Wordless Wednesday - Haunted Mansion Holiday

Halloween Time at Disneyland! - The Magical Blogorail Blue

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Blue. Enjoy the ride as we share our favorite aspects of Halloween Time in the parks.

"Almost" Wordless Wedensday - Thanksgiving Edition!

Well, it's that time of the week again! Time to bust out with some randomness and throw out a few of our favorite slices of the Disneyland Resort over the past week. As always, we like to present our pictures on the fly, which means we don't carry around a big DSLR or anything like that, we just point and click with our cells. This batch came out extremely well, we think, because Chad was rocking his new iPhone 4S! You be the judge, though!

By now you're probably either staring at the clock ready to be off of work, or on your way traveling somewhere, but we wanted to say a "Happy Thanksgiving" to all of you out there. We're truly thankful for those of you who have followed us over the last couple of years, and we look forward to many more with you. Now, go eat!

Flo's is pretty darn cool in the best of times, but add in some Christmas decor... Epic!!!

Up close and personal with a tow truck

"I can't talk now! I'm racin'!!!"

Ripping it up at the Mad T Party

Alice belting out "Just A Girl" at the Mad T Party

Jack Skellington hanging out and interacting with Guests above New Orleans Square

Lightning takes a leisurely Sunday drive through Radiator Springs

"Let me out!"

One of the REALLY good reasons we live in Southern California...

Now THAT'S a Christmas decoration!

Halloween Screams at Disneyland's Mickey's Halloween Party

One of the events (within the event) that we were most excited about this year during Disneyland's Mickey's Halloween Party was definitely the "Halloween Screams" fireworks show special to the Halloween season inside The Park.

"Halloween Screams" debuted back in 2009 at Disneyland, and was originally just a special fireworks show which "aired", if you will, nightly at Disneyland.  It proved so popular, however, that Disneyland quickly decided a change was necessary to help deal with crowd-control during the show.  Last year Disney decided to move the show into Mickey's Halloween Party during its first year at Disneyland, and as a result you can now only see it if you buy a ticket for the Halloween Party yourself.  We've already mentioned we didn't go to Mickey's Party last year, and as such we missed the show, of course.

For those who may be unfamiliar with it, "Halloween Screams" is G"hosted" by Jack Skellington, in the form of a great big balloon behind the castle, who takes everyone on a playful romp with several of the best known Disney Villains through music and fireworks.  Each segment, if you will, of the show highlights a different Villain, who also appears on the balloon and talks to the audience alongside the music and fireworks.  Some of the Villains highlighted during the show (and some of our favorites) included: Cruella de Vil, The Big Bad Wolf, Ursula, Maleficent, and of course, Oogie Boogie.  It's really quite an amazing thing to see and experience and definitely something well-suited for this time of year.  And who doesn't love a specialty fireworks extravaganza?  We've been dying to see it again since we hadn't since it debuted, so it was definitely one of our "musts" for the evening.

And wouldn't you know it, we were lucky enough to be able to grab some decent shots of the show to share with you!  Fireworks can be tricky things (as anyone who has ever tried taking photos of them can attest) so we took about 100 during the show, and these are some of the ones that we liked the best.  If you ever get the chance to attend Mickey's Halloween Party, we highly suggest making "Halloween Screams" a part of your evening; Disney obviously put a lot of time and creative effort into the show, and it's well worth seeing.

Enjoy!

Character Greetings at Disneyland's Mickey's Halloween Party

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When we first started blogging, just a little over a year ago at this point, it was right around Halloween Time 2010 at the Disneyland Resort.  One of the things that we tried to do was jump right in feet-first and go for the gusto so to speak.  As such, one of the earliest posts we did highlighting the season was to attend the Happiest Haunts Tour with our friends at FindingMickey.com.  It was an awful lot of fun (you can go back and read it to see for yourselves), but what we didn't say was that when we decided to do the Tour, it was a choice between that and Mickey's Halloween Party.  Each and every year, the Disneyland Resort hosts the Halloween Party, where guests are able to go into Disneyland (only if you purchase a special ticket) and watch a special Halloween fireworks show, see a special Halloween parade, see special Disney Villains and characters in some great meet and greets, and go through various trick or treat stations around The Park and get all the candy your little heart can stand (figuratively and literally).  So this year, we knew it was going to be a must for us to attend Mickey's Party; under the guise of it being an official blog assignment of course!

