not so Frightening Fridays Final

not so Frightening Fridays Monday

Let's conclude our look at Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort.

Review part one here.

Review part two here.

Review part three here.
Review part four here.

Review part five here.
 

Welcome back to Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort.

Today we wrap up our Halloween visit at Disneyland.

So let's take part in Mickey's Halloween Party. (select nights)

 **************************************

 

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to take part in Mickey's Halloween Party, and had a super night. Come along as we explore some of the offerings at this very popular annual event.

 

Entry into the park, early in the evening, was a challenge.
Signs reminded guests about costume guidelines.

 

 

As the day guest began leaving, a flood of people, the party guests began arriving.

 

The rush of leaving guests and arriving party goers made for a bit of a bottleneck.

Mickey Ghosts greeted arriving guests



Light projections on the pavement created atmosphere

Different decorations, including Ghost Mickey and light projections greeted incoming party guests. They looked good in the twilight hours, but really came to life after dark. (Video below)

 

 

My first stop of the night was a ride on Ghost Galaxy.

I even snapped a pic of the ride.

 

Is that what was chasing us?

 By the time I got off the ride darkness had begun to arrive.

A spider seems to have taken up residence above Star Traders



Pumpkins spin on the ground

Phineas & Ferb had a trick-or-treat line inside Innoventions

Crossing the Hub toward the west side of the park I came across

 another Ghost Mickey, and a few other characters...

 



Mickey is much better looking after dark.

 

These "scarecrows" were a hoot.

I could have stood there all night.

 

The Castle had a spooky glow. Music filled to hub for twilight fun.

 

Next, I was off to Frontierland.

The Halloween Tree was lit up for the night.



Piratepalooza, a dance party, was in full swing at Rancho Del Zocalo.

 

 

The Rivers of America were filled with fog and eerie music.

 

 

The trail behind Big Thunder Mountain was also "creeped out".

 

Fog and creepy lighting filled the pathways.

 

 

Trick-or-Treat trail across the park had long lines.
 

While on the west side of the park I got a ride in at

Haunted Mansion Holiday. Another visit from Jack Skellington

would come along later in the night.

 

 

As I headed back to Main Street for the parade I spotted another light projection, in front of Pirates of the Caribbean and in Frontierland, photo and video below..

 

 

 

Finally, after criss crossing the park, it was time to sit down for

Mickey's Costume Party parade. Enjoy the video below.

 

 

That was fun, but the highlight of the night is of course is

the very special showing of Halloween Screams fireworks.

 

 

Wow, how fun was that!

 

The whole night was a lot of fun. Trick-or-Treat lines were very full all night, but the variety of the candy was pretty good. I only had to trade away a few of the candy bites that I got.

 

One last little treat at the end of the night was a visit from the villains.

The villains wanted to say goodnight to all the guests. They chose the train station for a stage.

 

 

Such a fun night. Now it's time to go home and count my candy.

 

 

 

 

not so Frightening Fridays 4

not so Frightening Fridays

Let's continue looking at Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort.

Review part one here.

Review part two here.

Review part three here.

Welcome back to Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort.

This week we venture into New Orleans Square.

Haunted Mansion Holiday is of course the event that inspired Halloween Time at Disneyland.

One of the most iconic attractions at Disneyland is the Haunted Mansion.  It is, of course, one of the final attractions to have direct oversight by Walt Disney himself.  The attraction, once planned as a walk-thru Haunted House, has become a classic. Millions of guests have entered the stretching room and boarded a "doom buggy" for a trip into the mansion. Legions of fans can quote Leota, sing all the lyrics of "Grim Grinning Ghosts" or point out each of the 99 Happy Haunts. So, with a massive fan base and a long standing history, how do you re-imagine this classic?

 

Thankfully the Disney Imaginears found a spectacular way to bring new life to this classic.

 

With the inclusion of Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas into the Disney film vault a perfect cross-branding was created.  What if Jack Skellington from Nightmare came to the Mansion and brought Christmas with him?  The first year of this idea had Disney Executives holding their collective breath. Would fans like it?  Would park guests understand the concept?  How would it play out to have a movie overlay on/in a park attraction?  Fast forward several years...

