Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment

Ruminations

Roger is back this week with another episode in the series of “Things You Always Wanted To Do, But Never Knew You Could.” So Saddle Up! We’re burning daylight!

Published

21 years ago

August 28, 2003

Roger Colton

Much as this series has been interesting for me to share with you, this particular chapter is not one I have personally experienced. Nor is it one that I am likely to partake of in the future. However, being that I have friends in the “horsey” set, I’m sharing this with you today…

“I grew up a-dreamin’ of bein’ a cowboy,
and Lovin’ the cowboy ways.
Pursuin’ the life of my high-ridin’ heroes,
I burned up my childhood days.
I learned of all the rules of the modern-day drifter,
Don’t you hold on to nothin’ too long.
Just take what you need from the ladies, then leave them,
With the words of a sad country song.
My heroes have always been cowboys.
And they still are, it seems.
Sadly, in search of, but one step in back of,
Themselves and their slow-movin’ dreams.

Cowboys are special with their own brand of misery,
From being alone too long.
You could die from the cold in the arms of a nightmare,
Knowin’ well that your best days are gone.
Pickin’ up hookers instead of my pen,
I let the words of my years fade away.
Old worn-out saddles, and ‘old worn-out memories,
With no one and no place to stay.

My heroes have always been cowboys.
And they still are, it seems.
Sadly, in search of, but one step in back of,
Themselves and their slow-movin’ dreams.

Sadly, in search of, but one step in back of,
Themselves and their slow-movin’ dreams.”

“My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” by Sharon M. Vaughn

Cowboys are a part of my heritage. Well, one at least, and he was a vaquero, working on several ranches in Nevada’s Pine Valley (in Eureka County). And I have other cousins who did their time in the saddle out there in the same place over the last few decades.

My great grandfather (Christopher Cameron Walker or Chris) was born in Eureka, Nevada on October 7, 1881. Not long after, his parents moved off to a mining camp called Safford near the Central Pacific along the Humboldt River. As life goes, well… this was pretty bleak. The camp never really amounted to much. Lead silver was the ore, and there wasn’t much of that.

So, when at the age of twelve, his father announced it was time for him to go out into the world and make his own way, it probably did not come as much of a surprise. With little in the way of education and mining in decline, prospects were not what you would call exciting. (Much like looking for work in the Silicon Valley today; once the boom gone bust, most miners would move on to the next camp to try and strike it rich.)

What Chris did find was life on the back of a horse as a vaquero on the ranches up and down the Pine Valley. (Click here for a view of the area today.) Oddly, this part of the Silver State has water that seems to flow year-round, and that leads to good ranching and grazing lands.

As character Slim said in the film, “The Cowboys”, “There ain’t no Sunday’s west of Omaha.” Life on a ranch was pretty much the same, day in and day out. Work had to be done, and that’s what you did. There was no forty-hour workweek, no overtime after eight hours. Your day started at sun up and lasted until you were done.

Chris had one slouch hat, a pair of work boots, jeans, a jacket, gloves and a shirt (maybe three); and that’s what he wore day in, day out. When it got cold, he might wear all of his shirts.

One of the different things he might do during the course of a year on the ranch was to round up the wild mustangs that roamed the area. A buyer would come in from the East and take all the horses he could get. So that meant that guys like Chris would have to go out and do the work. According to an interview recorded in 1965, it would usually go something like this. The vaqueros would chase the wild horses into a box canyon and then get the herd ready to travel to the nearby railroad. It was pretty hard work as the mustangs were an unpredictable lot.

Chris said he was only thrown once from a horse while riding. It wasn’t his horse, but someone else’s and that guy didn’t want to ride it because he had been thrown! Chris was used to horses that didn’t like riders, so he said why not? Landed in a clump of sagebrush to cushion his fall luckily.

For something to do to amuse themselves, the ranch hands would get together a pot, maybe of six bits, and find someone crazy enough to ride a wild horse. Chris used to be one of those who would do it. He said riding was the easy part. Putting the saddle on the wild horse, that was hard work!

In February of 1899, Chris went from the ranch he was working on to Eureka (the big city and county seat) for a Mardi Gras dance. He was hoping to see a young lady and maybe get a dance or two. He and a number of other folks rode the narrow gauge train down from Palisade to Eureka.

After a disappointing evening, Chris rode the train back to Palisade. The tale goes that most everyone else had partied quite a bit and were all asleep back in the coaches. Chris rode up front in the locomotive with the engineer and fireman.

After that trip, Chris decided that the rest of his life on the back of a horse was not for him. So, after another summer and fall on the ranch, he went to the Southern Pacific’s division point offices in Wadsworth to apply for a job. There must have been something that the road foreman saw that he didn’t like because he turned Chris away, saying he was too young. But when he came back the next year, he was hired as a locomotive fireman, and never rode a horse ever again.

Howard Hickson as his web pages so well say is “Director Emeritus of the Northeastern Nevada Museum in Elko. He retired in 1993 after heading the national award-winning museum for almost twenty-five years.” He’s got a wonderful series of stories as told by another cowboy, Lawrence Jackson, who worked in the area around Elko, also in eastern Nevada from 1921 into the Seventies. His tales are a great look at that life, hard as it was.

Yet, something in the mystique of the American West idolized the life and labors of the “cowboy”. Making that cattle round up and drive to the railhead is the stuff of legends, right? Who am I to disagree?

It’s been the stuff of pulp novels, western movies — features and serials, television shows, popular music, etc… Icons of American popular culture, and as popular around the world as they are here at home.