Mark had been to The Party a time or two in the past with his niece while it was still being held at Disney California Adventure Park, but had never attended it since they moved it inside Disneyland Park last year, and Chad had never been period, so it was a new experience of sorts for both of us!  So over the next few days, leading up to Halloween, we're going to share some of our experience (and photos!) with you, our faithful readers.

We decided to go with our friends FindingMickey.com (again!) this year and attended Mickey's Party on the 21st, which was a Friday.  Of course, being the only weekend day when The Party is held, it was crazy crowded with loads of people, but we did manage to do everything we planned on doing.  Part of the problem (if you can really call it that) with Mickey's Halloween Party is that it's only 5 hours long (7pm until midnight), and with so much to see and do, choices have to be made!  We knew we wanted candy (who doesn't?!), and we knew we wanted to see Mickey's Costume Party Cavalcade (parade) and Halloween Screams (fireworks), which left us deciding what characters we wanted to see and what attractions we wanted to ride; not to mention the amount of time it takes to navigate the crowds and move around Disneyland at night.  There was just no way to do everything, unfortunately.

So, looking over our choices we decided to make our way to two different character areas over the course of the night to try for some photos.  Everywhere else had characters that were out fairly frequently anyway, so we opted for some of the more "rarified" ones and decided to try our luck with the Phineas and Ferb Character Greeting (we love that show!), and Jack Skellington and Sally later in the evening in New Orleans Square.  We had originally wanted some pictures with some of the Disney Villains, but when we went by their area they were pretty standard ones you could see any of day of the week, so we were pretty much thwarted in that regard.  But as you can see, the ones we did want to get, we did!  And we're sharing those with you today.

Meeting Phineas and Ferb was just plain awesome.  These guys, of course, really know how to throw a party and if we've learned nothing else from them and their cartoon series, it's that summer shouldn't be wasted and childhood is for the enjoyment of it all!  Can't think of any better characters to have wanted to take our picture with, so score!  

But we got a bonus with this one! Our little calendar of events for the evening said nothing about Agent P, and yet there he was!  Awesomely cool to have our picture taken with possibly the greatest secret agent on the planet?  We think so!

Maybe the coolest (and certainly the funniest) part about the entire thing though was Mark's costume.  He decided to go to The Party as Agent P, and his costume was a hit with pretty much everyone who recognized him during the night.  Simple, yet hilarious!  The Cast Members loved it too, as is evidenced by the fact that they made both of our platypuses turn around and show off their tails.  Probably one of the funniest things we saw all night, and definitely something not everyone got to experience.  We love those special touches!

The picture we most wanted, though, and the one that Chad has coveted the most for such a long time was a shot with Jack Skellington and Sally.  Unfortunately, Sally was a no-show when we finally got over to the line around midnight on our way out of Disneyland, but the Cast Members did a really cool thing in leaving the line open a little past when The Park closed, so we were able to get our shot with Jack.  He was seriously cool to interact with, and even shook Chad's hand and told him he loved his choice of wardrobe.  Although Chad wasn't in costume, he was rocking a Jack T-Shirt, and a compliment from Jack made the whole thing worth it.  And we think that we got a great picture to boot!  It was also, we think, probably the only time we'll ever hear Marilyn Manson inside Disneyland, singing "This Is Halloween" as they spun the "Nightmare Revisited" CD for this particular Greeting.  Too cool!

