2017 DISNEYLAND RESORT HALLOWEEN TIME / MICKEY'S HALLOWEEN PARTY THREAD!

[tjcrabb]

Is it worth buying MaxPass on a Friday party day between 4 & 7 (the three hours before the party starts) or will all of the rides already be booked for the whole time?

Just as a general reminder for those that are buying the MP just for photopass. That is included with the party ticket so not worth buying MP just for that

 

[seesclubhouse]

the MP is sooooooo worth it IMO makes things just more streamlined and easier especially in hot weather, I just got back from race week and it was like a 110 degrees everyday so the MP with my premier passport saved my skin from burning

 

[midnight star]

I was at a sold out party last year and I really enjoyed myself and found it to be crowded in the bottle neck spots (the entrance areas to tomorrow land and frontier land and on main street around parade and fireworks times) but otherwise not crowded looking at the park and experience as a whole. A friend from work was at the same party and said it wasn't fun, it was too crowded and it was her last party. Why the difference 1-expectations and 2-touring plans

1. I hit the treat trails only after the fireworks and there were only short lines that moved quickly.
2. I got my spot on the curb near the little Red Wagon a little less than an hour prior to the show and we ate dinner alfresco curbside so the wait didnt seem bad to me.
3. I used a blanket and a stroller strategically to help keep a space bubble around me while waiting for the parade. I didnt feel crowded at all.
4. I got there well before the toontown preparty to get my a couple of fab 5 in costume must do photos and my magic shots done so I didnt have to do them when all of the party goers were there (this only worked for me because I had an AP so I was able to enter early unlike people with just a party ticket)
5. We focused on rides quite a bit and they had very very short lines so we felt thrilled by that
6. We skipped the Halloween themed rides during the party because they tend to have a longer line during the party than during the rest of the day. I did HM and SMGG during the day on other park days,
7-the Most important-If I saw a crowd or a long line, I turned around, walked away and did something else and came back and checked on it later near park closing. (This will not work for characters FYI)

So if you adjust your touring style and expect to see crowds in the bottle necks and near parade routes and fireworks (sometimes very hectic crowds that I refused to trudge through) and have a plan to not let the crowded areas bother you or to avoid them as much as possible then you will think it was not crowded.

Ooo great info! From reading your info, and some info in an earlier post I wrote, I think the key thing for these parties is to listen to earlier party reports, have some what an idea of what you want to do, and just keep an open mind. I've only been to DL and DCA when it's super packed so in my mind I keep picturing crowds haha.

 

[pennym]

There will be crowds! The parties are very busy.

 

[gottalovepluto]

We're going on the 31st, and it's surprising to me it hasn't sold out yet! I mean...maybe the combo of $120 and a school night, but still. Usually when DL raises prices it doesn't deter anyone!

20% was extreme, even for Disney...

 

[lcp9]

I was at a sold out party last year and I really enjoyed myself and found it to be crowded in the bottle neck spots (the entrance areas to tomorrow land and frontier land and on main street around parade and fireworks times) but otherwise not crowded looking at the park and experience as a whole. A friend from work was at the same party and said it wasn't fun, it was too crowded and it was her last party. Why the difference 1-expectations and 2-touring plans

1. I hit the treat trails only after the fireworks and there were only short lines that moved quickly.
2. I got my spot on the curb near the little Red Wagon a little less than an hour prior to the show and we ate dinner alfresco curbside so the wait didnt seem bad to me.
3. I used a blanket and a stroller strategically to help keep a space bubble around me while waiting for the parade. I didnt feel crowded at all.
4. I got there well before the toontown preparty to get my a couple of fab 5 in costume must do photos and my magic shots done so I didnt have to do them when all of the party goers were there (this only worked for me because I had an AP so I was able to enter early unlike people with just a party ticket)
5. We focused on rides quite a bit and they had very very short lines so we felt thrilled by that
6. We skipped the Halloween themed rides during the party because they tend to have a longer line during the party than during the rest of the day. I did HM and SMGG during the day on other park days,
7-the Most important-If I saw a crowd or a long line, I turned around, walked away and did something else and came back and checked on it later near park closing. (This will not work for characters FYI)

So if you adjust your touring style and expect to see crowds in the bottle necks and near parade routes and fireworks (sometimes very hectic crowds that I refused to trudge through) and have a plan to not let the crowded areas bother you or to avoid them as much as possible then you will think it was not crowded.

