Get in the spooky spirit this Halloween and celebrate at Disneyland Resort!
Are you ready for some seriously spellbinding fun? Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort offers everything you need to get in the spirit –or welcome some ghostly spirits! –during the fall. Featuring autumnal (and slightly spooky) decor throughout the theme parks, thrilling ride overlays, fresh and fun character costumes, and of course plenty of themed treats to try, Halloween Time is one of the most exciting seasons.
What’s in store for Guests during the Halloween season? We’ve created a complete guide to Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort, covering everything from spooky ride overlays to the best seasonal treats and merch. Discover why Halloween is one of the best times of the year to visit Disneyland below!
- Halloween at Disneyland Park
- Halloween at Disney California Adventure Park
Experience Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort
What is Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort? Well, it’s a resort-wide celebration that includes festive and frightfully fun decorations, classic Disney characters in exciting Halloween costumes, and some villainous ride overlays and experiences. Oh, and did we mention there are special seasonal nighttime spectaculars, parades, and even Halloween events? It’s two months of ghoulish thrills, and it’s a great opportunity to see Disneyland, California Adventure, and the entire resort transformed (and yes, there are plenty of pumpkins!).
In addition to celebrating Halloween during the annual Halloween Time at Disneyland, the theme parks and larger resort also celebrate Día de los Muertos in the fall. Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, takes place on November 1 and 2. You can learn more about this holiday and join the celebrations at both Disneyland and California Adventure during Halloween Time.
When Does Halloween Time Begin at Disneyland and California Adventure?
Halloween Time begins on September 1 and runs through October 31. You’ll likely see Halloween and fall inspired decorations start popping up around Disneyland Resort in the days leading up to September 1 and the official start of Halloween Time!
Halloween at Disneyland Park
You’ll find plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween at Disneyland Park during Halloween Time. As soon as you arrive on Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll encounter the Main Street Pumpkin Festival, where hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins are scattered. And you definitely won’t miss the giant Mickey pumpkin!
As you explore Disneyland, you’ll encounter Halloween decor and theming that’s both beautifully autumnal and somewhat spooky. But Halloween Time is about more than just seasonal decorations. Keep reading to find out what special offerings are around only in September and October each year.
Halloween Ride Overlays
One of the most exciting details of Halloween Time at Disneyland Park is Haunted Mansion Holiday. This ride overlay takes the traditional Haunted Mansion attraction and transforms it into a festive celebration of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The mansion’s halls are decked with spooky and seasonal decorations, with the grim grinning ghosts taking joy in the arrival of Sandy Claws. You’ll be able to spot characters and iconic Halloween and Christmas touches throughout the attraction, including a special appearance by Sally at the ride’s end.
Halloween Shows and Entertainment
During Halloween Time, the nightly fireworks show is replaced with a more seasonally inspired one. For 2023, the Disney100 spectacular Wondrous Journeys will go on hiatus, and Halloween Screams will return.
Halloween Screams is a show that combines explosive fireworks with spooky, spirited projections featuring some of Disney’s classic villains –and, of course, some Halloween favorites! The eerie and exciting show features Jack Skellington as the “Master of Scare-omonies” and his dog, Zero. You’ll also spot Ursula, Maleficent, and other frightful faces. And keep an eye out for cool special effects like flames, rising ghosts, and more!
Halloween Character Meet and Greets
If you want to catch your favorite Disney characters in spellbinding new attire, you won’t want to miss the meet and greet opportunities during Halloween Time at Disneyland. Throughout this special season, you’ll be able to see both classic characters like Mickey and Minnie in special Halloween attire (and even costumes!) and new characters who come out to greet Guests only during this time of the year.
Jack Skellington, Sally, and even a villain or two can be found inside Disneyland Park in September and October at special meet and greet locations.
Halloween Food and Merchandise
Each year, the restaurants and snack spots throughout Disneyland Park offer up special menu items just for Halloween Time. You can expect everything from sweets to limited-time additions to table service spots –and there will be plenty to try!
Additionally, Disney typically releases a special merchandise collection that’s available in the theme parks. This year, the 2023 collection features a spooktacular new spirit jersey, a fun pumpkin ear headband, and more. Take a sneak peek right here!
