HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[mom2rtk]

People line up early. But they also line up for the parade which is 30 minutes before the fireworks so you'll want to get a spot earlier

I'm actually looking for a spot in front of the castle, so not an area with a view of the parade. I have a hunch it doesn't matter though and it will still be packed early.

I just got back recently from a quick trip to the DLR this past weekend during the CHOC Marathon. It was super crowded on Saturday where Sunday was more manageable than Saturday. It wasn't the crowds that was bad but the weather was just crazy which was in the 90's at night. It was disappointed that the Halloween Carnival was not back this year. Rides like the HMH was mostly at 50 minutes and the same with SMGG during the busy times.



I haven't done the parties this year but I have done MHP in the past including two times last year. They have been fun by going to the treat stations where you do get quite a lot of candy. But the interesting part of the party is how the park is decorated in certain areas where you don't get to see it during the regular park hours even with the decorations. For example, the Village Haus restaurant was used as a treat station queue which had some decorations in it. I enjoy the Cadaver Dans performing on the RoA which is exciting to see during the party. IASW has the light projections on the facade which is another good opportunity to get pictures. There are a lot of character M&G queues around the park during the party. You will want to start at Mickey's Toontown before the party start since that is where the party starts before the official time. There were M&G and candy trails as well plus some great spots to get pictures.










As for Halloween Screams fireworks of when to get there. I would say at least an hour or two depends on which spot from the front or the back area by the curbs close to the Hub. I will depend on how long are you willing to wait for HS fireworks during the party. It does require you time to stake out a spot where you could spend your time doing other things during the party. But as long as you have multiple people in your group who would not have a problem holding the spot while the others do things during the party, it is good to have that option. I would also bring a blanket so you can mark your area so that you can save the space for the others while they are doing other things. Last year, I waited with @PrincessInOz at least 2 hours until the fireworks started at 9:30pm on the backside of the curb close to the Hub. But when it was 1 1/2 hours until the fireworks, we were told by the CM's that there would be no walkway in front of the viewing area so we moved up closer and had a great spot without any people in the shot. The thing is that we sat on the ground which was nice to sit down but i would prefer to stand up.




Here are some pictures from this past weekend trip.




Dia de los Muertos




Ray Bradbury Halloween Tree






Halloween "Tree-t" Cake in the GCH

Thanks so much for the rundown on that Bret. It's just Katie and me, so no holding a spot and sending part of the group to do other things. I suppose I'll aim for 2 hours out, but might bail entirely if we don't get enough done on our first night at the party.

Thanks for posting the photos. They are great, and really getting me excited for our trip!

Love the projections on Small World! Does anyone know if they will continue doing that after it closes for refurbishment?

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thanks so much for the rundown on that Bret. It's just Katie and me, so no holding a spot and sending part of the group to do other things. I suppose I'll aim for 2 hours out, but might bail entirely if we don't get enough done on our first night at the party.

Thanks for posting the photos. They are great, and really getting me excited for our trip!

Love the projections on Small World! Does anyone know if they will continue doing that after it closes for refurbishment?

Your welcome Janet. You or Katie can take turns watching the spot so you can get food, restroom, etc. instead of just waiting for 2 hours. Good thing we have phones to keep ourselves occupy along with talking to the guests next to you which is fun to do as well. I know what you mean. Spending 2 hours out of the 8 hours for the party is a lot just for firework. From my experience last year and with DF fireworks if everything is correct and the CM's are telling the guests to sit on the ground in front of SB Castle for the fireworks, you don't have to wait that long and be able to get a good spot without heads in your shot.

Your welcome and hope you have a great time at the DLR with Katie.

Thank you. I was there when IaSW was closed on the 26th to 28th during MHP on the 27th. It was closed but the projections were on during the party. So I would assume that the projections on IaSW facade will be going during the party even if it is closed.

 

[mom2rtk]

Your welcome Janet. You or Katie can take turns watching the spot so you can get food, restroom, etc. instead of just waiting for 2 hours. Good thing we have phones to keep ourselves occupy along with talking to the guests next to you which is fun to do as well. I know what you mean. Spending 2 hours out of the 8 hours for the party is a lot just for firework. From my experience last year and with DF fireworks if everything is correct and the CM's are telling the guests to sit on the ground in front of SB Castle for the fireworks, you don't have to wait that long and be able to get a good spot without heads in your shot.