 

Fans have not only embraced the concept, they have taken the character of Jack Skellington to a new level of fame.  Park guest not only like it, they buy up millions of souvenirs. Not only does the overlay work out wonderfully, it has sparked other concepts for attraction overlays in the rest of the park (Ghost Galaxy?).

 

 

So this Halloween season let's go for a ride on this years version of Haunted Mansion Holiday.

 

 





Next week:

Ghost Galaxy & Frankenweenie
 

not so Frightening Fridays 3

not so Frightening Fridays

Let's continue looking at Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort.

Review part one here.

 Review part two here.

 This week in our Halloween Time journey we will take a "westward" turn at the Hub and venture into Frontierland.  You wouldn't think that Halloween would be found in the early frontier of this country, but Disney has found a way to incorporate it and make it work.

 

 

Just inside the gates of Frontierland we get our first glimpse of this Fall holiday.

 

 

The shops are lightly decorated with pumpkins and fall leaves.

Further along the wooden sidewalk, along side the Mercantile

 we come to a new tradition, The Haunted Tree.



The pumpkins light up at night - Spooky.
 

Inspired by Ray Bradbury, this tree came to Frontierland in 2007.

Just before we reach the riverboat dock, and positioned directly in front of both Thunder Mountain and Rancho Del Zocalo is Zocalo Park.  Here we get to celebrated Dia De Los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead.  This is a traditional Spanish holiday and does fit in well with the small space.
 

I must say, this is a great way to spice up this little spot.

I would love to see Disneyland use this space more during the year.
Perhaps, during non-holiday parts of the year we get a "Three Amigos" meet and greet.
Maybe we could have a mini Frontier Festival for July 4th.
 

 

There's even a not-so-hidden Mickey

 



The "original" Three Amigos?

 



Does this dress make my hips look big?

 



 

Face Painting for the kids.
 

Finally, as we continue around Thunder Mountain, to the northwest,

we begin to see signage for the newest entertainment offering this year.

 

 

Behind Thunder Mountain we find Big Thunder Ranch. This area is currently home to the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ and the Halloween Carnival.  Let's move in to take a closer look at each of these offerings.

 

Halloween Carnival

 

The Halloween Carnival is a fabulous addition to Frontierland.

 

The Ranch
 

As you enter the ranch it's all decked out in Autumn colors.

 

Even the goats have gotten "dressed up" for Fall.

 



The Scare-dy-crow Shack
 

The Pumpkin Folk have moved in...

 



Piano Lessons, anyone? Will we learn to play Grim Grinning Ghosts?

 



"Two Pumpkins walk into a bar... One says to the bartender..."

 

Bandit Bart and Sheriff Gourdy stop for some punch.

 



 

The shack has been appropriately decorated.

The Festival Arena
 

Show times are listed

 



Buy your "ticket" from the Pumpkin Master

 



Meet Chip or meet Dale dressed as Keystone Cops

 

Goofy is wearing his skeleton outfit while meeting fans

 

One of my favorite exhibits is the Pumpkin Carvers

 



Whoooooooo are youuuu?

 



Wipe that smile off your face.

 



Would you like to "Be part of her world".

 



Don't lose your head. It's just Ichabod.

 



Traditional Mickey

 



Thumper and pals

 



Don't let Donald spot this. He might get angry.

 



Look! Look! I Found Nemo!

 



Can you carve with all the colors of the wind?

 



Billy, Billy, Billy, and Billy invite you to sing along.

 

Games of chance and skill, all free to play, will challenge even adults.

 



A large tent at the rear of the Jamboree promises a visit from a Disney Villain.

Who will appear when we enter?

 

Ah, Captain! Welcome to the party. Let me shake your hook.

All that fun made me hungry. Vittles are available.

 

Big Thunder Barbecue - Halloween Roundup

For a more substantial meal maybe we should visit
the Big Thunder Barbecue - Halloween Roundup.
 

Music and Entertainment are on the menu.

 

Be sure to come back next Friday as we travel to New Orleans

and visit the attraction the inspired Halloween Time at Disneyland.