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

[StyledSugar]

We were there in February about 5 years back and it was collllllllllllllllllllllllllllld. Hoodies and jeans everyday. It was very disappointing. lol We loved the weather last year because we basically had zero summer here so it was nice to see the sun consistently for a week. lol

As long as we don't get rain the entire trip then I'll be happy. I know it's a possibility though so we'll deal with it and still have a great time!

I doubt you'd like our Halloween night here. I remember one year when it was -32 celcius (not sure what the conversion is but let's just call it flippin' cold!) and snow. We rarely get a Halloween without the white stuff so the kids will be in their glory there! It's a suprise trip for them so we are super excited. They know they are going but they think we are leaving November 26th instead of October 26th.

 

[Sherry E]

We were there in February about 5 years back and it was collllllllllllllllllllllllllllld. Hoodies and jeans everyday. It was very disappointing. lol We loved the weather last year because we basically had zero summer here so it was nice to see the sun consistently for a week. lol

As long as we don't get rain the entire trip then I'll be happy. I know it's a possibility though so we'll deal with it and still have a great time!

I doubt you'd like our Halloween night here. I remember one year when it was -32 celcius (not sure what the conversion is but let's just call it flippin' cold!) and snow. We rarely get a Halloween without the white stuff so the kids will be in their glory there! It's a suprise trip for them so we are super excited. They know they are going but they think we are leaving November 26th instead of October 26th.

February tends to be one of our coldest - and often rainiest - months in SoCal. Just like our intense Summer heat is sometimes delayed to early Fall, our "Winter weather" (and I use that term loosely because I know we don't get the same kind of Winter weather than Canada or even the rest of the U.S. gets) tends to come late. That's not to say that we wouldn't see rain or cold temperatures in December too, but many times IF we are going to get pounded with rain in a given year, it happens in late January and into February.

Now, being cold at Disneyland I don't mind! Some of my best trips have been ones when it was 30 degrees at night (or maybe 40 degrees), and I had to bundle up in bulky coats and mittens and ear muffs and all kinds of things. It may not be the kind of cold that you'd find in other states and countries, but for SoCal it's cold - and I love it! I am the most miserable when I am hot and can't get comfortable no matter how much water I drink.

You may get a kick out of seeing the 'crossover' period between the Halloween decor and the Christmas decor at Disneyland. I was reminded of this when you said you usually have snow on Halloween night! It may be hot in October, possibly, but you will still see 'snow'....Because you will be there on Halloween, you will be able to see pumpkins everywhere BUT you will also see that 'snow' has magically appeared on the Castle overnight, even before Halloween season ends, in preparation for the holiday season. It makes for some interesting photos if you can get an angle that includes pumpkins and snow on the Castle in the background.

So, technically, you won't be totally out of your element! I guess you will still see a little bit of snow (fake though it may be) on Halloween while you're at DLR, but you just won't have the freezing temperatures to go with it!

 

[Belle Ella]

Yes! Now that you mention it, I remember you talking about the drive home in your TR. You had to stop somewhere and spend the night unexpectedly on the way home becase you were feeling so awful, right? That heat caught up with you - and you have age and health on your side. I shudder to think what that heat could have been like in DLR for elderly folks or people with certain health disadvantages! Yikes! That could have been one very, very crowded Animation Building in DCA or one very, very crowded GCH lobby as everyone sought refuge from burning to death!

Well, if your party night plan changes and you decide to go to one of the ones in the second half of October (like 10/21, 10/25 or 10/28), let me know! Hopefully 10/3 will work out for you (no jinxing allowed!).

It probably didn't help that I wasn't a water drinker back then. I mean, I'm still not but I drink more than I did this time last year! Man did that kick my butt. I'll be more prepared this year so SoCal can bring on the heat. I won't mind. Haha, so says the DIS's resident Heat Miser.

