On October 23, I went to Disneyland Paris for the 20th time. I already knew that this visit was going to be all about Halloween and not so much about doing the rides. Before I left, I had seen some preview photos online and they got me really excited about the trip. What also got me excited, was that I was going to be staying in hotel New York for the first time. Let the party begin!
The hotel
As it was my first time in hotel New York, everything was still new to me. I usually stay in hotel Cheyenne, so it was a big change. But changes are easy to deal with when you’re staying in a hotel as wonderful as hotel New York. I already put this hotel far towards the top of my list of favourite Disney hotels, as it really is a fantastic hotel to stay in. The room is quite big, with an extra desk and an extra table with chairs around it to sit down after a long day in the park. The bathroom is very spacious as well, you can move around easily without bumping into things. The only time I ate in the restaurants, was for breakfast and I have nothing bad to say about that either. There is a large choice of food, larger than what I had experienced before. The hotel also has a nice pool where you can take a refreshing dive after a day in the park.
Altogether I can definitely recommend this hotel!
The park
This 20th visit wasn’t my first visit during the Halloween season, but I did notice some new things. First of all the colour of Halloween this year was purple: Mickey and Minnie had a new purple outfit and all the signs in and around the stores had a purple background. They also used more characters in their Halloween signs, for the first time I saw a Halloween Tinkerbell.
Most of the decorations on Main Street, the pumpkin men with their orange paint, weren’t new to me. Some of the decorations in Frontierland were, though: new decorations had been put up of pumpkin women, for example. Woody’s Round-Up in the back of Frontierland had also been decorated, but I recognized the decorations from the Villains Parade back in 2006. I also saw some castmembers who were looking after the characters dressed in costumes used in that same Villains Parade. That is a bit of shame, in my opinion, using old things again and pretending it’s new. For some people it might indeed be new, but there are also a lot of people who have been to the park before.
The studios
I only spent a short time in the Studios, but I did notice that more and more people are starting to come to this park. Most people come for the Tower of Terror, but while they’re there, they also try out the other rides. It’s nice to say this park getting more popular, even though it’s not decorated for Halloween.
The entertainment
Since the park is still celebrating its 15th anniversary, the Candleabration was still programmed, as well as the Once Upon a Dream Parade. But because it was Halloween, Mickey and Minnie didn’t wear their usual parade outfits, they were dressed in their purple Halloween outfits. A nice touch, but it looked a little strange next to Donald and Goofy wearing their usual outfits.
Before the parade started, there was a new opening parade with more pumpkin dancers than ever, a float full of Villains and Jack Skellington and Sally. This opening parade included a stop on Main Street, but I didn’t see it as I have a regular place to watch the parade. I did hear the song they used for the stop and like the decorations at Woody’s Round-Up and the costumes of some castmembers, it wasn’t new: it was the song used for the 2006 Halloween Cavalcade, mixed with the Cruella the Vil song. For me it was nice to hear it again, but like I said before: it is a bit of shame using old things again and pretending it’s new. This opening parade is new, why not use a new song as well?
Other entertainment included the old shows in Frontierland Minnie and the Bat Boys and Goofy and the Magic Pot. I only saw short pieces of the shows, but I’ve seen them before and know them. They’re nice shows, not outstanding, but just nice shows.
There was another show in the park again this year: the Disney Villains Halloween Showtime. A show taking place at the stage in front of the castle, featuring all the Disney Villains. Last year, Stitch and Minnie presented it together as Pumpkin Man and Pink Witch. Since the Pink Witches left the park, Minnie had a purple witch dress this year and Stitch was removed from the show. Instead of Stitch, two more Villains had been added to the show, from Pocahontas and Mulan. The first time I saw the show, I found their bit quite violent for Disney standards with stick fighting. The song, I think it’s called Savages, is also more grim than the other well known Villains songs, such as the Elegant Captain Hook. In my opinion they should have left this bit out and just have done the old show. Like Minnie said in the show: ‘Halloween really needs to be fun for everyone!’
Further, I have no comments on this show. I saw it seven or eight times during those four days I stayed in the park and it’s my favourite show.
Last of all a little note about other characters getting involved in the Halloween season: this year Winnie the Pooh dressed up as a bee for his meet ‘n greets. I must say he looks totally adorable in his costume! Too bad he didn’t also wear his Halloween costume in the parade, like Mickey and Minnie, because he looked really cute!
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party
My trip included Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on the 24th of October. An evening in Halloween style in Fantasyland was what would be waiting for us. The decorations had already been put up in the night before the 24th, so when I arrived in the park early morning that day, I could see them already and take photos of them. On the one hand I think there’s no surprise for the people who attend the party, because they have already seen them in daylight. On the other hand, I do understand why they’ve already been put: when else should they have been put up? And seeing them in daylight gives you the chance to take photos of them!
The party started with Mickey and Minnie in their Halloween costumes welcoming you behind the castle. They did a little dance with a Pumpkin man and woman and then started a meet ‘n greet. The evening continued with a lot of characters out: you could hardly take a step without seeing a character. Cinderella was there with Suzy and Perla, Pinocchio, Gideon and Gepetto, Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee, Jack Sparrow was in front of Pirates of the Caribbean, I saw Gaston, Cruella the Vil and the Queen of Hearts, Tigrou, Eeyore, Winnie ‘Bee’ the Pooh… I also saw some characters walking around that you don’t see during the normal park hours: strange looking dinosaurs who played music, some sort of soldiers who accompanied the Queen of Hearts… Altogether there was a lot to see and do, since all the Fantasyland rides were open, as well as Pirates of the Caribbean. There were shows during the evening, including a really fun dance party with Tigrou near the restaurant Au Chalet de la Marionette, and as final treat Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Cavalcade: the train from the Character Express, filled with all characters that had been out that evening. The song was a special song for the party, mixed with a few pieces from the original Character Express song – Tous en train.
I definitely had fun this evening, attending this everything but scary party!
Four days in Disneyland Paris during Halloween… For me, it was still much too short. Even though I criticize some things, I still really enjoyed myself and felt bad having to leave. Halloween is my favourite time of the year and what better place to celebrate it than in Disneyland Paris? Only 334 days left until Disney’s Halloween 2009!
- MiriamDarling
