HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[Sherry E]

Many of the costumes at the parties are very elaborate. While some folks choose to go the no-frills route and put on a Halloween-ish hat or t-shirt (which is what I would do, most likely), others really go all out with their carefully planned ensembles. They put time and care into making them and/or working on their overall look, getting their make-up just right, etc.

I don't picture a Halloween party without adults being able to dress up too -- I don't think that will happen. For any other event, yes, I can understand no full costumes allowed on adults (outside of Disney Bounding) because the other events are not really 'about' costumes. Halloween in and of itself is a holiday that is about dressing up in costume, and Halloween parties involve costumes!

I am crossing my fingers and hoping that this new policy will be relaxed a bit when MHP rolls around.

 

[justgrace]

We were one of those crazy costume families! We dressed as Cinderella and her crew and the Evil Stepmother and Stepsisters loved it!! We worked on those costumes since May for our trip in September and they were pretty awesome!!

I'm optimistic and believe that they will still allow costumes for everyone during the MHP event.

I also think that Disneyland Forever will remain for many years to come, just as Remember... Dreams Come True stayed for so long. I guess we shall see come September!

 

[Sherry E]

We were one of those crazy costume families! We dressed as Cinderella and her crew and the Evil Stepmother and Stepsisters loved it!! We worked on those costumes since May for our trip in September and they were pretty awesome!!

I'm optimistic and believe that they will still allow costumes for everyone during the MHP event.

I also think that Disneyland Forever will remain for many years to come, just as Remember... Dreams Come True stayed for so long. I guess we shall see come September!

Yes, agreed. I'm not too worried about costumes for the Halloween party right at this moment, but I will never say never. Just when I think I have it figured out as to what Disney will or won't do, they do something else.

Disney will tick off a lot of people if they prohibit adults from dressing up -- especially at the prices they charge for MHP. At those rates people should be able to dress as giant chickens or cuddly glow cubes if they want to!

 

[justgrace]

Yes, agreed. I'm not too worried about costumes for the Halloween party right at this moment, but I will never say never. Just when I think I have it figured out as to what Disney will or won't do, they do something else.

Disney will tick off a lot of people if they prohibit adults from dressing up -- especially at the prices they charge for MHP. At those rates people should be able to dress as giant chickens or cuddly glow cubes if they want to!

I agree!!

 

[IAmElsan]

Oh gosh I hope they don't ban costumes for adults as that is half the reason I want to go to MHP, hope they decide soon what they plan to do about costumes cause if they don't allow them I may just shift my whole trip entirely around to another time....

 

[lindyv321]

This will be our first year of possibly going to the party depending on when it starts, and I was wondering are the fireworks easier to view then on a regular night? I'm assuming the parties are a bit less crowded..... We've always gone to the parks during the week in the off-season so there have never been fireworks shows but this year will be the first year we are there on a Sunday night and hopefully going to the party on Monday night and i'm not sure if I should make a special effort to see the fireworks show on Sunday or if we should just wait and see it Monday if we're able to attend the party

 

[thatgrljme]

This might have already been said, but 312 pages.....

Does anyone know that start of the Halloween season this year, or a guesstimate? We will be there the week after Memorial Day weekend on our honeymoon and wouldn't be mad if we caught the start of the season

 

[Vernie822]

This might have already been said, but 312 pages.....

Does anyone know that start of the Halloween season this year, or a guesstimate? We will be there the week after Memorial Day weekend on our honeymoon and wouldn't be mad if we caught the start of the season

We'll be there that week for our honeymoon, too! Congrats!

 

[thatgrljme]

We'll be there that week for our honeymoon, too! Congrats!

Oh yay how fun! Congrats to you as well

 

[Sherry E]

This will be our first year of possibly going to the party depending on when it starts, and I was wondering are the fireworks easier to view then on a regular night? I'm assuming the parties are a bit less crowded..... We've always gone to the parks during the week in the off-season so there have never been fireworks shows but this year will be the first year we are there on a Sunday night and hopefully going to the party on Monday night and i'm not sure if I should make a special effort to see the fireworks show on Sunday or if we should just wait and see it Monday if we're able to attend the party

The parties will not seem less crowded in the areas where a lot of things are happening, such as where people wait for the fireworks. On a Monday or Tuesday night the party crowds may be a bit lighter. There are fewer people in the park in general I suppose, but it still seems pretty busy in the fireworks viewing areas. The fireworks on a Sunday night would be different than the fireworks included in the party, so you may or may not want to try to catch them on both nights.

This might have already been said, but 312 pages.....

Does anyone know that start of the Halloween season this year, or a guesstimate? We will be there the week after Memorial Day weekend on our honeymoon and wouldn't be mad if we caught the start of the season

No need to read the whole thread. A good idea with any long thread on the forum is to do exactly what you did and just jump right in. Or, skim the last couple of pages in the thread to see what has been discussed. But you did the right thing by joining us and asking!

The short answer is no, there is no information on the start date of Halloween Time this year. We might not even find out an official date until July. Hopefully sooner, but I am not holding my breath. I think it is a safe bet that Halloween Time will begin on either Friday, 9/9 or Friday, 9/16 -- or anywhere in between those dates. More than likely 9/9 will be the date.

