Our Halloween Disneyland Trip With special guest Oogie Boogie! ~Tons of pics

[Seewhatimesdone]

So this was a spur of the moment trip; we usually do a Halloween event every year like Knott's Scary Farm or Disneyland but this year we decided to do Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Hollywood. But we were saddened by the idea that we wouldn't get to see the decorations at Disneyland so we made a quick trip up there! This is literally like my 25th trip but it's also probably my last for years because hopefully i'll be doing the college program in Florida next year. I lived in Anaheim when I was younger and we had annual passes so we went a lot. I recently moved back to San Diego last year and while it was a bit more of a drive we had annual passes again and went as often as possible. But I wanted to do something to make this trip special so I decided to take as many pictures as humanly possible and make a trip report! It turned out to be one of the funnest trips to DLR we've ever had. We were really surprised at the crowd; we never waited more than 10-15 minutes for anything all day! This is my first trip report so you'll have to bear with me!

(Side note: to see the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay visit this link to my WDW PTR here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1961969. They're from last year so it's a tad different now but basically the same. I didn't take new pics this year because last year I went in the middle of the week and was basically the only on so I could take pictures. This year was packed!! And I didn't want to be rude so I didn't take pics inside)


First, some introductions.

Me (Annalisa): Lover of all things Disney as well as Halloween. I always go overboard with my Halloween decorations XD We're even making a short trip out to WDW for MNSSHP for the first time next month! (Please forgive my hair, i'm growing it out and it's being so unruly!)

I swear I will belong to this club someday!

Mom (Laura): My goofy, awesome, mom who fuels my Disney addiction. She works way too hard and Disney trips always reduce our stress.

As you can see in the previous photo we have a special guest, Oogie! Since it's that time of year when the Haunted Mansion Holiday rolls around he wanted to come to the parks too. He was a little bossy but we were able to decide on what we wanted to see for the day without too much fighting.

We got to the parks nice and early and were able to hurry over and ride Space Mountain with just a few minutes wait.

I thought this was cool, don't know why XD

Cool spaceship

Then we got fastpasses and went over to the Plaza for breakfast. This is definately the best way to start your day!

My favorite, Mickey waffles, before they had delicious butter and syrup of course. We had a HUGE breakfast - we couldn't help ourselves, it was a buffet okay??!!

Pooh gave us a wave.

Here's mom with Chip

He took off the ring I was wearing and proposed to me! Silly chip

Rafiki was so funny! He pretended to use my camera as a cell phone

After breakfast we waddled over to Adventureland.

I love shopping here

We got fastpasses for one of our favorite's, Indiana Jones. Unfortunately, it was broken most of the day

Another one of our favorites. We came back later and did it at night.

Tarzan's Treehouse! We did this at night too, we like to see the park when it's all lit up from the top of the treehouse.

Then we crossed the bridge to New Orleans Square. I thought i'd take a picture of this on the way over.

Pirates is right under the Dream Suite.

This always makes me happy!

I love this courtyard back here.

A great place for Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise

I love this; sorry about the glare!

These guys play awesome jazz.

Up next, Tom Sawyer's Island! (Or Pirate's Lair)

 

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It was only on our last trip that we actually went over to Tom Sawyer's Island (Pirate's Lair) for the first time and we loved it! I feel like i'm in the Goonies or when i'm over there climbing around XD

A shot of the island before we went over

Oogie was really excited to meet some cut throat pirates

Oogie got excited when he saw this cannon.

The Mark Twain riverboat

This reminded me of where Will Turner worked in Curse of the Black Pearl

We climbed up to this lookout

We could see everything from up here

An old train we saw from the lookout.

Some canoer's working hard!

A broken down ship

Oh no, the East India Trading Company!

Then we stumbled across...DEAD MAN'S GROTTO

Oogie was excited by the possibility of seeing some pirate's or dead guys

This guy didn't fare too well

Oogie wanted to steal this chest but he settled for a photo

These guys were really funny and great musicians

I took this shot of the Dream Suite from the island.

Then it was back over to the mainland. I needed to get something cooler to wear and we needed something to drink because it was so hot out!

 

[MA pigletfan]

HI!!
Your report came at just the right time for me! I leave Friday for my first trip to DL!!!! I started my ptr today
Love your pics and Oogie..he looks like a great travel companion for you and your mom! looking forward to more!

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

We were heading over to get a t-shirt but then we saw that there was a really small wait for BTMMRR.

Dino bones

A train coming through

Oogie strapped into BTMRR

I got a quick shot of this goat with some dynamite XD

Mom laughing

Big Thunder Mountain!

Then we went through Woody's Roundup which had awesome Halloween decorations

This place had some awesome pumpkin replicas of Disney characters.

Don't forget to file your paperwork!

