Trick or Treating at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

My favorite time of year to go to Disney World is in the fall. I absolutely adore going to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. And one of the best parts of the Party is the Trick or Treating. Last year, Disney handed out a whopping 215 tons of candy at the parties.

When you check in for the party, at the Rose Garden or the gate, you are handed your party wristbands, a map, and a small, gift-bag sized trick or treat bag. In the past, the bag has advertised the latest Disney movies, such as TinkerBell or Wall-E. The bags are easy to carry and fairly sturdy, however, if your child has a favorite bag or bucket they'd prefer, that's perfectly okay.

There are several Trick or Treat Trails set up around the Magic Kingdom. The Trails, as well as additional candy stops, are marked on the party map. The first two years that I attended the party, the Trails were Alice in Wonderland themed, with Cast Members dressed as playing cards handing out the candy. Along the Trails, we got a surprise meeting with the Queen of Hearts and the White Rabbit. This past year, there were new trails, including one at Splash Mountain. The candy distribution is generous and we've found the Cast Members to be very friendly and in the spirit of Halloween. Most Cast Members will give each person a large handful of candy at each stop along the trail. Some Cast Members will wait for the kids to say "Trick or Treat" before handing out candy, and you should remember to say "Thank you!" too.

A surprise meeting with the Queen of Hearts

Disney is very generous with the candy that they hand out during MNSSHP. The candy varies, but is usually a good mix of popular varieties including Butterfinger, Hersheys, Skittles, Twix, Laffy Taffy, Heath Bars, Smarties, Nestle Crunch, Reese's peanut butter cups, Tootsie Rolls, Twizzlers, and more. In the past, there were also small boxes of raisins for a healthy option and also little extras that were handed out at some stops in lieu of candy. One year, we got packs of Winnie the Pooh Halloween memory cards. Another year, we got Jack Skellington stencils that were made of a nice sturdy plastic. Last year, at the Jungle Cruise stop, you could even get bananas instead of candy. One of our favorite treats was the Jake and the Neverland Pirates fruit snacks. And Disney has also added several locations where you can trade in your candy for healthier alternatives, including sugar-free, allergen-free, and non-candy options.

You never know what you might find on the Trick or Treat Trails. In previous years, near the Haunted Mansion, was a trail that led down to the Riverboat landing. A ghostly ship's captain bearing a lamp haunted a fog-enshrouded area at the bottom of the stairs. Last year, Disney added a new Riverboat stop that was less spooky and lots of fun: a Mardi Gras party from the Princess and the Frog.

Our giant haul of candy!

The Trick or Treat Trails are a great way to pass the time while waiting for the Boo to You parades or dance parties to start, or walking from one area of the park to another. We usually use our small bags while walking the trails, but dump the candy into a single backpack when it becomes too much to easily carry or when going on rides. The Trails are rarely busy if you attend a party in September or even early October. We haven't ususally had to wait for more than one group to finish before getting our candy or having a chance to interact with the characters. We really enjoyed the unexpectedly calm pace at a park that is often quite frenetic.

At the end of the night, don't forget to get your bag topped off as you exit the gate. In 2009, the top of candy was giant Ghiradelli caramel filled chocolate bars. And each of us got six! Last year, it was individually wrapped Peeps in Halloween colors. So if you're planning to attend Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party, be sure to make time for Trick or Treating. It's definitely worth it!

Boo to You Parade at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

In my opinion, the Boo to You Parade at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is the best parade at Disney World. It's a great opportunity to see many rare Disney characters as well as several classic characters in Halloween costumes. Bean's favorite part of the parade is the Headless Horseman who rides through before the parade starts. We've enjoyed watching the old Disney Legend of Sleepy Hollow, as narrated by Bing Crosby, for years. As a result, we always look forward to seeing the Headless Horseman, although Bean was terribly disappointed to discover that he doesn't give autographs!

After the Horseman, the music begins and the floats make their way through Frontierland toward Main Street. The music is ridiculously catchy! You'll find yourself humming it for days after watching the parade. The parade begins with many walking characters who carry fancy Halloween masks. The characters dance to the music, but also wave to the children in the audience and high-five them as well.

The first float has Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy in their Halloween finery, riding in a decorated gazebo.

Next is a large tree from the Hundred Acre Woods with Winnie the Pooh and friends in their Halloween costumes. Peter Pan and the Lost Boys dance and play their way through the parade with Wendy. They are followed by Captain Hook and Mr Smee on the Jolly Roger and an enormous Tick-Tock Croc.

The next group is pirates, including Captain Barbossa and Captain Jack Sparrow high up on a treasure covered cliff.

Now we've come to my favorite part of the parade: the Haunted Mansion characters. Fog covers the ground as the Caretaker, Dick O'Dell, leads his frightened dog through the mist. Ghostly ballroom dancers glide down the parade route followed by the Hitchhiking Ghosts standing on the steps of the Haunted Mansion. The dancers are not to be missed. They are eerie and beautiful at the same time.

The gravediggers are also spectacular and do an amazing dance with shovels, including a move where they run the shovels along the ground and send up sparks. The next group includes characters from the early days of Disney and includes Horace Horsecollar, a group of cowboy dancer, and the Country Bears singing and playing on a float.

Brer Bear and Brer Fox join Chip and Dale in Western wear to escort several country girls down the parade, dancing as they go. Clara Cluck follows them in a giant barn.

