Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment

Why For haven’t the Imagineers built more rides, shows and attractions around the Disney Villains?

Published

12 years ago

September 16, 2012

Jim Hill

Chris B. wrote in on September 10th to say

Hi Mr. Hill,

Great website and so appreciate how you share your Disney
knowledge.

With the opening of the New Fantasyland Disney has installed
a statue for Beauty and the Beast’s Gaston. Disney villains have typically only
been out and about for the Halloween events. Is Gaston’s statue and tavern the
first Disney Villain to get a permanent statue and “attraction”?

The statue outside of Gaston’s Tavern in the Fantasy-
land expansion area at WDW’s Magic Kingdom.
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved

Thanks for your kind words. As for Gaston’s Tavern being the
first permanent Disney Villain statue / attraction … Well, that kind of
depends on how you define villain, statue and/or attraction.

After all, Monstro has been swallowing Guests at Disneyland ever
since June 16, 1956. Which is when that theme park’s Canal Boats of the World
ride re-opened with its new Storybook Land overlay.

And those who are fans of early Disneyland concept art will
no doubt recognize the below image. Which shows Monstro as the central
character of his very own theme park attraction. Which drew its inspiration
from the Shoot the Chutes, that early amusement park thrill ride which was
originally introduced back in 1884 at Watchtower Park in Rock Island, IL.

This proposed “Pinocchio” -themed attraction was
to have first taken Guests a series of dioramas which then recreated memorable
moments from that 1940 Walt Disney Productions release. Then — as these
Disneyland visitors had been towed to the top of this ride’s load hill — they
were to have escaped being eaten by that whale by sliding down Monstro’s tongue
into a splashdown area that was supposed to be known as Pinocchio Harbor.

And Monstro wasn’t the only villainous Disney character who
almost made his debut at Disneyland Park’s opening day back in July of ’55.
Check out this cool of piece of concept art for a step-down-into aquarium
attraction (which was part of a suite of water-themed exhibits & rides that
were originally proposed for Fantasyland. Among the other items that never to
Disney’s Anaheim theme park was a Donald Duck Bumper Boats ride and an Old
Mill-themed ferris wheel). Where the only way you made it down below water
level so that you could then see all the fishies was to enter the mouth of the crocodile
from “Peter Pan.”

Unfortunately neither of those two Disney Villain-ish
attractions ever made it off of WED’s drawing board. Mostly because — back in
the late 1950s — Disneyland Park was still trying to recover its initial
construction costs (You have to remember that — until he bought ABC /
Paramount & Western Publishing out in
the early 1960s — Walt was still obliged to split whatever profits his theme
park made with those two companies who had invested in / underwritten the costs
of building this project back in 1954). So money for any additional rides,
shows and attractions was kind of tight back then.

More to the point, it was Frontierland & Tomorrowland
that were perceived as lacking attractions back in the 1950s. Whereas
Fantasyland was seen (by the public, anyway) as a being a hit right out of the
box. Which is why Walt chose to
concentrate whatever free funds he had on expanding those parts of his theme
park. While labeling Fantasyland as something that he’d eventually get around
to fixing (Disney was never entirely happy with the tournament-style show
building that he’d had to build to house the dark rides in this part of his
theme park. Walt always felt that the exteriors of these Fantasyland
attractions made it a little too obvious that Disneyland’s construction budget
could only go so far. Which is why Walt had been forced to abandon his original
concept for Fantasyland. Which was to have this part of the Park be a
picturesque recreation of a European storybook village).

Speaking of which … When it was decided that — on the
heels of adding a second theme park to the Walt Disney World Resort (i.e. EPCOT
Center, which opened in October of 1982) — that Disneyland Park deserved a
little TLC, the Imagineers dusted off Walt’s picturesque-European-storybook-village
idea and decided to redo Fantasyland at that theme park.

Which brings us to what some might argue is the first real Villain
statue in a Disney theme park. That Evil Queen who stands in the window
directly above the entrance to “Snow White’s Scary Adventures.” Every minute or so, a mechanized series of
drapes opens, revealing a statue of Snow White’s nemesis glaring down at all of
the Guests who are queuing up below.

Interesting side note here: “Snow White’s Scary
Adventures” (to be specific, the revamped version of this attraction which
opened on May 25, 1983 as part of Disneyland’s New Fantasyland) was the first
dark ride whose “Scene One” perhaps did too good a job of setting the
scene for the attraction that follows.

