Many people at this time of year enjoy Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and for good reason: with the amazing parade, incredible fireworks, and spirited costumes, it is a night to be remembered and treasured as embracing the positive spirit of the day.

In my experience, many guests dress as Disney characters when they celebrate the holiday in the parks.  This makes me wonder—how would our favorite Disney characters honor the holiday?  Clearly, Mickey would have to celebrate incognito if he were to enjoy the party, right?

So, I went scouting for masks that our favorite Disney personalities could wear s they could attend–and enjoy–Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.  

I found these two masks, and now have these questions for YOU, my aspiring Imagineers:

• Which Disney characters would wear these two masks?

• What would these characters’ costumes be?

• What would these characters most want to see at the Halloween Party?

I can’t wait to see your amazingly creative replies!  And have a wonderful (and of course, not-so-scary) Halloween!

The post Wanna Be Disney Imagineers: Don’t Mask Your Enthusiasm for this Not-So-Scary Challenge! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Many times throughout the year, Walt Disney World plays host to a celebration, holiday, or special event. From Christmas to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, these times are special and unique every year that they occur. In my opinion, the most enchanting and spooktacular celebration at Walt Disney World is the Halloween season. With everything from decorations to exclusive parades and fireworks, Halloween can be a spellbinding time of year in the World.

Depending on whether you want to pay additional costs to experience some of the Halloween offerings, there are several options to choose from. If you are on a budget while visiting, you can still experience all of the amazing decorations that the Magic Kingdom offers throughout September and October. Starting outside the train station, there are pumpkins displayed on the lawn making for a great photo opportunity. Once inside, there are several pumpkin characters such as the mayor and a bandleader around Town Square. Near the statue of Roy Disney and Minnie Mouse, there are even two stacks of pumpkins framing the distant sight of Cinderella Castle. Here you can have the Photo Pass Cast Member take your picture with the fall decorations and even ask them to take a similar shot with your own camera. As you proceed forward, you will see that Main Street is transformed into a fall haven with orange and yellow bunting hung on all the buildings and pumpkins decorating many surfaces. Be sure to look closely at some of the pumpkins as they are carved to represent the buildings they are placed near. Additionally, you can enjoy browsing the special Halloween merchandise sold in the shops along Main Street. (Although once seeing everything, I can’t guarantee that this will remain a cost free activity!)

If you want to see all that the Magic Kingdom has to offer in terms of Halloween festivities, then it is worth it to purchase a hard ticket for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Running certain nights from September through early November, the party is a hard ticket event. This means that you must purchase an additional ticket on top of your Magic Kingdom admission in order to experience the party. The tickets are around sixty dollars and become more expensive the closer the date gets to Halloween. You can save an additional few dollars by purchasing your tickets in advance either online or over the phone with Disney. I find the ticket price to be worth the addition cost for two reasons: the first being that I absolutely love Halloween, and the second being that the party has a variety of unique experiences over the course of five hours.

If you choose to purchase tickets for the party, there are a few things you should know going in to make your experience even more enjoyable. While the party begins at seven, you can actually enter with just the event ticket beginning at four. I recommend going in costume, as by seven the majority of other guests you will encounter are going to be costumed as well. Last year I saw some amazing costumes, the best being a couple dressed as Mary Poppins and Bert from the Chim Chim Cheree number. Beginning at seven, select stores will display Halloween merchandise exclusive to the party. If you really have your heart set on a particular item, I recommend arriving at one of the stores at exactly seven. You can find out which stores are going to offer the merchandise by checking on the Magic Kingdom maps which are exclusive for the party and offered at the main gate.

Throughout the party, you will also get the unique opportunity to meet classic Disney characters decked out in their own Halloween costumes. By far the most popular characters during the party are the Seven Dwarfs. If you would like to meet with them and have your picture taken, you should get on line to meet them (usually near Splash Mountain) well before six. The line for them can become huge, even before the party starts, and if you want to experience as much as possible throughout the event plan to wait before they appear at seven.

Guests are also offered the option to Trick or Treat throughout the park at candy stations which are indicated on the event’s map. Each station offers several pieces of candy which can be collected in free souvenir bags which are handed out at the entrance to Main Street. I recommend visiting the candy stops later in the night when smaller children have headed home and the lines are shorter.

There are three exclusive events during the party: The Villains Mix n’ Mingle, Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade, and Happy HalloWishes. The Villains Mix n’ Mingle occurs in front of Cinderella Castle and is a musical experience in which the villains perform and greet guests for pictures and autographs after. The show runs several times throughout the party. I would advise on viewing the show closest to the beginning of the parade. This will allow you to experience the villains, and then rotate to face the Partners Statue and have a great viewing spot for the parade. Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade runs twice during each party and features an infectiously catchy song. The parade begins with the Headless Horseman galloping at full speed- so have your cameras ready! The horseman is then followed by Disney characters and villains all decked out in their Halloween finest. The parade is worth viewing both times, however the second showing will always be less crowded as more guests have headed home. So if you are looking to snag a great viewing spot without waiting before the parade begins, opt for the later viewing. Remember, two great places to watch the parade from are the train station balcony and in Frontierland along the Rivers of America.

