Happy Halloween! If you are looking to plan a spooky celebration at home this weekend, look no further than these Disney activities to keep the seasonal spirit (or spirits) alive! Dress up as your favorite character, and then transform your pumpkins using these stencil carving templates of Minnie Mouse, Tinkerbell, Jack Skellington, or a Vampire Mickey. Not quite ready for carving pumpkins this year? Use paint, a small pumpkin, some glue, and this downloadable cut-out to recreate The Child’s ears from The Mandalorian.
PHOTO BY AMBER KEMP-GERSTEL FOR DISNEY FAMILY
Trick-or-treaters who are staying indoors may want to decorate their rooms with some delightfully ghoulish décor: string together cobwebs, bats, and Mickey using different color paper to create a Halloween Time banner.
At the end of the night — and the candy bowl — keep the party going by celebrating #DisneyPlusHallowstream and tuning-in to watch 13-year old Marnie and her family on her adventures with the supernatural in “Halloweentown” on Disney+.
If you are looking for last-minute inspiration, check how fans of Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, or 20th Century are celebrating their Halloween at home, and tag #DisneyHalloMoments on Instagram to join the fun.
This week’s SATURDAY SIXtakes a look at the Disney Sing Along Series – HAPPY HAUNTING! Today is Halloween, so we here at SAT 6 headquarters thought it would be a good time to head back into the Disney Sing Along Series and check out one based around pure spookiness…Happy Haunting!
Our program starts off with a card featuring Mickey and Minnie inviting us to a Halloween party.
The Magic Mirror from Snow White is our narrator. Think of him as an evil Dr. Seuss, as everything he says is in rhyme. “To the Haunted Mansion you’re invited. For a Halloween party, I’m so excited. Mickey and Minnie are waiting at the gate, they need your help to decorate. So come one, come all, join in. The Halloween party is about to begin.”
# 6 – The Haunted Mansion
The setting for Happy Haunting is Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. At the start of the program, my mind began to think of all the cool elements of the Haunted Mansion that we’d be able to see and have the characters interact with. Nay Nay. The Sing Along Series had something else in mind.
Mickey and Minnie stand at the front of the Haunted Mansion, welcoming in a group of kids.
Mickey and Minnie have coordinated outfits, and they definitely made a choice.
We then enter the “Haunted Mansion” and it’s like we’re in a soundstage set straight out of an ’80s sitcom like Full House or Step By Step. Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, Goofy and his son Max are here, along with adult humans dressed as Dracula, werewolf, mummy, Frankenstein, and the bride of Frankenstein. Our first sing along song is “It’s Halloween,” which must have been made just for this show because the lyrics seemed like someone was making them up on the spot; including You can trick or treat with a skeleton. Make no bones about it it’s fun… and It’s Halloween. We’ll be real dandy. We’re going to sing and dress up and eat candy.
Bride of Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s monster.
The party is interrupted by Magic Mirror, but he is unseen and has everyone wondering who is speaking. Here we are introduced to three of the kids who will be our main characters throughout Happy Haunting: Sally, Sam, and Zach.
Sally, Sam, and Zach.
# 5 – Grim Grinning Ghosts
Interestingly enough, Grim Grinning Ghosts was just about a headliner song on Disneyland Fun, but here it is just tossed out near the beginning with a much worse version that does not include the voice of Thurl Ravenscroft. There’s another bizarre decision later on in the song list, but it makes you wonder if Disney had the rights to their own songs when making Happy Haunting, because this is what you would do if you couldn’t use the good versions.
Sam decorates the Haunted Mansion with a ghost to set up Grim Grinning Ghosts.
Grim Grinning Ghosts plays the show cuts to a montage of ghost and “scary” moments from various Disney shorts and animated features over the years, including Alice in Wonderland and Snow White, but most come from the famous Lonesome Ghosts short from 1937.
# 4 – Goofy’s Fever Dream
To set up the song “Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips” we have Zach explaining to Dracula that he’s hungry. For whatever reason, at this point Zach is sitting on Dracula’s lap.
The Magic Mirror says: “Sounds like you need recharging, and your tummy needs enlarging. Without a doubt. Goofy is the one to help you out.”
We then cut to maybe one of the craziest music videos I have ever seen in my life. Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips is definitely a fun kid’s song, filled with a lot of funny lines for the younger set, so I can imagine this was probably one of the biggest “hits” for kid’s growing up watching this VHS tape.
So the song has Goofy dancing in front of the kid’s as he explains his cooking process.
Then the kid’s just disappear out of nowhere.
Only to reappear a second later. No idea if this was a mistake that Disney felt wasn’t worth the time to fix, or it was a deliberate part of the song meant to mess with your mind.
