Happiest Haunts Tour 2014

[RandFamily]

Has anyone taken this tour yet this year? What rides are included? How was it?

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

It starts 9/12.

 

[DisneyBiskit]

I have taken this tour the past 3 years and we are going again this year. They seem to change it a bit each year. The tour guide interacts with "Gracie the ghost" throughout the tour. Its kinda corny, but its so much fun. (It also depends on the group itself. The more the group is into it, the more fun it is.) Last year we got to go on, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Tower of Terror. I think there was one more, but I cant recall. I recommend it. However, learning from previous experience, do not do the tour on the same day as one of the Halloween parties. We felt rushed because they were trying to get the tour done before the party started. Give it a try! I think you'll have fun!

 

[Shock13]

I have taken this tour the past 3 years and we are going again this year. They seem to change it a bit each year. The tour guide interacts with "Gracie the ghost" throughout the tour. Its kinda corny, but its so much fun. (It also depends on the group itself. The more the group is into it, the more fun it is.) Last year we got to go on, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Tower of Terror. I think there was one more, but I cant recall. I recommend it. However, learning from previous experience, do not do the tour on the same day as one of the Halloween parties. We felt rushed because they were trying to get the tour done before the party started. Give it a try! I think you'll have fun!

Hate to hijack but DisneyBiskit do you recall the start times of the tours and approx. how long the tour lasted? Thanks!

 

[DisneyBiskit]

For this year, they have 2 tours. One starts at 5:30 and the other at 5:45 (I beleive...I may be off by 15 minutes) and it lasts approx. 2 and a half to 3 hours.

 

[ncarrier]

Hmm. I may have to rethink my planning now. I was originally thinking it would be better to go on the tour on one of the party nights that we're not attending as something to do during the build up of crowds before the party. But if it makes the tour less enjoyable then I'm not sure about that . Did it make that big of a difference in how much you enjoyed it?

 

[DisneyBiskit]

No, it didn't lessen my enjoyment. They just try to get done before the party starts for those who are going. If you are not going to the party, I say go for it!

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Be aware that they revamped the Happiest Haunts tour this year and it doesn't go to DCA anymore.

 

[ncarrier]

The party that night starts at 6 so I was thinking that there's no way they'll have us finished in time when the start times of the tour is 5:30 or 5:45 pm lol so that sounds good about it still being fun on party nights.

On another note- I just phoned about the Happiest Haunts tour during our stay and found out that I can't get the AP discount because I will not activate the annual pass until our arrival . That puts a huge wrench in our plans to try both the happiest Haunts and Walk in Walt's footsteps tours. Anyone know if these tour fill to capacaity all the time? we are going to be there during a fairly busy period what with gay days, columbus day and choc walk happening. I did send Disney an email to see if we could maybe get refunded the difference when we show the annual pass at the time of the tours???

 

[lovebbbbbbbb]

The party that night starts at 6 so I was thinking that there's no way they'll have us finished in time when the start times of the tour is 5:30 or 5:45 pm lol so that sounds good about it still being fun on party nights. On another note- I just phoned about the Happiest Haunts tour during our stay and found out that I can't get the AP discount because I will not activate the annual pass until our arrival . That puts a huge wrench in our plans to try both the happiest Haunts and Walk in Walt's footsteps tours. Anyone know if these tour fill to capacaity all the time? we are going to be there during a fairly busy period what with gay days, columbus day and choc walk happening. I did send Disney an email to see if we could maybe get refunded the difference when we show the annual pass at the time of the tours???

what is it

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Just bumping this up in the hope that someone here has been on one of the first tours of the season.

I'm eager to hear what was included as part of the tour.

 

[ncarrier]

Update: After I sent the email to Disney asking about the AP discount on tours for those of us who are unable to activate the AP until we get to the park:

I had a phone call less than 24 hours later from a lovely lady in guest relations. She told me that I could go ahead and book the tours and when I arrive for the tours I can show my activated AP and get get reimbursed the difference with the discount . We're booked for Happiest Haunts on Oct 6th and Walk in Walt's on Oct 10- so excited!!!

 

[pepe3penelope]

Be aware that they revamped the Happiest Haunts tour this year and it doesn't go to DCA anymore.

Thank you for the link!!! You are always so helpful!

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

We went last night. It was quite a lot of fun. It stayed in DL. We went on HM, BTMRR, Mr. Toad, and Ghost Galaxy. Ghost Gracie joined us halfway through the tour so anyone who didn't want to go on any of the rides would have someone with them. We got a little treat early in the tour, then toward the end, a pumpkin cookie and finally, a little beverage from Starbuck's. (Thankfully, iced.) We also got a personalized "Happiest Haunts" pin and a Haunted Mansion key pin, both of which I really loved.

All in all it was a full two hours. There is a rest break about halfway through, but it's a lot of standing and walking. Our tour guide and ghost guide were both awesome, but we did struggle with the audio equipment. Ghost Gracie's Mike kept failing, and we kept getting some distracting interference. If you have your own little headphones, it might be worth bringing them instead of the awkward set they have.

 

[scrappymel]

If you have your own little headphones, it might be worth bringing them instead of the awkward set they have.

thanks for the tip! would earbuds work?

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

thanks for the tip! would earbuds work?

I think they would.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

We went last night. It was quite a lot of fun. It stayed in DL. We went on HM, BTMRR, Mr. Toad, and Ghost Galaxy. Ghost Gracie joined us halfway through the tour so anyone who didn't want to go on any of the rides would have someone with them. We got a little treat early in the tour, then toward the end, a pumpkin cookie and finally, a little beverage from Starbuck's. (Thankfully, iced.) We also got a personalized "Happiest Haunts" pin and a Haunted Mansion key pin, both of which I really loved. All in all it was a full two hours. There is a rest break about halfway through, but it's a lot of standing and walking. Our tour guide and ghost guide were both awesome, but we did struggle with the audio equipment. Ghost Gracie's Mike kept failing, and we kept getting some distracting interference. If you have your own little headphones, it might be worth bringing them instead of the awkward set they have.

Thanks so much for taking the time to feed back. It sounds like a fun evening and I'm getting very excited about my turn to do the tour.

Just out of interest, what sort of commentary they were giving. E.g. Were the guides mainly explaining and pointing out Halloween decorations, or were they telling ghost stories etc?

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

Just out of interest, what sort of commentary they were giving. E.g. Were the guides mainly explaining and pointing out Halloween decorations, or were they telling ghost stories etc?

It was a mix. The guides told us the spooky backstories of some of the rides, the meanings of some of the specific decorations, and other facts about the park and Halloweentime. Our group was all adults, so they probably tailor it to the group.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

It was a mix. The guides told us the spooky backstories of some of the rides, the meanings of some of the specific decorations, and other facts about the park and Halloweentime. Our group was all adults, so they probably tailor it to the group.

Thank you again for sharing. Very helpful.