First look: Disney dresses up Magic Kingdom for Halloween
The Halloween season feels different yet familiar at Walt Disney World this year. The resort canceled Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party events at Magic Kingdom in response to the coronavirus pandemic. But the theme park has incorporated glimpses of past years into its daytime celebrations and thrown in new (if brief) experiences.
Of course, there are seasonal merchandise and beverages to consider, too. Disney’s Halloween experiences will run through Nov. 1. Here are a handful of things to know before you go. Don’t worry. It’s still not so scary … and included in regular Magic Kingdom admission (park reservations required).
Characters on parade
After this summer’s shutdown, one of Disney’s socially distant strategies has been to have walk-around characters visible, but seen from more than an arm’s length. At Magic Kingdom, Mickey Mouse and friends have ridden floats down Main Street as visitors cheer, wave and snap photos. This fall, they’re in Halloween garb.
In addition, there are float moments with assorted villains and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” favorites. “Winnie the Pooh” characters ride the trolley up Main Street in seasonal costumes (Pooh as honey bee is inspired). Another familiar angle here is music from the Mickey’s Boo to You Parade, a Not-So-Scary staple, accompanies the characters. Plus, usual parade units such as the gravediggers and pirates are represented by dancers.
Alas, no sparking shovels were wielded by the diggers.
We found characters bringing up the rear in each cavalcade to be winners: Eeyore, wearing his not-the-life-of-the-party hat; Evil Queen and Oogie Boogie, voguing separately; and Donald Duck in superhero gear next to witchy Daisy Duck.
Spotted elsewhere at Magic Kingdom: Chip and Dale in skeleton costumes. And the Dapper Dans a capella singing group returns — performing as the Cadaver Dans — as of Sunday.
Costumed customers
Disney World has departed with tradition and is outright encouraging grown-ups to dress in costumes during its Halloween observances. There are limits, of course. Make it family-friendly. Don’t show too much skin. Don’t pretend that you’re actually the character. No autographs, please.
On Tuesday, we saw a range of participation from casual T-shirts to all-in ensembles. There were several princesses of, ahem, a certain age, many orange Mickey-themed shirts, a woman dressed like candy corn and two dudes duded up as Cruella de Vil and Ursula.
You can’t wear Halloween masks, but you must wear face coverings still, even if you’re Cruella and Urs.
And while they aren’t customers, cast members along Main Street were outfitted in the purple and green bat-themed costumes usually reserved for the Not-So-Scary event.
Sweet eats
In the themed-food department, the emphasis is on returning favorites. There’s one new edible, says Julia Thrash, chef of quick-service operations and outdoor vending at Magic Kingdom, and “everything else has been a tweak of something we’ve done in the past.”
The newbie is called the Headless Horseman Rides Again.
“That one is going to be our strawberry Dole Whip with strawberry Fanta, and then it’s going to come with a Headless Horseman novelty straw,” Thrash says.
Among the notable returnees: the Not So Poison Apple cupcake, pumpkin spice milkshake and the Poor Unfortunate Souls float, which is made of cream cheese soft-serve, black raspberry syrup and Coca-Cola.
“It sounds a little bit odd, but it’s actually a very, very nice combination when you eat them together,” Thrash says of that last one.
There’s a collection of popcorn containers and a sipper in the very lanky shape of Jack Skellington, the bony “Nightmare Before Christmas” character.
Tip: Bookmark the foodie-driven “Everything Halloween” page on the official Disney Parks Blog. It lists seasonal food items and where to get them in the four Disney World theme parks. It’s not always obvious.
Nightmarish stuff
It’s spooky how Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” an animated feature from 1993, continues to expand its following. And now there’s even more “Nightmare” merchandise with present-day appeal.
“What we wanted to do was just bring in some shapes that are actually wearable” as opposed to costume hats, says Marcela Mayo, product developer. So, this year, consumers can pick up baseball caps or bucket hats that are shout-outs to the franchise.
The cap features a scowling expression.
“We did it in that burlap potato sack that’s so fitting to this character,” Mayo says. It also has a spider and the phrase “seriously spooky” stitched into it. The black and white bucket hat has repeated images of Jack’s facial expressions. “A bucket is so on trend right now,” she says.
Other “Nightmare” goods: a bone wreath that, like the film, goes from one holiday season to another; a puppet/ plush-toy version the tree-eating snake; and the return of light-up Zero on a leash.
And more merch
But wait, there’s other merchandise, including multiple items related to Haunted Mansion, longtime Magic Kingdom dark ride.
“We wanted to kind of brighten it up a little bit, so we added lime green throughout the merchandise,” Mayo said. It’s just a smidgen around logos on the T-shirt and on a new sling pack. A “ghost host” cap has been updated with the famed wallpaper as a background texture, and humor has been added via a T-shirt with the stylized heads of Mansion characters. It reads “BUSTA MOVE.”
There are Mansion-inspired butler and maid costumes … that are harnesses for dogs.
Other items: Haunted Mansion Christmas ornaments, blinged-up spirit jerseys and princess costumes, light-up Mickey pumpkin necklaces and light-up reusable bags for trick-or-treating.
Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. Want more theme park news? Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters or the Theme Park Rangers podcast at orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-podcast.
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