{"id":57461,"date":"2017-10-18T12:00:48","date_gmt":"2017-10-18T16:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=57461"},"modified":"2022-04-09T00:26:52","modified_gmt":"2022-04-09T04:26:52","slug":"halloween-time-disneyland-resort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/halloween-time-disneyland-resort\/","title":{"rendered":"Fall Fever, Haul-O-Ween Hijinks and Pumpkin Pandemonium Sweep Disneyland Resort During Halloween Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Fall Fever has swept the nation\u2026 or at least the Internet.\u00a0\u00a0 On September 22nd<\/sup>, as summer moseyed off into the mist and autumn greeted us with promises of cozy comforts and caramel apple treats, social media feeds across America and beyond were filled with cheerful messages of \u201cHappy Fall, Y\u2019all!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Tranquil images of magnificent-golden meadows and magical pathways strewn with amber leaves cascaded down our Facebook and Instagram pages.\u00a0\u00a0 It was as if a collective sigh of relief filled the air, as people took to the streets to dance with reckless abandon at the changing of the seasons.\u00a0\u00a0 (Okay\u2026 maybe I am the only one who danced in the street. Don\u2019t judge.)<\/p>\n

Fall has come to Disneyland Resort<\/a> as well, and I recently had a chance to stroll around and take photos of some of the highlights to share with you here.<\/p>\n

Halloween Time<\/a> is in full swing in Disneyland Park<\/a>, with the return of the annual Pumpkin Festival on Main Street, Mickey\u2019s Halloween Party<\/a>, Haunted Mansion Holiday<\/a>, Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy<\/a> and the Dia de los Muertos<\/a> display in Frontierland.\u00a0\u00a0 Here are a few images from Main Street…<\/p>\n

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The Pumpkin Festival features over 300 different pumpkins perched in different places along Main Street…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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These giant balloons only appear on Mickey’s Halloween Party nights…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The 2017 Halloween cup…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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And — for the first time in eight years — Disney California Adventure Park<\/a> is joining in on the fun<\/a>.\u00a0 This time, instead of candy corn sprouting from palm trees and cacti (R.I.P., Candy Corn Acres), as it did in 2009, the cornerstone of California Adventure\u2019s Halloween celebration is Cars Land\u2019s inaugural Haul-O-Ween. Buena Vista Street is not without its own new decorations package, but there is no getting around the fact that Cars Land is the true highlight.<\/p>\n

It should be noted that news of Guardians of the Galaxy \u2013 Monsters After Dark<\/a>\u00a0was announced after my August Halloween Time preview article<\/a> was published,\u00a0which is why it was not included in\u00a0the “New in 2017” category.\u00a0\u00a0 Additionally, more details of California Adventure’s Dia de los Muertos-inspired Plaza de la Familia<\/a>\u00a0event were released in September.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9Disney \u00a9Marvel — concept art for Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Ever since Buena Vista Street and Cars Land opened in 2012<\/a>, and especially after seeing the incredible holiday season makeovers<\/a> for each land<\/a>, I have envisioned the many possibilities for future Halloween transformations and hoped that what I conceptualized in my mind would one day come to fruition.\u00a0\u00a0 When considering how Buena Vista Street could be enhanced, I suppose I always assumed that it would entail a retro take on the holiday, filled with vintage window displays and\u00a0artwork depicting cherubic trick-or-treaters.\u00a0\u00a0 Nothing too over-the-top\u00a0or colorful… a more subdued overlay, if you will.<\/p>\n

In July of this year, I was elated to learn that, at long last, Buena Vista Street and Cars Land were going to receive those\u00a0overdue Halloween Time adornments.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Needless to say, I was a bit surprised to\u00a0discover that Buena Vista Street’s\u00a0eerie embellishments would be heavily influenced by The Nightmare Before Christmas<\/em>, with an appearance by a Headless Horseman statue.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Disney\u00a0revealed that Oogie Boogie would be looming over the entrance to California Adventure, unleashing swarms of bats, and that the theme would continue throughout the land.<\/p>\n

Being the overly analytical person that I am, I must admit that I could not make\u00a0heads or tails out\u00a0of why Oogie Boogie would be interested in California Adventure in the first place — was there a\u00a0narrative behind it?\u00a0\u00a0 Or did the Oog-ster just wake up one day and decide to\u00a0amble across the Esplanade to see what was going on in Disneyland’s sister park?\u00a0\u00a0 The fundamental premise sounded strange to\u00a0me.\u00a0\u00a0 It seemed as if Disney — known for masterful storytelling — was trying to shoehorn The Nightmare Before Christmas<\/em> into\u00a0a park\u00a0in which\u00a0it was never really a focus in any previous Halloween Time season, just to create\u00a0a sort of through line between the two parks’ observance of the spookiest time of the year.<\/p>\n