Here is the main chorus of Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips, with verses that would make any kid giggle.
At the end of the song Goofy serves his meal to the kids and they would clearly rather eat a Pop Tart Sandwich.
# 3 – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Our three main characters spend a lot of time on the “second floor” of the Haunted Mansion, and in one scene they are led to a bookcase for story fun. The kid’s say they don’t know any Halloween stories. The Magic Mirror responds, “the best way to start knowing, is to read the book that is glowing.”
In front of them, a book starts to glow. I say with no sarcasm this was one of the more impressive effects of Happy Haunting.
The book then falls to the floor, revealing itself to be The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
I imagine this is how most people read the SATURDAY SIX each week, and I won’t let you tell me otherwise.
The book magical opens up and flips through the pages, leading to Brom Van Brunt singing “The Headless Horseman” from Disney’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
However, Disney’s iconic version – the one we all know and love – has Bing Crosby singing The Headless Horseman. Like Grim Grinning Ghosts, Happy Haunting decided to replace Bing Crosby’s voice with someone else singing the song and we are much worse off for it.
# 2 – Five Little Witches
To set up the song Five Little Witches, our three main characters are back in the same second floor hallway.
Sally pulls a rope that reveals the bookcase is a secret doorway.
Zach is left alone, wondering where the other two went.
Zach, seeing the rope still slightly swinging, also pulls on it to reveal the hidden passageway. There was literally no reason for him not to go in with the first two kids other than to pad out the running time of this program by about 30 seconds.
You would think that this new room would be filled with Haunted Mansion easter eggs. You would be wrong.
The kids do discover a mirror, and when looking into it, things get weird. I mean REALLY WEIRD.
WHAT?
Aunt Linda has some thoughts on this transition in Happy Haunting.
We then cut to the song Five Little Witches as all the young girls from the Halloween are in the process of putting on makeup.
This is straight up bonkers.
But it gets even crazier! The boys from the party are now all dressed up as old timey newspaper photographers from the 1940s.
We’re also now in a room in the “Haunted Mansion” where a display has been set up for a professional photo shoot. Imagine, you are taking pictures of witches. In storyline, you are in the Haunted Mansion. What do you use as a backdrop? Why, you create your own version of Olan Mills Photography with a cardboard cutout of the sky. THIS IS INSANE.
I’m not even sure if “breaking the fourth wall,” is the best term for what we are seeing here. Maybe the first ever use of breaking the fifth wall. Not only is Happy Haunting revealing that everything we are seeing is taking place on a soundstage, but even within the Haunted Mansion set they created the kids built a different set.
But what was even more nuts is that every second or so the screen would go bright white to simulate one of these old fashioned cameras taking a picture. If Happy Haunting was released today it would have to include one of those trigger warnings for people with epilepsy. Then it goes to reverse image for a bit and gets really bananas.
# 1 – Trick or Treating in Toontown
The kids all have their costumes, and who should show up but Merlin.
Merlin then uses his powers to transport the kids from the Haunted Mansion….
…to Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland, where all the kids are trick or treating.
This is what I would have liked more from Happy Haunting in general, tons of details from the theme parks we love.
Several other characters join us for this segment as well, including the Fairy Godmother.
Chip and Dale.
Huey, Dewey, and Louie.
The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf.
Mickey is giving candy out at his house.
While Minnie is outside her house as well.
At the end of trick or treating, Merlin transports the kids back into the Haunted Mansion.
Honorable Mention – Monster Mash
Back at the Haunted Mansion, Sam says he knows who the mysterious voice talking to everyone was. He points to the mirror on the wall.
The Magic Mirror reveals that Sam was right.
And then we go straight into the song Monster Mash. I mean straight into Monster Mash. It’s impossible to describe how weird Happy Haunting can be at times.
Unlike Disneyland Fun, for the most part Happy Haunting didn’t do much with the “sing along” feature other than word would change to a different color when being sung. For Monster Mash, they did add vampire’s teeth to one line, so that should count for something.
Monster Mash also included one of the only “artistic” elements of the entire program, an overhead shot of the adults doing synchronized dancing while lying on the floor.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: This was a gigantic step down in quality compared to Disneyland Fun. While Disneyland Fun went above and beyond on using the theme park environment and top level songs, Happy Haunting mailed it in and made the unfathomable choice to go with recreations of iconic Disney tunes. Even at the Halloween party and during the trick or treat song in Mickey’s Toontown, some of the Disney characters are dressed up and others aren’t. Donald Duck is dressed up, but Daisy isn’t. Chip and Dale have costumes, but Huey, Dewey and Louie do not. Everything has the “well, it’s good enough” feel about it, but Disney has shown it can do much better.
tl;dr version –
So there you have it: Six Reasons We Love Disney’s Sing Along Series – HAPPY HAUNTING!See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles covering the latest from the Disney Outlet Stores. You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).
