Halloween Time at Disneyland

The "villains" have taken over Disneyland & transformed the parks for the Halloween Season, September 25th - November 1st. Of course, we've already mentioned the ever-popular Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party (have you gotten your tickets yet?), but that's just the beginning of the festivities! Disneyland recently treated C & I to a "Halloween Preview," so we can tell you first hand, they've got a few tricks up their sleeves...

First of all, the "villains" have completely 'boo'-tified the Parks. "Wild candy is growing at Candy Corn Acres at Disney's California Adventure Park" not to mention all of the amazing & clever "jack-o-lanterns, candy corn, ghouls, bats & other fabulously frightful Halloween decorations that are 'boo'-tifing both Parks." & You definitely don't want to miss the ginormous 16-foot tall Mickey Mouse jack-o-lantern on main street! But that's not all the fun in store...although the "villains" may be in charge, all of the characters have gotten into the spirit of things - I'm sure you'll see a character (or two) fully decked out in their own Halloween costumes.

Once again, Jack Skellington has returned to take over the Haunted Mansion & bring back the Haunted Mansion Holiday to New Orleans Square in Disneyland. "Transformed to a mix of Halloween spookiness and Christmas tradition, Haunted Mansion Holiday is inspired by the classic animated film Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas. Jack and his friends provide plenty of havoc and surprises as they celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion in their unusual style. Jack’s return to the Haunted Mansion includes the traditional Halloween/Christmas gingerbread house in the Mansion Ballroom, with some special spooky surprises in this year’s design."

New this year, and recommended for older kids & adults (although my 4 year old LOVED it), is Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. "The scary new experience will begin as a typical Space Mountain adventure, but will suddenly launch voyagers into an uncharted and haunted section of the universe. Ghosts appear out of the starry darkness and swirling galaxies of Space Mountain, reaching out as if to grab guests as they speed through space. The exhilarating drops and curves of the journey are punctuated by piercing screams, creepy sound effects and haunting music. The Halloween transformation occurs outside the mountain as well, as frightening images, audio and lights illuminate the Space Mountain exterior."

Gracing the evening skies this ghoulish season is the "Halloween Screams - A Villainous Surprise in the Skies" Fireworks display. This "new fireworks spectacular will haunt the nighttime sky throughout the Halloween season. To start the show, 'Master of Scare-omonies' Jack Skellington appears in a flash of fire above Sleeping Beauty Castle. Thanks to Jack’s ghoulish charm, haunting melodies fill the air and a Halloween pyrotechnics extravaganza explodes into the night. Such classic Disney villains as Maleficent, Ursula the Sea Witch and Oogie Boogie join in the 'spirit' of the celebration, and even Zero, Jack’s faithful ghost dog, will make an appearance. Spectators in Disneyland are encouraged to participate in a bone-chilling Halloween Scream-Along during the show."

Amazingly enough, there is still more! As if ALL of that wasn't enough, you don't want to miss the Main Street Pumpkin Festival, the villain "meet & greet" at “it’s a small world” Mall in Disneyland, while other characters in seasonal costumes greet guests in Town Square, Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland and Sunshine Plaza in Disney’s California Adventure, the Halloween Roundup at Big Thunder Ranch, & all of the delicious seasonal goodies only available this time of year (my personal favorites? the caramel apple cider & candy corn rice krispie treats).

For more details information, crafts (including pumpkin craving patterns & more), Halloween videos, & very, very cool, very interactive computer games for the kids (or even you) be sure to check out Disneyland's Halloween Time website HERE.

xoxo, K
images via Disneyland