September Crowds

[crazycatlady]

We are considering an adults only mid-September 2015 trip to DL. I see that the Is It Packed? website has the 4th week of the month (19th to the 26th) as being more busy than the 3rd week. The 18th to the 26th was the week we were mostly thinking of, but now I am wondering if we should switch it out for the week prior. Do I have a better shot of way lower crowds from the 13th to the 20th? Or am I possibly passing up the chance to see the Halloween decorations and ride overlays if I choose that earlier week? We will make sure that we include a weekend so we get a chance to see all of the nighttime entertainment. Total DL newbie here, so thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Sherry E]

I think that the Halloween Time season is going to start (officially) somewhere between 9/12 and 9/16, with a slight chance of a 9/10 start date. That's my guess. I don't think it will start on 9/11, and I don't think it will start on 9/18. So, either way, whenever you go, you will see whatever decorations there are to be seen -- and keep in mind that we don't know what's happening with Halloween décor (or the Halloween parties) this year, due to the 60th anniversary stuff. Even if Halloween Time were in peak Halloween mode, honestly there are really only decorations on Main Street and in Frontierland, and a little bit of Nightmare Before Christmas décor here and there in New Orleans Square (but that's there for the holiday season too).

Also, Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy should be up and running on the first official day of Halloween Time, so you won't miss those.

I don't know when Mickey's Halloween Party is beginning this year, but if is starts at its usual late September time, then I would expect crowds to pick up a bit in the couple of days leading up to 9/25.

I don't think that there will be substantially lower crowds, but there might be slightly lower crowds in the earlier September time frame. We don't yet know how any of the events of the 60th anniversary will affect crowds, but I would expect that there will be more visitors to the parks for the rest of the year.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

I went the fourth week in 2012, and the third week in 2013. If there was a difference in crowds i never noticed. Weekday is awesome with low wait times, weekends are busy.

 

[agamble]

I expect the Halloween season to officially kick off on Friday, September 11, 2015. This is based on trends over the last several years. Check for things like conventions or runs that might cause the following week to be busier. I'm not sure why one would be rated higher than the other as there are no Halloween parties until the end of the month.

 

[Sherry E]

We are considering an adults only mid-September 2015 trip to DL. I see that the Is It Packed? website has the 4th week of the month (19th to the 26th) as being more busy than the 3rd week. The 18th to the 26th was the week we were mostly thinking of, but now I am wondering if we should switch it out for the week prior. Do I have a better shot of way lower crowds from the 13th to the 20th? Or am I possibly passing up the chance to see the Halloween decorations and ride overlays if I choose that earlier week? We will make sure that we include a weekend so we get a chance to see all of the nighttime entertainment. Total DL newbie here, so thanks in advance for the help.

crazycatlady -

I forgot to add in my above post -- if you have time, please feel free to jump in and join us in the Halloween Time at DLR Superthread. You don't have to read the entire thread, so please don't be afraid or intimidated to join in the fun! My suggestion would be to just skim down the posts on page 1 of the thread (they cover the assorted elements of the season, from Mickey's Halloween Party, to Halloween food, to decorations, to information about Haunted Mansion Holiday, to historical start dates of both Halloween Time and Mickey's Halloween Party, photos, etc.), and then click on a link if you see something that looks interesting, or pop into the thread and ask us about it.

As we don't yet have any information about Halloween Time 2015, you will find a lot of info (dates and what not) from 2014 on page 1 of the Superthread, but that will give you a good idea of how things unfolded last year and in previous years. I will update the necessary posts when we get info about 2015. Also, the Superthread a great place to ask questions and discuss the season with other newcomers and experienced Halloween Time visitors.

Anytime there is breaking news, new rumors, details, official facts or speculation about the upcoming season, I will post them in the Halloween Time at DLR Superthread. I've already posted and discussed the rumors that were circulating towards the end of last year (which could mean big changes for the Halloween party), but nothing new has come out this year via the rumor mill. If it does, I will post it there.

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[crazycatlady]

Thank you everyone for all of the help! I think we are going to pick the earlier week and hope Halloween Time starts on the 10th or 12th. Sherry- I love your Halloween Time threads! I have lurked around them the past couple of years thinking about finally visiting DL. I will continue to keep up with the 2015 for current information.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Aw man, that is the week we picked to go, I hope it is not super crowded! I was hoping it would be an off time at the beginning of the Halloween season.

 

[MandaPandaPuddinPie]

My husband and I booked a trip to go the last week of September into October (Sept. 28th - Oct. 2nd). We're really hoping for a few things.

-Low crowds
-Possible 60th anniversary stuff
-Halloween theme if we can't see anything from the 60th

If anyone hears anything please post it up and let us know. We just did MNSSHP in Florida and loved it! We know that the Nightmare Before Xmas Overlay will be just as great (since the hubby is a HUGE fan of Jack Skellington).

 

[Sherry E]

My husband and I booked a trip to go the last week of September into October (Sept. 28th - Oct. 2nd). We're really hoping for a few things.

-Low crowds
-Possible 60th anniversary stuff
-Halloween theme if we can't see anything from the 60th

If anyone hears anything please post it up and let us know. We just did MNSSHP in Florida and loved it! We know that the Nightmare Before Xmas Overlay will be just as great (since the hubby is a HUGE fan of Jack Skellington).

There is no doubt that you will experience the Halloween Time season, as long as there is going to be a Halloween Time season this year. It will have begun long before 9/28. More than likely Mickey's Halloween party will begin before 9/28 as well, and there will probably be at least 2 party nights during your trip (if you count your last day, 10/2).

There won't be low crowds (that is a tall order in a year when it is the 60th anniversary, and in a week when the Halloween party is probably taking place, and in a super popular season such as Halloween Time), but there won't be peak season crowds either. That means you won't see empty parks in any way, shape or form -- there will be plenty of people milling about -- but you also will not see the kinds of crowds that are seen between Christmas and New Year's. You will probably experience tolerable/manageable crowds at times, but not low crowds.

You will definitely see the new Paint the Night parade and the new World of Color - Celebrate show, but I'm not sure what the schedule will be for the Disneyland Forever fireworks at that point in time. I don't know if the usual fall fireworks schedule will be extended a bit for this year only (because it is a special event), and I don't know if the Halloween party will showcase the Halloween Screams fireworks or the new 60th anniversary fireworks. At the very least there should be fireworks on Friday, 10/2, if not more often.

There are lots of threads about the 60th anniversary right now, but this one is the main one to go to for info and all the details/news (it helps to have one main go-to thread when multiple threads start popping up) -- http://www.disboards.com/threads/wh...-anniversary-in-2015-starting-may-22.3280301/

As I mentioned to crazycatlady above, if there is any news that comes in regarding Halloween Time or Mickey's Halloween Party someone will post it in the Halloween Time at DLR Superthread. Join us there and stay tuned for details!

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[MandaPandaPuddinPie]

Thank you!