Halloween at Disney California Adventure Park
If you’re more of a spooky and scary fan, you won’t want to miss Halloween Time at Disney California Adventure Park. This theme park is transformed into a frightful yet fun world, with bewitching decor like swarming clouds of bats and menacing statues (like the Headless Horseman, who you’ll spot over on Buena Vista Street) to welcome you.
You’ll find fewer pumpkins and more frights awaiting here –and you definitely won’t want to overlook the incredible details awaiting you in Radiator “Screams.” You can celebrate Haul-O-Ween with the residents of Radiator Springs, all decked out in costumes and spooktacular decorations for the season. Keep reading to find out what special offerings are around only in September and October each year.
Halloween Ride Overlays
Three attractions get a special Halloween Time treatment over at California Adventure: Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, Luigi’s Rollickin Roadsters, and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree.
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! is transformed into Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark with a special seasonal overlay. In this version of the attraction, you’ll team up with Rocket to save Groot. And along the way, you’ll experience a different ride story… in the dark!
Over in Cars Land, Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween features eerie music and cars dancing along to seasonal twists like “Terror-antella” and “The Chop Top of Carsoli.” Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree also gets a spooky makeover and becomes Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree for the Halloween season. This kid-friendly attraction will twirl you around to Halloween tunes like “Welcome to Radiator Screams” and “Monster Truck Smash.”
Halloween Shows and Entertainment
At California Adventure, you’ll find entertainment themed around Día de los Muertos at Paradise Gardens. During Halloween Time at Disneyland, you can catch A Musical Celebration of Coco throughout the day. Told by the Storytellers of Plaza de la Familia, this performance features songs from Coco (including the Oscar-winning “Remember Me”) and see characters from the movie come to life.
Halloween Character Meet and Greets
Just like over at Disneyland Park, California Adventure offers seasonally-inspired character costumes and attire. You may not see as many villains roaming Buena Vista Street or Redwood Creek (well, not during the day, at least!), but you can spot classic Disney characters getting into the spirit of Halloween with costumes of their own.
One can’t-miss character opportunity is found in Radiator “Screams” during September and October. Your favorite Cars characters –including Lightning McQueen and Mater –put on their Halloween costumes to greet Guests. You won’t want to miss their spooky fun takes on their usual appearances over by the Cozy Cone Motel!
Halloween Food and Merchandise
Each year, the restaurants and snack spots throughout California Adventure Park offer up special menu items just for Halloween Time. You can expect everything from sweets to limited-time additions to table service spots –and there will be plenty to try!
Additionally, Disney typically releases a special merchandise collection that’s available in the theme parks. This year, the 2023 collection features a spooktacular new spirit jersey, a fun pumpkin ear headband, and more. Take a sneak peek right here!
Halloween Special Events
Each year, California Adventure is home to a wonderfully spooky Halloween special event: Oogie Boogie Bash. This separately-ticketed party includes villain sightings, special character meet and greets, trick-or-treat trails, and plenty of scream-inducing fun! Held on select nights in September and October, the bash is one event you don’t want to miss.
Note: Tickets are sold out for Oogie Boogie Bash 2023. Next year’s tickets will likely go on sale during the summer, so keep an eye out for the on-sale date if you’re interested in attending the 2024 party!
Halloween at Disneyland Resort Hotels and Downtown Disney
The Halloween Time fun extends beyond the theme parks and into the larger Disneyland Resort. From autumnal, pumpkin-filled decor to special treats and merch designed just for fall, you’ll be able to explore some limited-time offerings throughout Downtown Disney as well as at the three Disneyland Resort hotels. Primarily, you’ll want to keep an eye out for special treats and menu items at Downtown Disney and hotel restaurants.
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit
During Halloween Time, Disneyland Resort offers a scavenger search for fun Disney pumpkins. Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit runs from September 8 to November 1 (or until supplies last), and you can pick up a game board and set of stickers at select hotel and Downtown Disney locations. To play, you’ll need to find the decorative pumpkins hidden throughout the resort. Once you’ve found them all, you can turn your game board in for a keepsake!
