Last updated on November 28th, 2023 at 08:36 pm
Halloween Time returns to the Disneyland Resort September 1 through October 31, and you don’t need to purchase tickets to an extra special event to enjoy it! Here is an overview of everything you need to know to enjoy Disneyland Halloween 2023.
Disneyland Halloween Time 2023
Autumn is our absolute favorite time of year to visit Disneyland. With seasonal attraction overlays, Halloween-themed food and décor, plus encounters with Disney villains, happy haunts seem to materialize around every corner!
If you missed your chance to purchase tickets to the Oogie Boogie Bash (or just didn’t want to spend the extra money!) don’t despair. Tickets to the Oogie Boogie Bash (a separate, ticketed event taking place on certain nights in September and October) have already sold out.
But the great news is you don’t need a ticket to still thoroughly enjoy Halloween Time at Disneyland. In fact, I dare say the best things about Disneyland Halloween are not part of the Oogie Boogie Bash anyway!
There are tons of Halloween-themed experiences to check out at the Disneyland Resort, and you don’t need the extra ticket to enjoy.
From the giant Mickey Pumpkin on Main Street to the Headless Horseman at Disney California Adventure – magic is in the air for Disneyland Halloween Time 2023!
There will also be special Halloween-themed lobby displays at the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, as well as throughout Downtown Disney.
Following is are details on the sights, sounds and tastes of Disneyland Halloween 2023!
When Does Disneyland Decorate for Halloween?
Unless you have purchased a separate ticket to attend the Oogie Boogie Bash, be mindful of those event dates when you make your reservations. DCA closes early on nights when the party takes place, and you don’t want to find this out after you’ve arrived at the park!
Disneyland Halloween 2023
As soon as you enter Disneyland, youâll be greeted with amazing orange pumpkins and decorations on Main Street. This year is sure to be the most festive ever.
The Mickey Mouse Pumpkin is one of the most popular photo opp spots in the parks. Be sure to get there early if you want a picture because the line gets long pretty fast!
The Main Street Pumpkin Festival brings a horde of hand-carved gourds to Main Street, U.S.A., including the giant Mickey Mouse Pumpkin.
Haunted Mansion Holiday
Befitting the supernatural season, Haunted Mansion Holiday will feature a merry makeover of the beloved eerie estate. Jack Skellington is behind the mayhem, decorating the mansion with frightfully festive touches inspired by âTim Burtonâs The Nightmare Before Christmas.â
Dedicated fans of the holiday house will look forward to spotting the gingerbread house on its precarious perch on the ballroom table, making its annual appearance for this collision of two holidays.
Halloween Screams
Don’t miss Halloween Screams, a supernatural projection and special effects show.
Each night through October 31, this nighttime spectacular will summon projections, special effects and music on Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, Rivers of America and in front of âitâs a small world.â
MagicBand+ adds new dimension to the show this year, with ominous illuminations and shivering vibrations. On select nights, fireworks will conjure in the skies above.
Frontierland
To commemorate the Mexican holiday of Day of the Dead, there is a colorful DĂa de los Muertos tribute in Frontierland. The exhibit that features a musical trio of iconic skeleton figurines, brightly colored flowers and other decorative items.
Halloween at Disney California Adventure Park
From âTim Burtonâs The Nightmare Before Christmas,â Oogie Boogieâs oversized silhouette marks the main entrance to the park. Halloween dĂ©cor extends along Buena Vista Street. In Carthay Circle, you’ll find a 10-foot-tall statue of the Headless Horseman holding his jack-o-lantern head to the sky.
Cars Land During Halloween Time
Radiator Springs becomes Radiator Screams for Disneyland Halloween 2023!
All of Cars Land is transformed with a special Haul-O-Ween makeover as the townsfolk of Radiator Springs don Halloween costumes and decorate their respective homes for the season.
In Cars Land you’ll find Materâs Junkyard Jamboree swap to a happily hair-raising soundtrack to become Materâs Graveyard JamBOOree.
The nearby Luigiâs Rollickinâ Roadsters becomes Luigiâs Honkinâ Haul-O-Ween, taking guests on a wicked whirl! And for the first time, the resident âcar-acterâ Guido will sport a ghoulish âcar-stumeâ as he welcomes guests to the Casa Della Tires.
For Haloween Time 2023, Ramone’s House of Body Art offers a whimsical nod to DIa de las Muertos with this fun display.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Over in Avengers Campus, as night falls, Guardians of the Galaxy â Mission: BREAKOUT! transforms into Guardians of the Galaxy â Monsters After Dark, an exciting and spooky adventure filled with creepy creatures and thrilling drops.
During the Guardians of the Galaxy escape from The Collectorâs Fortress, Groot was accidentally left behind. This ride overlay lets you team up with the Guardians to save Groot by helping Rocket distract creatures from around the galaxy that have gotten loose!
Buena Vista Street
Over on Buena Vista Street, Mickey Mouse and friends summon the wardrobes of seasons past with old-fashioned Halloween styles, poised and ready for photos. Festive Halloween décor will add to the ambiance on Buena Vista Street.
When the sun sets, the façade of Carthay Circle Restaurant comes alive with Halloween magic as bats swarm, green energy pulses from within and projections light up the iconic tower structure with mesmerizing moments.
