Mickey's Halloween Party. Is it worth it?

[Lebestiole]

Hello everyone! This is my first time posting and I'm pretty sure this has been asked before, but I can't seem to find the answer!

So, my mom and I haven't been to Disneyland in over 12 years! My 1st Disney trip took place in Disneyland, but after that we decided to visit Disney World and well, since then our Disney trips have always been at Disney World. Anyway, I've been dying to go back to Disneyland, and the Diamond Celebration was the perfect excuse to convience my mom!

The dates for Mickey's Halloween Party were finally announced and I'm wondering if the price is worth it? I really don't want to spend $77 only to end up dissappointed.

Any help is amazing help! Thank you!

 

[nicolispicoli]

Are you planning other days around the party? Also, I guess it depends on what you plan to do during the party. The only exclusive things during the party that you couldn't do on any other day is the trick-or-treating, fireworks, villian characters who aren't normally out, fog on the river, etc.

I've gone to the party once and loved it. It was busy, but fun.

 

[emmybee]

My family went 3 years ago, and are going again this year. We had a blast, and for us, Halloween became our favorite season at DL. The parade was the only disappointing feature of that night, and if I understand correctly, it won't be in the Party this year.

 

[tzeitel]

We went 3 years ago and while it was fun we will not do it again this year. That time, it was our first trip to DLR and we wanted to do everything . This year the prices are so high we will skip it and do something else in the area. What we did before (and had planned to do this year) was get a 4 day PH ticket and do the party on our 5th day. This year we will just get a 5 day PH ticket - we won't get the party but it is a lot cheaper to just add a day.

That being said I think it is one of those things you should do at least once when at DLR It is nice to be in the parks with everyone in costumes, the parade was cute and the fireworks were impressive. You also get tons of candy!

 

[scrapshappen]

We did it last year for the first time and loved it. Our favorite things were seeing the costumes of everyone else in the park (people can be so original and creative!) and meeting the more obscure characters that aren't generally out. You do get a TON of candy/treats. Pretty much as much as you want. And at the end of the night, we were able to ride Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan with about a 10 minute wait. I want to say we only paid $59 for it with our AP discount though. An extra $20 might make me rethink if it's worth it or not.

 

[Oswald23]

I read that during Halloween time a lot of villains are out during daytime as well. I think it's not exclusive to the party. But I'm not sure.

Last 2 years there also was a pre-party in Toon Town with special characters (Clarabelle and Roger Rabbit). I hope they do that 2 this year.

 

[bellanapoli]

Yes. We've been the past two years in a row and plan to go again this year.

 

[mummabear]

I think everything is worth doing once

 

[tkitty]

I threw up close enough to DL that I would go,at most, once every year or two. Do head nights and stuff but always felt like a waste to,me to do the special parties. I'm a cheapskate... But, a few years ago Visa had the $49 deal and I figured I'd surprise my grandkids. We had a great time! We got in at 3pm or so and even though it was sold our, it wasent bad at all. We still rode our favorite rides and the kids made out with goodies. I wouldn't go every year but this year I asked my grandkids if they would like to go and yes, we are going! I agree that it's worth trying but realise that it is a different experience than a normal day in the park.

 

[All American]

We absolutely love this party! The weather is usually great, the festive atmosphere is so exciting, and people watching is pretty awesome -- lots of cool costumes. The Haunted Mansion Holiday feels extra special on a Halloween party night, and seeing Zero fly around the castle during the fireworks is pretty cool. We've never felt the park to be too crowded at all during the parties. For us, the only (and very much the *only*) thing we wish were added to Disneyland's Halloween party would be the Boo to You Parade. (Have you done DW's Halloween party?). That parade is awesome. It's worth watching for the Headless Horseman alone, but alas, he hasn't found his way down Disneyland's Main Street. With that being said, the character parade (Cavalcade?) is still pretty cute and not as much of a time commitment. Give it a shot! It is super fun!

 

[Belleandtinker]

We went twice at MK and loved it so hoping for another "must do" at DL. Our only disappointment is that they are not having the Halloween Parade that night - they are having the anniversary parade. Seen it, loved it but wanted the Halloween parade because the MK parade was amazing.

 

[Sherry E]

Yep -- this question comes up every year!

In this post from the Halloween Time at DLR Superthread, which contains Frequently Asked Questions about Mickey's Halloween Party -- http://www.disboards.com/threads/ha...015-info-is-finally-in.3270919/#post-51326916 - at the top of the post you will see a link to reviews and recaps of the party from 2014 and 2013. That will give you a wide overview and range of opinions from folks who took the time to report back, sometimes in great detail! (Keep in mind that I have not yet changed the party dates listed in that post to the 2015 dates, but you can see how quickly last year's dates sold out.)

