Mickey's Halloween Party Dates

[SuperDisneyDad]

Does anyone know when the dates and prices for this year's Halloween Party will be released?

 

[skiingfast]

Last year they came out mid May.

 

[Sherry E]

This question comes up all the time in the Halloween at DLR Superthread.

The dates were quietly posted on the Annual Pass section of the Disneyland Resort website last year in May, but they did not appear on the main Halloween Time section of the site until a bit later on. We only found out about it because one of our DIS'ers happened to look on the AP site and see the info, then came back here to tell us about it. There was not a big splashy announcement by Disney for quite a while.

So be sure to keep tabs on the AP section of the DLR site, or ask someone else who has an AP to check for you if you haven't discovered the dates in some other way.

It's possible that, if there is going to be some new element or different attraction at the party - or added to the whole Halloween Time season in general - this year, the Disney Parks Blog or Disneyland News may do an early story/press release about it, in which case we may hear about the info that way.

Most likely the tickets will go on sale to the AP holders, DVC owners and Disney Visa Card holders in late May or early June, at a discounted price. The tickets will probably go on sale to the general public in July.

The party should either start on Friday, September 28th or Friday, October 5th. It will most likely take place on every Friday and every Tuesday until Halloween and, of course, there will be a Wednesday party on Halloween night. One of the Tuesday parties may be swapped for a Monday, but it's anyone's guess.

 

[iminla]

what exactly happens at this party? i know it is a ticketed event. but if you go during normal hours - you still get to see all the rides in halloween decorations,right? So what is the extra ticket for?

 

[Sherry E]

what exactly happens at this party? i know it is a ticketed event. but if you go during normal hours - you still get to see all the rides in halloween decorations,right? So what is the extra ticket for?

At the party, you can trick or treat and wear costumes. There are many, many treat stations around Disneyland. Tons of candy and healthy goodies, too.

You also get special photos with characters - some characters are in costume; some are not, but there are special locations set up just for the party.

Halloween Screams is a special Villains-themed fireworks show that is exclusive to the party and will only run on party nights. Jack Skellington is the "Master of Scareamonies."

There is also a little "cavalcade"/parade with characters dressed in costumes that only happens during the party.

There are extra decorations put up for the party, and extra merchandise sold.

Oh, and yes - most of the rides (though not all of the rides) are running during the party.

 

[iminla]

Thank you Sherry.

How crowded is it at the party?

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you Sherry.

How crowded is it at the party?

I found it to be pretty crowded.

In 2008, I went to the party once when it was in California Adventure, and that was on a Friday night - which was the first party night of the season. Any time it's the first day or first night of a party or a season, more people will come out to see everything just for the novelty factor alone. So there were a lot of people. The lines for treats at the treat stations were crazy. And the lines for rides were pretty long.

I went to the party again last year - this past October - on the second party night of the season, which was a Monday. I wanted to see if it was any better or worse being held in Disneyland. Even though Disneyland is a bigger park than California Adventure is and I assumed people would spread out and it would not seem so crowded, it still seemed very crowded! In fact, I said to the DIS'er who was with me that it seemed just as crowded as a regular weekend or holiday season night at Disneyland that didn't involve a paid exclusive party! There certainly was no shortage of people camped out for Halloween Screams!

Some folks have said that as the season goes along, some of the Tuesday night (or Monday, if that's a party night) parties get less crowded. Fridays are always pretty packed, though.

 

[SFMommy]

I guess I don't really understand the Halloween Parties. If we will be there from Sept 27-30 and are planning on going to the parks with our park hopper tickets on that Friday that there may be a party...how will that impact us? Will we have to either buy tickets or leave the park early? Or is the party in a certain section of the park that is closed off for the ticket-holders?

Thanks for clarifying!

 

[skiingfast]

I guess I don't really understand the Halloween Parties. If we will be there from Sept 27-30 and are planning on going to the parks with our park hopper tickets on that Friday that there may be a party...how will that impact us? Will we have to either buy tickets or leave the park early? Or is the party in a certain section of the park that is closed off for the ticket-holders?

If this was last year.

At about 5 DL would get crazy busy when the after work crowd arrives for the party. They give party goers wriste bands when they enter DL. At 7pm the party begins and they direct normal guests to the exit.

