This may seem like an insane post to write in the middle of July, but in the world of Disney…Halloween buzz starts long before fall! Disneyland just announced the lineup for Halloween this year, which includes the coveted Mickey’s Halloween Party, brand new overlays, and all kinds of magical fun.
MICKEY’S HALLOWEEN PARTY
Mickey’s Halloween Party is an event I’ve talked about quite a bit on this blog…because I’m obsessed with it! If you’re not familiar with the party, I’ve got an in-depth post explaining what it entails here. You need a separate ticket for this after-hours party, even if you are an annual pass holder. For pricing and dates, check out the Halloween party page here. Mickey’s bash has TONS of special offerings, from trick-or-treating to an exclusive fireworks show. The best part? You can dress up in full costume (yes, even adults!).
Last year’s costume rule changes are still in effect this year. If you’ve been to parties in years past, bear in mind that they are cracking down, though I will admit that last year it did not seem to be as strictly enforced as I thought it would be. Here are the rules new to last year:
- Capes may be worn, but they cannot extend past the waist.
- Headgear (including hats, masks, and wigs) may not cover your face.
- Costumes may not drag or extend fully to the ground (a.k.a. no floor length dresses).
- Heavily layered costumes will be subject to thorough additional screening.
For the complete list of costume guidelines and prohibited items (including the rules already in place last year), please see the costume page here.
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE JOINS IN THE FUN
Every year, Disneyland goes ALL OUT for Halloween, with tons of decor and several overlays on classic attractions. But this year, the happy haunts are hopping across the esplanade to California Adventure! For the first time, Cars Land will get its own Halloween decorations, in the form of a LAND-WIDE overlay!
This “Haul-O-Ween” event will include:
- Fillmore’s Jack-Oil Lanterns
- Flo’s Spider-Car
- Witchy Miss Lizzie’s Shop
Plus the attraction overlays:
- Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree
- Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween
Cars Land isn’t the only part of California Adventure getting in on the spirit. Oogie Boogie will take over Buena Vista Street, scattering spiders everywhere as he looms above the entrance.
And finally, California Adventure will have a brand new Dia de los Muertos celebration! Like the wintertime Festival of the Holidays, this celebration will entail food, entertainment, activities, and beautiful displays.
These overlays will pop up in the first week of September this year. I can’t WAIT to see how the Cars Land overlay turns out!
HALLOWEEN-TIME TIPS
Visiting the resort during Halloween isn’t terribly different from the rest of the year, but there are some things you can do to make the most of the season!
- If you can, opt for outdoor dining experiences at dinnertime. As the sun goes down during Halloween, the spooks come out to play and the ambiance is even better. Any spot with a view of the Rivers of America is best.
- Leave time for character meet & greets! The villains are out in full force during Halloween…especially the rare ones that seldom appear in the park. Even if you’re not a person that likes to meet characters, the villain greets are fun. They usually mess with you, and are even scarier in person!
- Snack, snack, snack! Save room for goodies. There are so many delicious treats in all the Disneyland bakeries during Halloween, that are as tasty as they are beautiful.
I never cared about Halloween much before experiencing it at Disneyland. It really is a magical experience to be in a spookier version of the park. So if you have the chance to visit this September/October, you are in for quite a treat! For the complete list of Halloween offerings this fall, check out the official Disney Parks blog post here.