Sherry was the pre-party announced last year before the first party?
I hope this wil happen this year.
And I agree there is only a slim chance of villains during the day except for the usual ones.
If I recall correctly -- and someone please correct me if I'm wrong -- I don't think the pre-parties for Toontown or for the Big Thunder Ranch area was announced, per se -- but I
think it may have popped up on the
Disneyland website closer to start of the parties. Well, actually, for the Toontown one, I remember DIS'er perlster checking the DLR website and noticing that Toontown was closing early on an MHP night, so that's how we figured out there would be another pre-party in TT. They probably won't make a big announcement about it in the Parks Blog, unless they are really trying to hype up MHP and make it seem worth the money!
I can't see why there wouldn't be some sort of pre-party somewhere this year -- obviously not at the Big Thunder Ranch this time around.
Yes, I agree -- if any Villains are out in the daytime at all, it will likely be the usual, expected ones.
Bah Humbug.
Oops.... wrong holiday.
But it sort of sums up my feelings.
I'm glad we already bought tickets for 2 parties. But just so irritated that they're cutting back on everything (both during the day and during the party) so substantially while still raising the prices so much.
Bah humbug fits many occasions! Oh, you got tickets for 2 parties?
Yes, they are really cutting back -- and I'd like to think it's just for the sake of the 60th anniversary, but who knows. It doesn't seem like it would have been a huge issue -- even though Star Wars Land is coming in the next few years -- to keep the Carnival and the Jamboree open for one more Halloween Time and Holiday season, respectively. Or they could have at least moved elements of the Carnival elsewhere.
I really hope they still have villains out during the day, they are one of my favorite parts of visiting during Halloween time.
back before they had the Halloween party in Disneyland my husband and I went and I got to meet the old hag from Snow White, she pushed me out of the picture so it would just be her and my hubby lol.
She is a sly old hag, that's for sure!
I remember when the Villains used to be in DCA (in the days when Halloween Time actually extended to both parks). Then, in 2009, they moved them over to DL, near IASW. I think it was 2012, wasn't it -- when the Halloween Carnival officially took over what used to be the Halloween Round-Up? And now -- it's all gone.
That was a short-lived Carnival.
We're a family of DL vets but we've only ever done the parks during summer and have talked about seeing them during Halloween and Christmas but it just never happens. We don't have the budget right now for a full on trip (we usually do 3-5 days every couple years and we were just in the parks for 5 days this summer). I'm thinking a nice way to experience some of the Halloween holiday might be through a trip down just for Mickeys Halloween Party and spend the night in a local hotel. (We drive about 4 hours to get to DL.) I guess I'm really just soliciting opinions on... Is the Halloween Party a good way to enjoy this season at DL without having to make a large time/money commitment?
I think so -- especially since it seems that everything Halloween-related will be available during the party. So it's not like if you choose to not go to DL earlier in the day you would miss something. There's no Carnival, so anything Halloween-specific will be available to you at the party. You might as well do the party and enjoy the Halloween experience. It's a cheaper way to enjoy all of the Halloween fun than paying for a regular ticket.
Yep, hopped on that air freshener as soon as I saw it!
I need to find those Yankee Candles! Mine are from Hobby Lobby, they have all kinds of giant, fall-scented candles on sale. I also get ridiculously excited when "Method" comes out with their line of seasonal hand soaps/ cleaning sprays, lol.
Also putting pumpkin pie spice coffee creamer in my morning cup-o-joe!
That Starbucks sounds amazing, though I gotta say, being on the west coast, I'm missing Dunkin' Donuts and all their glorious fall related drinks!
There are Dunkin' Donuts out here in SoCal, with the Fall donuts and drinks!
I have never paid attention to the seasonal versions of Method. What am I missing? I get ridiculously excited over seasonal versions of anything -- it could be hand soap, dish liquid, cookies, coffee creamer, ice cream, air freshener, you name it! If there is a seasonal version of it -- especially for Fall and Winter -- I love it!
I have to say that this thread has been great in our planning for our first trip to DL for the Halloween season. However, I have to admit that all of this new knowledge has made me regret picking up the tickets for the Halloween Party. We expected it to be great after enjoying
MNSSHP in the past...but it sounds like there won't be much other than the fireworks that we couldn't have seen during the normal park day.
Thanks everyone (and especially Sherry) for all the info on here!
You're very welcome! I'm glad the thread has helped. I do hope you enjoy the party. It's fun, and the atmosphere is cool. But yes, it is questionable that they took a parade that is running every night and threw it into MHP. Now it looks as though things from the daytime (characters in Halloween garb) are being relegated to the party only, so at least that something extra that won't be available in the daytime.
