MHP without trick or treating?

[Jaina]

My 10-year-old has $100 coming her away, and I've either ruined her, or trained her well... "That's a Disneyland ticket!" She wants to go with just the two of us, and I was considering doing a Halloween party night. We aren't interested in any of the trick or treat trails, since we don't eat much sugar, but are more interested in being able to see both parks (enter CA 3 hours before and do one or two favorites, plus see the Halloween decor) and get on a bunch of rides. I've never been to MHP, but hear the lines are shorter in general. Is this still true? Would we be able to get a lot done? Are all the rides still open in Disneyland during the party? We probably wouldn't watch the parade, but she'd be excited to see fireworks. We would drive over from AZ the morning of (maybe even pulling her out of school, depending on dates. She's a great student and wouldn't suffer.), plan to park and hit Downtown Disney by like 1-2 PM, and be ready to enter the parks at 4 (hoping for an earlier night vs a later one). Are there things I'm not considering?

 

[agamble]

First, it is possible the party will be at DCA this year. Second, be ready to line up well before 4 as the party only lines to get in were crazy last October when we were visiting.

 

[Niltiac]

A few thoughts. First of all, there are rumors that the party will be at DCA this year. Now, there have been similar rumors going around for years, but since they actually had Halloween decor in DCA last year it does seem more likely than it did in the past. Just something to consider, especially since it being in DCA might mean a WoC showing rather than fireworks.

Secondly, if your 10yo is interested I might consider doing a couple of treat trails even if you don't eat the candy, just for the experience of trick-or-treating. It depends on your kid though, some would really enjoy that. Also, they offer healthy (or healthier) alternatives like apple slices, carrot sticks, and pretzels.

My experience with the parties has been that the ride lines are much shorter, sometimes walk-on, but I've heard mixed things from others. I suppose it's a matter of luck. Nearly all the rides are open (not the river rides, and small attractions like Tarzan's Treehouse are usually closed, along with Toon Town after the preparty).

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Sounds like fun! IME, the main lines at the party are for rare characters and photo ops and stuff like that, not so much for rides (with the exception of the Halloween-themed rides). We've hit a treat trail or two just for fun (later in the evening when there aren't any lines), but they don't need to be a priority or anything... the few rides we've done have pretty much been walk-ons.

If I had to bet on it, I'd guess that the party is still at DL this year, but wouldn't be surprised if it moves to DCA the year after (or at some point in the future).

 

[Jaina]

Good points. When do they usually announce "the Plan?" In July? She would maybe be interested in a couple trick or treats, but not if there was much of a line. When do the trails end, and when/where are the less popular ones of those? The goal would be to have a fun night and do lots of things in the short time we have. There are a few rare characters I'd be interested in, but neither of us are that into any villains, so I don't know. Our other option would be going on a week day in early November and hoping for not-crazy crowds. But the main plus of doing the party instead would be if we can enter both parks in the one day (without paying $175 for hoppers and MaxPass, which we would utilize if we were doing a normal day). And she has never been during Halloween decor, so I think she would like to see that, especially in both parks. She would be excited to get to wear some kind of costume too, probably. But either way would be fun. Just trying to make sure we're not surprised by something. Any good links to threads or trip reports about the Halloween Party? I will do some searching later too. The last time she went was late November 2016, so she's feeling itchy.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Good points. When do they usually announce "the Plan?" In July? She would maybe be interested in a couple trick or treats, but not if there was much of a line. When do the trails end, and when/where are the less popular ones of those? The goal would be to have a fun night and do lots of things in the short time we have. There are a few rare characters I'd be interested in, but neither of us are that into any villains, so I don't know. Our other option would be going on a week day in early November and hoping for not-crazy crowds. But the main plus of doing the party instead would be if we can enter both parks in the one day (without paying $175 for hoppers and MaxPass, which we would utilize if we were doing a normal day). And she has never been during Halloween decor, so I think she would like to see that, especially in both parks. She would be excited to get to wear some kind of costume too, probably. But either way would be fun. Just trying to make sure we're not surprised by something. Any good links to threads or trip reports about the Halloween Party? I will do some searching later too. The last time she went was late November 2016, so she's feeling itchy.

Yeah, tickets have historically gone on sale in July, so that's when there would be details about timing and location and all of that.

I'd think that hitting a party would be a fun time for the two of you! If you aren't too interested in the characters and treat trails, you can definitely knock out a bunch of rides. The theming is cool.

 

[Niltiac]

She would maybe be interested in a couple trick or treats, but not if there was much of a line. When do the trails end, and when/where are the less popular ones of those?

I think treat trails go through the official end of the event (not positive, but I don't see why they wouldn't). If you're only going to do a couple trails, I would choose them based on decor, not lines. In my experience (two parties) none of the treat trails have lines except for the pre-party ones. Maybe they have lines for part of the party, but they die down fast. I would suggest indoor ones such as the Golden Horseshoe because you can't see those decorations without walking through the trail.

