How crazy at DL September 11th?

[GusGus77]

I am going to assume the daytime will be no where near as crowded as the evening. But how crowded might it be? During the day we are planning on probably only hitting Haunted Mansion in the daytime before going over to CA which I assume will be less crowded despite EMH that day. (We will be at DL on the 10th until it closes and hoping the park will practically be empty so we can hit almost everything then!) We will be heading back to DL for Fantasmic, though, as that is the only showing when we are there. So how bad will it be? Do the locals rush out for the opening day or will they wait until the parties and such get started? Thanks!

 

[Sherry E]

Well, here's the thing -- both things happen. The locals rush out and a lot of people wait for the MHP.

Also, weather can play a role. For example, about 5 years ago, there was a horrible heat wave leading up to the start of Halloween Time. We're talking 118 degrees at Disneyland, and 113-115 degrees in Los Angeles. It was miserable. There are a lot of people -- like myself -- who would rather not be at Disneyland in that kind of heat, so they stay away until it cools down a wee bit.

Also, 8 years ago, I was at DL over the opening of Halloween Time and it was intermittently pouring rain. It was the strangest weather I've ever experienced in Disneyland and DCA, because it would absolutely pour buckets (not a light sprinkle), causing everyone to run for ponchos and flee to the indoors, and then would get sunny and hot -- to the point where we were peeling off the ponchos and getting out the sunscreen. Then it would start pouring again, and then get hot again.

Any kind of weird weather or extreme weather like what I mentioned above can keep crowds away.

On a Halloween Time opening day when it was 'normal' weather -- which was maybe 77 degrees, overcast and humid -- I noticed that the first part of the day was quite pleasant, with lighter crowds. Later in the day, things picked up as people got out of work and school.

Anytime a season like Halloween Time or the Holidays officially opens, a lot of people will flock to DLR to see what's new. These days there are so many bloggers, podcasters, moderators, reporters, etc., all involved with Disney sites, and they want to get there while everything is newsworthy. No one really wants to wait 2 more weeks to go to Disneyland and see everything after everyone else has seen it -- especially when they have to write about it or report about it.

But... then Mickey's Halloween Party rolls along 2 weeks later, and all of those people who rushed to Disneyland to be there on the first day or weekend of Halloween Time will rush back to be there for the first night of MHP (again, it's newsworthy). Along with them will come all the people who were holding off to visit DLR until MHP begins (like the people who are tourists and more locals).


So, because Halloween Time starts on 9/11, unless there is some sort of weird or extreme weather event to keep people away, I would expect there to be decent crowds -- especially later in the day -- especially if anything new is added in to the roster of seasonal activities. It's not going to be madness like New Year's Eve, or post-Christmas, crowds... but it will be busy because people love Haunted Mansion Holiday, Ghost Galaxy and Halloween Time in general.

 

[GusGus77]

Does anything different happen with Fantasmic during Halloween time? I am hoping if not, the 10:45 show won't be too bad. How early might we have to be there? (I know, a lot depends on weather.)

 

[zanzibar138]

If it's anything like last year, be prepared for it to be busy. That first Friday of Halloween time last year was busier than Labor Day weekend! Having said that, it was also Dapper Day, so that would have contributed.

The day before will probably be reasonably quiet, but don't expect it to be practically empty.

 

[Sherry E]

Dapper Day definitely had an effect last year -- and this year it is not happening on the day that Halloween Time begins, so I think the crowds will be a bit better than last year. Not super quiet or empty -- it's Halloween Time and it's the year of the 60th anniversary -- but better than when dealing with Dapper Days crowds too.

 

[Sherry E]

Does anything different happen with Fantasmic during Halloween time? I am hoping if not, the 10:45 show won't be too bad. How early might we have to be there? (I know, a lot depends on weather.)

Do you mean a Halloween overlay of some kind? No. Nothing like that. It should take place as usual in the off season. I'm not the best one to suggest when to start waiting for F!, as I usually don't make time for it -- but hopefully figment_jii or someone who is more tuned in to Fantasmic happenings will post here and let you know!

 

[MarandaV]

(We will be at DL on the 10th until it closes and hoping the park will practically be empty so we can hit almost everything then!)

We're going to be there then too. Just a heads up, DL closes at 5pm on the 10th.

 

[GusGus77]

We're going to be there then too. Just a heads up, DL closes at 5pm on the 10th.

Yup! We have park hoppers!

 

[Aladora]

We arrived in DL for the first day of the Hallowe'en celebrations two years ago which happened to land on Friday, September 13th. Out of 8 trips it has the dishonour of being the busiest one we have experienced...including two spring break trips! It was also our hottest trip with temps over 40C (over 104F).

It might have just been that everyone wanted to be in DL for Friday the 13th but it certainly convinced us never to go back there for the first day of Hallowe'en ever again!

 

[zanzibar138]

It might have just been that everyone wanted to be in DL for Friday the 13th but it certainly convinced us never to go back there for the first day of Hallowe'en ever again!

That's how I felt after last year when it coincided with Dapper Day! I think without Friday the 13th or Dapper Day, it should definitely be more manageable. But I would still expect it to be hot and crowded.

 

[Sherry E]

We arrived in DL for the first day of the Hallowe'en celebrations two years ago which happened to land on Friday, September 13th. Out of 8 trips it has the dishonour of being the busiest one we have experienced...including two spring break trips! It was also our hottest trip with temps over 40C (over 104F).

It might have just been that everyone wanted to be in DL for Friday the 13th but it certainly convinced us never to go back there for the first day of Hallowe'en ever again!

The problem on that specific day (I was there on 9/13/13) was that there was a Limited Time Magic "Unleash the Villains" event, and that drew a ridiculous number of people who were confused about what exactly the event was. Disney did not advertise or explain it well at all, so people were just standing around in Town Square and in New Orleans Square, waiting for something to happen. It was poorly organized, and it just turned into a mishmash of people everywhere in the park.

 

[disneydreamer74]

We will be arriving Sept. 12th so I will be interested in seeing how the crowds are. Crowds I can deal with..excessive heat? yuck! Either way we will have to tough it out!

 

[SMD]

The problem on that specific day (I was there on 9/13/13) was that there was a Limited Time Magic "Unleash the Villains" event, and that drew a ridiculous number of people who were confused about what exactly the event was. Disney did not advertise or explain it well at all, so people were just standing around in Town Square and in New Orleans Square, waiting for something to happen. It was poorly organized, and it just turned into a mishmash of people everywhere in the park.

They sent out a pamphlet that advertised "the 13th hour," which they thought was 1am (on the 14th), but would really be 12 noon to 1pm. Worst promotion ever.