I doubt I would be able to make any other dates if this falls through. The brilliance in it is that I don't have to take time off from work since Monday/Tuesday are my normal days off so I can drive down Sunday after work, do the party on Monday and then drive home sometime on Tuesday. But if something changes I will let you know! Someday we need to meet up actually at Disneyland lady!

 

[Sherry E]

It probably didn't help that I wasn't a water drinker back then. I mean, I'm still not but I drink more than I did this time last year! Man did that kick my butt. I'll be more prepared this year so SoCal can bring on the heat. I won't mind. Haha, so says the DIS's resident Heat Miser.

I doubt I would be able to make any other dates if this falls through. The brilliance in it is that I don't have to take time off from work since Monday/Tuesday are my normal days off so I can drive down Sunday after work, do the party on Monday and then drive home sometime on Tuesday. But if something changes I will let you know! Someday we need to meet up actually at Disneyland lady!

Not that it wasn't exciting to meet up on my street!

I considered an actual Halloween night party as well as the other dates I mentioned, which would be Monday and it fits into my narrow PIN code window. But I just envisioned that it would be more crowded than I was prepared to deal with. Initially I wanted an early October party - until the PIN code thingy came and prevented that plan from happening.

In any case, I still have a whooooooole long week booked at the PPH in late November/early December (in fact, I think that Meredith might be at DLR at some point during my time frame too, from what she said she was considering!), and I'm checking out on Monday, 12/5, so if I can get my frustrating out of state friends to finally hone in on when they are joining me (which would more than likely be during the November portion of the week, but just not sure exactly which dates yet), and you're able to venture this way, let me know!

ETA: Water drinking takes some getting used to - I used to hate it and would not drink it. Now I drink it all the time - but it IS boring, that's for sure!

 

[StyledSugar]

You may get a kick out of seeing the 'crossover' period between the Halloween decor and the Christmas decor at Disneyland. I was reminded of this when you said you usually have snow on Halloween night! It may be hot in October, possibly, but you will still see 'snow'....Because you will be there on Halloween, you will be able to see pumpkins everywhere BUT you will also see that 'snow' has magically appeared on the Castle overnight, even before Halloween season ends, in preparation for the holiday season. It makes for some interesting photos if you can get an angle that includes pumpkins and snow on the Castle in the background.

So, technically, you won't be totally out of your element! I guess you will still see a little bit of snow (fake though it may be) on Halloween while you're at DLR, but you just won't have the freezing temperatures to go with it!

Yes I'm looking forward to the crossover. How quickly do they begin getting the Christmas decorations up after Halloween is over? We're really hoping to see a bit of the Christmas stuff this year! It was fun last year because it seemed like every day we went to the park in the morning there would be new decorations added for the Halloween event. It was very neat! We're hoping we see a bit of this with the Christmas stuff this year.

 

[Sherry E]

Yes I'm looking forward to the crossover. How quickly do they begin getting the Christmas decorations up after Halloween is over? We're really hoping to see a bit of the Christmas stuff this year! It was fun last year because it seemed like every day we went to the park in the morning there would be new decorations added for the Halloween event. It was very neat! We're hoping we see a bit of this with the Christmas stuff this year.

I just replied over in the November Check-In thread! You will definitely see some things but I'm not sure how much. The decorations pretty much begin to go up, a little bit at a time, as soon as Halloween is over, and maybe before (like the snow on the Castle). But they don't get into full swing until at least the opening day of the season.

Don't hesitate to join us in the Disneyland at Christmas Time Superthread too (even though your trip isn't going to technically be a Christmas trip), just to get an idea of some of the things you will see in early November, such as New Orleans Square's decorations and some other stuff (Page 1/Post #2 of that thread is the one with links to photos and Page 1/Post #3 is the holiday info). The Superthread basically covers the period from early November to early January!

 

[StyledSugar]

Great, thanks!!

