There’s a whole lot of fun for kids of all ages during Halloween Time at Disneyland, and we’re sharing all the details about attractions, decorations, and special events.
Are you ready to get spooky? Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort is one of the most popular times of the year, and the festivities kick off sooner than you might think!
Running from late August to October 31 each year, Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort brings all kinds of fall festivities to Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney, and the onsite hotels. For 2024, the spooky season fun kicks off when Halloween Time gets underway at Disneyland on August 23.
Wondering what to expect? Head below to see what kinds of exciting Halloween attractions, entertainment, decor, and more you can expect during this time of the year.
Discover Halloween Happenings at Disneyland
- Halloween at Disneyland Park
- Halloween at Disney California Adventure Park
- Halloween at Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Resort Hotels
Halloween at Disneyland Park
Halloween Screams takes over Sleeping Beauty Castle and “it’s a small world” at night. Photo by Abby Richardson
If you’re looking for some frights mixed with fun, Disneyland Park is home to a whole host of Halloween-themed fun each year. Here, you can mingle with your favorite Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse (both of whom get decked out in new seasonal attire each year!) for exciting photo opportunities, check out the giant Mickey pumpkin on Main Street, U.S.A., and see grand fall-inspired decor.
But there’s even more fun to be had throughout the park. Disneyland introduces special limited-time offerings just for Halloween, including:
- Seasonal attraction overlays, like the fan-favorite Haunted Mansion Holiday that merges the Haunted Mansion with The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Halloween Screams, a seasonal fireworks spectacular filled with villains like Ursula and Maleficent taking center stage
- Seasonal character encounters, which include familiar faves in new Halloween-inspired attire or costumes as well as those who only come out for spooky season (like your favorite villains!)
- Festive fall merchandise and food, which are always a hit with guests
Halloween at Disneyland with Kids
Kids of all ages will find plenty to enjoy and explore at Disneyland Park during Halloween Time. Any kids, tweens, and teens who are fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas will not only love Haunted Mansion Holiday, but will also enjoy meeting Jack Skellington and Sally during their seasonal meet and greet – and don’t miss Halloween Screams, which features a special appearance by Zero!
Little ones will have tons of fun meeting their favorite characters in their new outfits. Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, Daisy, and more hang out on Main Street throughout the day, offering plenty of chances to get autographs and snap photos. And of course, all of their favorite attractions in Fantasyland are still available to ride (though they may not feature any special Halloween twists.)
Halloween at Disney California Adventure Park
Flo’s V-8 Cafe gets extra spooky during Halloween Time at California Adventure. Photo by Jaysen White
When Halloween descends on Disneyland Resort, much of the spookiest fun happens over at California Adventure. Home to Oogie Boogie Bash, Disneyland’s version of a Halloween party, it’s where you’ll find plenty of villains and rarely-seen characters – but only if you have tickets to the exclusive event.
Not planning to attend Oogie Boogie Bash? You can still indulge in some frighteningly fun seasonal offerings, including:
- Festive yet frightening decor, including the Headless Horseman on Buena Vista Street and bats in the belfry of Carthay Circle Theater
- A “Radiator Screams” overlay in Cars Land, which transforms Radiator Springs into one seriously spooky (and adorable!) destination
- Seasonal attraction overlays, including a terrifying monster-filled ride on Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark starting at dusk each day
- Mickey’s Trick and Treat, which is being offered for the first time outside of Oogie Boogie Bash for families during the day so kids can sing and dance along
While much of the seasonal fun is focused on Halloween, California Adventure also celebrates another fall holiday: Día de los Muertos. Head over to Paradise Gardens, and you’ll find Plaza de la Familia, a colorful, vibrant destination dedicated to this special holiday through November 2.
Plaza de la Familia introduces guests to the traditions and festivities of Día de los Muertos, like a memory wall, the Árbol de la Vida, and a musical celebration of Coco that emphasizes the everlasting bonds of family (which has a new name and story for 2024!) Oh, and you definitely don’t want to miss the Halloween and Plaza de la Familia food and merch, which are always must-haves.
Halloween at California Adventure with Kids
While there’s certainly more of a spooky vibe at California Adventure during Halloween Time, the theme park is still well worth visiting with kids of all ages. First and foremost, you’ll get the chance to see entirely different decor here – and to be honest, Radiator Screams is a can’t-miss component of the season.
Kids of all ages will adore the Halloween-inspired touches throughout Radiator Screams, but young Cars fans will be especially impressed (my son absolutely loves seeing the Cars characters dressed up!). Plus, this is where two of the seasonal attraction overlays are – Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and Luigi’s Honkin’ Halloween – so there are kid-friendly rides to enjoy.
Thanks to the addition of Mickey’s Trick and Treat this year, there will be some kid- and family-friendly entertainment available, too. This is a great option for little ones who like the Disney Junior Dance Party! or enjoyed the Pixar Pals Playtime Party over at Disneyland during 2024’s Pixar Fest.
Lastly, I highly, highly, highly recommend taking your kids over to Plaza de la Familia. As an LA native, Día de los Muertos are familiar to my family, and this is a wonderful kid-friendly approach to the holiday. The Coco show is a must-see for us each year, and toddlers to teens will be awed by the decorations. Plus, there’s really nothing quite as special as leaving a memory of your own family on the wall in Paradise Gardens.
Halloween at Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Resort Hotels
Whether you’re planning a stay at one of Disneyland Resort’s onsite hotels or simply want to pop into Downtown Disney for a day or two, you’ll find some Halloween Time fun happening here, too. The entire resort gets in on the fun – which means you’ll find decorations, seasonal food and merchandise, and more extending all the way from Pixar Place Hotel to the resort entrance on Harbor Boulevard.
Throughout Downtown Disney, shops will be home to pumpkin-themed and villains-inspired merchandise (and even some Miguel and Coco-inspired items to keep the Plaza de la Familia celebration going!) Restaurants will feature limited-time offerings just for fall on their menus, too. And with plenty of new spots open this year, you’ll be able to try quite a lot that’s new.
Kids can also have some fun by playing Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, a search for Disney character-themed pumpkins that are hidden across the resort. Typically, the pumpkins are only within Downtown Disney – but for 2024, the game is extending into the two theme parks for the very first time. Once kids complete the game, they can turn in their map for a souvenir.
Over at the three hotels (Pixar Place Hotel, the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and the Disneyland Hotel), more special food, drinks, and merch can be found. If you want some fantastic family fun, I highly recommend one of the seasonal character dining experiences at the Grand Californian or Disneyland Hotel.
At the Disneyland Hotel, you can dine at Goofy’s Kitchen with a Halloween twist. Goofy and his friends will dress up in special spooky attire (their very own Halloween costumes!), and the buffet here will feature seasonal treats both savory and sweet. Over at the Grand Californian, Storytellers Cafe is home to an autumn-inspired brunch that features characters like Mickey and Minnie in festive new outfits.
You can make advance dining reservations for either of experiences and reserve your spot 60 days in advance.
