How Disney resorts feature The Headless Horseman more than you might expect – DePaoli on DeParks
When one thinks of dark and spooky Disney characters, names like Ursula, Maleficent, and Cruella come to mind. For most people, The Headless Horseman isn’t an immediate thought. But when you stop and think about it, the Disney resorts feature The Headless Horseman far more than one might expect.
These days, representation in the Disney parks doesn’t typically happen unless a particular Disney property crosses that beloved $1 billion threshold. Therefore, it’s fascinating how a character from an often forgotten and overlooked piece of media has such a presence during the spooky season.
Perhaps the most obvious is The Headless Horseman’s appearance before the Frightfully Fun Parade at Oogie Boogie Bash, and Mickey’s Boo to You Halloween Parade at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Before each parade The Headless Horseman has his very own moment as the horse trots down the streets of Magic Kingdom and Disney California Adventure.
This pre-parade has its own soundtrack and voiceover. It’s a moment that party guests await, and it makes quite the impression. In the case of Frightfully Fun Parade, Ichabod Crane and other townsfolk are seen preceding the Horseman’s pursuit.
Those two parades can only be seen by guests attending the hard-ticketed Halloween parties. But in the case of Disney California Adventure, The Headless Horseman is on display all day long in the form of a statue.
At the end of Buena Vista Street stands an ink-black horse with The Headless Horseman and his pumpkin raised atop. This statue is very realistic and doesn’t lean toward a friendly, animated version at all. I greatly appreciate its authenticity. Guests wearing a MagicBand+ can activate the horse’s whinny as they pass by. And as darkness falls, special lighting and fog enhance the creepiness of this menacing figure.
I personally loved experiencing Return to Sleepy Hollow at Walt Disney World. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground has had various Headless Horseman activities throughout the years. At the end of the night, The Headless Horseman posed for pictures with special event guests. It was a simple yet delightful event that I hope returns someday soon.
Overseas at Hong Kong Disneyland, they have a history of celebrating the scary side of Halloween much more than the domestic parks. At one point, they even had full-blown haunted house mazes for guests to brave. From 2011-2014, one of those maze offerings was Revenge of the Headless Horseman.
But Headless Horseman offerings don’t simply exist during the Halloween season at Magic Kingdom. Observant guests in Liberty Square take notice of the Sleepy Hollow Inn Hearty Fare & Drink food stand. This nod to the home of The Headless Horseman is a welcome sight each time I visit Walt Disney World.
It doesn’t end there. The Headless Horseman is featured in holiday desserts and numerous other places around the Disney resorts. I love to see this sort of representation, but it always surprises me given his little-know Disney origins in comparison to the mega-Blockbuster representation we typically see.
Do you have a favorite piece of Headless Horseman representation at the Disney resorts? Leave a comment and let me know.
Jeff DePaoli is a producer and voiceover artist living in Los Angeles. He can be heard as the voice of Disney Trivia on Alexa as well as the host of “Dizney Coast to Coast,” the ultimate, unofficial Disney fan podcast. Get your FREE gifts of “America’s Hidden Mickeys,” “On the Rohde Again,” “Theme Park Comfort Kit” and more at DizneyCoastToCoast.com. DePaoli’s opinions are his own and do not necessarily represent Attractions Magazine.
