If you haven’t yet experienced a Disneyland Halloween, make this the year to enjoy festive twists on popular rides, characters dressed up for the season, special events, and limited-edition food offerings. Halloween Time runs August 21 through October 31, 2026, and it’s one of our favorite times of the year to visit.
You’ll need at least two days to see and eat everything in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
New for 2026 is “Madame Leota’s Swinging Wake – A Haunted Mansion Street Party” at Disney California Adventure, which replaces the Frightfully Fun Parade at the Oogie Boogie Bash this year.
Things to Do at Disneyland Resort During Halloween Time
1. Celebrate with Oogie Boogie After-Hours
Oogie Boogie Bash—A Disney Halloween Party returns for 2026. It’s an after-park-hours event featuring fun Halloween activities, trick-or-treating, the new “Madame Leota’s Swinging Wake” street party, performances, and more on select nights from August 18 through October 31, 2026. The Bash runs a record 33 nights in 2026, and general on-sale opened June 18, so buy as soon as your dates are set because nights sell out. Tickets start at $139 per person (ages 3 and up).
Oogie Boogie is the villain in “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Rest assured that he’ll be scaring up fun for all ages across Disney California Adventure.
Costumes are welcome (be sure to follow the costume guidelines), and most park areas, including Avengers Campus, will be open during the event.
You need to purchase a separate ticket as soon as they’re released. It allows you into Disney California Adventure starting at 3 p.m. (Location: Disney California Adventure)
2. Eat ALL of the Disneyland Halloween Themed Food
There is so much of it. Food alone is a reason to enjoy a Disneyland Halloween.
Fill your Instagram feed with these frightful treats, as for Halloween, Disneyland will have over 70 eerie, spooky treats! Expect more seasonal churro variations than one can eat in a week, plus specialty treats across both parks.
If you’re still not full, fill up on creepy cake pops, gooey caramel apples, and wash it all down with pumpkin cheesecake cold brew. Additionally, popcorn buckets, a creepy glow-in-the-dark candy sipper, and a poison apple mug will surely send shivers up your spine. (Location: Both Parks)
3. Main Street Pumpkin Festival
The Mickey Mouse-inspired jack-o-lantern awaits visitors on Main Street, U.S.A. and will add some Halloween fun to your family album or Instagram feed. But along the street, you’ll also find many other creatively carved pumpkins in storefronts including the giant Mickey Mouse pumpkin. (Location: Disneyland)
4. See the Haunted Mansion in Scarier Form
During the Halloween season, the Haunted Mansion changes to a Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas theme that is extra spooky and cool. Upon exiting your Haunted Mansion “doom buggy” be sure to say hi to Jack Skellington and Sally nearby in New Orleans Square.
The Haunted Mansion attraction delights guests of all ages. During its 20th anniversary celebrations, the Haunted Mansion estate enjoyed a makeover you’ll want to check out.
Fans will still look forward to seeing the massive annual gingerbread house on the ballroom table, which gets a new design each season. Fun fact: in 2019, it was made out of 30 lbs of gingerbread, three gallons of egg whites, 120 pounds of frosting and icing, 75 pounds of confectioner’s sugar, 140 pounds of fondant, and more. (Location: Disneyland)
5. Celebrate the Dead (Through November 2)
Dia de los Muertos festivities occur at Paradise Gardens Park during Plaza de la Familia with a Coco theme from August 21 – November 2, 2026.
“A Musical Celebration of Coco” brings together traveling Storytellers of Plaza de la Familia several times per day for a festive performance featuring songs from the movie, singing host Mateo, the Grammy Award-winning Mariachi Divas, and authentic folklórico dancers. (Location: Disney California Adventure)
6. Take a Photo with Favorite Characters in Costume
Your favorite characters will be in different costumes depending on which park you’re in. They’ll be close enough for photos and waves.
You’ll find Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy, Donald, and others picture-ready along Buena Vista Street in old-fashioned costumes.
Across the way at Disneyland, Minnie is dressed up as a witch, Donald Duck is dressed up as a pumpkin, and others in their Halloween best.
(Location: Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks.)
7. Visit Radiator Screams
All of Cars Land gets a Haul-O-Ween makeover. Lightning McQueen and friends dress up to get ready for trunk-or-treating.
