Family turns backyard into Disneyland’s Pirates, Mansion rides for Halloween
Disney Inspired Haunted Mansion in Vegas Home. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)
Updated October 30, 2020 - 8:46 am

The Garcias' backyard is seen inspired from The Pirates of the Caribbean, for their Disney themed halloween home, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

Leroy Garcia takes off Santa's costume that is placed in his family's Haunted Mansion inspired by the attraction at Disneyland, at the Garcia home on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

Logan Garcia, 6, sits at a table in his backyard that is decorated like The Pirates of the Caribbean, apart of his family's Disney themed halloween home, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

Tiffany Garcia, left, Leroy Garcia, center, and their son Logan, 6, is seen in their DIY Haunted Mansion attraction inspired by Disneyland, at their home in Las Vegas on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

The Garcia's home is seen decorated with a Disney themed halloween inspiration, in Las Vegas, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

A homemade replica inspired from the Haunted Mansion attraction of Disneyland is seen at the Garcia home on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

The Garcia home is seen decorated for Halloween on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

The Garcia home is seen decorated for Halloween on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

Halloween decorations are seen at the Garcia home that is decorated with inspiration from Disney, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

A homemade replica inspired from the Haunted Mansion attraction of Disneyland is seen at the Garcia home on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

The Garcias' backyard is seen inspired from The Pirates of the Caribbean, for their Disney themed halloween home, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

A skeleton scene from The Pirates of the Caribbean is seen in the GarciaÕs backyard for their Disney themed halloween home, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

A skeleton scene from The Pirates of the Caribbean is seen in the Garcias' backyard for their Disney themed halloween home, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

Tiffany and Leroy Garcia are photographed with their four sons in front of their Disney inspired Halloween home, in Las Vegas on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

Tiffany and Leroy Garcia are photographed with their four sons in front of their Disney inspired Halloween home, in Las Vegas on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)

The Nightmare Before Christmas plays in the Garcias' homemade movie theatre in the backyard of their home in Las Vegas, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal @EliPagePhoto)
The Garcias are a family of self-proclaimed “Disney nerds.”
On their annual visits to Disneyland, the family of six goes on iconic rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion.
But they also do research.
“We’re looking for ideas,” Tiffany Garcia says. “I’m always looking for new things to decorate or add to the Haunted Mansion Room.”
Every Halloween, Tiffany, her husband, Leroy, and their sons convert their home into their two favorite attractions.
Starting in August, the Garcias turn their backyard into the skeleton-laden set pieces from Pirates of the Caribbean. And their home interior and patio become the Haunted Mansion Holiday.
In a normal year, the family also builds an elaborate haunted house in its garage.
“We give everyone who goes through it one piece of candy,” Leroy Garcia says. “One year, we gave out 3,000 pieces of candy.”
The family also generally opens up its backyard to trick-or-treaters so kids and their families can see the decorations, play in the backyard and watch the movies on a projector.
Because this year is not normal, the Garcias have made adjustments.
Families who brave the spider web-covered driveway, refuse the offer of apples from the Evil Queen who sits on the front porch and evade the sensor-triggered bodies that fall from the front door will be invited to explore the backyard, where the Garcias have set up socially distanced tables in lieu of the crowded haunted house.
In the area surrounding their swimming pool, the Garcias have arranged set pieces from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, including familiar moments in the attraction, such as the pirate skeleton who lies on a bejeweled bed and another who captains a ship beneath a tattered sail.
Tables near the pool are topped with colored lights, inspired by the Blue Bayou restaurant at the Anaheim, California, park.
Throughout the year, Tiffany Garcia browses thrift stores and estate sales, transforming old picture frames and knickknacks into pirate treasure.
The family also converted its patio into the stretching room from The Haunted Mansion.
Most of the “Nightmare Before Christmas” characters are handmade, with a giant Jack Skellington who looms over the backyard constructed out of foam and PVC pipes, an Oogie Boogie character who is, fittingly, made from wrapping burlap around a Santa Claus statue, and a lovable doglike Zero, which Leroy suspended from a fishing line attached to a windshield wiper motor.
“The kids contributed more this year, since we’re all stuck at home,” Tiffany Garcia says of her 13-, 10-, 8- and 6-year-old sons. “It’s a team effort. This is what we love to do as a family.”
While she isn’t sure how many trick-or-treaters will be out this year amid COVID-19 precautions, she did invite a small group of friends over for Halloween night and plans to welcome small groups of visitors into her Disney-fied backyard if they stop by.
“We want to give kids candy and fun and magic in a safe way,” Tiffany Garcia says.
Contact Janna Karel at jkarel@reviewjournal.com. Follow @jannainprogress on Twitter.