I also think that there will be more parties added into the Mickey's Halloween Party schedule this year, but... when will they begin? MHP usually begins exactly 2 weeks after Halloween Time has begun, and the first party of the season always ends up being the last Friday in September.

This year, if Halloween Time were to begin on 9/9, then would MHP begin on 9/23 or on 9/30?? That is the mystery.

So if you are at DLR the week after Labor Day weekend (I'm assuming you meant Labor Day?) you would probably see some pumpkin-y things going up on Main Street and in Frontierland, and you would see some Halloween treats and merchandise -- even if the season has not officially begun. But things like Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday will not start until the first official day of the season.



The only thing that I know for sure about this coming Halloween Time season is that, for the second year in a row, there are no plans for pumpkin carvers to be set up anywhere at DLR (at this point). Last year was the first year without the carvers in a while. However, one of the carvers is trying to convince whoever makes those decisions at Disneyland to set the carvers up in a different spot, and he is suggesting other areas that could work (now that Big Thunder Ranch is gone). So far they aren't going for it, but I am hoping that there is still time to change their minds. Halloween Time doesn't start for another 6 months, after all.

 

[lindyv321]

I just saw this info announcing 2016 dates... But I can't find anything on Disney's official website
http://www.chipandco.com/disney-announces-2016-mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party-dates-233002/

Edit: I guess this pertains to WDW but hopefully some of the info i.e. Dates and costume info will also apply to DL

 

[Sherry E]

I just saw this info announcing 2016 dates... But I can't find anything on Disney's official website
http://www.chipandco.com/disney-announces-2016-mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party-dates-233002/

Edit: I guess this pertains to WDW but hopefully some of the info i.e. Dates and costume info will also apply to DL

Those dates were posted on the Disney Parks Blog earlier today and I thought, "I hope that no one sees them and thinks they are the dates for Disneyland's party!" It happens every year, where someone sees the MNSSHP dates and, at a quick glance, thinks that the dates are applicable to Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland -- so I was expecting it again this year! But they're 2 separate events, and DL does not have 29 parties. MHP at Disneyland doesn't start quite that early in September. And the parties at DL have different things included that are not part of WDW's version of the party, and vice versa.

Unless there is a big announcement as to a change in plans for MHP this year (like a change in location or a change in party content), which might require an earlier announcement, then we should find out the dates in July... maybe late June, at the earliest.

I really wish Disney would get in the habit of releasing the dates for both MNSSHP and MHP at the same time -- wishful thinking on my part. We have to wait so long for every bit of info.

What is interesting about the MNSSHP announcement today is the costume reference in the Parks Blog - https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...walt-disney-world-guests-29-nights-this-fall/.

As you said, lindyv321, it will be interesting to see if this is what Disneyland does too:

"New this year, we have revised our costuming guidelines for special events in our theme parks. While costumed attire may be worn, guests ages 14 and older are strongly discouraged from wearing layered costumes or costume props that surround the entire body as they may be subject to additional security screening. Additionally, costumes may not contain any weapons that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.

For more information including a full list of costume guidelines, check out disneyworld.com and stay tuned to the site and the Disney Parks Blog for updates on ticket prices, on-sale dates, entertainment and events."

So, everyone will probably have to leave their layered costumes that surround the whole body at home, or deal with extra security screening!

​

 

[thatgrljme]

No need to read the whole thread. A good idea with any long thread on the forum is to do exactly what you did and just jump right in. Or, skim the last couple of pages in the thread to see what has been discussed. But you did the right thing by joining us and asking!

The short answer is no, there is no information on the start date of Halloween Time this year. We might not even find out an official date until July. Hopefully sooner, but I am not holding my breath. I think it is a safe bet that Halloween Time will begin on either Friday, 9/9 or Friday, 9/16 -- or anywhere in between those dates. More than likely 9/9 will be the date.

I also think that there will be more parties added into the Mickey's Halloween Party schedule this year, but... when will they begin? MHP usually begins exactly 2 weeks after Halloween Time has begun, and the first party of the season always ends up being the last Friday in September.

This year, if Halloween Time were to begin on 9/9, then would MHP begin on 9/23 or on 9/30?? That is the mystery.

So if you are at DLR the week after Labor Day weekend (I'm assuming you meant Labor Day?) you would probably see some pumpkin-y things going up on Main Street and in Frontierland, and you would see some Halloween treats and merchandise -- even if the season has not officially begun. But things like Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday will not start until the first official day of the season.



The only thing that I know for sure about this coming Halloween Time season is that, for the second year in a row, there are no plans for pumpkin carvers to be set up anywhere at DLR (at this point). Last year was the first year without the carvers in a while. However, one of the carvers is trying to convince whoever makes those decisions at Disneyland to set the carvers up in a different spot, and he is suggesting other areas that could work (now that Big Thunder Ranch is gone). So far they aren't going for it, but I am hoping that there is still time to change their minds. Halloween Time doesn't start for another 6 months, after all.

