Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment
Don’t wear Green & Gold to Universal Orlando’s Jurassic Park unless you want the raptors there to see red
Just a bit of advice to all your Green Bay Packers fans out
there: On the heels of yesterday’s season opener (when the Packers traveled to Chicago’s
historic Soldier Field (and then beat the Bears 31 to 23), you’re probably
feeling pretty proud right about now. Which is why — most likely — you’re
wearing Green & Gold today.
Well, if that’s really the case and you’re currently on
vacation in Central Florida, you may want to steer clear
of the Jurassic Park
section of Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Because there’s a velociraptor
puppet inside of that theme park’s new Raptor Encounter who just hates the
Green Bay Packers. And if she sees you wearing Green & Gold, this 9
foot-tall faux raptor is sure to see red. And she’ll then definitely go off on
you.
Copyright Universal Orlando. All rights reserved
Which — I know — sounds a trifle bizarre. But according to
Patrick Braillard — a Creative Development director & show writer at
Universal Orlando Resort — this particular puppet’s persona is all part of
making Islands of Adventure‘s Raptor Encounter the sort of experience that
theme park guests can then repeat.
“When it comes to the Team Members who are working with
these velociraptor puppets, we have actively encouraged them to develop
different personalities for each of these creatures. That way, whenever guests
visit the Raptor Encounter, they can
never quite be certain how this creature which is barely contained inside of
its paddock is going to react,” explained Braillard. “So there are
certain things that each Team Member has chosen which — once they see them —
will then set their velociraptor off. Take — for example — the raptor puppet
that can not stand selfie sticks. She reacts violently and absolutely refuses
to have her picture taken with anyone who’s holding a selfie stick.”
And what’s ironic about that velociraptor puppet’s
particular quirk is that this new Islands of Adventure attraction was actually
created to help people be able to send their friends & family the ultimate
selifie. One that shows them smiling while this vicious predator looms in the
background, getting ready to bite their head off.
Copyright Universal Orlando. All rights reserved
Mind you, this isn’t the first time that Universal Orlando
has gotten its guests up-close with a prehistoric creature. Back in 1996,
Universal Creative hired Spar Aerospace — the Canadian company that built the
huge robotic arm which the Space Shuttle used to snatch satellites straight out
of the sky — to build Cera, Chris & Topper, this trio of 24 foot-long, 10
foot-tall animatronic dinosaurs. When these massive robotic beasts were
unveiled as the centerpiece of the Triceratops Encounter attraction back in the
Spring of 1999, guests marveled at how lifelike these three appeared.
“And what exactly made Cera, Chris & Topper seem
real?,” you ask. Thanks to all of the gizmos that Spar Aerospace crammed
into each of these 7.5 ton creations, the toes on these robotic dinosaurs
curled, their nostrils flared and their skin twitched. Their over-sized
buttocks even clenched & unclenched as the stars of the Triceratops
Encounter stomped their feet and shifted their weight.
Then when you factor in some of the more natural / somewhat
unseemly things that live animals do which Spar Aerospace then programmed Cera,
Chris & Topper to replicate (To quote Tom Williams at the ribbon cutting
for the Triceratops Encounter attraction: “It sneezes, it snorts, it
urinates, and goop comes out of its nostrils”), you had some of the most
lifelike robotic dinosaurs ever created.
Copyright Universal Orlando. All rights reserved
The only problem was that — while this opening day Islands
of Adventure attraction was impressive at first glance — it wasn’t exactly a
repeatable experience.
“And why was that?,” you query. To be honest, it
was because the folks at Spar Aerospace had done almost too much good of a job
of bringing one of these large, lumbering creatures from the Cretaceous period
back to life. Because the whole conceit behind
the Triceratops Encounter show
was that Cera, Chris & Topper had been sedated and brought into the paddock
for their annual physical … Well, that meant that these tourists were lining
up to get a close encounter with this drugged up, slow moving dinosaur.
Which — in that pre-cell phone / decade-before-the-selfie
era — was fun to do once. Which is why when guests returned to this theme park
on their next Central Florida vacation, they tended to
take a pass on watching Cera, Chris & Topper pass gas in their paddock yet
again. Which is why Triceratops Encounter closed in 2003. And why — after a
brief attempt at re-opening & rebranding this part of Jurassic
Park as the Triceratops Discovery
Trail — it shuttered for good in 2010.
