HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[Sherry E]

I booked tickets to our very first MHP for October 2nd (we have a family wedding that weekend and are coming in a couple days early for Disneyland, I couldn't pass it up!). Any tips for what time we need to find a spot for the parade and the fireworks and where is a good area to sit for both?

We don't plan to try and see that many characters, the parade and fireworks are our main events plus some rides and a little trick or treating.

Any attractions that will likely have short waits? I am interested in POTC, Toad's Wild Ride, Nemo, Snow White and It's a Small World. Oh, also Pinocchio! I know the Haunted Mansion will have a long wait, does it ever go down towards later in the evening?

Since we can enter at 4pm is there a chance we can get a FP for anything or are they all likely gone by that time and it's not even worth the effort to try and check for them???

Any tips at all are much appreciated!!!

Also, are the lines for the toontown pre-party usually long (if it even happens this year)?

Thanks!

Welcome! I'm glad you joined us here!

Fellow DIS'er Bret/mvf-m11c is a pro at waiting for both fireworks and parades. This year I am not sure if the parade schedule might be slightly different than what the former Cavalcade schedule was during the parties of previous years, as the Cavalcade was just a short event, while Paint the Night is a full-fledged parade. Here is one post from Bret (from 2014), explaining about when to wait - ttp://www.disboards.com/threads/halloweentime-at-dlr-superthread-4-halloween-night-mhp-sold-out.3270919/page-120#post-52527208. Hopefully he will return to this thread soon and can give you additional info. I kind of just wandered up to the Hub to see the fireworks about 20 minutes before they began, but there were already many people camped out on the ground and all around the area.

If you are facing the Castle and can try to get to the left side as much as possible, you will be able to see the "ball" (it's kind of an orb/crystal ball type of thing), which has different images projected into it. Jack Skellington is the "Master of Scare-omonies," and there is an emphasis on Villains. It's a great fireworks show.

As for FP -- you might be able to get one right at 4 p.m., but I's not sure. Fast Passes are not used during the party, so you'd have to be able to get a FP with a return window before 7 p.m. (if that's when your party begins), and that might be unlikely. I probably just wouldn't even bother with FP.

The lines for most rides will be short, or much shorter than usual, during the party -- with the exception of Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. POTC always has a long time, but the line seems to zip right along -- even in the daytime, when it's most crowded.

Some people reported some lines at the Toontown Pre-Party -- either for characters or for treats. I don't think anyone said that the lines were horrible (not that I remember), but there were definitely quite a few people back there.

Hopefully someone else will speak up and give some additional info and help!

It looks like October 25th is sold out!

Both first party September 25th and October 25th sold out as well. I hope the 16th dosen't sell out before September 3rd. I want to go bad on that day since I have that day off

Thank you, ladies! I will updated the necessary posts on page 1!

The DLR system must have just updated, as they were not sold out last night! What was I saying yesterday, about a sudden, rapid succession of sellouts? And so it begins!

Okay... posts are updated with MHP sellout info. Halloween night selling out makes sense. September 25th makes sense. But why October 25th? Out of all of the other nights during the busier part of October, why would 10/25 sell out? Is it because it is a Sunday, and MHP never happens on Sundays? Does that mean that Monday, 10/26, will be busier than usual in the parks because people stick around after the party? Or, are people arriving on 10/25 and staying all week?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Thanks Sherry! I am super excited even for a quick day at Disneyland. I will keep checking back for new info, I get obsessed before any Disney trip.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I booked tickets to our very first MHP for October 2nd (we have a family wedding that weekend and are coming in a couple days early for Disneyland, I couldn't pass it up!). Any tips for what time we need to find a spot for the parade and the fireworks and where is a good area to sit for both?

We don't plan to try and see that many characters, the parade and fireworks are our main events plus some rides and a little trick or treating.

Any attractions that will likely have short waits? I am interested in POTC, Toad's Wild Ride, Nemo, Snow White and It's a Small World. Oh, also Pinocchio! I know the Haunted Mansion will have a long wait, does it ever go down towards later in the evening?

Since we can enter at 4pm is there a chance we can get a FP for anything or are they all likely gone by that time and it's not even worth the effort to try and check for them???

Any tips at all are much appreciated!!!

Also, are the lines for the toontown pre-party usually long (if it even happens this year)?

Thanks!

That is good that you will be attending your first MHP.

