scorecardHow Disney theme parks celebrate Halloween around the world
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How Disney theme parks celebrate Halloween around the world

Amanda Krause   

How Disney theme parks celebrate Halloween around the world
Characters pose while wearing Halloween costumes at Disneyland in California.Disneyland
  • 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.

From September through October 31, Disneyland park-goers can meet their favorite characters with a Halloween twist: they
Characters pose while wearing Halloween costumes at Disneyland in California.      Disneyland Resort

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.

At Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, visitors can find Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed in Halloween ensembles.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Magic Kingdom in Disney World.      Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

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.

The theme park also introduces festive treats like Mickey-shaped pumpkin apples.
A Mickey-shaped pumpkin candy apple at Disneyland in 2022.      Disney Parks

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.

Disney
A Mickey Mouse mummy popcorn bucket that's being sold at theme parks in 2022.      Disney Parks

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.

Rides throughout Disneyland are typically adorned with spooky decorations.
The Haunted Mansion decorated for Halloween in Disneyland.      Disneyland Resort

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.

But the biggest celebration at Disneyland happens at night.
A scene from the 2019 Oogie Boogie Bash party at Disney's California Adventure.      Disneyland Resort

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.

Attendees at Disneyland
The Frightfully Fun Parade at Oogie Boogie Bash during Disneyland's A Disney Halloween Party on September 9, 2021.      Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

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.

With a special ticket, Disney World park-goers can also attend Mickey
A scene from the 2022 Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney World.      Disney Parks

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.

The event is where you can watch the "Hocus Pocus" Villain Spelltacular show.
The Sanderson Sisters, Cruella de Vil, and Oogie Boogie at Disney World.      Walt Disney World Resort

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.

Children and adults can enjoy trick-or-treating during the nightly party.
Disney employees pass out candy at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.      Walt Disney World Resort

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.

Park-goers should be prepared to adjust their plans, as Florida weather can be stormy throughout the fall months.
People leave Magic Kingdom as the park closed early in September 2019.      Orlando Sentinel/Getty Images

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.

Though Halloween isn
A view of Shanghai Disney Resort on October 14, 2018.      VCG/Getty Images

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.

Similarly, Hong Kong Disneyland celebrates the spooky holiday.
Mickey stands on a giant pumpkin during a parade in Hong Kong Disneyland in 2017.      South China Morning Post/Getty Images

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.

Hong Kong
Halloween decorations in Hong Kong Disneyland as seen in 2017.      South China Morning Post/Getty Images

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.

Tokyo Disney Resort also goes all out for Halloween.
A park-goer dressed as Ursula in Tokyo Disneyland on October 25, 2016.      Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

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.

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