HopperFan
"It's a bug-eat-bug world out there, princess."
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2003
- Messages
- 27,838
We went both nights and were glad since the 14th was WET and much of party atmosphere gone !
14th:
We arrived at 4 pm and went straight to LTT for dinner. Waited @ 10 minutes past ADR. Dinner was fine, about what I expected food wise, characters worked the room well. Some staff was in character but most were not. Guests around us were mostly dressed up and in great moods (yes there was the family that screamed at each other through dinner which was lovely). We walked outside to POURING rain. Not drizzle ~~ downpour. It remained this way for most of the time until after the Hallowishes. We did the Carriage photo right at 7 pm (break in rain). The lines were really long for it later (had to skip last year). Was disappointed the ghost on the hearst photo was not available at HM. Rides you could walk right on even HM. IT IS AWESOME ! The new additions are good, and the general cleanup, detailing, better lighting and sound were great. Because of rain many candy stations were gone or inside, but when we found one, they were generous. Am pretty sure they cancelled the first parade or that is what some CMs were saying, I had no plans to sit in pouring rain to wait for it knowing I had another chance so we were elsewhere. Got our faces painted since no lines. Very few characters anywhere and the lighting was not as good nor the fog machines going, so it didn't look Halloween-ish. We watched Wishes in rain and I shot about 40 pictures, got some interesting ones. I was ready to leave but DS wanted to go to Toontown. Off we went and had it to ourselves. No lines for characters but with great families with great costumes. Three Fairies were behind us and my DS were convinced they were real and got his photo with them. Came out and no rain. We ended up staying until the end as it didn't start raining again.
21st:
Arrived at 4 pm and went to our dinner at CP. Seated almost immediately with a nice window seat. Buffet was certainly more than enough, food was good and our server was excellent and attentive. Everyone around seemed to be having fun, kid parade, lots of adults in costume. Characters were excellent. Lots of candy stations and left with both our bags completely full. Rides were walk on for most the night. Watched the first parade and as usual it was great ! Saw a few more characters out....Snow White and seven dwarfs but the line looked to be an hour long at least so we opted for a photo from afar with some cute little snow white we didn't know
Decided to hit HM during Hallowishes but watched them alittle from there, was a cool view, fireworks behind HM. That night they had some "dead" woman sitting in yard talking to all. Didn't stay too long because it was getting very crowded there. Lighting and fog were working well, and the park had the feel to it. Lots of costumed folks. Had a great evening and again stayed until the end.
Both nights the walkways were jammed packed. It seemed everyone was walking and looking, but the rides were fine as far as waits. Mostly after parades lines would fill up.
As far as the day guests leaving at 7 pm, they had a great system going and I believe it worked fine. They had their signs and were all up and down Main Street. At 7 they were in lines of about 3 across the walkways in Tomorrowland by raceway, either side of castle, across by Pooh, across by HM etc. They would not let you pass if you didn't have on the band. They didn't let the lady go who wanted to find her family, just said "they will find you out front", they wouldn't let folks in restrooms, just said "there are some out by front gate", they wouldn't let them on rides, in candy lines, in character lines etc. They were firm but very polite. By 7:30 I really saw no one without a band. This was all more obvious on the 21st since the 14th was alittle more miserable (and why stay
)
Oh, no Jack was found by us during parties. He was available during the day. CM said it was a one week test pilot to see if he was successful. I thought he did well at spontaneous Jack conversation.
14th:
We arrived at 4 pm and went straight to LTT for dinner. Waited @ 10 minutes past ADR. Dinner was fine, about what I expected food wise, characters worked the room well. Some staff was in character but most were not. Guests around us were mostly dressed up and in great moods (yes there was the family that screamed at each other through dinner which was lovely). We walked outside to POURING rain. Not drizzle ~~ downpour. It remained this way for most of the time until after the Hallowishes. We did the Carriage photo right at 7 pm (break in rain). The lines were really long for it later (had to skip last year). Was disappointed the ghost on the hearst photo was not available at HM. Rides you could walk right on even HM. IT IS AWESOME ! The new additions are good, and the general cleanup, detailing, better lighting and sound were great. Because of rain many candy stations were gone or inside, but when we found one, they were generous. Am pretty sure they cancelled the first parade or that is what some CMs were saying, I had no plans to sit in pouring rain to wait for it knowing I had another chance so we were elsewhere. Got our faces painted since no lines. Very few characters anywhere and the lighting was not as good nor the fog machines going, so it didn't look Halloween-ish. We watched Wishes in rain and I shot about 40 pictures, got some interesting ones. I was ready to leave but DS wanted to go to Toontown. Off we went and had it to ourselves. No lines for characters but with great families with great costumes. Three Fairies were behind us and my DS were convinced they were real and got his photo with them. Came out and no rain. We ended up staying until the end as it didn't start raining again.
21st:
Arrived at 4 pm and went to our dinner at CP. Seated almost immediately with a nice window seat. Buffet was certainly more than enough, food was good and our server was excellent and attentive. Everyone around seemed to be having fun, kid parade, lots of adults in costume. Characters were excellent. Lots of candy stations and left with both our bags completely full. Rides were walk on for most the night. Watched the first parade and as usual it was great ! Saw a few more characters out....Snow White and seven dwarfs but the line looked to be an hour long at least so we opted for a photo from afar with some cute little snow white we didn't know
Decided to hit HM during Hallowishes but watched them alittle from there, was a cool view, fireworks behind HM. That night they had some "dead" woman sitting in yard talking to all. Didn't stay too long because it was getting very crowded there. Lighting and fog were working well, and the park had the feel to it. Lots of costumed folks. Had a great evening and again stayed until the end.Both nights the walkways were jammed packed. It seemed everyone was walking and looking, but the rides were fine as far as waits. Mostly after parades lines would fill up.
As far as the day guests leaving at 7 pm, they had a great system going and I believe it worked fine. They had their signs and were all up and down Main Street. At 7 they were in lines of about 3 across the walkways in Tomorrowland by raceway, either side of castle, across by Pooh, across by HM etc. They would not let you pass if you didn't have on the band. They didn't let the lady go who wanted to find her family, just said "they will find you out front", they wouldn't let folks in restrooms, just said "there are some out by front gate", they wouldn't let them on rides, in candy lines, in character lines etc. They were firm but very polite. By 7:30 I really saw no one without a band. This was all more obvious on the 21st since the 14th was alittle more miserable (and why stay
)Oh, no Jack was found by us during parties. He was available during the day. CM said it was a one week test pilot to see if he was successful. I thought he did well at spontaneous Jack conversation.
