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Dinner was served in the Blue Bayou, and it was truly magical. Our centerpiece was a perfect "collision" of Christmas and Halloween. Stars were carved in the large pumpkin in the middle of the table, and white-frosted snowflakes hung from curly-willow stems. Smaller pumpkins around the table were filled with red and white roses. Baskets of breads and cheese platters were already on the table, as were two bottles of wine.

A snow-covered pumpkin and table of treats awaited each group.

A souvenir menu was presented to each diner, and our first course salad was served. The person who planned the menu must have grabbed the recipe for this salad right from my dreams, because it is my absolute favorite - endive with crumbled blue cheese, candies walnuts, sliced green apples and pomegranate seeds. While I know some people were not impressed with this mixture, I was in heaven.

The Cadaver Dans

As we ate, a crash of thunder accompanied the arrival of three handsome Vampires on the upper balcony. They informed us that a member of their group was missing, and asked if anyone from the audience could sing tenor to fill the vacancy. One of the "waiters" volunteered, and was quickly inducted into the quartet - The Cadaver Dans. They sang Christmas carols with a definite bent, like "I'm Screaming of a White Christmas".

Jack and Sally wave to guests

Throughout the night, the crash of thunder was used to announce the beginning and end of each set of entertainment. Jack and Sally came to pay a visit and watch the Cadaver Dans. We tried to encourage Jack to sing for us, but he got stage fright after just a few notes. Too bad - he had a lovely voice. A number of the artists who had created the limited edition artwork for the event were on hand to mingle among the tables and chat with the guests. Unfortunately, some tables monopolized the artists, and they were not able to get around the room before dinner was over.

Our second course, a corn soufflé, was presented in a hollowed-out pumpkin. Again, it was delicious, and a most unusual dish. With two courses to go, we were already stuffed. The entree was roast chicken with garlic mashed potatoes in a nondescript sauce. It was too dry - the only disappointment of the meal, but we were well satisfied with the earlier dishes, and we had to save room for dessert!

The event dessert - no one wanted to touch it!

Dessert was indescribable - the photo above *might* just do it justice. The chocolate "cauldron" was filled with eggnog, and both the spider web and broom were made of dark chocolate. The pumpkin pie cheesecake was topped with chocolate brittle, and fresh berries were scattered about to provide color.

Of course, we were so stuffed at this point that we had no choice but to take dessert home. Or, at least the more decorative portions thereof! Our waitress provided us with boxes and doggie bags, and encouraged us to take home any part of the centerpiece that "wasn't on fire". We did not need any additional encouragement, so we stuffed our treat bags with rose-filled pumpkins and chocolate brooms.

The Clown with the Tear-off Face checks a guest name off Sandy Claws' list

The characters from the panel discussion show came to escort us all to the Haunted Mansion. On our way, we stopped to see what core merchandise was available. It looked like the store had been restocked, so we decided to come back later - we had a Nightmare to watch! Before we could even enter through the gates, our names had to be found on a list to see whether we had been naughty or nice. Those lists became more important once we got inside.

Mansion entry

The grounds of the Haunted Mansion were filled with eerie fog, blurring the surroundings and making the whole exterior spookier. We just stopped to take in the sight of the newly- decorated mansion.

At the steps of the Mansion, we were greeted again, and asked whether we had been Naughty or Nice. I had been declared to be naughty, apparently because I have a hyphenated, and thus difficult-to-find on an alphabetical list, last name. My poor husband was just deemed to be naughty by association. As such, we had to wait for a few moments before a hostess came and led us into the building.

And, from there.... I'll have to let you decide. If you want to know what the attraction is like, Sue Kruse has provided an excellent write up of the ride, complete with photos. You can find her column by clicking on the above link, but be warned - you will be really really sorry if you read this before you go on the ride for yourself. We are offering this ONLY for those who just KNOW that they won't be able to see the attraction this year.

If you are one of the lucky ones who gets to experience this amazing transformation in person, then by all means, DON'T ruin the surprise. When was the last time you got to go on a truly new ride? You will be ever so much happier if you can see this all for the first time without any advance knowledge.

If you are bound and determined to spoil your surprise, you can find Sue's column here. And, like your parents said when you opened all of your Christmas presents on Christmas Eve.... We told you not to!

We ran into quite a few characters that evening - and the werewolf was pretty cool, too!