Thanks Sherry! Yes, we will actually be there the 5-10 celebrating our honeymoon. I'd love to catch the start of it and do the HM with the holiday overlay as I've never done that before, and hope that it is up in time because my fiancé has never been to DL on WDW. Super excited if we even get a bit of a taste of the fall decorations

 

[lindyv321]

I am at least hoping that the start dates for Walt Disney World and Disneyland Halloween parties will be the same since we will be visiting from September 25 through the 28th and want to go to the Monday night party if they have one!

 

[Sherry E]

I am at least hoping that the start dates for Walt Disney World and Disneyland Halloween parties will be the same since we will be visiting from September 25 through the 28th and want to go to the Monday night party if they have one!

WDW's parties start really, really early in September (one time they even began in late August). DLR's parties -- thus far -- begin on the last Friday in September, and, before that, the first Friday in October. The two events are kind of handled differently and have very little to do with each other beyond the fact that they are Halloween parties.

This year, at the very, very, very earliest, DLR's parties could begin on 9/9 -- and that is only if Halloween Time started on that date, and only if Disneyland decided to add a bunch of parties to the MHP line-up. It is unlikely that 9/9 would be the first party day, in my opinion, but it's very likely to be the start date of Halloween Time.

Most likely, however, Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland Resort will begin on either 9/23 or 9/30 -- I am guessing 9/23, but they could also do something unexpected and new like begin the party on 9/16. I am also thinking that there will be some extra nights added in, but we won't have 29 parties like what WDW has.

So, the only issue for you will be whether or not the parties start before your last day at DLR, which is 9/28. Ordinarily it might be doubtful, if Disney were going to stick to the "last Friday in September" start date, which is 9/30 this year. But I have a strong hunch that they will start the parties earlier than that this time around, and you should be able to go to at least one of them during your trip. Disneyland won't start their parties when WDW starts their parties, but they will most likely start them earlier than 9/30 -- and that could be anywhere from 1-3 weeks earlier than usual, depending on when Halloween Time begins and what is actually happening with the party this year.

Expect a July announcement of confirmed party dates at the absolute latest. New, major changes to the party may mean an earlier announcement -- but probably no earlier than May, and that is a stretch.

 

[kabbie]

I have hotel reserved for Sept 23-27...do you think I should move to Sept 30 arrival to be guaranteed Halloween party?

 

[Sherry E]

I have hotel reserved for Sept 23-27...do you think I should move to Sept 30 arrival to be guaranteed Halloween party?

Well, it wouldn't hurt to do that -- if it's important to you to be 100% certain you'll be able to go to a party. I really feel that the party will start earlier than 9/30 this year -- but I just don't know if it will start on 9/23 or 9/16 or some other odd date. I don't think they would start Halloween Time on 9/9 and then start the parties 3 weeks later.

One way or another, whenever the parties actually begin, it is certain that there will be a party on 9/30. Just to be on the safe side, you might want to change your dates. You could always wait until the dates are officially announced by the Parks Blog, but that might not be until mid-July, at the latest (though hopefully earlier), and I don't know if that would be too late to change your reservation just in case it turns out there are no parties pre-9/30.

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

Hi! I've been keeping an eye on the ride closures but haven't seen anything yet regarding HM. your vast wisdom should help here~ Any guestimate when they will close HM for the overlay? We are going 8/16-8/24 and really want to see the original HM. My son disliked the NBC overlay because of the music so I didn't get to ride it much the last time we were there. Thanks!!!

 

[jammyjam25]

We had so much fun during our Halloween trip last year we’ve decided to do it again! This year myself, my BFF, and another friend of ours will be staying at the DLH October 2-October 7. Planning to do a 3-day park hopper and 1 MHP. We stayed on site at DLH last year as well and loved it so much that even though we originally booked offsite we eventually decided we’d miss being onsite too much and changed our reservation.

Looking forward to more news about Halloween time and the parties (I’m in the camp that hopes they move to DCA this year) as we move through spring and summer!

 

[Sherry E]

Hi! I've been keeping an eye on the ride closures but haven't seen anything yet regarding HM. your vast wisdom should help here~ Any guestimate when they will close HM for the overlay? We are going 8/16-8/24 and really want to see the original HM. My son disliked the NBC overlay because of the music so I didn't get to ride it much the last time we were there. Thanks!!!

If I remember correctly, last year Haunted Mansion was closed from Monday, August 24th to Thursday, September 10th -- in other words, it was closed all through the day of September 10th and then reopened as Haunted Mansion Holiday on Friday, September 11th.

Assuming that Halloween Time is on track to begin on Fri., 9/9/16 (this has not yet been confirmed, of course), which seems likely since the Diamond Celebration is supposed to be wrapping up on 9/5, then Haunted Mansion would have to shut down by Monday, August 22nd. If Halloween Time is going to start later than 9/9, like on 9/16, then Haunted Mansion would likely close on 8/29.

In any event, I think that you should be able to catch several days (at least) of the regular Haunted Mansion in its non-holiday overlay format before your trip is over.