For those of you who haven’t been on Disneyland’s “Snow
White’s Scary Adventures” for a while (or at all), let me refresh your
memory as to how the queue for this attraction is set up. Before you can get to
your ride vehicle, you actually pass by a Reader’s Digest version of the Evil
Queen’s secret laboratory. And as longtime Fantasyland cast members will tell
you, the skull that’s on display on the Evil Queen’s work table has been known
to really frighten small children. Forcing many a parent at that point to turn
around and carry their screaming kid backwards through this queue. Which — on
a busy summer day when the Park is especially crowded — can really make life
difficult for all of the other Guests standing in the “Snow White’s Scary
Adventure” queue.

In an effort to mitigate this situation / let
especially-easy-to-frighten kids know as early as possible that “Snow
White’s Scary Adventures” really is scary, the Imagineers had a very
clever idea. They put a bronze version of the poison apple that the Evil Queen tricked
Snow White into biting right outside the
entrance to the Fantasyland attraction. And given that the people in line just
couldn’t help themselves, they just had to touch that apple … Well, imagine
their surprise when — as soon as they touched that bronze apple — they’d hear
a crash of thunder OR the cackle of the Old Crone (i.e. the form the Evil Queen
took after she drank that potion).

And that crash of thunder / evil laugh is usually enough
(all by itself) to spook skittish children. Who then turn to their parents and
say “I don’t want to go on this ride. It sounds like it’s going to be
scary.” And since these kids are now culled out of the line before they
then encounter the genuinely frightening portion of the queue for “Snow
White’s Scary Adventures” … Well, that then significantly cuts down on
the number of parents who now have to carry panicking toddlers backwards
through the line for this Fantasyland attraction.

And given that this bronze touch-sensitive apple is an
entirely appropriate piece of theming to be found at the entrance to this
attraction … Well, you have to admit that WDI came up with a pretty smart
solution for “Snow White” ‘s perhaps-too-scary queue problem.

Anyway … Getting back to answering your original “Why
For” question now, Chris B. … Once the Walt Disney Company began
recognizing that there was legitimate Guest interest in the Disney Villains as
characters unto themselves, in addition to Disney Consumer Products embracing
this loosely grouped brand / franchise (Witness that Disney Villain Designer
Collection of dolls that the Disney Store began rolling out earlier this month.
The second doll in the series — a high fashion take on the Evil Queen from
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” — hits store shelves on Tuesday),
the Imagineers began toying with the idea of building some Disney
Villains-themed attractions.

The Horned King AA figure that appeared in the finale of Tokyo
Disneyland’s Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour. Copyright
Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

The first such effort — Tokyo Disneyland’s Cinderella
Castle Mystery Tour (which opened in July of 1986) wasn’t considered entirely successful.
Perhaps because WDI chose to build the finale of this walk-thru attraction
around the Horned King, the now all-but-forgotten villain who drove the story
of one of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ less-successful efforts, “The
Black Cauldron.”

And since the Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour (which closed
in April of 2006 to be replaced by a Disney Princess-themed walk-thru
attraction, Cinderella’s Fairy Tale Hall) ‘s
“Let’s-pay-tribute-to-all-sorts-of-Disney-Villains” approach was
thought to be a bit of a bust, the
Imagineers then decided to adopt a less-is-more approach. Designing a single
ride around a specific Disney Villain. Take — for example — that Ursula the
Sea Witch spinner was supposed to added to Paradise Pier as part of the
expansion plan that WDI put together for the original version of Disney’s
California Adventure theme park.

This spinner (which — according to at least one site plan
that I’ve seen for this “Little Mermaid” -themed ride — was supposed
to be built in that open plot of land inside of California Screamin’ near King
Triton’s Carousel. Maybe you know the spot that I’m talking about? It’s off to
the left just before the load / unload area for this coaster?) had a pretty
witty design. Guests were supposed to sit in these flask & bottle-shaped
ride vehicles which were designed to look as though they were being held in the
Sea Witch’s tentacles. And as this oversized version of Ursula began to spin
around, this “Little Mermaid” -themed ride would have — of course —
played a creepy calliope version of “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

Speaking of California Screamin’ … As the Imagineers were
prepping Version 2.0 of DCA, one of the ideas that was proposed as a way to
bring more Disney characters into this then-troubled theme park was to turn
this coaster into a Disney Villains-themed ride.