So are you one of these folks who wants to ride the open range? Or are you someone who has watched “City Slickers” and got all the horseback riding you’ll ever need vicariously? Jack Palance not withstanding, there certainly are all kinds of opportunities out there to fulfill any fantasy of life on the range.

To start with, let me offer some media of note:

Musically, I’m all for the “Riders In The Sky” who may be best known for their work on “Toy Story 2” with “Woody’s Round-Up”. Having enjoyed both their CD’s and a live performance, they get my vote for western music.

Or if you’re another fan of the Blues Brothers as am I, “Oh, we got both kinds. We got Country, and Western.”

Texas Bix Bender offers words of wisdom from the trail. My favorite book so far is “Don’t Squat With Yer Spurs On” and “Never Ask A Man The Size Of His Spread—A Cowgirl’s Guide To Life.”

Too Slim’s Mercantile< https://www.ridersinthesky.com/securehtm/fr3tsm.htm> has all the goods any armchair cowboy will ever need.

When it comes to movies, I favor a couple that told it pretty much like it was. Romantic it was not. Dull, tedious and just plain boring, day in, day out is more like it. If you had little or no schooling, this was the kind of career you probably would end up in.

That said, “The Cowboys” with John Wayne carries a good look at the reality of that life. The new Kevin Costner film, “Open Range” may be another fine looking piece from the actor/director, but it’s a bit too much fluff for me.

“The Misfits” was a fine tale of some of the cowboys that Arthur Miller met one summer in Nevada while waiting for a divorce. PBS offered a great look behind the scenes with this effort from its “Great Performances” series. In the days when people were just discovering the wild mustangs, they weren’t the cause they would become. They were just horses waiting to rounded up, much as they had been almost seventy years before. But Miller did understand. As he put it, “What intrigued me about Nevada was that the people were so little and the landscape was so enormous.”

PBS offered a fine look as 21st Century folks tried their hand at what life might have been like on the Montana prairies in the 1880’s. Frontier House put a good cross-section of families back in time for six months. Modern conveniences like shampoo and soap don’t exist. The luxury of a bath wasn’t an everyday thing. And meals weren’t just something you popped into the microwave. Keeping the family fed was an all day chore from sunrise to sundown and then some!

Now for the romantic side of the coin, the television series “Bonanza” was the fanciful tale of a ranch in Nevada. From 1959 to 1974, folks tuned it each week to watch the adventures of the Cartwright family. Set between the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe and the mountains that held Virginia City and the Comstock Lode, there wasn’t a lot of realism in the stories. Yet, it’s a show that has lots of fans, even today. Here’s one of the better fan sites you’ll find on the Web. Some episodes were filmed on location at Lake Tahoe on the north shore. Sets used became part of the Ponderosa Ranch theme park (not far from what was once a logging camp). Folks from all over the world have come to enjoy the place that their favorite TV western called home. (What is it with the Germans and their fascination for this place? Got me!)

But if you’re looking to step out and see the trail for yourself, there are plenty of places ready to handle it. Check out this Google search for some suggestions. The top of the list offers duderanches.com with a state by state list of places to tempt you.

Another good search is for trail drives. If you’re looking to do the “City Slicker’s” bit, give the Gray Rocks Ranch a try. This is a 22,000-acre working ranch in southeastern Wyoming that offers all kinds of activities. Events are limited to four to six guests and offer deluxe accommodations. It’s not all work and no play, but it’s a good bet you’ll spend plenty of time on the back of a horse, if that’s what you’re looking for! Although the web pages don’t show it for this year, they did have cattle drives in 1999 and 2000. Drop them a note to see if they’re planning one for this year!

As I said up front, I’m not likely to join one of these efforts soon. Nor will you find me riding the mechanical bull anywhere, or even sitting in the stands watching a rodeo. I can appreciate what might entice folks to do so, but it’s just not for me.

So that brings to a close this chapter of “Things You Always Wanted To Do, But Didn’t Think You Could”! I’ll be on the lookout for more experiences to share with you again. And if you have any suggestions, drop me a note and I’ll look into them. Heck! If they’re interesting enough, I might just go try it myself!

Next week? A look at a ranch of a different sort, and what it is with pot roast. Stay tuned…

Thanks again to everyone who has shown their appreciation for these efforts by using Roger’s Amazon Honor System Paybox. There’s nothing better than knowing we make you smile now and then.

Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment

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

Published

4 weeks ago

November 15, 2024

Jim Hill

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

The Very First Parade and the Early Days of Balloons

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

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

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

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

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

Donald Duck in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade – Donaldism

Duck Joins and Towers Over Mickey

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

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

A Somber Parade in 2001

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mickey’s Comeback as a Bandleader and Sailor Mickey

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

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

Macy’s Disney Celebration at Hollywood Studios

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

Minnie Mouse’s Long-Awaited Debut in 2024

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

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

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

Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment

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

Published

3 months ago

September 22, 2024

Jim Hill

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

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

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

The Origins of Little Monsters on Main Street

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

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

A Unique Halloween Experience

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

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

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

The Haunted Mansion “Tip-Toe” Tour

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

Growing Success and a Bigger Event

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment

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

Published

3 months ago

September 7, 2024

Jim Hill

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

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

A Not-So-Scary Beginning

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

Mickey’s Halloween Treat 1996 – Photo: Disney

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

A Different Approach

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

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

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

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

A Modest Start but a Big Future

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

Universal’s Influence

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

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

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