least crowded time during halloween?

[DisneyMom234]

My boys are 4 and 5 so id like to find the least crowded time during halloween to take them. Id like to see the fireworks at least once as well. When is the best time?
Also How often do they do the trick or treats?
Do you get kicked out of the park if you dont pay the extra ticket thing? Id like to go once... But dont know how all that works.
Tia!!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If you can visit mid-week, those days should be less crowded. Weekends in October are usually very busy with conventions, a charity walk, and school breaks. Mickey's Halloween Party dates have not been announced yet (possibly this week!), but they usually happen on Tuesdays and Fridays, with a few other days (like Mondays or Wednesdays) thrown into the mix, and the 31st for sure. Yes, MHP requires a separate ticket for every party guest age 3 and over. The Halloween Time Superthread will give you much more information.

 

[figment_jii]

I've been tracking some of the events in and around Disneyland in the 2015 Calendar of Events thread. That will help give you a sense of which events might be happening when you are thinking of going. In general, during the non-peak periods, fireworks (F! and Mad T Party) are only presented on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings (note that when MHP occurs, fireworks are presented as part of that, but not for non-party goers).

In terms of trick-or-treating, it happens during MHP throughout the party, but they don't have trick-or-treating during regular park hours. As mentioned, the MHP dates have not yet been announced. Yes, on nights when MHP happens, the park have historically closed at either 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm (depending on whether the party is on a weekday or weekend). Check points will be set-up throughout the park and if you don't have a wristband, you'll be asked to head towards the park exit. Last year, the shops on Main Street remained "open" to non-party guests for one hour (but there is no way to know at this point if that will happen again this year).

 

[Geemo]

Least crowded time during Halloween????? The last couple of years all but one MHP's have SOLD OUT! So they are generally busy.
When we were there a few years ago there were Trick or Treat stations set up in various locations and I believe they went for the whole event.

People attending the MHP are issued wrist bands as they enter the park. The bands are various colors and have a number on them relating to a specific MHP date. After the park closes to the general public for the day CM's look to see if you are wearing the band as you move through the park. I'm sure you'd be asked to leave if you are there with out having a ticket/band to attend.

If it's like previous years, you can get into the park a few hours prior to the start of the party. I can't remember if it's 3 or 4 hours before.

 

[DisneyMom234]

My husband and kids never have been. They love the Halloween videos. Last i went was oct 2008 and they didnt do the trick or treating. We walked on most rides (except on columbus day lol)


I was hoping to find a time somewhat like that again lol i know the parks are more crowded now then they were then (at least from what i heard) just hoping to find a time with the holiday stuff and shorter lines. I know im trying to miss gay days, columbus days and UEA and who knows what else lol. Maybe its wishful thinking?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

October doesn't really seem to be a low crowd time of year any more. But that doesn't mean it can't still be a really fun time with some good preparation and organization. Use your mornings well, understand and use FP, eat at off peak times or make reservations in advance, etc. There are lots of ways to make the most of a busier time at DLR.

 

[DisneyMom234]

Whats a better time soon?

 

[Girimama33]

I often travel there in October, and the best time is the week (and weekend if you have to have one) before Halloween and the week of Halloween.
The first weekend of October brings crowds due to Gay Days. The second weekend is AZ fall breaks, CHOC walk and Columbus day. The third weekend is UEA so a lot of families from Utah come down. After the 3rd weekend, it clams down some. Granted...there is never truly an off season there, but crowds are a lot less IMO.
The trick or Treating only occurs during the Halloween Parties...which does require an extra ticket...and Yes...they will ask you to exit the park if you do not have a wristband.

 

[scrapshappen]

We went right after UEA weekend last year and it was much better than going UEA week which we've done a couple of other times. UEA in 2015 is October 15 & 16 but a lot of families take their kids out for the entire week.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Whats a better time soon?

I would think that since there aren't any major holidays coming up between now and Labor Day, the best time would be before the blackouts for the lower passes are lifted. Check the AP blackout day calendar on the DLR website to see what dates work best for you.

 

[iKristin]

I'm avoiding the park until September unless it's a Tuesday at night because the crowds are just so yuck. Bad part about night is the traffic flow between the fireworks, parade and fantasmic. It takes almost an hour to get through those crowds just to get to POTC from the turnstiles. Wish they'd find a better way to handle all of that mess. That's the down side to the new parade being at night is the crowd control is a mess.

 

[SMD]

The fact that they've announced that they're adding MHP dates this year makes me think they expect an increase in crowds. I wouldn't want to speculate on when it will be lower because I imagine that they'll add the parties during the days or weeks when it has been a little slower in the past to boost those days.

 

[DisneyMom234]

Would it be better to wait until sometime in november?

 

[jdb in AZ]

The dates have been released:

September 25, 28, 30, October 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, & 31, 2015

We really enjoyed the fall decorations, but weren't thrilled with the crowds. So yes, November would be better for us. YMMV

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

Last year we went with my kids during Columbus Day (bit of a mistake on my part - I didn't realize that Canadian Thanksgiving coincided with an American holiday.) It was a last minute trip due to another trip being cancelled, so we didn't have tickets to MHP, so I can't speak to that, but during the day it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Keep in mind, the other two times we have gone were during really slow periods (end of Jan/beginning Feb), so I noticed a difference, but I didn't feel it was ridiculous. Another member of our party used to go to Hong Kong Disney quite regularly, and she said it was much less crowded than there on a typical day.