How Disneyland Resort will celebrate Halloween in 2019

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort kicks off Sept. 6 and lasts through Oct. 31, 2019, with seasonal attraction overlays, Halloween-themed décor and food and beverage offerings, plus special encounters with Disney villains and happy haunts.

New this year is the after-hours, separate-ticket event, Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party, at Disney California Adventure. This includes the highly anticipated “World of Color” spectacular – “Villainous!,”  a stage show with Mickey Mouse, and mysterious Disney villains walk-through experience.

Both parks will also feature seasonal experiences inspired by the spirit of Día de los Muertos, with Plaza de la Familia and A Musical Celebration of Coco at Disney California Adventure, and a colorful Day of the Dead tribute in Frontierland at Disneyland.

Here’s the breakdown of what to expect.

Disney California Adventure

• Oogie Boogie, from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” gives his twisted tale of a forever Halloween as his oversized silhouette beckons guests through the main entrance of the park. The façade of Carthay Circle will have bats swarm around it as projections transform the iconic tower structure . There will also be a 10-foot-tall statue of the Headless Horseman holding his jack-o-lantern head to the sky on Buena Vista Street.

• Cars Land’s Radiator Springs transforms into Radiator Screams. The townsfolk of Radiator Springs don Halloween costumes and decorate their respective homes for the season. Lightning McQueen, Mater, Cruz and Red put on their “car-stume” as they get ready to go “trunk-or-treating.” Popular Cars Land attractions transform as well: Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree takes on a spooky tone as Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree, and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters gets a seasonal twist to become Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween.

• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! transforms nightly into Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark, bringing Halloween adventure to this popular attraction. As the sun sets, the attraction’s exterior goes dark and then suddenly powers back up with lighting effects, a signal that something has gone awry. The Guardians have successfully escaped The Collector’s Fortress, but have accidentally left Groot behind. Guests help Rocket distract the creatures on the loose so he can rescue Groot in this exciting seasonal overlay.

• Plaza de la Familia also returns to Paradise Gardens Park, for a celebration inspired by the spirit of Día de los Muertos. This immersive and festive experience celebrates Disney and Pixar’s beloved film, “Coco,” and the everlasting bonds of family with exciting live entertainment, craft making, delicious food, interactive experiences and special merchandise. Several times daily, A Musical Celebration of Coco brings together the traveling Storytellers of Plaza de la Familia. Singing host Mateo is joined by the Mariachi Divas, authentic folklórico dancers and townspeople from Coco’s Land of the Dead in this festive performance. The troupe is joined by Miguel, who is brought to life in a whimsical style inspired by Mexican folk art.

Disneyland

The Halloween fun continues at Disneyland, where guests will enjoy beautiful décor on Main Street, U.S.A., including a giant Mickey Mouse jack-o’-lantern and a Pumpkin Festival.

• Haunted Mansion, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer, transforms into its annual holiday theme – Haunted Mansion Holiday – inspired by the Walt Disney Pictures classic “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.” The seasonal attraction celebrates the collision between Halloween and Christmas as Jack Skellington offers his unique take on the holidays.

• “Halloween Screams” for all.  For first time in nearly a decade, all guests visiting Disneyland during the Halloween season will get to enjoy a version of the supernatural projection and special effects show. This nighttime spectacular, a fan favorite most recently shown at after-hours Halloween parties at Disneyland, adds to the spooky fun on most nights of the season, hosted by “Master of Scare-omonies” Jack Skellington. On select nights, “Halloween Screams” will go sky high when the show is enhanced with the addition of fireworks.

• To commemorate the celebration of Day of the Dead, guests will encounter the colorful Día de los Muertos tribute in Frontierland, an exhibit that features a musical trio of iconic skeleton figurines, brightly colored flowers and other decorative items.

Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party

The new Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party adds to the spooky fun of Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. Oogie Boogie Bash, which takes the place of Mickey’s Halloween Party, begins Sept. 17 for 20 select nights at Disney California Adventure.

Highlights of this new separate-ticket event include:

• “Villainous!” – The new “World of Color” show, exclusive to Oogie Boogie Bash, weaves a Halloween tale about a young girl named Shelley Marie, an all-new character created for this show. She has a decision to make about her Halloween costume, and finds herself wondering if she could really be as strong and unique as some of her favorite Disney characters. This twisted tale carries Shelley Marie on an unforgettable journey, exploring the villainous side of Disney characters through fountains, lights, lasers, projections and special effects. “Villainous!” shows guests that, deep down, there’s a little villain in all of us.
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – The popular trail transforms into a wondrous and ethereal world of Disney villains unlike anything seen before. This new experience unfolds in a series of scenes, each creating a hauntingly beautiful dream-space of color, sound, light and shadow, as stories emerge from the darkest night to create an enchanting world.
• Immersive treat trails – Throughout Disney California Adventure, guests may enjoy trick-or-treating under the watchful eyes of iconic characters such as the Mad Hatter from Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland,” or even Oogie Boogie himself.
• More after-hours festivities – Guests will also enjoy character encounters; the “Frightfully Fun Parade”; Mickey’s Trick and Treat show, and more.

As an added value, entry to Disney California Adventure before the party is included with an Oogie Boogie Bash ticket. The party begins at 6 p.m. PT and guests have the opportunity to play in Disney California Adventure for three hours before the party starts on Tuesday and Thursday nights (excluding Oct. 29 and Oct. 31) or four hours on Sunday nights, plus Oct. 29 and Oct. 31.

Disneyland Hotels and the Downtown Disney District 

The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort and the Downtown Disney District will also be in the spirit with special treats, themed displays and ghostly entertainment. There will also be complimentary trick-or-treat festivities across all three hotels.

• At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, guests may be spellbound by the large confectionary sculpture of Oogie Boogie in the lobby and can enjoy sweets from the Halloween holiday cart.

• The Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will also have themed décor and hotel guests.

• Special musical entertainment and a capella performers will stroll throughout the hotels and Downtown Disney District harmonizing tunes such as “I Put a Spell on You” and “Grim Grinning Ghosts.”