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

[tksbaskets]

Only 46 days?? Wahoo! I love when people post pics and reports from DL with the holiday decorations!! HINT.

 

[Sherry E]

Only 46 days?? Wahoo! I love when people post pics and reports from DL with the holiday decorations!! HINT.

Oh yes, TK! Only 46 days until Halloween Time, which seems like it's right around the corner and will be here in no time, and 105 days until the start of the holiday season, which seems like it's an eternity and will take forever to get here!

You know we will all be sitting here, waiting with baited breath, for photos hot off the press from the first couple of days of Halloween Time! There's always that curiosity as to what, if anything, will be 'new' or added in that wasn't there last year. Will DLR pay attention to the complaints they received about DCA being Halloween-less last year and add some stuff in? Will they add anything new into DL? Will there be some cool new merchandise? Isn't it the 10-year anniversary of Haunted Mansion Holiday? If so, maybe there will be some interesting new HMH/NBC souvenirs. What will this year's ballroom scene gingerbread house display be in HMH? Will there be any new and interesting store window displays this year that were not there last year? And what kinds of ornate, elaborate pumpkins will be on display at the Halloween round-Up this year?

I can't wait!! Bring on the Boogie!

 

[idkmybffminnie]

I seriously can't wait for halloween time this year. We went last year for the first time because of all the awesome stuff I read on this board about it and we loved it. We'll be doing the same costumes this year but upgrading. My bf will be captain jack but he's having his costume professionally made ill just be his pirate wench.

 

[isisisme]

I don't remember this last year. But on the Disneyland page for the
At Piratepalooza in Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, kick up your boots with Goofy and other swashbucklers.

I am guessing this means Jack Skellington's dance party is not happening?

Did they do the pirate thing at Rancho Zocalo's? I thought they had Jack Sparrow by the Rivers of America?

 

[tksbaskets]

OK, this picture makes me smile every time. Such a 'Happy Place'!

 

[Sherry E]

I seriously can't wait for halloween time this year. We went last year for the first time because of all the awesome stuff I read on this board about it and we loved it. We'll be doing the same costumes this year but upgrading. My bf will be captain jack but he's having his costume professionally made ill just be his pirate wench.

idkmybffminnie -

Sounds like great costumes! By the way, the pictures in your signature with Minnie are adorable!

I don't remember this last year. But on the Disneyland page for the
At Piratepalooza in Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, kick up your boots with Goofy and other swashbucklers.

I am guessing this means Jack Skellington's dance party is not happening?

Did they do the pirate thing at Rancho Zocalo's? I thought they had Jack Sparrow by the Rivers of America?

isisisme-

You're right - I don't recall that RDZ Goofy/Piratepalooza thing mentioned last year at all! Is this something new, in addition to Jack Sparrow by RoA? I wonder if they did get rid of Jack Skellington's dance party.

Hmmm....I don't think people will be too happy if Jack Sparrow is missing from the Halloween party, so I hope he is still around. Maybe they are trying to amp up the pirate presence in DL since the actual POTC ride will be closed! I hope they didn't get rid of Jack Sparrow because POTC is going to be closed! That will just be wrong!

OK, this picture makes me smile every time. Such a 'Happy Place'!

TK -

That picture makes me smile too - and it reminds me of how much better the Halloween decor above the turnstiles is than the Christmas above-turnstiles decor! That is one major area where the holiday season is lacking - that area above the turnstiles. The character pumpkins are soooo much better than the pitiful looking snowflakes they've got going on from November - January.

 

[Sherry E]

Oh, by the way, I can't believe I forgot to post about this before....but I was reminded when isisisme mentioned the Piratepalooza thing earlier.

I noticed the annual, official DLR Halloween Time article/press release a couple of weeks ago or so, and I guess it left my brain almost immediately because it didn't strike me as containing any 'new' information or details on the season at all - in fact, it almost sounds like it could be a copy of last year's DLR Halloween press release information.

Anyway, there is literally nothing new here that wasn't in last year's official Halloween Time press release, but here is the link to the 2011 version, for your reading enjoyment!:



'Tis the Season to be Spooky.....



Our final hope for getting any additional, new Halloween info is probably going to be the super cool mini-site that goes up on the DLR website every year, complete with creepy noises and graphics, villains and little icons or images you can click on (like scary portraits on a wall or something) that lead you to details about treats, merchandise and other Halloween highlights. But that mini-site won't be up for at least a few weeks, if not more.

Last year the mini-site tried saying there would be "decorations in both parks" when the Halloween mini-site went up on the DLR website at the end of August/beginning of September, but I think we can count DCA out of the Halloween festivities this year. All that anyone noticed in 2010 was some Fall-looking garland on a facade in the Pacific Wharf area and some Fall flowers.

Still, if there are any surprises yet to be revealed about Halloween Time, the mini-site may be where they would be found since the yearly press release revealed nothing new at all!!

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

TigerlilyAJ -
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.

