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Brought to fans, investors, entrepreneurs, executives, teachers, professors, and students by columnist, economist, novelist, reviewer, podcaster, business reporter and speaker Ray Keating

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Columbia Harbour House: Hit or Miss

 by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 30, 2023

 

It had been a while since I last visited the Quick-Service Columbia Harbour House in the Magic Kingdom. My wife calls this a hit-or-miss restaurant. That qualification kind of fit my meal there recently.



We ordered three of the entrĂ©es – two of the Lobster Rolls ($16.99 each) and a Trio Platter ($14.29). (By the way, if no seats are available downstairs, head up the stairs and you’re likely to get a table.)



The Trio Platter – featuring fried shrimp, chicken strips, and battered fish served with hushpuppies – was basic, rather forgettable theme park fare. The fried shrimp were good – nice size, plump, and with a crunchy coating. However, the chicken strips and battered fish … well … left a good deal to be desired. You know, they were misses.

 


But I’m always a sucker for hushpuppies. Indeed, you have to really screw them up to make me dislike hushpuppies. Columbia Harbour House didn’t screw up – sweet and soft on the inside with a bit of fried crunch on the outside – so the hushpuppies get a thumbs-up.



In the end, though, the star at the Columbia Harbour House is the Lobster Roll. There was no skimping on the chilled lobster, and it was quite tasty. In fact, the lobster raised up the quality, or at least the perceived quality, of the New England-style roll and accompanying French fries.

 

Yes, the Lobster Roll is the hit at the Columbia Harbour House.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, and the Alliance of Saint Michael novels; and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? 

 

Consider books by Ray Keating…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. You can order the latest book in the series – Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Get the signed books here, or paperbacks and Kindle editions right here.

 

• Pre-order The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle edition here and signed books here. And don’t forget the first book in this growing series, i.e., The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at RayKeatingOnline.com or paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel. Signed paperbacks and/or paperbacks, hardcovers and the Kindle edition at Amazon

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

• Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  –  signed books  or at  Amazon.

 

•  Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know is available at  Amazon  in paperback or for the Kindle edition, and signed books at  www.raykeatingonline.com

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of DisneyFree Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Friday, April 28, 2023

Animal Kingdom’s “Boneyard” To Be Closed for Refurb

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 28, 2023

 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom may have celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a party last weekend, but this week, the work goes on. The Boneyard, in the DinoLand section of the park, will be closing for a spruce-up shortly. The refurb is expected to run from May 1st until at least mid-June.



If you don’t have little archeologists travelling with your party, you may not be all that familiar with “The Boneyard.”  It’s an excellently Imagineered play area for children that offers slides, climbing bridges and tunnels, all themed to a dig site with fossils, so that your youngest explorers can run off some energy at the park while parents get a chance to rest a bit in the shade.   

 

Just look for the oversized bone sign, or the giant set of dinosaur bones stretching across the walkway – you’ll know you’ve arrived. Just get there before the project starts getting dusted off on May 1st.

 

_______________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

“Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel” by DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating Ranks as a Thought-Provoking Thriller

 17th Installment in Series Featuring a Former CIA Operative Turned Pastor

Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is a thought-provoking, exciting page-turner from Ray Keating, who is the editor and publisher of DisneyBizJournal. This is his eighteenth work of fiction, and the 17th book in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. 



In this latest book, Pastor Stephen Grant and his wife, economist Jennifer Grant, are invited to a conference at the University of Notre Dame. While they look forward to speaking at the same gathering, unexpected dangers materialize, fueled by distorted, political impulses among some in the Church. Defending religious freedom isn’t limited to a conflict of ideas, as the struggle turns deadly.

 

Ray Keating says, “In Under the Golden Dome, I not only try to bring action, urgency and some fun to the reader, but I probably delve more deeply into the world of ideas than in my previous novels. First, I’ve set the book at one of my favorite places in the country, that is, at and around the University of Notre Dame. Second, the conflict in this story stems from conflicting views on the mix of freedom, pluralism, and Christianity, and the questions, risks and history of wedding the Church with politics. Third, at the same time, my primary objective remains telling a compelling story, with characters that readers find interesting.”