 

[iKristin]

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

 

[PittypatBR]

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

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

 

[oumagic]

We finally decided and bought tickets to the October 3 party. Probably going to hit the beach in the morning and then come back for the party that afternoon. Thanks for all of the info!

It will be me, wife and 2 kids because the grandparents going with us opted out of the Halloween fun.

 

[Sherry E]

We finally decided and bought tickets to the October 3 party. Probably going to hit the beach in the morning and then come back for the party that afternoon. Thanks for all of the info!

It will be me, wife and 2 kids because the grandparents going with us opted out of the Halloween fun.

That's great! Are the grandparents staying back at the hotel or just doing something else in DCA or DTD while you and the family hit the party? It's too bad they don't want to go to the party - they'd probably enjoy it!

That sounds like a good plan - to hit the beach or do something else first. In early October, chances are it will still be quite warm so it will be good for the beach! Even though October in general can be unpredictable, the early days of October are usually still carrying some leftover heat.

 

[oumagic]

We love the beach in the fall. We have spent a few fall trips wearing sweatshirts while walking the beach. Last year's fall trip was the kids first to Disney (Sept 19, IIRC) and the pools were too cold but we still had a blast. We were there on a chilly week and then you all were blasted with a heat wave after we left.

The grandparents just think they will be too tired that night for Disney fun. We drive in on Sunday and will head straight to Disney and be up late (Sunday was our only fireworks day last year). After the late Sunday and day at the beach, they are going to want to recharge their batteries. They will probably be eating dinner at 5 and in their room with a bottle of wine by 7, so I am not going to feel too bad for them

 

[tzeitel]

We are so close I can taste it! Well I am tasting my Lean Cusine but it has a DLR Halloween aftertaste!

 

[Kristina]

Hi! Normaly I'd read through to find the info in a thread like this but I'm on the phone with my friend in CA and I'm wondering if on Friday the 15th, since Holloween hasn't begun, will there be any fireworks or Fantasmic do you think? You are often quick to answer so maybe someone is out there listening ! Defo going on the 16th but wondering about friday as well! Thanks!

 

[Sherry E]

Hi! Normaly I'd read through to find the info in a thread like this but I'm on the phone with my friend in CA and I'm wondering if on Friday the 15th, since Holloween hasn't begun, will there be any fireworks or Fantasmic do you think? You are often quick to answer so maybe someone is out there listening ! Defo going on the 16th but wondering about friday as well! Thanks!

Hi, Kristina!

HalloweenTime actually begins on Friday, September 16 this year. So are you saying you're going to be in the parks on Thursday, September 15th, or will you be there on opening day of Halloween Time?

Here is the September 2010 schedule, so you can have an idea of what may be showing and which entertainment options are available (although there was no Soundsational Parade last year so I'm not sure why that's showing on last year's calendar!):

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm?month=9&year=2010

I would think that the fireworks and Fantasmic would show on Friday through the weekend, but I'm not sure about Thursday, 9/15 without checking that schedule from last year.

 

[Kristina]

Thank you Sherry, yes I will be there on opening day the 16th and was wondering if I should plan my other day on the 15th or the Saturday the 17th. Thank you for your quick thinking there with the schedule . I get in a frenzy when I realise I'm actually going to buy airfare, book the hotel and go, and then I can't even think straight. Calmed down now ! The schedule is showing no fireworks or Fantasmic on thursday which I think sounds alright although perhaps the Haunted Mansion and the decorations will not be up either.

Hmm decisions decisions! Fun decisions!!! Do you think perhaps they will be up, if not no bother. I think I am leaning towards thursday just in case the crowds are a little lighter. I'll have 3 days in all and am super excited !

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you Sherry, yes I will be there on opening day the 16th and was wondering if I should plan my other day on the 15th or the Saturday the 17th. Thank you for your quick thinking there with the schedule . I get in a frenzy when I realise I'm actually going to buy airfare, book the hotel and go, and then I can't even think straight. Calmed down now ! The schedule is showing no fireworks or Fantasmic on thursday which I think sounds alright although perhaps the Haunted Mansion and the decorations will not be up either.

