Getting A-head at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Leslie Navarro

14 years ago

As you walk through Walt Disney
World’s Magic Kingdom these days and encounter all of those construction
fences for the Fantasyland expansion project it’s kind of hard to imagine what
this part of the theme park will look like in just a few years.

But me? I can’t help but look at the attractions that
Fantasyland already has and wonder what this place would have been like if the
Imagineers had been allowed to build the dark rides that they had originally
designed for this section of the Magic Kingdom.

You see, WED’s original plan for “The Florida Project” was
that Disney World’s theme park shouldn’t just be filled with clones of popular
Disneyland rides but instead the Magic Kingdom should feature significant
improved versions of Anaheim favorites (EX: “The Hall of Presidents” versus
“Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln”) or – when possible — entirely new
attractions (EX: “Western River Expedition” instead of “Pirates of the
Caribbean”)

And as for the Fantasyland portion of the Magic Kingdom, the
Imagineers had originally wanted this land to have three brand-new dark rides.
With a “Mary Poppins” -themed attraction serving as a substitute for “Peter
Pan’s Flight,” a thrilling “Sleeping Beauty” ride-thru replacing “Snow White’s
Scary Adventures” and a “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” dark ride standing in for
“Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.”

Unfortunately, as the cost of turning 43 square miles of Central
Florida swampland into “The Vacation Kingdom of the World” began to escalate
(Executives back in Burbank had originally budgeted $100 million for the
construction of Walt Disney World. By the time construction of Phase One of
this project was completed, the Company would have spent over $400 million) Disney
ordered across-the-board cost cutting in the late 1960s. This meant – wherever
possible – the Imagineers had to reuse ride ideas & technologies that had
previously been used at Disneyland.

And that is how those “Mary Poppins,” “Sleeping Beauty” and
“Legend of Sleepy Hollow” rides wound up getting junked. Though a wee bit of
Washington Irving did eventually manage to make it into the Magic Kingdom,
thanks to that Sleepy Hollow quick-service dining location in Liberty Square
(which – FYI – is actually modeled after Irving’s estate in Tarrytown, NY).

But even so, I’ve always wondered what that “Legend of
Sleepy Hollow” dark ride would have been like. How it would have felt to be
pursued through those dark & twisty forest by the Headless Horseman.

Well, if you’re like me and have a fondness for this Disney
Villain who doesn’t have a good head on his shoulders … you can actually get to
see the Headless Horsemen ride through the Magic Kingdom on select nights
September through November if you purchase a ticket to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary
Halloween Party.

Now it’s important to stress here that if you’re thinking
about attending this seasonal Walt Disney World favorite that admission to Mickey’s
Not-So-Scary Halloween Party does require a separate ticket. So if you’ve only
got a standard Disney World Park Ticket and/or Annual Pass, you won’t be
allowed to stay inside of the Magic Kingdom after 7 p.m. Which – thanks to special
lighting, music and effects – is completely transformed into this not-so-Sleepy
Hollow that’s then loaded with all sorts of kid-friendly Halloween-themed
delights.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party features all sorts of
special entertainment. With one of the real high points being Happy
HalloWishes, the seasonal fireworks spectacular where some of Disney’s greatest
villains appear to go trick-or-treating in the sky.

Photo by Gene Duncan. Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved

Better yet, because only a limited number of Guests are
allowed to attend each presentation of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you’ll
almost be guaranteed a curbside seat for Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade.
The party features some of those 999 ghosts & ghouls from The Haunted
Mansion as well as many of your favorite Disney characters clad in special
Halloween-themed costumes.

And did I mention that “Boo-to-You” kicks off with a
spectral appearance by the Headless
Horseman? Who charges through that theme park while riding on this nightmarishly
big black steed?

Which – admittedly – isn’t as cool as the Magic Kingdom having its very own
“Legend of Sleepy Hollow” dark ride. But you have to admit that an actual appearance
by the Headless Horseman is still pretty cool.

Anyway, if you’d like to stay a-head of the competition and
make sure that you score tickets to the 2010 edition of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary
Halloween Party, know this: this super-popular seasonal event does sell out
annually, especially for those dates that are closest to October 31^st.
So, if you want to get in on all the after-hours fun, purchasing a ticket now
for Not-So-Scary would be a very bright idea.

The 2010 series of parties officially gets underway next
Tuesday night , September 14^th and will be presented on the
following dates:

Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010

Sunday, October 3, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Thursday, October 21, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010

And if you’re looking for a bargain when it
comes to tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Orlando Fun Tickets is now
offering admission for 10% off of what you’ll pay at the main gate for select
dates in September. If you’d like more information about this discounted
admission material, please click here.