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

[Sherry E]

Does anyone know when the dates will be announced for 2012? During our New Year's trip we upgraded to an AP. Hoping to go during Halloween but would prefer September due to school schedules.

Hi there!

Traditionally, we never find out the official Halloween Time season start dates quite this early in the year. Last year our helpful DIS'er jernysgirl (Kim) happened to be the first one to find out the season dates, which put to rest all of our educated guessing, and those dates were actually released much, much earlier in 2011 than they had been in previous years.

I am assuming that the important dates for seasons and events and things like that at DLR have already been set. (They probably had some big planning meeting at the start of the year and mapped it all out.) For whatever reason, Disney chooses to not release them immediately (perhaps because they may change the dates).

If I recall, last year we learned the Halloween season dates before we found out the Halloween party dates. Prior to that it had been the other way around (party dates first, then season dates).

So...if this year follow's last year's lead, we will learn the Mickey's Halloween party dates in May (probably on the AP holder section of the DLR website, where they will announce dates for ticket pre-orders), which means we would hopefully learn the Halloween Time season dates before May...hopefully by March or April.

But Disney is very sneaky, and just as soon as we think we have them nailed down to a pattern they switch things up on us!!

You can more or less narrow down what the season dates will be - and the party dates, too, for that matter. It will be something like this:

The Halloween Time season will most likely begin on Friday, September 14 (maybe too early?) or Friday, September 21...or somewhere in between, like Monday, 9/17.

Halloween Time will most likely end immediately after Halloween (which is on a Wednesday this year) and not extend all the way to Sunday, 11/4.

Mickey's Halloween Party will likely begin on either Friday, September 28, or Friday, October 5. It will likely be held on every Friday and Tuesday in October, along with Halloween/Wednesday being the final party night. They might throw in a couple of Mondays too.

I hope that gives you a good idea of when things will happen!

 

[I❤MICKEY]

Hi there!

Traditionally, we never find out the official Halloween Time season start dates quite this early in the year. Last year our helpful DIS'er jernysgirl (Kim) happened to be the first one to find out the season dates, which put to rest all of our educated guessing, and those dates were actually released much, much earlier in 2011 than they had been in previous years.

I am assuming that the important dates for seasons and events and things like that at DLR have already been set. (They probably had some big planning meeting at the start of the year and mapped it all out.) For whatever reason, Disney chooses to not release them immediately (perhaps because they may change the dates).

If I recall, last year we learned the Halloween season dates before we found out the Halloween party dates. Prior to that it had been the other way around (party dates first, then season dates).

So...if this year follow's last year's lead, we will learn the Mickey's Halloween party dates in May (probably on the AP holder section of the DLR website, where they will announce dates for ticket pre-orders), which means we would hopefully learn the Halloween Time season dates before May...hopefully by March or April.

But Disney is very sneaky, and just as soon as we think we have them nailed down to a pattern they switch things up on us!!

You can more or less narrow down what the season dates will be - and the party dates, too, for that matter. It will be something like this:

The Halloween Time season will most likely begin on Friday, September 14 (maybe too early?) or Friday, September 21...or somewhere in between, like Monday, 9/17.

Halloween Time will most likely end immediately after Halloween (which is on a Wednesday this year) and not extend all the way to Sunday, 11/4.

Mickey's Halloween Party will likely begin on either Friday, September 28, or Friday, October 5. It will likely be held on every Friday and Tuesday in October, along with Halloween/Wednesday being the final party night. They might throw in a couple of Mondays too.

I hope that gives you a good idea of when things will happen!

Thank you Sherry. I really appreciate the info. We may just do a long weekend at the end of September so we can do the Party. I want to get as much use as possible out of my AP. It's somewhat hard as we live in Utah.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you Sherry. I really appreciate the info. We may just do a long weekend at the end of September so we can do the Party. I want to get as much use as possible out of my AP. It's somewhat hard as we live in Utah.

You're very welcome!

I totally understand the need to get as much use out of the AP as possible before it expires! And...since you just had a holiday time trip to DLR (which I hope went well and was amazing for you!), it makes sense to want to do Halloween Time too! You know I am a sucker for both the Halloween and Christmas seasons at DLR so any excuse to experience both of them is something I am 100% in favor of!!! (That is enabler speak, of course!)

I think that sounds good - doing the late September trip. Even though Mickey's Halloween party could possibly start on Friday, October 5, I think that may be too late. I think that a 9/28 date is more likely. It's a fun party. I am already starting to get anxious for Halloween Time to kick off and the year barely just began! Only 8 more months to go!