Hmm decisions decisions! Fun decisions!!! Do you think perhaps they will be up, if not no bother. I think I am leaning towards thursday just in case the crowds are a little lighter. I'll have 3 days in all and am super excited !

Kristina -

You're very welcome!

You raise an interesting point about whether or not there will be decorations up on Thursday, September 15. THe short answer is yes, there will be some decorations but it won't be the full Halloween experience until 9/16.

This is something I was thinking about the other day - even though there are official season start dates for Halloween Time and the holidays at DLR, and usually those are the days on which all the seasonal entertainment and attractions begin, the lines are becoming more and more blurred as to when things actually begin.

For example, on Thursday (and probably even Wednesday, September 14), you will see the giant Mickey pumpkin up on Main Street, asd well as the character pumpkins above the turnstiles at the entry to DL. You may even see some of the pumpkins along Main Street that usually sit on balconies or in window sills. You will probably see the Ray Bradbury Halloween Tree in Frontierland, too. Also - and this is a biggie - it is highly likely that Haunted Mansion Holiday will have a soft opening on 9/15, ahead of the season start date. I would venture to say that 99% of the Halloween decor will be up and out on 9/15.

(It happens like this for the holidays too - the season may begin on 11/14 this year, but most likely IASW Holiday will open before that, and decorations begin to go up in early November. But there's still a lot of extra stuff at the hotels that goes up post-Thanksgiving, so it's not all up before 11/14. They kind of roll out the holiday decorations in stages.)

So this begs the question...does the "official" start date of a season even mean much of anything anymore if 99% of the decorations are up before that date? In other words, what would be so special Halloween-wise about September 16th that is not happening on September 15?

Basically, I guess DLR has to have an official start date for the seasonal festivities - primarily the entertainment. But when people arrive at DLR on 9/14 and 9/15 they will think they have seen Halloween Time!

What will begin on 9/16 and probably not one second sooner is the Halloween Round-Up in Frontierland (a real gem, full of intricately carved, detailed character pumpkins), and the various characters on Main Street in their Halloween costumes (like Donald as a pumpkin and Goofy as a skeleton). Also, the Villains photo spot in Fantasyland will be up and running.

Otherwise, just in terms of random pumpkin decor, Fall merchandise and treats - I think it will all be there on 9/15 or sooner. Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy may or may not open the day before 9/16. And HMH is a likely bet for a soft opening ahead of schedule.

It will definitely be a little less crowded, I think, on 9/15 than it will be on Saturday, 9/17. But if you choose Thursday as your other day, make sure you allow yourself time on Friday, 9/16 to do/see those specific Halloween things that will begin on that day

 

[Kristina]

Interesting post Sherry! I guess it is just too difficult for them to get everything up overnight, or did they use to be able too, and if so, were there perhaps not as many or as spectacular decorations years ago?
As I was reading I felt I had decided correctly on choosing thursday. I will be visiting on the 12 also, for my birthday ! However, and I will be going to the park on the 12th but most likely, very likely the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain will be down then yes? So, while I will be able to experience them on Friday for opening day for sure, do I want to risk not being able to on do either on thursday?

Some decorations and treats and even if there were none on thursday, that would have been alright although what you have described sounds awesome and I'm so excited and prefer them up! I know though that I'll really want Haunted up for soft opening like you said..otherwise maybe Friday and saturday would be better for me! Well I'll have to ponder but, most likely I'll go with the chance of soft openings on thursday!
Thank you! You are a wealth of knowledge and we are so lucky to have you on this thread !!

I'm going to Disneyland !!!

