Press Release: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2006

[AwallaceUNC]

<center>Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom Bigger Than Ever</center>

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- With 18 party nights scheduled, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a one-of-a-kind Halloween bash that immerses guests in the fantasy of Magic Kingdom -- and it's bigger than ever in 2006.

The lightly frightful fun for the whole family begins at 7 p.m. (after regular park operating hours) and continues until midnight on Sept. 15, 22, 29 and Oct. 2, 5, 6, 10, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30 and 31. Separate admission is required.

Each date features trick-or-treating throughout the park and the Halloween-themed fireworks spectacular "Happy HalloWishes." The event also showcases the newly expanded "Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade." Guests, who are welcome to attend wearing Halloween costumes, can also experience some of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions.

Guests can save $6 per ticket for all event nights except Oct. 27, 30 and 31 by purchasing tickets in advance by calling 407/W-DISNEY or visiting disneyworld.com/halloween. Advance tickets are $36.95 plus tax for ages 10 and above, $29.95 plus tax for ages 3-9. Children under 3 are admitted at no charge. Day-of tickets and tickets for the Oct. 27, 30 and 31 event nights are $42.95 plus tax for ages 10 and above, and $35.95 plus tax for ages 3-9. Entertainment is subject to change without notice.
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[Disney-Fan]

Wow, the number of nights sure has grown since 2003. I remember when I ordered my tickets, there were 15 dates overall. I love the concept, but Disney desperately needs to update some of the offerings. It's been more or less the same event for quite sometime now. Time to renovate and get into serious competition with Universal. Yes, the target market for the events are different, but Disney could still "steal" a few Universal customers with a more appealing program [in my opinion].

[Chrissy31886]

I've been dying to go to this! Every year I end up putting it off...just like I'm going to do this year. Hopefully next year it will fit into my schedule.

[AwallaceUNC]

I'll be making it to this for the first time this year.

-Aaron

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

Time to renovate and get into serious competition with Universal. Yes, the target market for the events are different, but Disney could still "steal" a few Universal customers with a more appealing program [in my opinion].

I fail to see why Disney would need(or even want) to "compete with Universal".

Just look at the most attended theme parks of 2005, the top 5 are just being made of U.S. Disney Theme Parks. The only one not beating them is DCA, and only Universal Orlando is beating it. That's right, more people visited the "lackluster" DCA than the "internet cult beloved" Island of Adventure. And this year, I would be surprised in DCA made it in the top 6, beating all Universal parks. And this is just the U.S.! Think about the foreign Disney parks(at one point, Tokyo Disneyland has more guests than MK making it the most visited theme park of the year: 2000) which also make more than Universal.

So you may think Disney needs more "updated offerings", but according to people who visit those parks, Disney doesn't need to do anything yet, in fact, it's Universal that's dropping attendance!

Also, I(along with others) like the fact that Disney doesn't compare itself to Universal in marketing, or compare their brand new rides with ones at Universal. The same can't be said with Universal. Just look at their website.

[Escapay]

Time to renovate and get into serious competition with Universal. Yes, the target market for the events are different, but Disney could still "steal" a few Universal customers with a more appealing program [in my opinion].

I fail to see why Disney would need(or even want) to "compete with Universal".

Because regardless of the fact that Disney has always been financially more successful than Universal in the theme park business, they know that if people are visiting Universal, it means they're not at Disney. Sure, you've got families that visit both parks, but Disney wants families to visit Disney, and only Disney.

Escapay

[Disney-Fan]

I fail to see why Disney would need(or even want) to "compete with Universal".

In a nutshell? Because every year during Halloween Universal beats the sh*t out of Disney attendance-wise. It doesn't matter what goes on all year, fact is, that Universal puts Disney to shame during the Halloween period.

[Chrissy31886]

For those who have gone to this in the past...how crowded is it on these nights? I would assume the closer you go to halloween the busier it is.

[Disney-Fan]

I went during the first night back in '03. Now, keep in mind that crowds were relatively low anyway, but the amount of people that got in the park compared to the number of rides and stations in operation was very convinient. The only ride with a wait was the Goofy coaster, and we only had to stand 10 minutes for it! So in short, not bad at all, but I recon that the closer it gets to Halloween, tickets sell in larger amounts.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

In a nutshell? Because every year during Halloween Universal beats the sh*t out of Disney attendance-wise. It doesn't matter what goes on all year, fact is, that Universal puts Disney to shame during the Halloween period.

Can you site a source that proves this?