 

[ashnjam]

I thought i read somewhere that POTC was closed during Halloween time last year. I hope this is not true as it was closed for our families first trip to WDW and would really stink if it is closed during our first trip ever to DLR. Please someone tell me something to make me feel better.

 

[Sherry E]

I thought i read somewhere that POTC was closed during Halloween time last year. I hope this is not true as it was closed for our families first trip to WDW and would really stink if it is closed during our first trip ever to DLR. Please someone tell me something to make me feel better.

ashnjam -

Don't worry!

It's very true that POTC was closed last year - for about 2-1/2 months, to be exact. It was closed by Labor Day, I think, and it reopened up by Thanksgiving, so the whole Halloween Time season was missing POTC.

BUT...never fear! The only reason POTC was closed for that long was because it was undergoing a major refurbishment of some kind - which is all part of getting the entire resort ready for what Disney expects will be many people descending upon its parks this year when California Adventure's makeover is complete. Lots of things have already received or will receive a bit of freshening up before Summer, when Cars Land is expected to open. For example, right now there is a big block of the Main Street stores which are closed as Carnation Cafe is expanded. Disneyland Hotel has had a major overhaul as well. These things are all part of the 'getting Disneyland Resort ready for the Summer' endeavor.

I highly doubt POTC will be closed again this coming Halloween season, and even if it had to close for a refurb, I doubt it would be closed all season long again.

 

[SpiritedHaunts]

I am trying, again, to make a trip to DLR this year. One of my daughters dreams is to see the Haunted Mansion overlay.

Right now I have booked two weeks at two different hotels. I have both September 11-19 and October 30 -November 7th. I think that the overlay will not be completed by the September dates. Does this seem right?

Also, would going over Halloween be a more busy or more stressful time? My daughter has some over-stimulation issues and I know we would have more fun if we could avoid a crush of people.

And lastly, we have rooms at the Sheraton Garden Grove and the Sheraton Park (still desperately looking for the castle Sheraton). Any recommendations on which one is better/ less stressful to stay in?

 

[Sherry E]

I am trying, again, to make a trip to DLR this year. One of my daughters dreams is to see the Haunted Mansion overlay.

Right now I have booked two weeks at two different hotels. I have both September 11-19 and October 30 -November 7th. I think that the overlay will not be completed by the September dates. Does this seem right?

Also, would going over Halloween be a more busy or more stressful time? My daughter has some over-stimulation issues and I know we would have more fun if we could avoid a crush of people.

And lastly, we have rooms at the Sheraton Garden Grove and the Sheraton Park (still desperately looking for the castle Sheraton). Any recommendations on which one is better/ less stressful to stay in?

SpiritedHaunts -

Hi there!

Okay, let's see...I don't know anything about the 2 Sheraton hotels so I can't offer any insight in that area, but hopefully some of our other DIS'ers can.

As for the dates...we don't know the official Halloween Time season dates yet. If they follow tradition at DLR and begin the season on a Friday, then the start date should either be 9/14/12 or 9/21/12. For some reason I keep thinking that 9/14 seems a few days too early, but I don't know.

If DLR follows what they did for this past Christmas/holiday season, they may surprise us and do something like start HalloweenTime on a Monday - like maybe 9/17/12.

So somewhere between 9/14 and 9/21, I am pretty sure HalloweenTime will begin - and the starting date of the season is when Haunted Mansion Holiday will be up and running. If it begins on 9/14 or 9/17, then you will be in luck for at least a few days. We may not find out the official season dates for a few months, but hopefully sooner!

Mickey's Halloween Party will likely begin on 9/28/12 or 10/5/12.

As for Halloween Time crowds...I personally think that both parks will see a bit of an increase in crowds from Summer on through the rest of the year, due to all the new things set to debut in California Adventure. This doesn't mean that it will be uncontrollably crowded or jam-packed every single day, but I just tend to think that the curiosity factor (and the expected media blitz/PR) will attract a lot of people in the second half of the year.

However, the September dates would probably be okay. I was at DLR on opening day of Halloween Time last year (9/16/11), and California Adventure was practically a ghost town - of course, I don't expect it to be that way this year, but I definitely think that a lot of people are back in school around mid-to-late September and so there would be a bit of a drop in crowds. October tends to get really busy these days.

As for the late October/early November dates, those last couple of days of October will be really busy, I think, but those early November dates will likely be pretty mild, crowd-wise.

