Disneyland’s Halloween Party Info & Tips
Mickey’s Halloween Party is an event normally held at Disneyland in September and October. For the foreseeable future, Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure has replaced this event. This was true last year and is again true for 2020.
For more info on what’s included with standard Disneyland and Disney California Adventure park admission, please read our Ultimate Guide to Halloween Time at Disneyland. Or, you can continue reading this for an idea of what Mickey’s Halloween Party was like last year.
Note that nothing that follows about Mickey’s Halloween Party should be used for planning purposes in 2020 or beyond. Instead, consult our Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party Tips & Info post for strategy, our review of that new event, and more…
We’ve attended Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland several times and have updated this post with some changes to the event. The event has improved quite a bit in the last two years, and has definitely grown on us. We’ve also updated this post with some step-by-step strategy for Mickey’s Halloween Party, so keep reading even if you already have tickets, as there’s a lot to do, and you’ll need a good plan to accomplish it all.
If you want to read about our experience at the event last year, please check out our Photos & Recap: Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland post. Mickey’s Halloween Party usually sells out every single night of the event. Note that even when every Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland is sold out online, it is possible that you could have luck by calling. (Here’s the phone number: (714) 781-4636.)
Additionally, Guest Services at the three Disneyland Resort hotels might have tickets for guests staying at those resorts. Keep in mind that both of these strategies are very hit or miss, so don’t bank on either working. In the past, we’ve had good luck and bad luck with both methods. (Once, I resorted to purchasing a last-minute ticket on Craigslist, which I would never recommend to anyone else, but fortunately, I did not get burned.)
The highlight and newest feature of the Mickey’s Halloween Party is the Frightfully Fun Parade, which debuted a couple years ago. This parade runs only during the hard ticket event, and is a really cool. If you’re on the fence about attending, this is a potential game-changer for the party, and we’ll have more on it below. Additionally, the Halloween Screams Fireworks and Ghost Galaxy will return, and the Headless Horseman (a popular feature of the Florida parties) made his debut at Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland.
Although I’ve already typed “Disneyland” several times (and probably will several more times for emphasis), this article is not about the Halloween Party in Florida. For that, see our Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tips & Tricks post. The general public confuses Disneyland and Walt Disney World enough as it is, so I’m not sure who thought it was a good idea to have the names for these parties be so similar. To make matters worse, when the Florida party is advertised, it’s often shortened to Mickey’s Halloween Party…I guess because they want people to think it is So Scary?
With that said, let’s take a look at what’s on the schedule for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland in California…
Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Info
A lot of people don’t seem to understand how these special event ticket parties work, so I want to break it down in simple and concise terms: a regular park ticket will not grant you admission to Mickey’s Halloween Party. You must purchase the special event tickets to stay in Disneyland once Mickey’s Halloween Party begins. Yes, this means purchasing two tickets for the same day.
On the other hand, a party ticket for Mickey’s Halloween Party does grant you admission to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure 3 hours before the event officially begins. This is a big reason why Mickey’s Halloween Party is so popular with locals in Los Angeles and Orange County who are not Annual Passholders–it’s a less expensive way to see the Halloween offerings in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure with lower crowds and at a cheaper price. Even though it’s not the whole day, it’s a good value if you’re a local who is not an Annual Passholder.
If that still does not make sense, let’s illustrate with a few examples:
- You’re visiting Disneyland on a date when the Halloween Party starts at 6 pm. You arrive at 9 am and want to stay until 10 pm. You must purchase BOTH a regular ticket for Disneyland and a Halloween Party ticket.
- You’re visiting Disneyland on a date when the Halloween Party starts at 7 pm. You arrive at 4 pm and want to stay until midnight. You only need to purchase a Halloween Party ticket (remember, the 3 hour rule).
- You’re visiting Disney California Adventure on a day when the Halloween Party starts at 6 pm. You arrive at 4 pm and want to stay in Disney California Adventure until it closes. You must only purchase a regular park ticket since Mickey’s Halloween Party is in Disneyland, not DCA.
