How Disney theme parks celebrate Halloween around the world
Amanda Krause
- Every year, Disney hosts Halloween celebrations at its theme parks worldwide.
- Giant pumpkins and orange lights transform the destinations into fall wonderlands.
From September through October 31, Disneyland park-goers can meet their favorite characters with a Halloween twist: they're wearing spooky costumes.
In 2019 at Disneyland, for example, Minnie and Mickey Mouse wore magician outfits while Donald and Daisy Duck dressed like a devil and witch.
But this year, Minnie will be a cat, Mickey will be a pumpkin, and Donald will be candy corn.
At Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, visitors can find Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed in Halloween ensembles.
Back in 2018, Mickey wore a pumpkin-printed robe with an orange-and-black top hat. Minnie, on the other hand, donned a bow shaped like bat wings.
The theme park also introduces festive treats like Mickey-shaped pumpkin apples.
This year at Disneyland, parkgoers can enjoy ghost-pepper nachos, Jack Skellington cupcakes, and more.
Disney's Halloween-themed lineup often includes collectibles like popcorn buckets and cups.
This year's bucket — sold at both Disney World and Disneyland — is shaped like Mickey Mouse dressed as a mummy.
Disneyland also sells a collectible cup shaped like Donald Duck in a candy corn costume.
Luckily for fans, there seem to be plenty of these items available, so you won't have to wait on a six-hour line to buy them like some fans did when Figment buckets were released.
Rides throughout Disneyland are typically adorned with spooky decorations.
The Haunted Mansion is meant to look eerie all year long, but extra decorations are added to give the ride a "The Nightmare Before Christmas" theme for September and October.
Halloween ride overlays can also be found on Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission - BREAKOUT! and on two attractions in the Cars Land section.
But the biggest celebration at Disneyland happens at night.
The Oogie Boogie Bash party — which requires a ticket separate from theme-park admission — has been held annually at Disney's California Adventure theme park since 2019.
Attendees at Disneyland's Oogie Boogie Bash can trick-or-treat, meet characters, and walk through a "grove" of villains.
The Frightfully Fun Parade also takes place each night during the party.
With a special ticket, Disney World park-goers can also attend Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween party after Magic Kingdom closes each night.
The event includes a fireworks show hosted by Jack Skellington, specialty food and drinks, and Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween Parade.
The event is where you can watch the "Hocus Pocus" Villain Spelltacular show.
Held in front of Cinderella's castle, the "Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular" brings the Sanderson Sisters to Orlando, Florida. The three witches host a Halloween party onstage, and bring villainous guests like Maleficent with them.
The nighttime show is only available to those who purchase a Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ticket.
Children and adults can enjoy trick-or-treating during the nightly party.
Disney employees provide bags to each attendee that enters the party — including small children, teenagers, and adult park-goers. Allergy-specific bags are also available.
Park-goers should be prepared to adjust their plans, as Florida weather can be stormy throughout the fall months.
Thunderstorms and chilly days can happen at any time, but Florida's hurricane season typically lasts between August and November.
Most recently, some people chose to shelter in Disney's resorts after Disney World announced in late September that its parks would close for two days as Hurricane Ian made its way across the state.
Though Halloween isn't a big holiday in China, Shanghai Disney Resort still celebrates.
The park begins celebrating in October with Donald's Halloween Treat Cavalcade – a nightly parade that features both villains and characters like Daisy Duck.
There's also the "This IS Halloween!" dance party, where a DJ plays music alongside Jack Skellington and Sally.
Similarly, Hong Kong Disneyland celebrates the spooky holiday.
Mickey and friends wear costumes throughout the Hong Kong theme park, as do characters like Duffy the Bear, ShellieMay, and Winnie the Pooh.
You can see many of these characters at once via Mickey's Halloween Time Street Party, a musical parade held each day during the fall season.
Hong Kong's Halloween events definitely stand out from those held at other parks.
The park's "Let's Get Wicked" musical, for example, is a celebration of villains that you can only see during the fall.
Tokyo Disney Resort also goes all out for Halloween.
Unlike Disney theme parks in the US, those who visit Tokyo Disney Resort can dress up in Halloween costumes during any day of the festival. The park currently has a guide regarding acceptable outfits on its website.
Popular Right Now
Popular Keywords
Advertisement