Wrapping up the evening is HalloWishes, a fireworks spectacular featuring classic Disney music, villains, and a touch of the Haunted Mansion. Narrated by your host, your ghost host, the fireworks display is a screaming good time and is best viewed from any point along Main Street facing Cinderella Castle.  Be sure to take part in the scream along! Just scream like you are trying to wake the dead!

In addition to all of these amazing unique offerings throughout the party, you can also experience Halloween themed music and lighting throughout the park. Look for some spooky projections on the surface of Space Mountain in Tomorrowland! Many of the more popular attractions will be open to guests as well, so the party is a great opportunity to experience the attractions with shorter wait times.

So whether you are on a budget and taking in the Magic Kingdom’s Halloween decorations and merchandise, or opting to experience Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Walt Disney World is a magical and spooky place to visit for the Halloween holiday season. Just remember to check for hitchhiking ghosts following you home!

What is your favorite part about Halloween at Walt Disney World? Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!

Caitlin Corsello was born and raised in New York. She graduated from Adelphi University with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling in 2012. Her love for Disney started as an infant and has continued to grow with family vacations to Disney parks almost every year since. She holds a particular interest in WDW’s parks and attractions, never passing up an opportunity to visit. She looks forward to continuing to explore and learn about all things Disney and to share that passion with readers.

The post Disney from a Disney-Something: Halloween in Disney appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Last year, we honored those who celebrated their love of Disney in their jack o’lanterns.  This year, for the month of October, we are asking you to send us pictures of how you incorporate Disney into your Halloween decorations.

Do you have tombstones of the Haunted Mansion ghosts outside your front door?  Do you have Vampire Mickey and Minnie on your mantle?  Do you have a great Disney wreath on your front door?  We want to see your magical (and not-so-scary!) Disney homes!

Please send send no more than 3 pictures of your Disney-inspired Halloween decorations to Christy@WDWRadio.com by Wednesday, October 24.  Please include a brief description (where applicable) of what you did to Disney-fy your home for Halloween.

We will post all the entries and ask you all to vote to determine whose entry is the most magical!  The winner will receive a WDW Radio prize package with a special Halloween touch!

And for those of you who like to plan ahead, here are the upcoming “Our Home Went Disney” contests:

• late November-Mid December: My Outdoor Holiday Decorations Went Disney
• January: My Office Went Disney
• February: My Vinylmation Collection: Unique and Fun Ways to Display Them

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at Christy@WDWRadio.com.  Have a spook-tacular time!

The post Our Home Went Disney: Halloween Edition CONTEST! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

With Halloween in almost a month, the debut of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was a few weeks ago. This is a time to celebrate fall and, well, get candy. A lot of people dress up for Halloween, and being in Disney is no different.   Adults and children come to the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party outfitted in their favorite costumes.  You might arrive dressed as Minnie then see 15 other Minnie’s walking around. If you want to have a unique costume for the party of your life, keep reading!  Thanks to Sammie Kay and Backside of Water who suggested and helped inspire this blog.

Dapper Dan
If you have never seen the Dapper Dans, they are 4 men who create a brilliant quartet and have fun while singing.  Each one is featured in a different color: Red, Yellow, Blue, and Purple.  They wear jackets or vests with vertical stripes, alternating between white and their respected color.  Under the jackets are white shirts and a corresponding tie.  The bottom half of their outfit is pants that match their assigned color.  Wide brim straw hats with colored ribbon are also a necessity.  If you can sing, then it makes this idea even better.  And if you really wanted to go all out, print out a picture that looks like a Disney nametag and pin it on your jacket!  I am sure the Dapper Dans would get a kick out of your costume!

Chimney Sweep
These friendly fellas from Mary Poppins would be a great person to imitate for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.  Another good thing about being a chimney sweep is that it works whether you are a woman or a man.  All you need is black pants, black shoes, a black shirt (or a black vest with a colored shirt underneath) and a black hat.  I believe that the girls would look best with their hair in a high ponytail.  You can also put black chalk on your face so that it looks like you just came out of a chimney.  If it is cold the night of the party, bring a black scarf.  Basically, wear a lot of black.  If you happen to run into Mary Poppins or Bert, they will comment on your well-designed costume!

The Redhead from Pirates of The Caribbean
“We want the redhead!”  One of the most famous (or infamous) quotes from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride caused this costume idea to pop up in my head.  During the auction scene in the ride, you see that a girl in a red dress is being auctioned off.  It is here when the quote was born.  Many people like to dress up as pirates, but why be ordinary?  A pink dress with a pink floppy hat would be perfect to portray this beauty.  Of course, you can’t be this redhead without red hair!  A Merida wig would work out fine, but if you can’t find one, try to go with a little darker color.  This fine lady also wears a black necklace with a gold pendant hanging from it.  You can simply make this by buying a gold centerpiece for a necklace from a local craft store and some black ribbon.  Put the pendant on the ribbon and tie it around your neck.  There you go, you have your necklace!  The Cast members at Pirates of The Caribbean will surely appreciate your costume!