Mater, of course, is dressed up like a van-pire. Cruz Ramirez, Red the Fire Truck, and DJ will get dressed up as a pirate, a clown, and a punk rocker, respectively. And Lightning McQueen hits the road as a superhero.
Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree transforms into Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters becomes Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween.
(Location: Disney California Adventure)
8. Halloween Screams
Enjoy the Halloween Screams nighttime spectacular of projections and special effects during Halloween Time, with fireworks on select nights.
The best places to view the show are at Sleeping Beauty Castle, near “it’s a small world” and on Main Street, U.S.A. (Location: Disneyland)
More Halloween Sights Across Both Parks
9. Dine Under Frightfully Fun Decorations
A Disneyland Halloween dining highlight decoration-wise includes the spooky spider car inside Flo’s V8 Café in Cars Land. But wait until you see the special Halloween food.
You will no doubt need to rely on mobile ordering through the Disneyland app, so be sure to have it downloaded. (Location: Disney California Adventure)
10. Ride Monsters After Dark
The Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! thrill ride transitions to Monsters After Dark during Disneyland Halloween. Guests will join Rocket in rescuing Groot from the monsters inside the eerily-lit Fortress. (Location: Disney California Adventure)
11. Look for the Headless Horseman
With his jack-o-lantern in hand, the 10-foot headless horseman greets guests on Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure. (Location: Disney California Adventure)
12. Enter Under Oogie Boogie
Oogie Boogie’s quest for a forever Halloween is inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Walk under his oversized silhouette to enter Disney California Adventure park and check out the swarm of bats summoned by him around Cathay Circle Restaurant and Lounge. (Location: Disney California Adventure)
Beyond the Rides: Hotels, Shows, and Shopping
13. Stay Overnight at Disneyland Resort Hotels
I’m a big fan of spending the night after a long day at Disneyland. It’s a lot of walking plus now that my daughter and her friends are older, they can return to the hotel on their own (if it’s on the resort or really nearby).
The most convenient is Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. The hotel’s exclusive entrance to Disney California Adventure park proves extra handy since most of the Halloween festivities occur in this park, including the evening Oogie Boogie Bash.
Guests of all three hotels will enjoy special trick-or-treat festivities on select dates in addition to the other benefits of staying at Disneyland Resort Hotels. (Location: Disneyland Resort Hotels)
14. Take Home Seasonal Souvenirs
No costume? No problem. Load up on Halloween-themed Disney gear to wear in the parks or at home.
Pictured above is a recent Oogie Boogie Bash headband. Expect plenty of seasonal merchandise ranging from pins to T-shirts, plus new-for-2026 lines including the Mickey Mouse Family Halloween and Cutie Ghost Collections, and new Dia de los Muertos pieces from the Disney Pixar Coco Collection arriving in early September. (Location: Throughout Disneyland Resort)
15. Check out Mickey’s Trick and Treat Show
Appearing daily at the Disney Theatre, this interactive show features Mickey and friends celebrating a not-so-scary Halloween as they tell spooky tales and brew up a magical potion. Led by a mad scientist, guests will go batty as they sing and dance along to the whimsically wacky songs. “Mickey’s Trick and Treat” is confirmed back for the 2026 season. (Location: Disney California Adventure)
16. Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit
For some family scavenger hunt fun, purchase a special map with stickers and try to find the hidden Disney character-themed pumpkins. When you’re finished, return your map for a special keepsake. Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit runs during Halloween Time, August 21 through October 31, 2026. (Both parks and Downtown Disney)
17. Pumpkins, Treats, and Souvenirs in Downtown Disney
Another place to find seasonal treats and fun Halloween souvenirs is Downtown Disney. Guests can also join the Halloween-themed pumpkin hunt, Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, which spans both parks and Downtown Disney. (Location: Downtown Disney)
Buy Disneyland Discount Tickets
As someone who helps people plan Southern California family vacations, I can tell you that it’s possible to purchase Disneyland discount tickets from authorized sellers legitimately. You do not need to pay full price on tickets that are two days in length or longer. Shop now.
Start planning your trip today with all of my best tips and tricks for the best Disney vacation ever!
See also: 10 Reasons to Visit Disneyland Resort During the Holidays
