**** The Official October 2014 - Disneyland Resort Thread ****

[Sherry E]

...When we were at DLR in early Sep 2006 they were just starting the Fall decorations. Can't wait to get there in October and see the full effect. It's my favorite time of the year. Oh, I really love your photo in the first post.

You're in for a treat (no pun intended), pixiepirate!

Interestingly, the decorations have actually been scaled back from how they were several years ago (2006 - 2009-ish) -- they are mainly in Disneyland park now and not really in DCA (with the exception of a few small things). DCA used to have a giant Candy Corn photo spot in Candy Corn Acres, which no longer exists.

The bulk of the decorations will be on Main Street and in Frontierland, with extra Haunted Mansion-holiday touches in New Orleans Square that stay up through the holiday season. Although Ghost Galaxy can be found in Tomorrowland, there are no Halloween decorations in Tomorrowland.



Here are photos I posted 5 days ago in the Superthread, to give you an idea of some of what you will be seeing this year.

Here are photos I posted today!



And this post began our Theme Week Countdown in 2012, featuring 13 themes leading up of the start of Halloween Time. There were a lot of photos that rolled in during that time, shared by our thread participants. If you enter the thread from that specific post you can follow the pages from that point on to see the other contributors' wonderful images.

I will be doing another Theme Week Countdown in that thread this year.



Plus...more photos (links below)...

Treats 2013


Merchandise 2013, Part 1

Merchandise - 2013, Part 2


Miscellaneous - 2013


Halloween Carnival 2013, Part 1

Halloween Carnival 2013, Part 2




From Bret/mvf-m11c - Miscellaneous 2013

More photos from Bret/mvf-m11c - 2013

And more from Bret/mvf-m11c! - 2013



From MadMim - 2013


That's just a small sampling (that I could pull up in a minute).

 

[pixiepirate]

Sherry E, loving your photos! Will be perusing that Halloween Superthread as soon as I find the time.

 

[DenaRox]

We are starting to plan our trip right now. Four or Five nights at the GCH.

I truly LOVE planning Disney Vacations!! It is on my bucket list to stay at GCH

pixiepirate - Glad you found us. Being a DL noobie I will have loads of questions for all you vets

 

[meredith55]

We are planning a trip October 7-9. It will be me, my husband, and 3 kids (6,4,2). Our first trip to Disneyland with kids, and we haven't been in 7 years. I am SO nervous about the trip. I first thought these were good dates, but I am nervous about Arizona break and Halloween time. I don't want it to be crazy busy to add to the madness of three small children. I need some reassurance!

 

[Sherry E]

We are planning a trip October 7-9. It will be me, my husband, and 3 kids (6,4,2). Our first trip to Disneyland with kids, and we haven't been in 7 years. I am SO nervous about the trip. I first thought these were good dates, but I am nervous about Arizona break and Halloween time. I don't want it to be crazy busy to add to the madness of three small children. I need some reassurance!

I wouldn't worry too much. There's no need to be so nervous! It's very hard to predict when the parks will be less crowded these days as often times we are seeing a shift in the crowd dynamic, and the formerly super-crowded times are becoming less so, while the formerly quiet times are becoming really busy. It's the "crowds causing crowds while trying to avoid crowds" effect that I frequently mention on this board!

It won't be slow and quiet, so I can't give you too much reassurance! There will be kids out on fall break.

October has become much busier than it used to be years ago -- in fact, a DIS'er named deejdigsdis just posted something in her TR about encountering more crowds during her trip in October 2012 than she did on her recent April 2014 visit, and I have to concur. I just had a brief one-day visit on 4/14/14, and I was expecting horrible Spring Break crowds everywhere I went. While it was certainly quite busy and crowded in some areas of DLR, it was nowhere near what I expected in some spots -- and I have seen bigger crowds at certain points during the Halloween Time season.

That said, the early crowds won't be like New Year's Eve crowds or week-between-Christmas-and-New-Year's-crowds (a time frame commonly known to be crazy, massively busy). But you should see a good number of people in the parks, especially if there is a Halloween Party on 10/7. If there is a Halloween Party on 10/7, Disneyland will probably close to non-party guests at 6 p.m. or so, and all of the party guests will be allowed to enter DL at 3 p.m., causing some large crowds in those 3 hours of crossover time until the party begins. California Adventure will stay open on party nights for a couple of extra hours, at least, to take in the influx of guests who do not attend the Halloween Party.

 

[hellosue]

I'll be there! Oct 25 to Nov 22 .... 11 days Anaheim - staying at Desert Inn & Suites Oct 25 - Nov 5, the off to Vegas/Kentucky and back to Anaheim for final 4 days to see Christmas Deco's and then the long flight home to Oz. We are buying the Deluxe Annual Pass as we plan on visiting DLR for 14 days.

