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We went to Disneyland Halloween Time: Here’s what stood out

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We went to Disneyland Halloween Time: Here’s what stood out

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It’s one of Disney fans’ favorite seasons of the year: Halloween Time. Plaza de la Familia, Mickey’s Trick and Treat, Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark and all the spooky decor you could hope for have arrived at Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure — and we just got a front-row seat to all of it. 


Need more? Read more: What’s it really like staying at Hilton Anaheim near Disneyland?


Halloween Time casts its spell on Disneyland Resort

Per usual, Disney is rolling out the red carpet for the kickoff of Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. Now through October 31, Disneyland and California Adventure will have guests spellbound by new and returning decor, bites (not the vampire kind), hauntingly cute merch and all kinds of programming and events. 

Plaza de la Familia “Coco” display with colorful merchandise, marigolds and decor at Disney California Adventure Park.
Plaza de la Familia celebrates the world of “Coco” with colorful decor, themed merchandise, food and more at Disney California Adventure Park. (Photo by Erin Thorburn)

Disneyland Resort Halloween Time deals and discounts

  • $104 Ticket Days During Halloween Time.
  • Ten days in September 2026 offer the lowest-priced 1-Day, 1-Park ticket for guests aged 10 and older.
  • At the time of publishing, all dates listed below are available. The ticket calendar and prices can be viewed on Disneyland.com.

September 2026 Dates with 1-Day, 1-Park Tickets for $104:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 8
  • Wednesday, Sept. 9
  • Tuesday, Sept. 15
  • Wednesday, Sept. 16
  • Thursday, Sept. 17
  • Monday, Sept. 21
  • Tuesday, Sept. 22
  • Wednesday, Sept. 23
  • Thursday, Sept. 24
  • Tuesday, Sept. 29
Disneyland Park entrance decorated with orange and yellow bunting for Halloween Time.
Fall-colored bunting and seasonal touches welcome guests to Disneyland Park during Halloween Time. (Photo by Erin Thorburn)

Halloween Time events you won’t want to miss

Mickey’s Trick and Treat

Mickey and friends don their Halloween costumes for a darling seasonal celebration that adults and children will find equally amusing. Music, video projections and bubbles (my personal favorite part) are just a snapshot of what to expect from this spooktacular show.

What to know: Showtimes vary and are available throughout each day. 

Located: Hollywood Land, Disney California Adventure Park

Halloween Screams

Having been to multiple Disney light-projection shows and loved them, I can say this is one you must see. Your Master of Scare-omonies is none other than Jack Skellington and his ghostly dog Zero from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Following Jack’s lead are delightfully devious appearances by Disney’s most notorious villains, including Maleficent and Ursula.

What to know: Showtimes may vary, but typically, shoot for around 9:30 p.m. The projection show lasts around 10 minutes.

Located: Disneyland, Sleeping Beauty Castle

Best of the Southwest founder and editor Erin Thorburn with Mickey Mouse dressed in an orange-and-black Halloween costume at Disneyland Resort.
Best of the Southwest founder and editor Erin Thorburn joins Mickey Mouse for some Halloween fun during a media preview of Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort. (Photo by Erin Thorburn)

Disneyland Resort Halloween themes return

I learned something new this year: Disney refers to limited-time holiday ride themes as ‘overlays.’ Here are some of the parks’ most popular fall season overlays:

The Haunted Mansion ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ seasonal takeover is always a favorite, but Guardians of the Galaxy is a new must-experience for those who enjoy a thrill ride and the Marvel franchise. 

Disney Halloween-themed food and merchandise

Halloween Time food and drinks displayed beneath a Disneyland Resort Halloween Time sign.
Disneyland Resort serves up an extensive lineup of limited-time sweet and savory bites during Halloween Time. (Photo by Erin Thorburn)

Frighteningly fantastic food

Disneyland Resort goes all out for seasonal treats (no tricks!). Both parks are filled to the brim with sweet and savory Halloween bites.

  • Buffalo-chicken ranch pull-apart bread with cream cheese, Parmesan ranch, and fried onions. 
  • Birria baked potato filled with beef birria and pepper jack cheese, then topped with salsa verde (I typically go for any of the seasonal baked potatoes since they’re gluten-friendly…and delicious).
  • Chilaquiles carnitas torta with refried beans, avocado spread, queso fresco, pickled red onions and a fried egg, served with chips.
  • Churro hand tart with spiced cake, topped with cinnamon and sugar.
  • Nuez gelatina cake with cinnamon sponge cake, pecan gelatina and whipped topping
  • Mickey-shaped, pumpkin spice crispy rice treat (this was a fantastic Halloween addition for me since it’s gluten-friendly).

And there’s plenty more where these came from. 

You won’t want to ghost this Disney Halloween merchandise

Disneyland Halloween Trick or Treat display featuring a Mickey Mouse sweatshirt, pumpkin decor and Mickey souvenir sipper.
Halloween decor, festive merchandise and a Mickey Mouse souvenir sipper set the scene for spooky season at Disneyland Resort. (Photo by Erin Thorburn)

There are so many adorably festive collectibles and clothes this season throughout both parks and Downtown Disney. 

Here are some of our favorites

  • The Pastel Cutie Ghost Collection is on the top of the list. Minnie purse, ghostie cute character T-shirts, bubble machine and more are all in the sweetest shade of pink. 
  • This season, Disneyland Resort came up with a brilliant idea to coincide with unseasonably high temperatures — lighter-weight fabric. Pumpkin-Disney designs in jerseys and T-shirts are as comfortable as they are adorable. 
  • No. 1 collectible on our list: the “Coco” lantern sipper (available starting Sept. 3) — scenes from the movie rotate! 
  • Vampire Mickey Mouse popcorn buckets were spotted all over Disneyland and California Adventure, and for good reason. Families can reuse them each Halloween season as a reminder of this year’s trip. 

This is just a sample of the spooktacular surprises that Disney has in store this season. Stay tuned for continued Halloween Time coverage here and at @thebestofthesouthwest. 

And be sure to check out Disneyland.com/offers for more ways to save. 

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