HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[Sherry E]

I am a long time party goer, but still seem to be a nit of a newbie! This will be the first time with my Nephew, as the last previous years were more spontaneous with only my husband and I.

What would be the best advice for watching the parade and fireworks? in the past my Hubby and I would easily find a spot for two a few mins before the fireworks, but with more people this time a little planning might make sense. We will be at DL a few other days as well, so would I be best off saving the parade for a regular night, or is a Halloween party night less crowded making it a better opportunity? I defiantly want to see the fireworks, so that would be priority!

Hopefully others will weigh in on this, but I think that, unless the crowds at MHP were super low (which they're not), I would probably opt to see Paint the Night on a non-party night and just focus on the party-specific things (like the fireworks) at the party.

 

[stephanie22]

Cinderella's ruined dress, right? Looks great!

Thanks that's exactly who it's supposed to be!

 

[lorijohnhill]

I was going to post this last night but with darn daylight savings time the darn dark hour of Disboards is right in the middle of my evening time!
I am concerned that he has mentioned that the characters dont sign, I have bought autograph books (60th anniversary) for this party!

The only characters we saw that wouldn't sign were Pooh & friends.

 

[TashaDuddek]

Thanks Sherry,
I was kind of thinking that, so this will probably be our plan of attack.

 

[azdisneylover]

What time should you go to turnstiles for MHP? and Is it a crazy mess? Do they actually wait until 3:00p?
We did MHP @ DCA a few years back but don't remember it being too long of a wait at turnstiles.
I am debating over a 2d or 3d PH.
If 2d, then we will not go into the park until MHP time allowed (will be 3pm on our day) but then I am worried about having a long wait out front.
If 3d, then we would go into the park prior and thinking it would be easier to already be in the park, but wondering if the extra $200+ (there are 5 of us) for the tickets is warranted.
Based on your experiences, pro's and con's of being in park already vs. entering at party time (3p).
TIA

We were in the parks already (lunch at Carnation Cafe to surprise our kids with the MHP tickets). After lunch hubby and the kids rode a few rides and then we got in line to get our wrist band and bag from a Halloween stand set up right when you enter Frontierland on the right side, (before you get to the shooting arcade). Very easy to get, very organized. The map was in the bag. Front of the bag is Aladdin (sad because they are closing the play, which we saw twice, and the back is promoting their latest dinosaur animated movie).

 

[mom2rtk]

Does anyone know if most characters at the party have Photopass?

 

[mummabear]

Does anyone know if most characters at the party have Photopass?

On this note, can someone in the parks please ask the photopass desk, or ticket booth (as this is where they are sold at WDW) if there is a one day memory maker available for the party?

 

[Sherry E]

Does anyone know if most characters at the party have Photopass?

I think they do, but hopefully we will get confirmation from this year's MHP.

I can see now that it was a very wise thing for you to get tickets for 2 party nights! Most reports that I have seen in random places have been that the lines for characters are very, very long this year, and there is no way to meet everyone in one night without giving up all of the other things at MHP.

 

[azdisneylover]

If anyone else gets photos of this tree, can you post them here in this thread? While I don't mind linking some things, I know that people prefer to see the photos right in the posts.


Sherrie,

My daughter and I took pictures of the tree with our cell phones. Would you please post, or point me in the direction of how to post pictures? I know we too quite a few of them when the chef was talking with a family about the construction of the tree.

Linda

 

[RichP1269]

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you, RichP1269, for sharing that photo with us!

I have been waiting for the Parks Blog to do a piece on this new cake tree in the GCH lobby, only because they never, ever do a Halloween-themed anything in the GCH! They did a blog about the new gingerbread house in the GCH last year. They did a blog about the 60th Anniversary Castle cake in the GCH this year, if I am not mistaken. They need to do a piece about the spooky tree! I only first saw it because figment_jii posted photos of it (separate thread), and then Matt/whoever posted photos (separate thread). Had it not been for them I would not have known about the tree last week. No one was even mentioning the tree on other Disney discussion sites, so I think it was not widely known that it is there. I assumed that Disney would be quick to post something about it, but they are slow with the info, of course.

 

[SeattleSuz]

So, there is another party tonight, correct??
Is anyone going tonight? I am wondering if the crowds on Friday had to do with the party being sold out and the first party of the season?
I am hoping that's the case and since our party is not sold out, maybe it will be a little lighter, crowd-wise?

