“Boys and Girls of every age, would you like to see something strange, come with us and you will see, in our town of Halloween…”
Happy Halloween! Because my birthday falls just a few days before Halloween, this is always a favorite time of year for me. But when it comes to Halloween, I generally prefer a childish enjoyment of it. I’m not a fan of horror movies, supernatural possessed personal articles, or haunted houses-paying for someone to scare me is just not my thing. But you can always find me reading classic monster books or carving pumpkins enough to fill my driveway or watching a family favorite Halloween movie as I eat my way through a big bag of Halloween treats.
One of my favorite Halloween movies to watch with treats in hand is ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’. Not only does it have some great music but the fact that it was done with the stop animation with such meticulous consideration to every part. In this story Jack Skellington, Halloweentown’s favorite citizen, has become tired of his reign of Pumpkin King and feeling like Halloween has become too routine. But after happening upon Christmas town and being dazzled by the newness of it, he convinces the rest of Halloweentown to help him take over the Christmas season. But his friend Sally and the Man in Red help to get Christmas back to normal.
Along with my love of The Nightmare Before Christmas is my love of the Haunted Mansion ride at the Disney parks. I love going through this spooky Southern mansion and seeing the dancing ghosts float around the ballroom and the singing tombstones in the graveyard.
So with my love of these two favorites in mind, what could possibly be better than when they are combined! Every holiday season Disneyland reimagines the Haunted Mansion ride to be the Nightmare Before Christmas. Now I am someone who will watch this movie as a Halloween movie and not as a Christmas movie. But Disney will pull out Jack and Sally in time for the Halloween season and will keep them up till the first part of January.
The Haunted Mansion takes on a colorful musical ride with appearances by the Pumpkin King, Sally, and all their Halloweentown friends as Jack takes over Christmas. It makes the Haunted Mansion a completely new experience and the detail of it is really amazing. And you can even meet up with Jack and Sally afterwards outside of the graveyard of the mansion.
When we moved to Florida I was so excited to see the Haunted Mansion redone as Nightmare Before Christmas…but was woefully disappointed to learn that it is only is Disneyland where they do this. Disneyworld has added some Nightmare elements in pictures and the parade, but if you want the full immersive experience of the ride then you will need to make your way to California. But the fact that it is only here in Disneyland, does make the whole thing a little more special.
If you have enjoyed reading about the Haunted Mansion, you may want to check out these other places perfect for Halloween:
When it comes to Halloween are you someone who likes to scare and be scared? Or are you like me and prefer something a little more festively tame? Thanks for reading and may your pumpkins be bright and the treats be plentiful this All Hallows Eve!
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