Halloween time has taken over at Disney Parks around the world, and this week’s mailbag kicks off with two Halloween-related items answered by staff writer Andrew Rich.
Debra C. writes:
Can you post the map for Mickey’s Trick or Treat Party in Disneyland? We had one for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in Disney World and found it helpful. Everyone seemed to dress up in Disney World–adults and kids. Is that true for the Trick or Treat Party in Disneyland? Is it held at the California Adventure Park? What can we expect for crowds at the Trick or Treat Party? We are going on the October 30, a Thursday night.
We found out after the fact, but the Disney World party was ticketed to start at 7 p.m. and they were letting people in as early as 4 p.m. The Disneyland Resort party is ticketed for 6:30. Did you hear of them letting people with tickets in earlier than 6:30 for the Trick or Treat Party? Also, is Disneyland using PhotoPass at the Trick or Treat Party?
I can’t post the Mickey’s Trick or Treat map, because Disney owns the copyright. If you want one, I suggest you post in the Buy/Sell/Share forum on MousePad asking for one; I’m sure someone will have a spare and be willing to mail it to you.
Compared to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World, I would say fewer adults dressed in costumes for the event — but I saw more adults dressed up this year, as opposed to previous years. The Disneyland Resort version is held in Disney’s California Adventure after regular closing hours, and only ticket-holders are allowed entry. You’ll see occasional lines at trick-or-treat stations, but then there will be other stations with no lines at all, so use your time wisely. You’ll see lines at attractions, especially the new Toy Story Midway Mania, that are probably not quite as long as you’d expect on a regular day.
Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat at DCA starts at either 6:30 or 7:30, depending on the day; the park is entirely cleared of day guests before the evening Halloween party begins. PhotoPass is in wide use at the party.
Tony R. writes:
On your captions for the “Dia de los Muertos” photos, I noted your Oingo Boingo reference “It’s a dead man’s party / Who could ask for more?” I always think of them when I see those Latin skeleton caricatures like that. You’re quite the hipster. I always find it interesting to note how few people seem to know of the band outside of Southern California. If they do, they remember the dorm party scene from “Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield,” and that’s about it.
Not too far away at the Haunted Mansion, we have Danny Elfman’s score work for Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” It’s a small world after all!
When writing the captions for those photos, and indeed when enjoying the dressed-up Zocalo area in person, I always had “Dead Man’s Party” in mind. Boingo on Halloween was a tradition for me for many years before they broke up. I was, however, at their very last show, on Halloween 1995. Thirteen years later — about time for a reunion, don’t you think?
Andrew continues answering Disneyland-related mail.
Sydney writes:
I’m not sure if you guys know this. If you head straight from the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad exit toward the large pond, you can see hundreds of crawdads in along the edge. We have never seen them before, until last week. I am not sure what time they come out, although I do believe it was in the evening.
Very interesting, thanks for the update!
Capst writes:
Regarding the This and That section of the September 29 Disneyland Park Update: The subject Anthony Hislar was leaving Disneyland when arrested. In a coordinated effort with Disneyland Security, he was traced using his cell phone signals. Here’s a more detailed article on how dangerous this guy was.
It wasn’t in the news, but a couple of days after his arrest he assaulted two deputies and escaped while being taken to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center for treatment. He was captured a few minutes later attempting another carjacking.
Wenidog writes:
I feel very sorry for the little girl involved in the petting zoo dog-mauling incident. It was unwise of Disney to “use” dog(s) from the shelter at the zoo. Many shelter dogs will be wonderful pets, but this is an example of too much to soon for the animal involved. Unfortunate for all.
What happens to the dogs they “use/borrow” for these exhibits? Are they returned to the shelter after being lavished with petting only to be cruely destroyed? I like to think that Disney is different than most bottom line corporations. Naive perhaps. What would Walt do?
We’re waiting for any more information on the suit to become public. Until then, we won’t know the answers to your very good questions.
Richard M. writes:
I had a shocking experience tonight. I have been an annual passholder at Disneyland for years, and our family goes to Disneyland at least once a month. On most of those occasions, as recently as last week, I brought my camera (Nikon D50 or D300). Everything was great until tonight.
