Mickey's Halloween Party: 2016 Review

Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA

We've had a month-plus of scary Halloween attraction updates that are kind of Not Safe For Work due to its graphic simulated blood and gore factor, and while it's all been in an effort to expand Westcoaster's Halloween coverage, we know that not everyone loves frightening and intense Halloween. Granted, these people are wrong, but still, we acknowledge them. For those who prefer a more family autumn atmosphere, today's update is for you, as we return to the Happiest Place on Earth and delve into this year's iteration of Mickey's Halloween Party.

As people probably know, once September rolls around, the Disneyland Resort gets all dressed up for the Halloween season and even transforms some of their attractions into spooky holiday versions. But Disneyland Park also holds a separately ticket nighttime event on select dates in September and November that features exclusive entertainment options, a unique setting, limited admission (which means lesser crowds), and experiences and interactions unavailable during regular daytime Halloween Time operations. Lets take a look at what some of this entails!

Around the Park

For photographers, Mickey's Halloween Party offers a treasure trove of photo opportunities not normally offered. From cool projections to different lighting schemes to trick-or-treat displays to a fogged out Rivers of America, there is plenty of epic looking scenery to capture on camera. It all comes together in a beautiful and eerie atmosphere that really enhances that nostalgic feeling of Halloween spectacle.

The projections on Main Street are back and just as charming as last year.

These are the legacy of the Main Street window projections used for the Disneyland Forever fireworks show.

So even though the 60th Anniversary fireworks show is already gone, at least their technology is still used occasionally.

One set of projections runs during the Halloween Screams fireworks, while another runs throughout the night in a loop.

From candlelabras to spiders to ghosts to skeletons, they're a whimsical touch to the street scene.

The Disneyland Railroad station also receives decorations and a dramatic lighting package.

It's a popular photo op at the end of the night.

So is the Mickey jack-o-lantern.

Despite their truncated nature, as with past years, the Rivers of America are fogged out during the Halloween Party.

The acapella Cadaver Dans are still out performing several times a night.

The Mickey heads mark trick or treat stations throughout the park.

Frontierland has a lot of cute projections.

Just a little musical skeleton on the ground.

The Halloween Tree is lovely in the still of the night.

A creepy crawly on the walls.

And Bullseye projected on the ground in front of the Golden Horseshoe.

There's also a somewhat elaborate pirates themed trick-or-treat area next to Rancho del Zocalo.

These be for candy-plundering pirates!

This hasn't really changed from previous years, but it's still a nice scene.

A buccaneer gulps something to wash down all that candy.

I don't remember seeing this last year (though it could have totally been there), but I loved this projection of Zero against the New Orleans Square facade on Royal Street.

The Jack and Sally meet-and-greet at 35 Royal Street remains popular throughout the Halloween Party.

At Tarzan's Treehouse, a slow-cycling colored lighting show illuminate the foliage, accompanied by sporadic lightning and ominous sound effects.

It's great for general atmosphere!

Across the park, Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy offers lesser waits during the Halloween Party.

Ghost Galaxy is available to daytime visitors during Halloween Time...

...but it's much more enjoyable when the line is thirty minutes versus one or two hours.

The ride and queue are the same as last year.

But I still love it.

Just as projections shine on the Main Street facades throughout the night, so do they project on Sleeping Beauty Castle too.

This gives the castle a playful feel.

And they allow more diverse photo compositions!

Guests

Of course, one of the biggest draws to Mickey's Halloween Party is the ability to go to the park dressed up. Disneyland recently tightened their dress code for regular park goers, but it appears that visitors to Mickey's Halloween Party have the same requirements as in past year. Outfits cannot be sexually suggestive or contain explicit or inappropriate language or content. Meanwhile, faces must remain uncovered, and no firearm-type toy weapons or props are allowed (feel free to bring lightsabers galore, though). Based on my visit last Friday evening, any differences in the dress code didn't seem to impact guest costuming, of which there were plenty of elaborate looks!

