It’s HalloweenTime at the Disneyland Resort! It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite times of the year at the park. I love the cooler weather, the costumes, the decorations, the food, the changing foliage and the window displays.
I love that the window displays are constantly changing with the seasons and holidays at the Disneyland Resort. They don’t always reflect the merchandise sold in the parks. At times they are little environments that invite you in and tickle your imagination.
Currently Main Street has offerings that display classic Americana, fitting of the turn of the century theme with classic wooden figurines, felt figures, elegant baked goods and a variety of creepy critters and spooky elements. Each one encased in their own environments forcing you to step a bit closer and take a peek. You may even spy a classic Disney villain or two.
HalloweenTime at Disneyland is here until October 31st.
Another Sunday means another trip to the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland!
When we arrived, the first thing we did was visit the Disneyland Hotel. The hotel is still under a lot of construction and I look forward to the changes coming. In the main lobby, there was no longer the huge painting of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and the Mickey Mouse statues. It is just a bare wall, but hopefully they will return. We then walked over to the Adventureland and Frontierland Towers and enjoyed the artwork inside. In the Frontierland Tower, they have an amazing model of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It has every last detail. It was really amazing to see in person. If you are a Disneyland fan and love seeing miniatures of your favorite attractions, please stop by the hotel and see this. You will not be disappointed!
Where is the Castle Painting?
An Example of Hotel Paintings
BTMRR Model
We were then going to take the Monorail into the park, but they said the the train would not arrive for 30 minutes. What could possibly be the hold up? It was strange… So we ended up walking to the park.
The first thing we did when entering Disneyland was head to the Haunted Mansion to get a fastpass and figure out where we wanted to eat. We ended up enjoying a nice Mexican meal at Rancho Del Zocalo. I had a huge burrito and it was delicious. I recommend it.
The Restaurant Has Great Details
We then went over to Disney California Adventure to visit the Blue Sky Cellar. The stuff they have on Buena Vista Street is wonderful. There are many things that show the process Imagineers take to create the park. It was a really neat insight. Besides having Buena Vista Street details like tiling and flooring, they also had the new Partners maquette for DCA, Red Car Trolley concept art, concept art of new Buena Vista Street Cast Member costumes, and the new attraction posters. The highlight of the Cellar is the new video which features Imagineers and their ideas for Buena Vista Street. It was a really great video and it is very evident that they love being Imagineers and are very excited for this project. Seeing the Imagineers this enthusiastic and proud of what they are doing, makes me that much more excited to see the finished result of Buena Vista Street. I really think it is going to be one of the best things Imagineering has ever done.
Buena Vista Street Tiling
Designing the Red Car Trolley
Carthay Circle Theatre Designs
Artwork of the new Statue
The Maquette of the new Statue
Concept Art for Buena Vista Street Cast Member Costumes
The New Attraction Posters
After seeing what’s to come to DCA in the Blue Sky Cellar, we headed over to my favorite attraction at DCA: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The wait was short and the ride was great. I mentioned a few trips ago, that the gift shop had new props inside. Well those new props are now gone. No longer is there a TV in the window and the “Get Out of Here Finchley” paper is back in the type writer. I heard that those props from a couple weeks ago was for a scavenger hunt that Disney was testing. But having a TV in the window of the gift shop seems like it could be really neat, especially if they were playing episodes of the Twilight Zone!
The Hollywood Tower Hotel
"Get Out of Here Finchley!"
While walking toward the park exit, I took a good look at the new attraction posters on the construction walls. I really love them. They have that classic look of an original Disneyland attraction poster. I think my favorite may be the poster for the Silly Symphony Swings!
Grizzly River Run Attraction Poster
Silly Symphony Swings Attraction Poster
We made our way back to Disneyland and the Fireworks had just started. We stood on Main Street near the Train Station and watched the remainder of the show. The Remember… Dreams Come True Fireworks sure are amazing. Every time I see them I am impressed. It’s no wonder that Disney is still using the same show from six years ago. If they have something that great, they should keep it.
The Finale
The fireworks ended and we made our way to the Haunted Mansion Holiday. It was a terrific ride. The queue is so exciting in the Haunted Mansion Holiday. I love the way the Mansion looks all decked out and the creepy Phantom Manor music adds an eerie touch.
"I Know You're Curious to See What's Inside... It's What Happens When Two Holidays Collide!"
After the Mansion, we went over to the Port Royal store, which sells Nightmare Before Christmas and Haunted Mansion stuff. Inside, they had bone wreaths up for Halloween. They look like the ones used in the ride during the endless hallway scene. They really looked great up close. A great overlay for the store.