 

[Sherry E]

Interesting post Sherry! I guess it is just too difficult for them to get everything up overnight, or did they use to be able too, and if so, were there perhaps not as many or as spectacular decorations years ago?
As I was reading I felt I had decided correctly on choosing thursday. I will be visiting on the 12 also, for my birthday ! However, and I will be going to the park on the 12th but most likely, very likely the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain will be down then yes? So, while I will be able to experience them on Friday for opening day for sure, do I want to risk not being able to on do either on thursday?

Some decorations and treats and even if there were none on thursday, that would have been alright although what you have described sounds awesome and I'm so excited and prefer them up! I know though that I'll really want Haunted up for soft opening like you said..otherwise maybe Friday and saturday would be better for me! Well I'll have to ponder but, most likely I'll go with the chance of soft openings on thursday!
Thank you! You are a wealth of knowledge and we are so lucky to have you on this thread !!

I'm going to Disneyland !!!

Kristina -

Thank you for the kind words. That's very nice of you to say and I really appreciate it.

You're right - there's just too much to do in getting Disneyland ready for Halloween Time to be able to do it all overnight. I wish there was some way they could manage to keep everything under wraps until the official opening day so that, let's say, on 9/15 you would see 'regular Disneyland,' and then on 9/16 you'd come back to the park in the morning and it would be miraculously transformed for the Halloween season.

I think it would kind of add to the magic and wonder of it all to see a completely different season take center stage overnight. Just like how 'Santa' delivers all of his presents while children are asleep, then when they wake up on Christmas morning there are presents under the tree and stockings stuffed, in my mind I would like to think there are little 'Halloween Santas' and their elves hard at work in Disneyland between 9/15 and 9/16, creating their magic in the wee hours of the night and then unveiling the surprise the next morning!

But, because the Halloween transformation is more gradual and not sudden, there will be bits and pieces of it appearing here and there before the official starting day, which will be good for those September visitors who can't be there on 9/16.

DLR has actually scaled down Halloween Time quite a bit from what it was even just a couple of years ago. DCA has virtually no traces of the season whatsoever anymore. A few years ago there were candy corn CALIFORNIA letters in front of DCA, there was Halloween or monster-themed music playing in DCA, there was Candy Corn Acres in DCA, there were Villains in DCA, there was a Halloween-ized floral Mickey (wearing a mask) at the entrance of Disneyland...it was bigger and better overall. And in 2009, the Halloween Screams fireworks were available to the general public (not just people attending the Halloween party) for the entire season, starting on the official opening day in September that year.

As the Halloween season has gotten more popular, oddly, the decorations have been minimized! I suppose this largely has to do with the massive makeover happening in DCA and all the construction...but that excuse will only hold water for so long. After all the work is complete next year (even though I have a hunch they are going to be running behind schedule at DCA), I'd better start seeing some pumpkins in DCA!

You're correct - more likely than not, both Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy will still be closed on 9/12. I think 9/15 is a possibility for soft openings because Haunted Mansion Holiday has soft opened in the past here and there. If you do choose 9/15 as your other day, make sure to keep walking by HMH (especially in the evening) to see if it's opened.

Otherwise, worst case scenario, you'll be able to ride both of those rides on 9/16, you'll be able to see the Halloween Round-Up on 9/16, pay a visit to the Villains in Fantasyland on 9/16, and take pictures with characters in their Halloween costumes on 9/16. All of the other decorations will probably be out on 9/14 or 9/15 and the Halloween food and merchandise will begin to appear as soon as the Summer season ends in early September, so you will see pumpkin souvenirs even when you're there on 9/12!

You'll have a wonderful time!

 

[camidges]

Hubby gave me the "green light" and I just ordered tickets for the Oct 14th party! I've never been to the MHP, and don't know what to expect but I am so excited to be able to go this year with my son! He will probably go as Mario - he is a HUGE mario fan!

Here's a quick question: If you already have park admission, does everyone get kicked out and then you will have to re-enter with your party tickets? Just wondering how that will work - as we will have a 3 day parkhopper and will be in DL all day, not just for the party...

Thanks for all the help and tips!