Pixar Fest, Halloween OR February?! HELP!?

[MaxnElliesMama]

Okay; this will be a little long but PLEASE help, LOL! We had originally planned to be in Disneyland ON Christmas or directly following through the new year; but after reading reviews, we’ve decided against that (my husband would despise that level of crowded), so now we have 3 other options and NEEEEEED help deciding.

We are family of 5; kids are 11; 6 and 18 months

Options:

•Go late August/Early September to experience Pixar Fest

•Go late September/Early October and do Halloween and Mickeys Halloween Party

OR

•Go in February; for less expensive/less crowded visit..

HELLLP! Thanks in advance!

 

[azdisneylover]

I would go during Halloween time so I could Trick Or Treat with my children. Nothing like getting your own bag of goodies!!

 

[MaxnElliesMama]

I would go during Halloween time so I could Trick Or Treat with my children. Nothing like getting your own bag of goodies!!

Really? Have you done Halloween there? All the blogs I’ve read that give tips and tricks say to skip the trick or treating and do the character meet and greets and watch the parade, opposed to trick or treating.

 

[emmybee]

Really? Have you done Halloween there? All the blogs I’ve read that give tips and tricks say to skip the trick or treating and do the character meet and greets and watch the parade, opposed to trick or treating.

The lines are pretty quick so you won't be killing a ton of time waiting for candy. Besides I can't imagine doing more than a couple of those lines anyhow. I always tell my kid she can get superior sweets in the shops. Halloween parties are pricey, so that's also a consideration. However, it's my family's favorite time of year, so that's been our time to go ever since we discovered the beauty and joy of a Disney Halloween.

 

[wingednike]

Okay; this will be a little long but PLEASE help, LOL! We had originally planned to be in Disneyland ON Christmas or directly following through the new year; but after reading reviews, we’ve decided against that (my husband would despise that level of crowded), so now we have 3 other options and NEEEEEED help deciding.

We are family of 5; kids are 11; 6 and 18 months

Options:

•Go late August/Early September to experience Pixar Fest

•Go late September/Early October and do Halloween and Mickeys Halloween Party

OR

•Go in February; for less expensive/less crowded visit..

HELLLP! Thanks in advance!

I recommend Pixar Fest. Most of the construction should be done by the time of your visit and APs might still be blocked

 

[midnight star]

I personally would not do February because a lot of rides tend to be under refurbishment. This year it seemed like the park was a construction site lol

I would pick Halloween. Pixar fest is cool, but by this time, Pixar Pier will be open so there will be a lot of Pixar theming there. Halloween is so cute!!!The party was more fun than I thought last year. Disneyland has such a different atmosphere during the special holiday times. The park has cooler decorations than Pixar fest as well. The parties have fireworks (dependent on weather), treat lines, special merchandise, villains, and characters are in their special Halloween costumes. The cons to this time of year is that it can get expensive! Especially if you decide to get party tickets.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I recommend going 2nd week of August during Pixar Fest. The days will still be relatively long, and I think your kids could really relate to the Pixar Parade and the fireworks, plus there's Paint the Night over at California Adventure. If you decide on Halloween, go last week of September (around there), when Haunted Mansion, Nightmare Before Christmas opens - it closes 3rd week of August usually/sometimes. October is really busy. I also wouldn't recommend February. If we have a rainy season, it usually hits in February, days are much shorter, and more attractions apt to be closed.

If you do go in August, make some time in the middle of the vacation for downtime/pool play.

 

[MaxnElliesMama]

I personally would not do February because a lot of rides tend to be under refurbishment. This year it seemed like the park was a construction site lol

I would pick Halloween. Pixar fest is cool, but by this time, Pixar Pier will be open so there will be a lot of Pixar theming there. Halloween is so cute!!!The party was more fun than I thought last year. Disneyland has such a different atmosphere during the special holiday times. The park has cooler decorations than Pixar fest as well. The parties have fireworks (dependent on weather), treat lines, special merchandise, villains, and characters are in their special Halloween costumes. The cons to this time of year is that it can get expensive! Especially if you decide to get party tickets.

Thank you! I am leaning Halloween, too! I just love holidays and special events! I wish wish wish we could figure out a Christmas visit but we just cannot at a time that would be enjoyable!

