Disneyland Resort enters its villain era for ‘Halloween Time’
- Share via
Disneyland Resort is entering its villain era as the Anaheim destination scares up new Halloween-focused fun. Disney villain themed eats and beverages and family-friendly Halloween entertainment were all the center of opening day of “Halloween Time” on Aug. 21.
“Halloween Time is favorite for many; it’s my personal favorite,” said Arielle Harris, Disneyland Resort spokesperson. “As you enter Main Street, you are greeted by this beautiful orange pumpkin Mickey.”
Pumpkin Mickey offers a popular photo opportunity, with guests queuing up throughout the day to have their photo taken with the giant sculpture.
“Halloween Time” also welcomes the return of the nighttime spectacular, “Halloween Screams” with fireworks and projections of ghosts and classic Disney villains like Maleficent and Ursula the Sea Witch, all set to medley of Halloween-inspired songs.
Haunted Mansion Holiday is back too, with the spooky manor decked out in decor inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” including the beloved gingerbread display featured inside the ride.
“There is a gingerbread house, a real gingerbread house, our pastry team makes every year and this year is no exception,” Harris said. “It’s wonderful and you can smell the gingerbread as you travel through the ride.”
While guests can’t take a bite of Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread, there is large selection of Halloween treats on sale throughout the resort that lean into fall favors.
“We have a new apple pie sundae at the Golden Horseshoe,” said Elizabeth Ramos, Disneyland Resort area chef. “That is a full slice of apple pie with ice cream on top, salted caramel, cinnamon streusel, and a cherry on top.”
There are plenty of pumpkin spice treats too, like freshly baked pumpkin cookies at Harbour Galley and a pumpkin pie Mickey shake at Schmoozies that’s topped off by golden creme-filled cookies to create Mickey ears on top.
Other food and beverages are dressed up Disney Villain style, like the red velvet cake at Plaza Inn.
“The villainous cake is red velvet with raspberry jam and you have black ganache on the outside, very fitting with the dark, Halloween Time theme,” Ramos said.
The Disney food and beverage team creates new treats each year that reflect the season, while staying true to the area of the park they are featured in.
“There is a lot of thought that goes into the development of our seasonal offerings, and usually it depends on where you are ... we tend to to theme it more around the land, what characters are associated with it and what’s going on,” Ramos said. “We draw from our villainous characters at Halloween time and see how we can marry [them] with our seasonal flavors to make something that looks and tastes good.”
While Pumpkin Mickey welcomes guests at Disneyland, its Oogie Boogie from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” that sits above the gates at Disney California Adventure Park, laughing maniacally from time to time.
“Oogie Boogie is surrounded by giant bats and he is really riling up the party,” Harris said.
Oogie Boogie is actually the (after) life of the party for one of the most coveted Halloween soiree in the park, known as the Oogie Boogie Bash. Hosted at California Adventure on select nights through Oct. 31, the after-hours, separately ticketed event features the new “Madame Leota’s Swinging Wake — A Haunted Mansion Street Party.”
Seasonal menu offerings on at California Adventure get spicy with new hot dishes like mango-habanero chicken strips at Flo’s V8 Cafe, slow burnin’ mac & cheese cone with spicy red pepper cheese sauce at Cozy Cones and villainous wings in gochujang sauce drizzled with ghost pepper ranch at Smokejumpers Grill.
Plaza de la Familia, inspired by Pixar’s “Coco,” also returns to Disney California Adventure Park, bringing the cultural traditions of Día de los Muertos to the resort. Guests can enjoy “The Storytellers of the Plaza de la Familia Celebrate the Musical World of Coco!” street show at Paradise Gardens Park and be serenaded by mariachi music at the Paradise Garden Bandstand. Over at Avengers Campus, after 2 p.m., the Guardians of the Galaxy-Mission Breakout morphs into Monsters After Dark with extra menacing beasts.
But it isn’t all frightening.
“Mickey’s Trick and Treat” at the Disney Theater in Hollywood Land is aimed at younger fans with Mickey Mouse and pals in Halloween costumes for a stage show that features music, dancing and a not-so-scary story.
“It’s so interactive, so if you’ve got little ones or even big ones, head over to the Disney Theater for a really fun interactive dance show and some AC,” Harris said.
Little trick-or-treaters might even leave with a sweet treat.
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort runs through Oct. 31, while Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure Park runs through Nov. 2. For tickets, go to disneyland.disney.go.com.