Here's a Disney artist working on a pumpkin of the crocodile from Peter Pan

Oogie felt at home among the pumpkins

Mom and I with some pumpkin people

Oogie playin cards with the gang

Takin a break

These goats had cute little Halloween scarves on

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

HI!!
Your report came at just the right time for me! I leave Friday for my first trip to DL!!!! I started my ptr today
Love your pics and Oogie..he looks like a great travel companion for you and your mom! looking forward to more!

Thanks for stopping by! Oh my gosh you're going to have so much fun! October is my favorite time to go to DL. I'll try to put all my pics up soon!

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

We swung by Space Mountain again with our fast passes

You can barely see Oogie over my mom's head. We're such dorks

Then he had to make a phone call AND

take a break AND

get a drink. SHEESH.

Getting a t-shirt. It was so darn hot!! Oogie liked this one

Lightning McQueen is my favorite

The famous castle

Of course Oogie wanted to be in the shot

The great pumpkin by the entrance

We stopped to look at some art on the way to California Adventure

Mom's favorite

The outside of Cal Adventure

Up next, Oogie has a ball at Candy Corn Acres!

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

No one's really reading this but I thought i'd say that i'll try and update in a few days - it's crazy busy with Rosh Hashanah!

 

[Seaera]

I'm reading! Love all your pictures...looking forward to seeing more.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

I'm reading! Love all your pictures...looking forward to seeing more.

Thanks for reading!

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

Candy Corn Acres is still one of the coolest things i’ve ever seen. How I wish it was real…Mom and I had WAY too much fun taking these pictures XD

Candy corn…corn?

Okay this is kind of random but the CM selling my mom a diet coke talked like Donald! It was great. Just another way CM’s add some magic.

Oogie saw this awesome canvas and he knows how much I love Lightning McQueen

This is on the way into the animation room. I always see couples taking pictures here.

Oogie relaxing on one of the comfy purple couches in the animation room

Olympus

Evil pride rock…

Good pride rock wahoo!

Atlantis

Fantasia 2000

These are some of Oogie’s heroes

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

Then we went back through the Sorcerer's Workshop. In there you can make your own little animation strips. One time I found a hilarious strip someone had left behind and I still have it! It makes me laugh every time I see it. Then you can head into Beast's library to take a Disney personality test to see which character you're most like.

Here's the library

This was my picture taken at the beginning

And then transformed at the end! I was most like Cinderella.

There was no one in line so I also did my villain which was the evil queen from Snow White, and then I did the male version of me which was Tarzan XD
The next room is so fun; you can record your voice over Disney scenes. Always good for a laugh.


Next up was Tower of Terror

Of course he wanted to go on it – it’s called tower of TERROR

Oogie with our ToT FP’s. He was mad that we didn’t need them – I was glad it was walk on, we rode it three times!

Our ride photo

An awesome Halloween dress outside the ToT gift shop

 

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Then we decided to swing by the boardwalk.

We love California Screamin’! We walked right up.

When we were done we decided to go on the Ferris wheel; I hadn’t been on it in a long time and now I remember why…

First off, I look way too happy in this picture. I honestly don’t know why I thought we should go on this ride. I swear it was built by the devil himself. The Ferris wheel carts are on a sort of track and when the actual wheel moves the carts roll back and forth and it’s terrifying. It also makes me really nauseous. If they're going to rock you around at least they can give you a handle to grip or something. I always end up clinging to the walls of the cart or the bottom of my seat XD I can take the fastest, tallest roller coasters in the world but this Ferris wheel fills me with dread.

He liked it…surprise

We did the Maliboomer when we got off the Ferris wheel. By now the heat was really getting to us so we decided to take a break and get some food. I had heard good things about Yamabuki so we headed to the Paradise Pier Hotel. It was a really good decision. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is great. It’s pretty expensive but it’s worth it for the quality and service.

We got some sushi to start. It was so good!

We both had the combos which came with edamame, miso soup, teriyaki salmon and vegetable tempura.

Then it was back to Disneyland!

 

[disneycutie84]

Just joining the report!
Great pictures and I am loving your little pal Ooogie.
I must say, I LOVE your mom's shirt! Did she get that in the parks? Its sooo cute.
Can't wait to read more!

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

Just joining the report!
Great pictures and I am loving your little pal Ooogie.
I must say, I LOVE your mom's shirt! Did she get that in the parks? Its sooo cute.
Can't wait to read more!

They're sold out in the parks but you should be able to find some in the World of Disney shop in Downtown Disney. People were asking my mom all day because they couldn't get it in the parks. She happened to snag one a few months - we learned from last year when everything was sold out XD

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a good time when you go for you birthday

 

[MA pigletfan]

CANDY CORN ACRES~! i can't wait to walk through that! i might be tempted to bite some off...
that sushi looks delish! We have ressies there right before we go to the TOT party !
Great pics..Oogie is so photogenic lol!

