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

[SkaBerrieCake]

We're so excited! We're at the DLH from October 7th to the 13th

 

[figment_jii]

I also can't wait for HalloweenTime! I don't have dates planned yet, but that's because it depends on when the first MHP occurs...I'm still holding out hope that the parties will remain in Disneyland!

My main concern is - when I last attended a party in Sept '14 the fireworks had to be shut down early due to winds and that also happened on another night (non-party night) as well at that time of year. I am tempted to get tickets for 2 parties just to try and make sure we don't miss out. I do know there is no way to plan for firework cancellations ahead of time but as this is going to be our last trip for several years at least I am tempted to do it just in case - what do you think?

As others have said, it's really hit or miss regarding fireworks. Two parties gives you either a fall back night or a second chance to see the fireworks.

I had previously read about some people attending multiple parties and I guess I'm just curious as to why? "wasn't able to do everything by going to only one party" - was this rides, M & G's or other stuff.

I've done two parties once because I was there for enough nights and partially because there isn't enough time to do everything in a single party (if you mean all character meet and greets, the parade, fireworks, trick-or-treating, shows, attractions, etc.). I think you can get a lot done in a single party, but there is always some trade-offs.

Am I correct in remembering that there is no Fantasmic showing on MHP nights?

Correct, no F! and no non-MHP fireworks on MHP nights.

Is it overkill for me to book the two parties do you think or worthwhile?

If you have the budget, I'd say go for it! My family always does two MNSSHP when we're in FL and if were down in DLR for a long enough period to span two MHP, we'd probably do two of those as well.

 

[GenGen22]

We are planning to go 10/19-10/22 hoping for a party on 10/20 as this is usually when we go. This will be our 4th year in a row as we're completely in love with Halloweentime. Like Figment I am also hoping they keep the parties in DL as opposed to CDL.

 

[boggerbret]

We will be there oct-8th-15th! I hope there is a Party one of those nights

 

[BecAus]

Thanks so much to everyone for their very helpful replies to my post. It has really helped cement my decision on what we will do.
I think if MHP's are at Disneyland (and I so hope they are!!!) we will get tickets for 2 parties - the Friday and Monday nights of our trip.
If the party does move to DCA (please no......!!) however, I would probably only do the one.
I know people say it's not worth if for the candy, you could go get a big bag at the $2 shop!, but my son will really love the trick or treating aspect of the party - it's not something we really do here in Oz.
I didn't do so many rides at the party last time and I think I only did one M&G. It was with Mickey and Minnie towards the end of the night and it was a 3/4-1hr wait!
I had met Jack and Sally earlier in the day before the party (I have to confess I didn't actually know who they were but people were clearly keen to get a photo with them so I did too!)
Just the atmosphere of the party was great though with all the costumes and entertainment and it is after all the main reason for the trip this time.
I've had a rethink on our budget - I had planned on $100/day budget for the two of us which is a little on the low end. We will share / split quite a few meals though and we don't buy a lot of souvenirs so that should be ok but we also want to do the Blue Bayou Fantasmic package (if offered again), most likely the WOC Dessert Party again and the 2 MHP's so I am going to allocate some extra budget for those things - we won't be back for a long time I don't think so we may as well do it right. We've been each year since our first trip in 2012 (supposedly our once in a lifetime once only trip but I definitely caught the D/L bug!) and I went twice in 2014 when I flew from NY just to visit D/L at Halloween but I have no interest in SWL or the craziness that will likely come with it so I'm not sure when we will return after this.
Thanks so much for your thoughts and hurry up September - can't wait!!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I went the first night of the party last year and might do the same again this year. I really liked the Halloween parade, and it will be interesting to see what changes they'll have this year.

 

[ONUAtrain]

Does anyone know when Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion go down to switch over to the Halloween theme? Ill be there the week after labor day and I'm hoping the rides will be open then!