 

Kirkus Reviews has called Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant “an engaging and multifaceted character” and “a consistently entertaining hero.” Lutheran Book Review calls Keating “the master of the theological thriller.”

 

In an article titled “If James Bond Became a Pastor” covering Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers/mysteries series, author and columnist Gene Veith noted, “Mr. Keating knows how to tell an exciting story. And these books, like the James Bond novels, are ridiculously entertaining.”

 

Among other reviews and comments, Father Mike Coleman declared, “I am a Catholic priest and have thoroughly enjoyed each of these books. Edge-of-your seat excitement and very spiritually uplifting.”

 

Paperbacks and the Kindle edition of Under the Golden Dome are available at Amazon.com, and signed books at www.RayKeatingOnline.com

 

Review copies, and author interviews and appearances are available upon request. 

 

Contact: Ray Keating

E-mail: raykeating@keatingreports.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PastorStephenGrantNovels and https://www.facebook.com/AllianceofSaintMichael

Twitter: @KeatingNovels

RayKeatingOnline.com

 

 

About the Author 

 

Ray Keating is a novelist, an economist, a nonfiction author, a podcaster, a columnist, and an entrepreneur. 

 

At this point, Keating has penned 17 Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries (with more on the way) – Warrior Monk, followed by Root of All Evil?An Advent for Religious LibertyThe River, Murderer’s RowWine Into WaterLionheartsReagan CountryHeroes and Villains, Shifting Sands, Deep RoughThe TraitorVatican ShadowsPast LivesWhat’s Lost?, Persecution and now Under the Golden Dome. He also has begun the Alliance of Saint Michael series, with Cathedral

 

Among recent nonfiction books are The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List SolutionThe Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an EconomistBehind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York and Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know.

 

In addition, Keating is the editor/publisher/columnist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and hosts three podcasts. He was a columnist with RealClearMarkets.com, and a former weekly newspaper columnist for NewsdayLong Island Business News, and the New York City Tribune. His work has appeared in many periodicals, including The New York Times, The Wall Street JournalThe Washington Post, New York Post, Los Angeles Daily News, The Boston Globe, National Review, The Washington TimesInvestor’s Business Daily, New York Daily News, Detroit Free Press, Chicago Tribune, TheHill.com, Touchstone magazine, Townhall.com, and Cincinnati Enquirer

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Disney Sues DeSantis

 by Ray Keating

News/Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 26, 2023

 

What a strange story. One of the world’s largest entertainment businesses, The Walt Disney Company, has been doing battle with the Republican governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis. And now that battle is spilling into the courtroom, as Disney has brought a lawsuit against Governor DeSantis, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District’s Board of Supervisors and other state officials.



Keep in mind that Disney is one of Florida’s largest employers, and Disney World is the nation’s largest single-site employer. And DeSantis is prepping to run for president … again, as a Republican.

 

In the lawsuit, Disney asserts, “A targeted campaign of government retaliation—orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech—now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.”

 

It later continues: “At the Governor’s bidding, the State’s oversight board has purported to 'void' publicly noticed and duly agreed development contracts, which had laid the foundation for billions of Disney’s investment dollars and thousands of jobs. This government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional. But the Governor and his allies have made clear they do not care and will not stop. The Governor recently declared that his team would not only ‘void the development agreement’—just as they did today—but also planned ‘to look at things like taxes on the hotels,’ ‘tolls on the roads,’ ‘developing some of the property that the district owns’ with ‘more amusement parks,’ and even putting a ‘state prison’ next to Walt Disney World. ‘Who knows? I just think the possibilities are endless,’ he said.”

