DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 2018 is finally here (March 2nd – April 12th)! I was invited to a delicious day of learning all about the annual Food & Wine Festival and of course sampling too. Let me start (more…)
YES, YES, YES…. I went to Mickey’s Halloween Party this year. I have to say it is hands down my favorite event of the Halloween season. I say I go for my son, but I have to be honest I got all giddy when I got the invite to come kickoff Halloween Mickey style. Why wouldn’t I? It’s so magical and the attention to detail is off the (more…)
Yes, that’s me with Chef Christina from Disneyland…. She taught me how to make the famous seasonal pumpkin twists to share with you. We had such a great time filming in front of the Haunted Mansion. Watch the video to see how easy this recipe is to make, and enjoy it at home. I am also including a Strawberry version at the bottom of this post for during the year.
In addition to the pumpkin twists, I also got a sneak peak at all the cool make your mouth salivate treats that Disneyland pulls out of it’s witch hat during this ghoulish time of year. Did you know that all the treats on a stick are decorated by hand? And to make it double the fun both Disneyland in California and Disneyland in Florida offer the same snacks so both coasts can celebrate in the same spooktacular fashion! That Mickey is something of a wizard! There are also a few other new treats to the park. Try the sourdough pumpkin shaped bread loaf. Then there is the debut of the Ursula cupcake, so good you may let her steal your voice.
Below is a photo guide to some of the best treats in the park, so you know exactly what to look out for! Happy HalloweenTime at Disneyland!
Ingredients for Strawberry Twists:
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Disneyland provided me with passes for my family to Mickey’s Halloween Party and meal vouchers to help aid me with my post.
I woke up to the sparkling green wristband still fastened around my wrist. Then slowly, pops of the night before were replaying in my still sleepy memory. Disneyland had transformed itself into a Halloween party. Main street was decorated in true pumpkin fashion (no two pumpkins are alike).
Eerie music filled the air, and there was candy everywhere. The magic of Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland was seriously one of the best family events I have ever attended. I’m sure part of the reason is due to the fact that my son and his cousin had so much fun. Just to see their smiling faces soaking it all in, is enough to bring any parent overwhelming satisfaction. What I love best are the cart stations loaded with candy and healthy treats for kids and adults too. Guests are allowed to come dressed in costume for a trick or treating extravaganza in the magical kingdom and join in on the costume contest.
There are still 11 nights to enjoy Mickey’s Halloween Party (schedule posted below). There are so many fun things to do and here are just a few.
The “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, hosted by “Master of Scare-omonies” Jack Skellington and his little ghost dog Zero. Watch as the night sky fills with the spooky vibrant colors of the Halloween theme!
You can’t miss Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, which zooms into a haunted section of the universe where ghosts appear out of the starry darkness and the exhilarating twists and turns are accompanied by piercing screams and frightening music. There are creepy eyes that follow you through space. It’s a must do!
Then of course….Jack Skellington is back to reclaim the Haunted Mansion. This awesome ride inspired by Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” is an equal mix of eerie Halloween and Christmas traditions. Plus this year the gingerbread house in the Mansion ballroom is new. Come and join the fun.
My family and I had a great time at the Halloween Carnival, in Frontierland. We loved the new magic show presented on the Halloween Carnival stage at Big Thunder Ranch. Nearby they also conjured up a Disney Villain at the “Astounding Cauldron of Magic” sideshow tent. Here are a few pics of our day and a video of how I was transformed into the crystal ball by the house fortune teller.
The 2014 dates for Mickey’s Halloween Party are: Friday, Sept. 26; Tuesday, Sept. 30; Friday, Oct. 3; Monday, Oct. 6, Wednesday, Oct. 8; Friday, Oct. 10; Tuesday, Oct. 14; Friday, Oct. 17; Monday, Oct. 20; Wednesday, Oct. 22; Friday, Oct. 24; Monday, Oct. 27; Wednesday, Oct. 29; and Friday, Oct. 31.