Great tips! I think someone else asked this also - curious how early you got to the preparty. We have park tickets on party day also so we can go whenever. Also, are treat trails generally busiest at the beginning and/or are there some that are less busy? I'm sure my kids will be asleep in the stroller by 9 so I'm trying to figure out how to get candy, a couple characters, and some rides for them done before the parade.

 

[lcp9]

20% was extreme, even for Disney...

ha, true. I'm interested by the whole thing - demographic-wise, I wonder if more locals or non-locals go to parties? For locals, it's extra $$$$ on top of their AP which may deter them from parties, for non-locals, it may mean skipping a park day for a party instead. Either way it's always surprising just how many people are willing to pay $500+ for their family to go!

 

[figment_jii]

Great tips! I think someone else asked this also - curious how early you got to the preparty. We have park tickets on party day also so we can go whenever. Also, are treat trails generally busiest at the beginning and/or are there some that are less busy? I'm sure my kids will be asleep in the stroller by 9 so I'm trying to figure out how to get candy, a couple characters, and some rides for them done before the parade.

Assuming there is a pre-party (it has not been announced and there is no guarantee that there will be one), it has historically started one hour before the party. That's when they start letting guests into the pre-party area; you can line up before then, but they won't let you in until that point. In terms of the treat-trails, the lines are very long at the start of the party and get shorter as the night progresses. They do move fairly quickly, but I would wait to trick-or-treat until as late as you can. On the other hand, character lines generally remain long throughout the party.

 

[pblack]

ha, true. I'm interested by the whole thing - demographic-wise, I wonder if more locals or non-locals go to parties? For locals, it's extra $$$$ on top of their AP which may deter them from parties, for non-locals, it may mean skipping a park day for a party instead. Either way it's always surprising just how many people are willing to pay $500+ for their family to go!

I'm not technically "local" seeing as i'm in Northern CA with an AP. I've never been during Halloween and really wanted to experience a party and this decision was made before pricing ever came out. When I saw that the date we wanted was $105/pp with no AP discount I almost decided against buying them. But I was pretty much already set on wanting to experience it once so I still pulled the trigger and spent $210 on top of my AP. Luckily it's just my husband and I (no kids) so it was slightly better than the $500+ for people with kids.

 

[GenGen22]

ha, true. I'm interested by the whole thing - demographic-wise, I wonder if more locals or non-locals go to parties? For locals, it's extra $$$$ on top of their AP which may deter them from parties, for non-locals, it may mean skipping a park day for a party instead. Either way it's always surprising just how many people are willing to pay $500+ for their family to go!

Im not a local either. I am also from Northern CA like pblack and I also have an AP and bought the tickets that are $120/ea. We also planned in advance to go. I already had a deposit made on my hotel and flights purchased before dates/prices were announced. I wasn't about to cancel as we absolutely love MHP. For us it's not just about going to the parks its the party itself. Its too fun to miss. I don't buy multiple party tickets as that doesn't make sense for us as we do have AP's. But if we didn't have AP's I would consider a second part as opposed to a regular day pass. There are two people in our party.

 

[figment_jii]

Don't know why they didnt add this to the blog post today but it showed up on YouTube

Looks like they included it in today's Park Blog posting about HalloweenTime:
Oogie Boogie’s Spell Expands Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort

 

[midnight star]

ha, true. I'm interested by the whole thing - demographic-wise, I wonder if more locals or non-locals go to parties? For locals, it's extra $$$$ on top of their AP which may deter them from parties, for non-locals, it may mean skipping a park day for a party instead. Either way it's always surprising just how many people are willing to pay $500+ for their family to go!

I guess I would be considered a "local", as I live in LA. I do not have an annual pass because I don't have the time to dedicate in order to get my money's worth. When I attend the park, I usually go around Christmas (cooler weather). When I was growing up, I always went in the summer (ugh, so hot and miserable).

However, I planned on going to the party last year. Many of my co-workers, and family friends have attended and had a blast. So no matter what the price, I was going. I literally bought my tickets at midnight when they were released to the public lol. I'm just doing the party though, not regular admission since I've been to the park and will be back in the future.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Looks like they included it in today's Park Blog posting about HalloweenTime:
Oogie Boogie’s Spell Expands Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort

link is dead

 

[Kindermouse]

Excellent advice/info! What time did you get to the toontown preparty? I am going on a Friday night so that means the toontown preparty starts at 6pm, correct? I have an AP too.

