questions about Disneyland

[Stitchfans]

Hi. Never been to Disneyland before. Was thinking about going maybe around Halloween. Would love to see the Haunted Mansion made up for the holiday. How does it work? Which one of the hotels on property be considered like the value hotels?

 

[LavenderPeach]

None of the on property hotels are considered value. There are only 3 so they are all fairly expensive. However, there are a lot of non-disney hotels within walking distance that would be considered value.

I'm not sure what you mean by "how does it work" referring to the Haunted Mansion Holiday. But I'll try to give you some info about it. They close the whole ride for several weeks to transform it into the nightmare before christmas theme. It is open in time for their Halloween celebrations and the decorations stay up through the Christmas season.

Hope that helps!

 

[Stitchfans]

Thank you. That is what I meant by "how does it work?"

 

[Sherry E]

Hi. Never been to Disneyland before. Was thinking about going maybe around Halloween. Would love to see the Haunted Mansion made up for the holiday. How does it work? Which one of the hotels on property be considered like the value hotels?

Hi there! Okay, first let me answer your question about the hotels. There are only 3 DLR hotels, and of the 3, the Paradise Pier Hotel is the least expensive one (and that is basically because it is a smaller property than the Disneyland Hotel or the Grand Californian Hotel; it is not as expansive or spacious). So I guess you could say that is the value hotel of the 3 at DLR. However, by all accounts, people who have stayed both onsite at WDW and at DLR say that PPH is more on par price-wise with a WDW moderate-level hotel, not a WDW value hotel. I have never been to WDW so I cannot speak to that but if you have been there then you will have an idea of what kinds of prices to expect from PPH. I like all three of the DLR hotels for different reasons, but most people agree that the DLH is sort of the quintessential 'Disney' hotel, with lots of cute touches around the property. DLH is not too much more expensive than the PPH is, but GCH is much more expensive than both of them!! A lot of folks prefer to stay off-property at one of the Good Neighbor hotels (some of which are across the street). It is up to you as to whether you want the full Disney experience - including the hotel - or want to save more money for other things in the parks.

As for Halloween at DLR, you are in for a treat. Yes, Haunted Mansion Holiday should be up and running by late September (at least, that is its usual schedule), in time for the beginning of the official Halloweentime season. The regular HM ride is totally transformed into a colorful feast for the eyes, with different music, different characters and a cool gingerbread house (last year it was a gingerbread coffin) in the ballroom/banquet scene. Really every square inch of the HM is made over into the HMH motif, so there is somethign new to look at everywhere you turn. In addition, there is a giant Mickey pumpkin at the entrance to Main Street (where the PhotoPass people lurk), and a giant Candy Corn in DCA where Candy Corn Acres can be found. There are all kinds of Disney character-jack-o-lanterns along Main Street, in window displays and usually around the Partners statue. There is a special Day of the Dead display in Frontierland, along with Frontierland's special 'Halloween tree.' Some Disney characters come out for photo ops in Halloween costumes and pose in either park (for example, we saw Goofy dressed as a skeleton last year). In DCA, they bring out some rarely seen villains for special pictures in the Hollywood area, i.e., Don Karnage, Queen of Hearts, and others from Hunchback, Pocahontas, etc.

And then at night in DCA, you can attend the special Trick or Treat Party. California Screamin' has a cool jack-o-lantern projection effect after dark, and there are tons of treat stations where you can load up on the candy (there are some healthy snacks too). Also, more characters come out for special PhotoPass pictures at the TOTP.

You can find pumpkin muffins and cupcakes and lattes and cider and all kinds of other seasonal goodies at the various bakeries and candy shops in DLR.

My Trip Report (link below in signature) features a Halloweentime trip and a Christmastime trip, along with all kinds of other surprises. If you go to the beginning of it, it begins with the Halloweentime trip and you can see some of the various photo opportunities we encountered.

 

[Stitchfans]

Thank you. I was looking into and saw what you were talking about with the neighborhood hotels. All of this sounds like so much fun!! Have to see if I can talk DH into it. He has the time off and we would only be taking DD out of school for 2 days. (that Friday and Monday) During that time due to Halloween I don't think they do much any way.