I seem to be obsessed with Olaf from Disney’s new animated feature Frozen. I got to see a screening of the film last week and fell head over heels in love with the adorable snowman character. The film open Thanksgiving day nationwide, and shouldn’t be missed. Then a few days later I found myself hopping between Disneyland and California Adventure, both parks were decorated in full Christmas cheer with lights and trees sparkling around every corner. The holidays bring a different type of magic to the Disney theme parks and what I was most thrilled to see was the premiere of “World Of Color – Winter Dreams” water show at Disney California Adventure. I almost became giddy when I realized that Olaf (the cute snowman from Frozen) was the host of the new show. What perfect timing and another opportunity for me to swoon over my cartoon crush. The water spectacular is absolutely breathtaking, with fountains spanning the length of a football field and thousands of lights that brighten the night’s sky. This show in particular is something to see with floating snowflakes made of bubbles that blow out and float over the audience. There is a virtual choir that sings the opening segment of the show and their voices sound like angels. One of the coolest things that impressed me the most was the ears….. Disney has certainly outdone themselves with the ears. They have these new Mickey ear hats that light up and synchronize to the show, so as the colors change in the show, so do the ears. Everyone in the audience was wearing the ears and it was so amazing to see such a large group of people interacting with the show, it is definitely a cool extension of something already amazing. Here is a quick snippet of the show I caught with my phone.
Certainly a magical moment and I can’t wait to get back there over this holiday season to enjoy it again. In the meantime to hold me over from my new Olaf obsession, since I have a few more days till Frozen hits the theaters, and a few weeks till I am back at California Adventure…. I decided to make Olaf inspired cupcakes.
Get the step by step photos on how I made these cupcakes over at Babble.
Yes… I am a California girl, a native of Los Angeles, and a Disneyland devotee. There are several things in this life that excite me, and Disneyland and the holidays are definitely at the top of that list. When you combine those two things together the feeling becomes electrifying, like a bolt struck by lightning in Frankenstein’s neck. With that being said, I was so thrilled to be invited to Mickey’s Halloween Party this past Friday night for the mark of the first of 13 Halloween parties celebrated Disney style. The park was decked out from head to toe in “spook-tac-ular” fashion.
I opened my trick or treating bag wide and marched down the candy trail, I had a little ghoul named Maxie following close behind me with an equally eager desire for candy . The magical kingdom sparkled in hues of purple and blue while music played in minor chords making the park feel eerie and ominous like a bad guy in the room kinda feeling.
I looked over my shoulder to find Jack Skeleton inviting me into the Haunted Mansion Holiday. Talks of his gingerbread house in the center of the mansion ballroom was how he lured me in…revealing 13 different Jack Skeleton faces in each door.
I ran out of there spooked and straight into the arms of the Dia De Los Muertos exhibit where I was comforted by memories of loved ones lost but not forgotten.
Cadaver Dans Ghoul quartet filled my ears as they sang loudly on the rivers of America.
I could see a little red light floating above the castle when I realized it was Zero (Jack’s dog) he was letting the people know “Halloween Screams” firework spectacular was about to start. I watched showers of lights fill the sky in the dead of night as I munched on another treat.
What I ate while I was there is another story….go to Babble for a peek of the GORE- met apples and other treats!
Mickey’s Halloween Party, a separate-ticket event for trick-or-treating families, will expand to a spooky total of 13 special nights in Disneyland Park. Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party are on sale at the Disneyland Resort main gate and by phone at 714-781-4400.
Tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party purchased in advance are $59 each for selected nights, while tickets purchased on the event days are $67 each. Tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and Halloween Night, Thursday, Oct. 31, are $74 each.
The dates: Friday, Sept. 27; Tuesday, Oct. 1; Friday, Oct. 4; Tuesday, Oct. 8; Friday, Oct. 11; Tuesday, Oct. 15; Friday, Oct. 18; Monday, Oct. 21; Wednesday, Oct. 23; Friday, Oct. 25; Monday, Oct. 28; Wednesday, Oct. 30; and Thursday, Oct. 31.
Did I ever mention that I LOVE Disneyland? It’s true. When I was younger I would go several times a year, but now I get out there on special occasions which usually fall under the guidelines of my birthday, my fiance’s birthday, and now my son’s birthday too! Of course I get uber excited knowing I’ll hop on all my favorite classic rides…. The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and Peter Pan. What really makes the thrill of visiting the happiest place on earth worthwhile are all the snacks. I live to nosh and drink my way through the day. Stopping along the way from each ride to the next to see what I could get my grubby little hands on. Today was no different then any of my other Disneyland visits, I had my fair share of all snacks Disney has to offer! Thank you for another beautiful memory!
All photos taken by: Nicole Presley and Mando Lopez
What we snacked on: Mickey Mouse Pretzel, Mint Julep, Fresh Strawberries, Frozen Lemonade, Disney Lollipops, Mickey Mouse Rice Krispy Treat Pop, Peanut Brittle, and Ice Cream in a Waffle Cone.
No compensation was received for this post. Just a wonderful day spent celebrating my son’s birthday. These are my personal opinions and views of Disneyland.