Copyright Universal Orlando. All rights reserved
Now jump ahead to 2014. And Patrick Braillard — just like
every other Jurassic Park
fan on the planet — knows that Universal Pictures is producing “Jurassic
World.” Which — it is hoped — will reboot the popular film franchise
based on Michael Crichton‘s 1990 best seller, “Jurassic
Park.”
More to the point, Patrick is aware that both Universal
Studios Singapore & Universal Studios Japan have been entertaining their
guests with raptor puppets that Michael Curry Design has designed & built
for those theme parks. And that these USS & USJ visitors are then tweeting
out pictures of their terrifying-but-fun encounters with these prehistoric
carnivores.
Now Braillard knows that the primo piece of theme park real
estate that the Triceratops Encounter used to occupy is just standing empty.
Patrick also knows that Universal Orlando has been looking for a way to cash in
on the selfie craze. Combing these three bits of information, Braillard then
decides to use Curry’s velociraptor puppets as the inspiration for a possible
brand-new experience for Islands of Adventure’s Jurassic
Park section.
Copyright 2015 Universal Pictures. All rights reserved
Using the way Chris Pratt’s raptor whisperer character
interacts with his trio of terrors in “Jurassic World” as his
jumping-off point, Patrick then submitted a one page proposal for a Raptor
Encounter attraction to Mike Aiello, the director of Entertainment – Creative
Development at the Universal Orlando Resort.
“What I basically said was we already have these raptor
puppets that we use at Universal theme parks on the other side of the world.
And that if we were to bring those puppets here and then create a themed performance
space for them to appear within the old Triceratops Encounter paddock that our
guests could have this experience just as ‘Jurassic World’ was opening in
theaters … Well, that would then be this wonderful synergistic opportunity. A
way to take everything that people already knew about our version of Jurassic
Park and then make it new for them
again by tying it in to this new Universal Pictures release. Not to mention
giving our guests a place where they could then get a one-of-a-kind
selfie,” Braillard stated. “And to Mike’s credit, once he said ‘Yes,’
it was a very quick turnaround. We went from greenlight to our very first
rehearsal with our brand-new raptor puppets that Michael Curry’s crew built for
us in less than 4 months.”
Speaking of Michael Curry … Because these were the third
or fourth generation of raptor puppets
Curry & Co. had built, they were outfitted with some pretty impressive
features like onboard audio.
“That’s why — when you see online videos of Guests
doing a selfie with one of our velociraptors and the creature suddenly screams
at them — these people jump and often
run away. The sound that’s coming out of those raptor puppets is the exact same
roars & cries that these creatures make in the ‘Jurassic
Park’ movies and ‘Jurassic
World’,” Patrick continued. “The folks who work at Universal Pictures
were kind enough to get us all of the appropriate sound files. Just as John
Hammond might say, we’ve spared no expense to make this new Islands of
Adventure attraction seem just as authentic as we possibly could.”
And based on the number of YouTube videos, Vines, Tweets and
pictures that have been e-mailed and/or been popping up on Tumblr since the
Raptor Encounter officially opened back on May 22nd, it’s clear that all of
Braillard’s hard work & ingenuity has paid off. Though — that said —
Patrick is quick to credit the talented Universal Orlando Team Members who
actually operate these velociraptor puppets for making this new Jurassic
Park show the success that it is
today.
Patrick Braillard shares a selfie he took with one of the velociraptors who’s
now on the prowl inside of Jurassic Park’s new Raptor Encounter
at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
“Anyway, these Team Members are the ones who have
really embraced the raptor mindset. They’re the ones who come onstage thinking
‘I’m an apex predator. And everyone else here is food.’ But what’s great is
that each & every one of these performers has their own personal take on
the proper way to portray a velociraptor. We have some raptors that are very
aggressive and very alpha and don’t take kindly to being told what to do. And
then we’ve got other ones that are more like a puppy. They just want to come out
and play.”
“Those sorts of behaviors are the kinds of things that
you’ll see on a daily basis if you’re dealing with real live animals. This wide
range of personality & emotion that can change in an instant based on how
that creature’s day is going or what’s happening in the environment around
them,” Braillard concluded. “That’s why we’ve encouraged the
performers who operate these velociraptor puppets in our Raptor Encounter
attraction to behave just like real animals. So that the guests never know
what’s going to set these prehistoric creatures off.”
Except for that Green Bay Packers thing. Seriously, folks.
Unless you really want to get on the wrong side of a velociraptor as you’re
trying to get that selfie, don’t wear Green & Gold when you go to experience
the Raptor Encounter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
Photo by Priyanka Patel
This article was originally posted on the Huffington Post’s Entertainment page on Monday, September 14, 2015
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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