A Bone Wreath
While Fantasmic! was going on, we thought we would take that time to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It was a wise decision as the line was only 5 minutes. We sat in the back like we always do and it was excellent. Unfortunately, the rocks in the mine were not moving again, but oh well… At least the falling rocks projection in the background was still working. I can’t say how much I love Big Thunder at night. There is something so magical about it. It’s scarier and more thrilling.
BTMRR At Night!
We got off of Big Thunder and decided to walk around Frontierland and look at some Halloween decorations. One of the stores has some nice old fashioned decorations out front including a creepy looking pumpkin man, which you can see below:
Creepy?
The end of the night was upon us and we had time for one last attraction. We decided to get a couple Dole Whips and enjoy the Tiki Room. We were the only ones in the Enchanted Garden and we thought we were going to be alone for the entire show. But as luck would have it, about ten people came in right before the show started. No one was in our section, however. So it still felt like we had our own show. Maynard was our host again and he did his usual wonderful spiel. The show looked and sounded great. We were against the southern most wall and I think that’s my favorite spot. The sound is excellent in that area and you get a good look at everything in the show.
Dole Whips!
An Empty Tiki Room
The Magic Fountain
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room ended our evening at the Disneyland Resort. It was a nice relaxing trip and I can’t wait to be there again.
The Disney Parks Blog has posted three new attraction posters which will be coming soon to DCA. I love the classic Disneyland Attraction Posters and these have that same great feel.
The Red Car Trolley
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Soarin' Over California
These posters, among other things coming to the newly refurbished DCA, are now on display at the Blue Sky Cellar at Disney California Adventure. If you happen to be in the park, head over there and see what’s in store for the future!
This past weekend, Halloweentime 2011 kicked off at the Disneyland Resort. This year they pulled out all the merchandising stops with something for everyone!
Plenty of new Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise around the park. Fuzzy hats, hoodies, restocked pook-a-loos, new figure ornaments, and many more!
Jack Skellington Fuzzy Hats
A few new bags and candy containers featuring a Mickey flaming pumpkin with controllable flashing lights, reusable tote with the exclusive 2011 Halloween print, and the return of the Mickey-o-lantern! Last years super popular Ghost Mickey popcorn bucket is back as well as a smaller and super cute lantern bucket with flash light. There is also a generic popcorn bucket with Mickey and Friends in their Halloween best as well as a personal fave and must have, the New Orleans Square exclusive Jack Skellington coffin popcorn bucket (which is also available at the French Market as a yummy sandwhich combo)! Two themed travel mugs depicting Mickey and Friends in Halloween costumes and another NOS exclusive Boggie’s Boys with Madame Leota in the seance room.
Halloween Totes
Mickey-o-Lanterns!
Various prepackaged and fresh baked Halloween goods are scattered around the park. Pumpkin Fudge, Halloween rice crispie treats, ghost and pumpkin sugar cookies, lollipops, pumpkin muffins, Mickey Bat cookies, spiced apple cider, pumpkin spice latte and in NOS a Jack Skellington chocolate coffin cake to name a few.
Sprinkle Sugar Cookies in Collectible Tin
Mickey Bat Cookie and Halloween Sugar Cookie
Chocolate Coffin Cake
Holiday Beverages
This years threads showcase a few new shirts for the whole family as well as some nifty and spooky Disney witches hats, headbands and caps. Also added to the bunch, Ghost Galaxy t-shirts!
Boo T-Shirt
Witch Hats!
Ghost Galaxy T-Shirt!
For the home, there are battery operated votive candles, 2011 Halloween print flag and place mat, Pumpkin Mickey votive candle holder, a few new statues from Jim Shore and Enesco as well as HMH lenticular framed Sally, bone wreath, and many more!
Place Mat and Candles
Halloweentime at Disneyland is here until October 31st!
Below is a photo gallery of some more items Disneyland has to offer during Halloweentime.
This past weekend was the kick off to Disneyland’s Halloween Time celebration. Naturally, we had to be there.
Halloween Time is Here!
Disney's Halloween Time!
We got to the park in the early evening and first took in the sights and sounds of Main Street complete with its Halloween decorations. The street was lined with jack-o-lanterns among other Halloween paraphernalia. It was a welcomed sight. I love Halloween and it feels great to see the decorations in full effect.
Giant Mickey Pumpkin!
The Emporium is Celebrating!
At the park’s hub, the usual jack-o-lanterns were on display representing each of Disneyland’s lands. I really love that attention to detail.
Pumpkins Around the Hub
After getting a fast pass for Space Mountain, we made our way to the Haunted Mansion Holiday to take some pictures before it got too dark. The Mansion really looks beautiful. On our way through New Orleans Square, I naturally had to pass a closed Pirates of the Caribbean. How sad it was for me.
