17 Things to Do at Disneyland Resort During Halloween Time in 2024

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. 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.

1. Celebrate with Oogie Boogie After-Hours

Tickets are already sold out for Oogie Boogie Bash—A Disney Halloween Party. It’s an after-park hours event featuring fun Halloween activities, trick-or-treating, the “Frightfully Fun Parade,” performances, and more on 27 select nights between August 25 and October 31, 2024.

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 the moment 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! Check out our 2019 Disneyland Halloween food guide for some ideas, including more seasonal churro variations than one can eat in a week.

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, featuring a new design for 2024. 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 23 – November 2, 2024.  

“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

Every night from September 1 – October 31, enjoy Halloween Screams evening projection and special effects show. On weekends, the show will be accompanied by fireworks.

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)

---

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)

---

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. (Location: Throughout Disneyland Resort)

---

15. Check out the new Micky’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 (Location: Disney Adventure Park)

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. August 30 – November 1, 2024. (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 look forward to an all-new Halloween-themed pumpkin hunt, Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit. (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.

 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