My 3-year-old daughter picked out her Halloween costume this weekend. (Snoopy, of course.) I figured since I procrastinated so much last year I would get a jumpstart on the holiday this year. Yes, I know it’s hard to think about ghosts and goblins when the rest of the country is still concentrating on swim lessons and sun dresses. But I’m not the only one preparing for the Autumn Holiday Season. Disney just released its Halloween lineup for its theme parks.
Disney’s HalloweenTime is returning to the Disneyland Resort this fall and it’s being touted as one of the largest events of the year. “Halloween Dreams Come True” will get underway Friday, September 21st (a week earlier than last year) and run through October 31st. The festivities include Disney characters decked out in seasonal costumes, whimsical décor, Halloween-themed attractions and live shows… and, of course, tasty treats. The popular interactive (and family friendly) Halloween experience takes place at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure and will be tied into the park’s Year of a Million Dreams celebration.
New this year is “Candy Corn Acres.” Located in Sunshine Plaza in California Adventure, Mickey’s pal Goofy is prepping some unusual candy corn: candy corn coconuts, candy corn carrots and candy corn pumpkins. Also, Mickey’s HalloweenTreat is being expanded this year. If you didn’t go last year you should know that this is a separate-ticket nighttime event which gives kids the opportunity to dress up in their Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat throughout Disney’s California Adventure after it has closed to day guests. This year younger kids will be able to tour the park with Disneyland characters in their Halloween costumes and dance along with DJ Mickey. Parents take note–this year additional nights have been scheduled for Mickey’s HalloweenTreat: Thursdays and Fridays beginning October 4th plus Monday-Wednesday, October 29-31. Tickets go on sale August 1st.
The folks at Disney are also planning to fill the main entrance to the park with Jack-o’-lantern creations resembling Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy. And at the entrance to Disney’s California Adventure Park, guests will see the iconic 11-foot-tall CALIFORNIA letters transformed into giant pieces of candy corn.
In addition, Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland will once again be decked out for the Main Street Pumpkin Festival. Guests who show up for HallowwenTime will be greeted there by Miss Cobbler, Queen of the Pumpkin Festival, and Constable Jackie O’Leary. Disney “Third Shifters” will also be placing 300 jack-o’-lanterns in shop windows and they will be once again rolling out the 12-foot tall Mickey Mouse jack-o’-lantern, complete with pumpkin ears, to highlight Town Square.
Have you ever taken in the Halloween festivities at Disneyland?
Michele blogs full time in Travel and Pop Culture. You can read her blogs here.
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