 

[travelmel]

Hi!

I just found your report.... SOO good!

Thanks for posting all the great pics. I've never been to DLR at Halloween time

I totally appreciate all the insider peeks at the Halloween Decor!

I hope you don't mind but I "borrowed" your Dead Man's Grotto pic and saved it on my computer. I tried to take the pic but it turned out, "Ead Man's Grott"

The only thing I regret about our last trip this summer was not spending enough time in the Library. It looked so cute! I love standing in the animation studio... Disney BIG and Bright looks so pretty. Did you visit crush?

I also love your moms shirt. I also am terrified of Ferris Wheels (I didn't even go on that one) but LOVE roller coasters and all other forms of terror rides. LOL I am particularly fond of the Maliboomer (Red neck ToT).

Anyway, you're report rocks! I hope my DD's will visit DL with their ole mub (me) when they're older and still cute like you!

Great Job!

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

CANDY CORN ACRES~! i can't wait to walk through that! i might be tempted to bite some off...
that sushi looks delish! We have ressies there right before we go to the TOT party !
Great pics..Oogie is so photogenic lol!

I was pretty much salivating XD I ran into the candy shop near there and stocked up. I think it's Oogie's shade of green or something but he does look great

Hi!

I just found your report.... SOO good!

Thanks for posting all the great pics. I've never been to DLR at Halloween time

I totally appreciate all the insider peeks at the Halloween Decor!

I hope you don't mind but I "borrowed" your Dead Man's Grotto pic and saved it on my computer. I tried to take the pic but it turned out, "Ead Man's Grott"

The only thing I regret about our last trip this summer was not spending enough time in the Library. It looked so cute! I love standing in the animation studio... Disney BIG and Bright looks so pretty. Did you visit crush?

I also love your moms shirt. I also am terrified of Ferris Wheels (I didn't even go on that one) but LOVE roller coasters and all other forms of terror rides. LOL I am particularly fond of the Maliboomer (Red neck ToT).

Anyway, you're report rocks! I hope my DD's will visit DL with their ole mub (me) when they're older and still cute like you!

Great Job!

Thanks for reading! And you're welcome to any of the pics! The library is fun when no one's around because you can just do the test over and over to get different results (i'm a dork like that). My mom loves seeing Crush! I still really want to find out how they do that. Glad to know i'm not the only one that is afraid of ferris wheels (I swear there is just something structually unsound about them!) You're red neck comment cracked me up. It's totally true!

I'm sure your kids will love going with you even when they're 30; nothing beats a trip to DL with a cool mom! Thanks for reading

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

It was starting to get dark outside, SPOOKY! You’ll have to excuse the rest of the photography. We had to use a disposable camera for the rest because our real camera filled up. The crappy disposable had like a 4 foot flash so I did the best I could. They turned out alright though.

This is so awesome to see when you come into the park

I love Main Street at night!

I just thought this looked cool

Back to Adventureland

I prefer doing the jungle cruise at night because it’s, shall we say, more interesting to me to see the animals popping out in the dark. It just feels funner.

Oogie just wanted a shot on the boat

Some elephants playing in the water. How I wish I was them!

These were the last tourists…they get to be on the Jungle Cruise FOREVER!!!

Okay so I love Tarzan but I don’t fare so well with heights. EVERY time I’m like “hey! Let’s go on Tarzan’s treehouse!” And then I end up crawling along with family’s waiting behind us XD I have to hold onto the railing the whole time. But you can see out all across the river with the mansion on your left and BTMRR on the right. It’s awesome.

My mom loves to jump up and down on this thing while I sort of side step my way across it

Oogie with a hero

Oogie all ready to see his friends on the Haunted Mansion

I did manage to get this one though!

We snagged some FPs for the mansion because we wanted to go over to the carousel

 

[travelmel]

Hey that camera took some nice shots! Esp Adventureland Entrance and Crystal_____ place on Main Street (Ok, so I forgot the name already!)

Nice update!

We were so beat at night!! I'm ready to go back and do it again. My DH says Next Christmas!

We may be in Magic Mountain mode by then

LOL

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

Hey that camera took some nice shots! Esp Adventureland Entrance and Crystal_____ place on Main Street (Ok, so I forgot the name already!)

Nice update!

We were so beat at night!! I'm ready to go back and do it again. My DH says Next Christmas!

We may be in Magic Mountain mode by then

LOL

Haha I don't know the name either! I think it may be Crystal Palace or something. I love DL at Christmas! But it really doesn't compare to Christmas at WDW. I really hope to see the Osbourne lights; they look amazing!