How to work around Halloween Parties

[GatorChris]

I'm doing some way-out planning, but this might help someone else. We start our APs in November which means we'll be doing a trip again in the Fall of 2017. We did the week before Vet's Day in 2015 and it was nuts busy because of the race and everything. So I'm thinking about maybe doing a 5-day October trip since we've never been.

I can't say I'm real keen on spending an extra $400-500 for Halloween Party tickets. But they unfortunately run them M,W,F, which is our normal Disneyland Days. What's your best strategy to work around these? When does the park close to us vs when does the party start? Does the party hours make DCA busy on the party days, or does attendance during the day stay pretty normal? Is the party even worth it for AP holders?

Thanks for the help!

 

[GeneralTso]

I think the party is worth doing once especially if you have never done it. It is done REALLY well. It is also insanely crowded so get ready
They clear the park around 7pm (non party ticket holders)

 

[jammyjam25]

If you do not have tickets you have to be out of the park by the time the party starts - 6pm or 7pm depending on what day of the week the party is. Party goers are allowed in the park three hours before the start time (so 3:00pm for a 6:00pm party start time) and those three hours of overlap can be very busy.

The last day of our trip in October 2015 was a party night and we hopped over to DCA bc we did not have party tickets and it was the busiest I'd ever seen DCA. Full walkways, 30 minute wait for Ariel's Undersea Adventure, etc. That being said, it was a Friday evening and also the first night of Gay Days weekend so I think crowd levels were just higher in general. I'm not sure if that's a typical experience in DCA on party nights.

If you want to experience the fall decorations without the parties you could always shoot for mid-September right before the parties start up?

 

[GatorChris]

The last day of our trip in October 2015 was a party night and we hopped over to DCA bc we did not have party tickets and it was the busiest I'd ever seen DCA. Full walkways, 30 minute wait for Ariel's Undersea Adventure, etc.

This is what I'm worried about. At WDW, the Magic Kingdom does the Christmas party 4 days a week. It makes the other 3 days there nuts, but they have 3 other parks to absorb crowds on party days and nights. At DLR, everyone's headed to DCA when the party kicks up. I can't imagine that going well. And that's why I hope DLR stays away from christmas parties.

 

[agamble]

I agree with jammyjam. If you're worried about the parties try going in mid-September. It's a very nice time to visit if you can make your schedule work. It's kind of like the if you can't stand the grad parties then go in early May or late June.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

DCA becomes busier than usual during party nights. Those can be good nights to have dinner reservations in DCA, or to spend an evening at the pool. I don't think it will be unmanageable over there because a number of families will decide to call it a day, so you should be fine with some patience. Disneyland closes at 6:00 p.m. on Mon/Wed and 7:00 p.m. on Friday/Saturday/Halloween.

Hate to say it, I was super excited to see that I nailed it on my reservation dates (Sept 17-24) and we only have to deal with one Halloween party on Friday the 23rd. I think by then we'll be already squirreled up in our hotel room, getting sleep for an early rise Saturday!

 

[cruisehopeful]

I've gone to DCA during the party and thought it was fine. It was more crowded than usual, but still not as crowded as DL normally is. You may want to buy a ticket for one night of the party if you've never seen it, but I didn't enjoy either of the 2 times that I went to it. If I had younger kids, it may have been more fun. The first time we went, most of the rides weren't open, making the open ones have extremely long lines. The second time, my daughter wanted a picture with Jack and Sally. We waited in line for 45 minutes to do that after spending over an hour getting food because of long lines. I felt like I spent 2 hours of the expensive party, just waiting in a line.

The people who work there were overly excited about the trick or treating. They kept saying to us, "you get candy!" as if that was something special. For $50./each, we could have bought some really good candy instead of the little pieces of cheap junk candy. At any rate, we're all too old to trick or treat and only went through a couple of those things when we were on our way to something else. With all that said, I did like the fireworks the first time we went. They were cancelled the second time. I would go again for free, but not if I had to pay for a ticket. I'd rather be in DCA or Trader Sam's.

 

[tlovesdis]

I think DTD is way more crowded on a party night than DCA! Just walking through there after we had to leave DL on a party night was nuts. We tried to go into WOD and you couldn't even move and forget about trying to eat at one of the restaurants. We tried to put our name in for ESPN and were told it would be a 2 to 2 1/2 wait. So we went back to the hotel and went swimming then ordered room service!

 

[GatorChris]

Wow, this sounds brutal. I was debating this time of year vs. the week before the race in November. Did that last year and it was pretty crowded. But maybe it's better than being forced out of the park due to a party, and then squeezed into DCA and DTD. I'd like to see DL at Halloween, but not if it makes me feel like a second class Disney citizen all week.

