When I lived in California and was a Disneyland local, fall was always one of my favorite times of the year. I was not a fan of the weather (anyone who is familiar with Southern California’s climate knows that it only gets hotter in the fall), but I was very much into Disneyland’s transformation come Halloween Time.
Halloween Time at Disneyland typically runs from September 1 through October 31, giving you two full months of pumpkins, seasonal treats, and spooky vibes. If you’re heading to the Disneyland Resort this fall and what the must-know details of all things Halloween, keep reading!
Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort
DISNEYLAND PARK
Meet favorite characters dressed up for Halloween (free with park admission)
Meeting Disney characters in Disneyland Park is especially fun during the Halloween season. Mickey and all of his pals are dressed in adorable Halloween costumes, making for memorable photo ops with the family. That’s not all – there are a few opportunities to meet rare characters as well, like Jack Skellington and Sally from ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas.’ The pair greets guests daily in New Orleans Square. If you have always wanted to meet them, it is much easier to do so at Disneyland (Over at Walt Disney World, you would have to pay for a ticket to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, where the wait times can easily eclipse 1-2 hours).
Haunted Mansion Holiday (free with park admission)
Every year, the denizens of Halloween Town transform Haunted Mansion into Haunted Mansion Holiday, a joyful clashing of the holidays in the spirit of ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas.’ Jack, Sally, Oogie Boogie, and more familiar faces can be found throughout the attraction, while all of the classic elements of the beloved dark ride remain. If you can’t catch Haunted Mansion Holiday during Halloween, do not fret: it stays through the holiday season, returning to the original version in January.
Note that Haunted Mansion Holiday is an extremely popular annual overlay. Expect wait times for this attraction to greatly exceed the average wait times you’d see throughout the year for the regular Haunted Mansion. Plan accordingly!
Halloween Screams (free with park admission)
Be prepared to scream with delight as Disneyland presents its nightly fireworks spectacular, Halloween Screams. The show performs nightly and runs for approximately 10 minutes. Note that while Halloween Screams performs nightly, the fireworks are only available on select evenings (other evenings are projections only).
For the full performance, including projections, lighting, and Jack and Zero, the best viewing is along Main Street U.S.A., but you can catch the fireworks in the sky from nearly anywhere in the park – there are good viewing areas around the Rivers of America, in front of “it’s a small world,” and in Tomorrowland.
Main Street Pumpkin Festival (free with park admission)
Embracing all things fall, and Halloween is easy at Disneyland. Just step onto Main Street, U.S.A., and you will be greeted with pumpkins and other seasonal decor. The pumpkins continue all the way to Sleeping Beauty Castle, with pops of fall appearing around the park as well. Combine that with all of the limited-time treats and merchandise, and you do not really need to go out of your way to find fall vibes in the Happiest Place on Earth.
Día de Los Muertos (free with park admission)
Halloween is not the only holiday observed this time of year. Día de los Muertos takes place annually on November 1 and 2, and guests can find special tributes to the occasion in both parks at Disneyland Resort. Over at Disneyland Park, head over to El Zócalo Park in Frontierland and find a colorful tribute in the form of calacas as well as brightly colored flowers and other decor you’d find in the traditional ofrendas.
Plaza Inn Halloween Screams Dining Package ($60 per adult and $30 per child ages 3 to 9)
Want a not-so-spooky dinner catered especially for the Halloween season? Looking for a surefire way to enjoy the fireworks without camping out early for a spot along Main Street? Consider signing up for the Plaza Inn Halloween Screams Dining Package. The prix-fixe meal includes a reserved viewing area to enjoy Halloween Screams.
Your menu for the Plaza Inn Halloween Screams Dining Package includes the following:
- Adult Meal: Short Rib in Cabernet Sauce with Bacon-Cheddar Mash, Charred Scallion Chimichurri, and Roasted Broccolini, served with Hibiscus Lemonade and Specialty Dessert
- Child Meal: Chicken Tenders, Bacon-Cheddar Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, and a Dessert, with choice of small DASANI Water or small Low-Fat Milk
- Dessert Options: Specialty Dessert—Layers of Green Peppermint Mousse and Crushed Chocolate Cookie Crumbles topped with Gummy Worms and Oogie Boogie Decoration
Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace Dining Package ($89 per guest)
The top floor of Tomorrowland Terrace has been retrofitted to become the Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace, complete with special Dining Packages that are available throughout the year. This fall, guests can sign up for the Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace Dining Package on select evenings, complete with skyline views of Halloween Screams (on nights when the fireworks are included).
Entry to the Dining Package includes access to the terrace throughout the evening. Guests may come and go at their leisure or spend the entirety of the evening following your reservation on the terrace (reservations can be made for 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM).
