HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread- 9/14-10/31; Mickey's Halloween Party starts 9/28!

[Sherry E]

It's official. We're booked! Had to change dates but we are still going! September 28 - October 2. Party on the 30th. Not my first choice, but we get to go!!!!! Plus when we get back I get to plan a Christmas trip for next year 2012 !

Kris

Kris -

Yay! I'm glad you still get to go, even though the dates are different!

I always have the hardest time nailing down my Halloween visit dates & party dates. I wanted to go early in late September/early October, on the first or second night of the party. Eventually I would like to go on Halloween night itself, but this year wouldn't be good for that. Then I got a PIN code for a hotel stay between 10/16 - 10/31. That got me rethinking when I would go to the party. Well, I ended up not using the PIN, so I am back to thinking I will do an early October party (10/3) - or maybe even the one on 9/30. Going later in October is going to be too close to my holiday trip.

In any case, Kris, you know where to go when you start planning your holiday 2012 trip......the Disneyland at Christmas Time Superthread! Ho ho ho!

Hi Everybody!! Just wanted to join in. I will be going on my first trip to disney land in october. My mom & I will be going to the Halloween party on the 25th. We can't wait. I've been to the one in WDW So I am curious to see how they compare!! Can't wait!!

Welcome, JennyLynn21!

I'm so glad you decided to join us here! Have you taken a peek at the first page of this thread? Posts #1 and #2 (the Intro and the Table of Contents) have tons of info, links to other helpful threads, photos, etc. on various Halloween Time-related things, including the party itself. I'll update Post #1 when we get more news on this year's events, but for now, you can get a pretty good idea and overview of what to expect.

Hello all! I have been missing in action, so I thought I would return with a couple of pictures.

Not very good, but I thought I would add it anyway.

Liza -

Thanks for posting those pictures! See, everyone, that ^^^ is the festive Halloween display on the tram path that I have been talking about! It is not located in Disneyland. Look how cute it is, and yet a lot of people probably never see it because they either don't take the tram or they zoom by it so fast that they can't get a picture. This display is cute enough to be worthy of being put in one of the parks, and I wish it were so that more people could see it. It's way too cute to be hidden on the tram route!

 

[funatdisney]

Sherry, I thought there may not be very many pictures of this display. But they are hard to take when the tram is moving! I think this year, I'll use the fast shutter speed (I forgot what that is called -the one where a picture is shot every sec or so).

The second picture is the only one I got of Donald. I forgot he was in the display until I saw the picture in my Photobucket account.

 

[specialks]

Ahhh, I'm SO excited. I received a PIN code! And like Sherry it is for 10/16-10/31. We normally stay offsite to save money since we stay for 7 nights. However this trip is a short one for only 3 nights and my husband has given the green light to use the deal and book the GCH!! I am so excited, I never thought it would be possible for us to stay there! We have our party tickets for the 25th and hopefully today I will have our hotel reservation!

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Specialks, can I ask what kind of discount(s) the PIN afforded you? I'm planning for Oct 2012, basically the same period for which you're getting codes, and hope to get a PIN code to help us stay on site, but don't know if the discounts would make that possible.

AJ

 

[specialks]

My code had "starting at" $163 PPH, $186 DLH, $247 GCH. Our dates got us the $247/night at the GCH but then there are taxes and we are driving down so we also have to pay $15/day parking.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Thanks for the info!
Wow, PPH is at least $250 base rate (before park view or concierge extras, etc) for my time period, so those rates look like a full third off. No wonder people are dying for PINs. It effectively makes on-site hotels price-competitive with GNs.
Off to find some DL Mickey idol to make a sacrifice to!

AJ

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for the info!
Wow, PPH is at least $250 base rate (before park view or concierge extras, etc) for my time period, so those rates look like a full third off. No wonder people are dying for PINs. It effectively makes on-site hotels price-competitive with GNs.
Off to find some DL Mickey idol to make a sacrifice to!

AJ

The PIN codes that specialks and I got - and many others on the DIS - are 35% off the regular rack rate for standard rooms. When you get concierge or something else, the PPH is no longer $163, etc. Plus, add in 17% room tax and the $15 parking (only if you have a car).

However, next year if there are PIN codes, I wouldn't count on the rates being the same. I suspect the hotel prices are going to climb next year in anticipation of Cars Land and all that, and so the PIN code offer rates - if there are any - may be not as valuable.

 

[Belle Ella]

... so I am back to thinking I will do an early October party (10/3) ...

This!

 

[DizNee Luver]

This!

