Editor’s Note: Today is our last day for our week of Halloween! This time, we’ll be exploring Disneyland’s offerings!
It may still feel like summer in Southern California and many areas of the country, but Mickey and friends are already gearing up for a busy fall as Halloween Time returns to Disneyland today, September 7. You’ll find attraction overlays, seasonal treats, decorations, and special parties. For a light-hearted, slightly spooky holiday, check out what Disneyland Resort has to offer.
Rides
Last fall Disney California Adventure added holiday overlays for Halloween to two of Radiator Springs’ attractions. Both Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween are returning with spirited music and decorations they thought up. I thought Halloween music with an Italian accent was a little odd at Luigi’s, but Mater’s offering is awesomely cute.
Nearby, Guardians of the Galaxy Mission:Breakout becomes Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark when night falls for an edgier experience. Be sure to ride the day and evening versions during your trip!
Across the Esplanade in Disneyland, the classic Haunted Mansion morphs into Haunted Mansion Holiday. Jack Skellington redecorates more to his taste once again. What’s this? Which holiday is it anyways?
Mickey’s Halloween Party
Get your tickets FAST for this hard-ticket special event. Last year all of the nights for Mickey’s Halloween Party sold out even before the first date in mid-September! If you do have one of these hot tickets, expect creative costumes, an exclusive parade and fireworks show (also one of my favorites), trick-or-treating throughout Disneyland, and special character greetings. A real treat for all-age ghouls and boys.
Decorations
I don’t know where they store them the rest of the year, but the Halloween decorations in both parks are starting to rival the Christmas season for scope and originality.
The ride overlays aren’t the only thing special in Cars Land. Our friendly vehicles have decorated their town with spooky seasonal touches and great little details. Be sure to look in every nook and cranny — the Cozy Cone office houses an homage to a classic movie — see it for yourself.
Buena Vista Street has an eerie air, especially after dark. Ooogie Boogie now controls the playlist, and that Headless Horseman statue that looked so formal during the day is now smoking hot. Purple lights strung around the trees in Carthay Circle and bats lurking overhead add to the foreboding feel. Add in the tower of Guardians of the Galaxy lit and looming over the area, and you’ll feel a chill even if it’s 75 degrees out.
Disneyland goes for more of a classic pumpkin theme, starting with the row of Mickey-shaped gourds over the gates. Pumpkins line the storefronts of Main Street and window displays reflect the holiday. Expect a long line to get your picture taken with the oversized pumpkin in Town Square at any time of the day or night.
©Disney — the churro game is strong on the West Coast
Treats
You’ll get a sugar rush just reading the list of all of the goodies Disneyland is brewing up. I count TEN churros and churro-based desserts alone. Disneylanders love their churros! The bakeries and candy shops will have their usual Halloween-themed baked goods, candy apples, and desserts. There are even seasonal savory entrees like Cosmic Chili Pasta at Alien Pizza Planet and a Spicy Pepper Jack Dog at Corn Dog Castle to complete your nutritional chart.
Whether you’re there for the creepy-crawly Cars, the devilishly delicious desserts, or the thrilling themed rides, Halloween makes room in its treat bag for everyone. Halloween Time returns to Disneyland for a witching hour each fall, so catch it before its spell wears off after Oct. 31.
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort runs Sep. 7 through Oct. 31. What are you most excited about experiencing as Halloween Time returns to Disneyland? Let us know in the comments, or on Facebook or Twitter.
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Want to visit Disneyland during Halloween Time? Contact The Magic for Less Travel for more information and a free, no-obligation quote.
