorators have been told that they are "not having anything this year," I think it stands to reason that the Halloween Carnival is going to take a hit in some way. Either it just won't come back at all this year, or it will be lacking a big highlight -- the pumpkin carvers.

I don't know if the JJJ will suffer the same fate. The holiday season is a bigger deal at DLR than Halloween is, so they may treat it with a little more care. But we'll see. I don't trust it.

 

[jammyjam25]

The Halloween Carnival potentially going away is not the kind of news I was wanting to hear today! I've loved seeing the carved pumpkins via photos the last couple of years and was so looking forward to seeing them in person finally this year!

What a bummer!

 

[Sherry E]

The Halloween Carnival potentially going away is not the kind of news I was wanting to hear today! I've loved seeing the carved pumpkins via photos the last couple of years and was so looking forward to seeing them in person finally this year!

What a bummer!

I'm very annoyed, and hope that Disney somehow comes to its senses at the last minute and throws together a Halloween Carnival. Unless they are secretly adding in some new Halloween thing that has not been announced yet, that season cannot afford to lose ANY of its highlights. It is underdeveloped as it is anyway. The Halloween Carnival was a hub of many Halloween activities in one spot!

Supposedly, Santa will be back in his log cabin this year -- meaning, he won't be out in the festival part of the Jingle Jangle Jamboree, which now gives me more reason to wonder if the JJJ is going away too.

 

[stephanie22]

Oh no! I hope the Halloween Carnival doesn't go away! That was one of the best parts of our trip last year, and we were really looking forward to enjoying it again this year.

ETA: if it does go away and we want to write in to complain where would we find the address to do so?

 

[Sherry E]

Oh no! I hope the Halloween Carnival doesn't go away! That was one of the best parts of our trip last year, and we were really looking forward to enjoying it again this year. I

It was, indeed, a highlight. There were many things all located in that one spot, but the pumpkin carvers were the best! I just cant even imagine why having the Carnival in the area would be a problem -- unless it's just a monetary issue on Disney's end. I am hoping they put something together in that area for Halloween Time. What else could it be used for?

 

[mummabear]

@Sherry E I wonder what that means for Pirates League and Villians meet?

 

[Sherry E]

@Sherry E I wonder what that means for Pirates League and Villians meet?

Well, if, indeed, there is nothing going on, Halloween-wise, in that specific area this year, either the Conjure a Villain "tent" could move somewhere else -- maybe somewhere in the Paradise Pier area of California Adventure?? -- or they could just set up a separate Villains photo spot somewhere else, out in the open (no tent), like they did in the old days, before the Halloween Carnival was a thing.

Or, they could make the Villains MHP exclusives, or somehow exclusive to a hard ticket event of some sort (like what they did at WDW last year -- a hard ticket Villain event within a hard ticket party event!).

Pirates League -- who knows? If it gets displaced I suppose it could be set up elsewhere.

 

[pudinhd]

It sounds very much like the Halloween Carnival (photos of which can be found on page 1 of this thread) may NOT be back this year. And if the Carnival DOES return, it sounds as though the pumpkin carvers may NOT be there. There may not be pumpkin carvers anywhere at DLR. This makes me soooooooooo mad. The Carnival is tucked out of the way, in Frontierland, and I don't see how it could possibly interfere with anything 60th anniversary-related.

Sigh. This does not look good for the Jingle Jangle Jamboree during the holidays either.

I have to admit that this makes me very nervous... I love this area and the fun you can find tucked away from the madness!! I am really worried they are taking this away (along with ToonTown) for whatever new areas they have planned. :/ If they don't have this area open, it makes me think it is the beginning of the end...

 

[lorijohnhill]

So, my question is.... If we are getting so much less (no cavalcade parade and if no carnival, that means no carnival pre-party) why do the tickets cost so much more?

 

[Kilala]

I hope they at least have the Toon Town pre-party. That's a bummer that they will not have the Halloween Carnival this year. That was fun going to see last year.

 

[Sherry E]

I have to admit that this makes me very nervous... I love this area and the fun you can find tucked away from the madness!! I am really worried they are taking this away (along with ToonTown) for whatever new areas they have planned. :/ If they don't have this area open, it makes me think it is the beginning of the end...

Yeah, it seems like that area would have to be used for something at some point. So if it is not going to be used for seasonal events, then it might have another purpose in the bigger picture, down the road. The Halloween Carnival could always return this year - and maybe just without pumpkin carvers (though that would be ridiculous). Seeing that the season begins on 9/11 and we're already at 7/24 (where is the year going?), it seems unlikely that Disney would not have already contacted their pumpkin carvers to lock them in for Halloween Time.

Perhaps the little "Scare-Dy Crow Shack" will be back (with the vintage Halloween décor inside), as that was sort of on the fringe of the Carnival, originally being part of the Halloween Round-Up in the pre-Carnival days. They've got to position the pumpkin people around the area, or put them somewhere in the park! I realize there are "sparkling" new decorations for Halloween (with a Diamond anniversary theme), but I doubt they would be sparkling in Frontierland.

