You don’t know Jack about Disneyland’s “Halloween Screams – A Villainous Surprise in the Skies”

Jim Hill

15 years ago

Boys and girls of every age, Wouldn’t you like to see something strange …

Like – say – Zero flying over Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Or – better yet — a 20-foot tall magical orb that rises 45
feet in the air behind the Castle. Which then allows Disney Villains like Maleficent,
Ursula the Sea Witch & Oogie Boogie from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” to serenade the crowd that’s gathered out around the Hub.

That’s just a sample of the eerie fun you’ll get to
experience if you drop by Disneyland now through November 1^st.Where – as part of that Anaheim theme park’s Halloween Time celebration – they’re rolling out a brand-new fireworks display, “Halloween Screams – A Villainous
Surprise in the Skies.”

Well, perhaps brand-new is a bit of a stretch. Given that
much of the music used in “Halloween Screams” is a direct lift from the soundtrack of WDW’s own
seasonal spectacular, “Happy HalloWishes: A Grim Grinning Ghost Spooktacular in
the Sky.” Which has been entertaining Guests at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween
Party since this Magic Kingdom fireworks display first debuted back in 2005.

Now a lot of Disney World visitors have grown fond of “Happy
HalloWishes” over the past 4 years. But to Steve Davison (i.e. Walt Disney
Creative Entertainment’s Vice President of Parades and Spectaculars)’s way of
thinking, this “Grim Grinning Ghost Spooktacular in the Sky” was never quite as
successful as it should have been. WDW Guests liked the fireworks and all. But
they never quite grasped the concept that the Disney Villains were supposedly
trick-or-treating high in the skies over Cinderella Castle.

Then there was the issue with “Happy HalloWishes” ‘s M.C.
Who is supposed to be The Ghost Host from The Haunted Mansion.The only problem with this story idea was …
Well, since Guests have never actually seen this disembodied spirit , The Ghost
Host’s presence in this fireworks display didn’t quite excite WDW visitors the
way that Davison had hoped it would. So even though Corey Burton did a
spectacular job of imitating Disney Legend Paul Frees’ sinister tones, this character just wasn’t a strong enough
presence to put “Happy HalloWishes” over the top.

So when it came time to create a special Halloween Time fireworks
display for Disneyland Park, Davison knew that he had to come up with a far stronger
M.C. this time around. A character that people would immediately recognize
& associate with this time of year.

“It was Steve who came up with the idea of making Jack
Skellington the host of ‘Halloween Screams,’ explained John Addis, Senior Show
Director for Disneyland Entertainment Productions. “Once people heard that
idea, they then got very excited about this new seasonal show.”

Of course, in order for the Guests to realize that “Halloween
Screams — A Villainous Surprise in the Skies” was actually being hosted by
Jack Skellington, they first had to see the Pumpkin King. Which is when Steve
& John came up with the idea for that 20-foot-tall magical orb. Which would
then allow Jack – as well as several other Disney Villains – to appear in
silhouette form as part of the show.

“That’s all new animation that you’re seeing projected on
the surface of that orb,” Addis pointed out. “We had that footage created
especially for ‘Halloween Screams.”

And – of course – since Jack never goes anywhere without his
ghostly dog, Zero … Well, Steve & John knew that they had to create a
moment or two in the show where Zero makes an appearance.

“We actually built on what we learned from putting Dumbo
into this past summer’s new fireworks show, ‘Magical,’ “ Addis continued. “What
sort of flight pattern had the maximum impact for all those people standing out
there on Main Street. How to time Zero’s entrances and exits.”

Addis’ team also used projections on the side of Sleeping
Beauty Castle to clarify, underline and enhance specific moments in “Halloween
Screams.” Take – for example – the moment where Cruella De Devil’s theme song
is being played. When the lyric “She’s like a spider waiting for the kill”
plays, to nail home this story beat, giant spiders are briefly projected up on the
Castle walls.

The end result was a Halloween fireworks display that had a
far stronger story than “Happy HalloWishes.” One that Disneyland Guests seem to
have already taken to heart. At least based on what John saw back on September
25^th. Which is when “Halloween Screams – A Villainous Surprise in
the Skies” first premiered for the public.

“You have to understand that – up until that night – we’d
only had two rehearsal performances. And Disneyland doesn’t have the luxury that
Walt Disney World does. Because so many people actually live in those
neighborhoods that surround the Park, we can’t test our new fireworks show late
at night. Make sure that every single shell & effects works exactly the way
it’s supposed to before opening night.”

“So my team and I are in the Park for the first public
performance of ‘Halloween Screams,’ “ Addis remembers. “And we get to the
Scream-Along part. And as those scream comets are rocketing up over the Castle,
the screams from the people inside the Park are absolutely deafening. And that’s
when I realized: They get it. The Guests are actually listening. They’re
genuinely engaged in this show. Which is why they’re all screaming along.”

Now you’d think that – given how well “Halloween Screams – A
Villainous Surprise in the Skies” went over – John could then take a moment to
catch his breath, savor the success of this new seasonal show. But no. Even
though Halloween is officially still more than three weeks away, Addis is already
hard at work on the next seasonal celebration – “Holidays at the Disneyland
Resort.”

“Everyone’s favorites will be back again this year. The snow
falling on Main Street, the shimmering lights on the Castle. We’re even going
to try and add a few more lights to the Castle this year. I just wonder where
we’re going to put them,” Addis laughed.

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort continues through
November 1^st. For further information on this seasonal celebration,
please click on this link.