Speaking of not being able to make heads or tails out of something… the Headless Horseman statue, on the other hand, made complete sense to me.\u00a0 \u00a0(See what I did there?)\u00a0\u00a0 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow<\/em> is a very old tale, and I could picture the fine Citizens of Buena Vista Street<\/a> being caught up in the mystique of it.\u00a0\u00a0 But the Headless Horseman sharing prime real estate with the\u00a0not<\/em>-very-subdued\u00a0Oogie Boogie and assorted wacky\u00a0Nightmare Before Christmas<\/em> decorations was what perplexed me.\u00a0\u00a0 I had to see it for myself, in person, to get an idea of whether or not it\u00a0all meshed — and to return here to tell you about it!<\/p>\n

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\u00a9Disney — Headless Horseman concept art<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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As I approached the entrance to California Adventure, immediately I thought that Oogie Boogie would probably look better at night than in the daytime.\u00a0\u00a0 I appreciate that Disney is trying to add some frightful touches\u00a0to this park, but I think that the character pumpkins above the turnstiles at Disneyland’s entrance are more effective in general.<\/p>\n

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The purple bunting is nice, and it complements the purple lighting element throughout Buena Vista Street at night, but I did not\u00a0feel that it fit with the basic theme and design of the facades along Buena Vista Street.\u00a0 Does\u00a0the bunting\u00a0fit with a Nightmare Before Christmas <\/em>theme?\u00a0\u00a0 Of course.\u00a0 \u00a0But does The Nightmare Before Christmas<\/em> fit Buena Vista Street?\u00a0 That is the question.<\/p>\n

The bats, which were everywhere,\u00a0lacked in quality.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Not even 2 weeks into the Halloween Time season, I watched a bat’s glittery red eye (meant to sparkle in the sun to give off a glowing effect) fall off and land on the ground in front of me.\u00a0\u00a0 It was not even a breezy day.\u00a0\u00a0 I am sure that many of the bats will be\u00a0eyeless by the end of October.<\/p>\n

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This is the bat’s eye that landed on the ground in front of me…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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One of Buena Vista Street’s retro window displays, which is very reminiscent of what you might see in Main Street’s windows…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Trolley Treats’ window displays are always whimsical and fun…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Bats and bunting are everywhere…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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I will spare you my array of terrible nighttime photos, but I am including this one to show you that the purple game is strong at night on Buena Vista Street…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The Headless Horseman is a great addition to Buena Vista Street…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Overall, Buena Vista Street’s Halloween overlay came across as an elevated version of a school art project, especially in daylight, and not as fully dimensional as, for example, Main Street’s own overlay.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The prolific bats were flat, literally and figuratively, and lacking in personality — unlike the 300+ pumpkins in Disneyland.\u00a0\u00a0 The Headless Horseman added a nice dose of creepiness, but seemed to clash with the heavy Nightmare Before Christmas<\/em> theme, which, in turn, clashed with the vintage-ish window displays.<\/p>\n

I guess that what I mean to say is that the entire decorations package was not wholly cohesive, and felt incomplete.\u00a0\u00a0 In theory and as far as intent, I love that Disney is trying to build up Halloween Time and make California Adventure more a part of it, but the execution of certain\u00a0aspects of it could be better.<\/p>\n

Rumor has it that, in 2018, when Mickey\u2019s Halloween Party is expected to move to California Adventure, Buena Vista Street will be\u00a0dressed up\u00a0even more, which I fully support and think is quite necessary.<\/p>\n

Also circulating through the rumor mill is that Grizzly Peak is due to get its own\u00a0ominous\u00a0ornamentation next year \u2013 which I have been championing for a long time.\u00a0\u00a0 I can just\u00a0see the\u00a0creepy lights and fog rolling\u00a0over the dark paths at night.<\/p>\n