 

[Niltiac]

I can't speak for how it was in 2015 with generally increased crowds, but my first trip was in 2014 and there were two parties we worked around. I don't remember it being bad at all. We hopped over a bit early so we wouldn't be in the throngs of dislocated people. One night we hopped over, watched most of the play parade, had dinner reservations, rode a couple of rides and then got front row spots for WoC 30 minutes before the show.

Then again it was my first trip, so it could be that I just didn't notice the crowds since everything was new and fun and I had no point of comparison.

 

[Niltiac]

Also those party days were Monday and Wednesday. Friday is probably worse.

 

[GatorChris]

I wonder if it would be possible on the nights where they kick you out of DL at 6 if we could get a reservation for a restaurant around 5:45. That way we could stay in the parks doing the attractions and spend dinner during a time we're supposed to be out. I did this at WDW...and they made sure to escort us all the way to the gate. I'd imagine DL is the same way. Not that I could do anything without the party bands on our wrists. Anyway, would this even be possible?

 

[jammyjam25]

Most of the restaurants close during the Halloween Party and only some quick serve locations are left open (and Blue Bayou for the Dr. Facilier party dining package). If I remember correctly from last year, many stopped taking reservations 1 to 1 1/2 hours prior to party start time.

 

[figment_jii]

DLR is different from MK in this respect. I can't speak for the quick service locations, but last year, the TS locations stop taking walk-ups and reservations about 60-90 minutes before the park is slated to close (it varied a little between the TS locations). I remember looking for a Blue Bayou dining ADR in 2013 and the latest time available was 4:40 pm on a 7:00 pm party night.

 

[GatorChris]

Well, shoot. There doesn't seem to be a way to work around this party at all. This seems to be about the worst time of year for a AP holder to show up IMHO. That is, unless you have an extra $400-500 to spend for a party...that happens at the same place you can get in the rest of the year. This seems more like a local-friendly time of year. I'm guessing this will be the last I ask about Halloween.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, shoot. There doesn't seem to be a way to work around this party at all. This seems to be about the worst time of year for a AP holder to show up IMHO. That is, unless you have an extra $400-500 to spend for a party...that happens at the same place you can get in the rest of the year. This seems more like a local-friendly time of year. I'm guessing this will be the last I ask about Halloween.

It's Disneyland. It's always a locals friendly time of year.

Seriously, we didn't have that much trouble with it last year. When were you thinking of going? If you can encompass a Tues, Wed, Thursday I bet you'll be OK. We were there 10/23 to 10/30 and the weekends were packed. But mid-week was great.

 

[GatorChris]

Seriously, we didn't have that much trouble with it last year. When were you thinking of going? If you can encompass a Tues, Wed, Thursday I bet you'll be OK. We were there 10/23 to 10/30 and the weekends were packed. But mid-week was great.

This is actually planning for next year. We like to go for a full week with our APs, so probably the last full week of Oct, which will not cover Halloween. Maybe the week before. And that's IF we choose October. I just don't like the idea of getting kicked out of DL, MWF. Especially since that time of year, Friday is one of the few days of F! and Fireworks.

 

[The Lucky Bug]

We were at Disneyland for about a week last October (had to extend our trip because of the mudslides on the grapevine). During the first party we were able to get a window seat at Naples overlooking the walkway and got to people watch all the people in costumes going to the party. It was about 100 degrees and sprinkling so we really enjoyed having dinner inside and being out of the craziness outside.

We did attend the party a couple nights later. This was my second time attending and my husband's first time. He was dressed as Rufio and got a lot of attention (which he loves) and cannot wait to do the party again. I can't recall us riding anything but Big Thunder that had about an hour wait. The fireworks to me aren't worth the cost and the "parade" is nonexistent. I did think it was cool when the villains came around in their carriage by the front hub (?).

I think the best part of the party is seeing all the families in their costumes having a great time. If you are looking for low crowds, awesome fireworks, fantastic parades, walk-on rides, etc. then you should skip the party. If you just want to experience something different then I would say you should go for one night, but make sure you eat a filling meal before the park closes for the normal guests or you will spend half the party looking/waiting for food.

Also, if you are going to Disneyland for the day then hopping to DCA during the party I would suggest running into DCA in the morning to grab a WOC fastpass so you can spend your evening watching that when you hop over.

 

[purple figment]

Next year Halloween is on a Tuesday so if you plan a trip right before Halloween through the first few days of November you probably won't have three parties to deal with. If you usually go to DL on M, W, F you won't be there on Halloween when there will be a party. I don't know if they'll do a party on Monday Oct 30th, but unlike DW, there hasn't been a party on Nov 1 so starting that day you'll have full days in the park.