 

[Amy&Dan]

For something along the lines of a value hotel, for sure you'd have to stay offsite.

I have stayed at all of the WDW moderates and the PPH is really nothing like them. It has no grounds for one thing and its not themed the way the mods at WDW are. In spite of its lack of theming, I would still rate the PPH as a deluxe level hotel. Its the cheapest of the three for sure, but its not on par with a moderate since it has way more amenities than any of them do. Its also much more expensive than a moderate.

For a nice, value motel, close to Disneyland, I would recommend: The Howard Johnsons, Tropicana, Best Western Park Place Inn and also the Candy Cane Inn. I have never stayed at the Candy Cane, but never hear a bad thing about it! And all of those I mentioned except the Howard Johnsons, have a free continental breakfast included. Which makes them an even better value.

Love all three onsite hotels at Disneyland and always say that if you can afford the splurge (or want to splurge), go for it. They are each wonderful. But at DL its not necessary at all to stay onsite the way it is in WDW.

And DL at Halloween is wonderful. We will be there around that time ourselves and cannot wait!

Hoep you talk your husband into it!

 

[Eeee-va]

This year is the Haunted Mansion's 40th anniversary. I believe the mansion normally closes in early September for the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay, but this year there is a paid event on 9/9 that I believe includes a ride-through. Some on the DIS boards have speculated that Disney SHOULDN'T do the holiday makeover until after Halloween.

Obviously "speculating they shouldn't" is not saying what Disney WILL do. But I thought I'd mention that it MAY not be running as the Nightmare Before Christmas version around Halloween. Unfortunately, Disney is not very good at letting us know about their plans far in advance.

 

[Gisele]

For the past several years, the Haunted Mansion has been closed after labor day, for the nbc theming. Then @2 weeks later, the mansion reopens with the overlay. This being before September is over. Then after Jan.01, the mansion once again closes, and will be closed for @ 2 weeks again, before it reopens as the normal mansion.
There is much speculation as to whether or not it will be held this year, due to the mansion celebrating it's 40th Anniversary Event.
In my opinion, the nbc overlay does not properly represent Halloween at all. Especially regarding it taking over the mansion. If one likes nbc, then one might like this overlay. If one likes nbc, or does not mind it, however loves the traditional mansion, one will probably dislike it. I detest it with a passion, as many other people do. That sentiment is a result of not believing that the mansion is the correct location for tim and friends characters. That it is not in keeping with the mansion, in its style, and beauty. Nor its decor. That to place such a design which is the complete opposite of the real mansion, is disrespectful to the mansion. I hope that one day, this overlay is moved out of NOS, and into maybe DCA. I would love to see it spend time at WDW, after all there are many people there that would love to experience it, because they are nbc fans. I don't have a problem with nbc in and of its self. It is as it relates to incorporating it, into and outside of the mansion, that I completely disagree with. It should not be held every year, either, especially not always during the same time frame. It would be nice to be able to visit Dl during those off months, and enjoy the traditional mansion, instead of this marketing abomination existing there instead.





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[HydroGuy]

For the past several years, the Haunted Mansion has been closed after labor day, for the nbc theming. Then @2 weeks later, the mansion reopens with the overlay. This being before September is over. Then after Jan.01, the mansion once again closes, and will be closed for @ 2 weeks again, before it reopens as the normal mansion.
There is much speculation as to whether or not it will be held this year, due to the mansion celebrating it's 40th Anniversary Event.
In my opinion, the nbc overlay does not properly represent Halloween at all. Especially regarding it taking over the mansion. If one likes nbc, then one might like this overlay. If one likes nbc, or does not mind it, however loves the traditional mansion, one will probably dislike it. I detest it with a passion, as many other people do. That sentiment is a result of not believing that the mansion is the correct location for tim and friends characters. That it is not in keeping with the mansion, in its style, and beauty. Nor its decor. That to place such a design which is the complete opposite of the real mansion, is disrespectful to the mansion. I hope that one day, this overlay is moved out of NOS, and into maybe DCA. I would love to see it spend time at WDW, after all there are many people there that would love to experience it, because they are nbc fans. I don't have a problem with nbc in and of its self. It is as it relates to incorporating it, into and outside of the mansion, that I completely disagree with. It should not be held every year, either, especially not always during the same time frame. It would be nice to be able to visit Dl during those off months, and enjoy the traditional mansion, instead of this marketing abomination existing there instead.