 

And regarding motivations, it is asserted in the lawsuit: “Governor DeSantis and his allies paid no mind to the governing structure that facilitated Reedy Creek’s successful development until one year ago, when the Governor decided to target Disney. There is no room for disagreement about what happened here: Disney expressed its opinion on state legislation and was then punished by the State for doing so.”

 

Disney also puts forth: “It is a clear violation of Disney’s federal constitutional rights—under the Contracts Clause, the Takings Clause, the Due Process Clause, and the First Amendment—for the State to inflict a concerted campaign of retaliation because the Company expressed an opinion with which the government disagreed. And it is a clear violation of these rights for the CFTOD [Central Florida Tourism Oversight District] board to declare its own legally binding contracts void and unenforceable. Disney thus seeks relief from this Court in order to carry out its long-held business plans.”

 

How did we get here? As DisneyBizJournal has explained before:

 

[O]n Monday, February 27, … Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed House Bill (HB) 9-B. The law renames the Reedy Creek Improvement District as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, and it replaces the governing board – from those appointed by the landowners, i.e., Disney, to those appointed by the Florida governor, with approval by the state senate.

 

Reedy Creek had been established in 1967, and it allowed Disney to self-govern development and assorted services within the boundaries of the land upon which Disney World sits. This long-established set up came under attack last year. 

 

Disney foolishly weighed in against a piece of Florida education legislation [the Parental Rights in Education Act] that had nothing to do with its business, doing so under pressure from various left-wing groups within and outside the company. DeSantis saw a political opportunity to gin up his base, and pushed legislation that would end Reedy Creek. 

 

The details eventually were hammered out. And as expected, the appointees put forth by DeSantis for the governing board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District are his political allies.

 

Incidentally, there are hundreds of special districts like Disney’s – though smaller. As DisneyBizJournal has noted, “By the way, DeSantis made his announcement about Disney’s special district at The Villages, which benefits from its own special district. But The Villages happens to be home to many DeSantis’ political supporters, so…”

 

But that wasn’t the end of it. Before it was renamed and reconstituted, the Reedy Creek Improvement District’s Board of Supervisors passed restrictive covenants and a development agreement. As Disney explained in the lawsuit: “Amid great uncertainty about the lengths to which the State would go to keep punishing Disney for its views, RCID and the Company gave public notice, in January 2023, that they would enter into contracts to secure future development for the District and Walt Disney World—contracts that implemented a comprehensive plan for the District that the DeSantis Administration itself had found compliant with Florida law months earlier.”

 

Regarding such development, Disney, which pays $1.2 billion annually in state and local taxes in Florida, has said that its Disney World resort expansion plans for the coming decade feature $17 billion in investment and the addition of 13,000 jobs.

 

But, today, as reported by The New York Times:

 

On April 26, the board appointed by Mr. DeSantis voted to nullify the two agreements that gave Disney vast control over expansion at the complex. Earlier, a lawyer for the board said Disney’s maneuvers relating to the development agreements were “improper and illegal” and that the company had failed to comply with a state law requiring it to notify the public before taking any actions.  

 

Immediately after the board nullified the agreements, Disney sued Mr. DeSantis, the board and other state officials in federal court, saying it was subjected to “a targeted campaign of government retaliation.” The company has maintained that its actions with the agreements were legal and were approved in open public forums.  

 

As for the judge and Disney’s lawyer in the case, the Times reported, “Daniel M. Petrocelli, a high-powered Los Angeles litigator, filed the lawsuit in Tallahassee on Disney’s behalf. Mr. Petrocelli was the lawyer Mr. Trump turned to in 2016 when dealing with a class-action fraud case against the defunct Trump University. Disney’s case was assigned to Mark E. Walker, chief judge for the Northern District of Florida. Judge Walker, known for stinging rulings and appointed by President Barack Obama, has experience with First Amendment cases.”

