Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment
Adam Shell & Nicholas Kraft traveled from Disneyland to Detroit “Pursuing Happiness”
Pursuing happiness. that’s a universal quest for people
around the United States and around the world. Who doesn’t want to live a
meaningful, happy life? But what exactly is happiness?
Documentary filmmaker Adam Shell and producer Nicholas Kraft
decided to investigate the subject a short time after Shell completed
an earlier documentary, “Finding Kraftland,” that featured Nicolas Kraft and his
father, Richard Kraft, a major globetrotting Disney collector, music fan and pop
culture enthusiast.
“Pursuing Happiness” will be screened at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at The Delta King as part of the Sacramento Film Festival. Tickets for
this “ultimate feel good” documentary can be purchased at www.SacramentoFilmFestival.com.
The following is a Q&A session with the filmmakers:
Tell me a bit about your friendship. Did it start with “Finding
Kraftland” or before? What did you learn doing that project that helped you on “Pursuing
Happiness”?
Shell: Nicholas’ father asked me to edit and co-direct the
most overproduced home movie of all time, ‘Finding Kraftland,
despite only
being an acquaintance of his. You don’t spend months going through someone’s home
videos and interviewing all their friends without becoming a close friend
yourself and, ever since, I’ve been very close with both Richard and Nicholas.
What made you interested in tackling the topic of happiness?
Shell: In part, it grew out of touring Finding Kraftland at
festivals: time and again people would tell me that Richard’s lust for life attitude
inspired them to bring more joy into their own lives. That planted a seed
for me.
The real inspiration though came from being fed up with the
onslaught of bad news that dominates the media. It seemed everything was
a sensationalized tragedy and that constant focus on what was
wrong in our world had a tangible effect on my life – the conversations I
was having, the attitude of those around me, it was all so negative.
Kraft: For me, there is nothing more interesting in the
world than people – why are we the way we are? When Adam asked me to help him
with this kooky idea of making a documentary about happiness, it
sounded like an amazing opportunity to learn more about people in a truly
unique way.
Disney Legend Richard Sherman
Tell me about your interview with Disney Legend Richard
Sherman.
Kraft: What an honor. We should have called off our search
for the happiest people in America
after spending the day with Richard – the search was over, we found him!
Shell: As a musician myself, I wanted to know how it was
possible for someone to make a career out of writing truly happy songs. We
have this trope in our culture of the “tortured artist” and The
Sherman Brothers, who have written some of the most recognizable, beloved, and
fantastic songs in American history are anything but that. And he admitted
that writing happy songs isn’t easy, “writing a really originally happy
tune … you’ve gotta dig for that.” I think that’s a great metaphor for
happiness itself; it’s so easy to go to the dark side and give in to negativity,
but to lead a happy life … you’ve gotta dig for that.
Did Richard Sherman discuss Walt or Disneyland
being the “Happiest Place
on Earth”?
Kraft: You can’t make a documentary about happiness in America
without talking about Disneyland – especially
when someone from the Kraft family is involved in the making of the film. Richard Sherman
described Walt as a “purveyor of joy” and one of the things we ended up
discussing with him was the power of giving. You think you’re going to interview
this Disney Legend about his music – and we did – but the real heart of
Richard Sherman, and Walt of course, is that these men derive so
much pleasure from doing things for others.
In Walt’s case, that was providing a place for families to
have a truly memorable experience together. For The Sherman Brothers,
that was giving the gift of song – fun, uplifting, sweet songs – to
millions of people.
Shell: I have two young children and there is nothing more
fun than spending a day at Disneyland with
them. There is this unrivaled joy they experience that is truly infectious. It’s the same joy I
experienced as a kid and so many millions of people experience every year. Truth
be told, I still experience it even when I visit without my kids. Is it the
rides? Sure. Is it the music and the costumes and the thrill of meeting Mickey (or
Elsa if you’re my daughter)? Absolutely. But the real heart of it is
that shared experience we’re having together. The “stuff” isn’t so much
making us happy as it is providing an environment that’s conducive to
laughing, having fun, and sharing that together.