There are a bunch more scenarios that could play out, but hopefully you get the gist of it. If not, feel free to ask about your situation in the comments. Many nights are already sold out and if that’s any indication, more will sell out, so we strongly recommend purchasing tickets in advance if you’re planning to go to Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland.
One of the big plusses of Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland for many guests is the opportunity to dress in costume. There are limits to the costumes you can wear, but it’s basically common sense stuff like ‘no weapons or sharp objects’ and nothing offensive.
Here are some baselines: don’t wear anything offensive or grotesque, don’t wear anything that completely obscures your face, and don’t form a line signing autographs and taking photos with other guests if you’re dressed as a Disney character. If you lack common sense and wouldn’t have intuitively realized these things without me telling you, I’d recommend carefully reading Disneyland’s rules for the party.
You also should keep in mind that unlike Florida, Southern California can get cool at night this time of year. Above are our costumes from this year, and as you can see, Sarah wore a heavy Mrs. Potts costume, whereas I wore a t-shirt and shorts for my Donald Duck costume. Last year when I attended the event, it was incredibly hot.
Just be mindful of the weather forecast and plan in advance. We have a Tips for Disney Parks Halloween Costumes post that covers some ideas for what to wear…and what not to wear.
If you look at the Mickey’s Halloween Party page on Disneyland.com, you’ll notice it has a lot of entertainment and stuff listed. This Halloween Party sounds great, you’re thinking! Not so fast, cowboy.
Disneyland has a lot of stuff during the Halloween season, and most of what’s listed is included in regular park admission on any ordinary day. Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy are standard this time of year. Same goes for character meet & greets, although you can expect more characters out than normal during Mickey’s Halloween Party.
A new Mickey’s Halloween Party Dinner Package at Blue Bayou replaces the Mystical Spirits dinner show. This Blue Bayou Dinner Package includes a 3-course, prix-fixe dinner at Blue Bayou Restaurant, and a voucher that provides access to the Frightfully Fun Parade reserved viewing area at a cost of $69 per adult and $29 per child, plus tax and gratuity.
This is significantly cheaper than the previous Mystical Spirits event hosted by Dr. Facilier, and this definitely makes more sense. It’s not for us, but if you’re already planning a meal at Blue Bayou (an expensive restaurant), the surcharge is not all that much. We saw the reserved seating area (in the Central Plaza) and it offered a nice view of the Frightfully Fun Parade. Not my ideal view, but it had chairs and would require no camping out in advance, so at least there’s that!
Here’s a quick description of the Frightfully Fun Parade:
- Jack Skellington the Pumpkin King brings greetings from Halloweentown, as characters from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” appear to celebrate Halloween.
- Grim, grinning ghosts come out to socialize when Disney’s iconic Haunted Mansion attraction comes to “afterlife,” with swirling ballroom dancers, ominous gravediggers and a trio of hitchhiking ghosts.
- Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog, uses his mystical powers to summon the Shadow Men from the bayou to loom large over his strange and twisted Voodoo parlor, and the mischievous Disney Villains appear out of the darkness, ready to stir up some trouble. A dark and dungeon-like lair takes over the parade route, bringing with it a wicked gathering of villainy from Hades and the Evil Queen to Jafar, Cruella and more!
Each of the bullet points is a single parade unit, featuring at least one float and performers. This is a very significant addition that really alters our take on Mickey’s Halloween Party.
While this parade is not on par with the Boo to You Parade, we really liked it. The floats are cool, the music is really catchy, there are some talented performers, and great costuming. We highly recommend watching the parade twice during Mickey’s Halloween Party!
Disneyland has added a bit to the Frightfully Fun Parade, most notably, Minnie and Mickey Mouse now lead the parade. The parade could use another couple of floats, and we hope that happens next year.
Frightfully Fun Parade is the kind of entertainment that could definitely benefit from new floats every year for the next several years–until it’s of the same caliber as Boo to You at Walt Disney World.
Beyond the parade, the other things unique to Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland are the Halloween Screams fireworks, dance party, and trick or treating.