 

[Sherry E]

So, there is another party tonight, correct??
Is anyone going tonight? I am wondering if the crowds on Friday had to do with the party being sold out and the first party of the season?
I am hoping that's the case and since our party is not sold out, maybe it will be a little lighter, crowd-wise?

Yes. Another MHP tonight! If tonight's party is still not sold out, that's a good sign that the crowds might not be as substantial as they were on Friday.

 

[mom2rtk]

Hopefully others will weigh in on this, but I think that, unless the crowds at MHP were super low (which they're not), I would probably opt to see Paint the Night on a non-party night and just focus on the party-specific things (like the fireworks) at the party.

We haven't been to MHP yet. Nor have we seen PTN yet. And I've been back and forth on this. We have party tickets for 2 nights. And I know I want to stake out a spot to photograph the Halloween fireworks one night. I had thought I might skip PTN on party night, but now I'm leaning toward thinking if I'm going to invest time in getting a spot, why not get a spot where I could also see PTN while I'm waiting. So I think I'm giving up on a spot in front on the castle and going for a spot on the curb where the road turns toward the Matterhorn. I'll still have to be there crazy early, but at least I'd get a 2-fer.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

I stumbled upon this photo on Flickr (not mine) and am thinking they took it from the spot I'm thinking about.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cobbpr/10054228633/

I think they do, but hopefully we will get confirmation from this year's MHP.

I can see now that it was a very wise thing for you to get tickets for 2 party nights! Most reports that I have seen in random places have been that the lines for characters are very, very long this year, and there is no way to meet everyone in one night without giving up all of the other things at MHP.

Even with having tickets to 2 parties, I'm still getting nervous. I figure I'll have to give up the better part of one evening just getting the spot I want for the fireworks.

You're right though, it does help knowing I have tickets for 2 parties.

Any thoughts on whether you think I can get photos with all the characters at the TT pre-party in one night?

The Kenny the Pirate write up helped a lot. But I still have about a million questions.

 

[RichP1269]

We haven't been to MHP yet. Nor have we seen PTN yet. And I've been back and forth on this. We have party tickets for 2 nights. And I know I want to stake out a spot to photograph the Halloween fireworks one night. I had thought I might skip PTN on party night, but now I'm leaning toward thinking if I'm going to invest time in getting a spot, why not get a spot where I could also see PTN while I'm waiting. So I think I'm giving up on a spot in front on the castle and going for a spot on the curb where the road turns toward the Matterhorn. I'll still have to be there crazy early, but at least I'd get a 2-fer.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

I stumbled upon this photo on Flickr (not mine) and am thinking they took it from the spot I'm thinking about.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cobbpr/10054228633/

We were in the reserved seating spot on the edge of the east spoke of the hub. I'm thinking that pic was a bit closer to center front.

Here was our view:

 

[mom2rtk]

We were in the reserved seating spot on the edge of the east spoke of the hub. I'm thinking that pic was a bit closer to center front.

Here was our view:

I think you're right. I just read his statement in a comment on the photo again. Here's what he said:

We set up for the 8:30 parade around 8:00, then we just stayed there after. This was from the curb on the hub that is also facing up the path to the Matterhorn. That let us have the first parade come straight to us but gave us a nice angle to the castle so we could see the pop up ball with the faces above the left side of the castle

I missed the part about the parade coming straight at them, so I do think he has to have been on the hub side of things. Now I have to rethink things again. I know they have reserved seating for the MSBB dinner taking up a bunch of space in front of the castle. What about on the other side of the Partner's Statue? Does anyone know if this is staked out ahead for other reserved seating or handicapped seating?

I might end up ditching my plan again and just going up more by the castle. I know you can see the ball better on the let side, but if you're on the right side you could see the parade.-

 

[RichP1269]

I don't remember if there was any reserved seating to the left of the Partners Statue. There was to the front, the right side and the right side of the hub at the 9/25 party.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I wish you luck but if you are already going to be there check early in the morning the day of. They seem to have some tickets on the day of.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't remember if there was any reserved seating to the left of the Partners Statue. There was to the front, the right side and the right side of the hub at the 9/25 party.

Is the reserved seating that is going to be there already roped off when the party starts?

I'd love to hear other reports about this area as more people attend. I think the problem to the left is that it might not offer a view of the parade.

 

[RichP1269]

It was already roped off on the 9/25 party.