The way that WDI was going to do this was actually pretty
clever. What the Imagineers wanted to do was create these enormous iconic props
that would then represent various Disney Villains. You know, Captain Hook’s
hook, Maleficent’s staff, the Evil Queen’s crown? And then these oversized
props would then be placed in and around California Screamin’s ride track. So
that a ride aboard the rethemed version of this DCA coaster would then be seen
as a celebration of all forms of Disney villainy.

I know, I know. The core concept for this California
Screamin’ redo is a bit in the abstract side.
But the argument back at 1401 Flower Street was 1) people scream when they ride roller
coasters AND 2) people scream when they see the Disney Villains in their
various movies. So why not combine these two forms of screaming with a Disney
Villains-themed coaster?

Mind you, this wasn’t the first time that the Imagineers had
toyed with the idea of an attraction that would incorporate some (if not all)
of the Disney Villains. And — no — I’m not talking about Cinderella Castle
Mystery Tour again. I am referring to one of the greatest ride concepts to
never quite make it off of WDI’s drawing boards, Villain Mountain.

I have this friend who used to work at Imagineering who —
just before he left the Company in the early 2000s — made a point of getting
color copies of all the concept art for Villain Mountain. The various show
scenes that the Imagineers had dreamed up for Villain Mountain. And given the
quality of the art that was churned out for this proposed Walt Disney World
attraction, it’s easy to see why this former Imagineers wanted to make a few
copies before he headed out the door.

But you know what was particularly nifty about this flume
ride (which — at one time, anyway — was envisioned as the replacement for the
Magic Kingdom’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” attraction. Basically
occupying the exact same footprint as that Fantasyland favorite)? That if you
knew how Disney theme park attractions typically operated, this ride was then
going to use that knowledge against you.

To explain: The ride vehicle that was supposed to be used in
WDW’s “Villain Mountain” was the multi-passenger bateaux which Guests
know from the multiple trips that they’ve already made on “Pirates of the
Caribbean” and “it’s a small world.” Which means that — as
people stepped down into these flat-bottomed boats on “Villain
Mountain” — they immediately had certain expectations. That their bateaux
— as it moved through this show building — would be pushed along through a
trough via a combination of waters jets & belts. More to the point, that
their “Disney Villains” ride vehicle would never, ever leave that
trough.

Which was true. For the first half of this proposed
Fantasyland addition at WDW’s Magic Kingdom. But as your ride vehicle reached
the top of Villain Mountain, you were to enter Maleficent’s lair. And this
unexpected intrusion clearly upsets the Mistress of All Evil. For — with a
wave of her magic staff — Maleficent blasts a gaping hole in the wall directly
opposite where your bateaux is now floating.

And even though you can already see into the very next show
scene that you’re supposed to be floating through while journeying through
Villain Mountain, which lies just beyond where the AA version of Maleficent is
now standing, your boat now breaks out of its nice, safe tough. And as Sleeping
Beauty’s nemesis laugh manically and talks about how she’s now sending all to
Hell, your boat now lurches dangerously toward that gaping hole in the wall as
you’re seemingly sucked into the abyss.

Now at this point, it’s important to remember that
“Villain Mountain” was supposed to be filled with fun tributes to /
cameos by various Disney Villains. So after your boat slipped through that hole
which Ursula supposedly blasted in that wall at this Magical Kingdom show
building … Much in the same way that the logs used in Splash Mountain zoom
through all of those over-sized thorn bushes on their way to the bottom of the
briar patch, your Villain Mountain boat was to have slipped through Ursula’s
giant writhing tentacles.

Then — as you splashed down at the very bottom of Villain
Mountain — for a very brief moment, you were actually supposed to think that
you were in Hell as flames and eerie shadows surrounded you. But then an AA
version of Hades from “Hercules” was supposed to appear. And with
fire extinguisher in hand, he’d have quickly snuffed out all of the flames
before then introducing himself. “Hades, Lord of the Dead. How ya
doin’?” And as your bateaux floated away from this AA figure, Hades was to
have called after you, offering all sorts of tempting treasures if you’d just
agree to sign your soul over to him.

Doesn’t that sound like
a fun ride? Ironically enough, in at least one version of the site plan
that the Imagineers had put together for getting “Villain Mountain”
added to WDW’s Magic Kingdom, this proposed flume-type attraction was to have
been the anchor of an entire Disney Villain Village. Which was to have occupied
much of the same piece of property that the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland
expansion is currently being built on.

