Halloweentime at Disneyland

Disneyland is pretty much my favorite place to visit during the holidays. Mickey shaped pumpkins, costumed characters, all kinds of limited-time sweets and treats...it makes my heart so happy. I wasn't sure if we'd be able to squeeze in a trip this year, especially since Ez started school and we've entered the world of responsibility and schedules, but after a rough start to Ez's school year we decided we needed a bit of magic and an escape from reality, so to Disney we went. Responsibility can wait until year 😉

I'm still in a bit of shock at all the fires that broke out soon after we left. The very first apartment I ever lived in by myself is right by one of the evacuation zones. Orange County will always have a special place in my heart and I'm hurting for those affected by fires all across California at the moment. 

The Characters
I was probably most excited to check out California Adventure's brand new Halloween decorations and character costumes this year. Monster Truck Mater definitely stole the show, and he and Superhero Lightning were incredibly popular, with 30-40 minute lines just to get a picture. We got lucky with the timing and managed to snag a picture with Lightning, which neither of the kids wanted anything to do with, but overall we decided not to spend too much time waiting in lines for pictures. I'm thinking this is a more recent Instagram phenomenon, but there were lines all over the park just for photos. And the photographers are real pros now, which is great, but also time-consuming because instead of a simple snap, they're asking you to pose this way, now turn that way, ok, just tilt your head a bit...you get the idea. Obviously I love Disney photos (in case the five dozen I've posted here didn't give it away), but wasting memory-making time just for photos doesn't really make sense to me. I was however very happy to finally get a photo with the elusive Donald, who we've somehow never actually met in all the times we've visited Disneyland. And I made everyone take a picture with me in front of the Mickey pumpkin so we'd have one photo with all of us, which is a rarity.

The Rides

We got really lucky on the Thursday we were there with short lines and minimum crowds. Unlike our last Disney trip, when we took the kids on a scary ride as soon as we got there (Toad's Wild Ride), this time we wizened up and took them on a ride they actually liked: Dumbo. That set the tone for the whole trip and both kids were over-the-moon excited after that. Other favorites were Monsters Inc (probably the #1 favorite), Teacups, Cars, the carousel, the Tractors, Luigi's Dancing Cars, Flik's Flyers, and Haunted Mansion. I use the term "favorites" loosely though. Declan LOVED waiting in line for Tractors, and dancing along to the music, right up until we actually got on the ride and then he burst into tears. You can see his traumatized face a few pictures down. Neither of the kids really liked the Haunted Mansion, but I consider it a must-do during Halloween, and they were good sports about it. Somehow we'd never ridden the carousel before this trip, but both kids loved it so much we rode it three times. And while not really a ride, the Adventure Creek Trail in California Adventure was a favorite spot for both boys, and a great way to burn off some energy and make sure everyone sleeps well that night.

The Food

I was probably a little too excited for all the seasonal treats. We were only there two days, so we didn't get to sample too much, but everything we did try was delicious. We started off our first day there with a pumpkin muffin and a spice bundt cake for breakfast at the Jolly Holiday. I preferred the muffin, Joe liked the spice cake. Then we somehow managed to squeeze in a Mickey mummy rice krispy treat (always one of my favorites), a bat cake pop for Ez (not pictured), a Monstermallow cronut from Shmoozies in California Adventure (an all around favorite), the mummy ice cream macaron sandwich (just ok, not a must-have for us), pumpkin spice churros which I liked, but Joe preferred regular churros, and a spicy jack cheese stick with blackberry sauce and pineapple relish from the corn dog stand in California Adventure. Despite thinking it sounded like an odd combination, the cheese stick was one of our favorite foods, a little spicy and a little sweet. 

The Decor

Disney never ever fails to add tons of tiny, yet magical details that make the holidays so fun. Pumpkins everywhere, orange and purple lights strung through the trees, spooky bats, a purple haunted-looking castle...Disney does Halloween right. 

The Disney Magic

And despite my love for all the pumpkins and rides, my absolute favorite part of Disney is making new family memories and seeing Ez and Declan light up with wonder. Both of them were bouncing around with excitement and literally dancing with happiness the entire two days. My favorite memories are of Declan grabbing my hand and sprinting between one ride and the next because he was just too excited to walk. Ez's joy at sitting and watching the Cars' ride from Flo's Cafe. Both boys bonding with Grandma. Ez and Declan dancing and spinning in circles outside the Monsters Inc ride. Ez riding on Joe's shoulders in line for the Cars' ride, bouncing with excitement every time the cars drove by us. And Declan trying to ride the indestructible Disney balloon we got him (seriously, that thing is still flying high), and Joe telling him "don't ride the balloon," which for some reason cracked Ez up for days. I love my goofballs, and I'm so happy they had the BEST time ever. 

Until next time, Disneyland!