There’s also a bunch of atmospheric entertainment throughout the park, most notably the Cadaver Dans who float along the Rivers of America. Hearing them sing is one of my favorite aspects of Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. They are so talented, and their presentation during the part is appropriately spooky.
Mickey’s Halloween Party Strategy
Now that we’ve attended Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland a couple of times, we thought we’d share some step-by-step strategy with you for maximizing your time at the special event. It’s truly impossible to do everything there is during the party, and that’s just the special entertainment, let alone the regular attractions like Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy.
With that in mind, here’s our Mickey’s Halloween Party Itinerary…
- Enter Disneyland or Disney California Adventure 3 hours before the event, and do attractions at your leisure (note that MaxPass is included with party tickets–read our tips to use MaxPass to your advantage!)
- Line up for Toontown pre-party ~30 minutes before it begins
- Immediately head for Mickey & Minnie line once Toowntown pre-party starts
- Do whatever character meet & greets you can in Toontown following that, finishing 15 minutes prior to official Mickey’s Halloween Party start time
- Head to Pirate Pals (Frontierland), where Pirate Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse meet
- Finish character meet & greets at least 1 hour before the Frightfully Fun Parade
- Grab parade spot in Hub facing Sleeping Beauty Castle, roughly an hour before first parade
- Watch Frightfully Fun Parade
- Immediately after Frightfully Fun Parade, rush upstream against the crowd as far as you can, and claim a spot for Halloween Screams Fireworks. An ideal location for these fireworks is at the end of Main Street between Refreshment Corner and Photo Supply Co.
- Following Halloween Screams, wander around and enjoy the ambiance; catch the final performance of the Cadaver Dans in New Orleans Square/Frontierland
- Either watch the second Frightfully Fun Parade from the backside of the hub (the second parade goes in the reverse direction of the first) or do meet & greets/attractions
Now, a few notes about that strategy…
While the second Frightfully Fun Parade will be less crowded than the first parade, so too will everything else. Meet and greets are busiest at the start of the party, and will have significantly shorter lines by the end of the evening.
We do not recommend doing the Sally and Jack Skellington meet & greet during Mickey’s Halloween Party since it tends to have significantly longer lines during the event than on a regular day (it’s not a party-exclusive), if you aren’t visiting Disneyland on a regular day, you might opt to do that.
Attractions will have short waits throughout the party. Once regular day guests cycle through, you can expect peak wait times to be around 30 minutes, and that’s for popular options such as Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, Peter Pan’s Flight, Indiana Jones Adventure, and Haunted Mansion Holiday. If you’re going to do attractions, consider doing them during the first parade, and watching the second–you’ll have an easier time finding a spot at the last minute for the second parade.
If you have other strategy-related questions, let us know in the comments. We’ll do our best to help!
Now, if you’re still wondering whether you should you do the party, we’ll try to help you answer that question.
Is It Worth It?
In our Ultimate Guide to Halloween Time at Disneyland, I suggested that Mickey’s Halloween Party is probably not worth it. That was based on previous years when the primary draw was trick or treating and the fireworks (which are prone to be cancelled if there’s wind). It was before this year’s price increase–but also before the addition of the Frightfully Fun Parade.
Keep in mind that value is all a matter of perspective. If you have significant financial means and won’t feel the sting of the ticket cost, or just really love Halloween and want to splurge on this, it very well might be worth it for you.
I come at Disneyland’s Halloween Party and its value with the baseline of its cousin in Florida. Disneyland fans claim superiority to the parks in the swamps in a number of ways, but Mickey’s Halloween Party is not one of those ways. The Florida Halloween Party is superior to the California Halloween Party in several ways.
For starters, there’s the main entertainment: parade, stage show, and fireworks. The Boo to You Parade is arguably the best parade running in Florida, and is so good I make a point to watch both runnings of it on any given party night. In the past, Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland only has had a cavalcade, which was a joke as compared to the Boo to You Parade.