Your Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace Dining Package includes the following:
- Choice of entrée with a side
- A delectable dessert
- Unlimited soft drinks, bottled water, or hot chocolate
- Commemorative beverage novelty
- Themed credential with a lanyard
- Themed coaster
- Choice of a specialty-themed, non-alcoholic beverage with a glow cube
Click here for our full 2023 Halloween Foodie Guide at Disneyland Resort
Disney’s Happiest Haunts Guided Tour ($110.00 per guest ages 3+)
For the ultimate Halloween extravaganza at Disneyland Park, guests can sign up for Disney’s Happiest Haunts Guided Tour. This two-hour walking tour includes a history of the holiday as well as how the holiday plays a part in various Disney experiences. Plus, you get expedited access to Pirates of the Caribbean, a photo op with the Hitchhiking Ghosts, and a reserved viewing area for Halloween Screams.
DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE PARK
Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark (free with park admission)
California Adventure’s popular E-ticket attraction Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT takes on a spooky twist as the sun begins to set. From September 1 through October 31, the ride transforms into Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark around mid-afternoon and continues through park closing time. The mechanics of the ride are similar to its normal version, but with a few extra gruesome creatures that you and the Guardians of the Galaxy must face in order to save Groot.
Cars Land Halloween Makeover (free with park admission)
Of all of the lands throughout California Adventure, the one that gets perhaps the most attention during Halloween Time is Cars Land. Radiator Springs and the surrounding area transforms into a spooktacular “Radiator Screams” with clever decorations, photo ops, and more. Keep your eyes peeled for some familiar faces from the ‘Cars’ films as they don their own Halloween costumes to greet guests.
Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-o-Ween (free with park admission)
Cars Land gets more than a decorative overlay in the fall — its attractions get the Halloween treatment, too. Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters becomes Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-o-Ween, complete with a seasonal orange and black tire tower out front. The ride is essentially the same as it is all year, but with a spooky twist on the songs played while the cars dance around each other (including “Terror-antella,” “The Chop Top of Carsoli,” and more).
Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree (free with park admission)
Another family-friendly Halloween overlay in Cars Land happens over at Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, which transforms into Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree. While guests swirl around the junkyard, Halloween-themed music plays overhead, including “Welcome to Radiator Screams” and “Monster Truck Smash.”
Plaza de la Familia (free with park admission)
Paradise Gardens comes alive in celebration of Día de los Muertos, starting September 1 and continuing through November 2. Plaza de la Familia includes authentic memorials like the Mexican Árbol de la Vida (Tree of Life), as well as a Memory Wall for guests to leave a remembrance note. Also, enjoy ‘A Musical Celebration of Coco,’ arts and crafts, a Miguel photo op, and more.
Oogie Boogie Bash
On select evenings in September and October, Disney California Adventure hosts Oogie Boogie Bash, a hard-ticket after-hours event. Oogie Boogie Bash is a fan favorite each year, and tickets for the parties sell out in a flash (Oogie Boogie Bash is not included with regular day admission and a separate purchase is required).
Oogie Boogie Bash features Treat Trails where you can come face-to-face with Disney villains, some of which are unique characters rarely seen in the parks! The event also includes the Frightfully Fun Parade, party-exclusive food and beverage items, merchandise, and more.
Click here for our complete 2023 Oogie Boogie Bash Guide
DOWNTOWN DISNEY DISTRICT
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit ($9.99 per guest)
There is a special Halloween-themed scavenger hunt at Disneyland Resort that does not require theme park admission to enjoy. Kids will love to take the lead with Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, as pumpkins are scattered across Downtown Disney, cleverly disguised as classic Disney characters. Pick up a game board and stickers for $9.99 at select merchandise locations, and you’re off to the races! Each player can redeem their map – completed or not – for a special prize. Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit will be available this year from September 8 through November 1 while prize supplies last.
Halloween-themed dining
Downtown Disney is filled with great restaurants and dining locations, and that is no different during Halloween Time. Find seasonal bites and sips all around, including at Ballast Point, Naples, Black Tap, and more.
RESORT HOTELS
Goofy’s Kitchen Halloween (Disneyland Hotel)
Did you know that Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel hosts special Halloween dining? When you book a reservation here during Halloween Time, you’re in for a treat as Goofy and his friends are dressed in special Halloween costumes. The food featured during the season are also themed especially for this time of year.
Note: Goofy’s Kitchen Halloween takes place from September 21 through October 31, 2023.
Goofy’s Kitchen Breakfast
- 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Adult: $62
- Child (ages 3 to 9): $34
Goofy’s Kitchen Halloween Brunch
- 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM
- Adult: $62
- Child (ages 3 to 9): $34
Goofy’s Kitchen Halloween Dinner
- 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM (with the last seating at 8:45 PM)
- Adult: $75
- Child (ages 3 to 9): $37
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Lobby Display
If your ideal fall visit to Disneyland Resort is a bit more on the leisurely side, you’ll want to carve out some time in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Each year, a larger-than-life edible display is handmade and shown in the lobby, alongside festive treats available for purchase. In 2023, a new display debuted featuring Miguel and Dante from the film ‘Coco’. A highlight each year is the cookie shots, which can be filled with milk or chocolate milk–or for those over 21, you can also choose Bailey’s, Rumchata, or Grand Marnier.