Your welcome and hope you have a great time at the DLR with Katie.

Thank you. I was there when IaSW was closed on the 26th to 28th during MHP on the 27th. It was closed but the projections were on during the party. So I would assume that the projections on IaSW facade will be going during the party even if it is closed.

Thanks again Bret. Looking forward to seeing projections in IASW! And thankfully Katie is pretty patient waiting with me at stuff like this. It gives her a chance to catch up with her friends on social media.

Did you use your new lens last weekend?

 

[mrsw94]

It's packing day!! Yay!! We leave first thing for Legoland tomorrow and then arrive in Anaheim on Tuesday!! We won't be doing the parties, but will report back on any other Hallloween stuff we run into!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thanks again Bret. Looking forward to seeing projections in IASW! And thankfully Katie is pretty patient waiting with me at stuff like this. It gives her a chance to catch up with her friends on social media.

Did you use your new lens last weekend?

I did use the new lens. I didn't use it that much as I have thought this past weekend at the DLR since I was using my regular lens for the long exposures.

 

[LisaT91403]

For those who have already gone to MHP this year, were you able to find a dinner location without a terribly long wait? I think someone mentioned Hungry Bear. It took us FOREVER to eat at Tomorrowland Terrace last year; not my favorite food plus a long wait = waste of MHP time. We have a group of 8 with picky eaters. Having both burgers and chicken nuggets on the kid's menu would be great. Hungry Bear would work, just wondering if there are other options.

Has the Plaza Inn had very long dinner lines during MHP? Fried chicken and pasta would work for our group as well.

 

[Kilala]

Just to let everyone know about the weather for today and tonight. It will be around 81 and way less humid. Right now it's doing a June gloom thing. It is not going to rain tonight. The temp is going to drop right before sunset (5 pm) to 75 degrese. So it will be a comfortable night tonight.

 

[LisaT91403]

Just to let everyone know about the weather for today and tonight. It will be around 81 and way less humid. Right now it's doing a June gloom thing. It is not going to rain tonight. The temp is going to drop right before sunset (5 pm) to 75 degrese. So it will be a comfortable night tonight.

Awesome! Looking forward to our party tonight!

 

[tlovesdis]

I wanted to know if you guys can help me out. I need to know where I can eat inside for a early dinner? I'm going to get to Disneyland when we can first get in for MHP tomorrow night 4pm. I'm a very picky eater. I can't eat beef, chicken or pork. I do want to get dessert after that. I will go to Toon Town when it first opens tomorrow night. I will have a trip reports for both the 14th and the 16th parties on Sunday or Monday. I have deciede to wear my Halloween cat costume tomorrow night instead of the Candy Corn tabby cat. I will wear that costume on Halloween night

Cheese pizza at Pizza Port in tomorrowland???

Cheese sticks and fries at Stage Door Cafe in Frontierland (but that is outdoor seating)

Veggie Gumbo in New Orleans Square.

I'm not a vegetarian so those are the only things I can think of off the top of my head!

 

[Niltiac]

For those who have already gone to MHP this year, were you able to find a dinner location without a terribly long wait? I think someone mentioned Hungry Bear. It took us FOREVER to eat at Tomorrowland Terrace last year; not my favorite food plus a long wait = waste of MHP time. We have a group of 8 with picky eaters. Having both burgers and chicken nuggets on the kid's menu would be great. Hungry Bear would work, just wondering if there are other options.

Has the Plaza Inn had very long dinner lines during MHP? Fried chicken and pasta would work for our group as well.

A couple in our group were able to run into Pizza Port for some quick food. The place was deserted and we weren't even sure it was open at first. This was midway through the evening, shortly before the parade. I didn't take note of lines at other places because the rest of our group ate before the party. My guess is that lines would be longer earlier in the evening.

 

[Sherry E]

Just to let everyone know about the weather for today and tonight. It will be around 81 and way less humid. Right now it's doing a June gloom thing. It is not going to rain tonight. The temp is going to drop right before sunset (5 pm) to 75 degrese. So it will be a comfortable night tonight.