There is something else about Disneyland
that I only really began to appreciate after making this film. Disneyland
takes extreme care in ensuring that everything is always presented with perfection:
The perfectly manicured flowers to the smiles and gracious attitudes of
all the cast members. They make the effort to present themselves in the
light they want to be remembered for and, as a result, that is the way
the world thinks of Disneyland. The metaphor for me as
it relates to happiness is that we all have the ability to present ourselves in whatever way we
choose and in that presentation that is our experience. If we take the time and
effort to put on a smile and show our very best to the world our experience
then will be just that.
We can’t all live in Disneyland – unless
of course you’re Nicholas’ father – but we can all create environments that are conducive to
connecting with one another and being happy.
Tell me a bit about your own relationship with happiness and
how you personally define it?
Shell: Happiness and I have an open relationship – sometimes
we’re together, and sometimes I’m sad. Sometimes I’m hurt. Sometimes
my kids are kicking and screaming and driving me up a wall and I
just want to run away to a tropical island.
You’ll see in the film that we define happiness in two parts
– Hedonic and Eudaimonic. The first is what we typically think of as
happiness – a smile, a great meal, laughing with friends. The latter is about
fulfillment and purpose. So for me, I define it as a healthy balance of both
of these things: I want a life filled with Hedonic pleasures but I also know
that the richness of life – the ups and the downs – is what really makes it
all worth living. We explore this in great depth in the film.
How challenging was it to edit the several hours of material
you gathered into the final 80 minute film? Are you satisfied with “Pursuing
Happiness” and the response you’ve received from those who’ve seen it? How have
the people you interviewed responded to the film?
Shell: When you spend nearly two years gathering hundreds of
hours of footage from more than 400 people and no real road map of
what it all means, the most difficult task is making sense of it all. For
me this is one of the best parts of documentary filmmaking. Unlike a narrative
film where a writer spends a significant amount of time writing and
rewriting a screenplay to flesh out characters and story before a single
frame of footage is shot, the thing I like best about documentaries
is working the exact opposite way. It’s kind of like doing an intense
research paper in school. You go out and gather a ton of information on a
subject or a person and then have to weave it all together in a way that make
sense and is entertaining. And, usually you become an expert on the
subject in the process. I never had much of an agenda with what the final
product was going to look like, but I always knew what I wanted it to
achieve and what I wanted audiences to feel when watching the film. I always
say, if you have to, make them laugh and cry and then you can make them think
… I think we achieved that. One of the best comments we have received
during a Q&A was when a woman said “this should be required
viewing to be a human.” I think that says it all.
As for the people in the film, the ones who have seen it
have responded very favorably. John Lawson, one of our interviewees who
lost both of his arms, has seen it twice now. When we interviewed him he was
joking around with me about how challenging difficult it was going
to be to make something interesting out of this project and, kind of
sarcastically, he wished me luck. After the first screening, he said he just
didn’t believe how we were able to make such an impactful film and he was
honored to be a part of it.
Kraft: One of the greatest lessons for me in making this
film was to just go for it. We set out with a very loose concept and no story
whatsoever. We had cameras, hundreds of referrals, and a great passion for
making this film. Of course, that means that we faced some great
challenges after collecting 300 hours of footage – how did any of this fit
together?
Editing the film was like putting together a puzzle with an
infinite number of pieces and no picture on the front of the box to go off of. What
was helpful was giving ourselves some limits: it has to be under 90
minutes, it needs to include these people and these concepts, and well that’s it,
really, ha! It was a tough process to have to leave out so much great
footage, but our goal for the film was to create a platform for discussion
and the film is only one aspect. We hope to release as much of the additional
footage as possible – perhaps online – because it deserves to be seen.
The film includes several experts – from doctors to
theologians – talking about happiness and it seems like happiness is defined by two well
represented groups in the film. Tell me a bit more about both groups: The
people who choose to live in the present as much as possible because of illness,
tragedy or it’s their nature and those who derive their pleasure from making others happy
as a key part of their lives.
Shell: I kinda co-opted the phrase “aha moment,” but it’s
what I we strove to create in this film: a combination of technical
information provided by experts in various fields and then real life examples from
everyday people. I think it’s very easy to learn something, but to actually
have it make an impact and inspire change, it needs to strike an emotional
chord and that is what the everyday people provide.
