Today at Disneyland: Halloween Time 2014

September 12th marked the start of this year's Halloween Time festivities at Disneyland.

Unlike last year, there was no Friday the 13th kickoff event, which kept the crowds manageable, although the park was still quite busy due to both Halloween Time and Dapper Day; the park was filled with hundreds of people dressed to the nines, many wearing vintage styles.

Since we don't really get weather "seasons" in Southern California -- it's mid September and we're heading into a week of temps over 100 degrees! -- it's nice to experience seasonal changes at Disneyland.

The Ray Bradbury Halloween Tree has returned to Frontierland again this year:

Dia de los Muertos at Zocalo Park in Frontierland:

Space Mountain once again has the Ghost Galaxy overlay:

New holiday popcorn bucket and travel mug:

The submarine lagoon has been refilled and will reopen soon!

It's wonderful seeing that part of the park come back to life. Now if only they would do something to wake up Tomorrowland, which is a rather sad-looking area of the park the last few years.

We enjoyed Fantasmic for the first time in a couple of years!

As my daughter remarked, this was "Fantasmic Lite"; no dragon, no Flotsam and Jetsam, and with the Mark Twain in drydock, Disney characters came out on Tom Sawyer Island for the grand finale, which is decidedly less impressive than the Mark Twain suddenly floating into view.

We also enjoyed the Remember fireworks show. It's hard to believe that show is nearly a decade old.

We had a nice moment after the fireworks when my daughter, who had come straight from work in Hollywood with no time to eat, tried to buy a pretzel. The Fantasyland location had just closed, but the Cast Member surprised her and handed her two free pretzels he still had on hand, saying "Magic Moment!"

It's going to be an unusually hot weekend in Southern California, but we may try to head out to Disney California Adventure for a bit on Sunday to take a look at Oswald the Lucky Rabbit's triumphant arrival as a character who will be greeting guests on Buena Vista Street. I'm delighted that this historic early Walt Disney creation will now be part of the park.

Update: Today at Disney California Adventure - Meet Oswald the Lucky Rabbit!

Previous Halloween Time Posts and Photos: September 29, 2006, September 30, 2006, October 21, 2006, September 28, 2007, October 12, 2007, October 17, 2008, October 9, 2009, October 15, 2010, plus the 2011 Annual Passholder Private Party (October 17, 2011); October 21, 2012, September 13, 2013, and October 18, 2013.