In the UK, we don’t seem to celebrate Halloween as much as the US but having visited Orlando in October 2003, I really am now an advocate of getting into the “spirit” of things.
First stop was Shamu's Spooktakular at Seaworld. Children and adults alike dress up in a myriad of outfits. My girls, 5 and 9 dressed up as Dorothy and Jasmin - bought from Walmart at $14.99 each. Walmart have everything you could imagine for kids and adults – buy early, as it does get “shopped out”.
Back to Seaworld – They were Trick or Treat stations all over the park and this kept the girls "running" and they came home with so many sweets, lots of pumpkins patches and a place to paint your own pumpkin. The shows were changed slightly to involve ghosts/zombies but not at all scary so the little ones were quite happy. A costume parade was held and all the little ones had a chance to meet "Conch" Dracula - a very friendly vampire and have their photo taken with him. It was good fun for little ones, Seaworld only do the Spooktakular for two days and it is included in the Days Admission price. Lovely day out but best was yet to come!
A lot of the residents on our estate, Lindfields, decorated their houses with pumpkins, lights and scarecrows - lots of scarecrows all over Orlando that week and keep some sweets by the front door as you will be visited by Trick or Treaters.
Then the highlight of the week had to be at Magic Kingdom-Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Disney run about 7 nights around Halloween when MK is shut at 6pm and for £23 adult and £16 kids. You enter the park at 7pm and it is open until Midnight. I pre-booked my tickets, around a month before we flew, direct with the Disney site and they sent them by courier for $3 – fantastic service!
It truly was a wonderful night - the kids were rigged out as Cruella DeVille and Cinderella and ALL the children in the park were dressed up - and many many adults, some so convincing you were never sure if they were actual characters.
The Disney Characters were everywhere and photo ops and autographs were no problem to any of them apart from the Evil Queen from Snow White who was just horrible but so funny!
My daughter found her hero, Cruella and she posed for photos with her and said in a very very convincing English accent "Wonderful costume darling, lots of Dalmatians for us here tonight!!" My daughter was thrilled. Stitch, a new addition from the new film, was a giggle - messing up everyone's hair and generally playing up - I pulled one of his ears and he picked his nose and flicked something at me!!!!
There were two parades, two shows, many many trick or treat stations, mini-parades all around the park where the kids got to dance with characters and show off other talents for prizes. Ride waits were minimal. It was just a brilliant night and we thoroughly recommend it.
Included in the price is a complimentary photo in a Halloween setting – this arrived back here in the UK around 14 days later – a great memento of the evening.
The weather was great while we were there up in the high 80s/low 90s with no humidity – think as a rule is around 80 at that time of year. I would not hesitate to return again at Halloween, it adds something special to what is already a magical place!