It's Good to Be Bad

Everyone has a favorite time of year to visit the Disney Parks. For many, it is the summer months due to their work schedule and access to nearly guaranteed warm weather. For others, it is around Christmas and New Year's thanks to the allure of the holiday season and perhaps even the prospect of seeing their favorite college football team play in a bowl game around that time frame too. Still, others prefer early spring or fall because of the lower crowds and relatively cooler, but still nice, temperatures. While I must readily admit that there is no definitive right or wrong time to visit the parks (because let's face it: no matter when you go, you're at Disney and that's better than just about anywhere else you could be), there is simply no better time to visit the Disney Parks than in September or, more preferably, October.

Each particular Disney season certainly has its pros as well as its fair share of cons. For the summer, I understand that could very well be the only time throughout the year that vacation is an option, but the immense amount of people that have that same opportunity is almost unbearable, and I won't even mention the scorching heat. The Christmas season sure is beautifully picturesque and something unlike anything I have ever seen, but this leads to more and more people every year thinking that a pilgrimage to the parks around the holidays is a necessity to complete their Disney fandom, which in turns leads to even more crowds. Plus, for Florida in particular, the temperature is relatively unpredictable in December and January, and who wants to travel to Florida and have to accommodate for cooler temperatures? Early spring/fall is really nice. In fact, if Halloween wasn't a thing, I would be swiftly booking a trip in early March or late August, but alas, other than Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival, specialties are missing from the park offerings during this time.

All this leads to my firm conclusion that September and October is the perfect time to visit a Disney park. The weather is not as intimidating as in the summer months or even in the early spring/fall period. The crowds are extremely light when compared to the summer and Christmas seasons. Plus, if you visit a Disney Park during this time, you get to experience the greatest holiday extravaganza Disney has to offer. Sure, Christmas at Disney is nice with the extraordinary Candlelight Processional and incomparable Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, but there is nothing like Halloween at Disney. Other parks offer Halloween-themed special events undoubtedly, but Disney is so unique and so special that it really elevates itself to a whole different level. Instead of relegating its guests to experiencing an overpriced haunted house fixated on gory details and cheap horror, Disney allows guests to witness something unbeknownst to the rest of the theme park industry: a gloriously beautiful family-friendly environment with just enough thrills to entertain just about anyone. One does not need to be scared to death in order to enjoy Halloween, and Disney has proven that fact time and time again. They have actually proven that Halloween is best enjoyed when one allows evil, not horror, to take center stage.

That works because of Disney's terrific canon of villains. It is quite a shame that the Disney villains are only afforded about two months during the year in the spotlight inside the parks. I understand why Disney implements this method, though, because it keeps people like myself longing to come back for those two months because the villain experience is so special, yet so limited. Some of Disney's most complex and ironically beloved characters are its film's villains. Ever since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney and his company have placed a major emphasis on the development of its villains, and the results have been nothing short of spectacular, leading to the creation of such cinematic icons as the Evil Queen, Chernabog, the Headless Horseman, Maleficent, Cruella De Vil, Shere Khan, Ursula, Jafar, Scar, Judge Frollo, Hades, Doctor Facilier, among many others. Those are not just Disney legends; those are legends of Hollywood, and they come out in full vile force to celebrate Halloween at the parks. From the various character experiences to their appearances throughout Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the villains are the primary reason why I believe Halloween is the best time to visit the Disney Parks.

Since I just mentioned it, I might as well take this opportunity to heap on my praises for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. If I could attend one special event throughout the year, I would choose this party hands down and without hesitation. The villains are just too enticing to pass up. From their narration during the superb HalloWishes to their appearances in the excellent Boo to You! Parade (quick side note: how amazing is the riding of the Headless Horseman before that parade?!) to the aforementioned character experiences to their breathtakingly awesome roles in the Hocus Pocus castle show, this party is something I will never grow weary of. Unlike other theme park's special Halloween offerings, Disney finds a way to tell stories while still instigating thrills and chills. They are not just dumbly walking around the park seeking frightened guests to scare and intimidate; instead, these villains are fully committed to making Halloween magic at the parks until the season has concluded. The Christmas Party is wonderful, but it does not hold a candle (get it? Christmas at Disney....Candlelight Processional...does not hold a candle? Fine, I found it amusing, at least) to the delightfully wicked Halloween Party.

