Oct 10 2007
Disney's HalloweenTime
- Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, CA
- Dates: September 21 to October 31, 2007
- Cost: Included in Disneyland admission. (See below for extra-charge separate event.)
- For more info: (714) 781-7290
For the second year, Disneyland is adding some jack-o-lanterns and cobwebs to the resort and offering its own Halloween event--albeit a considerably tamer one than the gross-out freak-fests at Knott's and other parks. Disneyland park will once again transform its classic Haunted Mansion attraction with a Halloween-meets-Christmas theme into Haunted Mansion Holiday. By overlaying the characters from "Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas," the attraction is able to maintain its haunted aura while introducing some off-kilter Yuletide cheer. It's a unique way to celebrate two holiday seasons.
Throughout the two California parks, Mickey and the gang will be decked out in their Halloween finest. Also, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which terrorizes guests year-round at Disney's California Adventure, is especially appropriate at Halloween time.
Mickey's Halloween Treat
- Disney's California Adventure, Anaheim, CA
- Dates: October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, 29, 30, and 31, 2007
- Cost: $29 in advance, $39 at the gate. 2 and under free.
- For more info: (714) 781-4400
In addition to the seasonal fun Disney will be conjuring during the day, it will stage an extra-charge nighttime Halloween event, Mickey's Halloween Treat. The events at Disney's California adventure will include live music, trick-or-treat stations, craft-making, activities, and other mildly spooky fun for tykes, as well as selected rides and attractions.
Fright Fest
- Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia (near Los Angeles), CA
- Dates: Oct. 6, 7, 12-14, 19-21, & 26-31
- Cost: Included in Six Flags admission
- For more info: (661) 255-4100
There will be four mazes, including Deadman's Bog, Willoughby's Haunted Mansion, and Brutal Planet. Riders will be able to brave the dark on Six Flags' popular coasters, including
Scream!, Tatsu, and Colossus--which will run backwards during Fright Fest. Younger kids and their parents will probably want to avoid the gory, PG-13 attractions and head for Bugs Bunny World where the park will have more mild "Twick or Tweat" crafts, games, street entertainers, and a stage show.
New this year, Six Flags parks will be upping the gross-out factor by offering the Wheel of Fright and Coffin of Fear. For the former, intrepid guests can earn the right to skip to the front of the lines at the haunted houses and select rides by spinning a wheel and scarfing down the indicated item. Among the delicacies: live cockroaches, wax worms, crickets, and nightcrawlers, as well as Rocky Mountain oysters and Habenero peppers. Hey, at least the Rocky Mountain oysters aren't live. If skipping the lines is worth that much to you, God bless you. I'm on a strict nightcrawler-free diet, thank you very much. Guests willing to face the Coffin of Fear challenge must stay in a coffin filled with (live!) meal worms for at least one minute to win some kind of a prize--new underwear, perhaps? Most of Six Flags' roller coasters and non-water rides will be operating during the Fright Fest events.
Fright Fest
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo (near San Francisco), CA
- Dates: Sept. 28-30, Oct. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 26-28
- Cost: Included in Six Flags admission, (with the exception of haunted houses, which require an extra fee.)
- For more info: (707) 644-4000
Haunted mazes will include Kamp Khaos and Tinseltown Terror (for an additional fee). The park will ofer scare zones as well. There'll be a nightly funeral procession to kick off Fright Fest. There will be magic and hypnotism shows as well as a "Laser Spooktacular." During the day, Discovery Kingdom will cater to younger kids with Halloween-themed sea lion shows, scary storytelling, and a pumpkin patch with sculpted pumpkins. See the Magic Mountain info above for details about the Wheel of Fright and Coffin of Fear.
Brick-or-Treat
- Legoland California, Carlsbad (near San Diego), CA
- Dates: Oct. 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28. On Oct. 13, 20, and 27, the park will offer Brick-or-Treat After Dark
- Cost: Daytime and After Dark events included in Legoland admission. After Dark-only event costs $15.
- For more info: (760) 918-5346
Legoland will not be staging a separate, nighttime Halloween event, but will be adding some Halloween fun to its regular attractions and shows. Features will include in-park trick-or-treating, a Brick-or-Treat trail with Lego-themed spooky (but not that spooky) houses, a candy corn scavenger hunt, and a costume contest for kids.
Nick or Treat
- Great America, Santa Clara, CA
- Dates: Weekends, Oct 13-28
- Cost: Included in Great America's admission
- For more info: (408)-988-1776
Another family-friendly event, Great America will dispense with the gore in favor of Nickelodeon-themed fun. Each evening, there will be a Nickelodeon Celebration Parade. Kids 12 and under can trick-or-treat for goodies along with Nickelodeon characters.
Halloween Treasure Hunt and Scarecrow Alley
- Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy, CA
- Dates: October 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28
- Cost: Included in Gilroy Gardens admission
- For more info: (408) 840-7100
Gilroy Gardens will feature a bevy of scarecrows and a pumpkin patch, both of which fit into its garden theme. It will also offer two mild haunted mazes and a treasure hunt with prizes for all. Community organizations design the pirate-themed scarecrows. The pumpkins will be available for sale.