So there you have it! Our Character Greetings experience from Mickey's Halloween Party.  We think we made some good choices with who we opted for, and we hope you enjoy looking just as much as we enjoyed having the pictures taken.

We'll be back with more fun from The Party over the next few days (featuring the fireworks, parades and more) so stay tuned!

Jack Skellington is Coming Back to the Haunted Mansion!

For today's Disney Flashback we decided to highlight something that is constantly "flashing back" to us, since it appears each and every year around this time!  Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort is quite possibly our favorite time of the year.  There's a new feeling in the air, a new atmosphere if you will; the villains are front and center, there are new attractions and shows to see that really put you in a festive, albeit naughty mood, and it's just plain fun to be around Disneyland when all of this is going on.

Hands down, though, one of our favorite attractions this time of year is when The Haunted Mansion is all transformed and "Tim Burton-ed" into the Haunted Mansion Holiday, featuring Jack Skellington and all of our friends from the Disney classic, "The Nightmare Before Christmas".

We know that a lot of people feel very strongly about this attraction one way or the other, and that the feelings on it run from "We hate it, bring back the classic!" to "We love it, never bring back the classic!", and we're definitely somewhere in the middle.  We would fight tooth and nail to see the classic return to us every winter, but we're also not too ashamed to say that we look forward to Jack roaming the halls again each and every Halloween.

And it's almost that time again!  Halloween has snuck up on us really quickly this year, and it's almost time for the transformation to be complete.  We didn't even realize it until we were at Disneyland earlier this week and noticed that The Haunted Mansion was down for refurbishments.  As soon as saw it, though, we could feel the excitement coursing through our veins!   When this article publishes on our blog, it will be 7 days (September 16) and counting until Halloween at Disneyland!  We can't wait to get out there and enjoy all that this time of year has to offer and share it with everyone on the blog.

We know this is last year's picture, but it is a Flashback after all

So, are you as excited for Halloween at Disneyland as we are?  We'll be writing about everything going on at Disneyland all month long and hope everyone will be along for the ride, because it's going to be a great one!  For more information on Halloween Time at Disneyland, be sure and check out the official site at http://www.disneyland.com/halloween. 

And look for more information, pictures and thoughts on Haunted Mansion Holiday throughout the season.  We can't wait!

DITP Perspective: Haunted Mansion Holiday

This DITP Perspective does not deal with The Haunted Mansion proper, but rather the annual seasonal overlay which opens in roughly late-September of every year, and closes in early January. 

"What's inside is what happens when two holidays collide..."

Average Wait Time:  20 - 30 minutes
Approximate Ride Length:  8 minutes

The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Park originally opened in 1969.  For those uninitiated, The Haunted Mansion is a "tour", if you will, through none other than a Haunted Mansion (see what they did there!).  Victims board Doom Buggies in order to take a ride through the manor and meets its many spooky denizens.

In 2001 Disney, seeking an alternative overlay for The Haunted Mansion, decided to bring in Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas", and the Mansion has been transformed for the holidays every season since.

Much like the standard Haunted Mansion, guests begin their journey wending their way through an outside graveyard of sorts before finally entering the Mansion itself.  Ushered into the infamous stretching room, visitors are welcomed in with a brief overview of exactly what has happened to our beloved Mansion and the culprit responsible for doing so, Jack Skellington.

The culprit responsible for all of the holiday shenanigans

Once done with the stretching room, guests continue into the Hall of Portraits to peruse an art selection unlike any other (mostly Nightmare characters engaged in various Nightmare activities), while waiting for their respective Doom Buggies to arrive and carry them to their final destination (not so subtle attempt at horror humor, there).

Haunted Mansion Holiday doesn't deviate much from the path (Metaphorical path, not literal.  It's on a track, after all. Where else is it gonna go?) already taken during the regular Haunted Mansion.  Your Doom Buggie follows its charted course through the Mansion's hallways, seance room, Grand Ballroom, attic, graveyard, and finally crypt.