I have only seen HMH twice and am not a big fan. But then I am not a fan of the NBC movie either. I will say that I think it is cool that DL does the holiday overlays as they make things more dynamic. I especially like IASWH. I am with Giselle that I personally could do without HMH. Fortunately for us we rarely visit DLR in the holiday season.

I wanted to add that overlays at WDW will probably never work. The reason they do work at DLR is that there are so many locals who frequent the parks. At WDW most folks visit less frequently and for more days at a time. The impact of taking a ride like HM down twice a year for 2-3 weeks, every year, would be much greater. Plus MK has less headliner rides than DL (and less rides of any kind - about 30% less) making things even worse at MK for crowds as there are less options to absorb the extra people who can't ride HM. They would have never ending complaints from customers if they did that. I think that is a big reason WDW has shied away from overlays.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Trey, you are so right about overlays at WDW. I remember when they took HM at MK down for a much needed refurb. There were threads on the WDW side of disboards that reached over 100 pages long. At DL long refurbs are not that unusual and while a bummer for DL regulars, they look forward to what will generally be a very good change. I have travelled in all seasons at WDW and rarely see rides down. Space Mountain is down right now for what will be a far shorter overhaul than Disneyland's got and that is the first ride in 5 years of visiting WDW 2-4 times a year I can remember being down for more than a brief time. Its nice in that you don't have to stress as much over what may be closed during a visit, the downside is that I don't think the rides at WDW vs. DL's counterparts get the same amount of sprucing up and updating as DL's do.

I have never seen the NBC movie so the overlay is lost on me in many ways. I do enjoy the change but was bummed that for my mom's one and only trip to DL it was not the original.

And IASW's holiday overlay would be a pale comparison's to DL's even if they did do it at MK since the exterior (one of the prettiest parts of DL's holiday version) at MK is so boring and lackluster, they could't do anything with it anyway.

Fantasmic is another thing that I can't see them taking down at DHS. I mean right now its only running three days a week and its literally throwing the whole crowd control issue at DHS so out of whack its not even funny. There are a lot of threads going on right now about how WDW needs to liven up, refresh, and take better care of their parks (and lots of people saying how much nicer DL is vs. MK in particular as far as updates and cleanliness) but if they did do a bunch of overhauls that would be a bigger problem for most WDW regulars who are still generally a tourist and not a local.

WDW guest and higher ups would never have the patience to live through the redo's and remakes that DL goes through. I mean can you imagine if they gutted and redid a park at WDW to the extent they are at DCA? They can build new stuff and creat whole new parks at WDW, but they can't do much with what they have due to the dynamics of WDW and its guest makeup.

 

[Sherry E]

I think there was some speculation earlier this year about whether or not HMH would return this year due to the HM 40th Anniversary activities, but if I am not mistaken, I think Bumbershoot pointed out that somewhere hidden on the DLR website, it gives the dates for Halloweentime this year (9/25 - 11/1) and HMH is definitely mentioned as being among the festivities.

Sorry, non-HMH people - it is coming back!! Back by popular demand!

And by the way, if they skipped a year of HMH in general it would make much more sense to me than to not have the HMH up for Halloween. HMH is their flagship event for Halloweentime season. Not everyone goes to the TOTP (costs extra $$$) and without HMH to lure people in, you just have some artfully decorated pumpkins and candy corn. They need something to draw in people for Halloween. Plus, NBC in its main theme celebrates TWO holidays. So IF they are going to do HMH at all, it makes the most sense to me to do it before Halloween and carry it through to Christmas. But as I said, if they decided to skip it entirely, that would make more sense to me that to not have it up for Halloween.

And since the OP wants to see HMH, I think the OP will love it!

 

[fairycat]

I think there was some speculation earlier this year about whether or not HMH would return this year due to the HM 40th Anniversary activities, but if I am not mistaken, I think Bumbershoot pointed out that somewhere hidden on the DLR website, it gives the dates for Halloweentime this year (9/26 - 11/1) and HMH is definitely mentioned as being among the festivities.