The normal guests either go back to thier hotel/home or pack into DCA, making DCA very busy until it closes at 10pm.

This year is likely to be the same, of course operations may change.

 

[Sherry E]

I guess I don't really understand the Halloween Parties. If we will be there from Sept 27-30 and are planning on going to the parks with our park hopper tickets on that Friday that there may be a party...how will that impact us? Will we have to either buy tickets or leave the park early? Or is the party in a certain section of the park that is closed off for the ticket-holders?

Thanks for clarifying!

SFMommy -

The way it would affect you (if the party should be happening on 9/28) would be that Disneyland park would close early to you and the general public.

People who buy party tickets will be allowed to enter Disneyland at 4 p.m. (most likely) on Fridays and at 3 p.m. (most likely) on Tuesdays or other weekdays.

The parties will officially begin (most likely) at 7 p.m. on Fridays and at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Meanwhile, people who choose not to buy party tickets will have to leave Disneyland well before the parties officially start on their respective nights, so before 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Cast Members start checking wrist bands all over the place after a certain point, to be sure that everyone in the park after the party starts is supposed to be there.

California Adventure will be open after Disneyland closes to non-party guests, so you can always go there.

 

[pixiemomof3]

I have an ap that i bought online, I am going to activate it in the park when we go in July and get my actual ap pass but I am wondering if I will be able to view the halloween tickets when they go on sale for the ap holders first or will I not be able to view them since my ap is not actually"activated" yet? I am just wondering.

 

[Sherry E]

I have an ap that i bought online, I am going to activate it in the park when we go in July and get my actual ap pass but I am wondering if I will be able to view the halloween tickets when they go on sale for the ap holders first or will I not be able to view them since my ap is not actually"activated" yet? I am just wondering.

To be honest, I have heard mixed stories on this. Some folks have said they were able to access certain portions of the AP section of the DLR website before their AP's were activated, while others have said they were not able to view anything.

You'll definitely find out about the dates and prices for the party before you activate your AP - I'm sure it will be big news here and on other boards, so you will see discussion of it.

Then, once you get your AP activated in July, you'll be able to buy the discounted tickets for sure (if you want to buy them). I don't think there is any danger of them selling out by July. The first night of the party and Halloween will probably sell out eventually, but most likely not until September (or August, at the earliest).

 

[pixiemomof3]

Thanks, and If I am able to get any info on it I will post it, if it is not already all over the boards!

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks, and If I am able to get any info on it I will post it, if it is not already all over the boards!

Yes, by all means, if you get info let us know!

​

I wanted to add some extra details about Mickey's Halloween Party that I just thought of - just for those who have not been to it yet.

Part of the fun is actually finding the treat trails and treat stops! You do get a so-called map of the treat trails at the entrance to the party, but the map is not always accurate, and often times it does not show many of the treat trails in the park.

So I kind of decided that half the fun was forgetting the silly inaccurate map and kind of figuring out where the treat trails were on our own! It was fun to discover them!

Many of the locations for the treat trails were quite clever. For example, they set up a treat trail in the Pirates line/queue. Long line of people but it moved fast. (Last year, Pirates was closed for 2-1/2 months so they were able to utilize the queue for that purpose; this year, they will probably not be able to do that because the ride will probably be open).

There was also a really great treat trail in Pixie Hollow - which is gorgeous at night. Another great treat trail was in the Golden Horseshoe building, and in Innoventions. There were treat trails at Princess Fantasy Faire, in lines for other rides, inside the Halloween Round-Up (which had very few people) and pretty much everywhere around Disneyland except for ToonTown, which was closed. Every time I thought we'd found all the trails, another one would pop up. I think we finally hit them all except for a trail inside the French Market restaurant in NOS.

Along each treat trail there will be at least 2 treat stations/stops - usually it's 3 or 4 treat stops, which is how the candy accumulates so fast. The entrances to the treat trails are marked by giant Ghost Mickeys, and most of the treat stops/stations along the trails will be marked by a dangling orange pumpkin Mickey face (without ears).

Another interesting thing that happens are the dance stations. There will be different spots for dancing in Disneyland. Often times the characters will be at these stations in costume. We happened to pass by a dance spot in Adventureland, and - this was very clever - they were playing Guns n' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle"!! Even the dance music is themed to the land it is in! Gotta love those Disney details!

