Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment

Ruminations

This week, it’s “Anchors Aweigh” as Roger takes us on a cruise of a different kind. We promise its not a three-hour tour … but you might want to wear a life jacket anyway …

Published

21 years ago

August 14, 2003

Roger Colton

Now there are folks who will tell you that there is nothing better than a sea cruise. My mom is one of them (although lunch at Club 33 runs a very close second). Travel by ship from one port of call to another with all of the sights to explore along the way. So much so that last fall she and my dad enjoyed two weeks sailing the Caribbean.

But my dad started his cruise experience a few years back in a decidedly different way. As an able bodied seaman sailing in the Merchant Marine from San Francisco to various ports in the Pacific, he got a view of life at sea that is decidedly different than the rum drinks and midnight buffets.

Some of the ships he sailed aboard had gotten their starts during the Second World War as part of the nations maritime fleet.

Using new methods (to the ship building industry) of construction such as prefabrication and welding allowed for completion and outfitting for duty at an accelerated pace at shipyards across the country. A 200-ship order was called the “Liberty Fleet.” (Eventually, 2,751 of them were built.) The strategy was to build ships faster than the enemy could sink them.

These and others that came after were the lifeline that kept materials flowing to ports around the world. Carrying everything essential from toilet paper to tanks, they helped turn the tide of the war. Aptly named, there were Victory ships and Liberty ships, doing the job that had to be done. Slow but steady, they traveled together in convoys across the oceans of the world. Originally designed to have a life of five years, it was often said during the war that if a Liberty delivered its cargo once, it had paid for itself. Crossing the Atlantic or the Pacific, there was always the constant threat of attack by enemy submarine or aircraft.

In many ways, the men who sailed on these ships were the unsung heroes of the war. Most of these crews were civilians, and had no benefits, no insurance. The only military aboard was a small Navy detachment to man the two 3 inch cannons and eight 20 mm anti-aircraft guns. If they were injured or killed, that was all part of the choice they made to sail with the Merchant Marine. Yet their contribution to the final victories of that war was as important as any. If they had not sailed, men and materials would never have reached battlefields.

Only 200 were lost during the war and many of the survivors went on to new lives with upgraded systems and engines. Some went on to serve other countries such as Greece, Taiwan and Panama. Many simply went into storage to await the call to duty in another conflict. The S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien was one of the latter, and found its way to storage as part of the Mothball Fleet moored in the Suisun Bay of northern California.

It was a long way from the shipyard in Portland, Maine (where she was built in a blistering 40-day effort) where she was launched on June 19, 1943. (From her webpages: “The namesake of the SS Jeremiah O’Brien was a Scots-Irish lumberjack from Maine whose family settled in Machias in 1765. In 1775, at the age of 31, O’Brien was chosen captain of the Unity and while in charge, defeated and commandeered the British ship Margaretta, winning the first naval battle of the Revolutionary War. Outfitted with the arms from the British ship, Unity became an armed cruiser renamed Machias Liberty. O’Brien went on to capture a number of British ships but was himself later captured and sent to prison in Great Britain. He eventually escaped, going first to France and then later back to America at about the time the war was ending. During the War of 1812, when the British threatened to take Machias, O’Brien, now a colonel of advanced years, defiantly brandished his Revolutionary War sword against them. A Liberty Ship was named to honor this tough old bird.”)

About a month later she sailed from Boston bound for England, where she docked in August. After three more successful voyages, the O’Brien was part of the D-Day Normandy invasion with four sailings to the Omaha beach and another seven to Utah beachhead. (In 1994, the O’Brien steamed around the world — with a vintage crew as well — (some 20,000 plus miles) from San Francisco to England and on to Normandy as the only ship to return for the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Check out this link for tales from that voyage. San Francisco’s adopted son, Herb Caen and fellow Chronicle reporter Carl Nolte both kept us entertained with their tales from this voyage back in time. (This link has some of Carl’s stories on later trips aboard. For some photos of some of the trips, this link is to the O’Brien’s photo pages.

Departing San Francisco for Normandy on it’s way to the 50th anniversary of
the D-Day Landings. Photo by Don Maskell from the O’Brien’s web pages.

For a short version of that long trip, this link is from the Los Gatos Weekly-Times. On the way home from Normandy, the ship visited it’s birthplace. This link is to a story that appeared in a Portland newspaper on August 7, 1994.

From the web pages, tales of other wartime voyages:

“The war was not over, but it was clear that the Allies were winning. Still, the O’Brien had a lot of sailing to do, even after the war was already over. In the next 16 months, she would go to, among other places, Chile, Peru, New Guinea, the Philippines, India, China and Australia before ending up in San Francisco. And her luck would hold up.

