My family absolutely loves Halloween time at Disney. We have experienced Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World and Halloween on the High Seas on Disney Cruise Line, and last year we got the privilege of attending Mickey’s Halloween Party at the Disneyland Resort. I say privilege because this event quickly became my favorite Halloween event I have ever attended! I am excited that I get to go back again this year, and I wanted to share some of my favorite events and tips that I will be sure to utilize this year!
Toon Town Pre-Party:
This pre-party was so much fun and a great way to kick-off your party night! Your party ticket allows you access to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure starting three hours prior to party time. One hour prior to party time you can gain exclusive access to a party in Toon Town complete with Trick-or-Treat stations, characters, and adorable photo opportunities! I highly recommend using this time to get your trick-or-treating done! The lines will look long, but they move very fast! You can get amazing treats to snack on the rest of the night. They of course have candy, but they also offer gluten free and sugar free options as well. Here is an example of what you can expect to get from the trick-or-treat stations! It is good stuff!!
Villians Square:
At the front of Disneyland (the party events all take place in Disneyland though there are some adorable decorations over at DCA!) on the train station steps is where you will find some of the most evil villians of all time! If you want to meet them, get there early. We thought we were being smart by waiting until the end of the party last year and missed out on meeting Maleficent, the one we really wanted to meet! The villians do rotate, so be aware that you might not meet the one who was there when you got in line! At the very end of the night, stick around to watch the villians, and some good guys too, dance and wave good-night! Watch out, the song they sing is catchy. I still have it stuck in my head almost a year later!
Frightfully Fun Parade and Headless Horseman:
Twice a night the Headless will ride to signal the start of the Frightfully Fun parade! This is my favorite part of the Halloween party!! Get your seat early! I recommend watching the first parade (I know, this goes against everything we have taught you guys!) from “it’s a small world” and then follow the parade to Main Street where you can easily grab a seat to watch the fireworks! That leads me to my next event!
Halloween Screams Fireworks:
Watch them from Main Street! That is the only acceptable location because you must see our favorite ghost doggie, Zero, fly! The projections are great as well. Last year we assumed they would project onto “it’s a small world” as well and we were sadly disappointed. That was my biggest mistake, and I am on a mission to correct it this year!!
Characters:
You will see several characters in addition to the villians out in their adorable Halloween costumes! Some you are able to meet during the day, but some are unique to the party. If characters are important to you, take some time and meet them!!
The Halloween Tree:
The Halloween Tree is one of my favorite things about Halloween time at Disneyland! You must go see it! You might consider reading the book by Ray Bradbury before you go. He dedicated this tree to Disneyland. During the party you can listen to the jokes of a comedic scarecrow hanging out in front of the tree! Don’t worry – all his jokes are family friendly!
Costumes:
The Halloween party is one of the few times adults can dress up and enter the parks! You will see some amazing and unbelievably creative costumes while you are there. I encourage you and your family to partake in this fun tradition!!
A few other Halloween Tips:
While the party certainly gives you the largest does of Halloween fun at Disneyland, there are some other Halloween specific items you must check out! Do not leave without riding the rides which offer the special Halloween overlays. Haunted Mansion is amazing as it is transformed to include scenes and characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Space Mountain and also gets a special makeover. Be sure to check out the pumpkins covering Main Street. No two faces are the same! Over at DCA be sure to check out Cars Land and their adorabley spooky decorations. Guardians of the Galaxy transforms at sundown so be sure to check that out as well! I am excited to see if they add any Halloween décor to Pixar Pier as well!
For more information and concierge level planning assistance, contact the Whitney World Travel team!
About the Author:
Morgan Scully, Travel Advisor
Morgan is passionate about all things Disney. From an early age she loved taking in the magic of Disney World, but its when she became a mom and she saw life through her daughters’ eyes that she truly understood how amazing a Disney vacation can be for a family. Morgan is well versed in all things Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line. She also serves as Whitney World Travel’s Military Vacation Specialist– helping the brave men and women who serve our country and their families get the most out of their vacations. Morgan is a graduate of Texas A&M University.
