To a place perhaps you have seen in your dreams *UPDATED 05/19*

[Velvetia]

Hi all Disboarders - I am a newbie and I'm just starting to plan a trip for mid October for myself, DM , DGranny: DS (7) and DS (5)

We are coming from Scotland, UK and are hoping to do both Disney Parks (loads!) , Universal Studios and a Mickey's Halloween Party during our stay. Can't wait til they release the dates for the MHPs... !

We all went to WDW last year and had the best holiday ever! Hubby is not a Disney fan so won't be accompanying us! His loss . DG has been to DL the most recently out of all of us, in 2002. Last time I was there was 1993, and neither DS has been to DL before...

better get my planning ears on!! Any tips gratefully received .

 

[DisneytheKid]

Hello! Glad to be the first to post on your PTR . I dont have anywhere near the knowledge of some of the people on this board but if you have some questions I'll try to help!

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

Hi there!

I am joining in the fun!
We have something in common....... we are both going to Disneyland in October and my mother inlaw is from Scotland, Glasgow in fact!

I too am waiting patiently for the Halloween party dates Let's hope it's not too much longer!

You will find loads of information around these parts and if you are looking for Halloween information, be sure to check out the Halloween Super thread. Loads of good stuff there plus pictures too to get us all excited!

 

[Velvetia]

Hey Minnie Sue Oz!

I read through your 'Pumpkin' trip report just yesterday! Got me so excited for October...

Your pictures, and those in the Halloween Superthread of Halloween-time Disneyland look just brilliant. I love Nightmare Before Christmas, so I can't wait to ride the Haunted Holiday Mansion, and maybe even get to meet Jack and Sally - fingers crossed they will be there this year! And so hoping they do the coffin popcorn...

DS (5) is nuts about Cars so I think much of our holiday may well be spent in Radiator Springs...hoping the crazy queues will have died down a bit by then...

Another newbie question - how do I insert photos in to the threads? Can anyone advise? Thanks.

 

[Velvetia]

Hello! Glad to be the first to post on your PTR . I dont have anywhere near the knowledge of some of the people on this board but if you have some questions I'll try to help!

Thank you DisneytheKid!

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

Where about do they officially release the dates for the Halloween party? Just asking 'cause I was on touringplans.com making a draft personalized touring plan for this year on the dates I want to go next year (If that makes sense :s) And on some days it popped up with the Halloween party to notify me that the parks would be closing early, would these be the actual dates or estimates from last year? Maybe something to check out

 

[Velvetia]

Where about do they officially release the dates for the Halloween party? Just asking 'cause I was on touringplans.com making a draft personalized touring plan for this year on the dates I want to go next year (If that makes sense :s) And on some days it popped up with the Halloween party to notify me that the parks would be closing early, would these be the actual dates or estimates from last year? Maybe something to check out

I think they normally release the dates start of June (is that right Disboarders?) but this year I guess the Disney Folk have been quite busy with the work at DCA, so many many folk are waiting on those dates...maybe Touring Plans knows something we don't...

 

[Lucille1963]

How long are you going to be at Disneyland?

Here's a link that should help you post photos!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1359157

 

[Velvetia]

Ok - going to try to post a pic now, let's see if it works...

 

[Velvetia]

Yay - it worked!

Time for introductions:

So here's the Disney fans of our family, and who are going to go 'guising' at Mickey's Halloween Party in October - cannot wait!

There's me (Favourite Disney things are Ariel, Aladdin, Jack Skellington and Star Wars)

Disney Granny (loves Peter Pan, Lion King, Aladdin...Phineas and Ferb give her the creeps...)

DS (7) (loves Phineas and Ferb - sorry DG - Star Wars and Pirates)

DS (5) (love, love, loves Lightening McQueen)

In the pic above it was the first day of our WDW holiday last July, at Animal Kingdom, meeting Safari Goofy. Here's a couple more of the kids from that trip...

We booked our flights today, so I'm working on the trip plan - I'll post up soon what I've come up with and see what all the DLR experts think...

 

[Velvetia]

So now the dates for Mickey's Halloween Party are out, I'm torn between two dates. I've heard that the Friday night ones are busier - is that true? I'd rather go on a quieter night if I had the choice.