Plaza de la Familia and Tributes to DĂa de los Muertos
Honoring the Mexican traditions of DĂa de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the vibrant Plaza de la Familia cultural experience once again brings brilliant marigolds, live entertainment and family-friendly crafts to Paradise Gardens in Disney California Adventure Park from September 1 through November 2.
This immersive limited-time celebration honors the spirit of Dia de los Muertos, with entertainment, festive foods, crafts and interactive experiences.
Paradise Garden Grill will present a celebratory menu inspired by Mexican cuisine.
Throughout the experience, characters and music from Disney and Pixarâs Academy Award-winning âCocoâ highlight the everlasting bonds of family. Several times per day, âA Musical Celebration of Cocoâ presents a talented company of FolklĂłrico dancers, plus Mariachi singers and musicians, that recount Miguelâs adventure to the Land of the Dead.
You can also take photos with Miguel, enjoy Mariachi music, add remembrance notes to the Memory Wall, and more.
Over in Cars Land, Ramone will honor DĂa de los Muertos at his detailing shop with an âofrendaâ celebrating the life and career of the townâs good friend, Doc Hudson.
âș Read more about how to Celebrate Coco at the Plaza de la Familia at Disneyland.
Downtown Disney Halloween
From September 8 through November 1, Disney character-themed pumpkins will be hidden around the Downtown Disney District for Plutoâs Pumpkin Pursuit.
Here’s how you can play:
- Pick up your game board and stickers for $9.99 plus tax at select merchandise locations.
- Have fun searching for hidden decorative pumpkins based on Disney characters and placing the corresponding stickers on your game board.
- Return your game board to a redemption location to receive a keepsake prize.
Plutoâs Pumpkin Pursuit game boards can be purchased at the following locations:
- Acorns Gifts & Goods (Located at Disneyâs Grand Californian Hotel & Spa)
- Disney Home
- Disneyâs Fantasia Shop (Located at the Disneyland Hotel)
- Disneyâs Pin Traders
- small world Gifts & Sundries (Located at the Disneyland Hotel)
- The Disney Dress Shop
- WonderGround Gallery
- World of Disney
This is a fun scavenger hunt activity if you’ve got little kids, or if you are a local visiting the Disneyland Resort to get a taste of Disneyland Halloween fun without a park ticket. But to be very honest, at ten bucks a pop, I would probably skip this one.
Downtown Disney District will also feature fall décor, entertainment and special offerings from select locations.
Frightfully Festive Foods
This year, expect Halloween-themed food to once again a big part of the fun! Dining locations across the Disneyland Resort will serve up frightfully flavorful food and beverages, such pumpkin fritters, special cookies and Halloween-themed cake.
Here are some of the food and beverage highlights from last year you can expect to enjoy during Disneyland Halloween 2023.
Ghost Pepper Nachos – Charred ghost pepper-marinated chicken, smoky ghost pepper cheese sauce, black bean purĂ©e, avocado tomatillo salsa, and seasoned tomatoes.
Ghost Pepper Nachos are available at Lamplight Lounge Boardwalk Dining at Disney California Adventure Park.
Mickey Pumpkin Apple – Green Granny Smith apple dipped in caramel with marshmallow ears enrobed in orange-white chocolate and green, white chocolate leaf.
Mickey Pumpkin Apples are available at Candy Palace, Pooh Corner at Disneyland Park and Bing Bongs and Trolley Treats at Disney California Adventure Park.
Butter Pecan Cold Brew – Non-alcoholic butter pecan-flavored cold brew topped with candied pecans.
The Butter Pecan Cold Brew is available at Pym Test Kitchen at Disney California Adventure Park.
Rocky Road Halloween Sundae – Rocky road waffle bowl, rocky road ice cream, marshmallow cream, hot fudge, and whipped cream topped with sprinkles.
The Rocky Road Halloween Sundae is available at Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor at Disneyland Park.
Pumpkin Spice Churro – Churro rolled in pumpkin spice flavored sugar.
Pumpkin Spice Churro is available at Buena Vista Churro Cart at Disney California Adventure Park.
âș Be sure to also check out this Guide to Disneyland Christmas.
Final Thoughts: Disneyland Halloween 2023
It used to be that fall was a slow time for the Disneyland Resort. And then came Halloween Time!
Disneyland Halloween Time was designed as a way to lure crowds to the parks during the off-season, but over the years it has literally grown to be one of the most popular times to visit! My family and I love Disneyland this time of year, we have been many time and will be back again for Disneyland Halloween 2023.
The perfect fall weather. The fun and just slightly creepy Halloween decorations and ride overlays. The fantastic food that gets better every year. These are just some of the things that make Halloween Time the best time to visit the Disneyland Resort!
Save This 2023 Disneyland Halloween Time Article for Later!
Planning a visit to the Disneyland Resort during Halloween Time? Pin the image below for future reference!
Arunima Dey says
This looks amazing! I have never been to Disneyland and have always thought Christmas might be the best time to go but never thought of Halloween as a time to go. I am going to get there one day!
Patrick Griffin says
Wow, this blog post about Halloween Time at Disneyland is absolutely fantastic! đđ° I can’t express how much I enjoyed reading about the magical and spooky festivities that Disneyland has to offer during this enchanting season. The way you vividly described the decorations, the character appearances, and the themed attractions made me feel like I was right there experiencing the magic myself!
Thank you for sharing this amazing piece, and I’m definitely bookmarking your blog for more travel inspiration and tips. Keep up the outstanding work, and I look forward to reading more of your adventures in the future! đ»đą”