The lines starts pretty early actually but for me it was time well spent because I didnt want to waste party time getting doing characters meets. The preparty is usually 1 hour before the party (though PP's are right it's not confirmed and Disney doesnt advertise this...not sure why but the fact that many dont know about it helps keep the character waits down). I got there 30 minutes early and I kind of felt like I wished I had been earlier-maybe an hour or 45 minutes early instead. The key is being one of the first to get in the line for characters here. DONT WASTE THE PREPARTY TIME ON THE HORRIFICALLY LONG TREAT TRAILS AT THE PREPARTY. I almost did that last year and a fellow Dis'er suggest I focus on character at the preparty and I was glad I did.

Also, are treat trails generally busiest at the beginning and/or are there some that are less busy? I'm sure my kids will be asleep in the stroller by 9 so I'm trying to figure out how to get candy, a couple characters, and some rides for them done before the parade.

They are MUCH busier at the beginning. I absolutely hear you about sleepy little one. that was actually why I brought the stroller to the party. My littlest one was a sleep any where when she's tired kind of gal and she slept through the fireworks in the stroller. but the big kids were still wide awake so we stayed and littlest one ended up waking up after a 40 minute nap and enjoying the rest of the party until nearly closing time.

Here we are-This (along with a Chip and Dale photo that I cant seem to find) is what we accomplished before the party even started. It made for a great party focusing our time on this with short waits/less crowds.



BTW I forgot to mention. It will seem VERY VERY CROWDED from 3-6 with both the day guests and party guests in the park together. I actually decided to arrive a bit later because of the main street crush that happens when soundsational crowds are on main street when the party goers first enter the park in a swarm. I also went through the regular turnstiles because the Party ticket entrance sucked. I got my wristband in the park from a CM walking right up with no wait.

 

[Geemo]

link is dead

You can see it here.

 

[mummabear]

At the airport! Mummabear and cubs (and Papabear for that matter) are on their way!

 

[rlp]

The lines starts pretty early actually but for me it was time well spent because I didnt want to waste party time getting doing characters meets. The preparty is usually 1 hour before the party (though PP's are right it's not confirmed and Disney doesnt advertise this...not sure why but the fact that many dont know about it helps keep the character waits down). I got there 30 minutes early and I kind of felt like I wished I had been earlier-maybe an hour or 45 minutes early instead. The key is being one of the first to get in the line for characters here. DONT WASTE THE PREPARTY TIME ON THE HORRIFICALLY LONG TREAT TRAILS AT THE PREPARTY. I almost did that last year and a fellow Dis'er suggest I focus on character at the preparty and I was glad I did.



They are MUCH busier at the beginning. I absolutely hear you about sleepy little one. that was actually why I brought the stroller to the party. My littlest one was a sleep any where when she's tired kind of gal and she slept through the fireworks in the stroller. but the big kids were still wide awake so we stayed and littlest one ended up waking up after a 40 minute nap and enjoying the rest of the party until nearly closing time.

Here we are-This (along with a Chip and Dale photo that I cant seem to find) is what we accomplished before the party even started. It made for a great party focusing our time on this with short waits/less crowds.

View attachment 267948 View attachment 267948 View attachment 267950 View attachment 267951 View attachment 267952

BTW I forgot to mention. It will seem VERY VERY CROWDED from 3-6 with both the day guests and party guests in the park together. I actually decided to arrive a bit later because of the main street crush that happens when soundsational crowds are on main street when the party goers first enter the park in a swarm. I also went through the regular turnstiles because the Party ticket entrance sucked. I got my wristband in the park from a CM walking right up with no wait.

What happy/fun photos!!! I hope my kids will want to do some Halloween character meet and greats. About how long did you stay in Toon town once things got rolling?

 

[rlp]

Question- Is the strategy for seeing the Halloween fireworks and parade differ much than other ones? If one wanted a bench seat that isn't used for VIPs, etc.. can kids stand on them? How soon would you have to claim one? Any tips on locations and when to get a spot would greatly be appreciated!!! I think I want to see both parade times during the party. Seeing the fireworks, parade and Dapper Dans are priority for me and then meeting characters followed by trick and treating/going on attractions. Sorry if this has been covered already in this thread. I have been reading this thread all along but don't remember if there was advice on the fireworks and parade.