As for tips for the parade (which will be Paint the Night instead of Mickey's Costume Party Cavalcade) and Halloween Screams fireworks, it will depend on what you want to see first that night. From my experience during last year's MHP, Mickey's Costume Party Cavalcade had two showings at 8:30pm and 10:30pm. If this is true to Paint the Night Parade, it makes sense to see the second parade later that day where you can stake out a spot in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle for the 9:30pm Halloween Screams fireworks. Watching the fireworks in front of the SB Castle is the best spot to watch especially with Zero flying during the fireworks. It will require at least 2 hours if you want the best spot. You can always get a decent spot in front of the castle in less than an hour but there will be people in the way which might obstruct your view.

Here is a spot that I was in front for HS last year. It did require 2 hours but it was worth it for that spot.

As for the parade which you can see during the regular park hours, I would not stake out a long time for PtN (unless that is the only time you can see it). If you plan on seeing PtN and want to see the first show, then you will lose a good spot to watch HS fireworks. You can get a spot on the parade route by the Hub and watch the first parade and you will have to be in that area to watch the 9:30pm HS fireworks. It is an okay spot but you will also want to see the sphere on the left hand side of SB Castle during the fireworks. I would watch HS first and than see PtN during the second show. After HS is over, you can go on MS to find a decent spot and wait less than an hour for PtN. The parade will start from IASW Plaza and all the way to Main Street Town Square. The second parade will start from MSTS to IASW Plaza.

Most of the attractions will have short wait times (not like during the regular park hours) which popular rides like HMH and SMGG will have some wait time but not like during the regular hours.

When you enter the park at 4pm at the start of MHP, most of the FP's will be likely gone. There might be some available (depends on which ride). Just as Sherry pointed out that FP's won't be distributed during the party.

The Toontown pre-party can get quite crowded the first hour before the party starts at it's designated time. In the past, it was at Toontown along with the Halloween Carnival. There were times when getting candy at the pre-party can be about at least a 10 minute wait where I have been in it last year. But there won't be a Halloween Carnival this year which is a shame.

You can check out my trip report from last year which might give you some idea of what it will take to stake out a spot for HS fireworks and what to do during MHP. http://www.disboards.com/threads/se...st-632-634-8-21.3236707/page-18#post-52493790

 

[Nonsuch]

...Out of all of the other nights during the busier part of October, why would 10/25 sell out? Is it because it is a Sunday, and MHP never happens on Sundays?

Sunday is a very busy day for check-in / check-out, half the rooms at GCH "turn-over" on Sunday (that is just the hotel I'm most familiar with, but other hotels are likely similar). MHP is a great value for guests checking in on Sunday.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you so much, Bret, for helping chloelovesdisney! She has a limited amount of time at DL that day -- only at the MHP, and only that one day -- and I know she wants to make the most of it.

Sunday is a very busy day for check-in / check-out, half the rooms at GCH "turn-over" on Sunday (that is just the hotel I'm most familiar with, but other hotels are likely similar). MHP is a great value for guests checking in on Sunday.

Okay, that makes sense. I'm so used to MHP not including a Sunday in the line-up that it's interesting to see what happens with that night. Clearly it is a popular night!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thank you so much, Bret, for helping chloelovesdisney! She has a limited amount of time at DL that day -- only at the MHP, and only that one day -- and I know she wants to make the most of it.

Your welcome Sherry and hope this helps you out @chloelovesdisney. We all have things we want to do and how to do it. Also, if you do on planning on staking out a spot for the fireworks or parade, I would bring a blanket so you can mark your area for the shows. You will need to have someone to watch the spot or you will lose it if you leave the blanket unattended. The good thing about bringing a blanket is that you can have your other party members do things like go on rides, candy run, restroom, etc. while one person watches the spot. This helps out a lot where you and your party don't have to spend most of staking out for the fireworks or parade. But if you try to go back to the spot when the even starts, it will get crazy. I would show up at least half an hour or early for the show before it starts. Going back to your spot where other people are waiting can get ugly.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Thank you, love your great pics! We will definitely plan stake out a spot for the fireworks and then the 2nd parade. Is there a less preferred spot for the parade? In WDW we head to Frontierland and even when it is packed on Main Street it's almost empty over there. We aren't picky about a certain spot and would be happy to see the parade anywhere along the route that may not be as crowded.

Also if party guests are allowed in at 4pm when is a good time to get lined up at the gates so we can plan to get in pretty much at that time? Thanks!!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thank you, love your great pics! We will definitely plan stake out a spot for the fireworks and then the 2nd parade. Is there a less preferred spot for the parade? In WDW we head to Frontierland and even when it is packed on Main Street it's almost empty over there. We aren't picky about a certain spot and would be happy to see the parade anywhere along the route that may not be as crowded.

