It is a truth universally acknowledged that one of the best times to visit the Disney Parks is the holiday season. This year, the Halloween season begins September 9 at Disneyland Anaheim (though it started as soon as August ended for me), complete with decorations, a new parade, Mickey's Halloween Party, and everyone's favorite skeleton at the Haunted Mansion. Here's everything you can't miss this Halloween season at Disneyland.
Haunted Mansion Holiday is the biggest change seasonally, blending The Nightmare Before Christmas' story, characters, art, and music with the familiar wall-to-wall creeps we know and love. But Haunted Mansion Holiday isn't exclusive to Halloween (just like Nightmare); Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, on the other hand, is. The Space Mountain overlay features thrills, chills, and abnormal planetary probe readings, making it a must-ride for the season.
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| (c) Disney Parks. |
For an even more special must-ride, head over to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in California Adventure. Evening visitors who ride the classic attraction will experience a special "lights-out" ride, in total darkness. This is the final Late Check-Out for the beloved Tower of Terror; the Hollywood Hotel officially closes January 2, 2017, to make way for a Guardians of the Galaxy ride.
Off the rides, you can embrace the holiday atmosphere with lots of tricksy treats. The poison apple mug is back for the season, accompanying a whole line of candies and cakes all over the parks. This includes candy apples, like the Minnie Witch, Poison Apple, and Jack Skellington; cake pops, featuring Mickey Pumpkin, Poison Apple again, and Mummy; Dia de los Muertos-inspired Calaveras-decorated apples, crispy treats and cake pops; and Pumpkin Fudge, Mummy crispy treats, and Jack O' Lantern Marshmallow Wands (yum!).
Mickey's Halloween Party is an enormous event - but it doesn't run all season. The party starts September 23, running various nights through October 31. Be your favorite Disney character, in full costume. Enjoy a medley from the grim Cadaver Dans. Stop at all of the trick-or-treat stations to stock up on candy. Watch your head as the Headless Horseman charges down Main Street, USA, to start the real festivities. Find the best spot to enjoy the Halloween Screams Fireworks and the all-new Frightfully Fun Parade. Take pictures with your favorite villains, no matter how obscure, in Villains Square. But, most importantly, don't forget to buy your tickets before the party is sold out!
The Halloween Screams Fireworks are, surprisingly, also The Nightmare Before Christmas-themed, but with a twist. In addition to awe-inspiring pyrotechnics, the celebration includes lots of projections, delving into classic Disney Halloween moments. The Haunted Mansion is featured, as is "Heffalumps and Woozles" from Winnie the Pooh, Ursula from The Little Mermaid, a remix of "Cruella de Vil" from One Hundred and One Dalmatians, a Elfman-esque remix of "Never Smile at a Crocodile" from Peter Pan, Kaa from The Jungle Book, "Pink Elephants on Parade," "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?", and, of course, Maleficent.
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| (c) Disney Parks. |
The Frightfully Fun Parade is brand-new for Mickey's Halloween Party guests. Led by Jack Skellington, basically the official King of Disney Halloween, and the grim grinning ghosts of the Haunted Mansion, Dr. Facilier heads up the group of classic Disney villains: Hades, Jafar, Ursula, Cruella, the Evil Queen, and many more of your favorite villains.
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| (c) Neither Here Nor There, 2015. |
For a spooktacularly special couple of hours, sign up for the Disney's Happiest Haunts tour around the Disneyland park. Learn about the Imagineering behind some of your favorite spooks, the behind-the-scenes story about the beloved antebellum house, and the entire eerie tale leading to its opening in August 1969. Check out details here; the chills start running September 9.
Disney goes all-out for the holidays, giving the season an extra dose of magic for all Disney Parks visitors. As a major fan of Halloween, and smaller crowds while school is in session, I absolutely love Halloween at Disneyland - the fall colors, the pumpkins, the spooky tone, and the significantly cooler weather. Need some holiday spirit? Try this Disneyland playlist for a magical Halloween fix.
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