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

[midnight star]

Thank you everyone for all of the reviews and cool photos! Only 10 more days until my party!!!!!
Must. Act. Like. A. Grownup.

Previously I was only going to focus on rides, but I'm definately going to try and watch the fireworks. They look amazing!!!

Oh and a question, is anyone on this thread from the LA area? And if so, how was the traffic getting down to Anaheim? I'm planning on leaving at 2 to get there for 4.

 

[tjcrabb]

A somewhat random question but what do you guys do with the popcorn buckets when you get home? I know I could just set it up as décor but what else? I am trying to decide if I want to get an Oogie Boogie bucket. I am afraid that once I am home I will question why I bought it.

 

[figment_jii]

I do put mine out as a decoration. My favorites are out all year, others I rotate through depending on the season.

 

[Phlen]

First timer help! We're first timers to MHP and half of our party is experiencing their first DL trip altogether. I feel so confused about where to sit for the parade/fireworks. Save a place or don't, line up early or don't, if you do, people will still stand in front of you anyway, etc. I've tried to read through a lot of your posts but I don't understand half the shorthand used and I feel pretty confused. (I know there's a post for abbrevs but I haven't had time to sit down with both open and read through.) I know there's not a perfect answer but can someone please sum up the best advice to attempt a successful viewing of the parade and fireworks? We have 3 kids, ages 3, 5 & 6 and 6 adults. We'll be there with a sit and stand stroller. Which parade should we do? Where should we attempt to view from? Thank you so much in advance. (Btw, our party is tonight.)

 

[Linkura]

A somewhat random question but what do you guys do with the popcorn buckets when you get home? I know I could just set it up as décor but what else? I am trying to decide if I want to get an Oogie Boogie bucket. I am afraid that once I am home I will question why I bought it.

That's why I didn't buy one!

 

[figment_jii]

I honestly don't think there is any one "best" method to see both the parade and the fireworks. This is what I've done in the past...

First Parade: This one fills up the fastest, so if you want a front row spot, I would say you'd need to start thinking about staking out a spot at least 90 minutes in advance (I don't know this for sure). Personally, if you think your kids will make it, I would aim for the second parade. It's usually less busy.

Fireworks: I really like to watch from Main Street. I recommend either being between the Castle and Partner's Statue or on Main Street (from where the buildings start). Wherever you pick, make sure you have a good view of the left side of the castle. You really need to be able to see the area to the left of the third main turret and above the red line in the photo below. If you cannot see the area, then you'll miss out on the "orb", which is where they project Jack's face, Oogie, and other images.



If you're between the Castle and Statue, that's one of the "prime" spots and they fill up very early. I've never wanted to put that much time into waiting, so I don't really know how early you'll need to get there.

On Main Street, there are two options: you can follow the parade down from the Hub to whatever spot you want or wait somewhere in the crowd on Main Street and move into the street as soon as the parade passes. There isn't much time (~15 minutes) between the end of the parade on Main Street and the start of fireworks, so this tends to work pretty well. Last week, we followed the parade from the hub and then stopped when we got to the Camera Shop, in the middle of the street. There is really no way to know in advance if someone taller than you will end up in front, whether someone will put their child on their shoulders, or if someone will leave a balloon up. Unfortunately, those are just things that happen and there isn't really much that can be done.

Second Parade: The second parade tends to be less crowded than the first. We will often move to the curb immediately after fireworks ends and then wait for the second parade. We did go to the lockers before finding a spot last time and we were still able to find a curb spot on Main Street, but they were getting harder to find (Monday seemed busier than Friday). If you're willing to stand, there were plenty of second row spots even as the parade stepped off on Main Street. Fireworks end around 9:45 pm and the second parade steps off at 10:30 pm (Headless Horseman rides at 10:20 pm) from the Hub. So you'll be on the starting end of the parade.

That's my two cents about parades and fireworks viewing...

 

[ExcitedMama]

Thank you everyone for all of the reviews and cool photos! Only 10 more days until my party!!!!!
Must. Act. Like. A. Grownup.

Previously I was only going to focus on rides, but I'm definately going to try and watch the fireworks. They look amazing!!!

Oh and a question, is anyone on this thread from the LA area? And if so, how was the traffic getting down to Anaheim? I'm planning on leaving at 2 to get there for 4.

