Disneyland to Offer New Family-Friendly Halloween Event

But "Mickey's Halloween Treat" will be at California Adventure, not the original Disneyland park. Will families go?

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Published: August 11, 2005 at 12:24 PM

Just got this blast e-mail from Disney:


Mickey's Halloween Treat!

*New at Disney's California Adventure(tm) park*
October 21, 22, 28, 29
7:30pm - 10:30pm

Learn more:
http://x.go.com/192102?eid=5199_1&uid=78182917

Mickey's Halloween Treat is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween in a not-so-scary way.

As an Annual Passholder you can buy tickets before they go on sale to the general public on 9/15/05 and save 25% when you purchase tickets before the day of the event.

Bring the kids for family friendly fun for only 15 per person when you purchase tickets in advance! ($20 per person day of event)

Mickey's Halloween Treat is a private costume party that lets little ones laugh and play with their favorite Disney Characters as they trick-or-treat through Disney's California Adventure(tm) park. There will be lots of special activities and spirited music too!

Disney's run a highly successful "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party" at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World for years, positioning the park to attract family customers, while teens and older visitors head to the much-more-scary Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando.

In Southern California, Knott's has pretty much had the Halloween market to itself, with the industry-leading Halloween Haunt. Six Flags Magic Mountain, north of the area in Valencia, has also offered Halloween events. Universal Studios Hollywood dropped its event several years ago, due to concerns about liability and disruption of business at the adjacent CityWalk entertainment district.

Knott's has reached out to families with young kids by offering "Camp Spooky" events in its Camp Snoopy kids' area during regular operating hours. And Legoland California has also offered themed Halloween events.

But Disney's long-awaited entry into the market should impact both those efforts. The question remains, however, will families flock to this event given that it is slated for California Adventure, rather than the much more popular and kid-friendly "Magic Kingdom"-style park across the esplanade?

Readers' Opinions

From Robert Niles on August 11, 2005 at 12:25 PM
The links in the e-mail for more information and to buy tickets, unfortunately, do not work, as of noon on Aug. 11.
From Jason Moore on August 11, 2005 at 1:44 PM
If done as well as MNSSHP in is done here at WDW I don't see why it wouldn't be a success. I know plenty of teens and adults who prefer the less scary, more participitory nature (dressing up) of Disney's event to the Horror Nights at Universal. You do raise a good question though about it being in DCA instead of DL, but I think they can overcome that.
From Michael Kostrikin on August 11, 2005 at 4:45 PM
I don't think this is as "new" as they claim. In past years, Disneyland has held a similar sounding event with the same name, "Mickey's Halloween Treat." Google-ing the phrase leads me to believe it was started in 1995.

I truly doubt it will have much (if any) impact on other parks. Halloween just isn't Disney's thing.

From Jason Lester on August 11, 2005 at 6:58 PM
This isn't going to affect the Knott's night Haunt at all, but the daytime kid's one...

Maybe. I said it in the Princess Tea Party thread and will say it here. Disney's a name. Who cares about quality when it's at Disney?!

Knott's isn't as popular a park and Cedar Fair isn't the best-known name in the business.

Can Knott's keep it's attendance for Camp Spooky up? Only time will tell...

From rick stevens on August 11, 2005 at 10:33 PM
I've been going to Knott's Scary Farm with my church youth group for around 10 years now. It is definitely not for little ones even though I see them there. It is geared for teens and up, NC-13 stuff with the mazes and shows. We really needed something for the little ones. I think that, even though it is in DCA, it will be a success. Since halloween haunts are not really about the rides, but instead the ambiance (except Six Flags where they have Colossus going backwards), Disney has the upper hand with it's characters and their rapport with children.
From Jason Lester on August 11, 2005 at 10:48 PM
Church groups at Knott's? Not to be offensive, but isn't the Church against such things as witchcraft and violence? Knott's is a big celebration of all things horrifying and evil. I love it personally, but I'm just wondering.

Also, I started going when I was about 10 and have loved it since. So I guess it all depends on the kid. I mean, that's also the age when I saw Pulp Fiction, so I was already a bit exposed to violence, but mature enough to handle it.