Sorry, non-HMH people - it is coming back!! Back by popular demand!

And by the way, if they skipped a year of HMH in general it would make much more sense to me than to not have the HMH up for Halloween. HMH is their flagship event for Halloweentime season. Not everyone goes to the TOTP (costs extra $$$) and without HMH to lure people in, you just have some artfully decorated pumpkins and candy corn. They need something to draw in people for Halloween. Plus, NBC in its main theme celebrates TWO holidays. So IF they are going to do HMH at all, it makes the most sense to me to do it before Halloween and carry it through to Christmas. But as I said, if they decided to skip it entirely, that would make more sense to me that to not have it up after Halloween.

And since the OP wants to see HMH, I think the OP will love it!

And I am not just kissing up to our new mod.

Besides Bumbershoot finding the info. I think it would be so silly for Disneyland to give up something that has proven to bring the crowds in. Remember when October used to be off season?

OP many, many people who have seen the movie and who haven't, love the HMH. My Mom barely knows what NBC is besides what she has seen product wise at my house and she loved the changed mansion. She loved all the details and thought it was fun to see the HM "new". For me I love both and I think the small break that I get from HM and HMH makes me love the other even more, that whole "absence makes the heart grow fonder" thing. But I am one of thos pesky locals!

Basically I am saying you will have lots of fun!

 

[Sherry E]

And I am not just kissing up to our new mod.

Besides Bumbershoot finding the info. I think it would be so silly for Disneyland to give up something that has proven to bring the crowds in. Remember when October used to be off season?

OP many, many people who have seen the movie and who haven't, love the HMH. My Mom barely knows what NBC is besides what she has seen product wise at my house and she loved the changed mansion. She loved all the details and thought it was fun to see the HM "new". For me I love both and I think the small break that I get from HM and HMH makes me love the other even more, that whole "absence makes the heart grow fonder" thing. But I am one of thos pesky locals!

Basically I am saying you will have lots of fun!

Yay for us pesky locals!!

 

[Gisele]

Nbc does not celebrate neither Halloween nor Christmas in a way that I prefer, accept, nor even acknowledge for that matter. I stand by my statement that this overlay is an abomination of the real Haunted Mansion. This overlay is one of the most ridiculous things that I have ever seen. Which I could care less about, if it did not affect the true Haunted Mansion.
If I see just one nbc design or style on 09-09-09, I will complain to WDES, City Hall, and any CM's that are working that event. For I did not pay to see that, during the mansion's anniversary event.
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[HydroGuy]

Nbc does not celebrate neither Halloween nor Christmas in a way that I prefer, accept, nor even acknowledge for that matter. I stand by my statement that this overlay is an abomination of the real Haunted Mansion. This overlay is one of the most ridiculous things that I have ever seen. Which I could care less about, if it did not affect the true Haunted Mansion.
If I see just one nbc design or style on 09-09-09, I will complain to WDES, City Hall, and any CM's that are working that event. For I did not pay to see that, during the mansion's anniversary event. ~

Giselle, I wish you would just come out and tell us how you really feel.

 

[21yankees]

Nbc does not celebrate neither Halloween nor Christmas in a way that I prefer, accept, nor even acknowledge for that matter. I stand by my statement that this overlay is an abomination of the real Haunted Mansion. This overlay is one of the most ridiculous things that I have ever seen. Which I could care less about, if it did not affect the true Haunted Mansion.
If I see just one nbc design or style on 09-09-09, I will complain to WDES, City Hall, and any CM's that are working that event. For I did not pay to see that, during the mansion's anniversary event.
________________





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I see that you are straight forward in your feelings/opinions and that's great. But the OP is looking forward to seeing the HM with NBC layover. I don't see the point in changing the OP topic towards your hatred (my word) of HM with NBC. If you feel this way truely make it known to Disney, there are many people on this board that enjoy the NBC layover (myself included) and those that don't appreciate it but don't feel the need to judge it whenever the smallest opportunity presents itself. JMHO.

steph

 

[Disney Dreams]

...If I see just one nbc design or style on 09-09-09, I will complain to WDES, City Hall, and any CM's that are working that event. For I did not pay to see that, during the mansion's anniversary event.
________________

Why would you complain? I understand how you dislike the HMH. However, you paid for a special event. If the event takes place, they have fulfilled their commitment to you. You say that you did not pay to see NBC designs during the anniversary event. However, you may have, depending upon how Disney times everything. If it was crucially important that nothing be NBC themed in order for meto attend the anniversary events, I would have confirmed this before purchasing tickets.