 

As for the DeSantis side, the Orlando Sentinel reported, “The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has hired four outside law firms, including the politically connected Cooper & Kirk firm. Cooper & Kirk’s lawyers will bill $795 an hour, according to the firm’s engagement letter. The boutique firm’s roster of lawyers includes Adam Laxalt, who roomed with DeSantis when he was training at the Naval Justice School in 2005 and made an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate last year in Nevada.”

 

Regarding the timing of the lawsuit, the Times also noted, “Disney filed its complaint minutes after a board appointed by Mr. DeSantis to oversee Disney World nullified two agreements that gave Disney vast control over expansion at the resort complex,” including giving “Disney the ability to build 14,000 additional hotel rooms, a fifth theme park and three smaller parks.”

 

And finally, don’t forget that politics drives this entire issue for DeSantis. But politics can be fickle, and he is getting push back from others who want to be the Republican presidential candidate in 2024. For example, the Sentinel noted:

 

Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador now running for the Republican presidential nomination, took a dig at her potential primary rival as she reacted to the lawsuit.

 

“My home state will happily accept your 70,000+ jobs if you want to leave Florida,” Haley tweeted at Disney on Wednesday afternoon.

 

South Carolina is “not woke, but we’re not sanctimonious about it either,” she added — an unsubtle reference to DeSantis, whom Trump has nicknamed “Ron DeSanctimonious” on the campaign trail.

 

In the lawsuit, Disney declares, “In America, the government cannot punish you for speaking your mind.” Well, I guess this case will put this fundamental principle to the test.

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, and the Alliance of Saint Michael novels; and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? 

 

Consider books by Ray Keating…

 

• Pre-order The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle edition here and signed books here. And don’t forget the first book in this growing series, i.e., The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at RayKeatingOnline.com or paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel. Signed paperbacks and/or paperbacks, hardcovers and the Kindle edition at Amazon

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. You can order the latest book in the series – Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel. Get the signed books here, or paperbacks and Kindle editions right here.

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

• Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  –  signed books  or at  Amazon.

 

•  Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know is available at  Amazon  in paperback or for the Kindle edition, and signed books at  www.raykeatingonline.com

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of DisneyFree Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

 

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Celebrates 25 Years

 by Beth Keating

News/Lifestyle

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 22, 2023

 

Today (April 22) isn’t just Earth Day, it’s also the day that Disney World’s Animal Kingdom began welcoming guests 25 years ago, on April 22, 1998.  The fact that it fired up the turnstiles on Earth Day was no mere coincidence. Disney has long been a supporter of conservation efforts throughout the world. (Please note: All photos by Jonathan Keating.)



Our family was there shortly after the opening in 1998, and the 500+ acre park has certainly changed a lot since then.  Gone is Camp Minnie-Mickey, where our young son brought a pillowcase he’d designed to each of the characters to sign, and where Stitch tried to run away with the pillowcase, even trying to pull it over his head.  Camp Minnie-Mickey was built where Beastly Kingdom was originally slated to go, and was also the original home to the first Lion King Theater, a covered roof, open air location that was much smaller and much hotter, without the air conditioning available in its newer, larger current location in the Africa section of the park.  Pandora didn’t exist yet.  It opened in 2017, taking over the former campground.



What a fabulous addition to the park Pandora and its floating mountains and bioluminescent forest turned out to be!  “Flight of Passage” is still an amazing ride as you soar on the back of a banshee.  While some have critiqued the decision to place a fantasy world among the real creatures of the African safaris and exploration treks, Animal Kingdom was originally designed to host a mythical beasts’ area called “Beastly Kingdom.” If you don’t believe me, check out the marquee at the park’s entrance, or the original Animal Kingdom logo sometime, where you’ll see the silhouette of a unicorn or even a winged dragon parading behind the “real” animal silhouettes. 



