It's a Kitty Halloween! Jellicle Cats take over Disneyland!

[Upanova]

Hi, I'm Christine (Upanova) and this is my Disneyland Trip Report for Oct. 14, 2015. I used to live in So Cal and was an Annual Passholder for years. I miss Disneyland so much now that I've moved up to Portland, OR, but I try to come down to visit as much as I can.

I'm 45 years old and a huge Disney fan ever since childhood.

Favorite Movie: Lady and the Tramp
Favorite Ride: Haunted Mansion (Disneyland)
Favorite Character: Duchess from the Aristocats!

Here then to no ado, is my 1st Trip Report!

MICKEY'S HALLOWEEN PARTY TRIP REPORT, Oct. 14, 2015

So here is my full Trip Report for the Mickey's Halloween Party that I went to on Oct. 14th, 2015. This will also be a full TR for the Disney forum at the DisBoards as well.

I left Portland, OR on Oct. 13th at 6am on Southwest airlines bound for the OC, Santa Ana. The flight was uneventful, slightly bumpy, but nothing alarming. Knew we were getting ready to land when we passed by Catalina.

Descening into Orange County, John Wayne Airport.

Got my baggage and the rental car no problem. All in all, it was an easy trip in although I was horribly tired from having no sleep the night before and a crack of dawn flight. Got into Anaheim around 10:30am and got the Best Western Anaheim Inn. I like staying here as it's right across the street from Disneyland and it's only a 5-10 minute walk to the front gates. The heat was HORRIBLE! Muggy, Florida-type heat and miserable. That's the only thing that I couldn't stand this trip-the heat! It was awful. Within seconds after stepping outside you were bathed in a sweatbox. After living in San Diego and So Cal for years this heat was very unusual and not your typical dry, So Cal heat. Ugh! What a pain! So anyway, I finally got to the front gates and was inside. The crowds were horrendous also like summer. It was the day after Columbus Day so it's no wonder the crowds were so huge. Things leveled off the next day, the 14th, but my arrival day was awful. I could hardly ride anything as the lines were two hours long in some instances. So I just wandered around taking in all the sights and sounds of my Happiest Place On Earth!

Dropped into a few stores to see what the fare was for holiday foodstuffs. Pumpkins galore!

Said "Hello" to this fine fellow.

Finally, the Castle! Just had to take it all in. I love photographing the Castle. It's always like coming "Home" for me.

Can you tell that I'm ecstatic to finally be back in my "Home?!"

 

[Upanova]

Continued from last post....

While I was taking pics at the Castle, something AWESOME happened! A young couple had paused there
and suddenly the young man got down on one knee and PROPOSED to his girlfriend! It was
awesome and a happy, tearful moment! I'd never seen a proposal at Disneyland before and was honored
to have shared in this wonderful moment. We all laughed and cried together, everyone wished them happiness. It was just great!

Got a few more pics of me in front of the Castle.

Went next to the Carousal as the crowds were heavy and it was hard to fight my way through them. Wanted to ride "Jingles." As I was waiting in the line, the Disneyland Brass Band
came through and played "Chim-Chimeree" from Mary Poppins as they rode the Carousal. Awesome!

I was right in front of the door to let us all on and as I was heading
my way towards "Jingles" some young boy darted right out in front of me
heading towards....."Jingles." Oh well. So I rode this horse instead: I'll just call her "America."
Not sure if they all have names or not. Got a pic of "Jingles" too. "Sigh."

It was getting to be around lunchtime so I stopped at Redd Rocket's Pizza Port for a special dish.
My husband and I always would share this pasta dish, the Chicken Fusili. It brought back memories
of us always sharing this dish when we were dating years ago as Annual Passholders. God, that
was so long ago, but it seems like yesterday! I couldn't finish it all.

Then I went over to the Jolly Holiday Bakery for a dessert and to see what Halloween flavors they
offered. Didn't see anything I liked until I saw THIS! Wow! What a cupcake! Probably the best
cupcake I've ever eaten at a Disney property. It was the Diamond Celebration Cupcake and it was
AWESOME! White Chocolate with Buttercream Frosting, with a Raspberry Center. Truly one of the
best things I've ever eaten at Disneyland or Walt Disney World. God, it was good. Everyone who
goes to Disneyland during the Celebration should have one of these. But they are filling and I
again couldn't finish it all. Had to leave some behind.

After this I went back to the hotel to get some much needed rest and sleep. After a nap I went down
to the pool to relax and try to cool off. I stayed there for a couple of hours getting some sun
and hanging out in the cool water. Man, it was refreshing. The heat was just that intense.

After the pool I headed out to the Disneyland Hotel to have a look around. Decided to get a drink
from Trader Sam's. Just great and atmospheric in there.

Had the Asian Wings with a Volcano. Those wings were awesome

After the drinks and apps, I went over to the Wedding Garden to take a few pics. My husband and I got married here 15 years ago and it made me tear up when I saw it again after all these years. It was such a lovely wedding and the Disney people got it all right. Couldn't have asked for a better reception and service. My Uncle married us and we had such a lovely, memorable day. Missed my Hubby lots there!!!

Back at the hotel room, I set up "Jellyorum" and did a test run on her makeup and
costume later that night.

Can't wait for tomorrow night! Off to bed after a long day's adventure.

 

[Upanova]

After a LONG wait to get in the next day, I was up early to take advantage of Early Entry Mornings.
Got there around 8am to get a fresh start in the Parks.

