Many moons ago, in October 2011, I attended my first Disney Parks Blog meet-up. The ghoulish yet fabulous event was an after hours Halloween meet at the Magic Kingdom. It was like a dress-up party with spooky characters, yummy treats, Imagineers, and lots of fun goodies..
My friend James and I dressed up as the Haunted Mansion stretch room portrait ballerina and the clever crocodile who waits underneath her tight rope.
Here’s the portrait we were imitating.
I thought my friends @PlazaAndMainSt had a super unique costume
The Disney Parks Blog thought I had a super unique costume and I won a 9″ glow in the dark Vinylmation! It was really team work right James? Thanks to Thomas Smith (Indy) of the Disney Parks Blog and Marissa May (Boo<–what a cute costume!)
Jason Surrell spoke at the event and was super funny as usual.
It was fun to see different characters out like Dr. Facilier. And yes, my friends, that’s me on pointe in Liberty Square. Worth the pain I felt the next day.. please forgive me, little footies.
Steven Miller had a fab costume. Check out that TRONesque glow! Cue light cycle..
With my friend Lea, this would be the treat part of the treat-up.
The Mansion characters were out in full force.
Yes I was picture happy at this evening but I am a sucker for getting dressed up! Here with my friends Glenn, James, Leah & Andrew (they looked super cute) and Lou. Scott took that last pic to make a point that my pointe shoes had been replaced by my sparkly Toms at this point in the night. I can’t believe I managed to wear them all around the Magic Kingdom that night!
I’m going with the *save the best for last* theme on this one. I’m a huge fan of the interactive Haunted Mansion queue. I wrote a rhyming riddle article this Summer about part of it on the WDW Fan Zone. This embellished queue represents the attraction we all love in a touchable way. It extends the story of the mansion and includes nuances hinting to the details we know, like the bride, with a ring in the concrete. Tributes are made throughout the queue to people to contributed to the mansion’s brilliance. Love it all.
In attendance at the event and giving tours of the queue were two of it’s creators, Imagineers, Eric Goodman and Pete Carsillo. I watched a funny video on the Disney Parks blog a while ago that they filmed about their work. They were entertaining and informative and I was instantly a fan. What a pleasure to meet them and tell them how much I adore their work.
So very thankful that I got to attend this event. I also got a signed poster of an awesome hitchhiking ghost image! Events like these allow us to.. “come out and socialize” .. heh heh .. and enjoy the parks on a more personal level.
Rock those toe shoes, girl! You look FABULOUS. Such a great costume!
How in the heck did I miss this post?!?
That night had to be one of the most fun evenings I ever spent in the Magic Kingdom and I have *you* to thank for it! So much fun!! Those pictures really brought me back.
And yes, it was teamwork. 😉
Awesome, Lou Mongello AND a HD character costume, LOVE IT!! Lol