Trick or Treat Event

[dncnman]

The event was called Trick or Treat Street at Downtown Disney. It was a bit short of a success. The main concern from guests was that there wasn't enough availability.

The way the event worked was that you had to get a Haunted Mansion bag and an orange activity card. You get stamped(actually a hole punch) from each of 16 locations where you also collect a treat(a small piece of a candy or a little trinket toy). Then there was a 17th location where you got to collect a main prize after you visited all other locations. The 17th gift was out of a grab bag which had vouchers for prizes ranging from king sized candy bars to hopper tickets.

The first problem was that Special Events planned for only 3,000 children, the event was only open to children wearing non-masked costumes. Actually, they said they only expected 1700 guests to participate. I suppose that number was decided from simply the usual number of guests in Downtown Disney on a normal Sunday afternoon. However, a guest informed me that the event was advertised in innercity areas. Of course, low income people are going to attend a free event at the Disneyland Resort, and too many of them. I'd guess that the turnout was closer to 7500 children. The lines for the orange cards was ridiculous. Lines were forming as early as 12:30 in the afternoon when the event was scheduled for 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Moron guests that hadn't set their clocks back probably thought that they were really there at 1:30 or so. Those lines were insane and disorganized. We had to turn away a lot of guests when we ran out of the 3,000 orange cards about 45 minutes into the event. Children were crying and parents were pissed. I told people, "I'm very sorry. We expected a lot smaller turnout then what we have here now. The event planners will get together and evaluate that problem. All of your concerns will be addressed. I will pass on your concerns. We apologize." But seriously people, if you are trick or treating in your neighborhood and your neighbors run out of candy, WTF are you going to do about it?

The entertainment cast members would in fact not turn away any guest that waited in line and still give them a treat at the 16 stations named after Disney Villains. There were plenty of treats and plenty of Haunted Mansion bags, but not enough of those little orange activity cards. Another fact about CM's at the event, it got so crazy that they were pulling people from inside the park, so people were out there in their Main Street costumes, or Adventureland costumes, or Critter Country costumes, etc. I don't think special events will plan another free event that does not require park admission. It was crazy.

It was a good idea, but not a success. Some of the other activities at the event included pictures with princesses or pirates, face painting, pumpkin carving, and a DJ stand. These things worked better than the main attraction. The special event of The Nightmare Before Christmas viewing on the 30th that has been sold out for months already should prove to run a bit more smoothly.

Dancin' Man

[Dante101]

Thank you for this post. It makes me remember why I'm glad I don't work there anymore. I hated getting pulled from a ride to go do crowd control at some disorganized event like that (or the Disneyana conventions, or the opening of DCA)...

It just seems like the people who "plan" these events love to use the phrase, "Well let's worry about that when it comes" or "Let's just see what happens."

I bet it's the same people...

[tabacco]

Oh, please don't ever mention the Disneyana convention again.

[Wizard69]

I was there with my family. We decided to see the 12:45 Aladdin and then go to the halloween event. BOY WAS THAT A MISTAKE! The line was PAST DCA entrance, PAST Guest Relations and PAST the bathrooms on other other side of that. I was telling my mom "They should have had the event inside the park" That would have eliminated all the freeloaders from coming and getting free S#$T!

Good idea but they should have had it inside the park.

Since we go DL and DCA all the time, thank god my son is used to us saying "the lines are too long". He accepted that all the damn freeloaders were making the lines too long and didn't cry about not being able to participate in the event.

[tourbunny]

damn those cheap people. if you want free candy or almost free, go the day after halloween to k-mart or target to get the hugh a$$ candy bags for 75% off. that's how i get fat.

[ThemeParkOne]

Event planners seem to have forgot where Disneyland is located. Tons of lower income apartments just a 5-15 minute drive away. VoluntEARS surely knows of the plight of the neighbors, but I guess the special events department believes the OC is filled with people of the same income level as the Fox show.

I dropped by scheduling that night and had a hard time finding 15 minute parking. Lots of kids being picked up/dropped off. I guess Downtown Disney played Halloween babysitter for those families.

[Fantasmic_Freak]

Well, even with an enterance fee, Mickey's Halloween Treat sold out for the first 5 days in, a day, and well, dont the event planners see that they could make this a big success, and money maker for DCA? Mickey's halloween haunt! :D:

[sandravb79]

Oh, please don't ever mention the Disneyana convention again.

Do they still have the Disneyana or WDAC/WDCC conventions??

[Main Streeter]

Well, even with an enterance fee, Mickey's Halloween Treat sold out for the first 5 days in, a day, and well, dont the event planners see that they could make this a big success, and money maker for DCA? Mickey's halloween haunt! :D:

Not only was Mickey's Halloween Treat completely sold out, we even ran out of treat bags the last night @ DCA main gates. Talk abt whining adults . Event planners learn year by year....I hope. Trick or Treat pillow cases are still @ Team Centers for $5. :D:

[nala]

:twisted: Ok even though this is an old subject, I was just reading through it and was kind of disturbed with all the hostility against low income families. The reason the event cordinators do the events, as stupid as they are is for families to have a chance to participate in what would look like a fun event. NOT for the freeloaders to come to the park. No offence but we work at Disney so we are not exactly rich!
Unfortunatly parents bring their kids to the park for these kind of events to share a fun moment with them. They see it from a different point of view, not an opportunity to loaf of a stupid piece of cheap candy (cause you know Disney is cheap enoph)