We just spent 4 days at the happiest place on earth. We love Disneyland and Halloween time in Disneyland is our favorite. We love visiting with the characters in their festive costumes, eating all the special treats, riding all the rides, going to the Oogie Boogie Bash and making the most magical memories. You can click here for a list of all the spooktacular things to do in Disneyland and DCA this week because Halloween is on Thursday and then CHRISTMAS in Disneyland will be here within a blink of an eye!
Meet Jack and Sally: My children love the Haunted Mansion Holiday ride and the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. Jack and Sally are amazing. You can meet them at Royal Street 21 in New Orleans Square. Carter and Kennedy were Jack and Sally for the Oogie Boogie Bash on Thursday. The kids' glasses are from Sunstashes. They have glasses for every character and my kids love them! Check them out here.
Ride Haunted Mansion Holiday: Make sure you ride Haunted Mansion Holiday in Orleans Square. It has a seasonal overlay and it is not scary at all. My kids love it. This attraction is super popular from September through December. Try to ride it right when you arrive in the morning, or get a fast pass. You can fit up to 3 people in each cart.
This spot is my favorite to take photos of the kids! It is in Frontierland
In Disneyland there is the Disney Villains Dance Party. I LOVE this! It is in Tomorrowland. It is for kids and adults. Right now Disney Villains join in on the fun and dance and take photos. This takes place from 7pm to 11pm.
Don't forget to see Halloween Screams and fireworks! Usually you could only see this fireworks show if you bought a ticket for Mickey's Halloween Party in Disneyland. Since this year the party is in DCA they are still showing the fireworks show in Disneyland for everyone to see and it is a must! This also includes a projection show, so make sure you get a seat in front of Small World or Sleeping Beauty's Castle and the best part is Zero flies over the Sleeping Beauty Castle!
Plaza de la Familia: In DCA by Paradise Gardens you can celebrate Disney Pixar's CoCo and Dia De Los Muertos. There is fun entertainment and a musical celebration of CoCo happens almost every hour each day in the afternoon until the evening. I suggest if you want to see the musical celebration of CoCo get there 30 minutes early to get a front row seat. There is a CoCo exhibit, special Mexican food at Paradise Garden Grill, coloring CoCo masks in a craft area, and more. You can even get your photo with Miguel this year!
Also if you would like to learn how to draw Dante and Miguel you can do this in DCA at the Animation Academy. Make sure you check the schedule in the Animation Academy.
The cake at The Grand Californian Hotel: Each year, usually for Halloween and Christmas, The Grand Californian Hotel prepares a holiday cake in their lobby and it is always amazing. This year the Halloween Oogie Boogie cake is amazing. You can find 13 hidden Mickeys! Oogie takes center stage in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa as a confectionery masterpiece. His cauldron is over 4-feet tall! To learn more sugary secrets, meet a pastry chef from 3 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays now through October 2019.
The cake has 260 pounds of powdered sugar, 380 eggs, 220 pounds of rice cereal, 95 pounds of marshmallow, 80 pounds of butter, 120 pounds of dark chocolate, 80 pounds of white chocolate, 480 pounds of fondant, 370 hours of planning and hands-on work, and 13 hidden Mickeys!
Photo By The Mickey Pumpkin: Be sure you make the time to take your picture in front of the large Mickey pumpkin in Disneyland on Main Street. We do this every year, even before we had kids. It is my favorite.
Headless Horseman Statue: In DCA there is a 10 foot statue on Buena Vista Street. At night it becomes a little spooky, but is a must see.
Haul-O-Ween in Cars Land: Make sure you stop by Cars Land to see it all decorated for Halloween. It is amazing. Make sure you meet and greet with the Cars characters in Halloween costumes. Lighting McQueen is a superhero. Mater is a vampire. Red is a clown and Cruz is a pirate. The rides all have a Halloween overlay and make sure you take your photo in front of Cars Land welcome sign right when you enter and the spider car right by Flo's V8 Cafe.
Characters in costume: Make sure you visit all of the characters in both parks in special Halloween costumes. They look so cute. If you want to see the characters in their classic costumes you can find them in Toon Town in Disneyland. Their Halloween costumes are my favorite. I just love it.
