Halloween Time at Disneyland

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort can be a spooktacular time for the whole family. Disneyland changes all the time! This includes the Holidays and seasons during the year. While trying to decide when the best time to visit the parks can be a challenge, one I am going through myself at the moment, if you have decided to go during Halloween Time there are some things you should know before you go.

Halloween Time at Disneyland

While I personally have not visited the Disneyland Resort during Halloween Time I have seen numerous photos, tons of video footage, and I have done research. Lots and lots of research. I love to know all I can about the Disneyland Resort. As a result, I am going to share with you things I have learned about this spooky season to help you plan your trip around and through the Halloween Time offerings.

Halloween Time Dates

First of all, let’s take a look at when Halloween Time will be running this year. Disney recently announced that Halloween Time will run from September 7-October 31. This is for the 2018 season.

Decorations

Sometimes the Disneyland Resort goes all out on holiday decorations. For example, during the Christmas holiday season, Disneyland is all decked out with lights, Christmas trees, wreaths, Cast Member clothing and music. Etc. In fact, even Mickey and Minnie Mouse are wearing festive attire.

During Halloween Time, Disneyland has orange and yellow bunting down Main Street that makes me think of candy corn! Mickey and the gang are dressed in costumes and you can find pumpkins everywhere on Main Street. Including a giant Mickey pumpkin in the town square. There are hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins on Main Street for their pumpkin festival. Check out all the details!

• Tip: Make sure to visit the Walt and Mickey statue on Main Street in the hub in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Not only do the flowers go with the Decorations around the park, but they will have carved pumpkins all around the statue that are of different Disney characters. Don’t forget to check them out at night as well!

These are just some of the many decorations around the park!

California Adventure also gets into the decoration game. Oogie Boogie from Nightmare Before Christmas takes over this park. Buena Vista Street at night is transformed with lots of purple lights. Bats can be seen up at the top of the Carthay Theatre. The Headless Horseman is at the end of Buena Vista Street. In addition to all the decorations around the park, Cars Land is all decked out with car parts for their Haul-O-Ween celebration.

Rides/Attraction Overlay’s

Besides all the decorations around the Disneyland Resort, some of the rides get a makeover during certain seasons.

First of all, Haunted Mansion gets taken over by Jack Skellington at Disneyland. All of the spooky halls at the Mansion are decked out with spooky holiday decorations. This overlay tradition started in 2001 and it comes back each year. This transformation sticks around until the end of the year.

• Tip: Make sure you visit Haunted Mansion Holiday at night too!

Next Space Mountain in Disneyland becomes Ghost Galaxy for Halloween Time. I have heard the soundtrack for this attraction. All I have to say is YIKES! This Overlay tradition started in 2007 and continue’s to return each year. Both of these rides are extremely popular. I recommend getting there early in the day or securing a Fast Pass.

Over in California Adventure, Luigi’s Rolickin Roadsters becomes Luigi’s Honkin Haul-O-Ween. It is a ghoulishly fun dance party with spooky music and decorations that you won’t want to miss.

Another ride at California Adventure for Halloween Time is Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree. It is a haunted hootenanny!

Finally, in California Adventure, is Guardians of the Galaxy- Monsters After Dark. In the rescue attempt of the Guardians, Groot was left behind! Now the fortress is on lockdown and you will need to join Rocket to help get Groot out safely! This version of the Guardians ride is only around for the Halloween Time celebrations.

Tasty Treats

It wouldn’t be a vacation without having some tasty treats to make your mouth water! The food at Disneyland is pretty delicious and they continue to change up the food choices all the time. It goes with the seasons too!

I have talked about Candy Apples before (here), Halloween Time is no different! Disneyland offers themed candy apples around the Disneyland Resort. Minnie Mouse has a witches hat, Jack Skellington makes an appearance, Mickey Mouse is there in Jack-0-lantern form and beware of the poisoned apple from Snow White!

In addition to the Candy Apples, Disneyland also has themed cake pops, rice crispy treats and pumpkin beignets! Just to name a few.

Merchandise

As always, a special celebration would not be complete without some spooky souvenirs to take home with you! Costumed Disney character plush’s, cups, mugs, shirts and mouse ears, etc. The hardest part is deciding what to get!

Disney’s Happiest Haunt Tour

If you are wanting even more spooky encounters, during Halloween Time Disneyland offers a tour that you can purchase. (Separate admission to the park is required.) It is called Disney’s Happiest Haunt Tour. This walking tour takes you around the park in search of treats, see spooky characters, tell ghost stories, and encounter tricks as well.

If you would like more information on the tour you can find it here.

Mickey’s Halloween Party

On select nights, Mickey throws a spooktacular party during Halloween Time.

First, the biggest thing to know while visiting the park during Halloween Time is that Disneyland closes early on the nights that Mickey’s Halloween Party is offered.

Next, you need to know that if you want to participate in Mickey’s Halloween Party, you will need to make reservations and that it is an additional charge to get tickets for this event.

There is trick or treating at Mickey’s Halloween Party. They have candy stations set up all over the park. Be prepared for a sugar rush!

For more information on Mickey’s Halloween Party, for instance, dates, prices, costume restrictions, etc, visit Disneyland’s official website here for all the details.

In Conclusion

With all the changes to the resort for all the seasons, therefore, it can be difficult to decide when to visit the park! I hope that all the information and tips in today’s post will be helpful to you in deciding whether to go during Halloween Time and/or how to best plan out your stay with everything that is going on at the Disneyland Resort during Halloween Time.

For the full list of offerings at The Disneyland Resort during Halloween Time, you can find it here.

Questions or Comments?

If you have any questions or comments on today’s post, please feel free to leave them below!

Thanks for stopping by Life in Mouse Years!