Mickey's Halloween Party or Regular Park Day

[Abbey1]

My family is going to be in San Diego the last week of October, and we are trying to decide between doing just Mickey's Halloween Party one night, or a full day in the park. We just returned from a week-long trip to Disneyland, so this is just going to be a fun surprise for my son.

What's everyones opinion? Which would be better to do? I'm leaning toward the party, because my son would love the nighttime parade and fireworks, but then we won't get as much time in the park...

Still trying to convince my husband we should do both!

 

[iKristin]

I would say party. It's just so much fun!! If you take him on rides first and then trick or treat during the last part of the night, you'll avoid a lot of lines in both places. Most people come in and go straight to the trick or treat lines, which leaves those long and the rides not so much This has been my trick every year

 

[Imdboss]

I would choose the party, you still get 8 hours of total park time and during the actual party hours,once non ticket holders are out, you can get in a lot of rides not to mention all of the fun party specific things that you don't get any other time of year. However I would still try to convince DH to do both!!!

 

[Sherry E]

I would wait to decide until we find out exactly what is happening with the Halloween Party. In the Halloween Time at DLR Superthread we've discussed quite a bit the rumors that the party may be moving back to DCA this year (which is where it used to be held prior to 2010), and also the rumors that there are "big changes" coming to the party this year. If any of that turns out to be true it may impact how and when people are let into the park for the party, and it would also definitely impact what was included in the party (meaning the Halloween Screams fireworks and the Cavalcade).

If there are no changes coming to the party and it is going to be business as usual in Disneyland, the dates will probably be announced in mid-to-late June and the tickets will go on sale in July. If there are any major, significant changes coming to the party there might be a Parks Blog about it as early as next month or early June.

I think that the events of the 60th anniversary would be a really good reason to move the party just for this year, if DCA were prepared to have the party again -- those Diamond Anniversary/Celebration events are going to affect the Christmas/holiday season entertainment too, so It would make sense if they had an impact on the Halloween Party. But there don't appear to be any rumors about Halloween decorations coming to DCA this year (there would have to be decorations), or special Halloween ride overlays in DCA, or anything to indicate that a party relocation is actually happening. So I am inclined to think that there was a plan to relocate the party at one point last year, and maybe it got scrapped this year.

In any case, we'll know more in the next 2 or 3 months. Stay tuned to the Superthread -- we discuss all news, rumors and speculation there!

​

 

[Abbey1]

Thanks everyone! I hadn't even taken into account the diamond celebration. I think if the party ends up at DCA, then I'll be more inclined to spend a full day in Disneyland instead of the party. Hoping that it will still be held at Disneyland Park AND that I can convince my husband that we NEED to do both

 

[whoever]

Party, hang out at the pools and enjoy the rest of the resort before the party.

 

[D1sneyfam1ly]

I would say Party. We have done a day at the park and party and felt like we wasted money on the pass because we wanted to get back to the hotel so that our kids could take a nap to last the whole party. We only spent 3 or so hours in the park before we wanted to get back to the hotel to rest, have lunch and do costumes. We were back in the park by 4, which is when your party ticket allows you to enter the park. However if money is not an issue and your want to get 4 or so hours in the morning in then I would say go for it.

 

[Sherry E]

I would say Party. We have done a day at the park and party and felt like we wasted money on the pass because we wanted to get back to the hotel so that our kids could take a nap to last the whole party. We only spent 3 or so hours in the park before we wanted to get back to the hotel to rest, have lunch and do costumes. We were back in the park by 4, which is when your party ticket allows you to enter the park. However if money is not an issue and your want to get 4 or so hours in the morning in then I would say go for it.

The Friday night or weekend parties have the 4 p.m. entry with an MHP ticket, because the party begins at 7 p.m. on those nights. All of the other weeknight parties tend to begin at 6 p.m., and people can enter with an MHP ticket at 3 p.m.

However, as I mentioned above, this year we cannot be sure what is happening with MHP. First there was a rumor that it was moving back to DCA. Then there was a report that CMs were told (at the 2014 MHP training) that there would be "big changes" coming to the party in 2015. There have also been rumors that there will be more party nights added in, and that the party will begin earlier in September than usual. The rumors have quieted down at the moment, which is what leads me to think that maybe some things were in the works at one point and later shelved, but if any of those rumors happens to come to fruition, the schedules could be changed, or the times when people are allowed into the park (whichever park it is) with a ticket could change.

We'll see what happens!