It had been a minute since my last Walt Disney World Theme Day. As a local, I enjoy selecting a theme and then touring the Walt Disney Resort finding attractions, entertainment, characters, and dining that align with the selected theme.
Click here to read about my Princess Belle theme day.
Click here to read about my Pixar theme day.
Given the season, Spooky Season was the theme. I donned my tennis shoes, threw my new yellow leather cross body bag from Venice over my should and off I went. It was a "Good to Go" day for Annual Passholders, so no Park Reservations were necessary. The weather turned cooler, just in time!
Disney's Hollywood Studios was the first stop. Hollywood Tower of Terror was the first destination, and I was confronted with a 70 minute wait time. Oh, well. I had made a commitment. The wait passed quickly and it was excellent people watching. A couple from Dayton, OH were visiting with a woman from Dubuque, IA, two cities I am familiar with, about how there are no Disney Passholders who are not Disney Vacation Club Members as Passholders they had met on Disney transportation fit into the other category as well. I interjected with "I am." Turns out they were looking for out of state Passholders. Turns out we are living the couple from Ohio's dream. Then there was the woman who thought she was sneaking her vape out of her purse and blew it slowly from her mouth and nose to match the steam sprays in the queue. In the queue area between the hotel lobby and TV room, a young child was next to me sneezing, coughing, and sniffly without covering. The female adult said, "Are you sick?" I reached into my bag and pulled out a napkin, which the adult female took, followed by hand sanitizer which I poured into the child's hand. The woman said, "She came prepared."
Tower of Terror was as always terrorizing! Lots of air time during the randomized lifts and drops.
Exited the park just as the friendship launch approached. Perfect timing. The boat ride went quickly, and I got off at the 4th stop, EPCOT. As I walked up the incline from International Gateway, there were guests looking confused. I offered assistance. They thought the park ended and needed to go back up the hill and turn right. It was a wrong turn.
France was my destination, specifically, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure. While some might not think this attraction fits with Spooky Season theme, the attraction includes a ghost throughout, the ghost of Gusteau. Single Rider Line was quick and I rode with a family that had experienced the attraction before. The lady behind me in the Single Rider Line asked I had done this before and wondered how long the line would take. She was worried about her husband waiting outside as he had ridden Guardians of the Galaxy and was done riding rides for the day. When walking from France to the front of the park, there were Cast Members cleaning up vomit and I thought about the lady's husband. Did you know that this attraction will become a 2-D attraction after a brief closure in November 2025?
To the front of the park I went and the Monorail was pulling into the station. Just in time. I rode the Ticket and Transportation Center, and then took the Ferry across Seven Seas Lagoon instead of transferring to another Monorail.
When entering Magic Kingdom shortly after 2:00 pm, the corral for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party guests was already set up and guests were sitting at the Tap Styles for the 4:00 pm entry. I had not checked the parade schedule and sure enough, Festival of Fantasy was circling the hub. I crossed Main Street and strode through the Emporium and then cut behind Ye 'Ole Christmas Story. The parade was past Frontierland and I was able to get into the queue for Haunted Mansion, 35 minute wait time from that point. Again, the line moved quickly. The guests in front of me were recalling their experience from many years ago.
Exited Haunted Mansion and went towards Frontierland to use the restroom cut-through to Adventureland. Pirates of the Caribbean had a 5 minute wait time, basically walk on. The queue went so quickly, I barely had time to snap pictures. Dead Men Tell No Tales does fit with Spooky Season Theme and of course, there's the legend of George, the ghost that supposedly haunts the attraction. I did say, "Good night, George" at the top of the escalator belt.
Pirates of the Caribbean was my last attraction, but not my last stop. By the time I reached Town Square at 3:30 pm, the only exit was on the right, near the popcorn stand. My original plan was to walk to The Contemporary but alas, the corral for party guests was taking up lots of space so Resort Monorail, here I came. Met a family from Lakeland, FL, enjoying the cooler weather. We talked about driving short cuts. At the Contemporary, there were guests exiting the Monorail that rode the escalator from the Monorail platform to the fourth floor, and then the next escalator to the next level down, but were looking lost. I asked where they were headed. Bus stop. Follow me! Same to the group behind them. Around the corner and down another escalator. I said I'm stopping for the restroom, but head towards those doors and take a right turn to get to the Bus Stop. One of guests asked if it was a stop for all buses. I said yes, except Magic Kingdom, and EPCOT it turns out. They were headed to Disney Springs, so all was good.
A brief wait at the bus stop to unload and load scooters and soon we were off. At Disney Springs, guests coming from Disney Resorts, now have a security screening, similar to park entrances and guests who use the parking garages. I made sure some of my tag-alongs knew which way to turn to get to Rainforest Cafe. I was off to Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar.
New this year, Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar had decorated for Halloween. No reservations are taken for this location, so there was a queue of guests waiting to be seated. Typically, guests stroll in and find an empty table or seat at the bar, but due to the volume of guests, a host/hostess was now seating guests from the queue. I was able to get a single seat at the bar.
I ordered my Zombie Eye deviled eggs with chicken nuggets. The guests to my right, from Tampa and part of the Disney Day Drinkers Facebook Group, were enjoying sausages in flakey pastry served with mustard died red in a coffin and the guests to my left, a Cast Member who works in Creations at EPCOT, were sharing a pretzel charcuterie dish. Turns out I know which Happy Hour at Disney Springs ends last without having access to the Disney Day Drinkers Group's spreadsheet. It's STK by the way that ends at 6:30 pm, and yes, I have been there.
In visiting with the Cast Member serving me, the drone show during the Summer of 2024 did not have a positive impact on businesses at Disney Springs. That the Halloween Decorations at the Hangar Bar has driven business since August. That the hot spiced hot chocolate drinks may be available at the "to go" bar outside during the Holiday Season. And, that the Holiday decorations along with a new menu will begin November 12, 2025. I said, that makes sense since Santa will begin greeting guests at Disney Springs on November 13, using a Virtual Queue. More Seasonal Overlays may be happening at Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar!
A bus ride to the Riviera then the Skyliner to Disney's Hollywood Studios to return to my car completed my full circle Spooky Season themed tour.
On my way home, I drove by two of the Walt Disney World Christmas trees loaded on flatbed trucks that are slated to go up within days. 8 Hours, 3 Parks and Disney Springs, 4 Attractions, 5 forms of Disney Transportation, 14,000 steps, nearly 6 miles. It was fun and good day! It is great to be a local!
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