WDW Daily News

Disneyland Resort Halloween Time 2014 marks the 14th time that Jack Skellington has visited the 999 Happy Haunts who dwell in the Haunted Mansion, transforming this attraction into Haunted Mansion Holiday.  Each year, Jack dresses up as “Sandy Claws” as he and his ghost dog Zero bring ghoulish delights from Halloween Town to visit Disneyland Park.

One of Jack’s holiday traditions is leaving a special treat for the ghosts who dance around the Haunted Mansion’s Grand Hall.  The annual centerpiece for this “waltz of the weird” is always a huge, creepy gingerbread creation. Jack delivers new and thrilling surprises every year.

The Ghost Host of Haunted Mansion Holiday always says, “even a gingerbread house can be scary,” and this year’s design definitely lives up to the “scary” definition. Of course, the Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house adds a little whimsy with a hapless gingerbread zombie trapped inside – and those frightening spikes are very sharp, red-and-white candy canes. The gingerbread house also will feature opening and closing doors and special lights.

A team of five pastry chefs created this year’s Gingerbread Mansion. Three of them have been part of the Haunted Mansion Gingerbread House team since the annual holiday transformation began 13 years ago.

Frightfully Fun Facts about Haunted Mansion Holiday

• Supernatural Sweets – Every year, a new ghoulish concept for the Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house is created for the celebration scene in the mansion’s Grand Hall. This strange and wonderful treat is almost always “supernatural.”

• The Eerie Exterior – More than 400 flickering candles create a ghostly glow on the façade of the Haunted Mansion.  Each night, more than 100 jack-o-lanterns shine their ghoulish light.

• The Haunted Elevator – Jack Skellington and his ghost dog Zero appear in a fully animated sequence on the ceiling of the “stretching” room, which transports guests into the depths of the mansion.

• The Portrait Gallery – Ghost dog Zero makes a surprise appearance among the spooky, transforming portraits in the gallery corridor.

• The Graveyard – The graveyard inside Haunted Mansion Holiday is covered with nearly 7,500 square feet of snow. More than 20 gallons of UV (ultra-violet) paint is used to enhance the snow’s eerie glow.  Nearly 1,000 tiny, orange lights decorate the trees.

• Graveyard Ice Angels – The iconic Graveyard Ice Angels are designed with a jagged, ice-carved look. Their ethereal wings and snow-glow colors shine with a more ghoulish luster than ever this year.

• Deck the Halls – Each season, thousands of feet of “Black Gnarly” garland is draped and hung inside and outside Haunted Mansion Holiday.  Jack’s faithful dog Zero gathered more than 200 bones to use as décor, garland and presents.

• “Come Out to Socialize” – More than two dozen additional animated figures “materialize” inside the mansion whenever Jack brings his Haunted Mansion Holiday around.  From man-eating wreaths to vampire teddy bears, they wait all year to join in the holiday spirit.

• Home Creepy Home – Creepy cobwebs are artistically kept (not swept!) year-round to make Jack Skellington and the 999 Happy Haunts feel right at home.

• Seasonal Séance Room – Madame Leota’s “13 Days of Christmas” are featured in 13 spinning fortune cards that tell of the Christmas gifts which, as she proclaims, “My ghoul love gave to me…”
  • Kim Irvine, daughter of the original Madame Leota – For this seasonal attraction, Imagineer Kim Irvine gives a spirited performance as the Haunted Mansion’s favorite psychic, floating inside the Haunted Mansion’s Crystal Ball in the Séance Room. Her mother Leota Toombs, Disney Legend and long-time Imagineer, first gave life to the floating head.

• Haunting Gingerbread Smells – The haunting scent of tasty gingerbread wafts throughout the Grand Hall, tempting Happy Haunts and guests alike.

• ‘Hurry Back!’ – New for 2014, a more “animated” Sally bids farewell to “Sandy Claws” Jack Skellington as he, and Haunted Mansion Holiday guests, depart from the Mansion.

Walt Disney on Frontierland: “Here we experience the story of our country’s past … the colorful drama of Frontier America in the exciting days of the covered wagon and the stage coach … the advent of the railroad … and the romantic riverboat. Frontierland is a tribute to the faith, courage and ingenuity of the pioneers who blazed the trails across America.”

Overview: Frontierland, representing the “Frontiers of America,” opened as one of five original lands at Disneyland Park on July 17, 1955. The rough and tumble nature of America’s pioneer days comes to life in the streets and unspoiled wilderness of Frontierland. It’s a land of riverboats, stagecoaches and railroads, where trappers, cowboys, farmers and miners all traveled west to fulfill their own dreams of gold. Frontierland brings to life the natural beauty, excitement and promise of the American West in the 1800s.

