ANAHEIM – Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland are at a premium this season as the event continues to grow in popularity, with online ticket brokers attempting to resell them at up to three times face value.
Tickets for the special event are sold by the Disneyland Resort for $46 for pass holders to $69 for the public.
But they quickly sold out on several nights and are being advertised online for $200-plus per ticket.
One listing on eBay promoted the event with “Sold Out!” in large bold letters and, below, the phrase “But don’t miss out!”
The special Halloween events are billed as family-friendly and “not so scary,” as opposed to competing fright fests such as Halloween Haunt at Knott’s “Scary” Farm and Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights.
“There is a lot of competition, but I think that Mickey’s Halloween Party is somewhat unique if that our event is for all ages,” said John McClintock, a Disneyland Resort spokesman. “You see parents, grandparents with their grandchildren and adults without kids just out on a date.”
The event includes dozens of trick-or-treat stations, Halloween fireworks, a mini parade and special meet-and-greet sessions with Disney characters, including, of course, the villains.
Disney officials, trying to keep up with the demand, added one more night this year for a total of 11 nights. They also increased the face-value prices by up to $5 compared to last year – up dramatically from the inaugural year in 2005, when tickets were $18.
Mickey’s Halloween Party attracts people from all over the region and also some who make the trip from out of state.
Tickets for the event at Walt Disney World in Florida were listed at a “buy-it-now” price of just above face-value. Those hoping to come to Anaheim weren’t as fortunate.
Jason Clinton placed two separate bids on eBay – each for two tickets – so he could bring his wife and two children on Halloween night from their home in Scottsdale, Ariz. If his bids were successful, he’d be paying $460 for four tickets that at-face value are worth $276.
As a backup, he was looking on StubHub, where he’d have to pay $800 for four tickets.
“That’d be painful on the bank account,” said Clinton, a general contractor. “But the kids love all things Disney. So it just may be worth it.”
Contact the writer: 714-704-3769 or ecarpenter@ocregister.com