Friend of Westcoaster and Disney Food Blog contributor Heather has invited me to take part in her crazy group themed outing for the past three years.

This year, we were various characters from Pinocchio.

Guests take all sorts of approaches to Mickey's Halloween Party, from Mary Poppins-style dapper...

...to generic ninja family cool.

These folks were on vacation in America but still made time to attend this specially ticketed event.

Inspiration can come from anywhere, including rides.

And of course, Pixar movies inform some costumes too.

Sometimes a LOT of costumes!

Halloween Screams Fireworks

With the retirement of Disneyland Forever, Halloween Screams is now easily the best current Disneyland fireworks show. And frankly, I might have said the same even when Disneyland Forever was running. The show remains the same to its debut year, but it has retained last year's projection additions borrowed from the Disneyland Forever equipment, such as the Main Street and Castle projections.

The fireworks typically run at 9:30.

They attract quite a crowd.

People definitely line up and wait much of the night to catch the Halloween Screams fireworks.

Then again, with a memorable soundtrack and catchy theme, I really love it too.

Once upon a time, this show was actually standard with regular Halloween Time.

But it was so popular that Disney officials realized it could anchor the separately ticket event.

So now, no matter who you are, if you want to watch Halloween Screams, you have to pay for it.

It's photogenic, though!

Even for photos taken from a vantagepoint claimed less than five minutes before show start.

A few more to close out this segment.

After appearances by countless villains, the pyrotechnics end with a longstanding tradition.

Jack Skellington initiates a Scream-Along for the crowd.

Everybody scream!!

And that's the show.

The Frightfully Fun Parade

Brand new for this year's Mickey's Halloween Party is the Frightfully Fun Parade. It replaces the very lackluster Halloween cavalcade used in some previous year's event. Running twice a night (the first show at 8:30, from Small World through Main Street, and the second show at 10:30 in reverse direction), the Frightfully Fun Parade doesn't quite meet the expectations of its Walt Disney World counterpart (the devilishly addictive Boo to You Parade), but it's still a lovely (albeit somewhat short) parade with some elaborate floats, energetic dancing, and plenty of villains to spot! The soundtrack is nowhere near the earworm as Boo to You, which was admittedly a bit disappointing. But the parade is still quite respectable and great to photograph. Its elaborate details are fine to behold as well.

Adopting a modified form of Disney World tradition, the parade opens with the Headless Horseman.

He slowly progresses up the parade route. No sprint here, but that's okay. The pace gives plenty of people ample time to look at him.

Onto the actual parade!

With a Nightmare Before Christmas flair, the start of the parade has vampires and goblins.

And dancers too.

The Mayor of Halloween Town drives his vehicle up Main Street.

He is, of course, two-faced.

The Mayor is then followed by Jack and Sally on their own float.

Spookily lit, it is very photogenic!

The house cantilevers off the back of the float.

Next comes a Haunted Mansion segment.

Ballroom dancers proceed ahead of the float.

As they part, they reveal the Hitchhiking Ghosts at the front of the float!

The ghostly colors are dazzling!

And of course, the cemetery caretaker stumbles behind the Grim Grinning Ghosts.

Shovel-bearing dancers flank either side, reminiscent of a segment in Boo to You.

After that comes the minions of Dr. Facilier.

His Princess and the Frog float is a haunting spectacle.

The doctor is quite animated.

And he's got an abundance of charisma!

A close-up look at the float.

The Tremaines follow in the next float, accompanied by Hades.

Their expressions are priceless.

They're so villainously wacky!

The Queen of Hearts and Governor Ratcliffe trail the first villains float, but I missed a photo of them. Then comes the second float.

Jafar glances out the side.

And Cruella sneers toward everyone looking back toward her.

And that's a wrap on today's update! Mickey's Halloween Party continues tonight, Friday, and Halloween night. And then, that'll be it, as the Disneyland Resort transitions to the winter holiday season (as of this writing, the castle already has "snow" on it). For those interested in attending next year, Annual Passholder sales usually occur around August. Make a note of it for 2017 and get your costume ideas ready!