Santa Claus is supposedly going to be back inside his cabin this year (meaning not out in the open) -- which is much better for weather purposes, if we get pummeled with the El Nino-related rain that is expected in the winter. But his being in the cabin could also be a sign that the festival area -- the part that would normally encompass the Jingle Jangle Jamboree -- is not going to be operating this year. Now we have to hold our collective breath on that too!

So, my question is.... If we are getting so much less (no cavalcade parade and if no carnival, that means no carnival pre-party) why do the tickets cost so much more?

I think it's crazy that Disney raised the prices of MHP and then stuck a parade in the party that can be seen on any other night this year. The Cavalcade was underwhelming -- it was not a big deal -- but it was Halloween party-specific.

 

[mummabear]

I hope they at least have the Toon Town pre-party

More than anything yes! I want the girls to trick or treat Minnies house!

 

[seobaina]

Ok feels big dumb here but what pre-party? And carnival? I was at mhp in 2013 and we stumbled across the conjure a villain area. Met Donald there too but it was by chance. Didn't notice anything major in pumpkins apart from a couple of kids carving. Is that what ur talking about? I totally get people being upset about less 'Halloween' stuff but I am personally glad they're keeping 60th stuff on too cause I only get to Disneyland every couple of years and am looking forward to seeing the 60th celebrations. But I know for some of you the trip is more about the Disney Halloween than the park. X

 

[Sherry E]

Ok feels big dumb here but what pre-party? And carnival? I was at mhp in 2013 and we stumbled across the conjure a villain area. Met Donald there too but it was by chance. Didn't notice anything major in pumpkins apart from a couple of kids carving. Is that what ur talking about? I totally get people being upset about less 'Halloween' stuff but I am personally glad they're keeping 60th stuff on too cause I only get to Disneyland every couple of years and am looking forward to seeing the 60th celebrations. But I know for some of you the trip is more about the Disney Halloween than the park. X

Believe me, I have been going to Disneyland since at least 1972, if not earlier, and Disneyland will always hold a huge place in my heart and in my life. I'm thrilled that it has been around for 60 years. I love the park. But if they are going to have a Halloween Time season, I want Halloween themes and décor. Otherwise, they should not call it Halloween Time and market it as such if the 60th anniversary is going to eclipse it. They could still have MHP without Halloween Time, per se. That's what they did before Halloween Time was created. They just had the party.

The Halloween Carnival would have in no way interfered with the 60th anniversary. It is tucked out of the way, unlike the pumpkins on Main Street -- which are right there in the spotlight at DL.

The Halloween Carnival is/was a major hub of Halloween Time activity. The pumpkin carvers are amazing -- one of them is also someone who decorates the character eggs around Easter. They are skilled, professional carvers, who make elaborate, creative Disney character pumpkins, every day, all season long. It's a highlight of the season and of that specific area.

Also at the Halloween Carnival -- Conjure a Villain, Pirates League, the Scare-Dy Crow Shack, Halloween games, crafts and treats, entertainment, all kinds of rustic pumpkins and fall decor, etc. The characters are there in costume as well, but they can be stationed elsewhere.

Last year there were two pre-parties (basically, characters and some treat stations) that started a little bit before MHP began, and they were held in Toontown and at the Carnival/Ranch area. It's for little ones who have to get home and go to sleep, and can't necessarily hang around the MHP all night, collecting candy.

 

[seobaina]

Wow, I've missed most of that in the past. Is pirates league where they have had jack or Peter? What's scare dy crow?

 

[Sherry E]

Wow, I've missed most of that in the past. Is pirates league where they have had jack or Peter? What's scare dy crow?

The Scare-Dy Crow Shack is a little log cabin sort of situation, which houses some cool vintage Halloween decorations, and some of the "Pumpkin People" I have mentioned (figures with pumpkin heads and different outfits). I think the Shack is there mainly to be a back-up photo/meet & greet spot in case it rains. That is kind of what it's used for when Santa Claus meets guests during the holidays. His photo spot (at the Jingle Jangle Jamboree) is outdoors, but if there is a threat of rain or wind, or if it is really cold, he goes inside the cabin and poses for photos there. During Halloween Time, I think it can be used as a back up for Woody or maybe any of the other characters in costume there, who pose for photos and meet guests.

Jack Sparrow is not at the Pirates League. He's only out at MHP these days. The spot where he and Peter Pan, Captain Hook, etc. are stationed at the party is in a different location than the Carnival. Pirates League is for kids to get made up as pirates, complete with accessories and make-up and so on. The individual stations around the Carnival could probably all be moved to other places if the Carnival is not back this year, but it was convenient having them all in that one main spot.

 

[PlutoFan76]

I just bought my party tickets for the DL on Oct 31st. I'm so excited. Now I need to find costumes!!!