 

[Thumperears]

Hi DenaRox! I am so glad you started this! Our trip is October 11-18 and we are staying at the HOJO. It will be DH, myself, my Mom and DD6 and DD5. We are flying in from Seattle as we got a great deal with Virgin America. Even with taking the ferry, driving and 1 night at a hotel in Seattle we are still way ahead. DD,s don't know yet but will tell them once we get closer to October. I know that it will be very busy that week but that's OK! It is the only week we can go. I am so excited and am constantly on the internet reading!
Thanks again!

 

[Cheshirecatty]

We are planning a trip October 7-9. It will be me, my husband, and 3 kids (6,4,2). Our first trip to Disneyland with kids, and we haven't been in 7 years. I am SO nervous about the trip. I first thought these were good dates, but I am nervous about Arizona break and Halloween time. I don't want it to be crazy busy to add to the madness of three small children. I need some reassurance!

Hi meredith55---Welcome to the Disboards!!!

Don't stress yourself about visiting the Resort during that specific week!

We've been that exact week for the last several years year, and LOVE it!

"Yes", it will be busy, but if it were an unmanageable/horrible type of busy, we would not be there!

It is a great time to visit---the Decor is fun, the nights cool down when the sun sets, there are fun Fall/Halloween type activities for children, back in the Big Thunder Ranch area, special holiday themed treats, etc.(I could go on and on!)

With three small children, be willing to take things at a slower pace, let their needs/desires be your guide--you can always come back and do those thing you didn't experience/missed out on.

Pretty much all of October is busy these days, but if you go in knowing what to expect, have a general/flexible plan, get to the Parks before opening, utilize fast pass, take a good attitude and your patience, you can have a fantastic time---really!!!

(Plus, if you focus on/stay tuned into SherryE's "Halloween Time Super Thread", you will be so wrapped up in festiveness/excitement/desire to get there, that you will soon forget your nervousness!

 

[BieberFever]

We will be there October 5-15 with 5 day park hoppers and planning to attend a MHP. We are having a family reunion of sorts there at that time. Does anyone know if we can make a reservation for Goofy's kitchen with a large number....like 40?

We will be at the Worldmark and then moving to HOJO's at the end of the trip! Traveling with me, hubby and DS 10, DD 6, DD 4, DS 18 months

Can't wait! I love planning Disney trips, even though my family thinks I am crazy!

 

[cinderbellasmom]

We're planning for 9/28-10/3, haven't decided on a hotel yet but leaning towards Best Western Pavilions since we'll have a car distance really isn't a factor. At this point I plan on booking through Costco for the incentives on a character meal, gift cards, etc. We've only been one other time in the last 15 yrs and that was for the Halloween party in 2012. We had a wonderful time and are hoping to recreate the magic of that trip!

 

[Sherry E]

We will be there October 5-15 with 5 day park hoppers and planning to attend a MHP. We are having a family reunion of sorts there at that time. Does anyone know if we can make a reservation for Goofy's kitchen with a large number....like 40?

We will be at the Worldmark and then moving to HOJO's at the end of the trip! Traveling with me, hubby and DS 10, DD 6, DD 4, DS 18 months

Can't wait! I love planning Disney trips, even though my family thinks I am crazy!

You know, I've been to Goofy's a lot -- but never with more than 8 people at most. On that occasion we got a big table tucked around a quiet corner (no shortage of character interaction, though).

However, I have certainly read of at least a couple of instances in which people booked for a large group. Maybe not as many as 40 people, but a large group of some sort. I know that DIS'er PHXscuba once booked a larger group at Goofy's, and I am hoping to remember who the other DIS'er was who did the same thing.

I think that the really large groups like that probably need some sort of special arrangements in advance, beyond the regular reservations. I could be totally wrong, but I would think that's how it goes. Someone on the Disneyland Dining line should be able to tell you how it will be handled and when, exactly, you need to make the reservation. I'm sure it can be done, but it probably won't be treated as just a run of the mill reservation.

 

[JDirrim]

Dena- we changed our hotel from the GCH to DLH super excited!! Can you please update my name on the list of everyone's name? thank you!!

 

[meredith55]

That said, the early crowds won't be like New Year's Eve crowds or week-between-Christmas-and-New-Year's-crowds (a time frame commonly known to be crazy, massively busy). But you should see a good number of people in the parks, especially if there is a Halloween Party on 10/7. If there is a Halloween Party on 10/7, Disneyland will probably close to non-party guests at 6 p.m. or so, and all of the party guests will be allowed to enter DL at 3 p.m., causing some large crowds in those 3 hours of crossover time until the party begins. California Adventure will stay open on party nights for a couple of extra hours, at least, to take in the influx of guests who do not attend the Halloween Party.

