Halloween Weekend, be prepared to be scared by large crowds!
Posted 10-30-2009 at 05:14 AM by In the Parks
Well, we made it until the end of October, just in time to set your clocks BACK one Hour Saturday Night/Sunday Morning. Let's get going....
Be prepared for LARGE Crowds at Disneyland this weekend.
Main Street Magic Shop Reopens
The cart in Downtown Disney remains open for business.
Knott's adds an extra night to Halloween Haunt
And here's a comprehensive video of World of Color construction sent in from a reader
(thebugger2000 on YouTube):
The Little Mermaid site is still a big pit
And work has started on Cars Land
"it's a small world" is now closed for the Holiday makeover, and will reopen November 13th
Gadget Go-Coaster is scheduled to reopen this morning
Tortilla Jo's new Maragarita Bar is progressing nicely
A Disneyland Kitty takes advantage of the quiet due to "small world" being closed
Because we all love free stuff
That should do it for this week, hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween, and enjoy your extra hour of sleep! We'll see you in the parks.
Be prepared for LARGE Crowds at Disneyland this weekend.
Disneyland will be busy all weekend, but especially Friday and Saturday night for Halloween Time. Disney's California Adventure Park will close at 6 PM on BOTH Friday and Saturday night to host the last Mickey's Trick or Treat special events. Disney has found that that the 6 to 7 PM hour is extremely busy at the Disneyland entrance turnstiles, even having to close down the turnstiles due to the large volume of folks.Disneyland Resort Parking Update
Disney has done a few things, such as blocking out the Cast Member passes and now moving the Celebrate! - a Street Party event. The Un-Parade will be offered at 2:30 and 4:30 PM instead of the normal 3:30 and 6:30 PM times. Having the last un-parade at 4:30 has Main Street clear shortly after 5 PM, before the masses show up. The 6:30 PM showing, drew crowds on Main Street and the Hub from about 6-7pm. Because so many guests were entering Disneyland at the same time, it created a large traffic jam.
But even with the Celebrate! event being held early, there will still be large crowds at the Hub and on Main Street to see the last weekend of Halloween Screams Fireworks show. One option is to watch them after the 9 PM Fantasmic!, as Disney has added projectors and is showing images in the ROA that are similar to what you can see on the Castle.
FYI, Disney will offer Remember! fireworks for the weekend of November 6th as a one week special before the Christmas version starts on November 13th.
The crowds keep coming to the parks, and parking is still a major issue, and it doesn't look like the next few months will be much better.
One main point, the former entrance to the Timon Parking Lot on Harbor Blvd at Disney Way has been closed most of the time lately. In fact, Disney has been even reversing the roadway, and having vehicles go east bound on the roadway at the south end of DCA.
Work continues on the new Parking Lot being built next to the current Buzz Lightyear lot.
Disney has been regularly using Pumbaa, Anaheim GardenWalk, the Anaheim Convention Center and even Buzz Lightyear and Pongo on a regular basis on weekends lately.
If you are coming to Disneyland using the I-5 Northbound, your best bet is to get off at Disney Way (Katella Ave) and just follow the signage/Anaheim PD directions as to where to go. Disney will honor AP Parking Passes at any of the lots that are open.
Also, Disney does provide transportation from all the lots. They use Coach America for the Pumbaa, Anaheim GardenWalk, Buzz Lightyear and Pongo Parking lots. You will find the White Buses and Red Trolleys near the CM Bus Stop in the Lion King Tram area. Make sure and verify where the bus is going before boarding so you get back to your car.Disney is experimenting with a Automated Stroller Kiosk Rental System
If Disney is using the Anaheim Convention Center, then they will run the Lion King Trams to the Pedestrian entrance on Katella Avenue, and then you just have to cross Katella Avenue to access your car.
The other main lot other than the Parking Structure is Simba, next to the Paradise Pier Hotel. This is the lot that is usually the worst choice, as there is no tram/bus service. You are expected to walk through Downtown Disney to get to the parks.
As for the Parking Structure, it has been getting so full that they have closed down the entrances in the afternoon and are diverting cars to other lots. The hints here are to get to the parks as early as you can, and if you show up later in the day, be prepared to find the structure closed and then follow the signs to the alternative lot(s), more than likely either the Anaheim Convention Center or Buzz Lightyear.
Don't forget, you can help out by carpooling or using public transportation. And for those staying in the nearby hotels, leave the car at the Hotel/Motel and either walk or use the ART Shuttles.
Disney has quietly installed an Automated Stroller Kiosk at the DCA Rental location as a test. When the new Stroller Rental center opens up in the next few months in the Main Entrance Plaza as a replacement to the 2 current main locations in the parks, Disney hopes to have a few of these stations available to help out with crowds if the tests go well.
Work continues on the new Stroller/Wheelchair Center next to the Kennel Club
Main Street Magic Shop Reopens
The Magic Shop, now run by an outside vendor, Houdini's Magic Shop, reopened on Wednesday.
http://www.houdini.com/
The cart in Downtown Disney remains open for business.
Knott's adds an extra night to Halloween Haunt
Knott's Scary Farm has added one extra night to its schedule, this Sunday, November 1st. And the price is right, just $24.99 if you purchase online in advance. (And if you are a Knott's Annual Passholder or a resident of Buena Park, you can get in for just $19.99 this Sunday).Selected Photos from Darkbeer.Smugmug.com
Also don't forget, if you are looking for something for your kids to do on Saturday. Knott's is offering its kid friendly Camp Spooky on Halloween during regular park hours. (Included in the cost of regular park admission).
