sorry, I am behind..... Friday dawned sunny and the morning was sort of lazy. Nancy was to arrive for our day in the park ending with the Halloween party. Nancy was almost to the parks when I received a text from her and she had forgotten her park pass.. 2 hours later she picked up Wayne and I in front of the park for a ride over to HoJo to see her room when she checked in. Nice rooms. very close to the parks. we walked back in about 10 minutes. We were all starving so we headed over to Cafe Orleans for lunch. Wayne and I both had the Monte Cristo and Nancy had a great looking Salmon salad. We ended up getting gingerbread Beignets for dessert. You can only get them this time of year and they were amazing (to quote Nancy).
Nancy took me over to the Rivers of America to check out the pirate boat. It was docked and the details up close are something to see. After lunch We rode the Haunted Mansion again.
Nancy and Wayne asked me if I had been to Big Thunder Ranch. Of coarse I said No. looking at the map I thought it was just Big Thunder Railroad and I don't ride that so, I had just dismissed the entire area. BIG mistake on my part!!! What a fun area.... It was like walking into a fall country fair. pumpkin carver, decorations, little goats in Halloween scarves, music, the little cabin all decked out for the holiday... This really ended up being one of my favorites places. It really slowed the pace and took me back to country. Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue is back in this area and looked to be alot of fun. It reminded me of Hoop De Doo back in Orlando. Woody was here and so was Jesse.
After leaving the country we headed over to Fantasyland to check out what I had missed over there. We rode Snow White's Scary adventure, Pinocchio's Daring Journey and Casey Jr. Circus Train ( loved it!!). I really wanted to ride the Storybok Canal boat but the line was insanely long. This is about the time we realized that it was after 4 and we could get our wrist bands for the Halloween Party. I think we did this at the Plaza Pavilion. They has stations set up to scan your ticket, get your goodie bag and wrist band. Later it was fun watching the cast members sweeping out the undesireables without the wristbands, just like Orlando they would set up in several areas, blocking access to those without and forcing them to the front of the park. Back in Frontierland I got my face painted with a tiny little skeleton. It was in a really cool area, Don't remember the name (Nancy, Help me out here). like day of the dead or something. After the park cleared our the trick or treating ramped up and wow!!!!!! In Orlando they have trick or treat stations set up, here and there. And the Alice trail back starting in toontown. In Disneyland We started down be the Rivers of America and the entire length was lined with stations and cast members in matching orange sweatshirts handing out handfuls of the good stuff. When I first looked at the map with the locations for candy and counted 8 I thought, "this will go fast with only 8". But each station had at least 3 locations for candy.Some had raisins or carrots as a choice too. I did end up with 1 bag of carrots... OH crap I forgot to tell you that Kelly joined us when she got out of school. ( Kelly is Mary Jo's daughter) Mary Jo was suppose to join us too but at the last minute she remembered she was scheduled to play Bingo and bailed on me. ( I see how you are Mary Jo........ Teresa in Disneyland..... Bingo..... tough call!!! Just kidding.. You know I love you!!!!!
The fireworks were unbelievable!!!!! Everything is really low over the little castle. Zero flying over the castle had the crowd screaming and cheering. I like Disneyland's Haloween Screams fireworks better than Magic Kingdoms Hallowishes (is that what is is called? it is a distant memory right now). But I love Orlando's parade much better.... you can't beat the grave digger dancing guys in Orlando. At the point when we were waiting for the fireworks in front of the castle ( Wayne took us to his perfect viewing spot) I though my legs were going to give out while we waited. I am ok as long as we keep moving, but standing in one spot for an hour just about did my poor body in.
I really wanted to ride The Storybook canal boats today but they had closed for the night. Saturday would be my last chance for that. Back by Small world they had a meet and greet set up for the villians... and they were all out in their glory.... they even had that creepy guy from Hercules.
One ride I had been avoiding all week was Indiana Jones..... The warning sign just had me worried.. Everyone assured me that it was the same as Dinosaur in Orlando but with Harrison Ford...... OK, I will Swallow my fear for Indy!!!! WOW!!!!! It was well worth it!! I don't miss ride. Our last ride of the night was Peter Pan, the line was down a bit and the ride was fun. Midnight approached and we had never even made it over to Tomorrowland.
I forgot to tell you about my "trick or treat" line I used. The first time I said it was just small talk, but I quickly found out that is was a way to get more candy.... As I walked up to the cast member giving out the candy I would say... I am from Orlando and just went to the Halloween party down there........ Show me that your party is better... I would open up my goodie bag and kind of shake it alittle and 9 time our of 10 this would get me more candy..One guy gave me 5 handfuls.... We were all stuffing candy in our bags and pockets to make room for more in our goodie bags
By the park closing I was barely walking. we parted ways with Nancy as she headed back to HoJo and Wayne and I headed back thru Downtown Disney with Kelly.
Disneyland's "Mickey's Halloween Party" beats the Magic Kingdom's " Mickey's not so scary Halloween Party" Hands down!!!
Just my opinion, but the decorations, character interaction, treat stations , The Haunted mansion, and fireworks really made for special don't miss event.
