Disneyland’s Fall Festivities

Visiting the Disneyland Resort is a treat no matter what the time of season, but come September 21st, 2007, it's no longer just a treat -- it becomes a trick or treat! That's because Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure transform themselves into a sea of pumpkins and candy with their second annual HalloweenTime celebration. Featuring Halloween-themed decorations, themed attractions, special seasonal entertainment and Disney characters decked out in their favorite Halloween costumes, the Disneyland Resort’s HalloweenTime is the perfect celebration to start your fall off right.

The celebration begins with fun and fabulous decorations. Jack-o'-lantern creations resembling Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy adorn the top of the Main Entrance to Disneyland park, giving guests just a taste of what’s to come. The magic truly begins on Main Street U.S.A., where guests are greeted by Miss Cobbler, the Queen of the Pumpkin Festival, and Constable Jackie O’Leary. More than 300 jack-o'-lanterns will peek out of shop windows, while festive orange and yellow bunting grace the quaint Victorian buildings. But the highlight of town square comes in the form of a 12-foot tall Mickey Mouse jack-o'-lantern, complete with pumpkin ears. It’s a great visual to both start and end your day with!

Meanwhile, the Central Plaza by Sleeping Beauty Castle is decked out with character-inspired jack-o'-lanterns surrounding the famous "Partners" statue of Walt Disney and his old pal Mickey Mouse. Not only do all your favorite characters come out to play in their favorite Halloween costumes, but all the coolest Disney villains -- like Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmatians, the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, and Captain Hook from Peter Pan -- come out to meet and greet park guests for a special photo op.

But the celebration doesn't end there. "Woody’s Halloween Roundup" takes over Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland, including a visit with the animals in the "Petting Boo," crafts and musical activities including a Halloween Hoedown and a spooky interactive sing-along version of "Old McDonald Had a Farm" featuring black cats, ghosts and werewolves. Woody, Jessie and Bullseye from the Toy Story movies join guests in the holiday spirit -- and not just to partake in holiday treats like Halloween-colored cotton candy and Creepy Cookie Critters that you get to make yourself. But that's not the only special seasonal food you'll get to eat! Don't forget about the Halloween-themed food items like Zero's Ghostly Ghoulash, a favorite of Jack Skellington's pet in "Haunted Mansion Holiday." There are tons of Halloween goodies in the park's stores, too. Load up on Disney costumes, collectible pins and coins, and a special set of Halloween-themed Mickey Mouse ears resembling a Mickey jack-o'-lantern to really get into the spirit of things!

Speaking of Haunted Mansion Holiday, it's back and better than ever! Jack Skellington and his cohorts take over the famed Haunted Mansion and turn it into a mish mash of Christmas and Halloween, taking two favorite holidays in a colorful, confusing and classic direction in this fantastic Disneyland ride experience.

The action isn't just at Disneyland, though. Across the esplanade at Disney’s California Adventure, guests are greeted by the 11-foot tall CALIFORNIA letters just as they always are, except this time they're transformed into giant pieces of candy corn! Inside, the festivities kick off at the Sunshine Plaza, which becomes the site of "Candy Corn Acres." This is where Goofy sets out to grow the West's biggest and most unusual candy corn: candy corn coconuts, candy corn carrots and candy corn pumpkins, among other delicious produce offerings. In Hollywood Pictures Backlot, the spooky Hollywood Tower Hotel staff members haunt the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror during the Halloween season, making for an extra scary and exhilarating ride experience. And don't miss "Golden Screams," where Disney villains roll out the black carpet for an awards ceremony -- with categories like "Best Scream," "Best Act of Villainy" -- held daily inside the Golden Dreams Theatre.

But the cornerstone of this fall favorite is Mickey’s HalloweenTreat. With growing concerns about safety, the Disneyland Resort has offered parents an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating with this special nighttime event that takes place after Disney’s California Adventure closes for the day. It’s then that little ones and their parents get to dress up in their Halloween best and trick-or-treat throughout Disney’s California Adventure, while also hobnobbing with their favorite Disney characters, playing interactive games, and dancing with DJ Mickey. But it’s not just fun and games for the children -- big kids get the opportunity to ride the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and meet with special Halloween-only hotel employees.

Compared to the rest of the country, Southern California doesn’t have a lot of the traditional signs of fall. But one trip to the Disneyland Resort during the Halloween season will have even the most anti-back-to-school kid looking forward to September. In just two short years, the special jack-o’-lanterns, whimsical Halloween decorations and celebrations of the Disneyland Resort have become the definitive sign of fall. Imagine what they have in store for next year…

For more information on HalloweenTime at the Disneyland Resort, visit them online at disneylandresort.com.