Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment
Exploring WDW’s Polynesian Resort Hotel
Okay. I can take a hint. Yesterday, so many people wrote in to say that they liked Scott Liljenquist’s debut piece that JHM is immediately serving up the next installment of Scott’s series on WDW’s Monorail resorts. Enjoy!
Facts and Figures
The second of the Magic Kingdom’s two original resorts, the Polynesian opened on October 1, 1971 as the Polynesian Village Resort. The Polynesian is styled in a south pacific islands theme, with each of its 11 “longhouses” and 855 rooms carrying in a lush, tropical decor. Palm trees, tropical foliage, and tiki torches highlight the 40 acres of beautiful and well-themed landscaping. The Great Ceremonial House is the central gathering point of the resort, housing the lobby, shops, and restaurants. The resort is home to two swimming pools, three restaurants, two bars, a marina, an arcade, and a child-care facility.
Many WDW veterans consider the Poly to be the lushest and the loveliest of all the Disney World resorts. But one wonders if they still would have felt that way if the Imagineers had gone with their original plan for the Polynesian. Which was an ultra-modern looking, multi-tiered affair that — at its highest point — would have been over ten stories tall. Something that would have looked right at home in downtown Honolulu circa 1965.
Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed at WED. And — instead of building something that looked like it came straight out of “Hawaii 5-0” — the Imagineers built the South Seas-esque paradise that we all know & love today.
Lodging
Rooms at the Polynesian are located in one of 11 buildings or “longhouses”. Each building is 2 or 3 stories tall and most rooms have private balconies (a few of the older buildings were constructed without balconies on the second floor to more closely mimic real Polynesian building styles. Guest complaints caused Disney to quickly add balconies on all rooms on all floors). Each longhouse has been named to represent a real Polynesian island, and the locations of the buildings are roughly correct to the actual geographic locations of the islands of Polynesia. Rooms at the Polynesian are generally a little larger than those at other resorts, and each is decorated with tropical colors and bamboo accents.
Closest to the Great Ceremonial House and the volcano pool are longhouses Tonga, Raratonga, Niue, and Samoa. Those most near the Ticket and Transportation Center are Tahiti, Rapa Nui, and Tokelau. Adjacent to the marina are Tuvalu, Fiji, Aotearoa, and Fiji. The longhouses directly on the beach of the Seven Seas lagoon are Tuvalu, Hawaii, and Tahiti. Non-smoking longhouses are Aotearoa, Fiji, Rapa Nui, Raratonga, Samoa, and Tokelau. Suites are located in the Tonga longhouse, and concierge rooms in the Hawaii longhouse. Rooms with the best view of Seven Seas Lagoon, the Magic Kingdom, Cinderella Castle, and the nightly fireworks show are located in Tuvalu, Hawaii, Tahiti.
Dining
The three restaurants of the Polynesian are located in the Great Ceremonial House. ‘Ohana (and anyone who’s seen Lilo & Stitch should certainly remember what ohana means) is located on the second floor, and serves a family-style Polynesian fare. A daily character breakfast is also served at ‘Ohana, with visits right to your table from Mickey, Goofy, Chip, and Dale.
The Kona Café is also on the second floor, and serves fresh seafood, steaks, chicken, and salads. You’ll probably never find more unusual (although tasty) desserts anywhere; most can truly be called works of art. Of course, Kona coffee is available both in the restaurant itself and from a coffee stand just outside the reception area.
Captain Cook’s Snack Company is the standard WDW fast-food snack bar type of restaurant, and is open 24 hours. It features grill items such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken sandwiches, deli sandwiches, salads, and other snack-bar fare. Food quality is Disney fast-food typical, which is to say not-great-but-not-too-bad-either.
Transportation
The Polynesian is — of course — served by the monorail. The monorail station is located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House directly across from ‘Ohana. Trains run to the Magic Kingdom and the Ticket and Transportation center about every 5-10 minutes, with stops along the way at the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary.
The Ticket and Transportation Center is also accessible via a short walk down a dedicated pathway at the east end of the resort property. Accessible from the TTC is the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, the ferry boat to the Magic Kingdon, and buses to anywhere else in Walt Disney World.
Boat transportation is available from the marina with service to the Grand Floridian and the Magic Kingdom.
Bus stops at the Great Ceremonial House are available for bus transportation to Disney-MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Wilderness Lodge. These buses also service the Grand Floridian and the Wilderness Lodge, so be aware of the multiple stops and possible crowds on board.
