To Halloween or not to Halloween?

[Cate2020]

Ok guys! I need your thoughts and advice! My girlfriends and I are planning a trip to Disneyland in September. Originally we were thinking of going September 8th-11th but after looking into those dates a little more, it seems pretty likely that the Haunted Mansion and few other things will be closed for Halloween. It should be opened up the next week and all the Halloween stuff will be out so now we're thinking of going September 14th-17th.

I've never been to the park during Halloween time but I have been quite a few times during Christmas (I've been on the HMH more times than the regular one at this point) We were hopping to go to the park when there was no Holiday stuff going on, but I'd rather go when all the rides are open.

I know there is a Halloween super thread but it was a little overwhelming. What do you guys think from experience? How much in the park is different? Do they change the parades or anything? I really wasn't a fan of the Holiday world of color and I am looking forward to the 60th anniversary stuff so I would be disappointed if it was all over shadowed with Halloweeny stuff. Any thoughts? Thanks guys!!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

According to the Press Q&A after the 60th anniversary entertainment offerings announcement in Jan, holiday shows would not be running this year so that they can continue to run 60th anniversary shows. There is no official word on ticketed events at this point that I know of (like the Halloween party at DL that leads to early DL park closures some nights). There is also no word as to how much/if any holiday decoration will be going up in the parks.

To determine if the Halloween décor from previous years would be too much for you try simply googling "Disneyland Halloween" and then look at the images that pop up. It will give you an idea of how different/not different the park might(?) be to you.

 

[jina]

Re: Haunted Mansion, if you can go when it has the Nightmare before Christmas overlay I'd delay and do that - it runs from Sept through the end of the year. We went this past Christmas and LOVED it. I mean, despite having to leave the park at 10:30am each morning due to the crowds just getting to ride HM during that time was so cool - we did it twice! Then again the movie is one of DH's favorites so it was really exciting to see HM transformed that way and it was fun to ride HM which is already one of our favorites with a altered experience.

We have a 5YO who goes to bed @ 7pm so I can't comment on the special party nights and we've never actually been at DL during Halloween season so I can't comment on decorations either.

 

[figment_jii]

What do you guys think from experience? How much in the park is different? Do they change the parades or anything? I really wasn't a fan of the Holiday world of color and I am looking forward to the 60th anniversary stuff so I would be disappointed if it was all over shadowed with Halloweeny stuff. Any thoughts? Thanks guys!!!

No one really knows for sure how much of HalloweenTime will be impacted by the 60th anniversary at this point, but the current rumor/guess is that Mickey's Halloween Party will move over to DCA. That would (hopefully) mean an increase in the Halloween decor in DCA, as it has been pretty minimal in the past years. My guess is that HalloweenTime will start on September 12, but it could be anywhere from September 12 to 18. Overall, there wasn't a huge amount of Halloween decor in the parks on a daily basis (extra decor, projections, and effects were added on party nights). There is usually some Halloween decor scattered through DL (primarily in NOS, MS, and a little in FL) and very little in DCA (pretty much only the Mad T Party area had any last year). There was a special parade (Calvacade) and fireworks show for MHP, but on the normal days, the standard parade and fireworks (weekends only) were presented. I think we're going to have to wait for several more months before we know more about HalloweenTime at DLR this year.

 

[SMD]

Don't assume that other rides won't close for refurbs once HMH and Space open with their overlays. Sept and Oct there are always refurbs happening.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

Unfortunately I think I would pick the later dates so that more rides are open. I say unfortunately because I know how you feel regarding the HM overlay - I have only been able to go to the parks between October-December the past several years, so I'm over the Nightmare Before Christmas version of HM and haven't been able to ride the "regular" HM in what seems like forever. But there's always next time!

 

[Cate2020]

Thanks for the input everyone! I am really leaning towards the 14th-17th at this point. I think if there are some Halloween decorations around it won't be the end of the world. I'm just a little bummed that they start the HM holiday stuff so early!! It's cool and everything but I've already seen it a bunch. I'm hoping that @gottalovepluto is right and they focus more on the 60th anniversary stuff this year. When all is said and done, I'm still going to be at Disneyland with my best friends so it'll be awesome no matter what the decor

 

[DG24]

Could you go the week earlier. We go the last two weeks of Augusta nd finds tm s the best time off he year to go. I would think the first week of sept would be the same, kids all across America are back in school so very few families out then. I personally am not a halloween freak form he park, when we were there we did not like it. But saying that we are going to try to do the party thing this year for Halloween, where the kids can trick or treat and such but I hear it will be at DCA. I like the rides the way I remember them as a child, I hate change, I'm on ASD, one year we went and then ignites were on inside space mountain, that ride sucks when you can see what's coming, not scary or mind blowing at all, we road once, and never road again our trip. What a bummer.