Perhaps the biggest reason I think this way, though, is because of the expanded importance of my favorite Disney attraction, the Haunted Mansion, during the season (yes, I have probably written before that another attraction is my favorite, but as of today, that title belongs to the Mansion). The Ghost Host in all of his glory is prominently featured throughout the Halloween Party, especially as the Master of Ceremonies for HalloWishes, from which I still get an ungodly amount of chills from when he begins to materialize and narrate the life out the nighttime spectacular (get it? A ghost narrating the life out of something? Ok, I'll stop now). Plus, the iconic hitchhiking ghosts from the attraction develop even more of a cult following during the Halloween season, highlighted by their tremendous appearance in the Boo to You! Parade. Additionally, there is just something about experiencing the Haunted Mansion during this time of year. It is spell-binding no matter when you visit the parks, but around Halloween, especially when the sun goes down, it is as if guests are simply drawn to the Mansion in an unprecedented fashion. Halloween just brings out the best in the Mansion.

Yet another reason Halloween is the best time to visit Disney is because of the presence of characters from the classic film The Nightmare Before Christmas. I guarantee you that no one ever anticipated Jack Skellington and company being this popular originally, but here we are and I invite you to name a more iconic film for Halloween (and Christmas, for that matter). There is a legitimate reason they are so popular, though, and that is because their movie is absolutely fantastic. It is not only a classic for one holiday, but for two. That is truly remarkable and unheard of in today's Hollywood. Around Halloween, Jack, Sally, and Oogie-Boogie spice up the season in such a fun and unique way. Jack and Sally have a character experience that is always the longest line throughout the Halloween party while Oogie struts his stuff in the Hocus Pocus castle show. Of course, there is also the Haunted Mansion Holiday featuring these characters in Disneyland, which I have sadly never experienced but hope to one day. Sure, Jack returns for Christmas, obviously, but seeing these characters around Halloween just seems right considering he is the Pumpkin King. As is the case with the villains, you simply cannot get this experience at any other time throughout the year.

Finally, I would contend that Disney's Halloween decorations rival their Christmas decorations. I will not go as far as to say that they are better (because they aren't...I'm not a fool, you know), but what Disney does throughout the parks to celebrate Halloween in, once again, a family-friendly manner while still completely honoring the season is just special. The Mickey-shaped pumpkins, in particular, are worth the price of admission alone, and that's not even taking into account the subtle placement of lights and various floral decor located throughout the parks. Walking around the parks during this time of year is truly original, and it somehow brings even more magic to the already fully-stocked supply provided by Disney.

Clearly, if you're reading this now, it is kind of too late to take an excursion to the Disney Parks for this Halloween season, but it is never too early to start thinking about next year and beyond, right? I know that some calendars simply will not allow it, and I understand that everyone has their preference, but if you can swing it, make visiting the Parks in mid to late September and throughout the month of October a priority. I promise you that you will not leave disappointed. You will return home feeling as if you had experienced Disney in a way that you had never experienced before. Whether it would be your first visit or your seventy-first visit, the Halloween season has so much to offer year in and year out. It's good to be bad, and Disney has proven it.

-Cody Fleenor

An Overdue Farewell to the Main Street Electrical Parade

The time has finally come. The Main Street Electrical Parade is leaving the Magic Kingdom for the third time in its historic run. The parade debuted at Disneyland in 1972 and periodically appeared in the park until 1996, dazzling audiences no matter what version of the parade they saw for generations. The parade began its illustrious stroll through the Vacation Kingdom of the World in 1977 and was instantly received with rapturous acclaim and admiration. In 1991, it was shipped to Euro Disneyland to help with the initial debacle across the Atlantic with poor attendance reports and terrible critical and fan response. However, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Main Street Electrical Parade (henceforth referred to as MSEP) came back with vengeance to the Magic Kingdom in 1999, but was soon yet again taken away in 2001 to ironically help with another struggling new Disney park, in this case being Disney's California Adventure. When the MSEP left the Magic Kingdom in 2001, it seemed as if it would never return to the park again. I mean, you can bring something back once, but not twice, right? Nostalgia can only go so far, correct?

Disney would unfortunately beg to differ because in 2010, the MSEP made yet another triumphant return to the Magic Kingdom for what was originally scheduled as a limited engagement probably to suffice diehard Disney fans and retro fanatics. However, in 2012, that limited marking was removed and the parade became a staple for the nightlife at the Magic Kingdom, and at the time of this writing, the MSEP has officially concluded its third run at the Magic Kingdom and will soon be shipped back to Disneyland for one last running in 2017 (side note: I hope one of the floats has a 'return to sender' tag on it because why not?). It is a rather sad time for Disney fans around the world because many hold the MSEP in such high regard and it has a very special place in their heart and it always will.

For me, while I respect the MSEP's historical and retro place in the grand scheme of the Magic Kingdom, it's time to say goodbye once and for all  to the parade that should have retired for good twenty years ago.

