Grinning pumpkins glare from window sills of Main Street USA.  Ochre bunting along the roof lines and awnings.  Yes, it’s Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort.  The special Fall festivities began on September 14th and will run through October 31st. Disneyland Park is carrying the lion’s share of the special themed offerings in the resort that include the usual attraction overlays like Haunted Mansion Holiday and Ghost Galaxy, and the new Halloween Carnival Jamboree in Frontierland.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

Main Street, U.S.A.
The Pumpkin festival has arrived and Main Street is alive with autumnal merriment.  Red, orange and yellow bunting cover the buildings while pumpkins are nestled into every corner.  This is the “Boo” type of Halloween that Disney offers so well and excels at.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortGrim Grinning Pumpkins

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortThe Mickey Pumpkin Photo op has taken its rightful place at the center of Town Square.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortDark leafed sprays puff from the flower baskets in the hub.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortCharacter pumpkins surround the Partners statue.

Ghost Galaxy
Ghost Galaxy returns with the same amount of spooky fun it has always had.  This is a fun overlay.  We really love it.  We can even excuse the relatively forgetful soundtrack.  But once again, nothing is new.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortLooks normal here.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortGreen lighting  and a buggy monitor above are the extent of the themeing in the queue

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

Disney, could you please consider adding a few little things to this to freshen up this overlay?  The key ingredient for anything scary is surprise.  If we know what is coming, how will there be any real effect? Haunted Mansion Holiday gets a new Gingerbread house every year, why cant we get a little more theme in the queue,  some surprise projections in other areas, or perhaps switching the side the final scare comes from.  There are some low-cost ways to goose things up a bit. Perhaps our readers have a few ideas to share.

Haunted Mansion Holiday
Jack Skellington returns to deck the halls of the Haunted Mansion with his own brand of Holiday cheer.  The annual makeover has now become a holiday tradition that many look forward to year after year.  At least this Halloween treat still holds a few minor surprises.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

In conjunction with the release of the new film Frankenweenie an additional grave has been added to the pet cemetery.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortGood ol’ Sparky, we knew him well.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortThe others look just as maudlin as we’d expect to find them.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort
The carriage is all decked out.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortInside, the foyer is delightfully creepy

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortJack wishes all a pre-emptive Happy Holidays!

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortThe Gingerbread house is a tall slender structure this year.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortAnd here’s a nice surprise, it features a new pepper’s Ghost effect of a train

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

 

Halloween Carnival Jamboree
One truly delightful surprise of this year’s Halloween festivities is the charming new Halloween Carnival Jamboree.  Fashioned after the homespun, roadside carnivals and side shows, the Jamboree is situated back in the Big Thunder Ranch area of Frontierland.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort
Vintage looking signs guide guests towards the back of the park.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortIn front of the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ the surreys are all covered in Fall props

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort
The cabin is now called the Scare-Dy-Crow Shack and is populated by those creepy but fun scare crow figures.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort


The arena is all awash in orange and black.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortBilly Hill and the Hillbillies play to the crowds that wander in.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortThey even have Candy Corn Cotton Candy. Neat!

Conjure a Villian – In a pretty interesting and creative solution, the normal villains walk that appeared on the Small World Mall was rendered homeless after the the popular Princess meet and greet moved in there.  So the entertainment team brewed up a new meet and greet concept with a villainous twist and included it in the Halloween Carnival Jamboree.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort
Princesses with precedence.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortEntering the tent one hears ominous music.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortBanners outside advertise which villains might appear.

 

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

Halloween Tree
Whimsy has turned to sentiment with the return of the small Halloween Tree in Frontierland.  The tree honors Ray Bradbury (who passed this year) and reminds us of his fun, creative mind.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

Zocalo Park
Also back is the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) themed Zocalo Park.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

MAD HATTER
In other, non Halloween, news the Mad Hatter is currently under refurbishment.  Guests exiting the Opera House are directed through the entrance doors.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

CITY HALL
Things are still under wraps at City Hall.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

PRINCESS FANTASY FAIRE
Here is the latest from the Fantasy Faire Village.  Most of the structures are now shrouded behind screens.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

CASEY JR. CIRCUS TRAIN and STORYBOOK
Meanwhile the Casey Jr. Circus Train and Storybookland Canal boats are still down with their sudden, unexpected refurbishment.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

REDD ROKETT’S PIZZA PORT
Work continues on the exterior of the Tomorrowland Pizzeria.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortDisney California Adventure has taken a subdued approach to Halloween, with one notable exception.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

FRANKENWEENIE EXHIBIT
DCA’s big Halloween addition is the traveling Frankenweenie exhibit that is currently on display in the courtyard of the animation building.  Even if you aren’t interested in seeing the film, this is a fascinating look at the artistry that goes into creating a stop-motion animation film.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

Entering the courtyard things are darker.  The normal animation loop that plays on the screens hovering above the space are now cycling the title of the exhibit and an occasional animation.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

In the center of the courtyard there is a set of dioramas that display the sets, props and characters from the movie.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortAt the Attic display, there are switches that turn a number of lighting effects on and off inside the set itself.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort
The classroom scene is a lot of fun to study.

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland ResortThe teacher looks suspiciously like Vincent Price, no?

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

disneyland, Halloween Hoopla at the Disneyland Resort

And that should do it for this week.  Get out and explore Halloween Time early, as there is plenty to see and enjoy without having to pay to get into the up-charge party at night.  Get there soon though, because before you know it there will be a Christmas tree moving into Town Square.

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Norman Gidney
Norman Gidney, also known as Fishbulb, has produced and edited many of the articles on MiceChat over the years.