Over the years, we’ve been able to watch shows such as Journey Into Jungle Book, and Tarzan Rocks, an oddly satisfying performance that saw actors zooming around on skateboards; a short-lived nighttime show (what???) called Rivers of Light that used floating illuminated barges rather than fireworks to tell their story; and the even shorter lived “Kite Tales,” a cute, high-flying performance that earned a cult-following as much for the beauty of the enormous 30-foot-long kites as for the hysterical crash landings of the over-sized characters. Sporadic flotillas ply the Discovery River today, bringing a wave to guests from their favorite Disney characters (when they aren’t meeting-and-greeting in safari gear elsewhere in the park). For a short time in the early days, though, you could take a boat ride down the Discovery River yourself.



The park icon, the Tree of Life, was created from the scaffolding of an oil rig to withstand the winds of a Florida hurricane. It has more than 300 animals hand-carved on its “bark,” with artists having as little as six hours to finish detailing each creature before the plaster dried.  Walking paths meander past the roots of the tree so that you can get a closeup view of the carvings.  Look especially for the carving of the chimp named David Greybeard, named in honor of legendary primatologist Jane Goodall and her favorite chimpanzee.  (She was there for the opening of Animal Kingdom, too.)

 

Of course, the real stars of the park are the live animals. When Walt Disney was designing the Magic Kingdom, he’d wanted to add live animals to the “Jungle Cruise,” but was talked out of it because of the terrible logistics of having live animals show up when and where they were needed.  Animal Kingdom would have thrilled him. Can you imagine how ecstatic he would have been to catch a ride on a Kilimanjaro Safaris’ truck?



Kilimanjaro Safaris itself has grown over the years, as the originally planted flora has filled in and adapted to its role in the journey. Seeds and plants from more than three dozen countries were brought in to create the animals’ new habitats. Baby animals have arrived on the savannah as well, not only exciting guests in the process, but in many cases, adding to the lineage and diversity of the species in the park.  



If you want an even closer look at the people and vets who care for these creatures large and small, tune in to The Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Disney+.  A wonderful, behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day operations of the Animal Kingdom, it is endearing to watch guests spot the critters that they’ve been introduced to on the show, and then excitedly point them out in the parks in real life, often calling them by name.  The safari itself has changed a lot over the years as well. Those of us who have been around longer remember the original dialogue to the safari, a disturbing backstory about poachers and “Big Red.” Fortunately, today’s safari guides are a lot more educational and fun, sharing interesting facts and individual details about the animals on their tour.








Joe Rohde, the lead Imagineer on the Animal Kingdom project, and his team traveled all over Africa and Asia gathering information to help give the park its realistic feel.  They even brought Zulu craftsmen in from Africa to help thatch the Harambe buildings in the manner they’d be constructed back home. Restaurants like Yak & Yeti installed reclaimed architectural pieces and unique artifacts to give the park an authentic feel.



When we first started going to Animal Kingdom 25 years ago (especially when the kids were too small to ride such thrillers as “Expedition Everest,” which opened in 2006), Animal Kingdom was little more than a half-day park for us. While it still closes earlier than the other parks because the animals go to bed at dark, Disney has increased the number of special touches over the years to bring added value to the park.  The Tree of Life became a Beacon of Magic during the 50th anniversary celebration, and Awakenings, with its beautiful projections and blinking fireflies dancing across the 145-foot-tall tree, offers guests a heartwarming “kiss goodnight” from the park.  And while the “Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade” may not be pouncing through the park anymore, the “Merry Menagerie” puppets at Christmastime are a gorgeous, interactive way for families to get in the holiday spirit.



Speaking of puppets, the park has also re-invested in their theater shows over the years, enlarging and enclosing the theater that Nemo and his puppeteers perform in, in addition to the changes they’ve made toward the Broadway-caliber The Festival of the Lion King (one of the best shows on Disney property, in our opinion!)



Today’s Animal Kingdom has also branched out with unique tours for guests, including climbing a rope bridge over a crocodile enclosure!  Other tours allow you to share a meal out on the savannah, a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion, or just get to know the inhabitants of Animal Kingdom a little better.