 

[mom2rtk]

The lines starts pretty early actually but for me it was time well spent because I didnt want to waste party time getting doing characters meets. The preparty is usually 1 hour before the party (though PP's are right it's not confirmed and Disney doesnt advertise this...not sure why but the fact that many dont know about it helps keep the character waits down). I got there 30 minutes early and I kind of felt like I wished I had been earlier-maybe an hour or 45 minutes early instead. The key is being one of the first to get in the line for characters here. DONT WASTE THE PREPARTY TIME ON THE HORRIFICALLY LONG TREAT TRAILS AT THE PREPARTY. I almost did that last year and a fellow Dis'er suggest I focus on character at the preparty and I was glad I did.



They are MUCH busier at the beginning. I absolutely hear you about sleepy little one. that was actually why I brought the stroller to the party. My littlest one was a sleep any where when she's tired kind of gal and she slept through the fireworks in the stroller. but the big kids were still wide awake so we stayed and littlest one ended up waking up after a 40 minute nap and enjoying the rest of the party until nearly closing time.

Here we are-This (along with a Chip and Dale photo that I cant seem to find) is what we accomplished before the party even started. It made for a great party focusing our time on this with short waits/less crowds.

View attachment 267948 View attachment 267948 View attachment 267950 View attachment 267951 View attachment 267952

BTW I forgot to mention. It will seem VERY VERY CROWDED from 3-6 with both the day guests and party guests in the park together. I actually decided to arrive a bit later because of the main street crush that happens when soundsational crowds are on main street when the party goers first enter the park in a swarm. I also went through the regular turnstiles because the Party ticket entrance sucked. I got my wristband in the park from a CM walking right up with no wait.

Those are awesome! I'm so bummed Daisy wasn't there on our trip in 2016. What a great looking pair they are, and what a great looking group you are!

I highly recommend the pre-party, but encourage people to get in line early and know where the lines will form. I was shocked at the number of people who were there to wait in huge trick or treat lines! We didn't trick or treat until later in the evening when the lines cleared out.

The one down side of the pre-party though is that it precludes the chance of lining up early for one of the other high demand character meets that start at 7 (or 6 on weeknights). By the time we got to the Villains the line was already 45 minutes long. We actually did a second party when we went so chose to line up for the villains early and were the first group to meet them. It would have been nice to line up early for the party Mickey/Minnie though, as their line was 90 minutes long by the time we got there later in the evening.

So many choices, so little time!

 

[HydroGuy]

So I was looking into the Happiest Haunts Tour and the website finally seems to be up. I think they have changed the tour back to the same one it used to be as opposed to the one from last year. The tour last year did not seem to get very good reviews. The wording leads me to believe it has changed back. I hope so, I really enjoyed it and would like to do it this year.

Discover the stories and characters of Halloween in this bewitching 2-hour historical walking tour of Disneyland Park.

An Intriguing Journey

Brace yourself for gripping tales about spooks and spirits from regions beyond! Read More

Brace yourself for gripping tales about spooks and spirits from regions beyond! This year, the guided tour is going back to the roots of Halloween, sharing ghost stories around Disneyland Park, searching for treats, encountering tricks—and even visiting a character from the Haunted Mansion!
You’ll learn about pranksters, spirits, characters—and their creators— from The Haunted Mansion and films throughout the years. It’s frightful fun you’ll never forget!

Tour Details

• Daily tours are available September 15 through October 31, 2017.
• Tours begin at 4:00 PM
• Price is $85 plus tax for Guests ages 3 years of age and older—Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members receive a 15% discount.
• Separate theme park admission is required for all Disneyland Resort Tours and is not included in the tour price.
• A 15-Guest maximum is permitted per tour. Tours fill up quickly, so early booking is recommended.
• Please call (714) 781-TOUR (8687) to make reservations. Full payment is due at time of booking and is nonrefundable.
• All tour Guests will receive a delicious treat, special collectible pin and credential to commemorate the tour.

Can you tell what I have been doing today instead of working?

Any more info on the HH tour?

I have never done this tour and, from what I read, do not want to if it is like 2016 but I do want to if it is like previous years.