We sorely need a full-fledged Halloween parade, though -- like Boo to You. Even before Disney decided to put Paint the Night in MHP, there was a short, cute, anticlimactic, underwhelming Cavalcade -- but at least it was Halloween party-specific.
I've been to the Halloween party 3 times. I never went in to the ranch. I never saw the parade. I never got autographs. My point is my kids and I had a GREAT time. We are going again on the 16th. The fireworks are wonderful. The trick or treating is so much fun. The whole atmosphere is wonderful. Seeing everyone dressed up is also a lot of fun. The lines for 90% of the rides are short. None of those things you can get on a normal park day.
Thanks Sherry for all you do
You're very welcome!
I agree -- seeing everyone in costume is a lot of fun, and it is great to be able to have such short lines for a lot of rides. I even enjoy enjoy trick or treating as an adult -- which I can only do in a Disney park!
I agree! We went for the first time last year. We have had annual passes for several years, but had never been to MHP. We were with some family members who don't have passes, and rarely get to visit the park...so they wanted rides, rides, rides, candy, and more rides. We had a blast. The atmosphere was really fun, the boys loved trick or treating, and the lines for rides were short.
I will say that DS(7) is bummed that the carnival is gone, as he really enjoyed it. And we love that area of the park because it has spontaneous and "organic" character meets. You could be sitting and coloring a mask, and then all of a sudden a character is at your table with you. But we are certain we will have fun no matter what, and are looking forward to this year's party!
That Festival Arena area of the park was perfect for the Carnival, the Jingle Jangle Jamboree and the Springtime Round-Up. Where will all of the famous Disney Rabbits now greet guests before Easter? I hope Disney starts brainstorming and comes up with a back-up plan. Those Disney character eggs and carved Disney character pumpkins are too integral to their respective seasons to not bring back.
Maybe Oreo should come out with M&M flavored cookies and M&M can have Oreo flavored M&Ms.
Now there is an idea! Once they run out of ideas, that's the only way they can go. I'm so disappointed in Oreo for not coming up with anything new for Fall. If M&M's can do it, so should Oreo.
We set a reservation there for our upcoming stay, which will be the first time we will have ever eaten there. Sadly it will probably be our last time we ever eat there as well.
I'm glad you're going before it closes!
Someone who supposedly works at the BBQ commented on Facebook (under the Mouse For Life's post about the closure) and confirmed that 1/10/16 is the last day the restaurant will be open. They were given the news/notice.
I booked our reservation for lunch at Big Thunder Ranch BBQ today for lunch on October 12! I'm excited to eat there as I've heard good things about it, but it's bitter sweet since this will be our only time eating there.
In other news this will probably be our last trip to Disneyland for awhile as we are going to be moving to the east coast at the beginning of the year.
I've never eaten there either -- I have procrastinated -- but I had always planned to eat there sooner or later, because it gets such great reviews. Of course, now I am making sure to eat there before the end of the year. I want to try one of their desserts (they always have seasonal desserts as well as some year-round things).
Now that you're going to be moving, do you think you will visit WDW more often than DLR? Or no Disney trips at all for a while?
I guess I don't see why they can't keep the Carnival one more year if the BBQ is going to be open until January.
You'll get no argument from me. It's not like they are going to start bulldozing the area before next year. Why not have the Carnival and the JJJ? I am keeping hope alive for the JJJ, but it's probably pointless.
I agree!! Why not one more hurrah for both seasons?? I will seriously miss that area during Halloween and Christmas, my daughter loved it so much. And for the love of all things Ranch related, where will the goats go!?!? I will be so angry if those goats are taken away
I will really miss it during Halloween Time, the Holidays and around Easter/Springtime. They just started the Springtime Roundup in 2014! It was brand new! Lots of cute spring-y decorations everywhere, just like the wonderfully rustic Halloween/Autumn décor and the Christmas/reindeer décor. And one of the pumpkin carvers also decorated the character Easter eggs! They had better find a place to put those eggs and the artists.
I love the goats in their Halloween scarves!
Also, there is a really lovely CM -- and older lady -- who works somewhere in that whole Ranch area. She is delightful to talk to, and so friendly and personable. Now I wonder where she will end up, and if she will go to another area of DLR.
I am so glad we went last year. We were surprised that Duffy was there at the carnival. I am glad we spent so much time with him. I was hoping he would be there again this year.
Poor Duffy got booted out of DCA, so it was good that they brought him to the Carnival.
Makes no sense at all. Just want to know if hard copy tickets are being received or if what I got is all I will receive. I'm assuming they are actual tickets, since that's what people keep saying.