 

[Virgoinab]

Hi Sherry, and other wonderful contributors to this fantastic thread.

It is because of this thread that we are going back to do halloween, cause I love it, but this thread sealed the deal, so thank you.

Question, we are going to go this year from Oct 7 - Oct 13, now I expect the Sun and Mon to be busy, since that Monday is an American holiday correct? However, are there any other major school closures that week?

Thanks for your help

 

[Sherry E]

Hi Sherry, and other wonderful contributors to this fantastic thread.

It is because of this thread that we are going back to do halloween, cause I love it, but this thread sealed the deal, so thank you.

Question, we are going to go this year from Oct 7 - Oct 13, now I expect the Sun and Mon to be busy, since that Monday is an American holiday correct? However, are there any other major school closures that week?

Thanks for your help

Virgoinab -

Hello to you, too!

Thank you so much for the kind words about the thread (and the amazing people who have contributed to it!!). I'm so glad that it helped you decide to make a Halloween trip to DLR.

You're absolutely right - our Columbus Day is going to be on Monday, October 8th this year. So, as with any holiday weekend, it should be pretty busy.

I am not sure of the school closure dates for 2012. In some cases it has seemed as though many schools were out until right after Columbus Day and other times it seemed like certain schools were on break until a week after that.

Last year one of our wonderful DIS'ers, specialks, posted a poll on the DIS, asking when various Fall school breaks were taking place in 2011. After surveying the results of her poll to find that many schools were on break in the first half of October - combined with the fact that certain hotel discounts for DLR hotels were only good in the second half of October - we concluded that the second half of October was probably going to be less busy overall, and that the first couple of weeks of the month would be more crowded.

So I would guess that quite a few schools (and this may include schools in neighboring states - not even necessarily schools in California only) will be on break up to about mid-October (more or less).

 

[isisisme]

I am trying, again, to make a trip to DLR this year. One of my daughters dreams is to see the Haunted Mansion overlay.

Right now I have booked two weeks at two different hotels. I have both September 11-19 and October 30 -November 7th. I think that the overlay will not be completed by the September dates. Does this seem right?

Also, would going over Halloween be a more busy or more stressful time? My daughter has some over-stimulation issues and I know we would have more fun if we could avoid a crush of people.

We have been going for Halloween for years. Last year I think is a good indication how this following Halloween will be. The weekend before Halloween was pretty crowded. I would say that Sat was pretty close to full on summer crowds. Halloween was a little busy during the day, but not too bad. However, the day after Halloween was significantly less busy. It was lovely!! f we go for Halloween this year (we might swap out for Christmas), we will arrive on either Sunday afternoon or Monday. Sunday if we want to do F!.

 

[Staceycs]

Hi Everyone, I have been loving reading your posts today!

I am very excited to say that we have just booked flights and will be in Disneyland from September 20th to 26th, for our very first trip to America in Halloween Time!!

I understand that Disney doesn't realease official season dates just yet, but if we are lucky, I'm hoping the season starts on Friday the 21st. For everyone who has been before, can I please ask:
- Does anyone know if all decorations are up by season opening date, or would they continue to add things up until the start of October?
- Are fireworks a weekend-only thing at this time?
- Is there a Halloween-themed parade that runs daily (or is it only at the Party?) and would this begin with season opening?
- Would characters dress in their Halloween themed costumes from this early, or would they still be in normal costumes?

I really appreciate your help with this guys! I'm sure many of you have been at this time, where the season just starts and isn't in full swing yet.

I am very much in gratitude, Stacey

 

[Tarijeno]

Hey everybody,

We have prospective dates lined up for September 14-20. I know in the last few years that both the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain reopen from their holiday layover closures on the middle friday of September (the third friday typically). Is it safe to assume that both rides will reopen on the 14th, then?

We're picking dates that will (hopefully) be less crowded than those in October, and will feature minimal ride closures.

 

[Sherry E]

Hi Everyone, I have been loving reading your posts today!

I am very excited to say that we have just booked flights and will be in Disneyland from September 20th to 26th, for our very first trip to America in Halloween Time!!

I understand that Disney doesn't realease official season dates just yet, but if we are lucky, I'm hoping the season starts on Friday the 21st. For everyone who has been before, can I please ask:
- Does anyone know if all decorations are up by season opening date, or would they continue to add things up until the start of October?
- Are fireworks a weekend-only thing at this time?
- Is there a Halloween-themed parade that runs daily (or is it only at the Party?) and would this begin with season opening?
- Would characters dress in their Halloween themed costumes from this early, or would they still be in normal costumes?