 

[monorailrabbit]

Woohoo! Thanks for starting the thread! It will be our fist Halloweentime visit to DLR and we are SO excited! I'm hoping we get a party on our dates (10/7-10/10). I guess I am hoping the party stays in DL, but I think a Halloween WOC could be super cool! What characters can you meet at the party? We've done MNSSHP at WDW and I can't wait to see how these compare!

 

[figment_jii]

Does anyone know when Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion go down to switch over to the Halloween theme? Ill be there the week after labor day and I'm hoping the rides will be open then!

They haven't yet announced the start date for HalloweenTime, which is usually when Space and HM re-open with their Halloween overlays. For the past few years, HalloweenTime has started on the Friday after Labor Day, but either that Friday or the next one are equally likely candidates this year. Haunted Mansion goes down for about 18-days, so it usually closes in mid-to-late August. Space only needs a few days, so it's been closing on the Tuesday before HalloweenTime starts. Last year, HM closed on August 22 and Space closed on September 6 (both re-opened on September 9, the start of HalloweenTime).

What characters can you meet at the party?

Last year, the guide map listed Disney Pirate Pals, Disney Princesses, Disney Villains, Friends from Aladdin, Jack Skellington & Sally, Mickey & Minnie, Toy Story Pals, Winnie the Pooh & Friends, and Star Wars Launch Bay as potential characters that you might be able to see.

My family also did both MHP and MNSSHP last year and it was fun to compare/contrast the parties. Both are a lot of fun, but are different enough to not feel like a repeat. Have a great time!

 

[monorailrabbit]

Last year, the guide map listed Disney Pirate Pals, Disney Princesses, Disney Villains, Friends from Aladdin, Jack Skellington & Sally, Mickey & Minnie, Toy Story Pals, Winnie the Pooh & Friends, and Star Wars Launch Bay as potential characters that you might be able to see.

My family also did both MHP and MNSSHP last year and it was fun to compare/contrast the parties. Both are a lot of fun, but are different enough to not feel like a repeat. Have a great time!

OOOH Villains!!! We were at the last MNSSHP where they still mingled after the castle show and we met Maleficent, Frollo, and Jafar (want to say in 2014?)- I was sad when they took those greets away. I hope we get lucky and catch a party in DL! These greets sound awesome! I can't wait for more details!

 

[oakleycat]

Last year we saw Mickey and Minnie and a bunch of villains for sure. They had three (rotating) villains set up in a row in front of the train station. We usually go to the first weekday party and the crowds are not bad at all. Last year we did not renew our passes and my SIL wanted to go on a Friday (still in September), so we hit DL right at 3, there were crowds until they kicked everyone out at party time and then the ride lines got much shorter!

 

[lcp9]

We are actually going to be there over Halloween and I'm debating on the party. Kids are 5, 3, 1 - anything past about 9pm will be wasted on them. Is it worth the extra money? And, it is crazy on actual Halloween? My husband will not tolerate paying an extra $100/person for craziness. haha.

 

[figment_jii]

That's a tough call, but generally feeling is that if you have to leave at 9:00 pm, you're going to miss out on a lot of the party. That means only three hours (assuming the Halloween night party starts at 6:00 pm because it's a Tuesday) to get things done. If the party schedule is the same from last year (and at this point, we don't really know anything), the first parade is at 8:30 pm, fireworks are at 9:30 pm, and the second parade was at 10:30 pm (I have the guide scanned from last year in this post, which has the schedule of events), which means you'd miss out on fireworks and the second parade. The start of the party is also when the trick-or-treat lines are the longest.

I went with kids in the same age range (5 and just about to be 3) a few years ago. The 5 year old had a blast, but she can be a night owl when she wants to be (normally asleep by 9:00 pm, but when at DLR, she lasts until midnight - she can outlast some of the adults). She loved the trick-or-treating, the characters, and the entertainment. Taking her to the party was worth the price, but it's because she had a really good time and made it until the end. The almost three year old enjoyed the trick-or-treating and the entertainment, but he fell asleep for the last 90 minutes of the party. So one adult had to stay with him while he slept in the stroller.

