Halloween time at the Disneyland Resort is quickly approaching and with early sunsets come more nighttime fun at the parks. For families, friends, and couples looking for something to do this fall, the resort is always bustling with its various seasonal offerings and classic favorite things to do. These events make for the perfect Disney Parks Night Out!
Disneyland and DCA Halloween Overlays
Every September, the parks transform into a spook-tacular sight. The Mickey and friends pumpkins take over Disneyland, ghosts take over Space Mountain, Jack Skellington moves into the Haunted Mansion for a Holiday Dia De Los Muertos and Ray Bradbury’s Halloween Tree pop up in Adventureland. DCA joins in on the fun with Cars Land Haul-O-Ween, which will welcome Cars themed Halloween decorations in Radiator “Screams”. And Mission Breakout will be transformed nightly into Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark where after completing your mission guests will realize they forgot to save Groot and you have to go back and face more monsters head-on!
Swing Dancing and Fall Dapper Day
One of Disneyland’s staples is their live swing band and this goes back decades to when Walt was around. The tradition continues as the Royal Swing Big Band performs Saturday nights at the Royal Theater at the Fantasy Faire area next to the castle. This retro fave brings out attendees dressed to their era-appropriate-best for a good old-fashioned night out. Fall will also bring Dapper Day, where everyone comes dresses up in their retro and Disney themed best on November 5th.
Fantasmic and World of Color
The revamped Fantasmic is a must see for fans of the show and people who haven’t experienced it yet. For those who were worried about some the changes, the only thing that still feels a little out of place is the Pirates of the Caribbean section but it’s cool that it recreates one of the spookiest scenes in the film with the undead crew taking over the Sailing Ship Columbia. Everything else in the show has been updated to the best in new technology with awesome projections onto the island of some of the greatest scenes in Disney movies combined with live performers and pyrotechnics that light up the night. Over at DCA, World of Color puts on the best water based projection show that takes you into some of the biggest moments in Disney in astounding new ways. Since it’s getting chilly out, definitely recommend warm clothes for watching any of these shows as you may get wet in some sections.
Mickey’s Halloween Party
This ticketed event is a separate offering from general admission and annual passholder fun. On select nights this fall Disney Parks will host their annual not-so-scary-Halloween parties as a great family friendly alternative to the much scarier haunts around town. Here you can visit awesome trick-or-treat stations for plentiful servings of all kinds of candy. There are also great meet and greet opportunities with some of Disney’s iconic villains and heroes dressed in their Halloween best. There’s also special fireworks show that celebrate the supernatural forces in the parks with Halloween Screams and a new parade! And starting this year you’ll be able to visit both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure with special entry up to 3 hours before the party starts.
Downtown Disney, AMC theaters and Hotel Bars
We suggest dinner and drinks in our park favorites like the Cove Bar, The Blue Bayou and Carthay Circle. But don’t forget the great options in Downtown Disney like the Jazz Kitchen and Tortilla Jo’s. There are also live performers and dancing on select weekend nights as well as the latest in film releases at the AMC Theaters (which passholders get a discount on). Hotels also have great dining and drinking options, we love Storyteller’s Cafe which has a great buffet and menu deal as well as a wonderful selection of cocktails. Close by is the Hearthstone Lounge with great drinks and adjacent to that during the holidays is a special hot cocoa station that features pumpkin flavoring during Fall (peppermint at Christmas) or added liquor to melted chocolate goodness. This hot cocoa is actually exclusive to the Grand Californian Hotel as its made of purely melted white or milk chocolate and hot milk. And no list is complete without mentioning Trader Sam’s and their amazing Tiki Drinks at the Disneyland Hotel, they also have holiday themed drinks for Halloween time and Christmas.