 

Most people think of Animal Kingdom as a “theme park,” but it is so much more than that. If you’ve ever taken the “Wildlife Express Train” out to “Rafiki’s Planet Watch,” you may have gotten the opportunity to watch the vets taking care of some of their furry or scaly patients behind the glass observation windows.  Disney’s animal care experts also participate in a number of Species Survival Plans (SSPs) with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, helping to assure the survival of some of the endangered and threatened species calling Animal Kingdom home.  There are thousands of animals living at Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge, many of whom are members of vulnerable groups. Disney also sponsors the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, which provides grants and assistance to animal organizations throughout the world. (That adorable species-specific cupcake or specialty coffee you bought in the park may just have deposited some cash into the Conservation Fund.)



While you can never count on speculated changes until construction is complete and they actually start welcoming guests, Disney has already started to do a slow burn of the Chester and Hester’s DinoLand area of the park, removing the nausea-inducing “Primeval Whirl” in preparation for something new, perhaps a rumored Zootopia-themed attraction?  



Whatever it might be, here’s wishing a happy 25th birthday to Animal Kingdom, and the many critters and cast members who make it their home!

 

_______________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Dates Announced for 2023 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party; Tickets To Go On Sale Next Week

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 20, 2023

 

We may be “Halfway to Halloween” in Disneyspeak, but the dates for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom actually begin in August, and tickets go on sale next week.  Disneyland’s popular Oogie Boogie Bash is also returning, with 24 dates scheduled for September and October in California.



Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party begins at 7 p.m. and ends at midnight. However, party guests may enter the Magic Kingdom as early as 4 p.m. to get a jump on their celebration. Ticket prices vary by date, with dates rising in price the closer you get to Halloween.  Prices begin at $109 for Adults (ages 10 and up) and $99 for children (ages 3 to 9), and top out at $199. There are discounts available for annual pass holders and Disney Vacation Club members.

 

Mickey’s 2023 Not-So-Scary Halloween Party dates are:

August: 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29

September: 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29

October: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31

November: 1

 

Guests who have a stay booked at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green can purchase tickets starting April 27, 2023. Ticket sales will open to the general public on May 2, 2023.  Popular dates have been known to sell out quickly.



So, what are some of the highlights of the Not-So-Scary party? Candy, of course!  Guests are given a commemorative Trick-or-Treat bag upon entering the park, and are invited to make their way through designated “Treat Trails” throughout the Magic Kingdom. You’re welcome to collect as much free candy as your heart desires.  There are also a number of special treats available for sale throughout the evening, some of which are party exclusives.

 

While most of your favorite rides and attractions are open (except for those being used as treat trails) and offer much lower wait times during the party, several of the rides have themed party overlays to make the party more exciting. And TRON will be open for the parties this year!  (Be sure not to miss the Pirates of the Caribbean ride on party night for a little extra mischief from the scallywags.)

 
Party-only shows include the ever-popular Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular; a Not-So-Scary Fireworks Spectacular; and the Boo-To-You Parade which runs several times each night, with the very cool grave diggers “sparking” their way down Main Street. 

 

Elsewhere in the Kingdom, there are a number of meet-and-greets with rare characters, usually including Jack Skellington and Sally, and other character favorites in holiday costumes. And if you’re looking for some great photos of your night, there will be event-exclusive 3D step-in photo opportunities, as well as special event Magic Shots from the PhotoPass photographers throughout the park.

 

If you feel the need to work off the calories from all that Halloween candy, head over to one of several dance parties that typically take place throughout the evening, including the Disney Junior Jam Dance Party at Cosmic Ray’s.  And speaking of music, one of our family’s favorites will be returning: The Dapper Dans Barbershop Quartet becomes the Cadaver Dans, with eerie (and corny) versions of their traditional jokes and tunes.



Don’t forget that the Not-So-Scary Halloween party is the one chance for grown-ups to dress the part as well (just make sure you are abiding by Disney’s costume guidelines…. and make sure your costume will allow for comfort in the Florida heat!)

 

_______________

 

Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.