Construction of the Beauty & the Beast portion of the Fantasyland expansion area at
Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

“And what other rides, shops and attractions would this
Disney Villains Village supposedly featured?,” you ask. Well, the way I
heard it, the Ursula spinner was part of the proposed line-up. As was an early,
early version of Gaston’s Tavern. Which — in the end — actually did wind up
getting built at WDW’s Magic Kingdom.

But that’s the way things are at WDI. Ideas that are
originally proposed for one specific theme park project are often resurrected
for an entirely different theme park in slightly mutated form.

Still, it’s kind of interesting to see Gaston’s Tavern
(which was originally pitched to WDW management in the mid-1990s) finally made
it into the Magic Kingdom. Though — that said — one wonders if Disney World’s
Entertainment is still going forward with production of that outdoor stage show
which was once such a big component of the fun that would eventually be
associated with this new Fantasyland venue.

To explain: The original version of Gaston’s that the
Imagineers pitched had this outdoor biergarten. Which — while it wasn’t
immediately obvious — also doubled as a stage.

Anyway … Every day around 4 p.m., WDW’s Operations Team
would begin shooing Guests out of this outdoor biergarten. They’d keep it up
until this open air stage was completely empty and then block this area off to
public access.

And then — right at 5 p.m. — the magic would begin. A
rather depressed looking face character version of Gaston would exit his
Tavern. Nursing a beer, he’d cross over the outdoor biergarten and sit down.
And Gaston would soon be joined by a downbeat face character version of Captain
Hook, sipping from a flute of champagne. And then Hook would be followed by a
somewhat sad-looking face character version of the Evil Queen from “Snow
White.” Who … No one knows what exactly is in the goblet that this
Disney Villain is holding. But it’s bubbling & foaming. And the Evil
Queen is
followed by a morose-looking face character version of Maleficent, who
… Well, you get the idea.

So eventually, this outdoor biergarten / stage is filled
with Disney Villains who are all nursing drinks. You see, they’ve all come to
Gaston’s Tavern for (Wait for it) “Unhappy Hour.” Over the course of
this 10-to-15 minute-long show, we’ll eventually discover that this is a daily
ritual among the villainous characters who live & work in WDW’s Magic
Kingdom. They gather together each day at Gaston’s to grab a quick drink before
heading home. And here — among their evil equals — these Disney Villains
finally have peers that they can commiserate with. I mean, who else in the
world is going to lend a sympathetic ear when you moan about how you almost
defeated Peter Pan, or tricked Snow White into eating a poison apple or
convinced Briar Rose to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel.

In the original outline for the “Unhappy Hour”
show at Gaston’s Tavern, there was a suggestion that the Disney Villains could
perform a number similar to “Cell Block Tango” in
“Chicago.” Where these characters — in song — would complain about
how frustrating it was to always lose to the hear. To have good continually
triumph over evil.

But then — in a tune that was supposed to have drawn its
inspiration from “Annie” ‘s ever-optimistic anthem,
“Tomorrow,” the Disney Villains was to sing about how maybe tomorrow
will be the day when they finally triumph. And then — with their thirsts
quenched & their hopes renewed — these characters were to have all raised
a glass and toasted villainy.

After that … Well, this being a theme park and all, the
Disney Villains who were taking part in this outdoor show at the biergarten
portion of Gaston’s Tavern were to have made themselves available to the public
(albeit briefly) for photos & autographs before they then ducked backstage.

But doesn’t “Unhappy Hour” sound like a fun idea
for a new outdoor show at WDW’s Magic Kingdom? Mind you, I have no idea if this
is still in the works for the Fantasyland expansion which is supposed to open on December 6th of this
year. Near as I can figure, the current configuration of Gaston’s Tavern
doesn’t have an outdoor biergarten that could double as a stage. But that
doesn’t meant that this performance space couldn’t be added at some point in
the future.

I mean, wouldn’t it be cool if Gaston’s Tavern eventually
become the designated hangout for the Disney Villains? The place at the Magic
Kingdom where — whenever you dropped by there — you’d always find a few evil
characters lurking about?

Anyway, Chris B … That’s my epic-length answer to your
rather short Why For question (My apologies for this story taking more than a
few days to finally get posted on JHM. But given that this column is over 3,500 words long and I spent much of last
week traveling, just finding the time necessary to type up this sucker took a
lot of extra effort).