 

[MaxnElliesMama]

I recommend going 2nd week of August during Pixar Fest. The days will still be relatively long, and I think your kids could really relate to the Pixar Parade and the fireworks, plus there's Paint the Night over at California Adventure. If you decide on Halloween, go last week of September (around there), when Haunted Mansion, Nightmare Before Christmas opens - it closes 3rd week of August usually/sometimes. October is really busy. I also wouldn't recommend February. If we have a rainy season, it usually hits in February, days are much shorter, and more attractions apt to be closed.

If you do go in August, make some time in the middle of the vacation for downtime/pool play.

Thank you! This is all extremely helpful information! Would 2nd week of August not be super packed with summer crowds?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... Would 2nd week of August not be super packed with summer crowds?

There really is no such thing as a predictably low crowd time at DLR any more. And when there is a low crowd period, Disney offers a promotion to bring in the crowds! Instead of looking for low crowds, look for times when Disney is prepared for crowds. Second week of August is a good time not because of predictable low crowds (remember, these times don't exist any more!), but because: Disney is prepared for summer crowds with longer hours, more staffing, most/all rides up and running at full capacity, low/no refurbs, longer restaurant hours, full entertainment schedule, the lower AP blockout schedule is still in place, HM should still be up (it goes down for the Halloween overlay around the 20-somethingth of Aug.), etc. When the parks are prepared for crowds and the hours are longer you won't feel the impact as much as when there are still crowds but there are shorter hours, fewer rides available, and lower staffing. Summer is now one of the better times to visit DLR.

 

[MacMama0930]

Definitely don’t go in Feb. crowds are still there, but less hours, less entertainment and more ride refurbishment. Halloween is super cool but it’s starting to get really crowded during Halloween. We’ll see if they do things differently this year for the parties as there were rumors it might move to DCA. The Halloween fireworks are by far my favorite!! If you can manage to go in the summer when APs are blocked, that’s probably your best bet.

 

[emmybee]

What I find confusing is that the blackout dates are so limited, I don't think they would make an appreciable difference to the not-so-frequent guest during the summer. Of course, everyone is different, but heat is a huge consideration for my family. We seriously would not go during the hot months unless staying at the Grand.

 

[MacMama0930]

What I find confusing is that the blackout dates are so limited, I don't think they would make an appreciable difference to the not-so-frequent guest during the summer. Of course, everyone is different, but heat is a huge consideration for my family. We seriously would not go during the hot months unless staying at the Grand.

The block out dates are quite frequent for the So cal APs which the vast majority of the locals have. It does make a difference. People have been commenting for some time now how the summer is actually the lower crowds levels - very likely because the block outs.

 

[emmybee]

The block out dates are quite frequent for the So cal APs which the vast majority of the locals have. It does make a difference. People have been commenting for some time now how the summer is actually the lower crowds levels - very likely because the block outs.

That is a good point. When i look at the blackout dates, I realized there wasn't an option for SoCal passes on the AP page I was lookin at. I'll try to find it. However, my family is still a bunch of wilting flowers when it comes to the heat!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

What I find confusing is that the blackout dates are so limited, I don't think they would make an appreciable difference to the not-so-frequent guest during the summer...

There is quite a difference even now between a Saturday with the lower 3 APs blocked and a Sunday with no APs blocked. M&Fs has closed at capacity for several hours for the past 3 or 4 Sundays in a row, while the preceding Saturdays have been really manageable. The difference between what is normally a 45-60 minute line and a 60-90 minute line, ride after ride, is significant throughout the day, even to a once a year guest.

 

[tarheelalum]

Its always crowded so don't let that deter you from the greatest time of the to go to Disneyland. Halloween!!!!

 

[azdisneylover]

Really? Have you done Halloween there? All the blogs I’ve read that give tips and tricks say to skip the trick or treating and do the character meet and greets and watch the parade, opposed to trick or treating.

Yes, we have done a few Halloween parties. My husband and son said they want to pass this year on going. My girls, on the other hand, are excited about going. We rode rides the first couple of hours, and later in the evening is when we did the trick or treating. We go so many treats, we stopped because my teenagers realized they had to carry their own bag and they were full!