What’s new: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the popular, runaway mine train attraction, was recently refurbished with new track, updates to the mountain and an explosive finale scene. Rainbow Ridge Mining Town, a classic part of this attraction, also has enhanced visual elements. Rainbow Ridge Mining Town dates back to the 1956 Rainbow Caverns Mine Train at Disneyland.

Don’t miss: Attractions in Frontierland include one FastPass attraction, the thrilling Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Big Thunder Ranch features the only petting zoo at the Disneyland Resort with goats, horses, sheep, donkeys and pigs. Guests also enjoy tours around the Rivers of America on the Mark Twain Riverboat and Sailing Ship Columbia and freedom to roam through Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.

Attractions:

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

• Mark Twain Riverboat

• Sailing Ship Columbia

• Big Thunder Ranch

• Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island

• Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition

Entertainment: Guests will enjoy western-style entertainment on the Stage of the Golden Horseshoe. A fan favorite, “Fantasmic!,” is performed on select nights on the Rivers of America. The forces of good and evil battle in Mickey’s dream during this extravagant musical and pyrotechnic spectacular, complete with stunning effects in the night sky. Disney characters join the reverie as projections on veils of water and as live performers.

Dining: Frontierland offers a variety of fare. Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante is the whole enchilada, serving Mexican favorites. For an all-you-care-to-enjoy, family-style supper, guests may dine at the Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue. River Belle Terrace offers comfort food with a side of riverfront views. For quick-service options, guests may grab lunch at The Golden Horseshoe or Stage Door Café.

Imaginative landscaping: Entering Frontierland, guests may notice the landscape represents a town from the Wild West, with cactus, brush, dirt and rocks. El Zocalo Park features olive trees and bougainvillea, representing the Spanish theme of the area. Up along Frontier Trail, the landscape transitions to represent a more mountainous environment of the frontier. The petrified tree, an iconic landscape piece in Frontierland, is Lillian Disney’s gift to Disneyland.

Did you know?

• Three kinds of fish inhabit the Rivers of America: catfish (bottom feeders), carp (middle feeders) and mosquito eaters (top feeders).

• The Mark Twain Riverboat dates back to opening day at Disneyland: July 17, 1955. It was an “E Ticket” (top-of-the-line) attraction in the days of the A-through-E ticket books, a system that required a separate entry ticket for each attraction.

• The Sailing Ship Columbia is an exact, full-scale replica of the original Columbia Rediviva, which was the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe.

• Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition has more than 90 targets. When guests pull the trigger, the guns shoot an infrared light.

• Crockett & Russel Hat Co. has a window honoring Fess Parker, who played Davy Crockett in Walt Disney’s television show, “Davy Crockett.”

• The Golden Horseshoe is one of several original buildings in Disneyland. Walt Disney and his wife, Lillian, celebrated their 30th anniversary here with the debut performance of the original Golden Horseshoe Revue. With more than 50,000 performances logged since then, the Golden Horseshoe Revue was at one time “the world’s longest-running live stage show,” according the Guinness Book of World Records. Disney Legend Harper Goff designed the saloon’s interior using a set design he had created for the 1953 Doris Day film “Calamity Jane.”

Cast member tips:

• Wait until the second show of “Fantasmic!” for a smaller crowd. There is a great viewing spot on the bridge over Pirates of the Caribbean.

• Look for a visitor from Circle D, the Disneyland animal ranch, at the Indian Village along Rivers of America.

• Tom Sawyer Island provides lots of fun for young guests who explore its caves, tree house and swinging bridges. Several benches throughout the island provide weary adventurers a scenic, relaxing break.

• A great Frontierland photo location is just inside the fort, as guests come through the main entrance.

• Navigating the Rivers of America? If you’re on the Sailing Ship Columbia, go to the bottom deck to see where the crew ate and slept. Sharp-eyed explorers can find two Hidden Mickeys on the Mark Twain Riverboat.

– See more at: http://disneylandnews.com/fact-sheets/2014/07/30/frontierland-at-disneyland-park-fact-sheet/#sthash.dnTJbkFP.dpuf

Walt Disney on Frontierland: “Here we experience the story of our country’s past … the colorful drama of Frontier America in the exciting days of the covered wagon and the stage coach … the advent of the railroad … and the romantic riverboat. Frontierland is a tribute to the faith, courage and ingenuity of the pioneers who blazed the trails across America.”

