It was 90 degrees outside at 2 pm, but that didn’t stop me from snagging my first pumpkin spice latte on Main Street, U.S.A. to ring in the Fall season. It felt like Fall rushed in like a warm breeze, subtle yet indisputable. I love this time of year, where the leaves change colors and the cool nights remind us that we’re heading into a time filled with warmth, memory-making and lots of pumpkins!
It’s Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort, and as part of our Fall traditions, we spent a day enjoying the park’s exclusive Halloween entertainment, rides, and treats. Both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park are dressed up for the season complete with hundreds of pumpkins, an authentic Dia de los Muertos experience, thrilling renditions of your favorite rides, and your favorite Disney characters in their Halloween costumes, Halloween Time runs through October 31st, 2016, so you’ll want to be sure to make time to see the park’s Fall transformation. With so much to see and do at both parks, I’ve put together a Complete Guide to Visiting Disneyland at Halloween Time.
Halloween-Themed Attractions
Every year during Halloween and Christmas, the Haunted Mansion undergoes a festive makeover inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Inside you’ll the manor completely outfitted in Halloween-meets-Christmas decor including jack o’lanterns and wreaths and a newly themed gingerbread house which appears to be stitched together from other houses and treats. This year, Sally joins Jack Skellington, Zero, and Oogie Boogie for the first time inside the mansion.
Confession: I really, really loved Hyperspace Mountain. So when I rode it for the last time on Labor Day, I knew that a ghostly new rendition would soon take its place. Eerily spectacular, Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy features screams, chilling spirits, and ghastly music, creating a chilling, thrilling Halloween experience.
The first time I rode The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was at Magic Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort. The experience was thrilling, but I never conjured up the nerve to ride its Disneyland counterpart until just last week. With Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! slated to open in 2017, now is the time to enjoy the ride, including a special Late Check-Out. Every day after twilight, guests can enter the fifth dimension in complete darkness and free-fall in the haunted elevator for the very first time with the lights out. As we say goodbye to an era, be sure to catch the special music performances by the Silver Lake Sisters, food and beverage items, and commemorative merchandise in honor of the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
Spooktacular Treats
‘Tis the season for pumpkin spice and everything nice! Unlike many amusement parks, I actually look forward to enjoying all of the culinary creations dreamed up by the team at the Disneyland Resort. During Haloween Time, you can find a variety of sweet and savory treats including Minnie Witch, Poison Skull and Jack Skellington Candy Apples, Pumpkin Fudge, Mummy Crispy Treats, Mickey Pumpkin, Poison Apple and Mummy Cake Pops, Jack O’Lantern Marshmallow Wands and Day of the Dead-inspired desserts such as Calaveras-decorated apples, crispy treats and cake pops.
I took a walk through Disneyland Park in search of Halloween-themed treats and happened upon the following.
Poison Apple Mug: Served with a choice of fresh grapes or pineapple
Halloween Time Travel Mug: Served with coffee or hot cocoa.
Spider Parfait
Pumpkin Twist
Zero Light-Up Popcorn Bucket
Butterscotch Mickey Beignets
Supernova Pizza
Halloween Popcorn Buckets
Pumpkin Flan
Pumpkin Raisin Bread Pudding
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Bat Mickey Cookie
Cookies and Cream Mousse Coffin Cake
For more information about Halloween eats and treats at Disneyland, visit the Disney Parks Blog.
Frightfully Fantastic Decor
A stroll through Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park is a great induction into the Fall season. Pumpkins in all shapes, sizes and Disney characters adorn the park. The giant Mickey Pumpkin that sits at the beginning of Main Street is incredibly popular for photos. My best tip is to strive for a mid-day shot since guests entering and exiting tend to line up for that first or last photo.
In Frontierland, guests who observe Dia de los Muertos can enjoy a display honoring this sacred tradition. Take a photo, enjoy a Pumpkin Flan, and enjoy a Calaveras-style face painting at Zocalo Park adjacent to Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante.
Haunted Mansion Holiday boasts the most impressive Halloween transformation but you’ll find subtle touches throughout the resort. Be sure to keep an eye out for Mickey and Minnie, who only dress in costume during Halloween Time.
Haunted Gifts
Take home a Halloween gift this Fall with Disneyland’s exclusive merchandise. My favorites include the home decor items and the specialty apparel items.
Special Halloween Experiences
Every year in July, the Disneyland Resort begins ticket sales to Mickey’s Halloween Party. During this separate-ticketed Halloween Bash, guests can dress up for an evening of tricks and treats including the ghostly tunes of the Cadaver Dans, a bewitching fireworks display, villainous encounters, and a frightfully delightful new parade. The entire feels special and we love the fact that even mom and dad can dress up and we come home with enough candy to last through the end of the year. While ticket sales for 2016 have ended, if you happen to have a ticket you’ll want to check out my Insider Tips for Visiting Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland.
Each year, the Disneyland Resort also offers an exclusive tour during Halloween Time. This year’s Happiest Haunts Tour takes guests on a 2-hour historical walking tour of Disneyland Park culminating at the Haunted Mansion. During this tour, your guide will share fascinating stories about the famous antebellum house including how Walt Disney’s Imagineers used their creativity and technical capabilities to conjure up a spirited experience complete with special effects and surprises, and behind-the-scenes information about the design and construction of the Haunted Mansion. The cost of Disney’s Happiest Haunts Tour is $85 per person and includes a baked treat, an exclusive collectible tour pin and a FASPASS for Haunted Mansion Holiday. Tours run daily and can be booked by calling (714) 781-TOUR.
For more information about Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort, visit Disneyland.com/HalloweeTime.