And — with that — I’ve finally delivered those 5 Why For
columns I promised you guys earlier this month. I know, I know. I didn’t get
them all written in a week. But hopefully the stories that I’ve shared here
have made the often-several-days-long wait worth it.

Going forward now: Given the strong response that this
series of columns has gotten from JHM readers as well as from the online
Disneyana fan community, I’m thinking now that Why For will become at least a
twice-a-week feature here on this website.

So if you’d like to have one of your Disney-related
questions answered as part of an upcoming Why For column, please send your
queries along to whyfor@jimhillmedia.com and I’ll then see if I can chase down
an answer for you.

Your thoughts?

Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment

Disney and Macy’s 90-Year Thanksgiving Day Parade Partnership: From Mickey’s First Balloon to Minnie’s Big Debut

Published

1 month ago

November 15, 2024

Jim Hill

Now, folks, if you’re like me, Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be the same without a coffee, a cozy seat, and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on the TV. And if you’re really like me, you’re watching for one thing: Disney balloons floating down 34th Street. Ever wondered how Mickey, Donald, and soon Minnie Mouse found their way into this beloved New York tradition? Well, grab your popcorn because we’re diving into nearly 90 years of Disney’s partnership with Macy’s.

The Very First Parade and the Early Days of Balloons

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade goes way back to 1924, but if you can believe it, balloons weren’t part of the festivities until 1927. That first lineup included Felix the Cat, a dragon, and a toy soldier, all towering above the crowds. Back then, Macy’s had a pretty wild idea to end the parade: they would let the balloons drift off into the sky, free as birds. But this wasn’t just Macy’s feeling generous. Each balloon had a message attached, offering a $100 reward (about $1,800 in today’s dollars) for anyone who returned it to the flagship store on 34th Street.

And here’s where it gets interesting. This tradition carried on for a few years, right up until 1932, when Felix the Cat almost took down a plane flying over New York City! Imagine that—you’re flying into LaGuardia, and suddenly, there’s a 60-foot balloon drifting toward your wing. Needless to say, that was the end of Macy’s “fly away” stunt, and from then on, the balloons have stayed firmly grounded after the parade ends.

1934: Mickey Mouse Floats In, and Disney Joins the Parade

It was 1934 when Mickey Mouse finally made his grand debut in the Macy’s parade. Rumor has it Walt Disney himself collaborated with Macy’s on the design, and by today’s standards, that first Mickey balloon was a bit of a rough cut. This early Mickey had a hotdog-shaped body, and those oversized ears gave him a slightly lopsided look. But no one seemed to mind. Mickey was there, larger than life, floating down the streets of New York, and the crowd loved him.

Mickey wasn’t alone that year. He was joined by Pluto, Horace Horsecollar, and even the Big Bad Wolf and Practical Pig from The Three Little Pigs, making it a full Disney lineup for the first time. Back then, Disney wasn’t yet the entertainment powerhouse we know today, so for Walt, getting these characters in the parade meant making a deal. Macy’s required its star logo to be featured on each Disney balloon—a small concession that set the stage for Disney’s long-standing presence in the parade.

Donald Duck in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade – Donaldism

Duck Joins and Towers Over Mickey

A year later, in 1935, Macy’s introduced Donald Duck to the lineup, and here’s where things got interesting. Mickey may have been the first Disney character to float through the parade, but Donald made a huge splash—literally. His balloon was an enormous 60 feet tall and 65 feet long, towering over Mickey’s 40-foot frame. Donald quickly became a fan favorite, appearing in the lineup for several years before being retired.

Fast-forward a few decades, and Donald was back for a special appearance in 1984 to celebrate his 50th birthday. Macy’s dug the balloon out of storage, re-inflated it, and sent Donald down 34th Street once again, bringing a bit of nostalgia to the holiday crowd.

A Somber Parade in 2001

Now, one of my most memorable trips to the parade was in 2001, just weeks after the 9/11 attacks. Nancy and I, along with our friends, headed down to New York, and the mood was something I’ll never forget. We watched the start of the parade from Central Park West, but before that, we went to the Museum of Natural History the night before to see the balloons being inflated. They were covered in massive cargo nets, with sandbags holding them down. It’s surreal to see these enormous balloons anchored down before they’re set free.