The difference, of course, is that the Mansion is now almost completely decked out in Nightmare regalia.  It's hyper-colorful (a bit like riding Alice In Wonderland or The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh, in point of fact), and is replete with holiday decorations (after a sort).

Just a few of DITP's favorite Haunted Mansion Holiday moments include:

• Jack's dog, Zero, is now a resident prowling in the Endless Hall
• Madame Leota, floating, now chants about "The 13 Days of Christmas"
• The ballroom of waltzing ghosts is now decked out completely for the Holidays, complete with a HUGE gingerbread house and dead Christmas tree; the scent of gingerbread as you go through the room now is guaranteed to make your mouth water
• The attic now contains many zany presents and toys from the Nightmare movie
• You've got to love the mountain and random angelic Jack o'Lanterns

• Our friend the gravedigger and his mangy cur (Seriously, it's a wonder that dog is alive.  Or is he?) have been replaced by our friends Jack and Zero...

• Upon entering the crypt Oogie Boogie now invites you to join him in a game of chance whilst Lock, Shock and Barrel (replacing the Ghostly Hitchhikers) offer you a ghastly present on your way out.

Yes, I blurred him on purpose.

And last but certainly not least, what Nightmare Before Christmas attraction would be complete without a bevy of snippets from Danny Elfman's many amazingly wonderful (yet haunting) songs composed for the movie?

Words won't do all of the changes inside the attraction justice.  Although, if you're a Haunted Mansion purist, there is indeed a chance you might not like the changes within your hallowed haunt (we've heard it before).  

However, if you're like us and a change of pace isn't necessarily a bad thing, coupled with an intense love for The Nightmare Before Christmas, then Haunted Mansion Holiday may be just the thing for you.  For us, it takes all the best elements of the Haunted Mansion, and raises them to the Jack Skellington degree.  And really, it won't be long at all before Jack bids us adieu for another year.  

Haunted Mansion Holiday comes highly recommended.



Tips for Haunted Mansion Holiday

• Although Haunted Mansion Holiday is a general audiences attraction that anyone can ride, know your kids and what makes them tick.  It is a dark ride.  There are also moments during the ride with loud sudden noises, and some fairly tame shocks/scares.  However, if my own children at a young age were any indication (the big chickens!), some children may become frightened.  Proceed with caution, or suffer a yowling child to go along with the yowling ghosts.  
• The FastPass machines for The Haunted Mansion are active while Haunted Mansion Holiday is installed.  We suggest you use them!  Often times we'll pop in, grab our pass, and then go grab a quick bite (or a quick ride; Pirates, perhaps?) and come back.  Beats waiting in line, especially if you have children in tow.
• Lastly, enjoy it!  Don't get caught up in whether or not the changes within should have been made, or whether they stink or not.  They were.  They will continue to be.  You might as well grab a friend, hop on the ride, and just appreciate it for what it is.  A jolly good show!

Oh, and on your way out, pay a special visit to Little Oogie, who is busy churning out the popcorn during the Holiday Season.

 

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Behold The Ears of Mouse: Jack Skellington

We got the idea for these little segments after noticing just how many different varieties of mouse ears there are floating around the Park.  It's a money-making machine, no doubt!

We thought it might be fun to post them as we come across them; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Let us know what you think; and if you see any that you like, or consider heinous and worthy of destruction via a good stomping, drop us a line and we'll check them out. 

Jack Skellington Ears - complete with flashing lights on the head and ears, and a nice velvet lined box to keep them in (World of Disney, Downtown Disney)

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What's This? What's This? Dessert!

Counting down the days until I get to go to Disneyland for the first time of the Halloween season (the Magic Number is now at 2).  I was looking through some photos of last year's trip and came across this one I thought I would share.

My photo skills are pretty much non-existent, but I love taking them, and I was kind of stoked about the way this one turned out.  

It didn't hurt that it tasted really good, either.  Hopefully I can double down this year.  

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