Yea, what she said LVE IT!!!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Jessica & Laurie -

I would have absolutely no problem doing the party on 10/3. I would love to, and would gladly plan that night in a heartbeat! But it might be tricky for me to get down there and back on a Monday (more so than for a Friday party), so therein lies the problem!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Jessica & Laurie -

I would have absolutely no problem doing the party on 10/3. I would love to, and would gladly plan that night in a heartbeat! But it might be tricky for me to get down there and back on a Monday (more so than for a Friday party), so therein lies the problem!

Not good for Jessica....but we'll be there for the Friday party too 10/7.....so there's still a chance for us to meet up!!

 

[Belle Ella]

If I didn't have to drive home on Tuesday (meaning I need sleep) I'd pick you up and drop you of myself gosh darnit!

Did you hear? I settled on my costume an I'm going to make it myself Now I need to learn how to sew. But I'm gonna be Ariel in that blue dress that she wears when Eric is giving her a tour of the kingdom! I'd post a photo for reference but I'm on my phone at work right now, lol.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

I'm planning for 2012's Halloween season, and I'm curious. I've seen people post that the first day of the Christmas season is INSANE with crowds. Is the first MHP of the season, already a bit busier as it's on a Friday rather than a Tuesday, similarly crazy?
Do you guys guess that 2012's first party would be Fri, Sept 28, or is it tied to Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving so that it would be Fri, Oct 5, the start of that long weekend like it is for 2011?
The hotels are a bit cheaper early on, so I'm considering going right at the start of the MHP season.

Thanks,
AJ

 

[6Smiles]

Kris -

Yay! I'm glad you still get to go, even though the dates are different!

I always have the hardest time nailing down my Halloween visit dates & party dates. I wanted to go early in late September/early October, on the first or second night of the party. Eventually I would like to go on Halloween night itself, but this year wouldn't be good for that. Then I got a PIN code for a hotel stay between 10/16 - 10/31. That got me rethinking when I would go to the party. Well, I ended up not using the PIN, so I am back to thinking I will do an early October party (10/3) - or maybe even the one on 9/30. Going later in October is going to be too close to my holiday trip.

In any case, Kris, you know where to go when you start planning your holiday 2012 trip......the Disneyland at Christmas Time Superthread! Ho ho ho!


If you decide to go on the 30th let me know, we are also planning to do the party this night. I am getting so excited and it is getting harder and harder to keep the secret from the kids. Have no idea when or how we'll reveal it, but was thinking I got their Halloween costumes already and am planning on getting each one a gift card so I figured I would work that in. Although we might just tell them we are going to see some sights in california and wait for them to figure it out . We also bought a paver for the kids to find, when we search for something lost in our backpack





Liza -

Thanks for posting those pictures! See, everyone, that ^^^ is the festive Halloween display on the tram path that I have been talking about! It is not located in Disneyland. Look how cute it is, and yet a lot of people probably never see it because they either don't take the tram or they zoom by it so fast that they can't get a picture. This display is cute enough to be worthy of being put in one of the parks, and I wish it were so that more people could see it. It's way too cute to be hidden on the tram route!

Liza - I absolutely adore these pictures! I am going to have to figure out where your talking about so i can go see it in person.

 

[funatdisney]

Liza - I absolutely adore these pictures! I am going to have to figure out where your talking about so i can go see it in person.

Thanks 6Smiles. This display is on the route the tram takes to and from The Mickey and Friends parking structure and the Downtown Disney area. Catch the tram going to the Mickey and Friends parking structure. The loading area for this tram is by the World of Disney store. I think the tram to the structure will give you a better chance of a good shot than the opposite direction. Although once you arrive at the parking structure, you will just have to hop back on to get back to DL. That will give two opportunities to get a picture.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm planning for 2012's Halloween season, and I'm curious. I've seen people post that the first day of the Christmas season is INSANE with crowds. Is the first MHP of the season, already a bit busier as it's on a Friday rather than a Tuesday, similarly crazy?
Do you guys guess that 2012's first party would be Fri, Sept 28, or is it tied to Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving so that it would be Fri, Oct 5, the start of that long weekend like it is for 2011?
The hotels are a bit cheaper early on, so I'm considering going right at the start of the MHP season.