That year, security was intense, with police lining the streets, and then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani rode on the Big Apple float to roaring applause. People cheered his name, waving and shouting as he passed. It felt like the entire city had turned out to show their resilience. Even amidst all the heightened security and tension, seeing those balloons—brought a bit of joy back to the city.

Balloon Prep: From New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium to California’s D23 Expo

Each year before the parade, Macy’s holds a rehearsal event known as Balloon Fest at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This is where handlers get their first crack at guiding the balloons, practicing with their parade masters, and learning the ropes—literally. It’s an entire production unto itself, with dozens of people rehearsing to make sure these enormous inflatables glide smoothly down the streets of New York on parade day.

In 2015, Macy’s took the balloon show on the road, bringing their Buzz Lightyear balloon out to California for the D23 Expo. I was lucky enough to be there, and watching Buzz get inflated piece by piece in the Anaheim Convention Center parking lot was something to behold. Each section was filled with helium in stages, and when they got around to Buzz’s lower half, well, there were more than a few gas-related jokes from the crowd.

These balloons seem to have a personality all their own, and seeing one like Buzz come to life up close—even outside of New York—had all the excitement and anticipation of the real deal.

Mickey’s Comeback as a Bandleader and Sailor Mickey

After a long hiatus, Mickey Mouse made his return to the Macy’s parade in 2000, this time sporting a new bandleader outfit. Nine years later, in 2009, Sailor Mickey joined the lineup, promoting Disney Cruise Line with a nautical twist. Over the past two decades, Disney has continued to enchant parade-goers with characters like Buzz Lightyear in 2008 and Olaf from Frozen in 2017. These balloons keep Disney’s iconic characters front and center, drawing in both longtime fans and new viewers.

But ever wonder what happens to the balloons after they reach the end of 34th Street? They don’t just disappear. Each balloon is carefully deflated, rolled up like a massive piece of laundry, and packed into storage bins. From there, they’re carted back through the Lincoln Tunnel to Macy’s Parade Studio in New Jersey, where they await their next flight.

Macy’s Disney Celebration at Hollywood Studios

In 1992, Macy’s took the spirit of the parade down to Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando. After that year’s parade, several balloons—including Santa Goofy, Kermit the Frog, and Betty Boop—were transported to Hollywood Studios, re-inflated, and anchored along New York Street as part of a holiday display. Visitors could walk through this “Macy’s New York Christmas” setup and see the balloons up close, right in the middle of the park. While this display only ran for one season, it paved the way for the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, which became a holiday staple at the park for years to come.

Minnie Mouse’s Long-Awaited Debut in 2024

This year, Minnie Mouse will finally join the parade, making her long-overdue debut. Macy’s is rolling out the red carpet for Minnie’s arrival with special pop-up shops across the country, where fans can find exclusive Minnie ears, blown-glass ornaments, T-shirts, and more to celebrate her first appearance in the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

For those lucky enough to catch the parade this year, you’ll see Minnie take her first float down 34th Street, decked out in her iconic red bow and polka-dot dress. Macy’s and Disney are also unveiling a new Disney Cruise Line float honoring all eight ships, including the latest, the Disney Treasure.

As always, I’ll be watching from my favorite chair, coffee in hand, as Minnie makes her grand entrance. The 98th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs live on NBC, and it’s a tradition you won’t want to miss—whether you’re on 34th Street or tuning in from home.

Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment

Disney’s Forgotten Halloween Event: The Original Little Monsters on Main Street

Published

3 months ago

September 22, 2024

Jim Hill

When most Disney fans think of Halloween in the parks, they immediately picture Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World or the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland Resort. But before those events took over as the must-attend spooky celebrations, there was a little-known event at Disneyland called Little Monsters on Main Street. And its origins? Well, they go all the way back to the 1980s, during a time when America was gripped by fear—the Satanic Panic.

You see, back in the mid-1980s, parents were terrified that Halloween had become dangerous. Urban legends about drug-laced candy or razor blades hidden in apples were widespread, and many parents felt they couldn’t let their kids out of sight for even a moment. Halloween, which was once a carefree evening of trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, had suddenly become a night filled with anxiety.

This is where Disneyland’s Little Monsters on Main Street came in.

