It’s that fabulous time of year again when I get to think about all of those spooktacular, Disney-themed activities that make Halloween so much fun at home. Given how early in the year Disney starts celebrating this seasonal event, you wouldn’t be alone if you felt over it before it even began, but this is the week to rally all those mysterious vibes and get excited again. After all, who couldn’t use a bit of fun at the moment?
As usual, I will be spending October 31st away from the magic of Disney parks, though not by choice, which means I always like to pay extra attention to how we can bring that excitement and family-centric eeriness into our homes. Let’s look at a few inexpensive ways that you can enjoy the day with family or friends without too much prep required.
Let’s Get Carving
Carving pumpkins might seem a bit old-school or boring to some, but when you take the time to give it a try, you can get some really fantastic results that bring your home to life when lit in the dark of night. For those of you not too successful with the intricate carving, remember, not all of them need to have little tiny spaces. Try this Mickey Ice Cream Carving below for something a bit easier.
For those of us in the Southern Hemisphere heading into Summer soon, don’t forget you can add your creation to a watermelon if you can’t source a decent pumpkin at this time of year.
If you need to keep the kids entertained while you get the carving done, task them with some paper chain work using precut strips of fall-colored paper and then hang them around your home.
Check Out Muppets Haunted Mansion on Disney+
Are you sick of watching the same old movies every Halloween? This year Disney+ has something new to offer and the best part is, it’s a family show so you don’t have to wait until the kids are asleep to enjoy it. Disney’s Muppets Haunted Mansion is now on Disney+ where you get to see Gonzo spend an evening inside the spooky Haunted Mansion.
Muppets Haunted Mansion is 52 minutes of family fun, but if you are looking for a few other titles to watch with the family, try Eddie Murphy’s 2003 The Haunted Mansion, any of the three Halloweentown movies, or the classic Hocus Pocus!
Prepare Your Playlist
Now, we have our entertainment, we have our decorations; it’s time to work on the atmosphere of your evening. The easiest way to add some magic to the air is to get your playlist under control. Curate your own or borrow one from Disney here.
Dim those lights if you can or ditch them all together and opt for candlelight to set the scene at your dinner table. Add that wow factor by setting up a spooky scene on your TV through YouTube. With ambient sounds and music, the soft movement of the screen can make the room feel transformed into a completely different space. Try this one from Ambient Worlds.
Enjoy Some Halloween Treats
Embrace the seasonal vegetables and make use of those of those pumpkins on offer at the market with these recipes that Disney shared in 2020 to celebrate National Pumpkin Day. If you think you will have trick-or-treaters coming to the door all evening, you might prefer to serve a selection of finger foods. Take some inspiration from these food ideas released from Disney in celebration of Halfway to Halloween back in May.
Don’t have much time to plan a menu? Add a scary twist to your family favorites using food coloring or new textures to create a spooky meal that everyone will love.
Play A Game
Grab those Minnie Ears and let’s put them to good use at home. Get together with the friends or family you are celebrating with to pick a villain character for each person in the group, but don’t let them see who it is! Attach the character to their Minnie/Mickey ears and ask questions throughout dinner until each guest can work out which character they are. It’s easy to tailor this one to different age groups depending on who you are hanging out with and you can print pictures for younger children who can’t read just yet.
Looking for something a little more challenging? Purchase a downloadable escape room experience and use the clues as a group to solve the mystery. I’ve done many of these with my family during lockdown here in Sydney and some were really fun.
However you spend your day, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable Halloween with the right balance of love and chilling excitement to suit your needs.
Add your Halloween home traditions below and give me some ideas to add to my Sunday plans.
Happy Halloween!
Featured image: Sonya Pix on Unsplash
Zoë Wood is a travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Since her first visit to Disneyland at the age of 6, she has spent her years frequently visiting Disney Parks and traveling around the world.
Join Zoë as she lets you in on all the tips, tricks, anecdotes, and embarrassments that arise from her family adventures.