Overview: Frontierland, representing the “Frontiers of America,” opened as one of five original lands at Disneyland Park on July 17, 1955. The rough and tumble nature of America’s pioneer days comes to life in the streets and unspoiled wilderness of Frontierland. It’s a land of riverboats, stagecoaches and railroads, where trappers, cowboys, farmers and miners all traveled west to fulfill their own dreams of gold. Frontierland brings to life the natural beauty, excitement and promise of the American West in the 1800s.

What’s new: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the popular, runaway mine train attraction, was recently refurbished with new track, updates to the mountain and an explosive finale scene. Rainbow Ridge Mining Town, a classic part of this attraction, also has enhanced visual elements. Rainbow Ridge Mining Town dates back to the 1956 Rainbow Caverns Mine Train at Disneyland.

Don’t miss: Attractions in Frontierland include one FastPass attraction, the thrilling Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Big Thunder Ranch features the only petting zoo at the Disneyland Resort with goats, horses, sheep, donkeys and pigs. Guests also enjoy tours around the Rivers of America on the Mark Twain Riverboat and Sailing Ship Columbia and freedom to roam through Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.

Attractions:

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

• Mark Twain Riverboat

• Sailing Ship Columbia

• Big Thunder Ranch

• Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island

• Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition

Entertainment: Guests will enjoy western-style entertainment on the Stage of the Golden Horseshoe. A fan favorite, “Fantasmic!,” is performed on select nights on the Rivers of America. The forces of good and evil battle in Mickey’s dream during this extravagant musical and pyrotechnic spectacular, complete with stunning effects in the night sky. Disney characters join the reverie as projections on veils of water and as live performers.

Dining: Frontierland offers a variety of fare. Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante is the whole enchilada, serving Mexican favorites. For an all-you-care-to-enjoy, family-style supper, guests may dine at the Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue. River Belle Terrace offers comfort food with a side of riverfront views. For quick-service options, guests may grab lunch at The Golden Horseshoe or Stage Door Café.

Imaginative landscaping: Entering Frontierland, guests may notice the landscape represents a town from the Wild West, with cactus, brush, dirt and rocks. El Zocalo Park features olive trees and bougainvillea, representing the Spanish theme of the area. Up along Frontier Trail, the landscape transitions to represent a more mountainous environment of the frontier. The petrified tree, an iconic landscape piece in Frontierland, is Lillian Disney’s gift to Disneyland.

Did you know?

• Three kinds of fish inhabit the Rivers of America: catfish (bottom feeders), carp (middle feeders) and mosquito eaters (top feeders).

• The Mark Twain Riverboat dates back to opening day at Disneyland: July 17, 1955. It was an “E Ticket” (top-of-the-line) attraction in the days of the A-through-E ticket books, a system that required a separate entry ticket for each attraction.

• The Sailing Ship Columbia is an exact, full-scale replica of the original Columbia Rediviva, which was the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe.

• Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition has more than 90 targets. When guests pull the trigger, the guns shoot an infrared light.

• Crockett & Russel Hat Co. has a window honoring Fess Parker, who played Davy Crockett in Walt Disney’s television show, “Davy Crockett.”

• The Golden Horseshoe is one of several original buildings in Disneyland. Walt Disney and his wife, Lillian, celebrated their 30th anniversary here with the debut performance of the original Golden Horseshoe Revue. With more than 50,000 performances logged since then, the Golden Horseshoe Revue was at one time “the world’s longest-running live stage show,” according the Guinness Book of World Records. Disney Legend Harper Goff designed the saloon’s interior using a set design he had created for the 1953 Doris Day film “Calamity Jane.”

Cast member tips:

• Wait until the second show of “Fantasmic!” for a smaller crowd. There is a great viewing spot on the bridge over Pirates of the Caribbean.

• Look for a visitor from Circle D, the Disneyland animal ranch, at the Indian Village along Rivers of America.

• Tom Sawyer Island provides lots of fun for young guests who explore its caves, tree house and swinging bridges. Several benches throughout the island provide weary adventurers a scenic, relaxing break.

• A great Frontierland photo location is just inside the fort, as guests come through the main entrance.

• Navigating the Rivers of America? If you’re on the Sailing Ship Columbia, go to the bottom deck to see where the crew ate and slept. Sharp-eyed explorers can find two Hidden Mickeys on the Mark Twain Riverboat.