The Origins of Little Monsters on Main Street

Back in 1989, the Disneyland Community Action Team—later known as the VoluntEARS—decided to create a safe, nostalgic Halloween experience for Cast Members and their families. Many schools in the Anaheim area were struggling to provide basic school supplies to students, and the VoluntEARS saw an opportunity to combine a safe Halloween with a charitable cause. Thus, Little Monsters on Main Street was born.

This event was not open to the general public. Only Disneyland Cast Members could purchase tickets, which were initially priced at just $5 each. Cast Members could bring their kids—but only as many as were listed as dependents with HR. And even then, the park put a cap on attendance: the first event was limited to just 1,000 children.

A Unique Halloween Experience

Little Monsters on Main Street wasn’t just another Halloween party. It was designed to give kids a safe, fun environment to enjoy trick-or-treating, much like the good old days. On Halloween night in 1989, kids in costume wandered through Disneyland with their pillowcases, visiting 20 different trick-or-treat stations. They also had the chance to ride a few of their favorite Fantasyland attractions, all after the park had closed to the general public.

The event was run entirely by the VoluntEARS—about 200 of them—who built and set up all the trick-or-treat stations themselves. They arrived at Disneyland before the park closed and, as soon as the last guest exited, they began setting up stations across Main Street, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. The event ran from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and by the time the last pillowcase-wielding kid left, the VoluntEARS cleaned everything up, making sure the park was ready for the next day’s operations.

It wasn’t just candy and rides, though. The event featured unique entertainment, like a Masquerade Parade down Main Street, U.S.A., where kids could show off their costumes. And get this—Disneyland even rigged up a Cast Member dressed as a witch to fly from the top of the Matterhorn to Frontierland on the same wire that Tinker Bell uses during the fireworks. Talk about a magical Halloween experience!

The Haunted Mansion “Tip-Toe” Tour

Perhaps one of the most memorable parts of Little Monsters on Main Street was the special “tip-toe tour” of the Haunted Mansion. Now, Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion can be a pretty scary attraction for younger kids, so during this event, Disney left the doors to the Stretching Room and Portrait Gallery wide open. This allowed kids to walk through and peek at the Haunted Mansion’s spooky interiors without actually having to board the Doom Buggies. For those brave enough to ride, they could, of course, take the full trip through the Haunted Mansion—or they could take the “chicken exit” and leave, no harm done.

Growing Success and a Bigger Event

Thanks to the event’s early success, Little Monsters on Main Street grew in size. By 1991, the attendance cap had been raised to 2,000 kids, and Disneyland added more activities like magic shows and hayrides. They also extended the event’s hours, allowing kids to enjoy the festivities until 10:30 p.m.

In 2002, the event moved over to Disney California Adventure, where it could accommodate even more kids—up to 5,000 in its later years. The name was also shortened to just Little Monsters, since it was no longer held on Main Street. This safe, family-friendly Halloween event continued for several more years, with the last mention of Little Monsters appearing in the Disneyland employee newsletter in 2008. Though some Cast Members recall the event continuing until 2012, it eventually made way for Disney’s more public-facing Halloween events.

From Little Monsters to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary and Oogie Boogie Bash

Starting in the early 2000s, Disney began realizing the potential of Halloween-themed after-hours events for the general public. These early versions of Mickey’s Halloween Party and Mickey’s Halloween Treat eventually evolved into today’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Oogie Boogie Bash. Unfortunately, this also marked the end of the intimate, Cast Member-exclusive Little Monsters event, but it paved the way for the large-scale Halloween celebrations we know and love today.

While it’s bittersweet to see Little Monsters on Main Street fade into Disney history, its legacy lives on through these modern Halloween parties. And even though Cast Members now receive discounted tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary and Oogie Boogie Bash, the special charm of an event created specifically for Disney’s employees and their families remains something worth remembering.

**The Merch: A Piece of Little Monsters History**

For Disney collectors, the exclusive merchandise created for Little Monsters on Main Street is still out there. You can find pins, name tags, and themed pillowcases on sites like eBay. One of the coolest collectibles is a 1997 cloisonné pin set featuring Huey, Dewey, and Louie dressed as characters from Hercules. Other sets paid tribute to the Main Street Electrical Parade and Pocahontas, while the pillowcases were uniquely designed for each year of the event.

While Little Monsters on Main Street may be gone, it’s a fascinating piece of Disneyland history that played a huge role in shaping the Halloween celebrations we enjoy at Disney parks today.

