#Disneyland60....Today In Disneyland History....September 14, 2012

Mickey’s Halloween Party Kicks Off

September 14, 2012

On September 14, 2012 Halloween Time officially began at the Disneyland Resort. This year, Park guests can took part in such spooky events as The Halloween Carnival at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree in Frontierland, Disney’s Happiest Haunts Guided Tour, "The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition" and The Pirates League. With Mickey’s Halloween Party came a wide variety of spooktacular activities perfect for this Bootiful time of year at Disneyland.  Disneyland was transformed into the ultimate “neighborhood” for Trick-or-Treating during Mickey’s Halloween Party.

This separate ticketed event included such perennial favorites as:

·         Halloween Screams fireworks spectacular, exclusively for Mickey’s Halloween Party guests

·        Admission to the Disneyland Park up to 3 hours prior to the event’s start time

·        Meet-and-greets with your Disney and Pixar pals and Disney Villains

·        Special treat stations offering both yummy candy and healthy goodies

·        Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade

·        Special dance parties

In addition, access to nearly all attractions, including all the Halloween-themed attractions such as Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday were ready to take you to another world. 

Continuing the tradition, tickets are now on sale for this year’s Mickey’s Halloween Party. Each ticket includes:

Admission to Disneyland Park up to 3 hours prior to the event's start time.

Complimentary parking for one standard-size vehicle. Larger vehicles may require an additional fee.

Ticket and Event Information:

• May not be combined with other discounts.
• No ticket is required for Guests 2 and under.
• Space is limited and tickets are available while supplies last. Subject to capacity and other restrictions.
• Tickets are valid for admission to the designated party and to the theme park beginning at a specified time prior to party commencement.
• Tickets are nonrefundable and may not be sold or transferred for commercial use.
• Days and times of operation and all other elements including, but not limited to, operation of attractions, entertainment, services, stores and restaurants, appearances of Disney Characters and applicable theme park may vary and are subject to change without notice.

Mickey’s Halloween Party starts September 26 and runs on select dates through October 31.  To purchase tickets, head on over to Mickey's Halloween Party but don’t be left with an empty Trick or Treat bag-this event sells out every year.  Boo to you! That’s what happened today in Disneyland history.  

#Disneyland60.....Today In Disneyland History.....August 9 - 12, 1969

Haunted Mansion Opens

August 9, 1969

“Welcome Foolish Mortals to the Haunted Mansion. I am your host, your ghost host.  Kindly step all the way in to the dead center of the room and make room for everyone. There’s no turning back now and consider this dismaying observation: this chamber has no windows, and no doors... which offers you this chilling challenge: to find a way out! Of course, there's always my way...”

 On August 9, 1969 The Haunted Mansion opened in New Orleans Square at Disneyland although because of cast and other previews that started on August 7 when the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland opened to Cast Members only, from 7:00 PM to midnight. The attraction would open to the public 2 days later, with the official grand opening taking place on August 12 making it more of an opening weekend extravaganza.

The public opening of the attraction was heralded by a promotional blitz that included the "I Scream" Sundaes sold at Disneyland's Carnation Plaza. Originally conceived in the mid-1950s by Walt Disney as a walk-through ghost house, artist Harper Goff was tapped to conceptually design the attraction. The house originally had a rural American design and was intended to be at the end of a crooked path that led away from Disneyland's "Main Street" area. Eventually the decision was made to place it in the New Orleans Square section of the park.

The Haunted Mansion's design went through many changes before its facade was completed in 1963, six years before it would open to the public, delayed by Disney's involvement in the New York World's Fair in 1964 and 1965. At one point Disney's concept was to be entirely walk-through and empty out at a restaurant with a theme of "The Museum of the Weird." (This would be similar to other rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, which is paired with The Blue Bayou restaurant.) Plans were designed for this concept, but then abandoned.  In what might be considered to be a strange twist to a supposedly abandoned structure, the exterior appears new and the surrounding grounds meticulously maintained. Designers wanted to make the exterior of The Haunted Mansion look like the stereotypical haunted house but Disney himself overrode the idea, claiming, "We'll let the ghosts take care of the inside. We'll take care of the outside."  Did you know that Madame Leota, the medium in the séance room and the tiny talking figure at the end of the ride, is modeled after Imagineer Leota Toombs?

On August 9, 1969, the Disneyland version of the attraction was completed and has remained essentially unchanged, with the exception of the yearly conversion to the "Haunted Mansion Holiday."  45 years later, foolish mortals are still being enticed on a spirited tour via Doom Buggy of this home and estate of a prosperous yet departed sea captain whose elegant 19th-century mansion in the New Orleans Square was once the setting for some of the most prominent social gatherings this side of the Mississippi where several prominent ghosts have retired here from creepy old crypts all over the world. Your Ghost Host is happy to show you their humble abode. Your Doom Buggy will whisk you into the darkest reaches of this mysterious abode packed which is packed by happy haunts and grim grinning ghosts. At the séance in progress, the medium Madame Leota invokes the 999 ghosts, ghouls and goblins that are just dying to meet you! They're looking to fill the 1000th spot in the mansion. “There’s always room for one more.”  And that’s what happened today in Disneyland’s history.