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.
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.
Grim Grinning Pumpkins
The Mickey Pumpkin Photo op has taken its rightful place at the center of Town Square.
Dark leafed sprays puff from the flower baskets in the hub.
Character 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.
Looks normal here.
Green lighting and a buggy monitor above are the extent of the themeing in the queue
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.
In conjunction with the release of the new film Frankenweenie an additional grave has been added to the pet cemetery.
Good ol’ Sparky, we knew him well.
The others look just as maudlin as we’d expect to find them.
The carriage is all decked out.
Inside, the foyer is delightfully creepy
Jack wishes all a pre-emptive Happy Holidays!
The Gingerbread house is a tall slender structure this year.
And here’s a nice surprise, it features a new pepper’s Ghost effect of a train
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.
Vintage looking signs guide guests towards the back of the park.
In front of the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ the surreys are all covered in Fall props
The cabin is now called the Scare-Dy-Crow Shack and is populated by those creepy but fun scare crow figures.
The arena is all awash in orange and black.
Billy Hill and the Hillbillies play to the crowds that wander in.
They 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.
Princesses with precedence.
Entering the tent one hears ominous music.
Banners outside advertise which villains might appear.
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.
Zocalo Park
Also back is the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) themed Zocalo Park.
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.
CITY HALL
Things are still under wraps at City Hall.
PRINCESS FANTASY FAIRE
Here is the latest from the Fantasy Faire Village. Most of the structures are now shrouded behind screens.
CASEY JR. CIRCUS TRAIN and STORYBOOK
Meanwhile the Casey Jr. Circus Train and Storybookland Canal boats are still down with their sudden, unexpected refurbishment.
REDD ROKETT’S PIZZA PORT
Work continues on the exterior of the Tomorrowland Pizzeria.
Disney California Adventure has taken a subdued approach to Halloween, with one notable exception.
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.
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.
In the center of the courtyard there is a set of dioramas that display the sets, props and characters from the movie.
At the Attic display, there are switches that turn a number of lighting effects on and off inside the set itself.
The classroom scene is a lot of fun to study.
The teacher looks suspiciously like Vincent Price, no?
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.