 

[figment_jii]

Really? Have you done Halloween there? All the blogs I’ve read that give tips and tricks say to skip the trick or treating and do the character meet and greets and watch the parade, opposed to trick or treating.

If you do the trick-or-treating at the start of the party, the lines can be quite long. However, if you wait until closer to the end of the party, the lines are often very short to non-existent, so it's possible to get a lot of candy without waiting very long.

As others have said, I would forgo the February option just because the weather is more iffy, there tends to be more refurbishments, and hours are generally shorter and entertainment is reduced (unless you're going right around President's Day weekend).

Between Pixar Fest (early August) and HalloweenTime (late-September), that's a tougher call. I think it really depends on whether you and your family like Pixar and want to see those offerings or experience HalloweenTime.

Pixar Fest: Pixar Play Parade, Paint the Night, and Together Forever fireworks are all part of Pixar Fest. I expect that Pixar Pier will remain beyond the end of Festival. Disney has not said anything about which entertainment offerings will end on Labor Day and which, if any, would continue. I suspect the food offerings will end, along with the special character meet & greets and things like that.

HalloweenTime: The decorations really improved last year (so hopefully they'll do this again this year). There are at least two rides with full overlays (Haunted Mansion and Space) and two with small changes (Luigi's and Mater's), along with festival foods and merchandise. The parties are a lot of fun, but historically, the special entertainment has been limited to the party. Fireworks and F! are usually only offered on weekends and the weekday hours can be short(ish).

The biggest issue is that they tend not to make any announcements about HallowenTime until mid-summer (early July). If you can wait until then to plan your trip, that would give you the most information, but it would be cutting it close if you want to go in August.

 

[jlwhitney]

If you do the trick-or-treating at the start of the party, the lines can be quite long. However, if you wait until closer to the end of the party, the lines are often very short to non-existent, so it's possible to get a lot of candy without waiting very long.

As others have said, I would forgo the February option just because the weather is more iffy, there tends to be more refurbishments, and hours are generally shorter and entertainment is reduced (unless you're going right around President's Day weekend).

Between Pixar Fest (early August) and HalloweenTime (late-September), that's a tougher call. I think it really depends on whether you and your family like Pixar and want to see those offerings or experience HalloweenTime.

Pixar Fest: Pixar Play Parade, Paint the Night, and Together Forever fireworks are all part of Pixar Fest. I expect that Pixar Pier will remain beyond the end of Festival. Disney has not said anything about which entertainment offerings will end on Labor Day and which, if any, would continue. I suspect the food offerings will end, along with the special character meet & greets and things like that.

HalloweenTime: The decorations really improved last year (so hopefully they'll do this again this year). There are at least two rides with full overlays (Haunted Mansion and Space) and two with small changes (Luigi's and Mater's), along with festival foods and merchandise. The parties are a lot of fun, but historically, the special entertainment has been limited to the party. Fireworks and F! are usually only offered on weekends and the weekday hours can be short(ish).

The biggest issue is that they tend not to make any announcements about HallowenTime until mid-summer (early July). If you can wait until then to plan your trip, that would give you the most information, but it would be cutting it close if you want to go in August.

We finally decided what we want to do next year for vacation and Disney land is our plan before star wars opens. BUT, Paint the night is one of the big draws for us and fireworks (which show it is doesn't bother me), the pixar parade would be cool too. So this makes planning so tricky. Is March a good month to consider at all?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We finally decided what we want to do next year for vacation and Disney land is our plan before star wars opens. BUT, Paint the night is one of the big draws for us and fireworks (which show it is doesn't bother me), the pixar parade would be cool too. So this makes planning so tricky. Is March a good month to consider at all?

Pixar Fest will end Labor Day Weekend, so if you want to see the Pixar Play Parade in DL and the things associated with Pixar Fest, you'll need to visit before early September this year. There has been no official word whether PTN will remain in DCA beyond Labor Day Weekend. Lots of people hope so. Pixar Pier in DCA will open June 23rd. March can be tricky for trip planning because you have low season or Spring Break. Usually there is something like the Food & Wine Festival in DCA to pull in more locals, too. So it depends on when in March.