Disneyland is magical any time of year, but if we had to choose, we’d say that Halloween is the best. When summer ends and autumn begins, Disneyland pulls up all the stops with seasonal overlays on rides and seasonal pyrotechnics.
Disneyland undergoes a remarkable transition every year, becoming the world’s preeminent Halloween destination with the help of carved pumpkins and other seasonal decorations. Disneyland Resort, not just the parks, gets into the Halloween spirit with special menus, decorations, and shows across the resort and Downtown Disney.
The Halloween season at Disneyland Resort begins on September 1 and runs until October 31.
Disneyland Decorations for Halloween
There are frequent nighttime transformations.
The Main Street Pumpkin Festival, an annual event at Disneyland Park, has returned, and it has taken over the picturesque boulevard by filling the window sills with hundreds of intricately carved pumpkins. In the foreground, with Sleeping Beauty Castle in the background, stands a massive Mickey Mouse pumpkin that has become a popular picture op. The whole park is decked up in spooky decorations for the occasion. See Mickey, Minnie, and the gang decked up in new clothes, including bat embellishments, as they play the role of honorary ghost hosts.
The makeover of Cars Land into “Radiator Screams” during the Halloween season at Disney California Adventure Park is a must-see. The most interactive area of the park, Lightning McQueen’s Home World, is decked out in the “Haul-O-Ween” best of the iconic Pixar characters that call it home.
Additionally, visitors may enjoy the fun by sporting costumes and accessories from Disneyland’s Halloween product collection, including limited-edition popcorn buckets, ear headbands, and specialized spirit jerseys.
Halloween Screams Fireworks
Special fireworks light up the night sky above Sleeping Beauty Castle every Saturday and Sunday during Halloween Screams. MagicBand+ guests will enjoy an enhanced performance thanks to a wearable gadget that will send chills down their spines with pulsating sensations and eerie lighting.
Spellbinding Seasonal Treats
The culinary crew at Disneyland always comes up with deliciously original seasonal delicacies. They boost the ante during Halloween by adding dozens of frighteningly tasty and aesthetically attractive dishes and drinks to the venues’ menus. Adding restaurants like Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, which serves sweet and savory treats, means that many customers’ top choices now have even more variety. Due to high demand, guests are encouraged to utilize the Disneyland app’s convenient mobile ordering option to pre-order these tasty delicacies.
Halloween Overlay Attractions
Disney Imagineers add themed overlays to a few of the parks’ most popular attractions yearly. Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters becomes Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween, while the family-friendly Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree becomes Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree in Cars Land during Halloween. This year, Guido, the host of Casa Della Tires, will be outfitted in a brand-new car costume to greet visitors.
There will be a complete reworking of Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission: Breakout into Guardians of the Galaxy: Monsters After Dark. A fresh plot and score take an already terrifying journey to a whole new level of terrifying.
Plaza de la Familia and Dia de los Muertos Tributes
During Day of the Dead, Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Gardens Park becomes the picturesque Plaza de la Familia. This event will have a marigold display, a party feast, music, arts & crafts, and more. Pixar’s “Coco” comes to life in this tranquil plaza with live mariachi music and traditional folklórico dancers. A meaningful approach to leaving your mark is to write a message on the park’s Memory Wall.
Most festivities will occur in the plaza, although Cars Land and Frontierland at Disneyland Park will also be open to guests. This party continues over Halloween until November 2.
Disneyland Resort Hotels and the Downtown Disney District
The scares persist at Disneyland’s entertainment, dining, and retail area, Downtown Disney. For a short time, attendees may join Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, a treasure hunt themed after the festival’s signature pumpkin.
Disneyland’s three on-site resorts may also have seasonal decorations and treats. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is returning its popular bake stand, where guests can purchase freshly baked goods next to an enormous, delicious chocolate display.
Guided Tour of Disney’s Happiest Haunts
Booking a Happiest Haunts Guided Tour may enhance a private Halloween party at Disney World. For an extra cost, guests may be part of a select group that gets an early look at one of Disney World’s largest yearly events. Participants will get the opportunity to explore Disneyland Park, snap photographs with the iconic Hitchhiking Ghosts, receive a limited-edition pin, and see Halloween Screams from the best vantage points.
Oogie Boogie Bash
On certain evenings between September 5 and October 31, Disney California Adventure Park will play home to the legendary after-hours party Oogie Boogie Bash. Various treat paths allow guests to meet and interact with popular villains and other one-time-only attractions while collecting sweets.
The Frightfully Fun Parade, which takes place twice nightly, features appearances from many well-known Disney characters, such as the gravediggers from the Haunted Mansion. The first showing is often busier than the second because of the high demand from guests.
If you want to attend this year’s Oogie Boogie Bash, you better get your tickets immediately since they often sell out months in advance.
How to Make the Most of Your Halloween Trip to Disneyland
Crowds at Disneyland are heavier than usual this time of year since many of the Halloween events are free with regular theme park entry. Weekends are busier because of the Halloween fireworks, so if you want to escape the crowds, it’s best to come during the week in September.
It’s better to get there right when the park opens to beat the crowds at the holiday-themed attractions, such as Haunted Mansion Holiday.
