Halloween Time & Mickey’s Halloween Party 2010

I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the 1st day of the spookiness month of the year than with a trip to Disneyland for Halloween Time and Mickey’s Halloween Party this past Friday night!

And, it truly was a boo-tiful night!   Warm, balmy and perfect for dressing up Tinkerbell (aka. my 4 year old Emma) and heading over to the best trick-or-treat party in town!

Halloween Time is a special time at Disneyland Resort where Disney villains  invade Disneyland park along with Mickey Mouse and his friends in Halloween costumes now through Oct. 31.

We were fortunate to be invited to attend Mickey’s Halloween Party {a separate-ticket event that moved to Disneyland this past year from California Adventure.} The party  invites adults and children to dress up in costume and trick-or-treat at the resort.

Mickey’s Halloween Party is a  nighttime celebration that takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays in October (5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26 and 29) plus Halloween night itself, Sunday, Oct. 31.  Click HERE for more info and to buy tickets.

Tickets purchased in advance for Mickey’s Halloween Party are $49 most days, while tickets purchased on the event days are $54.  For Oct. 31, all tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party are $59.

The moment you walk through the gates, you are greeted with fun “party music” that permeates throughout the park giving the feel of a REAL Halloween Party!  I also loved seeing Main Street U.S.A. decked out for the Pumpkin Festival where some 300 pumpkins are on display.

Main Street U.S.A and the Pumpkin Festival…

The word I think of to describe this party is ENERGY! And I was feeling the vibe!  In fact, I might have been spotted mouthing the words and dancing with my daughter on our way to Autopia {past the Tomorrowland dance party} to “I Gotta Feeling” – and I have to say, in the words of the Black Eyed Peas, it WAS a “good night!”

Although it seemed like there were a lot of people, once we got in to the official party at 7pm the first 3 or 4 rides we went on had a wait of 10 minutes or less, surprisingly quick lines (bonus!)

Mickey’s Halloween Party Highlights include:

* Trick or Treating in the ultimate Disney neighborhood, with even more treats along “Mickey’s Hide-and-Go-Treat Trails” – so much fun for the kids to get a few treats early!

*  New dance parties – at Tomorrowland Terrace and the French Market – with super fun music!

* The “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, hosted by “Master of Scare-omonies” Jack Skellington (presented exclusively for guests of  Mickey’s Halloween Party) – AMAZING! One of the best fireworks displays I have ever seen!

* New surprises in “Mickey’s Costume Party” cavalcade, performed twice nightly

* Character photo locations featuring Mickey and his pals, princesses and other favorites

* The opportunity to arrive three hours before the party starts to play in Disneyland – YAY!  More time to enjoy the magic of the park!

And highlights of the Disneyland Halloween season include the return of Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy– the thrillingly “haunted” version of the popular Tomorrowland attraction. The experience begins as a typical Space Mountain adventure, but suddenly launches voyagers into a haunted section of the universe.  Ghosts appear out of the starry darkness and swirling galaxies of Space Mountain, reaching out as if to grab guests as they speed through space.  The exhilarating drops and curves of the journey are punctuated by piercing screams, creepy sound effects and haunting music.

…and the longtime favorite Haunted Mansion Holiday, in which Halloween and Christmas collide for an attraction inspired by “Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas.”  Jack Skellington returns to provide plenty of surprises as they celebrate the holidays in their unusual style, with some special spooky surprises in this year’s design.

Visitors to Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland will also find ranch animals, pumpkin carvers, Halloween décor and activities for youngsters, all presided over by Sheriff Woody.

And meeting Disney characters is easier than ever as Disney villains gather to plot Halloween mischief at “it’s a small world” Mall in Disneyland, while other characters in spooky attire greet guests in Town Square, Main Street, U.S.A.

Here is one of my favorite funky pics I captured walking over to the Haunted Mansion.  The spooky smoke spilled out over the water.  It was SO cool {and very Halloween-esque!)…

And the FIREWORKS show was U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E!   Talk about a show with a WOW factor!   Spooky fun for everyone!  Great music & a flying ghost….

Here’s an iPhone pic…

In the end, we had a ghoulish good time and my little Tinkerbell was so wiped out from all the fun, she was asleep before we pulled out of the park.  This party is something unique and definitely a MUST visit for the entire family. Your kids will absolutely love it!

For tickets and information visit: www.disneyland.com/halloween.

{Disclosure: Complimentary media tickets were provided.}