Going into Mindoro in the Philippines carrying a large load of explosives, the crew of the O’Brien learned that the ship that just preceded it had been hit by a kamikaze. The ship had also been carrying explosives, and when hit, simply disintegrated. Always nervous anyway because they were carrying explosives, this information renewed the crew’s tensions, tensions that were not eased until the cargo was discharged several days later.

The ship went to Calcutta, India to load U.S. Army cargo, which it then transported to Shanghai, China. The war was already over, so things were less tense aboard ship. Radio silence was a thing of the past, alerts were rare although danger still roamed in the waters because there were many mines that were still floating about. Still, things were gearing down, and the trip was relatively relaxed.

Perhaps the most unusual cargo that the O’Brien carried was on her last voyage from abroad, from Freemantle, Australia to San Francisco. Nine Australian war brides and three of their children were passengers. The nine war brides were married to Navy personnel, and were transported to the states to join their husbands. Some adjustments had to be made, and there was a no fraternization rule in effect (not strictly enforced), but the voyage turned out to be incident free. The presence of women on board the O’Brien made the voyage home quite enjoyable. Playing cards together and chatting let time pass more pleasantly. And since the women liked to sunbathe and the crew had cameras, an additional activity to pass the time was born. “

In 1978, the O’Brien was declared a National Monument and placed on the National Register as a historic object. Thanks to the vision of Admiral Thomas J. Patterson, she today forms the basis of the National Liberty Ship Memorial. And it’s not just a stuffed and mounted kind of tribute. The men and women who volunteer to keep this ship going are proud to see her alive as intended and under steam for occasional cruises. Coming up over the Labor Day Weekend, she’ll be steaming from San Francisco to Sacramento (for display) and then back again. It’s a great way to see the Bay and the Delta. The one-way fare of $175 includes a great buffet-style chuckwagon barbecue and bus transportation back to the point of origin. I enjoyed one of her Maritime Day cruises around the Bay a few years ago. This one should be just as memorable.

Now, if you’re on the East Coast, head for Baltimore to check out another one of the “Liberty Fleet” — the S.S. John Brown. From their web pages: “After the war the JOHN W. BROWN was loaned by the government to the City of New York, where she became a floating nautical high school, the only one in the United States. The ship served in that capacity from 1946 to 1982, graduating thousands of students prepared to begin careers in the merchant marine. During that time the BROWN was lovingly cared for by her students and instructors, making her reactivation by our volunteers that much easier.”

Today she sails from Baltimore on a regular basis. Their pages have a great selection of photos and reports from past cruises as well as info on the upcoming voyages.

Los Angeles is home to another of the World War II Fleet, the S.S. Lane Victory. These ships were the next step in the process begun by the “Liberty Fleet;” both bigger and faster. She also sails on occasion and takes folk back to the days of simpler transport, before the jet airplane forever changed our travel experience.

In fact, she sails this weekend from her berth in San Pedro. This link has the details for this event and another coming up in September. Only $100 for adults for an all day cruise to Avalon and back! And the restored Pacific Electric “Red Car” service also departs from the World Cruise Center across from the Lane Victory’s berth!

How about Tampa, Florida? Why not the American Victory? Here’s another of these great ships making history come alive for folks by doing what she was designed to.

A great view of the American Victory as docked near the Florida Aquarium.

San Francisco Bay was home to a great deal of maritime action that has dwindled somewhat in recent years. During the war, Henry J, Kaiser’s Richmond Shipyards built many ships, including one now under restoration not far from the former home of Pixar, the Red Oak Victory. Also part of the effort is the Rosie the Riveter Memorial. It’s a great way to salute the ladies who left home to take up the duties in the shipyards. This page even tells the tale of where Norman Rockwell got this inspiration from for his classic work for a Saturday Evening Post cover featuring the archetype of “Rosie.”

This classic Norman Rockwell image of “Rosie” is from
the web pages of this great group.

If you’re looking for a cruise of a different color, okay battleship gray, why not consider one of these? I think you’ll be amazed by the skills of the volunteers of all these ships. It’s their labor of love that will keep them steaming for future generations to enjoy and learn another chapter in our nations transportation history.

So there you have it, the tale of the sea, albeit at ten knots or less. Tune in next week as Roger is back with another random act of senseless journalism. In the next installment of this series, life on the prairie and a trail ride may be just around the bend.

And once again, thanks to one and all for the donations to his Amazon Honor System Paybox. Your continued support is appreciated. That and it keeps Roger looking for more excuses to write these columns…

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.