I think we will probably go for the earlier one anyways, as it's nearer the start of our holiday so we should theoretically have loads of energy and be able to last until 11pm that night...

Any advice gladly received...

 

[Velvetia]

How long are you going to be at Disneyland?

Here's a link that should help you post photos!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1359157

Hi Lucille, thanks for the information about posting photos - I managed it We're going to be staying 7 nights, so I'm hoping that will be plenty time to see the two parks and then Universal Studios and Knotts Berry Farm for one day each, in a quite laid-back way...

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

Looking foward to reading your TR when you get back! As for the Friday nights being busier, I would immagine they would be. I've never been to Disneyland during Halloween, but when we were their in April the Friday's, Saturday's and Sunday's were definately the busiest. So I would reccomend the Monday. Any disers out there with any ideas?

 

[Velvetia]

I just purchased the Photopass+ - such a great deal. We did loads of photopass magic shots when we were at WDW last year, so I'm hoping we can meet some friendly photopass photographers at DL in October and get some of those shots - does anyone know if they do the friendly ghosts magic shot at DL at Halloween?

We are going to book character meals at Ariel's Grotto and Plaza Inn too, so it's brilliant that we'll get those photos put on the photopass+ too!

Can't quite get used to the idea that I haven't booked these yet!! we are way over the 180 days that I had to make ADR bookings at WDW. Feel like I'm twiddling my thumbs a bit, waiting for the 60 days time to come to make reservations ...who said OCD?

I started making the kids' autograph books this week as I picked up some bargain sale-priced photo albums - I've printed out some autograph pages from the disboard here (thank you arty people who have created them!).

We did the same last year and the characters that we met really liked signing their own photos. This year I have printed them out as 4"x6" non-glossy photos and loaded them up in the small photo albums, one for each of the kids - don't know how many autographs we'll get but we'll at least get some princesses and some characters at Minnie and friends' breakfast. I'm hoping we can meet Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella too - maybe at the trick or treat party and DS would love to meet Captain Hook!

Here's the front:

We've decided we're going to go to the Monday night Trick or Treat Party...I'll get a plan put up here soon, so you guys can give me critique and advice...

101 days to go...

 

[Velvetia]

So here's an initial plan of our first three days. We're going to stick to one park a day mostly, and one area at a time rather that doing the criss-crossing of parks and lands.

Day one

Arrive pm, check into hotel and then go to Downtown Disney – get some dinner there, earlyish night

Day two – DCA

Arrive in time for rope drop
Carsland first – Get FPs for RSR / ride RSR if poss standby/ ride Luigi’s/ Tractors/ meet Lightening and Mater
GET FPs for WOC,
Get FPs for Soarin if poss
Go to first showing of Aladdin (11.55 – check times guide)
Lunch at Ariel’s Grotto
Ride Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Return to hotel for afternoon nap
Head back to DCA for Pixar Pals parade (17.00 check times guide)
Ride Monster’s Inc[/B]
Go to Disney Animation
Dinner – counter service or WOC lunch boxes (yet to decide whether to do these)
Carsland to ride RSR with FPs (in the dark if poss)
Head to Golden State area
Ride Soarin with FPs from earlier
Ride some of the rides around here
Get places for WOC

Day three - DL

Arrive in time for rope drop and get FPs for Star Tours
Head to Fantasyland for Peter Pan and any other rides we can fit in
When ToonTown opens (10am?) Get FP for Roger Rabbit
Wait to meet Merida (11am check times guide)
Some more rides in Fantasyland and Roger Rabbit
Train round most of the park to New Orleans Square
Get FPs for Indiana Jones
Ride Pirates of the Caribbean
Lunch at Blue Bayou
Dole Whips for pudding from Enchanted Tiki Rooms
Head over to Tomorrowland to ride Star Tours with FPs
Head back to hotel for nap
Halloween party in the evening

ok - that's it for now, what d'yall think?

100 days to go...

 

[Velvetia]

Day three – Universal

A take it easy day - a lie-in then head to Universal Studios.

Ride Transformers and Jurassic Park and Studio Backlot Tour

as long as we can fit in these three things we'll all be happy - we'll just take the rest as it comes here today...