From J. Dana on August 11, 2005 at 10:54 PM
Hey, we church folks love good scares too...Universal Orlando's event has been a mainstay for me and my "churchy" friends, so I'm looking for a good alterantive now that I'm here in Southern California (last year I flew back to Orlando). Glad to know that Knott's is edgy and not for the faint of heart...

Disney will do great with it's celebration...it will take a few years to catch on like the one in Florida, but if they've got the patience, they should do fine...besides, Anaheim is more of a "locals" hang-out, so the Halloween market should do well there.

From Sid Ryan on August 12, 2005 at 8:05 AM
Not all churches are against Halloween.

Heck, I even remember when the Christian college group "Campus Life" used to sponsor the "Scream In The Dark" Haunted Houses...

Now they don't even want to talk about those times...!

-cid.

From Jason Lester on August 12, 2005 at 9:01 AM
Kind of a stereotype then. Well, I hope you enjoy Knott's Haunt this year. It's the best Haunt event around.

Don't kill me Halloween Horror Nights fans.

From rick stevens on August 12, 2005 at 10:57 PM
We not only go to Knott's for the Halloween Haunt, we do a Spring Carnival with a youth sponsored haunted house. The Kids love it. We do a lights on version fo the little ones, and a lights out version for the older ones. I get ideas from the mazes at Knott's. They enjoy setting it up as much as working it. I even have a few that have gone on to work the Knott's event, one is in charge of a couple of mazes.
From rick stevens on August 12, 2005 at 10:57 PM
We not only go to Knott's for the Halloween Haunt, we do a Spring Carnival with a youth sponsored haunted house. The Kids love it. We do a lights on version fo the little ones, and a lights out version for the older ones. I get ideas from the mazes at Knott's. They enjoy setting it up as much as working it. I even have a few that have gone on to work the Knott's event, one is in charge of a couple of mazes.
From rick stevens on August 12, 2005 at 10:57 PM
We not only go to Knott's for the Halloween Haunt, we do a Spring Carnival with a youth sponsored haunted house. The Kids love it. We do a lights on version fo the little ones, and a lights out version for the older ones. I get ideas from the mazes at Knott's. They enjoy setting it up as much as working it. I even have a few that have gone on to work the Knott's event, one is in charge of a couple of mazes.
From rick stevens on August 13, 2005 at 10:22 AM
Sorry about the triple response, my laptop went a little haywire last night.
From Jason Lester on August 13, 2005 at 11:19 AM
That's cool. I'd love to work at Knott's some day during Haunt. Of course, I'd want another job the rest of the year, but come October...
From rick stevens on August 18, 2005 at 12:46 AM
I agree, I love the haunt. It is not about the rides, but the mazes and monsters that really make it enjoyable. You have to make sure you go with someone that the monsters will pick on, it is much more fun. I miss the really tall monter that would slide on kneepads with noise making cans. When he would slide up and stand up towering over the park patrons, it was priceless! Hope to see you all at the haunt!
From Jason Lester on August 18, 2005 at 5:32 PM
What monster was that? I have to say my favorite is Dusty, don't know if you know who he is, but he's in Ghost Town and is hilarious. He roams around the ultimatehaunt.com boards sometime you should check it out if you love Haunt. Of course, if you love Haunt, you've probably already been.
From Jon Faaborg on September 12, 2005 at 9:46 PM
I heard that tickets for Disney's not so scary party are selling out. Can anyone confirm this???
From David Michael on September 15, 2005 at 11:43 AM
I can, the original 4 nights have sold out.

But two new dates have been added.

Thursday, October 27th

Sunday, October 30th.

Of course, this requires that DCA closes at 6 PM instead of 9 PM to the General Public on October 30th.

General Ticket sales have already started ($18), so order as soon as possible.

You can get tickets at the Main Entry Plaza Ticket Booths, or by calling (714) 781-4400.

From Anthony Murphy on September 15, 2005 at 12:00 PM
I am surpised that Disneyland has not been doing this in the first place. I guess the celebration and DCA is breathing much needed life in that area!

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