One day in October

[AustinTink]

Passing through town unexpectedly in October and plan to do one full park hopper day. It’s a non-Oogie Boogie day so my question is how crazy will the crowds be?

We just want to see the Haunted Mansion overlay. Everything else will be gravy.

 

[Dr. G]

We found our 5 days at Disneyland in October last year to be very crowded. A CM told us it was busier than New Year's. Don't know if that is true but it was busier than we've ever experienced and we'll go some other time next time. That said, I LOVE the Halloween decorations and I LOVE Haunted Mansion Holiday so if that is your main goal you'll have a wonderful time regardless of whatever becomes the "gravy". A crowded day at Disneyland is better than an uncrowded day at work!

 

[Aspencreek]

Passing through town unexpectedly in October and plan to do one full park hopper day. It’s a non-Oogie Boogie day so my question is how crazy will the crowds be?

We just want to see the Haunted Mansion overlay. Everything else will be gravy.

Do you know what day of the week you'll be there yet?

We went last October late in the month from a Sunday through Wednesday. Sunday and Monday in DL was very busy but manageable with Genie+. Tuesday we did OBB. Wednesday was back at DL and it was insanely packed, by far the busiest day we went. So my recommendation would be to try for a weekend day if you can, but regardless what day you go try to get there as early as possible. Even on the busiest day the park wasn't too bad until around 11am or so. You should definitely be able to get on HM (I'd go for it first thing and make sure to get it done) and then do other rides if wanted and just enjoy the super cool Halloween environment.

 

[AustinTink]

Do you know what day of the week you'll be there yet?

We went last October late in the month from a Sunday through Wednesday. Sunday and Monday in DL was very busy but manageable with Genie+. Tuesday we did OBB. Wednesday was back at DL and it was insanely packed, by far the busiest day we went. So my recommendation would be to try for a weekend day if you can, but regardless what day you go try to get there as early as possible. Even on the busiest day the park wasn't too bad until around 11am or so. You should definitely be able to get on HM (I'd go for it first thing and make sure to get it done) and then do other rides if wanted and just enjoy the super cool Halloween environment.

Probably Saturday with the potential for a half-day on Friday.

 

[AustinTink]

We found our 5 days at Disneyland in October last year to be very crowded. A CM told us it was busier than New Year's. Don't know if that is true but it was busier than we've ever experienced and we'll go some other time next time. That said, I LOVE the Halloween decorations and I LOVE Haunted Mansion Holiday so if that is your main goal you'll have a wonderful time regardless of whatever becomes the "gravy". A crowded day at Disneyland is better than an uncrowded day at work!

Yes, that’s what I was thinking it would be. We’ll just suck it up and go with the flow.

 

[woodys_girl]

They will probably be pretty crazy, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go. We always go to DL in October and it's a great time to go except for/in spite of the crowds. All the fall/Halloween stuff is great. I especially love Holiday Haunted Mansion. Carsland is fun, too. But we went once during the covid no fast pass era and some of the lines were pretty rough for my family of line-wusses. I'm excited to have G+ this go around.

 

[DisneylandFan22]

October is the busiest month now. We went last year. The line for Haunted Mansion Holiday was extremely long all day for every day of the trip. We decided to rope drop it to avoid the long wait. It also can be pretty hot. It is a good time to rope drop, take a break, then close out the parks.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

It will be packed. I suggest rope drop and Genie+. If you want to ride HMH twice you can rope drop it in the morning (fingers crossed it’s up and running) then use Genie+ lightning lane to ride again later. That line gets nuts during the overlay.

 

[Aspencreek]

Probably Saturday with the potential for a half-day on Friday.

That's likely the best day to go. Saturday has nearly all the passholders blocked out which lightens the crowds.

 

[AustinTink]

We’re doing MNSSHP at WDW in September so this is a little bonus trip for us. We will definitely rope drop HM and do Genie+ to make the most out of our day.

 

[AustinTink]

If you want to ride HMH twice you can rope drop it in the morning

Does DLR open at 8am in October normally? The calendar doesn’t go out that far yet on the website.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Does DLR open at 8am in October normally? The calendar doesn’t go out that far yet on the website.

Yes. if you’re driving in, I’d shoot to be at the parking structure or lot by 7am. With luck you’ll be in the park before rope drop. Have a plan in case HMH is down at park opening (Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain).

 

[AustinTink]

Yes. if you’re driving in, I’d shoot to be at the parking structure or lot by 7am. With luck you’ll be in the park before rope drop. Have a plan in case HMH is down at park opening (Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain).

We staying at one of the Harbor hotels, so we’ll just plan to be walking over around 7:15.

 

[AustinTink]

Looks like weather wise, temps will top out in the low 80s in mid-October. Is that accurate?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Looks like weather wise, temps will top out in the low 80s in mid-October. Is that accurate?

In October, low to mid 80s would be average. But it could be 90 or even 100.

If you got really lucky it could be cooler than 80.

 

[AustinTink]

In October, low to mid 80s would be average. But it could be 90 or even 100.

If you got really lucky it could be cooler than 80.

Wow, that’s all over the map. I’m hoping for 80s. We’ve been over 100 here for more than a month now. It’s miserable.

 

[AustinTink]

Well, now I’m worried. I forgot to load on first thing this morning to book dining and both Blue Bayou and Plaza Inn are booked for our days. Any chance that is a system glitch. I kept getting error messages.

 

[RoseColored97]

Blue Bayou and Plaza Inn tend to go pretty quick, I would say within the hour (if not mere minutes during busier times, which that week in October would be considered a peak IMO). Are you at exactly 60 days out? You might sign up for one of the dining websites to be notified if anything drops.

Otherwise, Blue Bayou has the walk up option. You probably won't get to pick where you are seated but people have had pretty good luck going that way. I believe Plaza Inn is the same way. You may be seated outside, but I believe they can still accommodate walk ups.

 

[AustinTink]

Blue Bayou and Plaza Inn tend to go pretty quick, I would say within the hour (if not mere minutes during busier times, which that week in October would be considered a peak IMO). Are you at exactly 60 days out? You might sign up for one of the dining websites to be notified if anything drops.

Otherwise, Blue Bayou has the walk up option. You probably won't get to pick where you are seated but people have had pretty good luck going that way. I believe Plaza Inn is the same way. You may be seated outside, but I believe they can still accommodate walk ups.

We usually go in the summer and never had an issue booking either one of those spots first thing in the morning. Sadly, I was preoccupied today and didn’t log on until a few hours after the reservations opened.

 

[Pluto468]

We usually go in the summer and never had an issue booking either one of those spots first thing in the morning. Sadly, I was preoccupied today and didn’t log on until a few hours after the reservations opened.

I'd sign up for a dining alert. I got Blue bayou and Plaza Inn that way last year. Your trip is still a couple months away, so I bet you'll get them