Haunted Mansion FastPass on first day of Halloween Time?

[pelagoram]

We're headed to the park for the week following Labor Day weekend, and noted that Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain re-open in their Halloween Time glory on Friday, September 11.

I'm guessing that with that day being the first day of Halloween Time, and the first day of the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay, the lines for Haunted Mansion are likely to be pretty long. Does anyone know if the Haunted Mansion FastPasses are usually available during Halloween Time? Or are the FastPass machines for Haunted Mansion just used during peak season?

Would love to hear if anyone has firsthand experience with Halloween Time opening day.

Thanks!

P

 

[Sherry E]

I've done a few Halloween Time opening days/weekends.

Here's the thing about Fast Pass and Haunted Mansion Holiday -- it's hard to tell what will happen, to be honest. Fast Passes have been spotted for "regular" Haunted Mansion very recently (I don't know if that is typical in the summer, as I usually do not go to DLR in the summer, or if it is more because HM has been attracting a lot of people to see the Hatbox Ghost). However, that said, last year (and I think in 2013 as well), there were no Fast Passes for Haunted Mansion Holiday all through Halloween Time. The FPs did not appear for HMH until the Holiday Season!

So, seeing that FPs seem to be available for HM now (or they were very recently), I am not sure if Disney will keep the FPs going when Haunted Mansion Holiday opens on 9/11, or if they will stop them again and them restart the FPs for the Holidays. Halloween Time -- though very popular -- is still considered by Disney to be the off season, while summer and the Holidays are peak seasons. So they may feel that FPs are not as necessary during Halloween Time. But we shall see. This year, with the extra people coming in for the 60th anniversary festivities, Disney may just decide to keep the FPs rolling for the rest of the year.

And yes, the line for HMH is usually pretty long during the day, unless you happen to hit it right after it rains, or right after it opens for the day. The line moves at a decent pace, though.

 

[tarheelalum]

I have not been to DL in a few weeks but like Sherry said, HM has had fast passes available this spring and summer off and on. I expect on the day HM reopens for Halloween it will most likely have fast passes available.

 

[figment_jii]

They were using the FP machines in May (both before and after the kickoff to the summer season) and mid-July (my last two trips) on all days. My sense is that since HM re-opened with the Hatbox Ghost, they've been using the machines because of the uptick in popularity. I would guess (and it's only a guess at this point) that they'll continue to do so through HalloweenTime, especially because HMH is very popular and the Parks Blog confirmed that the Hatbox Ghost would remain in the attraction.

 

[bumbershoot]

Fast Passes have been spotted for "regular" Haunted Mansion very recently

Just a few days ago!

Last Halloweentime that we were there the FP area was being used for J&S meet&greets.


Thanks figment for giving me the name of the thing that was new! Hatbox ghost...he was very cool!

 

[Sherry E]

Just a few days ago!

Last Halloweentime that we were there the FP area was being used for J&S meet&greets.


Thanks figment for giving me the name of the thing that was new! Hatbox ghost...he was very cool!

Good to know. Yes -- meet and greets! That's what was there. The FPs didn't appear for HMH until the holidays last year. I had read that there were FPs for HM now (or recently), but seeing as I am not in any way a summer DLR visitor ( ), I had no idea if that is the norm every summer, or, as I mentioned above, if it is more because HM is attracting a lot of people to see the Hatbox Ghost. If it's the latter, then it's likely the FPs could continue through Halloween Time since the HBG will still be there. (No Pirates League, no pumpkin carvers and no Halloween Carnival, but the Hatbox Ghost is staying put in the middle of the Nightmare Before Christmas 'takeover'!!).

 

[figment_jii]

I think that Jack and Sally move around depending on the weather, crowds, etc. I haven't ever seen them in the FP area, but I've seen them meet guests in front of the entrance area. I've also seen them in the center of the garden-like area between HM and the French Market, and I've seen them out closer to the river in one of the slightly fenced areas. My guess is that they'll just use one of the other areas if they decide to continue to use FPs once HMH re-opens. FPs for HMH seem kind of hit-or-miss; I don't recall seeing them last year for HalloweenTime, but they were offering them for some of the time during the Holiday season.

 

[Xenorye]

I assume the HM fastpasses being used right now are connected, yes?

Seems like the days of disconnected ride FPs are over.

 

[purple figment]

Yes, they are connected. The ones for Fantasmic and WOC are not connected.