We have spooktacular news! That’s because Halloween activities will be returning in full force this Halloween season for 2021 at the Disneyland Resort. Halloween Time will take place from September 3 through October 31. Once again, there will be fun Halloween festivities at both Disneyland, as well as Disney California Adventure!
So, what will Guests get to experience? First, yes, there will be Halloween-themed attractions like Haunted Mansion Holiday and Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark. Guests will also be able to experience the hard-ticket event, Oogie Boogie Bash; see favorite Disney characters and villains; enjoy seasonal décor; and so much more.
The Disneyland Resort will also once again celebrate Dia de los Muertos with a limited-time celebration at Disney California Adventure.
Here’s what you can experience during this year’s Halloween Time festivities:
Disneyland Park
Guests will find that the park is decorated with festive seasonal décor and pumpkins all around. That’s because the Main Street Pumpkin Festival is back and has transformed Main Street, U.S.A. with whimsical pumpkins displayed in store fronts. Guests will be able to see the iconic giant Mickey Mouse jack-o’-lantern right in front Main Street U.S.A. Then, near the Partners Statue in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, Guests can search for pumpkin statues representing Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Critter Country and Frontierland.
If you’re on the lookout for characters, search for Mickey and friends dressed in their Halloween finest on Main Street, U.S.A. Minnie will be found dressed as a witch and Donald will be dressed as a pumpkin. Other characters will get in on the Halloween fun throughout the park including the Disney villains.
Attractions
Are you visiting for the attractions? Then you’ll be happy to know that the Haunted Mansion Holiday will be back! The attraction, which is inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, will even feature the annual gingerbread house located on the ballroom table. The gingerbread house is making its 20th appearance!
Nighttime Shows
End your evening with “Halloween Screams”, a supernatural projection and special effects show. The show will take place every night from September 3 through October 31. Then on weekend nights, “Halloween Screams” will get even more spectacular as the show will take to the skies and be enhanced with fireworks. Guests will be able to view the spectacular from several different locations throughout the park. These include Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle and near “it’s a small world.”
Día de los Muertos
If you would like to commemorate the celebration of the Day of the Dead, head to Frontierland. Here guests will see a colorful Día de los Muertos tribute featuring a musical trio of skeleton figurines, brightly colored flowers and other decorative items.
Disney California Adventure
Once again, Oogie Boogie, from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, will be found looming over Guests as they enter Disney California Adventure. Seasonal décor on Buena Vista Street will add to the Halloween ambiance At night, things get even spookier as the façade of Carthay Circle Restaurant will see bats swarm, energy pulses from within and projections light up the iconic tower structure. Guests can take a photo in front of the 10-foot-tall statue of the Headless Horseman holding his jack-o’-lantern head.
Mickey Mouse and friends will be found in old-fashioned Halloween costumes on Buena Vista Street. Guests may spot fortune teller Minnie Mouse, Donald looking devilishly handsome, or Goofy with a ghostly grin.
Attractions
For the Halloween season, favorite attractions will be transformed! In Cars Land, Radiator Springs becomes Radiator Screams. Here residents decorate their homes with a unique Haul-O-Ween makeover. Lightning McQueen, Mater, Cruz and Red will greet Guests in their “car-stumes.” In addition, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree become Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and Luigi’s Rolickin’ Roadsters becomes Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween.
During the evening hours, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! will be transformed into Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark. For the Halloween season, we find that while the Guardians of the Galaxy have successfully escaped The Collector’s Fortress, Groot was accidentally left behind. Guests can ride the attraction and help save Groot by helping Rocket distract creatures from around the galaxy that have gotten loose.
Dia de los Muertos
To celebrate Dia de los Muertos, Guests will experience the return of Plaza de la Familia in Paradise Gardens. This limited-time celebration will occur from September 3 through November 2, 2021 and honors the spirit of Dia de los Muertos, with entertainment, festive foods, crafts and interactive experiences. Among the activities to enjoy are “A Musical Celebration of Coco,” an entertaining street show honoring Coco and the bonds of family. There will also be Mariachi music at Paradise Gardens Bandstand; The World of Coco, an evocative art exhibit; a photo opportunity with a hand-animated figure of Miguel from Coco as well as the Arbol de la Vida (Tree of Life) photo location and memory wall.
Oogie Boogie Bash
Oh and if you want to experience the park after hours, consider purchasing a ticket to the Oogie Boogie Bash. The separate-ticket event will take place at Disney California Adventure on 25 select nights starting September 9. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning July 13. Oogie Boogie Bash information can be found here.
More Halloween Fun
If you’re looking to pick up merchandise to celebrate the Halloween Time season, retail locations throughout both parks will offer great options like apparel and accessories. There will also be novelty items such as pins, plush and decorative items.
For guests looking to add a sweet treat to their day, food and beverage locations will offer Halloween-themed specialty items.
Finally, Downtown Disney District will celebrate Halloween Time with delightful décor, seasonal treats and an all-new Halloween-themed pumpkin hunt, Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit from September 9 through October 31.
