That's right. The Halloween season has befallen the Happiest Place on Earth. Straight away that sentence poses a problem. A spooky and frightful holiday at the Happiest Place on Earth? Sounds like a contradicting nightmare. But no. Disneyland puts on a great show during the Halloween season. But how? How have they pulled this off? Let's find out, shall we?
Disneyland during halloween, it's a great and festive time. The front gates are covered with pumpkin incarnations of beloved Disney characters. The iconic floral Mickey is given a mask of flowers. But Main Street is where the decor really shines. Banners of orange and yellow hang from windows and rails all down the street, even on the vehicles and carriages that clatter about on Main Street. The lampposts have detailed little pumpkins with Mickey's face on them, complete with ears and the small saying of; "Halloween Time at Disneyland". This small "motto", as we shall call it, is scattered throughout the parks. And at first you think, "What a childish way to say it." But then you think a little more and say, "But how else could they say it to appeal to the general people?" Yes, there is probably better ways to say it, but this is one of the best. At night, Main Street is dim, but still bright. The lights seem to be more yellow and orange rather than bright and inviting. This is a risky move, but it works. The iconic look of Main Street is bathed in oranges and yellows making it look a little moody and even makes it loom over you. The iconic large pumpkin at the head of Main Street plays a huge part in the halloween vibes. It adds that little bit of "not so scary" to the scary.
The bulk of the decor is located on Main Street, as mentioned earlier, but there really isn't that much anywhere else besides two themed rides to fit the frightful season. These two rides are a huge part of Halloween at Disneyland. The classic Space Mountain is re-themed to be "Ghost Galaxy". With a different soundtrack, a green mood lighting in the que, glitching out monitor screens, and some projections in-ride, it makes the ultimate, scary, dark roller coaster. The flagship attraction however, is the Haunted Mansion. Which is decked out a month in advance to become the "Haunted Mansion Holiday". This is based on Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas film. The outside is covered in creepy bows and skellington wreaths. The Mansion itself, has been covered with ornate candles that flicker and cast an eerie glow on the Mansion, spider webs, more bows and wreaths, and the infamous "Days till Xmas" clock. Jack Skellington's sleigh has landed atop the mansion, and has a large list flowing all the way down the outside of the Mansion, almost touching the ground. The ride inside is just as deranged and spooky. As well as a Halloween themed ride, this facade doubles as Christmas decor for the Mansion. Under normal circumstances, the Tower of Terror would take part in this. The outside of the Tower is periodically "struck by lighting". Meaning the whole outside flickers and flashes with white lights, looking as if there was a lightning storm only it could see. Now however, this is no more, due to the tarps and scaffolding covering the outside of the Tower.
There are many events that take place during this time at the parks. A spooky parade rolls through the park, a fireworks show makes its mark with projections on the castle and Main Street as well as on a large orb on a stand next to the castle, witch acts as a moon, or anything else the show may require. The real party however, is "Mickey's not so scary Halloween Party". Not a promising title I know, but bear with me. The party requires separate entry tickets (which are a separate fee of course). Inside, the park cleared of all those who don't have tickets, there is all access to rides, candy booths, AP events, parades, and the fireworks show. The Rivers of America are even covered with a thick fog to get those creepy vibes going. And all while being dressed up and being afterhours at the Happiest place on Earth.
This is a time where Disneyland really falls back on that magic it's so well known for. It knows how to perfectly combine the creepy and scary with the "not so scary" and "fun". Some might complain that it isn't scary enough. But you usually don't go to Disneyland to get scared, you go for the magic and wonder. That is what Disneyland is during the Halloween season, magic, spooky, exciting, chilling, and perfect. Thus this season has captured the hearts of many Disnerds and common tourists alike. The childlike wonder that fills the air is perfectly balanced with the creepy and the magical. This is Disneyland during Halloween.
(sources: Google)