HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread- 9/14-10/31; Mickey's Halloween Party starts 9/28!

[briggscreek]

We were planning to be at the parks from September 23-26, I was hoping that there may be less crowds by going before the Halloween party started. I noticed that most of the nearby hotels are already booked for our dates though, is there something I don't know? Crowds are a big deal for us, we usually go the week after Thanksgiving and it's great. I would love to see the park at Halloweentime, but if it's going to be really crowded, we'll pick another time.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i don't think it will be to busy you have to remember not only are Halloween party's going on first week but also gay days, but your dates should be safe. Have you tried quality inn? desert inn? or hojos? make sure to call in house reservations not just online you can get good deals.

 

[dhorner233]

We were planning to be at the parks from September 23-26, I was hoping that there may be less crowds by going before the Halloween party started. I noticed that most of the nearby hotels are already booked for our dates though, is there something I don't know? Crowds are a big deal for us, we usually go the week after Thanksgiving and it's great. I would love to see the park at Halloweentime, but if it's going to be really crowded, we'll pick another time.

Touringplans.com gives you day by day crowd expectations on a scale from 1-10. That's how I plan my trips!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I called back to ask the few questions about the tour.
1. 12-15 ppl per tour normally
2. if you are doing the tour+party together they will have the party tickets available with it (even if the normal tickets are sold out)
3 for any tour that includes the parade seating or fireworks or both, you are sat near small world, or in front of the castle. They try to get you in the best seats available to see that parade or fireworks. (cm allow you to stay sitting to watch the fireworks just like with Fantasmic after a parade.

 

[chrissiecutie]

Touringplans.com gives you day by day crowd expectations on a scale from 1-10. That's how I plan my trips!

I've heard touring plans isn't very accurate when it comes to DLR.

 

[briggscreek]

i don't think it will be to busy you have to remember not only are Halloween party's going on first week but also gay days, but your dates should be safe. Have you tried quality inn? desert inn? or hojos? make sure to call in house reservations not just online you can get good deals.

I actually had made reservations at the BWPPI a while ago, but I was just checking packages and they were all booked for our dates. Tried Stovall's and hojos too, also checked on their websites. Seems like it's early for them all to be booked up already! And I let my subscription to touringplans expire, I'm not sure how accurate they'll be after carsland opening anyway... We'll keep our dates for now, but maybe change to our regular week after Thanksgiving later, DH and I just can't handle crowds well at all!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

So, never mind, everyone. Forget that I said anything about the Big Thunder Ranch/Halloween Round-Up area. It's really not a good spot at all, so just avoid it at all costs!

ty we never go there we went there at christmas time to meet santa once and that was a cool thing but that place always gets skipped for us. We will try stop by for trick treating

I have spirited away this bit of information.
Corinna

no no its not true...remember??? you are now being hypnotized...stay away at alllllll cost!!! nothing to see here...move alongggggg....

I called back to ask the few questions about the tour.
1. 12-15 ppl per tour normally
2. if you are doing the tour+party together they will have the party tickets available with it (even if the normal tickets are sold out)
3 for any tour that includes the parade seating or fireworks or both, you are sat near small world, or in front of the castle. They try to get you in the best seats available to see that parade or fireworks. (cm allow you to stay sitting to watch the fireworks just like with Fantasmic after a parade.

i did the tour a couple years back and I had a blast!! personally i dont even know if they offered the tour/party combo when I did it...although even if they had I wouldnt have done it on the same day...mainly due to it being at night and i want to enjoy both experiences equally...but thats just me..its an awesome tour tho

I've heard touring plans isn't very accurate when it comes to DLR.

that would be correct...for wdw its very good..almost eerily accurate but DL is a whole other story...

I actually had made reservations at the BWPPI a while ago, but I was just checking packages and they were all booked for our dates. Tried Stovall's and hojos too, also checked on their websites. Seems like it's early for them all to be booked up already!

with the popularity increase over the years for the party, that honestly doesnt surprise me at all...

 

[Girimama33]

I bought an AP that I am planning on activating during our October trip. We also want to go to the HP on 10/23. I have been worried I will not get the AP advance purchase time/price since it is not activated. I also was not sure if they would offer other discounts to Disney Visa holders (which we have) or DVC members.
I decided to call Disneyland's AP line to get some answers if possible to these questions...
I spoke with a very nice CM, named Kristin. I asked about purchasing at the AP rate on the 9th with my pass not being activated. She seemed to think I would be able to do this on the 9th even with the pass not being activated. I also asked her about the Disney Visa, and if a discount will be offered with them when the tickets go on sale to the general public. Kristin told me that I have a Disney Visa card, I could purchase the tickets NOW at the AP advance purchase rates. She said they have been available for purchase for a few days. I also inquired about DVC members, and she said they get the same deal as Disney Visa members....
This made my day!
As soon as I get home and have my Visa #, I am buying HP tickets.
~ Cross posting this on some other threads where this info may be helpful ~

 

[JadeDarkstar]

yes and now they have the tour at 3pm not 5pm on party days so you wont miss any of the party when your on the tour at least thats what i was told when called few days ago

 

[Girimama33]

yes and now they have the tour at 3pm not 5pm on party days so you wont miss any of the party when your on the tour at least thats what i was told when called few days ago

Good ~ I knew they did the tours during non-party hours....now you can maximize that time.

