Mickey’s Halloween Party is easily our favorite time of the year to visit Disneyland. This year (2017) the party will be held on select evenings from September 20th to October 31st, with the highest ticket prices on the most popular nights, including Halloween.
Tickets go on sale July 17, 2017, for Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club members, and Disney Visa Cardholders; and July 24, 2017, for the general public. Tickets are limited, and you should expect that every party will sell out. The more popular nights, like Halloween, will sell out first. But my favorite time to go is the first week of October.
Tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party are less expensive than a day ticket to the park, and with entry available up to three hours prior to the party, there is more than enough time to spend what amounts to an entire day in the park. So, for families on a budget, this is a fantastic time to not only save a few dollars but also to have a special and different experience at Disneyland.
Of course, the park is decorated for Halloween. As it is all day for the Halloween season. But there special soundtracks and lighting for areas like Main Street USA during the party which adds a little extra “creep” to the night. And there is Trick-or-Treating available all over the park. That’s right, FREE CANDY!
Exclusive to Mickey’s Halloween Party is the “Frightfully Fun Parade,” which kicks off with an ominous warning by The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. Then, friends and fiends from Halloween Town announce the arrival of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Soon, Dr. Facilier and his Shadow Men will captivate with their bayou music. And don’t miss the Grim Grinning Ghosts who have come out to socialize!
“Master of Scare-emonies” Jack Skellington and his ghostly dog Zero will entertain you with soaring flames, projections of rising ghosts and classic Disney villains like Maleficent and Ursula the Sea Witch—all set to a medley of Halloween-inspired songs in the “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, another Halloween Party exclusive.
Kids and adults can wear costumes, and since Disney PhotoPass is now included in the price of your Halloween Party ticket it’s a great way to have some really special pictures taken with the Villians of Disney.
Of course, with so many special activities happening in the park, very few people find the time to ride the rides. Ten-minute wait times on the popular attractions like Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Holiday Mansion are commonplace. So, if the rides are your thing, this is a fantastic time to just ride the rides all night long.
New this year, Oogie Boogie has risen from the shadows to take over Disney’s California Adventure park with his oversized silhouette beckoning guests through the main entrance as a swarm of bats encircles Carthay Circle Theatre. This is the first year that Disney’s California Adventure has participated in the party. Entry to Disney’s California Adventure is also available up to three hours before the party starts, making the Halloween Party the least expensive Park Hopper ticket you can purchase.
Lastly, this is a great time to stay at a Disneyland Hotel. I pretty much always recommend the hotels across the street, an easy 5-min walk away. But imagine instead, walking up to your hotel room to discover a spooky door banner indicating something special took place inside. As you step into the room, a host of personalized surprises, goodies, and treats make you feel like Mickey himself has visited. This little bit of extra magic is only available at the Disneyland hotels.