Just adding a bit to my Mum's comments above about our trip. (Hopefully I'll leave her with something to say!) The Halloween decorations really are great - as well as all the pumpkins and models everywhere, there are lots of pumpkin characters to meet - a pumpkin doctor, postman, policeman etc who really like to have fun with the guests, dancing with you and messing about. They also like to stand next to the models of pumpkin men and pretend to be models too, which surprises unsuspecting people!!
I've read a lot of opinions about the Santa Fe on the board. We stayed at the Cheyenne last time, which was great, but we don't spend any time in the hotel except sleeping (we don't even eat there) so we decided this time we might as well go for the cheapest option (but still wanted to stay within Disney). Our room was lovely and clean and well themed, as was the reception and rest of the hotel. The only part that's not so nice and "Disney" is the outside which is all brown. It's not as nice to look at as the Cheyenne, but if you spend as little time there as we do, then it's everything you need and you still get the Disney perks like the shopping service and buses that you get in the other Disney hotels. Plus we had a room near the reception which was very handy!
For anyone going in October, the weather was pretty good. We had one evening of rain but the rest of the time was dry and we actually had quite a lot of sun. However, out of the sun it was pretty cold and we needed jackets most of the time.
I'd definitely recommend anyone going during Halloween (or any time for that matter!)
but perhaps a cruise on the Disney Magic or Wonder would soften the blow a little!!!