Thanks for all the help, Sherry! Yes, all this is what I feared/expected. Lots of unknowns. I just hate waiting another 10 months to book for Oct 2012, but it feels like with hotel deals, airfare (we're almost certainly flying "Bags Fly Free!" Southwest), and then waiting for the MHP schedule, I have to sit on my hands and be patient.
I'm afraid there are literally a million families like mine who are skipping out on a 2011 trip (or even an early 2012 one) because we're waiting for Cars Land.

AJ

 

[choccieaddict]

I need your help guys!

We're coming over from the UK to explore Southern California for 10 nights. We are limiting our time on Disney property to 2 days (what a shocking thing to say on a Disney forum, I know! But we've done Disney in Orlando for two fortnights over the last two summers when we hit Disney Parks almost every day and I think it's time to explore a little more of what the U.S has to offer).

My dilemma is this....do we do Disneyland on a normal day ticket, or should we do Disneyland on a Halloween party night? We don't mind if we don't manage all the rides, but want to do those that don't exist in WDW (especially Indiana Jones) as well as Space Mountain. I understand that you can get entry on Halloween Party nights from around 4pm and think (hope) that we'd have enough time to experience the Halloween theme and the park rides in one evening.

What do you think? If you had never experienced a Halloween night nor Disneyland would you choose a party night over a general day entry?

I think I'm making the right decision, the party photos look great, Halloween is such a big event in the U.S compared to in the UK. I think my only concern is that the park will be packed and we won't get to see/do much. There are only three party dates that we can choose from...the 25th 28th and 31st. I'm guessing the 25th would be the least busy...but it's also the day after arrival in the US for us and I'm wondering if our bodies would be too jetlagged to want to head out in the evening.

Suggestions?

 

[Sherry E]

I need your help guys!

We're coming over from the UK to explore Southern California for 10 nights. We are limiting our time on Disney property to 2 days (what a shocking thing to say on a Disney forum, I know! But we've done Disney in Orlando for two fortnights over the last two summers when we hit Disney Parks almost every day and I think it's time to explore a little more of what the U.S has to offer).

My dilemma is this....do we do Disneyland on a normal day ticket, or should we do Disneyland on a Halloween party night? We don't mind if we don't manage all the rides, but want to do those that don't exist in WDW (especially Indiana Jones) as well as Space Mountain. I understand that you can get entry on Halloween Party nights from around 4pm and think (hope) that we'd have enough time to experience the Halloween theme and the park rides in one evening.

What do you think? If you had never experienced a Halloween night nor Disneyland would you choose a party night over a general day entry?

I think I'm making the right decision, the party photos look great, Halloween is such a big event in the U.S compared to in the UK. I think my only concern is that the park will be packed and we won't get to see/do much. There are only three party dates that we can choose from...the 25th 28th and 31st. I'm guessing the 25th would be the least busy...but it's also the day after arrival in the US for us and I'm wondering if our bodies would be too jetlagged to want to head out in the evening.

Suggestions?

choccieaddict -

Hi! Okay, let's see...hopefully some of our other resident Halloween Time experts will chime in as well (Liza? Bret? Kristin? Anyone?).

So you will be arriving in the U.S. on October 24th, correct? You may be too jetlagged for the party on 10/25. Maybe the party on Friday, October 28 would be better...unless you want to actually go to the party on Halloween (10/31) itself, which could be lots of fun.

Out of the 2 days you plan to spend on Disney property, how were you going to divide up that time? In other words, are you getting a Park Hopper so you can go back and forth between California Adventure and Disneyland on one day, and then just Disneyland the next day, or how were you planning on doing it? Were you thinking of getting a 2-day Hopper, or a 1-day Hopper and then a separate ticket to the Halloween party for the second night of your visit?

Yes, you'd be able to get into the Halloween party at 4 p.m. on a Friday night and at 3 p.m. on a Monday or Tuesday night. I'm just trying to decide if it's worth it for you to spend the extra money on the party itself, or if you should just stick with Disneyland on a non-party day and skip the party altogether. You will still be able to enjoy Halloween Time even if you don't do the party.

Really, when it comes down to it, what you'd get at the party itself would be trick or treating (and lots of candy!), a mini-cavalcade, some extra character photo opportunities and the Halloween Screams fireworks. The HS fireworks are great.

But if you skip the party itself and just visit Disneyland on a non-party day or in the daytime before a party, you'd get to experience 85% of what the Halloween Time season has to offer. You'd still be able to see the charming Halloween Round-Up and all the pumpkins along Main Street, the characters in Halloween costumes, the Dia de los Muertos display in Frontierland, the Ray Bradbury Halloween Tree, you'd still be able to ride Haunted Mansion Holiday (you must do that, as this is an overlay that WDW does not have!) and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. You'd still be able to sample special Fall/Halloween goodies and all that. The actual party itself just kind of complements the seasonal activities that are already there.

On the one hand I think, since Halloween is a much bigger deal here in the U.S. than it is in the UK, you might as well get the full American Halloween experience (done Disney style, of course) and go to the party as well. On the other hand I think that you'd see most of the Halloween decor and festivities without doing the party, and you could save the money and skip it.

Either way - party or no party - you will get to enjoy Halloween Time! The party just adds a few extra things into the mix.

I know I'm no help - I'm just kind of thinking aloud, running the scenarios around in my mind!

 

[isisisme]

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.

