Last minute trip! F! and PTN help please

[mad hatter fan]

Only two days ago, DH found out he needed to go to LA for work. Less than 3 hours later we had decided to use points for airfare and hotel so I could join him for a weekend at DLR! I've never planned a trip with less than 2 months time so I need a little help.

Our days are Oct 24th and 25th.

We would like to see F! because it will be down in June when we are planning to come with the kids and also want to see PTN and the new Fireworks. We have only done the Blue Bayou package since FPs started for F! and so far they are all booked. I will continue to check in case anyone cancels.

How should we go about seeing all three in one night? If we went for the earlier PTN and then fireworks from mainstreet or the hub, would we end up with poor views for Fantasmic? What time are people lining up with their FP for the 2nd show, and where is the line location?
PTN 845 & 1045
Fireworks 930
F! 9 & 1045

Also, we have never been to DL during the Halloween season. What besides Space Mt Ghost Galaxy should we not miss. (The parties are not an option of course)

Thanks all for your help! I usually have plenty of time to research all of my questions. I don't even have any weekend days to plan/pack because this weekend is part of the MN teacher convention week and we are headed to a waterpark hotel in Wisconsin Dells with extended family!

 

[Geemo]

Our days are Oct 24th and 25th.

How should we go about seeing all three in one night? If we went for the earlier PTN and then fireworks from mainstreet or the hub, would we end up with poor views for Fantasmic? What time are people lining up with their FP for the 2nd show, and where is the line location?
PTN 845 & 1045
Fireworks 930
F! 9 & 1045

Our plan was to have BB Fantasmic! dinner for the BB FP to the first show.
After F! ends, the fireworks begins in a few minutes. So we plan to watch the fireworks from our F! spot.
For the 10:45 PTN we would watch from the IASW area.

 

[Sherry E]

Also, we have never been to DL during the Halloween season. What besides Space Mt Ghost Galaxy should we not miss. (The parties are not an option of course)

Haunted Mansion Holiday is one thing not to miss.

Otherwise, there isn't really a whole lot of specific Halloween entertainment outside of Mickey's Halloween Party. There used to be a Halloween Carnival, which had a bunch of interesting components. Now, there is no Carnival, but there are Halloween decorations around the Big Thunder Ranch area (the area that is known as the Halloween Roundup), including the charming pumpkin people and the Scare-Dy Crow Shack.

You'll see decorations on Main Street.

There is a Ray Bradbury Halloween Tree in Frontierland (gorgeous at night).

There is a Dia de los Muertos display in Frontierland.

There is a Halloween "Tree-t" (confectionary tree) in the lobby of the Grand Californian Hotel, and the Cadaver Dans have recently been spotted performing in the GCH lobby as well.

 

[Girimama33]

If you have to see the fireworks from the hub, I would suggest seeing the first PtN in the Main Street/Hub area (may need to stake out a spot), watch DL Forever and then head through Frontierland for the second F!.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

^This-To get a decent spot in the Hub, I would stake out a spot around 7:30-7:45.

 

[figment_jii]

In general sense is that you have to sacrifice a good view of either Disneyland Forever or F! if you want to see all three shows on one night. There are basically two options:
1) PtN at 8:45 pm, fireworks at 9:30 pm, and then F! at 10:45 pm
2) F! at 9:0 pm, fireworks at 9:30 pm, and then PtN at 10:45 pm

The first option gives you the best view of fireworks, but you have to be willing to stake out a PtN spot hours (at least two) in advance if you want a front row spot. I would watch PtN from wherever you want to view fireworks because people move into the fireworks viewing spots as soon as PtN the passes by (and I literally mean, as soon as the last float in the parade passes by). You won't have have to time to really find a different spot. After fireworks ends, make your way to the F! viewing area.

The second option is to see F! first and then watch fireworks from the F! viewing area. I've read (I haven't tried watching from this area) that the view is okay, but you will miss out on the castle and flying characters (Tinkerbell and Nemo). I'm not a huge fan of water screen projections because the images are a little fuzzy. After fireworks ends, head immediately to the PtN viewing spots (although, much of the front row will probably already be taken by the guests that watched fireworks from those areas because as soon as fireworks ends, guests move to the parade viewing areas).

I think it's it's a hard choice because I think the fireworks are really well done and worth seeing from Main Street/Hub. But that means a really long wait for PtN (if you want a front row spot).

Also, we have never been to DL during the Halloween season. What besides Space Mt Ghost Galaxy should we not miss. (The parties are not an option of course)

HalloweenTime is fun at Disneyland, but it's not super immersive. The majority of the decor is in Frontierland and NOS. NOS is decorated with a Nightmare Before Christmas theme because of Haunted Mansion Holiday. I really like HMH, so I highly recommend riding it. The only Halloween thing in Tomorrowland (not counting merchandise) is SMGG. Along with riding the attraction, stop by after it gets dark and see the projection/effect on the mountain itself. In some ways, that effect is creepier than the attraction itself (it's cycles about every 5 to 10 minutes, I think).

As mentioned, Frontierland has the Día de Muertos display (near Big Thunder and Rancho del Zocalo) and the Halloween Tree. Be sure to check out the Halloween Tree both in the day (to see the pumpkins) and a night (to see it all lit up). There is also the decor around Big Thunder Ranch. I'd go check out the ranch because this is the last year for it.

Main Street has some decor (it's a mixture of Halloween and the 60th Anniversary). Be sure to check out the windows on Main Street - some have some really cute decorations! If you're a fan of Hocus Pocus, there is even a decorative items in one of the windows that looks like Winifred Sanderson's book (the one with the creepy eye). And if you have Photopass and get a photo taken, ask the photographer if they have a magic shot (there are two that I know of - Zero and the Poison Apple).

 

[closetmickey]

Trying to make the same decision!! Have Fantasmic dining - Just can't decide if I will be disappointed watching firework projections on the water screen.

 

[Geemo]

Trying to make the same decision!! Have Fantasmic dining - Just can't decide if I will be disappointed watching firework projections on the water screen.

On our trip last week our disappointment came after we had staked out a prime spot.
A perfect view of the Castle, Matterhorn, and the line for flying characters.


Only to have the fireworks cancelled due to winds at the last minute.