This is a huge upgrade over the previous Mickey’s Costume Cavalcade, but not quite on par with the Boo to You Parade. It is shorter, but still very good. Regardless, we view this parade as a game-changer for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland, as it finally has a near-complete roster of exclusive party offerings.
Then there’s the other entertainment. The Florida version has a new “Hocus Pocus” stage show that is seriously awesome, plus roaming entertainment, dance parties, and more.
Disneyland’s Halloween Party has the Cadaver Dans and a dance party. The Cadaver Dans are pretty awesome, but not enough (plus the dance parties) to compete with what Florida’s version offers.
The Halloween Screams fireworks are another strong selling point of Disneyland’s Halloween Party. These fireworks received an upgrade last year with new projections and seeing (spoiler alert) Zero fly around Sleeping Beauty Castle is pretty cool.
Even though Halloween Screams doesn’t use the same amount of pyro as the HalloWishes fireworks in Florida (no Disneyland fireworks show does), the whole package is superior. Seeing Zero fly around Sleeping Beauty Castle and Jack Skellington rise next to him is awesome, as are the fire and projection effects. All things considered, Halloween Screams is one of Disney’s absolute best fireworks shows.
There’s also trick or treating, but you can grab a bag of candy from the CVS on Harbor Boulevard for like $5 and bring it to the park if you’re so keen on candy. Now, if you’re looking for a pretext for gorging yourself on Reese’s Pieces, attending the Halloween Party and having to eat a lot of candy in the name of getting more value out of your party ticket sounds legit.
I’ve heard some people say they think Mickey’s Halloween Party is worth it solely so they have a safe environment to take their kids trick or treating. No offense, but this is ridiculous. Yeah, there are some areas of Anaheim where I wouldn’t want to be out at night…but Southern California is a big place, with a lot of affluent areas.
Drive less than 30 minutes from Disneyland and you can be in a safe, ritzy neighborhood for trick or treating. You know, the kind where every house is giving out King Size candy bars. These type of places were like dragons or unicorns when I was growing up–you assumed they were mythical but really hoped they were real. Well, children of the world, I’m pleased to report that we have dragons and unicorns in California. (That really ought to be the next “Visit California” ad.)
With that said, there are a lot of scenarios where Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland might be appealing. I already mentioned the locals from Los Angeles and Orange County who do not have Annual Passes. Mickey’s Halloween Party makes complete sense for this group, especially those who love Halloween.
Beyond that, tourists who only have a single day to spend in the two parks could get a lot accomplished during the 8 hours that the Mickey’s Halloween Party ticket provides access to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. You won’t be able to do everything, but those 8 hours are going to have lower than normal crowds in Disneyland, allowing you to accomplish more attractions (if that’s your priority) than you could do in a normal full day in the parks. Plus, this is cheaper than a 1-day ticket.
Note that starting last year, the Mickey’s Halloween Party ticket did not include parking. It once again does not include parking. This is a change from previous years, so make sure you factor in this (potential) cost before purchasing your tickets. (So, if you see “free parking” listed on another blog as a perk, that post is out-of-date.)
If you’re visiting Disneyland and Disney California Adventure for multiple days, you might be able to justify Mickey’s Halloween Party from the perspective of one less day on a multi-day ticket, doing something else in the morning (Downtown Disney or the beach, perhaps) and then heading to Disneyland for the Halloween Party. In this scenario, you’re not paying much of a premium for the party ticket, either.
If you are dead-set on going, do something else in the morning of Mickey’s Halloween Party and only visiting Disneyland in the evening on a party night and saving your regular park tickets for other days. While the party itself only runs for 5 hours, guests may enter Disneyland 3 hours before the party starts, which means 8 hours of entertainment total.
In an ideal world, we’d recommend getting a 3-day Park Hopper ticket and spending at least 4 days at Disneyland Resort, with the morning of the Halloween Party spent doing the Goofy’s Kitchen character breakfast at Disneyland Hotel followed by a couple of hours in Downtown Disney, before heading in the park that afternoon and using only your Mickey’s Halloween Party ticket that day. It’s a good way to stretch your vacation dollars and make the cost of the Halloween Party a little more palatable.
