There’s something about Disneyland during Halloween that just feels a little more magical! The pumpkins are everywhere, Main Street is glowing with spooky decorations, favorite characters are dressed in their Halloween best, and even some of the attractions get a seasonal makeover. Disneyland really goes all in for Halloween, and if you’re anything like us, it’s easy to spend an entire day simply soaking up the atmosphere.

After plenty of visits during Halloween Time, we’ve narrowed down our five favorite things to do at Disneyland during the Halloween season. These are the experiences we find ourselves looking forward to every year—and the ones we think are worth making room for in your itinerary.

1. Meet Jack and Sally in New Orleans Square

If you’re a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, this one is a must! During Halloween Time, Jack Skellington and Sally make their way to New Orleans Square, creating one of our favorite character experiences in the park. There’s something especially fitting about seeing them in this area, surrounded by the spooky atmosphere of the Haunted Mansion and the old-fashioned charm of New Orleans Square.

And yes, we absolutely recommend taking the time for a photo. Character experiences can be easy to skip when you’re trying to squeeze in as many attractions as possible, but seasonal characters are one of the things that make a Halloween trip feel different from a regular Disneyland visit. Jack and Sally are a perfect example.

Our tip: Keep an eye on the Disneyland app for character appearance times so you can work the meet-and-greet into your day instead of wandering around hoping to catch them.

2. Ride Haunted Mansion Holiday

We’re going to be honest: this is probably the attraction we get most excited about during Halloween Time. The Haunted Mansion receives its annual Nightmare Before Christmas transformation, turning the classic attraction into Haunted Mansion Holiday. Jack Skellington has taken over the mansion, and the result is a wonderfully strange combination of Halloween and Christmas.

It’s familiar enough that you’ll recognize the attraction you love, but there are so many seasonal details to look for that it feels like a completely different experience. This is one of those rides where we recommend looking around instead of just focusing on what’s directly in front of you. There are details throughout the attraction that are easy to miss.

Insider tip: Don’t assume you can simply hop in line whenever you feel like it. This is one of the most popular seasonal attractions, so we recommend looking at wait times and planning when you want to ride it before your park day gets away from you.

3. Eat Your Way Through Halloween

One of our favorite parts of any Disneyland visit is the food, and Halloween gives us a very good excuse to try even more of it.

Every year, Disneyland rolls out a huge selection of Halloween-themed eats, treats, and beverages throughout Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, and select Disneyland Resort locations. And we’re not talking about just one or two pumpkin-flavored desserts. There are seasonal snacks, specialty entrees, Halloween-inspired desserts, festive drinks, and plenty of treats that are almost too cute to eat. Almost.

We love making a little food adventure out of it rather than planning every meal around our usual favorites. Pick a few seasonal items you’ve never tried and share them so you can sample more throughout the day.

Our tip: Check Disney’s Halloween Time Foodie Guide before your trip. Knowing which seasonal foods you actually want to try can save you from spending half your day wandering around trying to figure out where everything is located.

4. Stop and Watch the Halloween Entertainment

Disneyland is so much more than rides, and Halloween Time is a perfect reminder of that.

One of our favorite ways to slow down on a park day is to catch some seasonal entertainment. Mickey and Friends Halloween Cavalcade is a great example. Seeing Mickey and friends dressed for Halloween as they make their way through the park adds that extra bit of seasonal magic that you simply don’t get during other times of the year.

And if you’re visiting later in the day, don’t overlook Halloween Screams. The nighttime spectacular brings an even more Halloween-themed atmosphere to Disneyland, featuring spooky projections, music, and special effects, with fireworks on select nights.

Insider tip: Check the entertainment schedule before your visit and build your day around the shows you really want to see. That way, you’re not realizing at the last minute that you missed something you’ve been looking forward to.

5. Visit Cars Land After It Turns Into Radiator Screams

If you’ve never experienced Cars Land during Halloween, put it on your list!

Cars Land gets a fantastic Halloween makeover, with the residents of Radiator Springs getting into the Halloween spirit. The entire area transforms into Radiator Screams, complete with Halloween decorations and Cars-themed seasonal fun. Look at the decorations. Check out the characters in their Halloween costumes. Take photos. Walk around after dark when all of the lights are glowing. Cars Land is already one of the most immersive areas at Disneyland Resort, and the Halloween overlay makes it even more fun.

Luigi and Mater also get into the Halloween spirit with their own seasonal experiences, Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween and Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree.

Insider tip: Visit Cars Land during the day and then come back after dark if your schedule allows. It has a completely different feel once the sun goes down, and the Halloween decorations and neon really shine.

Make the Most of Your Disneyland Halloween Trip

These are just five of the reasons we love visiting Disneyland during Halloween Time, but that’s what makes this season so much fun. You don’t have to be a huge Halloween fan to appreciate it. The seasonal food, entertainment, character experiences, decorations, and attraction overlays give the parks a completely different personality.

Halloween Time is running now through October 31, 2026, with seasonal experiences throughout both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.