Now, don't misunderstand my position. I like the MSEP, I really do (even though my co-hosts on The Mouse Knows Best Podcast might beg to differ), and I am most definitely a huge fan of Disney history and believe there is no better Disney World than retro Disney World. However, the outrage and depressing nature surrounding the conclusion of the MSEP's third run at the Magic Kingdom is emblematic of a major problem a lot of Disney fans possess (myself included, on occasion). If you're like me and have been a Disney fanatic for your entire life, you become emotionally invested and attached to certain attractions. Quite a bit of people feel this way about the MSEP because they probably first experienced the parade as a child and it was absolutely spell-binding, and as time wore on, it only became more enchanting and magical. Due to this high regard we place certain aspects of Disney World in, if retirement, overlaying, removal, or something along those lines threatens that attraction or show, we feel as if we have somehow been personally violated, believing that Disney has infringed upon our rights by failing to consult us on their decision to do what they want to do with their properties.

Unfortunately, this feeling sadly leads to completely ignoring the potential validity of the succeeding replacement. The perfect example, to venture outside of the MSEP discussion for a moment, is the controversy currently surrounding the Guardians of the Galaxy overlay of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney California Adventure. The Tower of Terror is a glorious attraction in its original form. There is simply no denying that fact, but upon the first break of news that Star Lord and company would soon be replacing Rod Serling, Disney fans worldwide were immediately up in arms and sent into an irrational frenzy. Before the first change was ever made to the Tower, fans were already writing off the possible success of Guardians: BREAKOUT (yeah, that name is strange, I know. And what's with the all caps? But I digress). This is totally unfair to the Guardians attraction, and I understand that everyone has a right to their own opinion and I am by no means telling anyone that their opinion is irrelevant because it most certainly is relevant, but this notion that an attraction is doomed from the start simply because it is replacing a beloved current attraction is absurdity to me. Now, this new Guardians attraction could be a complete and utter disaster, but we have no idea of knowing that until we actually experience the attraction, which won't occur for another half year at best.

Bringing it back to the MSEP, while Disney has yet to announce a replacement for the classic nighttime spectacular (or if they will even replace it in the first place), I fear Disney fans have already resigned themselves to the thought that whatever is next is destined to fall short of the MSEP's standard. Read this carefully: just because something is new doesn't meab that it won't be great in its own right. We need to stop comparing attractions, shows, parades, and so forth while determining which is superior. We must instead focus on what makes those experiences so memorable in their own unique way. Take, for example, the debate all Disney fans have at some point: which Magic Kingdom mountain is the best? In an effort to justify your selection for this question, we end up splitting hairs and finding faults with the other two mountains in order to boost your case for your pick for the best. To me, while I certainly have a favorite mountain in this case (my selection is satisfactual, after all), I admit that they are all equally great, classical, and quite perfect as well. Whatever Disney decides to replace the MSEP with will inevitably be compared to it just as SpectroMagic was initially compared to the original MSEP in the early 2000's. I implore you to keep an open mind about these things. By doing so, who knows...you might find yourself concluding that the MSEP's replacement is actually better than the spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination.

When you take a look at what Disney has done with other nighttime parades (the aforementioned SpectroMagic and Disneyland's Paint the Night in particular, for the sake of this conversation), there is plenty of reasons to be optimistic about nightlife in the Magic Kingdom post-MSEP. SpectroMagic was the far superior Magic Kingdom nighttime parade (and no, that's not unfairly comparing MSEP with Spectro...that is a blatant fact), and Paint the Night is a visual and audible extravaganza that will delight and enthrall even the hardest of hearts. Whatever Disney comes up with next will undoubtedly be something that will be beloved and well-respected for years to come (and even more beloved and well-respected upon its third return to the Magic Kingdom, probably). The current attitude towards the MSEP's departure is a prime example of nostalgia gone wrong. It is totally normal and completely acceptable to long for the Disney of yesterday, but no matter how much you and I want that Disney to return, it's simply not happening. The past is the past, and we cannot do a thing to change that, for better or for worse. We can only live in the here and now while looking forward to the great big, beautiful tomorrow. The MSEP had its time and place, but now is the time to say goodbye. We had six years to celebrate its place in Disney history and storied legacy, but we must now move on. Don't beg Disney to bring back the MSEP for a fourth time (please, for the sake of my sanity, don't do that); instead, let's look ahead and look forward to whatever Disney has up their sleeves next because odds are that it will be just as great as the MSEP.

 President John F. Kennedy once said, "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past and present are certain to miss the future." I more than welcome you to revere and remember the past, especially when it comes to Disney history. I try to do that every single day, but there comes a time when we must realize that sometimes, we have to say farewell to something even when it is rather difficult and we would like nothing more than to not say farewell at all. Change is inevitable, so for me, while I respect the fool out of you, MSEP, so long and good riddance. Maybe now, nighttime at the Magic Kingdom can get a much needed update into the twenty-first century.

-Cody Fleenor