 

[bumbershoot]

Doing the party without the trails is the only way I’d do it. Wasted so much time on them at parties at MK then DL and missed the cool stuff. I can buy better candy, and I don’t remember anything remotely interesting about the lines themselves

 

[lcp9]

We went on Halloween last year and ride lines were non-existent (although, they were pretty light during the day also.) Treat trails had a lot of people but moved the whole time. Character lines were really the only things we saw huge lines for. That said, this was DL - we were at DL on hoppers that day, and switched over our tickets in park so we didn't see the lines getting into either DCA or DL.

 

[starry_solo]

I thought that MHP tickets were for the specific park that had the party and were not hoppers?!

 

[Jaina]

I thought that MHP tickets were for the specific park that had the party and were not hoppers?!

I don't know what they'll do this year, but last year the cost went up, and they allowed you entry to either park 3 hours before the official party started. Hoping they will do it the same way this year, but we will see.

 

[starry_solo]

I remember when it was $20 and at DCA. Then the next year, it was $40 at DCA. Then when it moved to DLR, it jumped up to $80

 

[AuntieMe3]

I remember when it was $20 and at DCA. Then the next year, it was $40 at DCA. Then when it moved to DLR, it jumped up to $80

Me too....it was so fun that first $20 year...lol

 

[midnight star]

I thought that MHP tickets were for the specific park that had the party and were not hoppers?!

Last year you could enter 3 hours before the party, and were allowed to park hop all night if you wanted. My aunt and I were in DCA right before and waited until people cleared out of DL. The crowds in DCA became unbearable. Then over at the party it was amazing. Space mountain was 10 minutes, Star Tours and Indy were 15 minutes. Pirates said 30 but only took 15 minutes

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

I’m hoping to go to DL for Halloween decorations this year, I’ve never been. How do they clear guests out of the parks to bring in the guests who are going to the party?

 

[agamble]

I’m hoping to go to DL for Halloween decorations this year, I’ve never been. How do they clear guests out of the parks to bring in the guests who are going to the party?

Signs everywhere tell you the park closes early and Wristbands. If you don't have a band on you can't ride rides or go through trails etc. after the party starts.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

One thing to think about with the trick or treating if you aren't candy fiends, is to do it for charity. If you know anyone who works with a charity that has a Halloween/Harvest themed event, trick or treat for them! We do this every year for a friend, and she gratefully takes in our bags (and bags and bags!) and gives them to "her kids." She tells them that Mickey sent them candy (even though the candy is regular candy and doesn't look "Disney" in any way). The kids are thrilled every year. It makes the trick or treating so much more fun for us, and when we tell the CMs what we're doing and why, they LOAD our bags! (And, if you decide to try this, definitely start later in the evening so you don't have to carry the bags around all night -- they get really heavy!)

 

[Kittyskyfish]

She doesn't care to do the trick-or-treat lines.
You and she are driving in from Arizona to pull a shorter-day at the park.
It's not stated she's that interested in character meet and greets.
MHP fireworks are always subject to cancellation, so go in knowing there is no 100% certainty she'll get to see them.

I know she has the money to spend, but I'm seeing a diminished value in this splurge for all the things she's not interested in doing and the risk of not seeing the fireworks due to unforeseen weather events. This is a situation where it's good for her to look at the overall picture, and then step back and look again with a more critical eye. At the rate the MHP ticket prices are rising, she should list out the pros-and-cons of this option, against using the $100 as seed money to save up for a 1-day Park Hopper with MaxPass and go on a non MHP day during the Halloween season.

 

[cruisehopeful]

If you don't do the trick or treat trails, the rides are basically walk on when trick or treating first opens. There is no way to do/see everything during the parties. Eliminating trick or treating will open up a lot of time for you. Should you decide you want to do a couple of the trails - wait until the last couple of hours of the party when there are basically no lines for those. Most have an option for crackers/carrots or baked chips if you don't want candy. The little bags they give you get full after a couple trails.

The fireworks are awesome, but can be cancelled at any point. The parade is very good and pretty short. You may enjoy seeing that, especially if you watch the second one after you've done everything else that you want to do.

Character meet can have lines that will take 30-60 minutes. If you want to do characters, your party time will fly by. If you want to get any of the special food items, chances are the lines will be long for those. If you really just want to power through all the rides, you will be able to do that, but all the extra stuff takes a long time. I went to 2 parties last year and didn't do/see everything.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

One advantage for doing MHP is that mom will get to dress up if you wanted to do a mom-daughter costume. (There is nothing quite like being a grown up in costume at DL!) One advantage for not doing MHP is that your daughter is still young enough to dress up anyway (under 14) if she buys a regular ticket with MP to visit during HalloweenTime.