And here's a comprehensive video of World of Color construction sent in from a reader
(thebugger2000 on YouTube):
The Little Mermaid site is still a big pit
And work has started on Cars Land
"it's a small world" is now closed for the Holiday makeover, and will reopen November 13th
Gadget Go-Coaster is scheduled to reopen this morning
Tortilla Jo's new Maragarita Bar is progressing nicely
A Disneyland Kitty takes advantage of the quiet due to "small world" being closed
Because we all love free stuff
If you are out and about Halooween night, Taco Bell is giving away free Tacos. http://www.tacobell.com/FreeBlackJackTaco/MiceChat 5 year anniversary celebration announcement
MiceChat has announced that the weekend of January 29th through the 31st will be the 5th Anniversary Celebration of MiceChat. You can sign up and find out about the great 25% discount at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel at this link
http://micechat.com/forums/meets-eve...0-join-us.html
That should do it for this week, hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween, and enjoy your extra hour of sleep! We'll see you in the parks.
Total Comments 28
Comments
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Great update! It's nice to see water in Paradise Bay again. It's amazing how clear the water started and now it looks so dark again. Is it just from the amount or are they adding something to it?Posted 10-30-2009 at 06:26 AM by sassy*tink
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Great update!Posted 10-30-2009 at 07:20 AM by WheresMickey - word.Posted 10-30-2009 at 07:53 AM by jaxbistro
- Finally! Work on Car Land begins. Something tells me Car Land is going to be Disney at its best.Posted 10-30-2009 at 08:02 AM by whamo
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A couple of weeks ago my wife and I went up to the OC Auto show then over to Garden Walk for lunch. All I hace to say is that it's no wonder GW is doing so bad with their fluky parking situation whereby there is no attendent at the exit, therefore you must visit a kiosk BEFORE going back to your car to pay your way out or have the device see your validation.
First off - Parking should always be free - Period! Just as it is down at the Irvine Specturm. This is not LA, and all the GW suits are doing are turning off people to going there. Once was enough for us - it's no big deal of a place anyway!!!!Posted 10-30-2009 at 08:15 AM by KENfromOC -
Great report Thank You Darkbeer!
PS:
There going be more water in the bay,
than what we see in your pictures?Posted 10-30-2009 at 09:23 AM by Eagleman -
Im happy to see some work getting done in Cars land!! I am so excited for it!Posted 10-30-2009 at 09:23 AM by Cadensmama07 -
Absolutely! The water is being added in stages. The lagoon will eventually be completely filled again.Quote:Originally Posted by Eagleman
There going be more water in the bay,
than what we see in your pictures?Posted 10-30-2009 at 09:40 AM by Dustysage -
on another great UpdatePosted 10-30-2009 at 10:12 AM by cositaluvsmickey -
Aw, I'm planning on going on November 1st for my birthday. I was hoping it wouldn't be to crowded, but oh well.Posted 10-30-2009 at 10:42 AM by Colorized - Thanks Dusty!Quote:Originally Posted by Dustysage Absolutely! The water is being added in stages. The lagoon will eventually be completely filled again.Posted 10-30-2009 at 10:48 AM by Eagleman
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ok on the haunt discount... we will be in Cali on 11/1 for other reasons and as a result will be making one last trip to Haunt... now someone on another forum sent me a link to purchase the discounted $19.99 tickets but im obviously not a Knotts Passholder and I live in Phoenix which is far from Buena Park... Does anyone know if proof is required on the purchases of those discounted tickets? Will I need to show proof at the gate? Or should I purchase them anyways as they more than likely wont care... I mean the price is right and since we have other business to attend to in SoCal on Sunday morning we might as well make one last side trip to visit Haunt... im just wondering whether we should purchase through the discounted link or whether its best to just go with the extra $5 on the regular price? PM me with your advice if you have the answer! Oh and great update...
I never usually post comments on these updates but I enjoy the pictures and keeping up on the news... Oh and had it not been for reading updates from this blog I would not have been aware of the parking price increase which doing customer service for a hotel chain we have hotels in the Disneyland area and knowing the updated parking price really was a help in resolving something!Posted 10-30-2009 at 11:02 AM by tamasurvivor -
I have to say that it is so nice to see Paradise bay with water!Posted 10-30-2009 at 11:44 AM by RedHandedJill -
Thanks for the pics of the Magic Shop's interior. Any reviews? Will be curious to find out if the Gadget frogs "spit" water again.Posted 10-30-2009 at 11:49 AM by vfire -
Thanks again for the update!Posted 10-30-2009 at 01:21 PM by LAZ-E -
Very nice!Posted 10-30-2009 at 03:30 PM by Bobd20011 -
Great Update!
TimekeeperPosted 10-30-2009 at 04:02 PM by Timekeeper -
love seeing the pix of the disneyland cats! thank you!!!Posted 10-30-2009 at 05:18 PM by black cat
Updated 10-30-2009 at 05:18 PM by black cat (bad spelling) -
Darkbeer, thanks again for another In The Parks update! Regarding the crowds this weekend does anyone have thoughts about which day might be less crowded?
1. Saturday: it's Halloween and DCA closes early for MToT, but SoCal APs are blocked out
2. Sunday: it's not Halloween, but SoCal APs can visit.
3. Doesn't matter: both days will be crowdedPosted 10-30-2009 at 06:08 PM by Armadillo4 -
Nice update, I am so glad the magic shop actually has some stuff to do with magic back inside there.Posted 10-30-2009 at 06:23 PM by Smit-Dog
