Mickey's Halloween Treat 2007 info posted [merged]

[StitchesGlitch]

will you be able to buy general public halloween tickets on the website when they go on sale later?

[kohl]

I wonder why they aren't having the Treat on October 25th as well?

[jswtsang]

Last year my boyfriend and I went without children and we are adults and had a fun time. However, be prepared. Between the two of us we took home 4lbs of candy, and since I went a little overboard on buying halloween candy (got 12 kids the year before) and two kids this past year, we had candy hanging around til last month. I loved seeing all of the costumes, there was a dalmation family of 8 or 9!

jt

[kohl]

There were 4 of us and we went for 2 nights. We ended up coming home with 22 pounds of candy! :eek:

[Malcon10t]

What kind of candy do they hand out?

[olegc]

What kind of candy do they hand out?

M&M Mars brand, and Nestle brand. They also hand out Carrot sticks and apple slices as well.

[cstephens]

This is what I ended up with in 2005 (http://www.colddeadfish.net/images/MHT05/candy.jpg) and this is what I ended up with in 2006 (http://www.colddeadfish.net/images/MHT06/27.jpg).

[mkraemer]

We don't have children and enjoyed MHT last year. I know several MousePlanet staffers, also without children, who had a great time at WDW's version a few years ago.

I do have kids, so I can't give you the 'kid-less' perspective, but...

My fairly Disney-crazed family gave the MHT a rating of just "OK" last year.

We're definitely on the fence about whether to go to this year's event. We wonder if the increased price will equate to a better event. (We'd hope so!) We're not even sure that it merits a weekend trip (we live in the Bay Area).
And that says quite a bit, for us.

In comparison, if we had the funds/time, we'd go back to the WDW MNSSHP in a heartbeat. The WDW version is **far** beyond what's being done at DLR right now. I have hopes that the DLR version will continue to improve. It could become a really great thing and could learn from the WDW version.

The MNSSHP is in the MK. You can go on the Haunted Mansion, and there's a 'haunted' riverboat ride. There are special fireworks and a special parade for the event. A lot more decorations. Yes, there's candy and trick or treating, but there's more photo ops with characters. It is very well done. The ticket price also includes a family souvenir photo (or at least it did the year that we attended), which is really nice too. The ticket price is higher than the MHT, so it might be more of a 'you get what you pay for' scenario. However, the Disney folks have to weigh the demographics of WDW visitors compared with those who come to DL and generally live more locally.

Last year, I thought that the MHT was a nice event, especially if you have kids and don't participate in house-to-house trick or treating. It was a very nice opportunity to do have a trick or treating experience that's guaranteed safe. The free arcade games were a big hit with our kids.

I think it's wonderful to have a Halloween event that does not just focus on scaring people and being as gory as possible. Disney got that *very* right with the MHT (and the MNSSHP).

[Park Freak]

Although I enjoy seeing other people's costumes, I'm not that into dressing up myself. As an adult will I feel out of place if I go without one?

[vegasmommytoDL]

I guess we'll be heading up a day early....

[mkraemer]

Although I enjoy seeing other people's costumes, I'm not that into dressing up myself. As an adult will I feel out of place if I go without one?

Nope; you'll be fine either way!

[DebT]

Is this event only available to APs? Just found out we are going to be at DLR October 24, 25 & 26 - so now I am interested :)

[mousemom]

I can't wait til' May 15th to see what additional information is available. Probably just a link to buy tickets but we'll see. Does anyone remember how fast the tickets sold out? I'm looking at the 4th and wonder if the earlier nights seemed less crowded last year or was it all about the same? I just finished reading cstephens very comprehensive trip report from last year and I am so excited to go!!:D

[StitchesGlitch]

They will set aside tickets to the general public won't they?? I don't want to miss out - 29th,30th,31st are the only dates we can go (flying in from Australia on the 29th)....

[JeffG]

My fairly Disney-crazed family gave the MHT a rating of just "OK" last year.

We had a similar reaction and I suspect it was for largely the same reason. I really strongly suspect that the DLR event plays a lot better for those that haven't been to the much larger-scope WDW event. We did have a good time at MHT, but there were enough similarities to what MNNSHP at WDW that it was a bit hard to escape something of a sense of it being a pale imitation.

Since we are going to be at WDW in October and attending MNNSHP this year, I don't know if we will bother with the DLR event. If we do go, it probably will be primarily to spend time with local friends rather than for the event offerings itself.