For example: if I explain to you that being selfless is one
of the best ways to be happier, you probably understand that – chances are
you already know that! But if you then seen a beautiful example of
selflessness that really resonates with you, you’re more likely – I think – to
remember that down the line and implement it into your own life. It is
very similar to how we imitate people we admire. We might not do it consciously,
but we do it.
Tell me a little more about Gloria Borges’ story and her
cancer fight. Was there a friendship that preceded the filming? What made her story
so intriguing and how did she inspire you as filmmakers?
Shell: I knew Gloria prior to making the film because she
worked with my wife. She was my referral for the happiest person I know,
and anyone who sees the film will immediately understand why. Nicholas has
the more interesting story as it relates to Gloria, and his
experience for me was proof that this project was going to work.
Kraft: Gloria was one of the first people we interviewed,
and while I was certainly excited by the project, I wasn’t gung-ho, all in, 100%
sold until we met Gloria. That was a life-changing experience for me,
which is crazy because we only spent two hours with her. But that’s all it
took; two hours hanging at her house and I was forever changed – she was all
I could talk about for weeks on end, “I met the most amazing, inspiring,
and awesome person the other day and I have to tell you about her.”
Shell: That was it. When we walked out of her house I was
kind of amazed at Nicholas’ reaction. For me it was just another day
hanging out with someone I had known for years and I wasn’t that phased by it.
But seeing how someone new reacted to her, that is when I knew that if
we could find more people like Gloria and share their stories, this film
would hopefully have a profound impact on audiences and really ignite
conversations.
Tell me a little more about Kyle Bartell and Charles Molnar
and their “Sit On It, Detroit” bus
benches/public library efforts.
Shell: Whenever we told people we were going to Detroit
for the film, they all said the same thing: good luck! Again, the news is so
negative – all you hear about Detroit is that it’s bankrupt, corrupt, and in
shambles. But of course, all of the time we spent there was with incredibly
happy, empowered, and helpful people, such as the Sit On It Detroit
guys.
Kraft: What I love about them is that if I were to tell you
I met two people who had taken it upon themselves to rebuild the city of
Detroit one bus stop at a time, you would never in a million years guess
that they were those two characters.
Why do you think the U.S.
is ranked 23rd in the U.N. happiness report? Is there growing pessimism because of political gridlock, the
growing income inequality gap, self-imposed or societal pressures – the
mild to moderate day-to-day stress that keeps people “in the red
zone”? Were you surprised by the evidence that after $75,000 in annual
income, there’s little correlation between wealth and happiness? (Money may not buy
happiness, but for people living near poverty, more money can make a
difference in their lives and their loved ones).
Shell: I’ll answer the second question and leave the first
for Nicholas. No, I was not surprised by the correlation (or lack thereof) between
income and happiness. Does anyone truly believe money can buy
happiness? I don’t think so, and yet we can’t get out of the habit of acting as
though it can. What I was surprised to learn though is that you can use
your money to “buy” happiness; we just go about it completely backwards.
Kraft: Why do we rank 23rd? That’s a tough question because
you have to take into account the ways in which they measure happiness
as well as ask yourself how effective it is to measure something subjective
across such varied cultures. But I can tell you something that’s
certainly not helping us in the rankings: we are the most individualistic country on
the planet. In the galaxy. In the universe!!! Doesn’t it sounds more intense
when I say “in the universe!!!”?
There are plenty of positive things about being
individualistic, but much like income, at a certain point, being more self-centered doesn’t
make us any happier and – I think – actually starts to impede on our
well being.
What is it that you hope viewers take away from seeing “Pursuing
Happiness”?
Shell: Pursuing Happiness, to me, is a conversation starter.
What people take away depends completely on who they are and I believe
there’s a lot in this film for everyone. But my greatest hope is that this
film starts meaningful conversations about fulfillment and happiness. To
get back to your first question: we spend a lot of time discussing what’s
wrong in the world or being distracted by the latest celebrity gossip. I
hope this inspires some people to start different conversations at dinner with
their families.
Kraft: Ditto!
For more information about the film and additional film
festival screenings, visit: http://www.pursuinghappiness.com/aboutthefilm.html
Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment
Disney and Macy’s 90-Year Thanksgiving Day Parade Partnership: From Mickey’s First Balloon to Minnie’s Big Debut
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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