 

[Rabb it]

We are actually going to be there over Halloween and I'm debating on the party. Kids are 5, 3, 1 - anything past about 9pm will be wasted on them. Is it worth the extra money? And, it is crazy on actual Halloween? My husband will not tolerate paying an extra $100/person for craziness. haha.

Like figment said, you'll be missing fireworks if you leave at 9pm, and this the one of the main reasons I go to the Halloween Party every year. That being said, you can catch the Parade then leave maybe.. Photo ops with all the characters in their costumes is always a blast, watching the Cadaver Dans, getting buckets of candy.

I went on Halloween Night last year and it was like all the other nights of the Halloween Party. Since all of the parties normally sell out, and it's the same capacity at each night, I'm thinking it's the same. There are parts of the park that are less busy than others, and other parts that are a bit more busy, NOTHING like a normal day at the park though of course. Most of the rides themselves have no wait and all and you can walk right on.

 

[figment_jii]

Most of the rides themselves have no wait and all and you can walk right on.

Whenever I've been to the parties, the attraction lines eventually dissipated to near walk-on, but for the first hour or so of the party, there seemed to still be residual lines from the day guests in the park for at least the first hour. The 'prime' attraction times seemed to come after fireworks. Which meant that on nights when the party started at 7:00 pm, there was a little over two hours after the fireworks for trick-or-treating, characters, entertainment, and attractions. The 6:00 pm parties only have a little over one hour after fireworks (10:00 pm to 11:00 pm). So in that way, the parties that started earlier felt shorter even though the characters and trick-or-treating started at 6:00 pm. It's hard to explain, but it felt like those first two hours weren't as "efficient" as having two hours after fireworks to trick-or-treat, ride attractions, meet characters, etc.

 

[minnieralyks]

Thanks for creating a new thread! I was waiting for the old superthread to update, but am happy to see a whole new thread!

Although I have to say I'm getting a little anxiety reading the replies, because we don't have our dates yet!! We've been so busy with different trips here and there this year that I've almost forgot about Halloweentime at Disneyland... How that happened, I'll never know! I figure they'll release dates for the parties in a couple of weeks. Hopefully prices haven't gone up too much. Can't wait!!

 

[Jeff314]

I know they haven't released any party dates yet (still). Any guess as to when you might think they'll start the parties in September? Have a trip booked for sept 25-29 and hoping they start them before then, or during. Historically they start the last Friday of September. This year that's the day we leave sept 29 but seems like a late date to start the parties. Hoping sept 22!

 

[losfp]

I believe there is a period of time when Halloween season has officially begun, but before the parties begin. Is that correct? we're visiting this year between Sept 14-20 and while I'm not fussed about missing the parties (our last two visits have been Halloween), I would prefer the Halloween season to have officially started so there's less chance of extensive refurbs during our visit.

 

[figment_jii]

I'm also hoping that the first party will be on 9/22! Last year, the first party was on 9/23/16, which was the second to last Friday of September, so it has happened.

Yes, there has historically been a lag between the start of HalloweenTime and the first party. For the last few years (since 2010), it's been a two week lag. HalloweenTime has been starting in early-to-mid September (either the Friday after Labor Day or the second Friday after Labor Day) for the last several years.

So, while the past it not necessarily a good indicator of the future, let's hope they opt to start HalloweenTime as early as possible (so the Friday after Labor Day) and the first party is two weeks later!

 

[Vala]

The Villains meet last year was highly disappointing. It was one villain on each side and you had to choose. One villain per lining up only. Plus three of the villains were out during the day.

This unsurprisingly resulted in Maleficent (who was the only one not out during the day) having an even worse line than the years before while poor Cruella's line was dead.

It were only four villains, all females. Cruella, Evil Queen, Maleficent and Queen of Hearts. No Tremaine Family roaming, no guys. Nothing.