A guest writer has a spooktacular time with his 5-year-old.
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Disney World's Halloween party serves up more treats than tricks!
--by Tony Conboy III
If the thought of another day in the oppressive Florida heat (even in October) waiting in long lines at a theme park is enough to make you howl, Disney's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is just the ticket for youngsters and parents alike.
Beginning mid-October and on several more nights until October 31st, the Magic Kingdom is covered in a pumpkin colored glow as Disney opens its gates after hours to the fright and delight of youngsters.
The night is much heavier on the delight, and easy on the fright, other than the howls bellowing throughout the Magic Kingdom and the occasional silhouette of bats on Main Street. Giant pumpkins also hover over the train station while artificial fog near City Hall helps set the mood for the evening.
The night, geared to children of any age, is a great way for a family to beat the heat and in a short amount of time experience an incredible amount of rides while seeing the Magic Kingdom in a whole new light.
Separate paid admittance to this special event is required with the gates opening at 7 p.m. and the rides closing at midnight.
Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Highlights/Suggestions:
- Prior to attending, eat dinner at a Disney resort with characters. Plan your dinner reservation for around 5:30 p.m. so that you can have a leisurely dinner that concludes just prior to the 7 p.m. opening of the park. By eating a Disney resort, you are allowed to park at a resort (Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian) and can take the monorail to the park. At the end of the night, when everyone else is waiting for the monorail to the transportation center, you will be catching the express monorail to the resorts, the monorail with the shortest line.
Arrive at gates a little before 7 p.m. In some cases Disney will open the gates prior to the 7 p.m. scheduled opening.
- Enjoy almost no wait times for the most popular rides. If visiting Disney and walking right on Space Mountain seems like a fairy tale, your fairy tale would come true on this night. At only 9 p.m., not too late for most, you could ride Space Mountain as quickly as it took for you to maneuver the queuing lines. Throughout the entire evening, lines were very short or non-existent. For Winnie the Pooh at 10 p.m. I waited only seven minutes. At a little after 11 p.m. we rode "Buzz Lightyear" four times a row without any wait at all.
- Trick or treat in the park. Your children (and many parents) wear their favorite costumes and trick or treat throughout the park at many of the designated trick or treat stations. Disney employees seemed to be everywhere distributing goodies to the delight of youngsters.
- Free family photograph. It's really "free" and they won't try to twist your arm to purchase more photographs like similar "free" photograph offers. There are five locations to take your photograph throughout the park. My five-year old daughter and I waited less than five minutes for our photo near the "Small World" ride. The 4x6 color photograph is delivered by mail within 10 days.
- Free Face Painting. Near "Dumbo" children receive free face-paintings. A special treat that can't be passed up!
- Halloween Fireworks. Granted, it is a new Halloween tradition, but just like everything Disney does, it is first class. Fireworks light up the sky at 9:15 p.m.
- Boo-to-You Kids' Parade. Your kids will join the fun as they create their own kids costume parade in Frontierland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.
- Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Parade. One of the highlights of the evening, but by no means the end of the night, the parade showed a different side of Disney. Arrive early for the parade as many of the first children receive free glow-in-the-dark buttons promoting the night from Disney staff. Opening with the ride of the "Headless Horseman" down the parade route that included Main Street and Frontierland, the parade then featured many of the characters you love to hate. You'll see a collection of Disney villains, mummies, spiders and other scary floats. There are even some unfortunate Dalmatians, fresh in their kennel, after being apprehended by you know who. The parade then takes a turn away from the "dark side" to a fall festival look. Many floats and Disney's "good" characters appear on floats in traditional autumn/harvests settings helping end the festivities on a happy and upbeat note.
For more information on Disney's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party visit Disney.com or call 1-407 Disney.