With all of that said, we have to admit that all of the above is a look at whether Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland is worth it on paper. As I have learned over the years from attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, a big draw is the atmosphere and different vibe the park takes on. There’s special background music, unique lighting & effects, and other guests dressed in costumes give the Halloween Party a palpable energy. This is a true X factor.
A ton of people absolutely love this about the party. I also have to admit that most people are not going to be able to choose between the California and Florida versions of the party, so it doesn’t matter if the Florida version is better. If you live in Southern California or are vacationing to Disneyland for Halloween, this is probably a moot point for you. The good news is that, regardless of the party’s quality, Halloween Time at Disneyland is excellent.
If you’ve read this post in the past, you might recall it having been a lot more harsh, as I stated that Mickey’s Halloween Party was not worth it. As I’ve mentioned, the Frightfully Fun Parade is a game-changer. While ticket prices have increased, the prospect of a good, unique Halloween parade gives the party a lot more appeal for us. I’m still not sure Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland is worth the money for everyone, but it’s definitely a much closer call now!
If you’re heading to Disneyland for Halloween Time at Disneyland, we have tons of posts to help you plan, including our Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets, a look at Disneyland Area Hotel Reviews & Rankings, our Unique Packing List for Disney Trips, an index of our Disneyland Resort Restaurant Reviews, and a number of other things in our comprehensive Disneyland Trip Planning Guide!
YOUR THOUGHTS…
Do you disagree with my assessment of Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland? Are you a fan of the party? Will you be attending this year? Already have your costume made for it? Hearing from you is half the fun, so please share your thoughts on these questions, or anything else, in the comments!
Okay, so please don’t think I’m stupid, but are ALL of the attractions open during the Halloween Party, or just certain ones???
They are all open. Assuming that the ride is in working order.
I really appreciate this blog post. We are planning on visiting Disneyland on a party day and you’ve answered every question I had. I’m glad you gave your honest opinion, that’s what I wanted to know, not some sponsored advertisement from someone being compensated by Disney.
This was one of the most negative posts I’ve ever read. It sounds like you are a Florida snob that can’t be bothered with anything. I’m all about informative posts and usually can count on this website to provide fun information that have little bias. I like how you said to bring balance to the post etc. because it truly made me laugh. There was no balance to this. Perhaps the owners of this website should have people that actually enjoy things like the party to write about it and you can stick to your Florida endorsing posts about how great it is over there. I no longer will read from this website.
Well, I *live* in California, so I’m not sure how I’d be biased towards Florida given that, but okay…
The Halloween parties in Disneyland and Magic Kingdom are dramatically different, with Florida’s offering (objectively–just look at an entertainment lineup) far more.
Sheesh lady. I’m a Disney-lover through and through, but if you expect ALL Disney posts to be sunshine and rainbows barfing all over the screen, you need a serious reality check (or at least a healthy dose of respect for other people’s opinion).
I LOVE the Disneyland Halloween Party. We enjoyed the shorter lines (we seriously walked on most rides with little to no wait). The trick or treating was a lot of candy but I felt like we wasted precious time we could have been hitting up rides or meeting characters you wouldn’t otherwise see. We enjoyed the cavalcade, but we didn’t even think there was a parade at all- so that was a bonus. And the fireworks are fabulous.
That being said, it may not be worth the $70 plus (whatever they’re charging) for some people, and I thought the post was pretty honest about why it wouldn’t work for some people.
I also live in CA and agree with Tom that the MK Halloween party is better. We will be going to the party at D Land on 10/29 and we are excited for the new parade.