Got a pic at the huge Mickey Pumpkin that adorns the front of Main Street.

First off, I wanted to ride the Haunted Mansion Holiday.
The lines for this ride are always super long later in the day and during
the Party. I love this ride, the theming, the music, everything!

Hello, Sandy Claws!

Ready to go in and get scared. No, not really, just hum along...

I just love the themeing.

After the ride I went over the BTMR and rode that. I also loved what they have done with the new,
special effects during the Mine Explosion. This ride has become even more fun than before.
Really enhances the experience.

After that I went over to the Big Thunder Ranch to take my last photos of it and to document it
for the last time. They are closing this area, the Petting Zoo, and the Barbecue Restaurant to put in the new
Star Wars Land expansion. In Jan. they are closing it for good until the new land opens
in around 2 years. So sad to see it go. It was a lovely little place to stop and just take in the atmosphere.

I'll really miss it.

Fall colors.

Rode Splash Mountain next as there was hardly a line for it.

This explains everything...

After Splash I was hungry for breakfast so I got some holiday Pumpkin Beingets. Yummy!

Got a pic of the famous Partners statue.

Next, I got a pic of the old meeting place for the Usenet groups, ADD group (Alt Disney
Disneyland). This is the spot where I met my husband for the first time way back in Dec
1998. I had gotten stood up by this other guy and after waiting by the Castle for
30 minutes was at a loss as to what to do next. I then remembered that the ADD group
always met on Sunday's at noon at the Goofy statue. I walked over and introduced myself
to the group and three guys hit on me. One of those guys was my future husband. Crazy, right?
But so sweet!

Too cool off I then went into some stores on Main St. and looked around, browsing.
I then finally walked into the Main St Cinema and FINALLY watched "Steamboat
Willie" all the way through! I'd never seen it in it's entirety before! Sad, I know!
Mickey is a bastard in the film though! LOL! ;-)

Got a pic of "Walt's Apartment."

Mickey was greeting people on Main St. His line was too long though in the heat.

Went back over to Big Thunder Ranch to take my last pics as it was open now. The
small cabin had some vintage Halloween decorations in it. So sad to see this go.

Said "Hello" to Daisy and Donald.

Last shots of the Barbecue Restaurant.

Last shots of Fall Colors.

After eating lunch, which I don't have any pics of, I went back to the hotel to rest, get out
of the miserable heat and spend time at the pool relaxing. Pretty soon it wa

 

[Upanova]

JELLYLORUM AND DEMETER ARE HERE!

Finally got into costume as Jellylorum. The unitard, wig, and shoes are authentics. The Unitard and shoes are from the
German Tour, while the wig is from Broadway. I made the wamers, and tail.

The makeup room mess.

Posing for a portrait.

Cats knit too! Working on Griddlebone legwarmers.

Black+Cat+Suzy with me got ready in the room too. She made the whole costume as well. Nice work!

Meow, Black+Cat-Suzy as Demeter!

We got into the Park and wandered around the Treat Trails getting loads of candy. They give out
tons but I only got around one bag as I didn't have much space in my suitcase.

We finally got into line waiting for Jack and Sally. I really wanted to get pics with them and they
were the only characters we got pics with that night as it was very crowded and picture lines
were LONG! I love Jack and Sally and we waited an HOUR to see them. Also the pics didn't come
out very good as it was so dark. I wish they could have shone a spotlight just so we could get
clearer pics.

Demeter

Waiting for Jack and Sally to notice us. Jack sang us part of "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats!" At
least he knew a bit of the song! LOL!

Doing our best "Meow!"

"Hissing!"

 

[Upanova]

After waiting for such a long time we wanted then to rest and get off our "paws" for a while. We headed into Tomorrowland and found a table. Then, the best part of the night happened! While we were sitting a Mom and her little girl shyly came up to us. The little girl was so quiet and shy! Her Mom asked if we could take a pic with her little girl. She was almost starstruck to see us! And so happy! So honored to have helped make her night more "Magical." It was awesome!

After that we clowned around for pics.

Jellicle Cats get thirsty after 80 degree nights with humidity.

My favorite pic of the night. I just LOVE M-n-M's!!!!

Demeter loves Skittles!

After that we headed down more Treat Trails collecting goodies. After a while we got to a Treat
Trail that went through the picture spot where Tinkerbell and the Fairies reside. There weren't there
but we took advantage of the props to stop and take pics of our own.

Rememeber, it's over 80 degrees at night! Hard to pose right when you are dying from heatstroke!

"IT'S TOO HOT!!!" Neowwww!

We then watched the Halloween Fireworks and did some more Treat Trails. The line
for the Haunted Mansion Holiday was too long even after the fireworks were over
so we skipped it. Can always come back next year and go earlier in the night. They
start letting people in around 4pm in costume. So we headed back towards Main St
and then took our last pics of the night. We JUST missed the 3 guys and 3 girls
Meet and Greet with the Villains. We just missed getting in line and they closed it.
"Sigh" maybe next year.

Last pics with the Giant Mickey Head!

Boo to You! MEOW!

All in all, it was a fabulous trip! I had SO MUCH FUN and it was a BLAST!
Definitely going back to back next year as Sally from Nightmare before
Christmas and as another Cat.

So this wraps up my Trip Report! Thanks for reading!

Jellicle Cats are Tired but Happy Cats!

Purrs,
Mlle Upanova