Then return for:
Dinner somewhere in DTD

Day four - DL

Arrive in time for rope drop and get FPs for Space Mountain
Stay in Tomorrowland for Star Tours, BLAB and any other rides we can fit in before attending:
Jedi Training Academy
Head to River Belle Terrace for lunch
Get FP for BTMR when possible
Ride Pirates of the Caribbean Winnie the Pooh/ Haunted Mansion
Head back to hotel for nap

What d'yall thing of it so far? Any recommendations gratefully received...

 

[AuntieKels]

I love that you are thinking about all the attractions you want to see and planning what is important to your party!

I have a logistics question for you - How are your kiddo's going to have characters sign the autograph book when the paper is inside the plastic page? I loved the idea and yours look so cute! I'd love to do that for my nieces if it works well!

 

[Velvetia]

I love that you are thinking about all the attractions you want to see and planning what is important to your party!

I have a logistics question for you - How are your kiddo's going to have characters sign the autograph book when the paper is inside the plastic page? I loved the idea and yours look so cute! I'd love to do that for my nieces if it works well!

Hi AuntieKels - the photo albums I got are the kind where you can slide the photo out. So, you can give the photo to the character to sign and then put it back in the album. It helps if the album is hard backed too, so you can give it to the character with the photo on the top of it, so they have something to lean on whilst they sign their name...hope all that makes sense.

 

[Velvetia]

So - I've got a bit more of the organising done - I've received our PhotoPass+ in the post and I've purchased our Mickey's Halloween Party tickets online which was super easy!

We've been thinking about who we'd all like to dress up as for the party - Granny wants to go as a pirate wench (and try to meet Captain Jack for a photo), DS7 thinks he wants to go as Jack Skellington, DS5 is certain he wants to go as Lightening McQueen and I'm thinking of going as Princess Jasmine...so... we'll be a kind of odd assortment of characters .

Lightening McQueen I'm not sure how we'll do, but I think you can get bought costumes of a Lightening Racing Driver so although I thought we'd make our own costumes, we might just get one of those. I think a Jack Skellington costume will be quite easy to do, DS7 already has an old suit that I can alter and 'pinstripe'. We have heaps of piratey things from when the kids did the Pirates League last year at WDW (it was awesome - I highly recommend it) so that should be covered, and I might just join Granny as a pirate wench, we'll see...

The kids can't believe that you just get given candy for saying trick or treat - here in Scotland when you trick or treat, you have to do a little party piece like sing a song or say a poem before you get given your goodies! However, I've told them that's not needed at MHP - it would really hold up the line if every kid had to do that!!!

We've also had a change of heart about going to Knotts Berry Farm - as I think the kids would get much more fun out of going to Sea World. I've just looked it up and unfortunately for us you have to be 10 years old to swim with the dolphins which is such a shame, my DS7 would have loved that - ah well just means we'll have to go back when he's 10 !!!

I'm looking into the SoCal City Pass which gives 3 day park hopper for Disney and a day each at Universal and Sea World, but I think 3 days at Disney won't be enough for us - does anyone have any experience or advice about whether you can upgrade this Pass for more days?? Or if not any suggestions on what I should do - ideally I'd like 5 days at Disney...any suggestions gratefully received...

I am still waiting (im)patiently for the dining reservations time to open up, I know we are definitely going to do Ariel's, Minnie, Blue Bayou and considering doing the Fantasmic dessert package and the WOC CC package...

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

We've also had a change of heart about going to Knotts Berry Farm - as I think the kids would get much more fun out of going to Sea World. I've just looked it up and unfortunately for us you have to be 10 years old to swim with the dolphins which is such a shame, my DS7 would have loved that - ah well just means we'll have to go back when he's 10 !!!

Joining in on your PTR!

We were at San Diego's SeaWorld in June and had a great time. We watched one of the Dolphin demonstrations (free!) where trainers would go through behaviors and tricks. It also provided plenty of opportunities for our kids to interact with the dolphins where they got to pet a dolphin. DD5 also got to feed one of the dolphin an ice cube and the trainer taught her the hand signal to make a dolphin squeal. She loved it. Just try to position yourself at one of the feeding stations - look for the silver "mailboxes" with a platform.