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It may still be a spooky time of year, but not even closed theme parks and temperatures in the 90s can stop Disneyland Resort from unleashing a flood of merchandise for the Christmas season. In this post we’ll go over many of the holiday items that are currently available at World of Disney in Downtown Disney.
Before we get into the merch, here’s a look at some of the lovely Christmas decorations. Plenty pretty Christmas trees and garland can be found in World of Disney.
Christmas graphics adorn the windows on the outside of the store.
I’ll start of with all of the Christmas tree ornaments are available. There’s so many ornaments on sale that I had to pull out a thesaurus to help out with the captions.
A multitudinous amount of Christmas ornaments, including miniature mouse ear headbands, princess dresses, and Mickey Mouse ear hats.
The voluminous selection of ornaments continues with these Mickey head-shaped ones.
The innumerable ornament offerings include these which remind me of snow globes.
Boxed ornament sets can also be found, including some based on Disney theme park rides.
A fantastic Disneyland-specific ornament is this one of Main Street’s firehouse. You can flip it around and see the inside, including Walt Disney’s upstairs private apartment.
Here’s one of “it’s a small world” where the ride’s famous clock tower can be turned around to reveal some Mary Blair-inspired artwork.
Disney character Christmas stockings for $24.99 each.
This nice Sleeping Beauty Castle light-up figurine can be yours for $59.99.
A lovely Christmas countdown calendar for $49.99.
Yet another display piece that your children will donate to Goodwill someday. $64.99.
How cute are these Chip & Dale nutcrackers? $59.99 each.
Get ready for Santa’s arrival with this plate and glass set.
Mickey & Minnie mistletoe mug for $14.99.
If you prefer Mickey & Minnie in full on PDA mode then this hoodie is for you.
Show everyone how stylish you are with these fuzzy Crocs for $54.99.
This porg is ready for Christmas!
It’s time for the spirit jersey portion of this merchandise report. This white and gold one is available for $79.99.
A fun and festive red Christmas spirit jersey for $69.99.
If green is more your thing here’s another Christmas spirit jersey for $69.99.
That sweater on the left is also a spirit jersey, but it’s made of a thicker knit material. It also has a hefty $119.99 price tag.
More Disneyland Christmas clothing.
For $139.99 you can purchase this Disney holiday express train for under your tree.
Here’s an adorable throw blanket for $59.99.
Holiday Minnie Fashion Set doll for $34.99.
Sparkly Mickey & Minnie slipper socks.
Disneyland also has a selection of Hanukkah items, including a banner, towels and a plate.
Are you ready to celebrate the holidays? Let me know what you’re picking up in the comments below.
On November 1, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, begins our phased reopening, and we look forward to welcoming you and your family back to our vacation paradise. To help you maximize vacation time with your ‘ohana while safely enjoying all that Aulani Resort has to offer, we have launched the Aulani Resort Mobile app.
With app in hand you can explore the magic of Aulani Resort before you arrive including the sprawling Waikolohe Valley pool area. Whether you prefer admiring the view from a quiet romantic infinity-edge pool, floating along a lazy river or splashing down water slides there are plenty of opportunities for family fun.
The convenient features in the Aulani Resort Mobileapp will allow you to:
Plan your day, stay connected and explore all the magic that’s happening during your visit.
Manage your Aulani Resort reservation details
Begin the check-in process in advance using our convenient online check-in service
Search for fun and interactive activities on the “Daily ‘Iwa”
Find places of interest on the resort map
Be sure to visit our “Know Before You Go” page before your next Aulani Resort vacation. You can locate the new app on your mobile device’s app store by searching for key terms such as: Aulani, Hawaii, Disney, Resort, Vacation, Ko Olina.
Available for iPhone® and AndroidTM smartphones. Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations, and features may vary by handset, service provider or otherwise. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.
The days of late nights in the parks are currently on pause. With a few exceptions, mainly on weekends, the Universal Orlando theme parks close around dinner time or shortly thereafter. If you’re used to spending your time enjoying the evening in the parks, you may be looking for other ways to spend your evening. Here are some ideas for how to have an enjoyable evening at Universal Orlando even when the parks close a little early.
