By Robert Vaux
Disneyland's Haunted Mansion gets a "Nightmare" makeover for Halloween Time.
From late September through early November, the Disneyland theme park in
Anaheim undergoes a transformation to reflect the season. "Halloween Time," as it has been dubbed, is an attempt to emulate the success of its nearby rival Knott's Berry Farm (whose "Knott's Scary Farm" has become a Southern California institution). Halloween Time reflects a gentler atmosphere than Knott's--with trick-or-treat motifs and friendly ghosts and goblins as opposed to Scary Farm's adult-oriented scares--in keeping with Disneyland's family-friendly traditions.
Features
Most of the changes to the park during Halloween Time are cosmetic. Pumpkins and cobwebs decorate Main Street USA and many of the Disneyland mascots appear wearing Halloween costumes. A few rides undergo shifts as well: most notably the Haunted Mansion, which is taken over by Jack Skellington and the crew from "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland has "Woody's Halloween Roundup," featuring Halloween-based arts and crafts with the cast of "Toy Story."
The California Adventure Park next door has a spooked out Tower of Terror ride, and "Mickey's Trick or Treat Party," which features music and unique attractions available only on certain nights (and only to those who pay an extra fee for their tickets).
Pros and Cons
Halloween Time makes an excellent stopping point for families who want to have a little fun on Halloween, but don't want to subject younger children to any intense scares. The attractions can get a little crowded and Mickey's Trick or Treat Party tends to sell out. The earlier you can plan for it, the better.
Adult patrons and those with older children are less apt to be seduced by the enticements of Halloween Time, and--though the Jack Skellington Haunted Mansion has proven extremely popular--it feels more corporate and calculated than the infinitely more charming "classic" Mansion.
On the plus side for grown-ups, October is usually a comparatively quiet time of year for Disneyland, which means shorter lines and sparser crowds, and the omnipresent decorations let visitors get into the spirit of the season without having it pounded down their throats.
Bottom Line
Disneyland is Disneyland, and it remains consistently appealing no matter what time of year you choose to visit. Halloween Time is a comparatively mild shift in theme (certainly not worth going out of your way for if it's easier to visit the park during another time of year) but as with all things associated with the park, it's conducted with care and class: conjuring a sense of Halloween without disrupting the overall "Disney-ness" of the park as a whole. California lacks seasonal shifts the way many other parts of the country do, which makes the quiet autumnal tone of Halloween Time stand out all the more.
Resources
About the Author:
Robert Vaux has been a professional writer and editor since 1995. He has traveled throughout Europe and North America as well as parts of North Africa. Since 2000 he has been a professional movie critic at Flipside Movie Emporium, the Sci-Fi Movie Page and Mania.com. Vaux has a Master of Arts in English literature from Syracuse University.
Photo Credits:
Photo courtesy of SolarSurfer; common domain.