Humidity is at 78% -- that is very humid! It's certainly better than 85% or whatever it was over the past few days, but it's also not 20%. It's humid. That's why the air does not feel all that much cooler (yet) -- because the stupid humidity is weighing it down.


Edited to add: I just went and stood next to a window for a minute, and I must say -- right now, at this specific moment, the air is quite pleasant. Not cold at all, of course, but there is a very slight chill. The thick cloud cover is helping to keep things cooler. When it burns off, then we'll probably go back to the same ol' hot weather/sauna air.

 

[Metalliman98]

For those who have already gone to MHP this year, were you able to find a dinner location without a terribly long wait? I think someone mentioned Hungry Bear. It took us FOREVER to eat at Tomorrowland Terrace last year; not my favorite food plus a long wait = waste of MHP time. We have a group of 8 with picky eaters. Having both burgers and chicken nuggets on the kid's menu would be great. Hungry Bear would work, just wondering if there are other options.

Has the Plaza Inn had very long dinner lines during MHP? Fried chicken and pasta would work for our group as well.

we arrived right at 3pm when soundsational had just started and there was NO line for corndogs at the cart, so we got those as an early dinner. not sure if your picky eaters will do those though. it was the only time we didn't see an insane line for that little red wagon.

 

[Sherry E]

A little footage from Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights, courtesy of The DIS --

.

You can see it has a much different 'tone' than Mickey's Halloween Party. But, hey - at least they have some Christmas decorations up!

​

 

[KCmike]

I wanted to give theluckyrabbit aka Mary a big shot out for helping me with my surprise wedding band anniversary gift to my wife during last Saturday's dance party at the fantasy faire. We have been taking up dance now for almost 5 months and have had the true pleasure of dancing at DL twice now. The surprise went off without a hitch and everyone at the dance applauded us even the band leader. It was a magical night. Thanks Mary for everything. Hope we get to see you and your Husband again and all the rest of the dancers soon. It was a blast.

 

[mom2rtk]

I wanted to give theluckyrabbit aka Mary a big shot out for helping me with my surprise wedding band anniversary gift to my wife during last Saturday's dance party at the fantasy faire. We have been taking up dance now for almost 5 months and have had the true pleasure of dancing at DL twice now. The surprise went off without a hitch and everyone at the dance applauded us even the band leader. It was a magical night. Thanks Mary for everything. Hope we get to see you and your Husband again and all the rest of the dancers soon. It was a blast.

That's awesome. I'm so glad it went well!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

@KCmike: You and Lacey are most welcome! It was our pleasure to meet you and we look forward to seeing and dancing with you again soon!

 

[Priory]

I'm actually looking forward to Halloween Horror Nights so thanks for the video sherry! I'll be there Thursday (and Knotts Wednesday and Queen Mary Friday). I'll probably be doing a lot of screaming this week!

 

[Sherry E]

I'm actually looking forward to Halloween Horror Nights so thanks for the video sherry! I'll be there Thursday (and Knotts Wednesday and Queen Mary Friday). I'll probably be doing a lot of screaming this week!

I thought of you when I posted it, as I know that you and at least one other person from this thread are going to be at Halloween Horror Nights. You might lose your voice by the end of the week!

The Disney Halloween experience is like a "what's wrong with this picture" or a "which one of these does not belong" thing when grouped together with those other 3 events! No screaming at DLR, as you know -- well, there might be if you're on a thrill ride, but not because you're being chased by a chainsaw-wielding Mickey Mouse or anything.

 

[Sherry E]

I am about to make a shocking statement. I can hardly believe it myself. I just went back to the window (the same one I stood in front of earlier, when I mentioned that the cloud cover was keeping things cooler). And I said, "It's chilly. I might have to close this window."



Yes, I know. It's a miracle. I don't know where the 'chill' came from all of a sudden, but it still gloomy -- which means the cloud cover is hanging in there. Seeing that we are heading into the evening now, I can't imagine that it will warm up. So this could be a night when a jacket might be required for some folks!

I didn't close my window, because I am leaving it open to cool the room since there has been so much heat lately (and there will be again, in the next few days), but it is so strange to go from being unbearably hot and uncomfortable to thinking "I might have to put on a long-sleeved shirt."

 

[iKristin]

I just went outside and it is chillier than when I got to work a few hours ago! But the clouds also rolled in up here (Calabasas)