As I went through the security check I was told that there was a problem with my camera because it had a zoom lens. Apparently zoom lenses are no longer allowed in Disneyland Resort theme parks. After getting into California Adventure I asked about this new rule at Guest Services. Initially the folks in Guest Services did not know what I was talking about. They called security and were told that a new rule was initiated banning zoom lenses. However they could not tell me the difference between an acceptable camera and an unacceptable camera. The only explanation I received for the rule was that people were somehow abusing the privilege of bringing in a camera. I was told I could comment on the policy
to Guest Communications at 714-781-4669.After getting home I looked on the Disney website and found the following in a list of items that cannot be brought into the park:
“Professional cameras and recording equipment. (Reporters must make prior arrangements with Disneyland® Resort Media Relations.) Folding tripod stands that can fit inside a standard backpack are permitted.”
What a ridiculous rule. First, it makes no reference to zoom lenses. Even if it did it would be arbitrary because point and shoot cameras can have optical zooms of 10x or greater and they are not banned. Second, how do we know what a “professional camera” is? Some might think my D300 is a professional camera. My D50 certainly is not a professional camera. Do you think the average security person at Disneyland would know the difference?
You should let folks know about this and encourage Disney to rescind this silly rule.
I’m sorry you had such an unfortunate experience with your camera at the Disneyland Resort. This is a symptom of a long-standing issue at the resort: completely inconsistent application of “security” policy at the bag check station. It’s been a nearly continuous topic of discussion on MousePad; here are some examples with application to cameras specifically:
March 2008
August 2007
October 2004
As an unofficial Disney travel planning resource, we don’t have any particular influence on how Disney writes and enforces its policies; you as a frequent guest have just as much if not more chance of getting a reasonable response from Disney on this topic. I suggest you write to Disneyland Resort Guest Relations using the mailing address located here.
Finally, MousePlanet photographer Frank Alazone provides a different perspective on cameras for a trip to Walt Disney World, where no such restrictions have been reported by readers.
Brian K. writes:
I was just reading your photo tip columns and I have a quick question for you. I’m going to be in Orlando and will have one day with my 13-year-old in Epcot. I have a Nikon D80 and a D300 and am trying to decide which one to take with me. I know I’ll take the 18-200 mm lens, but I’m not sure if the better low-light performance and speed of the D300 is worth the extra weight for an all day session. I’m also concerned about the D300 being too large to ride safely with us on things like Mission: Space.
I would suggest the Nikon D80, and use that 18-200mm lens! (that was my EXACT camera configuration I took when I was in Walt Disney World last July).
The D80 is lighter, and plenty versatile for your vacation without being bothersome. I can imagine running through Walt Disney World with a 13-year-old (been there!), and having a heavy camera distract you is not a vacation! That camera works well in low light situations too, just make sure to steady yourself for those long exposures. Take a look at my Walt Disney World desktop pictures on MousePlanet. Those were all taken with a Nikon D80 and the 18-200mm lens without any additional flash unit.
One main tip with that camera, or any camera that has a little pop-up flash: if you compose the picture and have your hand around the lens (for instance, the four fingers of your left hand on the top of the lens and your thumb under as you zoom), this will get in the way of that pop-up flash and give you a dark area or shadow on the bottom of your picture because you blocked the flash. It can happen frequently because it’s a natural hand position. A shadow can also happen if your telephoto zoom is extended and/or you have your sun-lens shade on the end of your lens. That will block some of the flash coverage too.
My last vacation photo tip: Make sure to take lots of memory chips with you too! Have fun in EPCOT and Mission Space!
Brian K. responds:
Thanks for the lightning fast response! I will leave the D300 at home and enjoy the savings in weight.
I’ve had that issue with the built-in flash, I tend not to use it except in situations like this where I just don’t want to tote along my SB600. It’s a bit better with the D300 since the flash is elevated more. I’m a big fan of available light photography anyway, so I try to avoid the flash whenever I can. I’m going to take my 50mm 1.8 with me since it can just fit in the small backpack we are going to take, so that will give me some low light options too. I really appreciate the advice, I was having a lot of trouble deciding which body to take.
