Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland vs. Disney World

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Main Street decor at Walt Disney World
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Main Street decor at Walt Disney World

The Halloween party is the best time of the year to visit either park. Both are festively decorated for the season and feature festive extras such as a specialty seasonal themed fireworks show, a great parade, and more Halloween treats than you could ever imagine. WDW’s Halloween celebration was a bit more festive with much more decor, better Halloween music, a better stage show, and overall more of a vacation-y vibe versus the more local vibe of Disneyland in general. Plus, the castle is so much more spectacular at Disney World!

Candy corn projections on the castle as part of the Hallowishes Fireworks show!
Candy corn projections on the castle as part of the Hallowishes Fireworks show!

A few festive additions that Disneyland had over WDW included more Halloween themed rides, live scarecrows, and a spooky special fog covering the Rivers of America. In general, the Pirates of Caribbean, It’s a Small World, and Haunted Mansion ride are better at Disneyland. Also the amount of candy given out at Disneyland was astonishing – they really did not hold back at all!

Know Before you Go

*Guests are encouraged to wear costumes (check out special costume rules).

*Even though the event starts at 6, you can enter the park at 3. This extra 3 hours makes a big difference! During this time, crowds will be especially heavy, although you can still get on a few rides. Once the event begins, crowds disperse as Halloween festivities take center stage.

*Purchase tickets well in advance. This event sells out every year!

Tips for a smooth visit

The World of Disney store has amazing Halloween decor and gift ideas. I recommend saving the shopping for before/after your visit so you can get on more rides and see more shows!
The World of Disney store has amazing Halloween decor and gift ideas. I recommend saving the shopping for before/after your visit so you can get on more rides and see more shows!

*Save gift shop purchases until the end of the day. Don’t waste your pricey tickets spending all your time shopping! Guests of Disneyland hotels can send purchases directly to the hotel. This is a nice perk as you do not have to lug purchases around.

*Eat a big lunch before entering the park. This will buy you some time until you need to eat again.

*Save popular rides like The Haunted Mansion and Pirates for later in the evening when the lines will be shorter. Try to get on less popular rides from 3-6 as this is when the park will be incredibly overcrowded.

*Wear a camelbak so you do not have to waste any time and money searching for water bottles.

*Download the Disney Wait Times App. This convenient app allows you to plan your day around ride wait times so you can save more time for fun!

*Don’t skip around the park too much- try to concentrate on rides in the same area. Walking around too much really eats up time, plus wears down your feet!

*Have a basic plan in order. For example, decide which parade to see, plan 20 minutes out for the fireworks show, schedule an eating time, etc. Your day will run much smoother and you will have more time to see the shows and enjoy the rides you paid for!

Dining in the Park

*Check dining menus in advance so you do not have to waste time searching every stand in the park and scanning endless menus. Also, a quick counter service restaurant will save you so much time over a sit down restaurant. Save the nice restaurant for before or after your park visit. Galactic Grill is a nice quick service cafe in Tomorrowland with a diverse & affordable menu for everyone. The menu includes a great vegetarian wrap and also chicken salads and burgers for meat eaters. The food was delicious, especially the tasty fries!

A full list of Magic Kingdom restaurants

What are the top rides?

You should have enough time to get on the majority of rides that are worth your time. In case you are limited on time, here are my top picks.

Big Thunder Mountain Roller Coaster at Disneyland
Big Thunder Mountain has a great setting, along with enough small drops, twists, and turns to make you want to ride this one over and over again! And you definitely can during the less crowded Halloween party!
  • *Pirates of the Caribbean
  • *The Haunted Mansion
  • *Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • *Matterhorn Bobsleds
  • *Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
  • *Indiana Jones Adventure

And if you have extra time, check out – Jungle Cruise, It’s a Small World, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan’s Flight.

Rides to Skip

Astro Orbitor at Disneyland is a skip. I actually like the WDW version, however, this one just doesn't have the same dramatic height!
Astro Orbitor at Disneyland is a skip. I actually like the WDW version, however, this one just doesn’t have the same dramatic height!
  • *Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage – if you are at all claustrophobic, this is a definite skip!
  • *Autopia – This racetrack ride is a bit boring and outdated. There are many better rides to explore.
  • *Mark Twain Riverboat – A slow, boring ride that is not worth your time in my opinion.
  • *Pinocchio – similar to Peter Pan and Snow White, but not as entertaining.
  • *Astro Orbitor – the version at WDW is much better.

Event Info

Mickey’s Halloween Party takes places on select nights from late September-through Halloween. Prices vary based on the date. Check the Disneyland website for further details and info.