Thanks,
AJ

TigerlilyAJ -

I think Fridays are always busier at Disneyland anyway, and especially when there is a season such as Halloween Time or the holidays going on. The first day of the Halloween Time season (9/16 this year) will probably see a surge of people coming out just for the novelty of it (everyone wants to see if there is anything new that wasn't there in previous years), and the first night of Mickey's Halloween Party this year - 9/30 - will probably be pretty crowded for that same reason. In previous years, when the party was held in California Adventure, often times the first night of the party was the first night to sell out because, again, it's that novelty factor, I think. Add in the fact that it's a Friday and more people are available to go to a Friday night party than a Tuesday party.

I have not yet been to the Halloween party in Disneyland, but I did go on the first night of the party back when it was in California Adventure and I found it to be very crowded.

Next year, when the party occurs will depend on when the Halloween season begins. And next year, our choices for the start of Halloween Time would have be 9/14, 9/21 or 9/28, unless Disneyland starts the season on a day other than a Friday (which is what they are doing with the Christmas season this year - it starts on a Monday!). September 28 would be too late for the Halloween season start date, and 9/14 seems too early to me.

So my guess is that they will either switch things up in 2012 and start the Halloween Time season on a day like Monday, 9/17 or on Friday, 9/21 at the latest.

Traditionally, the Halloween party begins a week or two after the Halloween season begins. It used to always begin on the first Friday of October, but October 5th seems a little late for a party start date to me. I'm guessing the party will begin on Friday, 9/28/12, but right now, it's anyone's guess.

Next year is going to be interesting because Cars Land is opening in DCA and all the work in DCA is supposed to be complete. I'm guessing there will be more crowds in both parks overall from Summer on through the holidays, even during the 'off-peak' seasons. Because of this new land opening and the completion of the billion dollar DCA makeover that everyone has been waiting for since 2007/2008, Disneyland may change its schedule a bit, which could affect when certain seasons actually start and when the party takes place.

 

[isisisme]

Hello everyone. I have been lurking around since last Halloween time. My husband and I have been traveling down to Disneyland every Halloween for the past 10 years (except 2 years we missed). We have been watching how popular it has become.

We are coming down again this year Oct 27 to Nov 2. and will be going to the Halloween party on Halloween. Halloween is also our wedding anniversary.

We are slightly bummed about Pirates and Blue Bayou will be closed. But we are looking forward to our trip.

I am looking forward to reading about what is new and fun this year from everyone going before us!

 

[StyledSugar]

Just an FYI to all...Pirates is going down for refurbishment in September until November 24th!!! No POTC this Halloween

We are sooooooo disappointed! POTC is a family favorite! Yes we are still excited about our upcoming trip but this is definitely a bit of a downer.

 

[StyledSugar]

Hello everyone. I have been lurking around since last Halloween time. My husband and I have been traveling down to Disneyland every Halloween for the past 10 years (except 2 years we missed). We have been watching how popular it has become.

We are coming down again this year Oct 27 to Nov 2. and will be going to the Halloween party on Halloween. Halloween is also our wedding anniversary.

We are slightly bummed about Pirates and Blue Bayou will be closed. But we are looking forward to our trip.

I am looking forward to reading about what is new and fun this year from everyone going before us!

We are going on Halloween as well! Super excited about it! We went last year in September and our last day in the park was the first official Halloween time day. We never got to go to the party so we are looking forward to seeing what it's all about this year!

I also agree with you about looking forward to reading about what is new and fun this year. Great way to countdown to a trip!

 

[Sherry E]

Welcome to isisisme!!! I'm so glad you came out of lurkdom and joined us! Since you've been around since last year, you probably already feel like you know many of us.

You are doing what I hope to eventually do - go to the party on Halloween! This year it just wouldn't be possible, but next year...who knows? I may try to swing it!

Isn't it interesing to observe how the Halloween season has evolved over the years? It has become so much more popular with each passing year, even though the decorations themselves have been gradually scaled back each year (in 2008, the Floral Masked Mickey at the DL entrance disappeared; in 2009, the candy corn CALIFORNIA letters at DCA were gone; and last year, Candy Corns Acres disappeared from DCA)? The season has just taken off in terms of popularity!

I will be especially interested to see what Halloween Time becomes after all the work in DCA is finished. ElecTRONica should be gone by Fall of next year. I realize that the Candy Corn Acres decorations probably would not fit anywhere in the "new" DCA unless they were to be set up directly in A Bug's Land (like the giant Christmas decorations), but I wonder if DLR may find some sort of retro-looking Halloween decor to fit with the 1920's/1930's Los Angeles theme.

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Anyway, I wanted to let everyone know that, in case you have not been looking at your calendars, we have......

46 days until
Halloween Time begins!!!!!!





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I'm so excited!