Just returned from Disneyland and learned a couple of things

[spacemountainfan]

I just returned from a trip to Disneyland with my wife, 3 year old and 4 year old and learned a couple of things I didn't know.

First, there are free apps for the iphone, and I guess for others, that let you track wait times. This was super helpful because we knew where to avoid.

Second, we visited the Innoventions Dream Home and found out that Taylor Morrison, one of the sponsors in there, is giving away a free home. The "family member" in the home told me about it and we registered on their website when we got home. Hope we are the winner of the free home.

Third, the Haunted Mansion is really cool with all the halloween decorations around it and inside. I wonder if they have that up year round.

Marty

 

[dragitoff]

I too made my 1st DL tri recently. It was in October so they had just opened HM back up with the Halloween stuff. It was honestly amazing how they transformed it. I also found out their version of Space Mountain is way cooler than the old WDW version (although I haven't ridden it since the renovation)

 

[BradyBz12]

the Haunted Mansion is really cool with all the halloween decorations around it and inside. I wonder if they have that up year round.

Unfortunately no - that's a seasonal overlay. From Wikipedia...

Haunted Mansion Holiday is a seasonal overlay of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion attraction. (A similar overlay called Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare can be found at Tokyo Disneyland.) It blends the settings and characters of the original Haunted Mansion with those of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. The Haunted Mansion typically closes for two and half weeks in September so it can be converted into the Haunted Mansion Holiday. The overlaid attraction is then open to guests from late-September through early-January, before being closed again during January so the overlay can be removed.

 

[TBLaube]

Unfortuantely the decorations are only up for Halloween through the Christmas holiday. There is great debate over these. It seems to be either a 'love them' or 'hate them' situation.

I personally LOVE them because Nightmare Before Christmas is our favorite movie ever! It is an annual ritual for us to go and I have only missed it one year and that is because I was on deployment.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Disneyland board.

 

[Sherry E]

Yes, the Haunted Mansion Holiday with the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay from late September to early January is a big selling point/attraction of our Halloweentime celebration at DLR. I think it is a huge part of the reason why Halloweentime has become a bigger deal at DLR and why the holiday season at DLR has become even more of a destination. This past Halloweentime 2009 also saw the very first Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy at DLR, which I can only imagine will be brought back in 2010.

And yes, HMH is also a hotly debated topic on this section of the DISboards. There are those who are passionate about the Haunted Mansion in its original form and don't welcome the NBC changes at all, and then there are those of us (such as yours truly) who love the overlay and think it is a great way to freshen up the HM for a few months out of the year. The debate will rage on!

By the way, Spacemountainfan, did you get to see the stunningly beautiful It's a Small World Holiday overlay - especially at night? That is another thing that has become a huge draw for its season, as when the facade of IASWH is lit up at night, you can't help but just stare at it and marvel at the gorgeous colored lights!

 

[HydroGuy]

I too made my 1st DL tri recently. It was in October so they had just opened HM back up with the Halloween stuff. It was honestly amazing how they transformed it. I also found out their version of Space Mountain is way cooler than the old WDW version (although I haven't ridden it since the renovation)

DL reopened Space Mtn in July 2005 after a two-and-a-half year refurb. It was painful for DL visitors during that time. But the end result is the best Space Mtn at any Disney resort. By far. I have ridden them all.

As many DL vets who have also ridden the MK version would say, it is light years better.

 

[DonaldDaisyDani]

As someone who is born and raised in Orlando I will gladly admit there are a great many things that are better at Disneyland as compared to WDW.

 

[greens_in_WA]

I like some aspects of WDW's HM better... the footprints are really cool for example... If I understand DonaldDaisyDani though, WDW doesn't do the Nightmare before Christmas theme though?

 

[Sherry E]

I like some aspects of WDW's HM better... the footprints are really cool for example... If I understand DonaldDaisyDani though, WDW doesn't do the Nightmare before Christmas theme though?

WDW has neither the Haunted Mansion Holiday (with the Nightmare Before Christmas theme) nor does it have the It's a Small World Holiday.