I am not sure there is much to complain about if there was nothing promised as to which theme would be present during the events.

- Dreams

 

[Stitchfans]

Thank you everyone for your replies. DD14 is a big fan of NBC. Me- kind of. She often said she would love to meet Jack Skellinton and Sally. I am assuming they will be out and about for meet and greets.

DH said if we can scrape up the money we can go. We went yo DW this past March and as you all know that isn't cheap.

Not to tell my life story, but I recently wrote a romance novel, and I am awaiting a reply from my dad's BIL who works for a big publishing company to give me a yeh or nay as to whether I have any talent. He will act as my agent. If he says yes, then it is a go. This way whatever I make can replace most or some of what we spend for the trip. So I suppose it is a 50/50 chance, All new to this, so I may be dreaming an impossible dream. No harm in dreaming. IMO.

 

[Sherry E]

Thank you everyone for your replies. DD14 is a big fan of NBC. Me- kind of. She often said she would love to meet Jack Skellinton and Sally. I am assuming they will be out and about for meet and greets.

DH said if we can scrape up the money we can go. We went yo DW this past March and as you all know that isn't cheap.

Not to tell my life story, but I recently wrote a romance novel, and I am awaiting a reply from my dad's BIL who works for a big publishing company to give me a yeh or nay as to whether I have any talent. He will act as my agent. If he says yes, then it is a go. This way whatever I make can replace most or some of what we spend for the trip. So I suppose it is a 50/50 chance, All new to this, so I may be dreaming an impossible dream. No harm in dreaming. IMO.

Good luck to you with the romance novel!! Even if it does not yield a DLR trip I hope it works out for you! (I am a bit of a closet writer myself so I have particular interest in hearing about what it takes to be published, etc.) And don't worry about telling your life story - you will notice in many of our Trip Reports over in the Disneyland TR section, we tell all about our lives - it extends beyond just reports of the DLR trips themselves. I find that to be much more interesting as a reader - if I know a bit of background on the person and their family or friends, and what it took for them to get to DLR and the struggles they may have gone through, and how the plans were on, then off, then on again, I am that much more invested in reading about the actual DLR trip when it happens. I feel like I know the people and that I am almost on the tripw with them! So come over and visit the Trip Report section and get to know a lot of our wonderful DIS-ers, as well as see all there is to see in DLR photos!!

Jack and Sally are sometimes out for photo ops. Last year, they started to appear after my Halloweentime trip had already taken place, darn it, so I missed them!! They are not out a lot, though, and when they are, it is usually near the Haunted Mansion. Some people think Jack looks bizarre because his head is not the right size in person, but maybe they have improved his costume by now!!

I think your daughter will love Haunted Mansion Holiday. I also forgot to mention in my first post that another fun thing to do during Halloweentime at DLR is to visit Woody's Halloween Round-Up. I was not sure what DLR would do with that this year because of the Celebration BBQ, but assuming Woody's Round-Up makes a return, that would be another place to visit. You can carve Disney pumpkins there and do other crafts, as well as buy seasonal treats and decorate cookies, etc. And of course, Woody is there too!

 

[Stitchfans]

Thanks again Sherry.
Once I learn more on how it works to get published, I will ask my
"step" uncle more questions if you like. Maybe you can get whatever you are writing published also. I enjoy writing, but like I said I am not sure if I am talented enough to actually have anything published.

My "step" uncle rattled off several authors that the company he works for has as clients. Two I recognized right away. One was Stephanie Meyers, and the other is one of my dad's favorite author's James Patterson. Would be awesome to be in the same group as them. Dreaming. I know.