That is true. A lot of these names are familiar and it is kinda like chatting with old friends about something we all love.

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!

My husband and I were engaged on Halloween (under the waterfalls at Disneyland Hotel) as well as married on Halloween. Yes, it was a Halloween wedding with decorations and some people in costume. So, we always make Halloween special. And what can be more special that the Halloween at Disney on Halloween! We normally have dinner at the Blue Bayou as well, but not this year.

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!

It seems like some stuff is more, and some is less. I miss the flower display, but I remember when they did not have the gate decorations with the jack-o-lantersn. I also loved when French Market had special Haunted Mansion Holiday menu items other than dessert. I didn't remember seeing that last year, and it made me sad.

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.

I think that they should put Candy Corn somewhere. Maybe even in Bugs Land.I actually had fun at ElecTRONica last year. My husband loves it..but he has always loved TRON

I cannot wait to see all the tasty treats that come out for Halloween. Last year, we came down the Friday before Halloween and only had one day in Disneyland before Halloween, and I missed out on a lot of the treats since they stopped right after. This year we are flying down on the 27th and heading home on the 2nd. So, I have more time to munch on all the pumpkin nummies. And enjoy more of the Halloween decor (just hoping our hotel is okay since it is new for us).

Again, thanks for the welcome!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Wow!! Is it really 46 days until Halloween?

 

[PixiDustDears]

We're so excited! We have a countdown chain going already. Only 73 more days til our Halloween Party (and the first day of our Disney vacation)! (And only a week and a day til school starts. Yes it starts on a Thursday. Go figgure.)

 

[Vala]

Yay! Guess who's going to see Halloween anyway?

I had an envelope from Switzerland in the mail today. Picture me going because I had no idea what this could be.

Boyfriend running in yelling "nooooooooooooooooooooooo! don't open!!!!" (yes, he really did this. ) was a second too late, I had opened it.

Inside were two tickets for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in Disneyland Paris! So I am Halloween bound October 7 after all.

 

[tksbaskets]

Yay! Guess who's going to see Halloween anyway?

I had an envelope from Switzerland in the mail today. Picture me going because I had no idea what this could be.

Boyfriend running in yelling "nooooooooooooooooooooooo! don't open!!!!" (yes, he really did this. ) was a second too late, I had opened it.

Inside were two tickets for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in Disneyland Paris! So I am Halloween bound October 7 after all.

WOW!! Please report in with pics from DL Paris at Halloween!! That is spooktacular!!

 

[Sherry E]

How exciting, Vala! Halloween in Paris and Christmas time in Disneyland! I'd say you are a lucky girl!

 

[Vala]

Yes, I am quite excited myself.

It's only going to be an extended weekend trip - turned out one of my friends told him that there is a pin event the afternoon of October 8 - but hopefully enough to get some sort of Halloween fix.

Last year they had Facilier out and I'd give body parts to meet him.

They also have pumpkin people and other villains that you rarely see like Shan Yu from Mulan and friends of mine even met Esmeralda and Clopin last year.

 

[JH87]

Refresh my memory....weekdays in October, are the hours still off-season hours, 10a-8p, or is it considered on-season, with 8a-midnight hours?
I know September weekdays during Halloweentime are 10a-8p, but couldn't remember how it went in October.

 

[Sherry E]

Refresh my memory....weekdays in October, are the hours still off-season hours, 10a-8p, or is it considered on-season, with 8a-midnight hours?
I know September weekdays during Halloweentime are 10a-8p, but couldn't remember how it went in October.

Hi, Jillian!

Well, here are last year's October hours and schedule (though there was no Soundsational Parade in 2010):

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm?month=10&year=2010

You will see that most of the non-Halloween party weeknights had 8 p.m. closings (parties were Tuesdays and Fridays), though there were some random 9 p.m. and, I think, 11 p.m. closings in there (the 11 p.m. probably had to do with Columbus Day or something??). So, for the most part, the hours still reflect off-peak season hours, unlike the holiday season which has lots of late hour nights sprinkled throughout!

 

[JH87]

Hi, Jillian!

Well, here are last year's October hours and schedule (though there was no Soundational Parade in 2010):

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm?month=10&year=2010

You will see that most of the non-Halloween party weeknights had 8 p.m. closings (parties were Tuesdays and Fridays), though there were some random 9 p.m. and, I think, 11 p.m. closings in there (the 11 p.m. probably had to do with Columbus Day or something??). So, for the most part, the hours still reflect off-peak season hours, unlike the holiday season which has lots of late hour nights sprinkled throughout!

Thanks so much Sherry!
My some very good coworker friends of mine wanna try to get down there during Halloweentime! YAY! We were actually looking at Sept 20-22, but I noticed Pirates and Screamin are both down! Seeing that Screamin opens back up Oct 14 I was thinking of pushing the dates further back, but we will most likely keep the original dates. Two of my friends have never been to DLR, so I really wanted them to experience both of those rides. But it's ok. Just more reason for me to convince them to come back next year! (Like anyone really needs any convincing to return to DLR! )
I didn't think I would actually make it for Halloweentime 2011, but it looks like I might catch the very beginning of the season.