Thanks, Sherry and Cheshirecatty! I don't think we will do the Halloween party, since that will be our first day there and the kids will probably be tired.

Thinking of doing the three day, one park per day. DCA on Tuesday (to avoid party and DCA MMs), and DL on Wednesday and Thursday with a MM on Thursday.

Thanks for the semi-reassurance. I am sure that it will be great and my kids will love it no matter what! I'll be watching this post and probably chiming in with lots of questions!

 

[Amilo]

Hi I'm new and so excited I found this forum! I have a solo disneyland trip booked Oct 5-11. 6 nights @ GCH & 5 day park hopper. The past few times I've done wdw and dlr the ppl I was with took over. Looking forward to going at my pace and doing and seeing the things I usually miss. What are people's must eat restaurants? Im planning on blue bayou for sure but haven't decided beyond that. Looking forward to reading about all of your trips!

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Hi I'm new and so excited I found this forum! I have a solo disneyland trip booked Oct 5-11. 6 nights @ GCH & 5 day park hopper. The past few times I've done wdw and dlr the ppl I was with took over. Looking forward to going at my pace and doing and seeing the things I usually miss. What are people's must eat restaurants? Im planning on blue bayou for sure but haven't decided beyond that. Looking forward to reading about all of your trips!

"Hello", and "Welcome" to the Disboards!!!

How fun to have a trip planned for Halloween Time, and the ability to go at your own pace----You will love it!

We'll be there that exact same week, and can hardly wait!

Stay tuned into Sherry's Halloween Time thread---it is fantastic---so much info., and so many beautiful pictures!

Have fun planning!!!!

 

[Amilo]

"Hello", and "Welcome" to the Disboards!!!

How fun to have a trip planned for Halloween Time, and the ability to go at your own pace----You will love it!

We'll be there that exact same week, and can hardly wait!

Stay tuned into Sherry's Halloween Time thread---it is fantastic---so much info., and so many beautiful pictures!

Have fun planning!!!!

Thanks! I will definitely check that out!

 

[DenaRox]

Look at all the new people!!!

A big welcome to meredith55, hellosue, Thumperears, BieberFever, cinderbellasmom and Amilo so happy to have more people to share the Disney Addiction with Only you guys truly understand what it means to say I LOVE Disney!!

Dena- we changed our hotel from the GCH to DLH super excited!! Can you please update my name on the list of everyone's name? thank you!!

I am so glad to see this group really taking off. We are all very lucky to have such pros like Cheshirecatty and Sherry E to help us plan the very best vacations I have updated the check-in list to this point, so if I somehow missed your info or made an error please let me know.

Dena- we changed our hotel from the GCH to DLH super excited!! Can you please update my name on the list of everyone's name? thank you!!

Done

Hi DenaRox! I am so glad you started this! Our trip is October 11-18 and we are staying at the HOJO. It will be DH, myself, my Mom and DD6 and DD5. We are flying in from Seattle as we got a great deal with Virgin America. Even with taking the ferry, driving and 1 night at a hotel in Seattle we are still way ahead. DD,s don't know yet but will tell them once we get closer to October. I know that it will be very busy that week but that's OK! It is the only week we can go. I am so excited and am constantly on the internet reading!
Thanks again!

you're welcome! Thank you for being a part of it and sharing the planning joy!

 

[silver236]

Me the DW, DD (9), and DS (7) will be staying at the DLH on the 14th - 18th. WDW vets taking our first trip out west as a family.

 

[DenaRox]

Me the DW, DD (9), and DS (7) will be staying at the DLH on the 14th - 18th. WDW vets taking our first trip out west as a family.

Welcome! I have added you to the check-in seems to me there are quite a few 1st timers going this October! Glad i'm not alone

 

[cinderbellasmom]

Look at all the new people!!!

A big welcome to meredith55, hellosue, Thumperears, BieberFever, cinderbellasmom and Amilo so happy to have more people to share the Disney Addiction with Only you guys truly understand what it means to say I LOVE Disney!!

I am so glad to see this group really taking off. We are all very lucky to have such pros like Cheshirecatty and Sherry E to help us plan the very best vacations I have updated the check-in list to this point, so if I somehow missed your info or made an error please let me know.

Done

you're welcome! Thank you for being a part of it and sharing the planning joy!

Thanks for the add DenaRox!