I’ve been to both parties. I thought they were the same…. But my problem is that I get caught up doing the rides and forget about the other entertainment available. I do have a few complaints though. 1. The candy. I was really disappointed that the candy is the same stuff I can buy at the store. I think it kind of cheapens the event. It’s Mickey’s Halloween party, I want candy from the Goofy Candy Co. not candy from theWal-Mart. 2. Costumes. Disney has been a little lenient with rules. I read the rules every time Im planning on going to the party. It’s been my dream to wear a renaissance dress to the party, but I can’t bc it breaks a lot of rules. For me, I get iirritated when I see other costumes that break the rules. Costumes that drag on the ground.Costumes with spikes. Costumes that are obstructive. Girls with their boobs and butts hanging out, and I’m thinking “how is this family friendly?” I think the rules aren’t that limiting. It’s mostly common sense. Which is where I get irritated. If I can abide by the rules, then why can’t you? Bc I know that the moment I wear a costume like that, I will be refused entry and have to change. However, I do understand that Disney is going to enforce the rules more. 3.Getting down Main Street during a parade. It’s just a nightmare. Whether you are entering or trying to leave, it’s a bitch. In Florida, sometimes they’ll have a back way that takes you up to the main gate, bypassing Main Street altogether. Idk if Disneyland has anything like that, but they need it. And in Florida, they dont use that back way very often, but they should use it every time there’s a parade. Anyone who has been, knows what im saying. The side walks are crowded and are really only a one-way. And heaven help you if you have a stroller.
Overall, I definitely think the party is worth it. It’s fun to dress up.
Disneyland does have a back path! They open it very frequently as a way for people to get out the gates instead of pushing down Main Street.
I have never seen a back path, where is it? Sounds like it would come in handy!
I am FURIOUS about the no free parking. Why is Disney getting more greedy by the day. I was a premium pass holder but the prices and crowds have turned me off. I called to complain about the no free parking. Disney is so special to me, but it is not Walt’s vision anymore….it’s if you build it, they will pay.
Sorry for being such a downer. On a positive note…I LOVE your photography!
So if I’m a regular ticket holder on a party night and don’t have a ticket to the party do I have to leave the park at 6:00 pm?
Wondering the same thing!
You’ll have to leave* Disneyland park at whatever time the park closes that day, which on party days is 6 or 7 pm depending on what day of the week you’ll be there (Monday and Wednesday parties start at 6 and the others at 7 if I read the schedule correctly). If you have a park hopper ticket you can go over to DCA for the rest of the evening. Park hours haven’t been announced for most of the party dates yet, but for those announced so far it looks like Disneyland is opening at 8 am, which is a couple hours earlier than normal for Monday and Wednesday and means people visiting the park with regular tickets on those days can still get almost a full day’s use out of their ticket. Friday guests definitely need a park hopper to get a full Friday’s worth of park enjoyment without buying a party ticket. Hope that makes sense!
*actually, you can get in one last line right before closing time, which, if you pick a long line, can increase your time in the park by a bit.
Yes you have to leave. Everyone attending the party will have on a MNSSHP wrist band. The CMs do a pretty good job of getting everybody out. If you are in DL and also have a party ticket (and it’s with you), you still have to leave the park and enter through the special event entrance to get your ticket scanned and a wrist band.
Yes, only the most expensive annual ticket will get you in.
Yes, you will have to leave the park at the time the party starts, which is either 6pm or 7 pm depending on which night the party is.
Yes! At 6 or 7pm depending on the night (tues or fri). You will NO longer be able to stay at Disneyland past that time without an event ticket.
**m/w/fri!!
I really appreciate your honest opinion here. I’m so glad I read this post before buying tickets since we are already annual pass holders on a budget. thank you!
Having previously only experienced Disney Halloweens in HKDL (I live in Australia) – going to Disneyland’s ticketed Halloween event was a *completely* different experience. It still seems odd to me that this should be a separately ticketed event – it only makes sense in the light of the fact that you can’t give free candy to every guest when the park is at full capacity. The main draw card for us was to be able to stay at the park until 11pm, and experience many of the more popular rides with significantly reduced wait times. The candy was fun but the memories of gorging myself with endless quantities, still make me feel a bit queasy. It’s ok as a once-in-a-lifetime splurge, but expect it to be a guilty one.