 

[briggscreek]

with the popularity increase over the years for the party, that honestly doesnt surprise me at all...

But we're leaving before the parties even start, I figured that would make for smaller crowds, but maybe not!

 

[laura&fam]

Thank you mvf-m11c for the link to last year's info. I had seen that before but this time I bookmarked it so I don't loose it.

The fireworks pictures are great Elk Grove Chris! It does look worth it, especially since we won't be there Saturday or Sunday. Looks like Fantasmic! and the Remember Dreams Come True fireworks are both out. I should at least be able to see World of Color though and I've never seen that. Plus the whole Halloween decor and Party is all new for me. I'm getting really excited!

 

[I❤MICKEY]

Yahoo. Once I make reservations our vacation becomes "real". Thanks to the DIS insider information I was even able to pre-purchase my Mickey's Halloween Party tix. Can't wait to experience another season at DL and see Carsland for the first time.

Now to decide on costumes for the kids...

 

[disneychrista]

Now to decide on costumes for the kids...

And for yourself

 

[lorieintucson]

we have our Costco package for the FFI booked for oct-10-14 and MHP tickets purchased for Oct 12! We're so excited for our first halloween visit!

Because this will be a bit of a push to keep the kiddos (5&6) going into the night, we'll be going back to the hotel for naps i think in the afternoon--and of course to get in costumes for MHP.

on 10/12 the start time for the party is 7 p.m., so does that mean that we can come back into the park with our costumes on in that 3-hr window before the party starts? We will probably want to get dinner and before the party and want to stay put.

also, as far as candy bags go...should we bring our own? do they provide them? are there usually really cool ones to purchase?

TIA for the advice!

 

[dhorner233]

You can get in early with your costumes on and they will give you small bags for candy.

Does anyone have pictures of costumes they have worn in the past so I can get some ideas?

 

[disneychrista]

on 10/12 the start time for the party is 7 p.m., so does that mean that we can come back into the park with our costumes on in that 3-hr window before the party starts? We will probably want to get dinner and before the party and want to stay put.

Yes from 4pm on you will be able to enter, as a party guest. So costumes are okay. We got there last year just after 4pm dressed for the party.

also, as far as candy bags go...should we bring our own? do they provide them? are there usually really cool ones to purchase?

You can bring your own. They do provide you a small one (the size of a standard gift bag). And they have ones you can buy.

 

[Sherry E]

we have our Costco package for the FFI booked for oct-10-14 and MHP tickets purchased for Oct 12! We're so excited for our first halloween visit!

Because this will be a bit of a push to keep the kiddos (5&6) going into the night, we'll be going back to the hotel for naps i think in the afternoon--and of course to get in costumes for MHP.

on 10/12 the start time for the party is 7 p.m., so does that mean that we can come back into the park with our costumes on in that 3-hr window before the party starts? We will probably want to get dinner and before the party and want to stay put.

also, as far as candy bags go...should we bring our own? do they provide them? are there usually really cool ones to purchase?

TIA for the advice!

lorieintucson -

Yes, you'll be able to enter Disneyland (not California Adventure) in costume at 4 p.m. on 10/12 (and on any day when the party begins at 7 p.m.)!

You will get some rather flimsy plastic bags when you get your wrist band at the entrance to DL. They are okay if you don't plan on stopping at many treat stations, but most people agree that these bags don't hold much. We went to every treat trail and every treat station except one (the one in the French Market), and the plastic bag they gave out would not have held all the candy I collected!

So I bought this tote bag at one of the shops - it twinkles, too (you press a button and the little lights start blinking!) - and I saw a lot of people with this bag:

This bag was also popular. I saw many people carrying it - but I didn't like it because it was shiny and cheap-looking in person:

Or you can get these buckets:

There were both popcorn buckets and lanterns being sold that looked like Ghost Mickey, so I suppose you could always empty out the popcorn and thrown in some candy:

 

[forevercruising]

Hi, Sherry!

I love the bag you chose to purchase. Do you recall what its cost was?

Thanks!

 

[Sherry E]

Hi, Sherry!

I love the bag you chose to purchase. Do you recall what its cost was?

Thanks!

forevercruising -

Hi there!

Thank you - I love that bag too! In fact, I first saw the green/black/twinkly bag on the first day of Halloween Time last year (which was 9/16/11), and then when I wanted to buy it on my Halloween Party day (which was 10/3/11), I couldn't find it anywhere. I looked in many shops for it and it was nowhere...but I saw the shiny orange bag all over the place. I didn't want to buy the orange bag if I could avoid it, even though it would do the trick in a pinch if I had to get it.

Finally, much later in the afternoon on 10/3, a shop on Main Street put out a supply of the green & black bags, thank goodness! Just in time for the party!

Anyway, I still have my receipt around here somewhere, which I will have to find, but I used my Annual Pass discount and got 20% off on the bag. So it ended up being under $10 after the discount, if I recall correctly. Without that discount it still wouldn't have been too expensive. I will look for the receipt with the exact price.


Edited to Add: The green/black/twinkly bag was $9.95 before any tax or AP discounts! The discount I got was 20% off of the $9.95, and then tax added in.

The orange bag was, I think, about $5.00 before discounts!