I think Goofy liked my shirt!
Try all the Halloween treats! Everything is so festive and yummy!
Click here for the Halloween Food Guide.
There are so many ways to celebrate Halloween at Disneyland and DCA even if you don't go to the Oogie Boogie Bash in DCA. The Oogie Boogie Bash is an after hours event and you need a special ticket for it. We have gone to the Halloween Party every single year and it is the best. We went Thursday night and had a great time. Click here for some helpful tips for the Oogie Boogie Bash in case you are going. Carter and Kennedy dressed as Jack and Sally. You can read about their costumes here.
I should first tell you that the Oogie Boogie Bash is sold out for this year, so hopefully you already have tickets. In case you don't have tickets, this party happens in DCA only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays until October 31st. DCA will close at 6pm for guests that do NOT have a ticket to the Oogie Boogie Bash. Disneyland will be open regular hours for everyone else.
IF you have a ticket for the Oogie Boogie Bash you can enter DCA starting at 2pm if you are attending the party on a Sunday. If you are going to the party on a Tuesday or Thursday you can enter DCA at 3pm. Take advantage of the early entry and ride rides, get photos with characters, etc.
Don't miss the Frightfully Fun Parade. It begins at 8pm. The parade starts by Paradise Gardens so get a seat down there because it will be less wait time for kids.
Villainous! World of Color happens at 9pm and 10:45pm. Fastpass is not available.
Mickey's Trick and Treat Party takes place in Hollywood Land. The times for this show are 6:25 pm, 7:10 pm, 7:55 pm, 9:25 pm and 10:15 pm. Everyone gets a treat at the end of the show.
DescenDANCE happens in Hollywood Land. The times for this show are 6:15 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:45 pm, 9:45 pm, and 10:30 pm. We are HUGE Descendants fans so this was our favorite!
There are some amazing trick or treating trails that include candy and characters. Oogie Boogie is in the Animation Academy in Hollywood Land. Evil Queen is at Grizzly Peak. The Mad Hatter is at Hyperion Theater in Hollywood Land. Dr. Facilier is in Hollywood Land at Stage 17. Maleficent is by Soarin' Around The World. We only did the trick or treat trails that had characters. It was so fun.
There is also a Villains Grove. This is at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. This opens a little after 7pm once it is dark. Strollers are not allowed inside and the line moves quickly. There are different areas themed towards certain villains, there is music, lighting, sound effects and so much more.
There is also be special merchandise and treats for guests going to the Oogie Boogie Party so make sure you check it all out!
There are tons of character greetings! If you are looking for classic Disney friends you will find them at Carthay Circle, Disney Villains will be at Grizzly River Run, Anna and Elsa will be in the Disney Animation, friends from Disney Afternoon will be at Grizzly Peak Airfield, friends from the Disney Channel will be by the Pacific Wharf, friends from Kingdom Hearts will be by Grizzly Falls, friends from Marvel will be by the Guardians of the Galaxy, Incredifriends will be by the Incredicoaster, Mickey and Minnie will be by Grizzly River Run, Pixar Pals will be by Pixar Pier, and the residents of Cars Land will be in Cars Land by the Cozy Cone Motel.
I always love seeing Mickey and Minnie in special costumes!
We have never had our photo with Dopey so this was fun.
We also have never met Pinocchio and the blue fairy.
They give you bags when you enter the Oogie Boogie Bash, but I brought our own this year. They are from Shop Disney. We have been going to the Halloween party since we had Carter. His very first year he was Mickey Mouse. We love it and we had a great time at the Oogie Boogie Bash, but I do prefer the party in Disneyland and there are things I missed and love about the Mickey Halloween Party, especially Toon Town!
Make sure you visit Star Wars: Galaxy Edge and ride Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run! Eat at Ronto Roasters! It is our favorite!
Make sure you take the time to stroll through Downtown Disney and see all the pumpkins and festive decor.
In DCA in Hollywood Land you can find this wall and take a photo!
Remember the BEST place to purchase tickets is through Get Away Today. Click here for discount tickets and hotel stays. Get Away Today is amazing.
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