Halloween festivities will officially arrive at Disneyland Resort from September 1 through October 31, 2023 and guests are in for a treat! Do you want to know which Disneyland rides are Halloween-themed? Or whether or not Disneyland has a Halloween Party? Or the type of entertainment that’s available during Halloween Time at Disneyland? I’m answering these questions and more in my Ultimate Disneyland Halloween Guide to help you plan your visit!
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Ultimate Disneyland Halloween Guide
Get ready for Halloween festivities at Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure! My husband and I have taken our son to Disneyland several times during Halloween Time, and we love seeing all the Halloween decorations on display in Disneyland Park. Since then, Disneyland Resort has also added California Adventure to the Halloween fun. From Halloween decorations to Halloween-themed rides and more, there are several reasons to visit Disneyland during Halloween Time.
Halloween Decorations and Costumed Characters
Halloween decorations are everywhere! Disneyland is decked out in pumpkins, beginning with the giant Mickey-shaped pumpkin that greets guests as they enter Disneyland Park. And Radiator Springs, in California Adventure, transforms into its Halloween counterpart called Radiator Screams. And that doesn’t even include all the characters dressed up in their Halloween costumes, including Cars characters like Lighting McQueen and Tow Mater. To find out which Disneyland Halloween characters are available for photo opportunities, the location, and the times they are available, you’ll want to be sure to check the official Disneyland app.
Halloween Rides
I love visiting Disneyland during Halloween Time, especially since some of the rides are Halloween-themed, too. For example, in California Adventure, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree turns into Mater’s Graveyard JamBooree, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters (one of my favorite rides!) becomes Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween, and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! transforms into Monsters After Dark!
*Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! transforms into Monsters After Dark! after 3 pm every day so keep this in mind if you plan on visiting California Adventure.
There is one ride in Disneyland Park that also becomes halloween-themed during Halloween Time. Haunted Mansion, turns into Haunted Mansion Holiday, which is inspired by Time Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Oogie Boogie himself makes an appearance during the ride and you’ll even be able to smell gingerbread. It’s one of my favorite transformations during the Disneyland holidays.
Halloween Food
If you love Halloween-themed food, then you won’t be disappointed. There’s plenty of Halloween food to sample, from pumpkin spice beignets and churros, to candy apples, and milkshakes. Your sweet tooth will thank you 😉 During one of my previous visits, I couldn’t resist trying the Minnie Witch Shake at Schmoozies! in California Adventure and the pumpkin spice beignets at Mint Julep Bar in Disneyland Park. Both are delicious!*
*The Halloween Time Foodie Guide hasn’t been released yet; but I’ll add it here as soon as it’s announced.
The Witch Milkshake at California Adventure is delicious!
Halloween-Themed Photo Opportunities at Disneyland
The characters in their Halloween costumes can be reason enough to visit Disneyland during Halloween Time, but you can also add Halloween-themed photo opportunities to the list, thanks to Disneyland’s Photo Pass. During the holidays, some of the photos will include Halloween-themed magic shots like the photo shown below. It’s fun to see them as you scroll through the photos on the app.
Plaza de la Familia
Plaza de la Familia is an event that occurs in Paradise Gardens Park in California Adventure. There, you can sing and dance along to mariachi music, and have a photo opportunity with Miguel from the movie Coco. You definitely want to include this in your planned visit to Disneyland. I loved this area of California Adventure, especially since it reminded me of my Hispanic heritage. To find out more about Plaza de la Familia, you can click on my friend Gwen’s article, Celebrate Coco at the Plaza de la Familia at Disneyland.
Dia de los Muertos
I love that Disneyland celebrates other cultures during the holidays. In keeping with tradition, a tribute to Dia de los Muertos can be seen in El Zocalo Park in Disneyland’s Frontierland. Take time during your visit to stop in El Zocalo Park and remember loved ones that are no longer here.
Take time to remember loved ones in El Zocalo Park and Die de los Muertos.
Halloween Screams and Fireworks
Disneyland Park has a laser and projection show during Halloween Time called Halloween Screams. On select nights, Halloween Screams is accompanied by fireworks. Our recent visit to Disneyland occurred during the weekday so while we didn’t get to see the fireworks, we were still able to experience Halloween Screams. It’s very cool to see the special effects!
This year, Disneyland is also offering the following dining packages: Plaza Inn Halloween Screams Dining Package and Skyline Terrace.
*Halloween Screams can be viewed in front of It’s a Small World as well as Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
Oogie Boogie Bash: Disneyland’s Halloween Party
Guests who want to wear costumes and go trick or treating at Disneyland can do so, thanks to Disneyland’s Halloween party called Oogie Boogie Bash! Oogie Boogie Bash occurs in California Adventure and requires a separate ticket for admission. However, those who purchase tickets can spend time in California Adventure up to three hours before the party begins. While costumes are encouraged, keep in mind that there are restrictions. To see the costume guidelines for Oogie Boogie Bash, you can click here.
*Because Oogie Boogie Bash is a special ticket event, California Adventure closes early for those who have general admission park tickets. Keep this in mind if you are planning a trip to Disneyland during Halloween Time.
Exclusive Halloween Entertainment at Oogie Boogie Bash
My family and I were previously able to snag tickets for Oogie Boogie Bash and we really enjoyed the exclusive Halloween entertainment. For example, guests are able to see a Halloween-themed parade, called the “Frightfully Fun Parade,” led by the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. My son also enjoyed Mickey’s Trick & Treat, an interactive dance party with favorite Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto.
*If you want to purchase tickets to Oogie Boogie Bash, you’ll want to make sure you purchase them as soon as possible. Oogie Boogie Bash sells out in advance. Also, keep in mind that parking is not included in the ticket price.
BOOK A TRIP TO DISNEYLAND AND/OR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT A DISCOUNT!
As you can see, there are several reasons to visit during Halloween Time at Disneyland. If you’re thinking of booking a trip to Disneyland or Southern California, then please consider booking through Get Away Today by clicking on this link. Not only does Get Away Today offer the best deals on hotels, including free night specials and exclusive offers like free breakfast, free parking and waived resort fees at select hotels, but Disneyland tickets are also available at a discount. Layaway plans are also available for Southern California vacation packages, with the first payment beginning as low as $125. Additionally, you can receive an extra $10 off any 2-night or longer Southern California package by using the promo code CACTUS.
Planning a trip to Disneyland during Halloween Time? From Disneyland Halloween rides, characters, food, and entertainment, here is an Ultimate Disneyland Halloween Guide to help you plan your visit!