On Friday we went to LA and heading back to the DLH around 5 traffic was crazy. It was a MHP and it was absolutely packed trying to get back to the hotel. Lots of cars waiting to get in and park.

 

[rlp]

First timer help! We're first timers to MHP and half of our party is experiencing their first DL trip altogether. I feel so confused about where to sit for the parade/fireworks. Save a place or don't, line up early or don't, if you do, people will still stand in front of you anyway, etc. I've tried to read through a lot of your posts but I don't understand half the shorthand used and I feel pretty confused. (I know there's a post for abbrevs but I haven't had time to sit down with both open and read through.) I know there's not a perfect answer but can someone please sum up the best advice to attempt a successful viewing of the parade and fireworks? We have 3 kids, ages 3, 5 & 6 and 6 adults. We'll be there with a sit and stand stroller. Which parade should we do? Where should we attempt to view from? Thank you so much in advance. (Btw, our party is tonight.)

We were at this past Friday's party. I found a spot on Main Street about 90 minutes before the parade but I don't think I needed to be that early, maybe an hour if you want to sit on the curb. If you don't mind standing, you should be able to find a spot behind the first row who will sit during the parade, fairly easily. Maybe you can send a look out to where ever you want to view the parade every 15 minutes or so to see when it is filling up. We were on the right side as you are looking at the castle, near the hub. After the parade we moved a few feet into near the middle of the street to see the fireworks which worked well. I thought it was a very good view of the fireworks, castle projections and the orb as we didn't have any trees in our sight line. I think my daughter who is short (she is 11 and a bit shorter than average for her age) could see ok but she was grumpy and wouldn't talk to me so I am not sure of her experience. (An aside - my daughter was tired because we traveled that day from out of state and she said her feet hurt, she became very difficult and so she made the party less magical for me but the party was still amazing and I would pay to do it again.) I have seen the Remember Dreams Come True fireworks right in front of the castle and while a good view, you do have to secure those spots much earlier than most on Main Street, you won't be able to see the parade very well and I think the view is just as good or nearly as good as on the other side of the hub (where Main Street meets the hub). For the second parade we probably got our spot 30 minutes before and had a good view. We were first/second row (one on the curb and 2 sitting behind). I really liked watching the parade from Main Street because of the projections on the buildings and Main Street is one of my favorite parts of Disneyland. I stressed about finding the best spot also, but don't worry too much, mostly pay attention to where trees might block your view and make sure you will be in a spot so you can see the orb, I thought that part was awesome!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I just picked up my Disney Villians Lularoe leggings! Look what I got!!!! Squeeeee!!!!

 

[figment_jii]

For those that are considering the Mickey's "Spook-Tacular" Dinner package at the Blue Bayou, this is the menu:

 

[Priory]

A somewhat random question but what do you guys do with the popcorn buckets when you get home? I know I could just set it up as décor but what else? I am trying to decide if I want to get an Oogie Boogie bucket. I am afraid that once I am home I will question why I bought it.

We put ours above the cabinets in the kitchen (Display area). Then we ran out of room and added a shelf running at the same height. Then another. Basically, don't start. It's an addiction.

 

[Priory]

They charge extra to get a mint julep now?!?!? It used to be just one of the "soft drinks" you could order at BB and CO. How annoying.

 

[sebamt]

For those that are considering the Mickey's "Spook-Tacular" Dinner package at the Blue Bayou, this is the menu:

Does anybody have definitive information on where the parade viewing area is? People have reported different things and I'm trying to decide if I should keep my reservation or not. Thanks!

 

[marydmjj]

I know this is a super super long shot but does anyone have 2 extra tickets for the party this Friday? A girlfriend is taking her granddaughter for the first time and wasn’t able to get tickets.

 

[figment_jii]

Does anybody have definitive information on where the parade viewing area is? People have reported different things and I'm trying to decide if I should keep my reservation or not. Thanks!

My guess is that the reserved viewing area is somewhat fluid (maybe depending crowd size?). For both of the parties (9/22 and 9/25) I attended, I saw the reserved area on the South-East quadrant of the Hub, on the Plaza Inn side of the street and it extended down onto Main Street (but I don't recall how far down).

I know this is a super super long shot but does anyone have 2 extra tickets for the party this Friday? A girlfriend is taking her granddaughter for the first time and wasn’t able to get tickets.

