Here is the account of the evening my wife and I had at the Happy Haunts Ball last night. Please forgive me if I have some of the details wrong. It's first thing in the morning and I'm back at the business and I'm tired. I had already stayed up until 1 am the night before replacing a window motor in my Explorer since rain was forcast. I can't complain too much since we only had to drive over. Anyway , here we go.
We arrived at the TTC at 5pm. We were happy in that we got waved trough for parking, I was hoping they might swince it was late. We waited maybe 30 secsw before going up to the next window to get our registration packet. It had coupons for two witches brew or spirits drink, special dessert, special gifts etc, a lanyard with the event tag and your name and a special Doom Buggy license plate, full size. We next went to a line were there was a random number assignment for another pin set, 3 graveyard ghosts with tombstones in a coffin shaped box, edeition of 350. I was lucky enough to get one. Then we went around the corner and had a "graveyard dig" where you reached into a jack o latern for a random discontinued pin. I got a California adventure pin and my wife had a Tinkerbell. They alswo had a random assignment already done for some overrun Master Gracey pins, no luck there. We then poised for our free picture together which they gave us two copies of later.
Next was merchandise pickup in Adventureland. On the over to the Kingdom we had the entire monorail car to ourselves. The merchandise pickup went fairly quickly also, we were only in line a couple of minutes before we went up. They had most of the artist there to sign your purchases. The items looked so much better then in the catalog. If I had known that, I would have had a few more on my wish list, but then there would be that problem of having to pay for it. Seriously we were happy with the items we got and we were luckier then some. I got one of the 125 edtion pin sets. We took these back and put them in lockers at the train station, they waved the deposit on them. Then we just had to hang out on Main street until 7 because they weren't letting us back yet.
We had a presentation next on the Haunted Mansion with some of the history of the original mansion and some shot of the other Mansions. It was interesting but we were assigned to see it at the Tiki Room and the visual part was on two tv monitors which simply wasn't enough for everyone to see it easily. One or two more monitors and everyone could have easily seen it. They did offer thwt you could go to the Hall of Presidents to see it, but the presentation there had already started. We could see it but it was partially obstructed. Overall enjoyed it though.
We next mosied over to the Hall of Presidents to check out the silent auction. It was mainly original concept art for the evenings pieces and a few other art itmes. Nice but the starting bid on most were $1000, so we left. Now it was time for food. They had buffetts set up in Pecos bills, Harbour House and Liberty tree tavern. We ate at Liberty tree, mainly because that was the first one we came two. Once again, very little waiting. There was a fajita table, one with salad, potaotes bread , sausage and carved beef, and another with ceasar salad, macoroni and cheese, fruit- marshmallow fluff, vegatarian pasta, pasta with meat and sea bass. We were happy with it . Soft drinks and water were free
not only with dinner but throughout the night at several locations.
Next we went to the Haunted Mansion. It looked great. They had it lit well and there was fog all over the place. A lot of people were taking pictures. No waiting in line here either. We then wandered over to frontier land, stopping to here a dixie land band outside the River Queen landing, which was running also. I had never heard Hotel California with a banjo before. There were fortune tellers in frontier land in two different locations. We went on Big Thunder Mountain next and I am not lying, there was absolutely no one in line ahead of us. Only a couple of other people came before the train arrived.
We had tarot card readings individually at different times by the same lady and she was didn't miss a thing with me. Granted some of the things are always a bit vague but some weren't too bad in specificity. We were suprised that the overlapping areas for the two of us were pretty much the same.Depending on what you believe even if it is only for the entertainment value it was fun. This line was the longest of the evening.
It was enjoyable watching the other people also. Most were dressed normally but some did themselves up well. We just went in all black. It was nice seeing everyone having a good time, that can be infectious. Usually you can catch several people tired and arguing when you are at the parks, but not last night. We were in line next to part of the princess posse at the fortune tellers and they were all happy. I was suprised how many people knew each other from other events. I was trying to match some with their posting identities, but I am not the type to just go up and ask, so if anyone wants to drop some hints base on outfits...
After a stop in the shooting gallery we caught a halloween themed show in the Diamond Horseshoe. They even had singing cadavers. There was cake on the street when we went by next on our way to pick up our specail dessert, a large white chocolate skull with chocolate eyes inside.
There was doom buggy set up so you could have your picture taken and a ghost image put in between you. It had been scheduled to close at 10, but we had our picture doen at 11. $16.95 for an 8x10. They were cute. Another ride on the haunted mansion, still no line and then pick up the pictures. The goth girl pins were all gone by the time I checked the cart. Oh well, I did get the Haunted bride already.
On our way out, we stopped in liberty square for stry telling then at 11:45, the headless horseman came riding in, circle around a bit,then rode off again to applause. On the way out of the park, there was haunted mansion type music, mainly Grim, Grinning ghost playing with some happy haunts ball messages thrown in. They has ghost projections on the castle and other projections and lighting in the main street buildings.
Our departing gifts turned out to be a limited edition of 999 Haunted mansion plaque. Pretty nice.