All I will tell you is that this attraction is better than anyone I have spoken with expected it to be. It is truly amazing. We could not just ride once, so we hopped off the attraction and sped around front for another go. We were in the last group of riders, and did not even care that half of the show effects had already been turned off. The ride is just that good.

My suggestion to the merchandise team was that they should have sold a $100 "permanent FastPass" for the attraction, which would allow the owner to use the FastPass queue as often as they wanted to until the Nightmare-ized Mansion closes in January. They thought I was kidding, but I wasn't - I bet those would have been the hottest item at the event.

Eric Robison with the Jack painting at last month's Disneyana convention.

With the Mansion closed for the night, we made our way to pick up some last-minute souvenirs, and then to collect our "Second Chance" merchandise. The crowds were thin by then, and we were through the line quickly. On the way out of the gate, we traded in our wristbands for our "lovely parting gifts".

All event guests received a pack of Nightmare- themed Tarot cards, which will make sense once you see the ride. Dinner guests also received a portrait of Jack, by Eric Robison. Sue and I saw Eric working on this piece at the Disneyana convention, and we were nearly bursting at the seams to finally get ours.

The leather jacket looked much better up close

By the time the clock struck Midnight, we were back in our hotel room enjoying the view of Grizzly Peak at night, and wishing that we could have snuck in for a third ride through the Mansion. As event and hotel guests, we were to have received another commemorative gift.

What we found when we returned to our room was a wrapped package containing a Nightmare Before Christmas CD, a chocolate truffle, and a pin of Zero, the ghost dog. Not exactly exciting stuff, especially since most of the attendees probably already own that particular CD, but the wrapping job was wonderful.

The Elizabete Gomez charger plates

Thursday morning, the merchandise still unsold after the event was offered for sale at the Disneyana shop on Main Street. Event customers, many with Early Entry privileges, lined up to have a last chance at items that might have been unclaimed the prior evening. As expected, the selection was pretty meager. Sweatshirts were plentiful, as were the leather jackets (but only if you wanted an extra large) A handful of charger plates were available, and those were quickly snapped up along with the remaining few pin and ornament sets.

When the park opened, another huge line formed in New Orleans Square to buy the open edition pins. As we entered the area, we passed a large group of professionally- dressed people who were leaving the Mansion. Disneyland had invited the local hotel managers to come experience the new attraction, and they all seemed suitably impressed.

As well they should have been. For, despite all of the problems we experienced at the event, the ride made it all worth it. I was even more grateful that I was able to attend the dinner after the sudden cancellations of Tim Burton and Danny Elfman. Even though the panel discussion was a bit different than what we had hoped for, dinner was just a perfectly magical experience, and the Haunted Mansion ride was just perfect.

Oh - the significance of the "Naughty and Nice" lists? As you go through the mansion, you will encounter such lists. For our ride, the names of the event guests appeared on those lists. One fellow visitor said later, "I will forgive everything that happened with my merchandise order if you just leave my name up in the mansion until it closes." I'm with her.

At the end of every special event, customers are asked to fill out a survey. They are asked to share their comments and concerns with the event staff. Here were mine:

What went right:

Recovering from the loss of the two main guests, and still providing a good panel discussion and show. The dinner and dinner entertainment - absolutely wonderful. The event and dinner gifts - better than just another pin, something that really commemorates the attraction and the event. The staff was extra-friendly and accommodating. Great interaction with the characters, performers and event staff. The merchandise selection was better than past events, especially with the addition of the core merchandise. Pacing and flow of the event went well, and the decision to open the merchandise pickup location early was a good call.

What went wrong:

The whole ticket- buying process needs to be reevaluated. Policies needed to be established and consistently followed. There were some definite glitches in the RSP system, made worse by the sheer lack of popular merchandise to begin with. The watch, poem, stained glass pin and Doombuggy statue should have much higher edition sizes. Even though the staff was great about fixing mistakes, there's not much that can be done once an item is sold out.

The last question on the survey asks "Would you attend another Merchandise Special Event". My answer - absolutely. Disneyland always seems to nail the "Special Event" part, and that's why I come back.

It's just the merchandise part that needs some work...

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Adrienne Krock with the $65 perspective

Sue Kruse on the event show

Sue Kruse tells you all about the ride

Sue Kruse offers another look inside!

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