Walt Disney
Walt Disney could be done in many ways.   You could wear a suit and slick your hair back.  Or you can have a sweater vest with a white shirt under it – don’t forget to roll up the cuffs just a little bit.  What is most important though is getting the face right. If you don’t have a mustache, you can either buy a fake mustache or draw one on with mascara or a sharpie marker (although a sharpie mustache will be on your face for days).  Walt’s eyebrows are important also.  They are slightly curved towards the side of his face.  You can either draw them one ( a girl can help you with that) or actually get your eyebrows shaped.  If you don’t have black hair, black hair dye should so the trick (you would also need it for you eyebrows and mustache if you have one). Women can adopt a family look by portraying Lily Disney.  I am positive that EVERYBODY will love your look if you pull it off right.

Christopher Robin
This is for the guys who don’t want to go “dressed up” and want to wear regular clothes.  Christopher Robin wears a yellow polo, blue shorts and red converse sneakers with white socks almost every time he joins his friends in the One Hundred Acre Wood.  If it is cold the night of the party, a red scarf would be a great accessory.  If you meet Winnie The Pooh or any of his pals, I am sure that he would be thrilled to see you dressed as his best friend!  Better yet, it requires no shopping or itchy costumes! This is also great if you are surprising a little boy with a trip.  Instead of packing a costume (which he might notice is missing around Halloweentime), just pack blue shorts and a yellow polo and you are good to go! This also works if you are surprising somebody who knows they are going to Walt Disney World, but not to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Graphic Tees
As a box friend recently did, you can purchase a shirt that is Disney-oriented and go with an “abstract costume”.  For example, you could go with a “Goodnight George” shirt (the phrase every Cast member at the Pirates of the Caribbean ride has to say before opening and closing the ride) or a “Backside of Water” shirt.  If you get really lucky, like my box friend, your Jungle Cruise skipper may even give you the seat of honor on the boat.  Depending on what your favorite ride or movie is, you can include inside jokes that others who enjoy the same movie or ride would recognize.  If you like Finding Nemo, a shirt that shares the address of where Nemo was taken (P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sydney) might be suitable for you.  If you like Push, the talking trashcan in Tomorrowland, consider purchasing a shirt that says “Push for President”.

Wendy
If you love pajamas, you will love this idea.  Wendy’s style can be an easy thing to replicate.  There are a few ways you can pull this off.  One way is to buy a blue nightgown and tie your hair back with a ribbon. Another way is to buy a blue dress, so you aren’t actually going to Walt Disney World in your pajamas. Wendy’s hair is tied with a blue ribbon, which you can buy at any craft store.  Blue flats would be a great idea for your feet.  This is another style that is easy to pull off and great if you are surprising somebody with a trip to Disney or to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party.  It’s both practical and comfortable.

These ideas might have been meant for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party, but they are perfect for Halloween, also.  No matter what town you are in, Disney characters are always recognizable.  From the most subtle to the most obvious, choose a costume that suits your personality.  If you are planning to go to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party do not wear a mask, do not wear heavy makeup, do not go dressed as a princess if you are an adult, do not dress in anything that will confuse or scare kids …. Do have an amazing time!  Remember, Disney reserves the right to escort you out of the park if they feel your costume is inappropriate.

What are you planning to be this Halloween?

Leave a comment below sharing your creativity. I hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween season!

See ya REAL soon!
~Makena

Quote of the Week: “ I’m a damsel, I’m in distress, I can handle this. Have a nice day.”  -Meg

The post What will you be for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show, your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #38 for the week of October 28, 2007.

We’re going to have a lot of fun this week with some segments to help celebrate the Halloween season, all backed with some fun Disney sounds effects, audio clips and music.

First, well, the news from Walt Disney World may not be spooky, but we’ll talk about Disney’s efforts to help the victims of the Southern California wildfires, the new look coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and more. And maybe our trip to the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill isn’t all that scary, either, but there are some interesting developments to cover.

Things get a little creepier as Tim Foster and I take a fun-filled look at the Top 10 Spookiest Moments in Walt Disney World. And then, just when you thought Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party wouldn’t be scary, we look at a character connection to examine a man whose face is legendary… because it isn’t there – The Headless Horseman. Jeff and I look at his role in a Disney animated film, and both the film’s and his many connections to the Walt Disney World resort.

I’ll answer some of your emails that for the most part have NOTHING to do with Halloween, and play some of your voicemails as always at the end of the show. So as always, sit back, relax and enjoy this not-so-scary episode of the WDW Radio Show.

Links and Information from this week’s show:

To discuss issues with Guests concerned about their ability to fit comfortably on attraction vehicles, etc. can discuss these issues at the Forums at DisneyWorldTrivia.com in our “Big People” forum for Guests with Special Needs

NEW Disney’s Hollywood Studios Logo

What are some of YOUR Spookiest Moments in Walt Disney World? Talk about them in the fourms HERE

The post Show #38 – Oct. 28, 2007 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.