Happy Halloween everyone! The Disneyland Resort is in the middle of a major holiday identity crisis as we reach All Hallows’ Eve today, October 31st. Yes, there are still oodles of orange bunting on Main Street and pumpkins in the hub, but Sleeping Beauty Castle is covered in ghostly white snow and New Orleans Square is nearly fully decorated. We also have the full listing of recently published refurbishment schedules from Disney and a look throughout Disneyland and Disney California Adventure as the Holidays creep in.
Halloween / Christmas
Pumpkins on the outside, snow on the inside. Disneyland is in transition from Halloween to Christmas as the parks gear up for their famous festivities.
While a strange sight to see a snow covered castle as the backdrop for Halloween, perhaps we should pretend that Jack Skellington has escaped from the confines of Haunted Mansion Holiday to spread more cheer throughout the park.
Main Street Alley
With the Main Street corridor nearly complete, we are seeing subtle signs that this area will be put to use very soon.
While it won’t be anything elaborate, it will be nice to have this safety valve to relieve pressure when Main Street is gridlocked – as it often is during the holidays.
Coke Corner and Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor
The refurbishment of the façades for both the Coke Corner and Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor have been concluded revealing some lovely work.
Last of the Pumpkins
Here we take our last look at the masterful pumpkin carving in Big Thunder Ranch’s Halloween Carnival.
New Orleans Square Christmas
Over in New Orleans Square, Christmas has landed with much of the ornate decorations already in place.
Refurb Round Up
Mark Twain Riverboat
- Big Thunder Ranch: Closed November 1—6 to remove Halloween overlay and install Christmas overlay.
- Jungle Cruise: Closed November 3-13 to for refurbishment and to install Jingle Cruise overlay.
- Remember Dreams Come True- It is widely believed that this will be the last weekend to see this extravaganza that has been running off and on for the past 10 years at Disneyland. With the start of the Holidays at the resort the traditional Christmas show will be presented. When the holidays conclude, the classic, less synchronized Fantasy in the Sky fireworks show will be presented until the 60th Anniversary fireworks are premiered in the summer of 2015.
Christmas Creep
At Disney California Adventure we see that a less aggressive version of the Christmas Creep is taking hold. While the shops are gearing up for the holidays now, we don’t see many of the other decorations up.
Buena Vista Street
The first signs of an impending holiday always happen in the stores first. Get those souvenirs and other merchandise on the shelves pronto! Then deal with the other bits of less important decorations.
A Bug’s Land
The adorably oversized holiday decorations are up and in place amongst the clovers in A Bug’s Land.
Cars Land
The more ornate decorations in Cars Land have yet to be installed, save for Luigi’s which consists of lights and a star topper.
Pacific Wharf
Again, the less ornate pieces of set dressing are going up first in Pacific Wharf with the light strings above the walk way already in place.
The lull between the holidays will be a great time stop and smell the flowers. Crowds should lessen next week until they pick back up again around Thanksgiving. One of our favorite times of the year.
Refurb Round Up
- Bakery Tour: Closed October 31-January 16 for Rosie removal and refurbishment.
- Turtle Talk with Crush: Closed October 28-29 for refurbishment.
- Goofy’s Sky School: Closed December 1 for refurbishment.
- Toy Story Midway Mania!: Closed December 8-11 for refurbishment.
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: Closed January 5-8 for refurbishment.
- Soarin’ Over California: Closed January 6-May 14 for refurbishment.
- World of Color: Dark January 7-March 12 for refurbishment.
- Luigi’s Flying Tires: Closed January 12-December 1, 2015 for conversion to new attraction (not officially announced).
- Blue Sky Cellar: Closed indefinitely.
Happy Holidays Halloween everyone!!! That rounds things out for us this week as we get ready to dive into the next major holiday. While we can’t wait to nibble gingerbread and peppermint on Main Street while watching the Christmas Fantasy Parade, we will take today to savor the final pumpkins carved in the Festival arena and enjoy the unique not so scary decorations throughout Disneyland.
If you still are undecided on what to do for Halloween, we have plenty of suggestions for you.
Here are some amazing offerings in the LA/Orange County area which we have covered this season: Knott’s Scary Farm, Universal Studios Hollywood, Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, Six Flags Fright Fest, Haunted Hay Ride, Delusion, Empty Grave, Sinister Point. Plus the many home haunts and seasonal activities in the area we didn’t have time to cover. Get out there and enjoy your Halloween!
We need your help to do something good
MiceChat is supporting the effort to save and preserve the home that Walt Disney was born in. Sadly, the house is in jeopardy. But with your help we can restore the place where the magic began. Phase One restoration is ready to begin, but funds to restore ten windows, refurbish and paint the original wood siding hammered into place by Elias Disney himself must be raised by December 5th (Walt’s birthday)! The windows have been ordered, the paint crew ready to go, and work is scheduled to begin . . . all we need is you!
To make the process as easy and rewarding as possible, the Walt Disney Birthplace crew have launched a Start Some Good campaign which offers rewards in exchange for donations.
Please show your support for this fantastic project with a pledge. Any amount, large or small, is welcomed! There are even opportunities to get your name on the project (engraved paver stones, sponsored windows or major sponsorship). If you have a friend or company which may want to get involved, please be sure to share this message.
Thanks so much for your support folks. Together, we can start some good!
We will see you again soon, In The Parks!
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