Question about crowds in October and MHP

[ExcitedMama]

We are tagging along with my husband next week when he goes to OC for work and he just found out he has to go back in October. Of course the first thing I did was check TP crowd calendar. Next week is supposed to be hot and crowded so I was hoping October would be better. TP has the weekdays we could go as 6s. Is that probably about right for the third week of October? I was hoping for less crowds.

How bad are Sundays? I’m wondering if we should leave earlier so we could have a day at the parks with my husband. TP has that day as a 7.

We did MHP for the first time last year and everyone loved it. That week has a MHP. Any guess on when 10/16 could sell out? Wondering how long we’d have to decide to do it. Does the firework show and parade change every year? I’m wondering if it would be different from what we saw last year.

I know WOC is down and there are rumors about the possibility of a Halloween show, if that could be true when would it be announced? I’m wondering what we could do at DCA on the MHP night if we don’t go.

 

[tarheelalum]

Touring plans is not to be trusted. October is a very busy month. Everyone goes for Halloween so its pretty crowded every day. But even if it is crowded you can still go and have a great time. 10/16 is a week day so you can probably wait a while before that one is sold out.

I don't know about any special Halloween shows at DCA so I can't say. I do think they will put a lot more effort into decorating DCA this fall so it is certainly possible they could have a show there but I kind of doubt it. Probably just more decorations and maybe an overlay for Radiator springs racer. I can't say if they change the parade and fireworks up every year. We have only been to the party once and it was a couple of years ago. But I must say the parade was the best parade I've ever seen at Disney, and I don't even like parades. I love Halloween and I wouldn't miss going to Disneyland in October for anything. It is awesome!!

 

[figment_jii]

I would expect Sundays to be pretty busy during October because of the popularity of HalloweenTime. SoCal and SoCal Select APs are blocked, but Deluxe (and higher) are valid for Sundays.

The MHP fireworks and parade do not change very often. I don't think there has been a "new" fireworks show for quite a while (it's been Halloween Screams since I started going in 2011). The Frightfully Fun Parade was introduced a few years ago and they've been making tweaks, but not wholesale changes. At this point, I would guess that both the fireworks and parade will be the same (or largely the same) from last year.

My guess is that they won't announce when WoC will return until they're almost done with the repairs or done with the repairs. They've been pretty quiet about it, so I'm taking that to mean it's not coming back quickly.

October 16 is a Tuesday, which works in your favor (usually Friday parties sell out first). Last year, the equivalent party sold out in early September. I would say you probably have a bit of time until it sells out.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... Next week is supposed to be hot and crowded so I was hoping October would be better...

Be prepared for October also to be hot and crowded -- varying in intensity, but basically ranging from warm to downright hot and from somewhat crowded to very crowded (usually on weekends). Halloween Time is now one of the busiest times of the year at DLR because it is one of the most fun times of the year at the resort. With good planning, you can still have a great time, but don't expect cool temps and an empty park.
Read this thread (Mickey's Halloween Party and Halloween Time Superthread 2018!!) and keep following along for news about which parties sell out and when.