I really appreciate your help with this guys! I'm sure many of you have been at this time, where the season just starts and isn't in full swing yet.

I am very much in gratitude, Stacey

Hi, Stacey! I'm so glad to see you here in this thread too (I know you were following the Christmas Superthread in the past)!

Well, the season will either begin on 9/14, 9/17 or 9/21, I think. Either way, if you start your trip on 9/20 and leave on 9/26, you will get to experience everything.

Everything decoration-wise, food-wise and merchandise-wise is up and out as soon as the season begins in September - and, actually, most of the decor is up several days ahead of time.

The only thing that does not begin on the season start date is the Halloween Party, and that will start on either 9/28 or 10/5 this year, I think.

At that time of year, yes, the fireworks are generally weekends only.

There is no Halloween parade available to the general public (so far - who knows about the future?) of any kind. The only thing close to it is the Cavalcade that is part of the party.

The Villains should be out at their usual Halloween photo spot in Fantasyland, and Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, etc. should be dressed in Halloween attire (such as Pumpkin Donald and Skeleton Goofy) on the season start date (they tend to hang around Main Street). At the Halloween party, there will be different outfits on the characters, and different characters too!

 

[Sherry E]

Hey everybody,

We have prospective dates lined up for September 14-20. I know in the last few years that both the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain reopen from their holiday layover closures on the middle friday of September (the third friday typically). Is it safe to assume that both rides will reopen on the 14th, then?

We're picking dates that will (hopefully) be less crowded than those in October, and will feature minimal ride closures.

The year the third Friday in September will be 9/21. We don't know if the season will officially begin on 9/21 - or on 9/14. It may even begin on something like Monday, 9/17. Four years ago - during the last Leap Year - Halloween season and the holiday season both had later season start dates, as I recall, so I don't know if that will happen again this year.

Whenever the season officially begins, that's when Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday open, if not the day before.

I think we will learn the official season start date by May, at the latest - that's my guess.

 

[Staceycs]

Hi, Stacey! I'm so glad to see you here in this thread too (I know you were following the Christmas Superthread in the past)!

Well, the season will either begin on 9/14, 9/17 or 9/21, I think. Either way, if you start your trip on 9/20 and leave on 9/26, you will get to experience everything.

Everything decoration-wise, food-wise and merchandise-wise is up and out as soon as the season begins in September - and, actually, most of the decor is up several days ahead of time.

The only thing that does not begin on the season start date is the Halloween Party, and that will start on either 9/28 or 10/5 this year, I think.

At that time of year, yes, the fireworks are generally weekends only.

There is no Halloween parade available to the general public (so far - who knows about the future?) of any kind. The only thing close to it is the Cavalcade that is part of the party.

The Villains should be out at their usual Halloween photo spot in Fantasyland, and Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, etc. should be dressed in Halloween attire (such as Pumpkin Donald and Skeleton Goofy) on the season start date (they tend to hang around Main Street). At the Halloween party, there will be different outfits on the characters, and different characters too!

Wow Sherry- you have just made us very happy people! I'm glad we will be able to see it all, at a time that won't be too busy.

You have a great memory- yes I was on the Christmas superthread! We are knocking-off the major holidays each year, one-by-one

We will definitely be doing the Happiest Haunts Tour as well, after reading this thread.

Thanks so much!!

 

[TwingleMum]

Is there Halloween activities going on around the resorts beside the Halloween party on Halloween?? I was concerned about going to the party on Halloween and missing out on all the Halloween fun elsewhere around the park. Also is it warm enough to swim at Halloween ??

 

[dolphingirl47]

Is there Halloween activities going on around the resorts beside the Halloween party on Halloween?? I was concerned about going to the party on Halloween and missing out on all the Halloween fun elsewhere around the park. Also is it warm enough to swim at Halloween ??

We were at Disneyland from September 26th to October 2nd and from October 9th to 13th last year and it was definitely warm enough to swim.

Corinna

 

[PistolPeteCO]

Waiting to hear the dates for the Halloween Party ....

 

[Vowelmommy]

Waiting to hear the dates for the Halloween Party ....

Me too! I am sooo excited about our trip, I can't wait for the party.

 

[kim3339]

Has anyone ever compiled a busy list? Kind of like a crowd calendar based on people's reviews of the parties, if that makes sense. I saw that Tuesday after Columbus Day was crazy crowded and the Halloween party, but I was wondering about the rest of the party dates.