I Hate Seeing a Closed Pirates...
The Haunted Mansion Holiday is Here!
See How Jack Has Decked the Halls
The first attraction we went on was the Matterhorn Bobsleds. I love the Matterhorn what with its icy caverns and abominable snowmen animatronics. My favorite thing happened on this particular ride too. I love when you are racing right next to the bobsled on the other track. We were neck and neck and then it looked as though we were going to crash into each other, when at the last second, our bobsled plunged right under the other bobsled’s track. That is really one of the most thrilling things you can do at Disneyland. For the best Matterhorn experience, take the track on the left side. If this head to head race happens, it is much more thrilling plunging underneath. Oh and I also noticed that in the control room, a cast member put an abominable snowman doll on display. It was very fun finding him! I love when cast members do fun things like that.
The Matterhorn Bobsleds
Look in the Window!
We were a bit hungry after our bobsled run, so we decided to snack on some corn cobs. We sat in that little area near the Matterhorn where the Motor Boat Cruise attraction used to be. I love that area because it is so isolated and untouched. While eating our delicious corn, some ducks came up to us and we fed them. They ate popcorn right out of my hand! It was very fun.
Corn
Duck
Home of the Former Motor Boat Cruise
After walking around the park for a little while, we decided it was time for dinner so we went to the French Market which was all decked out for Halloween. They have many of the same props that are inside the Haunted Mansion Holiday. I had a delicious sandwich which came in a Jack Skellington Coffin Box! A very neat collector’s item.
Inside the French Market
We then visited the Golden Horseshoe to see the new railings they put on the top floor. It is annoying that they had to add them, but times change. Of course, the Golden Horseshoe is better without those added railings, but it’s not a terrible eyesore like the changes they made to the Alice in Wonderland attraction.
Safety First
As we were walking out of the Golden Horseshoe, we stopped to look at the Day of the Dead display in Frontierland. It was very neat and festive. We took many pictures of the skeleton band.
The Skeleton Band
It was finally time for the Haunted Mansion Holiday! We had our fast passes, which cut the line down from 40 minutes to 5 minutes. The ride was excellent. It all seemed the same as last year with the exception of a snowflake lighting effect at the end of the Stretching Room scene and a new Gingerbread House. The Gingerbread House this year is amazing! It is a giant replica of the Mansion itself and it splits in half to create a larger than life set of jaws. It takes a few chomps, then returns to its original form. It was really excellent. The rest of the ride is just as great as it always is. One thing I did notice was that the ghost playing the Organ in the Ballroom Scene was missing his hat! I wonder what happened to it!
Haunted Mansion Holiday
Ho Ho Ho
A Graveyard That's Covered in Ghostly White Snow
After the Haunted Mansion Holiday, what does one do, but go on again. So we headed back into that mysterious old Mansion and experienced another great ride thru.
Round Two
Then it was finally time for Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy! I love this overlay, especially the exterior queue. The projections and audio effects on the Mountain itself are wonderful. It is everything you can ask for from a Halloween attraction. Unfortunately, the interior queue is untouched from its usual form. The ride was very fun, except we did not see the ghost that flies along side your rocket. I hope they eventually put him in because that is the most exciting part of the overlay. Even without that ghost, it was still a very fun time.
Notice the Lighting Effect on the Mountain
Ghost Galaxy!
Casey Jr. Circus Train was up next. We have been riding this a lot lately and I love it every time. There is something really special about it and I love the detail of the Storybook Land scenes. My favorite part is when you are passing the mountains above Pinocchio’s village.
All Aboard!
After Casey Jr., we saw that Snow White’s Scary Adventures had a short line, so we did that. Snow White is a great dark ride. I really love it and I love the new lighting effects that were added a couple of years ago. The projected rain effect in the climax is really excellent. It looks amazing.
The Wicked Queen Looks Down Upon Us
We survived our encounter with the Queen, and headed back down Main Street. We took a look at some more Halloween decorations and really let the beginning of the holiday sink in. It is going to be a wonderful Halloween and what’s a better way to start it than with a trip to Disneyland.
There will even be a party at Hotel Marceline on Main Street!
Ahoy there, Crew! Today be “Talk Like a Pirate Day” and ye Disney Parks Blog be celebratin’. They be postin’ all things Pirates, includin’ this here video of Walt describin’ what’s to come to New Orleans Square.
So Mark well me words mateys… Dead Men Tell No Tales!
Here is a photo from last week of workers scrubbing down Space Mountain to prepare for the opening of Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy!
Whistle While You Work!
I believe Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy is now open and I can’t wait to ride it! It is a very fun Halloween Overlay! Let us know your thoughts on this Halloween treat.