This was a very cynical post. It felt like a blog to harp on everything Disneyland and to blatantly advertise the Florida DW Halloween party. Maybe by skipping the Blue Bayou dinner we can afford to experience the much bigger and better Halloween party in disneyworld… This was a very negative, passive aggressive, non-informative post.
Hi,
Great information on the disneyland Halloween party, just curious all regular rides and attractions are open on the nights of the Halloween party?
Yes, except for some of the table service restaurants. And attraction lines are typically shorter than normal.
Everything is open that is not being refurbished! Hyperspace mountain becomes ghost galaxy and haunted mansion becomes themed with Nightmare before Christmas (which stays through end of January I believe).
Hello All,
We are visiting from out of state-first timers with our 4 year old-from 10-30 thru 11-1. Planned on DL on 10/31, DCA on 11/1. I read all the comments and see we’ll have to buy the Halloween party ticket to stay in the park on 10/31. Here’s my question-what time does the park close for people WITHOUT a party ticket? I cannot seem to find this info. AND, I’m assuming (since it will be Halloween day) my kid can come dressed up-even if we don’t buy the Halloween party ticket. If I’m wrong-please advise.
Thanks!!!
The parties start at 6pm or 7pm (depending on the day) and that’s when they start checking for party wristbands so you can get in your last line for an attraction right before the party starts and leave after the ride which would probably put you a half hour or so passed party time. When my son was 4 he would usually start to crash around 9pm after a full day at the park(s) (with a midday nap at the hotel).
As for costumes in the morning…I’m not sure. You’ll definitely be okay with costumes three hours before the party begins as party guests can enter the park then.
It will close at 7pm to you if you do not have an event ticket! Your child can come dressed up on ANY day at Disneyland because they are under a certain age (under 14).
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/park-rules/
Are they doing the Mystical Spirits at Blue Bayou again this year? I haven’t seen any info about dates and reservation options. It is pricy, but it was very cool and we will do it again this year if it is offered. Princess and the Frog is one of our family’s favorite Disney movies and we really enjoyed the entertainment last time. The dinner includes a set by the Cadaver Dans, some hilarious pirates and of course Dr. Faccilier plus a reserved area for fireworks viewing (Halloween fireworks at DLR are rivaled only by Xmas fireworks at the Magic Kingdom imo).
About the weather, my kids had super cute (and super furry) Tigger and Pooh costumes last year but it was way to hot, even at night, for them to wear them in late October last year. Hopefully this year is a bit cooler.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/blue-bayou-halloween-dinner-package/?CMP=SOC-DPFY15Q4MysticalSpiritsoftheBlueBayouNewPremiumDiningExperienceComingtoMickeysHalloweenPartyatDisneylandPark0003 Link was down when I went to it but this may help?
We went to the Halloween party several years ago, it was a bust. The weather turned rainy and they cancelled the trick or treating, but funneled everyone down to a site by Small World where they handed out “junk” candy, no giant sized candy bars, not even any “Mickey” themed candy. The kids got obviously less candy than they would have gotten if they had trick or treated. We headed to the Haunted Mansion and they had flooded the walkways with fog that swirled over 2 feet above the ground. I couldn’t help thinking that little kids could have gotten lost in that fog, and there weren’t any cast members hanging around for the safety of small ones. .. and we did see small kids just running around without adults. The fireworks were fabulous as always, but not worth the separate ticket. This year we will be in DL again during the party days, how do the cast members get rid of you if you don’t buy a ticket?
They set up roped areas that control crowd movements and allow CM’s to check for wristbands. They politely direct you to the exits if you don’t have a party wristband.
It has changed a lot! I have gone the last 4 years now! 🙂 If you do not have a wristband you will be not allowed to go on any rides, eat at a restaurant, or trick or treat. They also have check spots set up. Technically you could sneak around and see the parade and fireworks but that would be A LOT of work.