At this point, tickets are sold out online, so I would either try calling Disney (714-781-4400) or checked at one of the ticket booths. There is also a chance they may release some tickets on the day of the event. If she's staying onsite, check at guests services there, they sometimes have tickets available (often the day of the event).

 

[tjcrabb]

For those looking for the headless horseman light up straw they are being sold at coke corner for 4.99 and you do not have to buy a drink.

 

[lcp9]

a PP mentioned huge lines at the starcade to get tickets switched out for party wristbands. a couple questions:
1. does the whole party have to be there or could I take 7 paper tickets and exchange for 7 bands?
2. are there continuing problems doing this and/or is it faster to exit and reenter?
3. regardless of where you go, even if you have a valid day ticket, they will not give you a wristband before 3pm, correct?

trying to figure out at what point in our day to do this so that it wastes as little time as possible!

 

[mummabear]

a PP mentioned huge lines at the starcade to get tickets switched out for party wristbands. a couple questions:
1. does the whole party have to be there or could I take 7 paper tickets and exchange for 7 bands?
2. are there continuing problems doing this and/or is it faster to exit and reenter?
3. regardless of where you go, even if you have a valid day ticket, they will not give you a wristband before 3pm, correct?

trying to figure out at what point in our day to do this so that it wastes as little time as possible!

They took our photos for the party tickets, just like our usual tickets. So I would assume you will all have to be there

 

[Jperiod]

We went to the party Tuesday night the 3rd and had a great time! I could've done without the pre-party. My kids didn't want to see characters and the lines for treats were very long in toon town. Ride lines throughout the rest of the park were very short during that time, so I wish we would've kept riding until 6 pm, then hit some other treat trails.

For fireworks, I noticed two tall narrow evergreen trees to the left of the castle where the orb is, so I checked out spots during the day (the orb is to the left of both of those skinny trees). We were in line with carnation cafe behind two trash cans on the curb (so my daughter didn't have people directly in front of her, but she still stood on our stroller). In hindsight, there wasn't much on mainstreet during the fireworks as far as effects go, so I wish we would have just gone closer. All the projections were on the castle and they mimicked on the orb. If you can't see the orb, I don't think it's the end of the world, you still hear Jack's voice, etc. But my daughter couldn't see much of the castle (but saw the orb) because of her height). There was still plenty of standing spots in the street for the fireworks, so I don't think it's a problem getting something. We ended up sitting there on the curb for the second parade since it starts at main street.


Launch Bay didn't have Darth & Chewbacca out like I thought they would. The lines for characters were so long everywhere so we didn't bother. Turns out my husband and kids enjoyed trick or treating the most, which was kinda surprising! Take extra big bags, you'll end up with so much! I have a ton of pirate booty, grahms, etc to last a while.

 

[GenGen22]

We went to the party Tuesday night the 3rd and had a great time! I could've done without the pre-party. My kids didn't want to see characters and the lines for treats were very long in toon town. Ride lines throughout the rest of the park were very short during that time, so I wish we would've kept riding until 6 pm, then hit some other treat trails.

For fireworks, I noticed two tall narrow evergreen trees to the left of the castle where the orb is, so I checked out spots during the day (the orb is to the left of both of those skinny trees). We were in line with carnation cafe behind two trash cans on the curb (so my daughter didn't have people directly in front of her, but she still stood on our stroller). In hindsight, there wasn't much on mainstreet during the fireworks as far as effects go, so I wish we would have just gone closer. All the projections were on the castle and they mimicked on the orb. If you can't see the orb, I don't think it's the end of the world, you still hear Jack's voice, etc. But my daughter couldn't see much of the castle (but saw the orb) because of her height). There was still plenty of standing spots in the street for the fireworks, so I don't think it's a problem getting something. We ended up sitting there on the curb for the second parade since it starts at main street.
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Launch Bay didn't have Darth & Chewbacca out like I thought they would. The lines for characters were so long everywhere so we didn't bother. Turns out my husband and kids enjoyed trick or treating the most, which was kinda surprising! Take extra big bags, you'll end up with so much! I have a ton of pirate booty, grahms, etc to last a while.

Its not the end of the world if you don't see the orb. This will be our 4th year going to the party and the last 3 years we didn't see the orb. This year I'm making it a point to see it just because I didn't make it a point to the last three years.