 

[mouseymommy]

Can adults go to the treat stations too? Or is it just for the kids?

 

[skiingfast]

Can adults go to the treat stations too? Or is it just for the kids?

Everything that you can do at these parties is for any age.

 

[mouseymommy]

MMMMHHHHHMMMMM!!!! Mamma is hitting those treat stations!!

 

[I❤MICKEY]

I would normally post this on the official Halloween thread but I'm not seeing it. What age would you say is appropriate for the party. My ds will be 1 & 4. Just wondering if this will be too overwhelming/scary for them.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I would normally post this on the official Halloween thread but I'm not seeing it. What age would you say is appropriate for the party. My ds will be 1 & 4. Just wondering if this will be too overwhelming/scary for them.

Definitely NOT scary. We first took our kids in 2009 when they were 9mo, 2, 4 and 8. Then again to the WDW version this last fall. They all had a blast. My only concern would be if you would stay long enough to make it worth the cost. The party typically runs from 6pm-11pm on weekdays, 7-12 on weekend days.


Also in case it wasn't clear, adults can dress up too!

 

[Sherry E]

mouseymommy -

Another thing is that the Halloween party is the only occasion in which adults who are not Cast Members can wear costumes inside the park! However, I have found that it's about 50/50 - half of the party guests wear costumes (some of them are very elaborate and very hilarious), while the other half do not wear costumes.

Either way, whether you choose to wear a costume or not wear one, it will be totally normal (I know that some folks worry that if they just wear street clothes they will stick out like a sore thumb for not being in costume!). Everyone just kind of blends in together.

Yes, adults can get lots of candy!! That is another great thing - for any adults who do not have kids or whose kids are all grown up and do not go trick or treating anymore, this is a great way to trick or treat without feeling silly! At Disneyland, everyone can be a kid and not feel weird about it! I saw lots of groups of adults or older teens walking around, collecting candy. My friends and I didn't have any kids with us and we were hitting all the treat trails and stations!

You can also go back through the treat trails & stations repeatedly. For example, one of the best treat trails is located inside the Halloween Round-Up/Big Thunder Ranch area (and the Round-Up is a great place to visit anyway, as the carved character pumpkins are incredible!). I think there were 2 or 3 stations along that Round-Up trail. Since the Round-Up is kind of hidden away to begin with, many people did not know that there was candy to be had in there! So we hit the treat stations along that particular trail, turned around and went right back through them again!

A lot of people choose to just repeat certain treat trails over and over rather than hitting each treat trail. Personally, as I mentioned last night, I like the challenge of finding the treat trails so I like to visit all of them if I can.







I❤MICKEY -

The Halloween Superthread is probably on Page 2 or 3 of this forum. You can always find the link to it in Mary Jo's main Info/Planning sticky thread at the top of this page - I put a category in there for "Holiday Planning," with links to the Halloween and Christmas Superthreads.

Let's see...about the ages. Well, I don't have kids but in reading other people's reviews of the parties and what their kids thought, I think you'll be pretty safe with bringing any age to the party. It could possibly be too much for the 1-year-old (maybe the Halloween Screams fireworks - which feature Villains - could be a little scary) but Disney really makes it fun and acceptable for every age. I think the 4-year-old will be fine.

It's definitely not like Universal Studios, where there are hatchet-wielding maniacs running around, or bloody corpses popping up from behind walls and chasing after you with meat cleavers! Knott's Berry Farm's Halloween festivities are a bit intense for really young kids, too. At Disneyland, there are no corpses or killers running after the guests, no ominous figures popping out at you from the shadows, etc. Mickey is not trying to chase anyone down. There are some rather odd scarecrow people who talk to you if you approach them, but they are more funny than scary.

Mostly you will see fun characters - either in or out of their own Halloween costumes - posing for photos, and you will get lots of candy (along with apple slices, carrots and other semi-healthy treats at certain treat stations). I think the kids will enjoy the mini-parade/cavalcade. It's really cute.

There are also fun projections of spider webs and other spooky things on the Castle, which is lit in purple and green. And as you walk from land to land, often you will see projections of more spider webs and bats and stuff like that on the pavement, which is a really cool effect.