We had a great time and that had to have been one of the best deals I have had at Disney, at least since when parking was still 50 cents
Once again please forgive my mistakes and the length if its's boring. I know some people wanted a review so here is one. And I'm not spell checking.
We arrived at the TTC at 5pm. We were happy in that we got waved trough for parking, I was hoping they might swince it was late. We waited maybe 30 secsw before going up to the next window to get our registration packet. It had coupons for two witches brew or spirits drink, special dessert, special gifts etc, a lanyard with the event tag and your name and a special Doom Buggy license plate, full size. We next went to a line were there was a random number assignment for another pin set, 3 graveyard ghosts with tombstones in a coffin shaped box, edeition of 350. I was lucky enough to get one. Then we went around the corner and had a "graveyard dig" where you reached into a jack o latern for a random discontinued pin. I got a California adventure pin and my wife had a Tinkerbell. They alswo had a random assignment already done for some overrun Master Gracey pins, no luck there. We then poised for our free picture together which they gave us two copies of later.
Next was merchandise pickup in Adventureland. On the over to the Kingdom we had the entire monorail car to ourselves. The merchandise pickup went fairly quickly also, we were only in line a couple of minutes before we went up. They had most of the artist there to sign your purchases. The items looked so much better then in the catalog. If I had known that, I would have had a few more on my wish list, but then there would be that problem of having to pay for it. Seriously we were happy with the items we got and we were luckier then some. I got one of the 125 edtion pin sets. We took these back and put them in lockers at the train station, they waved the deposit on them. Then we just had to hang out on Main street until 7 because they weren't letting us back yet.
We had a presentation next on the Haunted Mansion with some of the history of the original mansion and some shot of the other Mansions. It was interesting but we were assigned to see it at the Tiki Room and the visual part was on two tv monitors which simply wasn't enough for everyone to see it easily. One or two more monitors and everyone could have easily seen it. They did offer thwt you could go to the Hall of Presidents to see it, but the presentation there had already started. We could see it but it was partially obstructed. Overall enjoyed it though.
We next mosied over to the Hall of Presidents to check out the silent auction. It was mainly original concept art for the evenings pieces and a few other art itmes. Nice but the starting bid on most were $1000, so we left. Now it was time for food. They had buffetts set up in Pecos bills, Harbour House and Liberty tree tavern. We ate at Liberty tree, mainly because that was the first one we came two. Once again, very little waiting. There was a fajita table, one with salad, potaotes bread , sausage and carved beef, and another with ceasar salad, macoroni and cheese, fruit- marshmallow fluff, vegatarian pasta, pasta with meat and sea bass. We were happy with it . Soft drinks and water were free
not only with dinner but throughout the night at several locations.
Next we went to the Haunted Mansion. It looked great. They had it lit well and there was fog all over the place. A lot of people were taking pictures. No waiting in line here either. We then wandered over to frontier land, stopping to here a dixie land band outside the River Queen landing, which was running also. I had never heard Hotel California with a banjo before. There were fortune tellers in frontier land in two different locations. We went on Big Thunder Mountain next and I am not lying, there was absolutely no one in line ahead of us. Only a couple of other people came before the train arrived.
We had tarot card readings individually at different times by the same lady and she was didn't miss a thing with me. Granted some of the things are always a bit vague but some weren't too bad in specificity. We were suprised that the overlapping areas for the two of us were pretty much the same.Depending on what you believe even if it is only for the entertainment value it was fun. This line was the longest of the evening.
It was enjoyable watching the other people also. Most were dressed normally but some did themselves up well. We just went in all black. It was nice seeing everyone having a good time, that can be infectious. Usually you can catch several people tired and arguing when you are at the parks, but not last night. We were in line next to part of the princess posse at the fortune tellers and they were all happy. I was suprised how many people knew each other from other events. I was trying to match some with their posting identities, but I am not the type to just go up and ask, so if anyone wants to drop some hints base on outfits...
After a stop in the shooting gallery we caught a halloween themed show in the Diamond Horseshoe. They even had singing cadavers. There was cake on the street when we went by next on our way to pick up our specail dessert, a large white chocolate skull with chocolate eyes inside.
There was doom buggy set up so you could have your picture taken and a ghost image put in between you. It had been scheduled to close at 10, but we had our picture doen at 11. $16.95 for an 8x10. They were cute. Another ride on the haunted mansion, still no line and then pick up the pictures. The goth girl pins were all gone by the time I checked the cart. Oh well, I did get the Haunted bride already.
On our way out, we stopped in liberty square for stry telling then at 11:45, the headless horseman came riding in, circle around a bit,then rode off again to applause. On the way out of the park, there was haunted mansion type music, mainly Grim, Grinning ghost playing with some happy haunts ball messages thrown in. They has ghost projections on the castle and other projections and lighting in the main street buildings.
Our departing gifts turned out to be a limited edition of 999 Haunted mansion plaque. Pretty nice.
We had a great time and that had to have been one of the best deals I have had at Disney, at least since when parking was still 50 cents
Once again please forgive my mistakes and the length if its's boring. I know some people wanted a review so here is one. And I'm not spell checking.