We were planning to visit Disneyland on Friday, Sept 23, which was just announced to be a party date. We only have one day for Disney, and we were really bummed to learn that the park would close early to regular ticket holders!! In this case, is it possible to purchase a park hopper ticket and just hang out in California Adventure during the party? Or is that closed as well. Thanks for any insight!
Hi Alie,
We will be in the USA (from Australia) and would love to visit Disneyland Anaheim for the Halloween Party.
Where did you see the dates published for this year?
I have been checking the Disneyland website daily for a week now as hoping to secure tickets for this on the only night we have go available. I am hoping that date will be scheduled ie. Monday 26th September 2016. The Disney website still today just says check back soon as no information available.
Yes, you can go over to the CA Adv Park if you have a hopper ticket. Keep an eye out here to see what time it closes, is 10pm through August but might be earlier once school holidays are over. https://disneyland.disney.go.com/calendars/month/2016-08-01/
Yes, you can buy a one day hopper, then when Disneyland closes, head on over with the rest of the crowd to California Adventure to top off your night.
How do the special event tickets work for Annual Pass holders?
You still have to purchase the event ticket, but you get a small discount as a passholder.
We went to one of the Halloween party’s last year and were really disappointed that the characters weren’t dressed up like witches etc like I’ve seen in photos. Is this because of the 60th celebration or is that normal? Should it be more Halloweeny if I book tickets this year?
Thanks,
H
Only a FEW disneyland characters are dressed up in halloween gear (MOSTLY the main cast of Mickey and Friends) and there are MANY villain characters! But some of those photos could be from Walt Disney World? 🙂 This year also might be different with the AWESOME addition of the parade and the headless horseman!
One thing not mentioned is if you stay on property (DLH, PP, GC) and were not able to get tickets before the trip ask the front desk. Often times there are limited number of tickets granted to the disney hotels on the day of the Halloween party.
We have gone the past 2 years and loved it!!! we will go again this year, just waiting for the dates to be released.
So weird the dates haven’t been announced. Getting kind of worried if might not go through this year perhaps?
I too have been waiting for the dates to release for 2016…..anyone know of updates?
There have been no updates recently. We would expect them to be released in mid-July (that’s when they were released last year).
Here are the dates, which have been released on the annual passholders site only.
9/23, 9/26, 9/28, 9/30, 10/3, 10/5, 10/7, 10/10, 10/12, 10/14, 10/17, 10/19, 10/21, 10/24, 10/26, 10/ 29, and 10/31.
What days of the week do they hold this event? And how many days of the week? So in planning my vaca to disneyland I will be asked to leave the park any evening this event is held. My gran wants to attend one night so if I book a monday-friday visit will I be able to catch one night of the party.
Thanks for this and all your tips and articles. My son is turning 5 in October, so I am planning a trip to DL. I hesitated on the Halloween Party, but what the heck might as well check it out. I’m hoping to put together the best Disney experience/birthday for him and your blog is helping a lot!
Tuesdays and Fridays and October 31st.
**Mon/Wed/Friday! and the 31st if it doesn’t fall on a m/w/f. It was tues/fri 4 years ago I THINK or else I just messed it up in my head haha I have always gone on a Friday. My bad!
Any idea when they will post the schedules for park hours in October and for the Halloween Party in Disneyland? It is making planning a trip there challenging as I am planning around Disneyland hours/times.
I see that WDW has their schedules already up this far in advance!
Thanks your any information and all the hard work you do on this blog!
I’m also waiting to hear the dates for 2016 Halloween at Disneyland.
I askd Disneyland when tickets would go on sale and they replied with “sometime close to the event date”. I also want to plan my trip ahead, while air fare are cheap. Can someone tell me how many days per week they have the event and what days in the past they have been? Am I safe booking a monday- friday trip? will this include at least one Halloween night.
I have gone the last three years. No one can say for sure, but if you booked a trip no earlier than the last week of September, you should be fine. They have the party at least 3 nights a week (last year it was Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I don’t know if they do one on weekends because we avoid DL on weekends). If you go Mon-Fri, you should have plenty of opportunity to go. Last year the tickets went on sale in July.