Want to hear more behind-the-scenes stories like this? Be sure to check out I Want That Too, where Lauren and I dive deep into the history behind Disney’s most beloved attractions, events, and of course, merchandise!

Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment

The Story of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: From One Night to a Halloween Family Tradition

Published

4 months ago

September 7, 2024

Jim Hill

The spooky season is already in full swing at Disney parks on both coasts. On August 9th, the first of 38 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) nights for 2024 kicked off at Florida’s Magic Kingdom. Meanwhile, over at Disney California Adventure, the Oogie Boogie Bash began on August 23rd and is completely sold out across its 27 dates this year.

Looking back, it’s incredible to think about how these Halloween-themed events have grown. But for Disney, the idea of charging guests for Halloween fun wasn’t always a given. In fact, when the very first Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party debuted on October 31, 1995, it was a modest one-night-only affair. Compare that to the near month-long festivities we see today, and it’s clear that Disney’s approach to Halloween has evolved considerably.

A Not-So-Scary Beginning

I was fortunate enough to attend that very first MNSSHP back in 1995, along with my then 18-month-old daughter Alice and her mom, Michelle. Tickets were a mere $16.95 (I know, can you imagine?), and we pushed Alice around in her sturdy Emmaljunga stroller—Swedish-built and about the size of a small car. Cast Members, charmed by her cuteness, absolutely loaded us up with candy. By the end of the night, we had about 30 pounds of fun-sized candy bars, making that push up to the monorail a bit more challenging.

Mickey’s Halloween Treat 1996 – Photo: Disney

This Halloween event was Disney’s response to the growing popularity of Universal Studios Florida’s own Halloween hard ticket event, which started in 1991 as “Fright Nights” before being rebranded as “Halloween Horror Nights” the following year. Universal’s gamble on a horror-themed experience helped salvage what had been a shaky opening for their park, and by 1993, Halloween Horror Nights was a seven-night event, with ticket prices climbing as high as $35. Universal had stumbled upon a goldmine, and Disney took notice.

A Different Approach

Now, here’s where Disney’s unique strategy comes into play. While Universal embraced the gory, scare-filled world of horror, Disney knew that wasn’t their brand. Instead of competing directly with blood and jump-scares, Disney leaned into what they did best: creating magical, family-friendly experiences.

Thus, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was born. The focus was on fun and whimsy, not fear. Families could bring their small children without worrying about them being terrified by a chainsaw-wielding maniac around the next corner. This event wasn’t just a Halloween party—it was an extension of the Disney magic that guests had come to expect from the parks.

Disney had some experience with seasonal after-hours events, most notably Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which had started in 1983. But the Halloween party was different, as the Magic Kingdom wasn’t yet decked out in Halloween decor the way it is today. Disney had to create a spooky (but not too spooky) atmosphere using temporary props, fog machines, and, of course, lots of candy.

A key addition to that first event? The debut of the Headless Horseman, who made his eerie appearance in Liberty Square, riding a massive black Percheron. It wasn’t as elaborate as the Boo-to-You Parade we see today, but it marked the beginning of a beloved Disney Halloween tradition.

A Modest Start but a Big Future

That first MNSSHP in 1995 was seen as a trial run. As Disney World spokesman Greg Albrecht told the Orlando Sentinel, “If it’s successful, we’ll do it again.” And while attendance was sparse that night, there was clearly potential. By 1997, the event expanded to two nights, and by 1999, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party had grown into a multi-night celebration with a full-fledged parade. Today, in 2024, it’s a staple of the fall season at Walt Disney World, offering 38 nights of trick-or-treating, character meet-and-greets, and special entertainment.

Universal’s Influence

It’s interesting to reflect on how Disney’s Halloween event might never have existed without the competition from Universal. Just as “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” forced Disney to step up their game with “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge,” Universal’s success with Halloween Horror Nights likely spurred Disney into action with MNSSHP. The friendly rivalry between the two parks has continually pushed both to offer more to their guests, and we’re all better off because of it.

So the next time you find yourself trick-or-treating through the Magic Kingdom, watching the Headless Horseman gallop by, or marveling at the seasonal fireworks, take a moment to appreciate how this delightful tradition came to be—all thanks to a little competition and Disney’s commitment to creating not-so-scary magic.

For more Disney history and behind-the-scenes stories, check out the latest episodes of the I Want That Too podcast on the Jim Hill Media network.