-Jeff

[olegc]

We had a similar reaction and I suspect it was for largely the same reason. I really strongly suspect that the DLR event plays a lot better for those that haven't been to the much larger-scope WDW event. We did have a good time at MHT, but there were enough similarities to what MNNSHP at WDW that it was a bit hard to escape something of a sense of it being a pale imitation.

Since we are going to be at WDW in October and attending MNNSHP this year, I don't know if we will bother with the DLR event. If we do go, it probably will be primarily to spend time with local friends rather than for the event offerings itself.

-Jeff

I have never been to the WDW event but have seen the videos, etc. I wish that I had faith in the DLR entertainment and marketing staff about the MHT event and its direction. We will go again - but I always wonder why there is no parade, etc. I realize that DLR management is not used to doing separate hard ticket events like WDW is, and that there is a built in base of week-long tourists, but it juts feels like Marketing is saying "let's see how far we can make this run without doing spending much more on entertainment an such".

Previous history makes me think the profit margin is too much of the target instead of guest satisfaction and word of mouth. I guess since tickets are gobbled up so fast there is no sense of urgency to provide more.

DLR management - please prove me wrong!

[avalosn]

I thought they had better candy last year than they did the first year, although, we did get a ton of raisins. Luckily, my kid is a big fan of raisins. I have had fun both years but I find it gets slow after the first hour. I try to stay enthusiastic for my son, but by 11pm, I am tired!!!

[mkraemer]

Since we've started talking about the profit margin and increased prices, here's a question for everyone who has attended the two MHT events at DCA:

Did the second year seem better than the first or did were you charged more for basically the same thing?

That might give an indication of whether there will be more at this year's event to justify the increased price.

For an AP, if you have a family of four, it will run about $100. Not terrible for an evening, but much higher for the non-AP family of four, who would pay nearly $160!

[avalosn]

From what I experienced, I thought 2005 and 2006 were kind of the same for the most part. But my son was two and three at the time, so he didn't wanna do any of the activities. We basically just did the trick or treat, got a bunch or candy and then my little one was out!

[BklynChick]

Can anyone who has been before talk about the dining options? Our plan was to book a PS for dinner at Ariel's Grotto on the 18th (only full day in DCA). Will we be able to eat there, either right at park closing (5pm???) or during the party? If not, what CS locations are open during the party?

[olegc]

Can anyone who has been before talk about the dining options? Our plan was to book a PS for dinner at Ariel's Grotto on the 18th (only full day in DCA). Will we be able to eat there, either right at park closing (5pm???) or during the party? If not, what CS locations are open during the party?

many of the restaurants are NOT open during this event. Usually it's just Award Weiners in the hollywood backlot, Pizza Oom Mau Mau, and Burger Invasion. Very few carts. SO - your options during the event will be SEVERELY limited.

and - you can't stay in the park for the event. the close early and usher everyone out, then put up the extra decorations and candy stops and reopen the gates.

[olegc]

From what I experienced, I thought 2005 and 2006 were kind of the same for the most part. But my son was two and three at the time, so he didn't wanna do any of the activities. We basically just did the trick or treat, got a bunch or candy and then my little one was out!

I would say the same - except there were some additional decorations and theming and more types of candy (along with apples and carrots).

[kohl]

Did the second year seem better than the first or did were you charged more for basically the same thing?

We went to both years. The first year seemed less crowded to us. I really wanted M&M's and they didn't have them the 2nd year. :crying:

[Goosegirl]

How does this event work? We will be there the week of October 14-18 for our vacation. We will probably buy the AAA package again, so our parkhoppers will be part of that deal. Will that get us the halloween stuff too? Does the park close to regular visitors for the halloween portion? Do I need to get tickets in addition to my parkhoppers? Please explain.

We are not annual pass holders.

Thanks!

[Malcon10t]

How does this event work? We will be there the week of October 14-18 for our vacation. We will probably buy the AAA package again, so our parkhoppers will be part of that deal. Will that get us the halloween stuff too? Does the park close to regular visitors for the halloween portion? Do I need to get tickets in addition to my parkhoppers? Please explain.

We are not annual pass holders.

Thanks!The Treat will be on the 18th during your visit. It is a special event you will need tickets to. It is rumored this will be an AP only event. If this is the case, you will probably be able to find tickets on eBay. Otherwise, they may have tickets onsale in a couple months to the general public.