Next up is a pumpkin-headed character on a large mirrored ball that spins and weaves through the parade.

The villains follow, complete with their own skeleton band, and include the Queen of Heart, Cruella DeVil, the Evil Queen, the Sheriff of Nottingham, the Big Bad Wolf, Dr. Facilier,  and Jafar and Maleficent on a castle wall with a full size Chernabog peering over the top and often Ursula on the back. Shenzi, Bonzai, and Ed round out the villains and are followed by a candy corn waving flag line. Pluto and Goofy, riding in candy filled trucks, are the last to pass, with helpers who hand out candy to the children, ending the parade.

You'll have two chances to watch the parade during the party. If you have young children who may not be able to stay until the end of the party, I would recommend watching the earlier parade. The first parade is at 8:15 pm and the second parade is at 10:30 pm. I have watched the parade from several different locations, but would recommend finding a spot in Frontierland. The area between the Country Bear Jamboree and the Frontierland turkey leg cart, facing the Rivers of America is my favorite spot. It's usually not as crowded as Main Street and the lighting is fantastic for taking photos.

The Boo to You Parade may change slightly from year to year and may include different characters, but it's always worth taking the time to watch. Be sure to pick a spot about 20-30 minutes before the start of the parade to get the best seats and remember to bring glow sticks from home. They sell them at Disney and kids always want them, but they are far too expensive. The parade lasts about 15 minutes and may have a few moments that are too scary for young children, such as the Haunted Mansion characters and villains. However, this parade is definitely one to watch.

Halloween Movies

It's October, so it must be time to dust off the movies and begin A Halloween marathon. I know I'll be re-watching all of my favorites as well as trying to watch every episode of Buffy,  and maybe even all of Angel,  too, although that may be a bit too ambitious. If you still need a few ideas for movies to fill in your Halloween line-up, be sure to check out my favorites.

Halloween Movies for Kids Part 1
Halloween Movies for Kids Part 2
Halloween Movies for Kids Part 3
More Halloween Movies for Kids
Even More Halloween Movies for Kids

Photo of the Week

Trick or Treat!

Quote of the Week

When the crypt doors creak

And the tombstones quake

Spooks come out 

For a swinging wake

Happy haunts materialize

And begin to vocalize

Grim grinning ghosts

Come out to socialize...

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Pop Vinyl

I've been a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for years. I started watching Buffy part way through season 2 when my cousin introduced me to it when I stayed with her during a Disneyland trip. By the time I got home,  I was hooked. I love the ridiculousness of a blonde,  teenage,  cheerleader-type girl protecting the world from vampires and other demons.

There were many fantastic episodes during its seven year run. A few of my favorites are: "Fear Itself" where the fear demon everyone was terrified of was only 8 inches tall and not really scary; "Hush" which is almost entirely silent, yet very effectively creepy and features the uber scary Gentlemen; and "Once More With Feeling" the hilarious musical episode with songs by Joss Whedon. Overall, I loved the idea that personal inner demons could become real, making high school even more insufferable.

After a few seasons, Buffy collectibles were everywhere,  and I will admit, I have more than a few. I have most of the first five years of the magazine. I have the Buffy, Willow, and Angel Barbie-style dolls. I bought Chupa Chups suckers and Barqs rootbeer because of their Buffy labels. I even used the iron-on that came with the magazine, paired with a bit of hand embroidery to make a pillow, which I still use as part of my decor. And I probably shouldn't even mention the lithograph of Buffy and Angel that spent years hanging on my bedroom wall.  I also have all of the DVDs, which I have decided to rewatch from the beginning to celebrate the spooky fun of October. Yeah, I was addicted to Buffy (and later it's spin-off, Angel).

Recently, Funko released a set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer PopVinyls (for those of us who still don't have enough collectibles.) The collection includes Buffy Summers (holding Mr. Pointy), Angel,  Willow Rosenberg, Oz, two versions of my favorite evil vampire Spike (one in human features and one vamped out), and one of the Gentlemen (always creepy).

There is also a special Wishverse variant of Willow that is exclusive to Hot Topic. My sister and I have an ever-growing collection of PopVinyls, so I'm sure I'll be adding some of the Buffy characters soon.

Halloween is coming to the Disney Channels!

Disney

It's nearly time for Halloween again, and that means movies, magic, and fun, fun, fun! Disney Junior is set to kick off their Boo For You Halloween programming starting this today. Special episodes of Sofia the First, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Doc McStuffins will appear each Friday all month long.

The Disney Channel is also planning a special Monstober line-up featuring Halloween episodes from several of their popular series as well as Disney Channel original movies. New episodes of Dog with a Blog, Girl Meets World, and Jessie air tonight. Phineas and Ferb scare up some fun in "Night of the Living Pharmacists" alongside a new Gravity Falls on Saturday night, while Austin and Ally and Liv and Maddie will be on Sunday. Some of the movies this month include Under Wraps, Girl vs. Monster,  both Twitches films, and all four Halloweentown movies. And since it's Disney,  there will most likely be a new Halloween movie as well.

Disney XD will also get in on the fun beginning October 17.  Lab Rats, Mighty Med, the 7D, and Marvel's Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. will all have special Halloween episodes. An animated cross-over featuring the cast of Jessie and Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man: Web-Warriors is also set to debut in October.

With all of the new episodes and great movies,  it should be a Monstober to remember. And since Halloween is my favorite time of year,  I can't wait!