Universal CityWalk – dining and shopping
Hollywood Drive-In Mini Golf
Browse the park’s merchandise shops at the front of the park
Bowling at Cabana Bay
Stroll to Hard Rock Hotel if you’re coming from Universal Studios
Stroll to Royal Pacific if you’re coming from Islands of Adventure
Enjoy a boat ride to the Universal Orlando resort hotels
Enjoy your resort’s pool
International Drive
Cowfish at Citywalk
It’s practically impossible to find a more convenient way to keep your day going into the evening than by hanging around Universal CityWalk. You have to walk through CityWalk coming and going from the theme parks. You might as well make an evening of it. There’s plenty of bars, restaurants, and shops to keep you occupied. VooDoo Doughnuts and Toothsome Chocolate Emporium are must-dos if you want something sweet. BigFire is one of the newest restaurants and is receiving raving hot reviews. Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Cafe often has live entertainment, and serves up the best margaritas around.
A big highlight of CityWalk is the Hollywood Drive-In Mini Golf. It is wonderfully themed and has two very different courses. Both courses are full of delightful details and humor. It stays open until 10:00 p.m. and the nighttime lighting is fantastic.
If you’d rather stick around the parks a little longer, the main merchandise shops at the front of each park usually stay open after the official park closing. You’ll find a sampling of merchandise here that represents the main attractions at each park.
Cabana Bay Galaxy Bowl
Over at Cabana Bay, one of Universal Orlando’s hotels, there is Galaxy Bowl. This bowling alley is full service with food and drink. The lanes are open to anyone, not just hotel guests, and it is open until midnight. The tricky part is getting there as it is not walkable from the parks, unless you’re willing to walk about 15 minutes or so. You can get on the Cabana Bay bus that departs from CityWalk, drive over (which involves a parking fee), or see about a ride-share service like Uber or Lyft. Cabana Bay is wonderfully retro themed and a destination itself.
Two other notable resorts on property are the Hard Rock Hotel and Royal Pacific Hotel. You can walk to either resort from the theme parks. From Universal Studios just hang a hard left at the big Universal globe and walk along the water to Hard Rock Hotel. There you can explore the grounds or grab a nightcap. If you’re departing Islands of Adventure then walk towards Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. To the right of the outdoor dining here you’ll see a sidewalk, which will wind around the water to Royal Pacific Resort. Speaking of resorts, don’t forget to make time to enjoy your hotel or resort’s pool at the end of a busy day in the parks.
Hard Rock Hotel Pool
If you’re up for venturing outside of Universal Orlando property, head to International Drive. This multi-mile stretch of road has a plethora of dining and entertainment. The portion of International Drive from Sand Lake Road and south down to the convention center is the nice stretch of I-Drive. My personal favorite destinations in this area are ICEBAR Orlando, Cafe Tu Tu Tango, ICON Park, and Pointe Orlando.
How do you like to spend the evenings when you’re on vacation in Orlando?
It may still be a spooky time of year, but not even closed theme parks and temperatures in the 90s can stop Disneyland Resort from unleashing a flood of merchandise for the Christmas season. In this post we’ll go over many of the holiday items that are currently available at World of Disney in Downtown Disney.
Before we get into the merch, here’s a look at some of the lovely Christmas decorations.
Plenty pretty Christmas trees and garland can be found in World of Disney.
Christmas graphics adorn the windows on the outside of the store.
Boxed ornament sets can also be found, including some based on Disney theme park rides.
A fantastic Disneyland-specific ornament is this one of Main Street’s firehouse. You can flip it around and see the inside, including Walt Disney’s upstairs private apartment.
Here’s one of “it’s a small world” where the ride’s famous clock tower can be turned around to reveal some Mary Blair-inspired artwork.
Disney character Christmas stockings for $24.99 each.
A lovely Christmas countdown calendar for $49.99.
Yet another display piece that your children will donate to Goodwill someday. $64.99.
How cute are these Chip & Dale nutcrackers? $59.99 each.
Get ready for Santa’s arrival with this plate and glass set.
Mickey & Minnie mistletoe mug for $14.99.
If you prefer Mickey & Minnie in full on PDA mode then this hoodie is for you.
Show everyone how stylish you are with these fuzzy Crocs for $54.99.
This porg is ready for Christmas!
It’s time for the spirit jersey portion of this merchandise report. This white and gold one is available for $79.99.
A fun and festive red Christmas spirit jersey for $69.99.
If green is more your thing here’s another Christmas spirit jersey for $69.99.
That sweater on the left is also a spirit jersey, but it’s made of a thicker knit material. It also has a hefty $119.99 price tag.
More Disneyland Christmas clothing.
For $139.99 you can purchase this Disney holiday express train for under your tree.
Here’s an adorable throw blanket for $59.99.
Holiday Minnie Fashion Set doll for $34.99.
Sparkly Mickey & Minnie slipper socks.
Disneyland also has a selection of Hanukkah items, including a banner, towels and a plate.