Note that the Character Costume Cavalcade is not happening this year -- instead, the Paint the Night parade will run in its place at the Halloween Party.

 

[plutos1fan]

Hi,

We have done the Halloween party at Disneyland a few times and loved it. I would certainly say it is worth it because the crowds are less, the lines are shorter, you get to dress up if you choose (even the adults), at the party you get access to special Halloween party themed merchandise, and it is so much fun! My family has had the opportunity to go to the Halloween party in Walt Disney World last year, but we found it not as enjoyable as the one in Disneyland. We found the one at Walt Disney World to be overwhelming. The Halloween party at Disneyland has plenty to do and you have enough time to do a little bit of everything if you plan it right. I would love to go again!

 

[sweethannah]

Hello,

I've done the party once and it was fun. Nice to people watch, it was my first time trying to watch the fireworks and it was as schmozzle. We got a ton of candy. Rode Splash several times with next to no wait. The best thing about the Party (imo) was that it gave us an extra day in the Park + the Party for about the same price as admission alone. This was the year after they discontinued the 6 day Pass so being able to add that extra admission seemed like a good value. I miss that Pass.

 

[cmpeter]

I say yes! We went last year for the first time. We loved seeing all the costumes (dd dressed up and I didn't and regretted it). Dd is 14 and didn't go trick or treating at home, but had a blast doing it at DL. We loved that so many of the rides were practically walk on during the party hours. I would go back again this year, but I just returned from Disneyland Paris and I think DH would disown me if I tried for Disneyland CA this year too.

 

[mom2rtk]

Hello,

I've done the party once and it was fun. Nice to people watch, it was my first time trying to watch the fireworks and it was as schmozzle. We got a ton of candy. Rode Splash several times with next to no wait. The best thing about the Party (imo) was that it gave us an extra day in the Park + the Party for about the same price as admission alone. This was the year after they discontinued the 6 day Pass so being able to add that extra admission seemed like a good value. I miss that Pass.

Since we have APs this year, that piece of it doesn't matter to us. I'm really hoping for party specific things to get excited about.

But I could see the value of that in years when we don't have APs.

 

[Lebestiole]

Thank you so much for the replies! You guys have been very helpful!! It's decided, we'll go to Mickey's Halloween Party. WOO! NOW I'M EXCITED!!!

 

[sgrap]

We did 2 parties last year, because my son joined us mid-trip and we wanted to do one early in our trip and one with him. They were a lot of fun, but we didn't think they were worth the price--especially for 2 of them. Now, our 'kids' at the time were 13 1/2, 12 and our son was almost 21, so we didn't have any little kids that loved to trick-or-treat. We did a few trick-or-treat lines, and then we had all had enough. Our favorite parts were: 1) the special Halloween fireworks show. It was incredible. 2) The special characters they had out, although they were hard to get pictures with (long lines). The 2nd night, my husband got in line by the train station for the 3 villain photo-op stations about an hour before they opened. The rest of us got some photos with the characters in Toontown (lines there too) and then joined him. 3) The Conjour a Villain tent . . . BUT that happened all the time, not just during the parties. We did Conjour a Villain 3 or 4 times during our trip and absolutely loved it. The characters that speak are especially hilarious (Cruella was our favorite).

We were not impressed by the calvacade at all, and the singing ghosts (can't remember what they are called right now . .. but the ghostly 'Dapper Dans' on the Rivers of America) were great, but I could have done with 5 minutes of it, and the rest of my family didn't care at all.

We really liked the whole Big Thunder Jamboree area, but again, that was all the time and not just during the parties.

I think you will have a great time, but I wouldn't recommend doing 2 of them unless you really love the trick-or-treat lines and want to wait in tons of the character lines.

Also, make a plan before you go with your priorities and a game plan. There is so much going on that it is easy to let the evening get away from you. If they have the pre-party in toontown, line up for that early. There was a huge line before we got over there. The characters they had rotating through back there were really cute in their Halloween outfits.

 

[Lebestiole]

Yeah, we're going to pay for just 1 party and we'll try to hit the rides as early as we can so we can enjoy the fireworks and the characters. Thanks for the tips!!!

 

[JinglePoem]

I definitely think you've made the best choice, OP! We love, love, love the party and have gone every year since 2007 (when it was at DCA and also fun!).

If you just take it in for what it is...a Halloween party, with serious treats, crazy fireworks, awesome villains, dance parties, spooky ambience, happy guests and very short lines for really good attractions...as opposed to a full "day at Disneyland" experience, I think you'll be delighted with your decision.

We are APs and go to the parks frequently, but I've always told my husband, if we ever can't afford to buy APs, I only want two things: A Halloween party and a one-day park hopper during the holidays. I would by-pass everything else to do those two things.