Land or World for Halloween & Trader Sams - need your thoughts

[mizlizstl]

Hi DIS'ers! I have attended MNSSHP twice and been to WDW 5 times now (3 as an adult), most recently in Oct 2017. I typically stay at an All-Star resort, but in Oct visited the Poly to see Trader Sam's for the first time. I fell in deep love with the resort and bar, spending 2 out of 4 nights at Sam's trying different drinks and making new friends. So I swore to come back and not only visit the bar again, but stay at the Poly.

However, I made my first DL trip 2 weeks later, in Nov 2017 and fell in love with both parks even though I was there less than a full park day at each. Didn't get to experience Car's Land, Fantasmic or ride all of the rides I wanted to due to limited time. I'm a big Disney history buff, so the nostalgia was intoxicating. I'd love to go back to finish up what I didn't experience last time and to maybe do a tour and eat at Blue Bayou. Also, I was unable to visit the Trader Sam's there, so am not able to compare locations and I also stayed OP, which I would likely do again.

Here's where I need your help: I am looking to make a Halloween trip again in October and am really torn between WDW and DL. My 2 main considerations are the Halloween parties and Trader Sam's. Give me your thoughts, good, bad, etc...

 

[Doofenschmirz Evil]

Wow, such a tough question. We love Halloween at both places.

We went to Halloween at Disneyland last year, and I thought the Halloween party at DL was pretty equivalent to the party at DW. I thought the headless horseman seemed to move slower during the parade at Disneyland so it was easier to see and get a picture.

But I think Disneyland had two main advantages. First, the Nightmare Before Xmas makeover of the Haunted Mansion might be the coolest thing we've ever seen at a Disney Park. Knowing the regular Haunted Mansion ride and what they did to it, the Halloween transformation is amazing. Second, last year they did a Cars Land Halloween makeover, and I thought it was very cool. Overall, the presence of more Halloween decorations would make me give Disneyland a slight edge.

That said, we still love MNSSHP at DW. And personally we love to go to DW in the fall so we can go to the Food & Wine festival too. So for us, Food & Wine tips us over the edge towards DW.

But I think if you haven't really fully finished enjoying Disneyland yet, and you only have a limited number of dates, I would choose DL for Halloween.

We personally haven't been to Trader Sam's but I did enjoy the Blue Bayou restaurant. We had to wait a long time for a table, so maybe get a reservation if you can, but the idea of eating in the Pirates of the Caribbean Ride area was very cool to me. The food was a little over-priced, but it was worth it for the experience for me.

 

[AngiTN]

I have not done Halloween at DL. I enjoy Halloween at WDW and enjoy it a lot. One thing they don't do is any overlays or special changes to attractions. That's unique to DL

I have gone to both Trader Sam's and maybe I'm not a good one to give an opinion because honestly, I simply can't wrap my mind around even taking Trader Sam's in to consideration about where to make my trip. Either one. There's just nothing that special about Trader Sam's that I'd use it as a reason for choosing a destination. Go by there if I was there, sure. Make a trip to go? No. Maybe it's because I lived for many years in Hawaii? Anyway, the one at DL is much larger, nicer, free standing. Has a nicer patio, or at least more convenient patio that actually feels like it's connected to and a part of the bar. Just having more room in the bar was nicer. The WDW annoyed me because they called us to come in and when we got in there ended up not being anywhere for us, not even anywhere for us to stand. I'm good with sitting with others, we do that all the time. But there wasn't even anywhere to do that. And we ended up standing in someone's way no matter where we stood. After that we ended up just staying on the patio all the time. Which we enjoy mind you but you are pretty removed from the bar. It's a nice bonus to see fireworks and the castle at MK. At DL you can't see the park at all of course. I guess that's a long way of saying there are a lot of pros and cons for each one and bottom line, don't use it as a deciding factor, you'll be happy with either one. In your shoes, since you haven't see it at DL, I'd go to DL. With such a short time there on your list trip, you have a lot more to do. And there's Pixar Landing opening this summer. We are planning a trip in December ourselves.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I would choose DL for the reasons listed above and...Pumpkin Fudge! It’s a Limited Edition candy not made daily so when you do find it, it’s special!

I’ve been to Trader Sam’s in WDW and DL and the CMs do a really nice job at DL with birthdays, the rain effect with the spray bottles, and the special drinks. It just feels different than Poly’s. But then again, DL feels different to me compared to WDW...probably because it is my ‘home’ park.

 

[Lightsoutx12]

I have never been to DL during halloween but this will be my third year in a row going to MNSSHP at WDW. I love the event and will always go back, they have special treats which are nice and worth it imo. I do eventually want to go to the party at DL because I believe they redo the haunted mansion to be the nightmare before christmas which I would really love to see. I have also heard that parties are pretty comparable for each park.

Now onto Trader Sam's. I have been to the one at the Poly multiple times and love it, but not to the one at DL which I am dying to go to. I know they sometimes have certain mugs at DL and not DW and vice versa.

 

[Grammy4Lizzy]

I have been to both DL and WDW Halloween parties. HM is in the Nightmare overlay for months, Sept all the way past new Years. I love that overlay. You do not need to go to a party to experience it. The DL parties are very crowded. The trick or treat lines are very loooonnnnggg. You could spend the entire party in one line. It is also still hot at that time of year. One good thing about DL is it will not get rain like WDW will.
I prefer the WDW party over DL. It is more spread out and does not feel as crowded as DL.
I love DL. I grew up there. But it is so crowded now that I am reluctant to visit.
Trader's Sams is just a bar with a long line. Don't let that be part of your decision.

 

[VandVsmama]

I haven't ever been to either Halloween party, but we were at DL in October a couple of years ago...we just didn't go to the Halloween party. The costumes that everyone wore were really amazing. Seriously. People went all out on their costumes. So creative. New Orleans Square looks really neat and once the sun sets, they bring out the Cadaver Dans floating on the Rivers of America on a barge with all of this smoke and mist around them.

We went to DL last month and went to Trader Sam's. The inside seating area of Trader Sam's is quite small, so if you want to sit inside, you'll have to wait awhile or get there ~ 11:30 am when they open and you'll have your pick of seats. Some of the pictures on the wall do cool stuff when people order certain drinks. In our case, we were there in the evening and we sat outside. They had a music group playing Hawaiian music. There was a lot of great atmosphere and it was really relaxing. Children are welcome at Trader Sam's until 8:30 pm.

 

[BrianL]

I vote for DL because the Halloween Party has better, more fall-like weather.