Even if it were right, Disney's is successful at Halloween to as they appeal to kids who want a "not-so-scary" Halloween. I don't see much of a point in making a scarier event. It could work at Disney-MGM-Studios with the Disney Villains, Darth Vader, Wicked Witch of the West etc. I guess, but even so, does Disney needs to go to all that trouble when for a Disney fans who want that type of an event will have enough just going on Tower of Terror of The Haunted Mansion*. Unless #s drop hugely, I see no point in Disney trying to do it.

*Although, if there were such a gap between Disney and Universal getting the Haunted Mansion overlay couldn't hurt. It's amazing all the times they do it at Disneyland, so it'd be interesting to see how they do it here with a different mansion, and I'm sure it's a enough to bring crowds in.

[Disney-Fan]

Even if it were right, Disney's is successful at Halloween to as they appeal to kids who want a "not-so-scary" Halloween.

Never said it wasn't. Just claimed it could be so much more successful. It's a great concept, just highly undeveloped.

I don't see much of a point in making a scarier event.

Never said that. On the contrary, I'm against a scary event.

*Although, if there were such a gap between Disney and Universal getting the Haunted Mansion overlay couldn't hurt. [...] I'm sure it's a enough to bring crowds in.

Now that's what I'm talking about. Make it an event-exclusive and bingo!

[crunkcourt]

I have never been to this event before, but will be going at some point this Halloween season. For those of you that have been do you have any advice on either what to wear to the event, or which spots get overly crowded, etc.?

[Loomis]

Sadly, time and distance continue to hold me at arm's length when it comes to events like these.

I look forward to being able to visit the parks during a major holiday one year (be it Halloween or Xmas), but for now I'll just have to be content with what I've been lucky enough to experience (Anaheim during the 50th, Hong Kong during the 1st and in 18 months, Anaheim and Florida in May).

I'd love to see all the trappings, but I also think the crowds would drive me crazy.

[disneyfella]

Well, I went to the Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party friday night and it was crowded, but I walked on to all the rides! That's right......ZERO WAIT!! Including the new Pirates of the Caribbean (which for myself....whom I consider a purist.....was a pretty decent upgrade---Sooo much better than the crappy Tiki Room "Under New Management" upgrade). There were more adults that dressed up in costume than kids! Oh it was soooooo good.

Here's my question though. I have been looking for the Halloween parade music on CD and asked all of the Disney Cast Members and they said that they didn't think Disney would release it this year. They didn't release it last year either. I am desperately looking for this CD, so if anyone has any idea where I can find it PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!! I WILL PAY MONEY FOR THIS CD!!!! It is the same music that Disney has used for the Halloween parade for like 2 or 3 years.





p.s. there are many characters in this parade who do NOT come out for normal autograph signings (i.e. The Headless Horseman rides really fast in the beginning on the parade on his horse, Christopher Robin, Clarabelle Cow, Horace Horse Collar, Clara Cluck, and Captain Jack Sparrow....this dude was a dead ringer for Johnny Depp and he acted just like the character too...It was way cool!)!!!1

[Gurgi30]

We attended this on the 22nd and it was a blast. Hallowishes was great and the Headless Horsemen, awesome. We all went trick-or-treating and were able to get on all of the huge rides multiple times with almost no wait (Splash Mountain, Thunder Railroad, Dumbo, etc...). Watch the 2nd parade and get a spot by Frontierland as that parade is less busy than the first. There was a whole bunch of stuff going on by the castle as well but it was hugely busy there and on main street so we skipped it. Main Street looked so cool with the mist and different colors on the buildings. Also, there should be more done with the Haunted Mansion (other than using the song and various people in the parade) and The Nightmare Before Christmas themes for this event.

[disneyfella]

[quote="Gurgi30"]We attended this on the 22nd and it was a blast. Hallowishes was great and the Headless Horsemen, awesome. We all went trick-or-treating and were able to get on all of the huge rides multiple times with almost no wait (Splash Mountain, Thunder Railroad, Dumbo, etc...). Watch the 2nd parade and get a spot by Frontierland as that parade is less busy than the first. There was a whole bunch of stuff going on by the castle as well but it was hugely busy there and on main street so we skipped it. Main Street looked so cool with the mist and different colors on the buildings. Also, there should be more done with the Haunted Mansion (other than using the song and various people in the parade) and The Nightmare Before Christmas themes for this event.[/quote]

Whoa! I was there on the 22nd too! Maybe we were riding in the same ride and didn't even know it!! It really is a small world! ( now singing the song "It's a Small World").


Anyway, I still haven't had any luck in finding the Happy Halloween music from the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Any guesses on where to look? I checked out the attraction soundtrack thread and all of the sites didn't seem to have it. Please, Please, PLEASE help someone!!!!