Your welcome and thank you @chloelovesdisney. For the parade, the less preferred spot is around IASW Plaza. That area is one of the less crowded spots for the parade better then staking out a spot on Main Street, Hub and TS.

Also if party guests are allowed in at 4pm when is a good time to get lined up at the gates so we can plan to get in pretty much at that time? Thanks!!!

I have seen people line up at least half an hour or early until the party starts at it's designated time. There will be a queue for the MHP attendees along with the regular queue to enter the park.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Great, I really appreciate the info! We will head to IASW for the parade viewing and then to go on the attraction, it is one of my son's favorites.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Okay... posts are updated with MHP sellout info. Halloween night selling out makes sense. September 25th makes sense. But why October 25th? Out of all of the other nights during the busier part of October, why would 10/25 sell out? Is it because it is a Sunday, and MHP never happens on Sundays? Does that mean that Monday, 10/26, will be busier than usual in the parks because people stick around after the party? Or, are people arriving on 10/25 and staying all week?

We are arriving on the 25th and staying till Thursday... It was a good week to take off as far as school goes. Glad I ordered my tix, but I do not have them because I ordered thru Costco. Hears hoping nothing gets messed up!

 

[lorijohnhill]

Do we know for sure that there will be two parades at MHP? Fireworks are listed for 9:30 pm, but no parade is listed at all for MHP nights. Curious....

 

[bwang123]

Sunday is a very busy day for check-in / check-out, half the rooms at GCH "turn-over" on Sunday (that is just the hotel I'm most familiar with, but other hotels are likely similar). MHP is a great value for guests checking in on Sunday.

We check-in Saturday, doing the Sunday party and staying half the week.

 

[Speechphi]

It looks like October 25th is sold out!

BUMMER! That's the party we wanted to go to, but I haven't been able to buy tickets yet (dh says I have to wait until I get paid on the 31st...ugh!).

So back to the drawing board. Oh well...

 

[Kyjin]

Wow, really glad I got my tickets a few days ago for Oct. 25th! o.o I have one friend who was pondering going, but looks like she missed out.

Personally, I went with the Sunday party because I'm a SoCal Select passholder and never get to go on the weekends. Figured if I'm going to shell out for the party, might as well go on a day that I normally would not be able to enter the park! Plus it's easier with my school/work schedule.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Do we know for sure that there will be two parades at MHP? Fireworks are listed for 9:30 pm, but no parade is listed at all for MHP nights. Curious....

I was wondering this, too. Somehow I remember reading something on the Parks Blog about there being one parade showing per party. Hmmm. Have to go back to look that up.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm glad I got my tickets for the 25th last week! I bought for the 25th and 27th and one of those 2 nights had a discount and the other didn't. I'm thinking the 25th was the discounted night, so I'm guessing that's why people were choosing that one.

Maybe I could go dressed as a football linebacker so we can push our way around the park that night.

 

[riostoker]

Meanwhile, Oreo has been suspiciously silent as far as a new Fall/Halloween flavor. This makes me wonder what they have up their sleeve. I suspect they will not want to be outdone by the other major brands churning out the Fall flavors.

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of candy corn oreos and will be devastated if they don't have them this year!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

When the first signs of Halloween merchandise appeared a few weeks ago -- pins -- I wondered why the pins only said "Halloween" and didn't say "Halloween Time." I don't know if that has been happening for a while -- I have not looked at the pins in a long time -- but in the past there were pins that actually said "Halloween Time."

That's a great observation. I think it's probably very telling.

 

[riostoker]

So, for our upcoming first trip to DLR, we will have one full day at DL plus the halloween party another night. I would like to see both fireworks shows plus PTN. I had originally been thinking we would do PTN at the halloween party for the lower crowds, but now I'm worried that will cut too much into our ability to enjoy the Halloween specific things. On our other night though, I made reservations at BTRB for 6:00. That messes up PTN for that night, right? Thoughts? Should I just stick with PTN at the Halloween party? Or change our BTRB reservations to lunch? Or a really early dinner? I get so flustered trying to figure this stuff out!

 

[SeattleSuz]

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

I think that's the biggest draw for my DH also, the fact that you can hop right on the rides with little to no line at all. That's what he's been telling people anyway. lol