What Buena Vista Street’s seasonal d\u00e9cor lacks in impact and cohesion, Cars Land makes up for in every way.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As is the case\u00a0during the holiday season, the attention to detail is astounding,\u00a0using humor and automotive accessories to create scary faces, spiders, pumpkin patches, and much more.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When I imagined what a Cars Land Halloween\u00a0celebration could look like, this was pretty much it.\u00a0\u00a0 It is just about everything I expected it could be and more.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I do not even really have to\u00a0explain much, as the photos will do the talking.\u00a0\u00a0 See for yourself…<\/p>\n

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\u00a9Disney-Pixar – concept art of Luigi’s tower of tires, with faces…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u00a9Disney-Pixar — concept art of Flo’s V8 Caf\u00e9, decorated with arachnid style…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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At the Cozy Cone, another seasonal display is\u00a0visible in the office\/lobby…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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There are scary faces on these cone ornaments!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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More scary faces!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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A zombie car…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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I didn’t think that\u00a0Flo’s Mini “Candy Cone” Pie was quite worth the money for its small size.\u00a0 The crust was very flimsy under the weight of the vanilla, butterscotch and white chocolate pudding. \u00a0The taste was decent, but a little of the flavor goes a long way.\u00a0\u00a0 See the complete list of Halloween Time treats — HERE<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Another scary face!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Faces on the tires!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Now THESE bats I like!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Even the “Petting Zoo” is in on the Haul-O-Ween fun!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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At Ramone’s…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Cars Land’s Haul-O-Ween d\u00e9cor is a big hit for me, and I now\u00a0find myself involved in an internal debate over whether I prefer this seasonal overlay over the holiday season overlay, or vice versa.\u00a0 I truly love both!<\/p>\n

Also new this year is the plethora of pumpkins lining Downtown Disney<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 There are glorious beds of\u00a0autumn foliage,\u00a0and\u00a0gourds of varying colors and sizes stationed in many of the planters throughout this busy thoroughfare.<\/p>\n

An important thing to note is that the\u00a0popular Halloween display in the lobby of the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa<\/a> is not returning in 2017, due to renovations currently taking place<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 At the time of my Halloween Time preview article in August<\/a>, it was\u00a0believed that the display would be back for a third consecutive year, but the hotel\u2019s staff was informed — after<\/em> the Halloween Time season\u00a0had begun\u00a0— that this would not be the case.<\/p>\n

My\u00a0hunch is that the loss of the display in the Grand Californian this year is what prompted Disney’s Enhancement Team to do something with Downtown Disney, suddenly scattering pumpkin towers to and fro.\u00a0\u00a0 I suspect they may have wanted to distract people from venturing into the Grand in search of any signs of Halloween, and the only way to do that was to spread the Fall Fever to the busy shopping and dining area that stretches from the Disneyland Hotel to the Esplanade between the two parks.<\/p>\n

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Fall Fever has swept Downtown Disney!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"Halloween<\/p>\n

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Daisy Duck has been swept up in Fall Fever too (in the World of Disney store)!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Donald Duck is in the throes of Pumpkin Pandemonium!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Mickey, Pluto and Minnie are ready for Halloween!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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While Downtown Disney’s pumpkin palooza is a refreshing infusion of Fall Fever into Disneyland Resort, some of the pumpkin towers seemed kind of lackluster, and maybe even a little bit redundant.\u00a0\u00a0 If they had been carved with different faces, or if each Downtown Disney business had been able to design and\u00a0showcase\u00a0its own pumpkin, I think it could have been a more exciting endeavor.\u00a0 But it is a step in the right direction, which is the most important thing.\u00a0 For many years, Halloween Time was a lopsided celebration, happening in Disneyland Park only and nowhere else.\u00a0 Now it is branching out and\u00a0encompassing much more territory.<\/p>\n

I hope you enjoyed this photographic tour\u00a0of some of what is new at Disneyland Resort for Halloween Time.\u00a0\u00a0 If you happen to be in Southern California and come down with a case of Fall Fever, I recommend heading to the parks before October 31st to jump into the fun.<\/p>\n

Happy Halloween!<\/p>\n

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Have you visited Disneyland yet to see their Halloween Time decor? What did you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Fall Fever has swept the nation\u2026 or at least the Internet.\u00a0\u00a0 On September 22nd, as summer moseyed off into the mist and autumn greeted us with promises of cozy comforts and caramel apple treats, social media feeds across America and beyond were filled with cheerful messages of \u201cHappy Fall, Y\u2019all!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Tranquil images of magnificent-golden…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":128,"featured_media":57529,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4319,1685],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-disneyland-travel","category-disneyland-parks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/128"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57461"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58140,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57461\/revisions\/58140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}