Ride of the Pumpkin King
Written by @pix
Go through Halloweentown as you ride through the retelling of the classic The Nightmare Before Christmas story.
Queue
Guests enter a beautiful forest and wind their way through trees that reflect the beauty of Autumn. There are Jack-o-lanterns on the ground next to Christmas trees and Pilgrim hats. Easter Eggs are scattered near every corner. There are Valentines gifts near large pots of gold and there are firecrackers near every tree. Signs appear saying “BEWARE! Strange anomalies occur in these woods. Turn back NOW!” The guests enter a show building concealed my large trees. They enter a Pre-show room as they are surrounded by seven trees. Each tree contains doors that resemble different items which represent different holidays like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and St. Patrick’s Day. All of a sudden, a loud voice beams from around the room.
“T'was a long time ago, longer now than it seems
In a place that perhaps you've seen in your dreams
For the story that you are about to be told
Began with the holiday worlds of old
Now you've probably wondered where holidays come from
If you haven't, I'd say it's time you begun.
It was late one fall in Halloweentown,
And the air had quite a chill.
Against the moon a skeleton sat,
Alone upon a hill.
He was tall and thin with a bat bow tie;
Jack Skellington was his name.
He was tired and bored in Halloweentown
Everything was always the same.”
Suddenly, a door resembling a Jack-O-Lantern swings open and guests walk through into the boarding area. They enter the customs area of Halloweentown which usually welcomes haunting new visitors! As they pass by an Animatronic goblin security guard (who is asleep), guests see themselves as skeletons in the security cameras. After they wind their way through the queue, their mode of transport arrives. Guests board floating coffins and begin their journey through Halloweentown.
Ride
As guests board the coffin carts in Town Hall, the narrator reminds guests to keep all hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the coffin so as to not disrupt any of the holidays they will travel to. Once the cast member checks the safety bars, the coffin moves through the iron gates into Halloweentown as the town is celebrating another horrible Halloween thanks to the Pumpkin King. This is Halloween plays throughout this room
Moving through and past the celebration the ride takes on a slower and more solemn tone as we pass Zero and Jack walking through the woods. The carts come upon the Holiday tree clearing and head through the Christmas tree door.
The ride picks up speed once again as guests zoom through the wonderful winter wonderland. Passing snowmen and twinkling lights guests are embraced by the scent of gingerbread and the chill of a snowy room to the soundtrack of What's This.
As guests pass back under the sign for Christmastown they enter directly into Jack's tower, where Jacks Obsession plays throughout. Filled with bubbling beakers and chalkboards filled with holiday problems the coffins pass an animatronic Jack sits on an electric chair covered in Christmas lights and surrounded by books.
Guests then enter a room with Lock Shock and Barrel filled with all of the various tricks and traps as they plan to kidnap Sandy Claws.
Next then venture into Oogie Boogies lair as the coffins lead them around the pit where Sandy Claws is hanging, and passed the wheel of misfortune where Oogie Boogie is taunting Sandy Claws.
Finally guests leave the lair and pass back into Halloweentown which is now a beautiful snow covered wonderland as the spiral mountain looms in the distance. Guests then exit into HalloweenTown Treasures.