Me, Ryan, Nabila and Vanessa Dressed-Up for Mickey’s Halloween Party!
During our visit to the Disneyland park in Anaheim, California, earlier this month, my friends and I bought tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party. The party, which is an after-hours event, officially starts at 7pm and runs until midnight - although people who don’t already have day-pass for the park, have access from 4pm. Do notice tickets do sell out, so make sure to pre-buy your tickets if you wish to attend!
Mickey’s Halloween Party is held at the park on select evenings throughout the month of October. Tickets run from USD$55 to $75 depending on the day, and include unlimited access to most rides in the park, as well as some really cool extras. The ticket entrance is a little high, but my friends and I absolutely loved the party.
Mickey Mouse (maybe it’s the people who run the park, but my version sounds better) encourages his guests to dress up for his party. As it is a family event, Mickey does advise that party-goers are mindful on their costume choice: something that isn’t obstructing and isn’t too scary for the little ones. The atmosphere inside the park changes instantly as everyone in attendance is right in character, with at least 95% of party guests donning costumes.
The party offers a bunch of cool little extras that make the entry cost worth it:
Meeting the Evil Queen
VILLAINS TAKE OVER:
As soon as we stepped inside the park, we noticed that Main Street USA had extra Halloween decorations for the party (even more than the usual Halloween-time decorations put of from September 16th until the end of October).
In six different corners of the Main Street square, villains from various Disney movies stood menacingly, taking pictures and chatting with party goers. About every 45 minutes, thunder stroke, the lights flickered and an evil music filled the square, as a horse-drawn carriage, followed by cinderella’s evil stepmother and step-sisters, stopped at each photo station, picking up a villain and dropping up a new one.
Meeting up and taking pictures with some of Disney’s most hated feared beloved villains is great; villains old and new – from the Evil Queen, the Queen of Hearts, and Maleficent, to the Voodoo Master, Frollo, and Jaffar- make an appearance. The switching of the villains is an incredible spectacle in its own right, and the added treat of having Cinderella’s step-family present is quite funny.
TRICK OR TREATING:
No Halloween is complete with trick or treating – and Mickey Mouse never disappoints in his parties. There were multiple trick or treating stations scattered around the park, with each station having about 5-8 trick or treating booths. When I read “trick or treating” as part of the party, I assumed I’d leave the party with a chocolate bar or two… well, think again, my friend. At the end of the night, each one of us had filled our trick or treating bag (a small reusable bag provided at the entrance), and were filling our bags and purses with the extra candy we continued to collect. Not sure why we didn’t stop – it seemed our inner greedy children couldn’t get enough sugar!
Trick or Treating Station Signs
Going from station to station (they are all marked in the special Mickey’s Halloween Party Disneyland maps printed out specially for the party) was great fun. It seems all party-goers, regardless of age, enjoyed the festivities and let their inner child loose on the candy-hunt.
The cast members (aka Disneyland staff) in charge of giving out candy happily gave out handfuls of candies no questions asked – and the party goers happily collected them.
MICKEY’S COSTUME PARTY CAVALCADE:
Dressed-up in their Halloween Best, popular Disney characters joined in the party in a special night-time parade specifically designed for party-goers. The Halloween Cavalcade runs twice on party nights, allowing party guests to see it at their leisure.
The parade was great. In fact, out of the three parades we saw (the other two being the regular daily parades at each Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Parks), this was by far the best. The costumes, the music, the props and the floats… everything was well put together.
After the parade, Mickey and Minnie Mouse (and allegedly Goofy, Pluto, and Donald and Daisy Duck – although I can’t guarantee it as we didn’t see them again) are out and about wearing their Halloween outfits, waiting to take pictures with their guests.
HALLOWEEN SCREAM-TASTIC FIREWORKS:
The much awaited special fireworks were… I hate to say this, but here it goes… the most disappointing part of the party… and of Disneyland itself, perhaps.
Not sure if it was the anticipation, high expectations, being jaded from seeing other amazing fireworks displays, or the fact that half the audience couldn’t witness the fireworks due to poor placement, but I was extremely – and I mean extremely - disappointed in the fireworks show.
Part of the Fireworks Show We Could See (Photo Credit: my friend Vanessa Siu)
Having said that, I will admit parts of it were good. The giant flames coming out of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle were actually very impressive, the music and synchronized lighting of the caste was cool, and some of the fireworks were good. Seeing a giant Zero, from Nightmare Before Christmas, flying above the castle was a great little unexpected treat.
The main problem was that, the fireworks are not behind the castle as advised by Disneyland staff, but slightly to the left of the castle. The area to the centre of the castle is kept clear throughout the fireworks show- I assume to act as an escape route in case of an emergency - taking up some of the best viewing spots. Being asked by staff to move towards the left of the castle, directly across from where the fireworks are fired, the giant trees in front of us covered our view of about 90% of the fireworks. There was apparently also a huge sphere hanging in the air, in which characters telling the story were reflected (Jack Skellington, Ursula, the Evil Queen), but again, the giant trees covered that from the view of everyone standing on the left hand side.
I assume if I had actually been able to see the entire show (instead of the 10% of fireworks the giant trees allowed me to see), I’d have a different perception about the show. As a tip, find a good spot on the right side of the castle so you can enjoy the entire show.
For the record, I have nothing against giant trees. My issue with them in this instance was their placement during the fireworks show!
Ryan Meets Jack Skellington
JACK SKELLINGTON
One of Disney’s most beloved Halloween movies, The Nightmare Before Christmas is frequently showcased throughout Disneyland during Halloween time – from a spruced-up Haunted Mansion featuring The Nightmare Before Christmas decorations and narration, to tens of Nightmare memorabilia and souvenirs.
Unofficially wanting to be the host of the party, Jack Skellington is available during Mickey’s Halloween Party for meet-and-greets with the party guests, along with his love interest Sally. Jack and Sally can be found outside the Haunted Mansion, but due to popularity (and Jack’s seemingly endless chatter) the lines can be quite long, so be prepared to spend a big chunk of the party waiting to meet him.
Do note as well that Sally seems to come and go as she pleases, so there is no guarantee you’ll meet her. Two of my friends got to meet both of them, while the other two of us only got to meet Jack. But, as Jack responded when I asked if Sally had left for good: “let’s face it [he is] the true star of the show…” no argument there!
******
Mickey’s Halloween Party to me was definitely worth its cost, and I highly recommended. Despite the Fireworks mishap, the party was one of my favourite memories from Disneyland and I’d do it again in a heart-beat.
If you’re in the Los Angeles area around Halloween, go check out the party!
Filed under: •CA: Disneyland / OC, Events