Activities
There are two swimming pools at the Polynesian. Opened in 2001, the Nenea Volcano pool features a 40-foot high artificial volcano which houses a waterfall and waterslide. Underwater seating, hot water jets, and a zero-entry area from the beach are other features of this pool. Located adjacent to the Great Ceremonial House, the volcano pool is very popular and is often quite crowded. Between the Samoa and Tokelau longhouses you will find the Polynesian’s quiet pool. Much larger than the volcano pool, this is the place to be if you want to relax with a quiet swim or simply sun yourself by the pool.
Water activities abound at the Polynesian’s marina. Available for rent are sailboats, pontoon boats, and a fleet of “water mice.” A water mouse is a small, one-or-two-person fiberglass boat with a 9.9-hp outboard engine.
A special feature of the Polynesian is the Neverland Club. This facility — located right off the parking lot directly east of the Raratonga building — provides supervised child-care services for kids ages 4-12. The club is open daily from 4pm to midnight, and includes a dinner buffet that your kids will love (I.E. Mac ‘n cheese, pizza, chicken fingers, french fries, etc). It also geatures full-size arcade games, Nintendo, arts and crafts, a dress-up area, and — of course — Disney movies. The cost is $8.00 per child per hour. Reservations are required.
An arcade is located in the same building as the Neverland Club, and provides the usual collection of video games, pinball machines, air-hockey and pool tables. This is not – in my opinion — one of WDW’s better arcades. I found it to be rather pricey.
Several specialty shops and a general gift/sundries type shops are located in the Great Ceremonial House. Available for purchase are a wide variety of clothing, gifts, souvenirs, genuine Polynesian items, snacks, sodas, postcards, and other items.
Insider’s Secrets, Tips, and Tricks
The Kona Cafe is the place to get a don’t-miss delicacy of any WDW trip: Tonga Toast. Tonga Toast is thick-sliced sourdough bread stuffed with banana and served with cinnamon and sugar. It’s similar to french toast but far more delicious. Also at the Kona Café – don’t miss the macadamia-crusted mahi-mahi!
Take the time to rent a water mouse. They are a real kick to take out on Seven Seas lagoon and can even be driven across the water bridge to Bay Lake.
Tuesday through Saturday at 6pm is the torch lighting ceremony. These ceremonies, which welcome the evening, take place on the walkway leading to the Great Ceremonial House. A traditional Polynesian fire-dancer performs with torches and knives, and then lights the torches along the walkway. A very entertaining (and free!) show.
Did you know that there were once waves on the beach of the Polynesian? When the resort was first opened, the Imagineers thought it would be wonderful to have a gentle surf crashing on the shores of the Polynesian’s beachfront. To achieve this effect, a wave machine was installed in Seven Seas Lagoon. And surf was up! … at least for a while.
Unfortunately, the lovely atmosphere created by the resort’s rolling surf was not enough to offset the major erosion that occurred daily in the Polynesian’s beachfront area. Which is why – after only being operation for a few short months – the wave machine was turned off permanently in the Spring of 1972.
Strangely enough, Disney never got round to removing the Polynesian’s wave machine. It’s still located out in Seven Seas Lagoon, just a short distance away from the Poly’s beachfront area. If you were to rent a water mouse, you can actually get within spitting distance of where the massive mechanism in located on one of the resort’s off-shore islands.
The white-sand beach at the Polynesian is a great place to watch the nightly fireworks show over the Magic Kingdom. Find a nice spot on the beach, slip your shoes off, and wiggle your toes in the sand as you wait for the show to start. Also seen nightly from the beach is the Electric Water pageant, which consists of a series of small barges towed around Seven Seas lagoon. Each barge has a display of animated lights which illuminate to a musical soundtrack. This show performs nightly about 9 p.m.
The Neverland Club is child care done right. Should you want to slip away with your significant other for a quiet evening at Victoria & Albert’s or the California Grill, you can rest assured that your little ones will be well-cared for and have a great time at the Neverland Club.
In fact, my experience has taught me that I’m the meanest dad in the whole wide world when I arrive to retrieve the kids at the end of the night. You’ll never feel less love from your kids then when you tell them it’s time to leave. Every parent is given a pager so that they can be immediately notified if there is any kind of problem, and the staff carefully records your evening plans so they know about where you will be at any time. The staff are wonderful and seem to truly care about making sure that all the kids have a great time.
For guests staying in buildings on the eastern side of the resort it’s usually quicker walk the private pathway to the TTC and catch the ferry or the express monorail to the Magic Kingdom than to walk to the Great Ceremonial House for the resort monorail.
The Polynesian Dinner Luau Show is a great way to enjoy a very entertaining meal. It shows twice nightly, Tuesday through Saturday, at Luau Cove near the Aotearoa longhouse. The show includes a full luau-style meal along with entertainment consisting of authentic Polynesian singing and dancing.
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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