The Spooktacular Halloween Time Returns to the Disneyland Resort for 2021

Halloween will be returning to the Disneyland Resort this year, with their Halloween Time event! It will take place from September 3 through October 31 and there will be great Halloween festivities in both Disneyland, as well as Disney California Adventure!

During this year’s spooktacular event, Guests will be able to ride Halloween-themed attractions like Haunted Mansion Holiday and Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark; see favorite Disney characters and villains, enjoy seasonal décor including the Mickey Mouse jack-o’-lantern and yes, there will be delightfully delicious treats.

In addition will once again be able to celebrate Dia de los Muertos at the Plaza de la Familia with an immersive, limited-time celebration at Disney California Adventure.

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. More information about the Oogie Boogie Bash can be found here.

Here’s what you can experience during this year’s Halloween Time festivities:

Disneyland Park

Of course, there will be festive seasonal décor and pumpkins all around, as the Main Street Pumpkin Festival transforms Main Street, U.S.A., with whimsical pumpkins displayed in store fronts. Catch the iconic giant Mickey Mouse jack-o’-lantern and search for pumpkin statues representing Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Critter Country and Frontierland surrounding the Partners Statue in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Guests will be able to spot Mickey and friends who are showing off their Halloween finest on Main Street, U.S.A. Minnie will be found dressed as a witch, Donald will be dressed as a pumpkin and the rest of their pals adding to the Halloween fun. Other characters found throughout the park will include the Disney villains who are there for mischievous reasons.

Yes, 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, making its 20th appearance.

And every night from September 3 through October 31, Guests will enjoy “Halloween Screams”, a supernatural projection and special effects show. On weekend nights, “Halloween Screams” also 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, including Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle and near “it’s a small world.”

In Frontierland, guests may commemorate the celebration of the Day of the Dead with a colorful Día de los Muertos tribute featuring a musical trio of iconic 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 loom over Guests who are looking to enter Disney California Adventure. Seasonal décor will add to the Halloween ambiance on Buena Vista Street. At night, the façade of Carthay Circle Restaurant will see bats swarm, energy pulses from within and projections light up the iconic tower structure. Guests can also commemorate the Halloween magic with a photo in front of the 10-foot-tall statue of the Headless Horseman holding his jack-o’-lantern head.

In addition, favorite attractions will be transformed for the Halloween season. First over in Cars Land, Radiator Springs becomes Radiator Screams. Residents decorate their homes with frights and delights for a unique Haul-O-Ween makeover. Lightning McQueen, Mater, Cruz and Red will greet Guests in their “car-stumes.” In addition, during the season, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree become Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree, where Mater croons spooky songs. Also, Luigi’s Rolickin’ Roadsters becomes Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween.

Over at Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! will be transformed at night into Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark. This Halloween adventure is filled with creepy creatures and thrilling drops. The story goes that while the Guardians of the Galaxy have successfully escaped The Collector’s Fortress, Groot was accidentally left behind. Guests can help save Groot by helping Rocket distract creatures from around the galaxy that have gotten loose.

Over on Buena Vista Street, Guests will find that Mickey Mouse and friends will be found in old-fashioned Halloween costumes, like fortune teller Minnie Mouse or Donald looking devilishly handsome and Goofy will have a ghostly grin.

Finally, to celebrate the season, Guests will experience the return of Plaza de la Familia in Paradise Gardens from September 3 through November 2, 2021. This limited-time celebration 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 Disney and Pixar’s 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.

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 gets in the spirit as well. From September 9 through October 31, Guests will find delightful décor, seasonal treats and an all-new Halloween-themed pumpkin hunt, Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit.