Halloween at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park is one of the resort’s most beloved annual traditions, drawing families, Disney fans, and Halloween lovers from near and far with spooky fun, frightful eats and treats, and costumed characters galore. From ghoulishly good eats to after-dark thrills, the magic is only just beginning.
Each park at the Disneyland Resort casts its own Halloween spell. Disneyland Park leans into timeless spooky traditions, while Disney California Adventure bursts with color and music, honoring Día de los Muertos through the world of Pixar’s Coco.
Plaza de la Familia is back, and once again, it is more than just another seasonal overlay. Inspired by Disney•Pixar’s Coco, Disney California Adventure Park guests are invited to join a festive traveling troupe of storytellers to sing and dance along as The Storytellers of the Plaza de la Familia Celebrate the Musical World of Coco! The troupe will sing songs from the Academy Award-winning “Remember Me” to the hauntingly beautiful “La Llorona.” The performances feel less like a theme park show and more like an open invitation into a shared cultural memory that you do not just watch, but feel. And after each performance, guests can pose for photos and create new memories with Miguel, brought to life as a hand-animated, dimensional figure.
There are also photo and crafting opportunities for fans who may need a break from walking from one location to the next or standing in long queues for the next attraction. The Árbol de la Vida (Tree of Life) provides a vibrant backdrop for photos. Its branches sprout flowers, animals, and evocative calacas (skeletons) interconnected by the theme of family.
Guests can also visit the Memory Wall, where they can add remembrance notes to honor their loved ones. There’s also a chance to make your own paper masks of Pepita or Dante from
Coco, inspired by alebrijes.
Just outside the venue, a marquee bursts with marigolds, the traditional flower of remembrance, intertwined with other vibrant blooms. Strings of papel picado ripple in the breeze, their cutout patterns casting shadows on the pavement. It is a warm and unmistakable signal that this is not just a seasonal diversion but a space where tradition and storytelling take center stage.
Cars Land revs up for Halloween with its “Car-acters” in costume, with its residents turning Radiator Springs into Radiator Screams. Mater transforms into a vampire, and Lightning McQueen shows off his superhero look. Around the land, upside-down cones form sharp fangs, and tires resemble eerie eyes, adding to the playful yet spooky atmosphere. And Ramone drops the needle to play some classic haunting tunes like Screaming Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell On You.”
And Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout – Monsters After Dark gets unleashed during the afternoon hours. Not only does the music for the attraction change, but certain aspects of the storytelling and the queue also change. The Collector’s Fortress goes dark, alarms sound, and special lighting on the exterior of the Fortress alerts guests that something inside has gone awry.
Set to an original 1970s-style punk rock song written by Tyler Bates, the composer of the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films, Monsters After Dark is a thrilling attraction that every Marvel fan should experience, especially those who love Halloween and appreciate a little punk rock vibe.
This year’s Coco-inspired merchandise shines a spotlight on Latino culture, featuring vibrant hues and delicate embroidered touches like papel picado. By weaving these cultural details into the park experience, Disneyland guests can connect more deeply with the story and spirit of Día de los Muertos.
The Coco-inspired merchandise goes beyond just clothing and food, but there are also the sippers that represent the “Arbor de la vida” that symbolize the afterlife. Highlights include a sipper shaped like the Árbol de la Vida, symbolizing the afterlife, and a new Loungefly backpack that incorporates embroidered designs inspired by the film’s themes.
As for food, we tried out a few items like the Oogie Boogie Burrito from Studio Catering Co. Taking its inspiration from a California Burrito, it has Carne asada, French fries, spicy blue tortilla chips, pico de gallo, guacamole, and crema.
“Being from Southern California, and with this being a Southern California park, we pull a lot of inspiration from the communities and towns around us. The California burrito has a very San Diego vibe, and we love it. We’ve done it in the park before, but this time we wanted to make it different,” said Chef Daniel Brown, Disney California Adventure ® Resort Chef. “Halloween is always a chance for us to take a few risks with flavors and presentation, because the theming is so bold.”
Brown says the Oogie Boogie Burrito has Takis inside the burrito to give it an extra crunch and a burst of color. “When it all comes together, the reds from the Pico De Gallo, the vibrant blues from the Takis, you get this striking mix that almost looks green. It’s fun, flavorful, and very Halloween.”
I was quite surprised at how flavorful the burrito was, and I was worried it was just another California burrito with Takis thrown into it. However, the crunch and spice actually elevated the textures and tied in with the Halloween theme.
For those craving comfort food, the Chicken Pot Pie Soup from Aunt Cass’s Café hits the spot. Served in a bread bowl and topped with crispy fried egg roll wrappers, it takes the familiar flavors of a classic chicken pot pie and gives them a playful twist. The soup is creamy yet delicate, with just the right balance of tender chicken and vegetables to make it hearty without feeling too heavy. The crispy fried egg roll wrappers did seem like an unnecessary component that doesn’t do much but adds a bit of crunch to it.
If you’re still hanging around Aunt Cass’ Cafe, then a cool Cinnamon-Apple Cold Brew hits the spot. It’s Joffrey’s caramel cold brew with apple cinnamon foam and apple cereal dust, which tastes like a liquefied caramel apple blended into coffee. Make sure you mix the foam and the dust all together to get a more flavorful impact.
Finally, there’s the Fried Elote Corn on the Cob at Corn Dog Castle — a whole cob dipped in batter, fried golden, then drizzled with chipotle aïoli and topped with chile-lime queso fresco and cilantro. On paper, it sounds like a winner. In practice, it falls short. The presentation is the first red flag: it’s nearly impossible to cut into without making a mess, which takes away the fun of eating elote in the first place. Then there’s the flavor. With barely enough aïoli, queso fresco, and cilantro to balance each bite, it ends up tasting less like elote and more like cornbread studded with kernels — a clever idea, but one that needs more bite.
Moving on to Disneyland, pumpkins and fall colors line the resort, with the towering Mickey pumpkin on Main Street, U.S.A. serving as the centerpiece of the Halloween décor. There are also characters like Mickey and Minnie in new costumes that actually glow in the dark, which is perfect for those nighttime photos.
Over in New Orleans Square, the Pumpkin King makes not one but two appearances. Guests can find Jack Skellington at a tucked-away photo op near the Royal Street Veranda, or step inside the Haunted Mansion, which once again transforms into its Nightmare Before Christmas holiday overlay.
Iced Pandan Cooler at Bengal Barbecue: with brown sugar spheres and ube cold foam
If you’re in the mood for something sweet and visually striking, head over to Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland for the Iced Pandan Cooler with brown sugar spheres and ube cold foam. It’s a clear winner, offering a fragrant and refreshing take on seasonal drinks. The ube brings its sweet, nutty, and slightly earthy flavor, while the pandan adds fragrant, herbal, grassy notes with a hint of floral sweetness. Together, they create a layered flavor experience, though the richness of the ube tends to dominate, the pandan still peeks through, adding a refreshing lift.
If you’re feeling competitive (or love a good scavenger hunt), Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit is a fun way to explore the resort. Pick up a map and see if you can track down Disney-themed pumpkins scattered across both parks and the Downtown Disney District. Those who complete the hunt will receive a special prize.
On select nights, the Halloween Screams fireworks spectacular returns, filling the sky with ghoulishly gorgeous displays, spine-tingling music, and a touch of Halloween magic. Villains like Ursula, Cruella De Vil, and the eerie Pink Elephants are projected across Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, and It’s a Small World. Of course, depending on where you’re watching, some of the jaw-dropping pyrotechnics might be harder to catch, but the spectacle is still worth seeking out, especially since this is a seasonal event.
While these dishes are designed for the theme park setting, they draw inspiration from traditional flavors and ingredients associated with Día de Los Muertos and Halloween, reflecting Disney’s effort to celebrate the season with both creativity and cultural respect.
While the food adds plenty of flavor to the spooky season, it’s the themed activities at Disney California Adventure Park that truly bring the spirit of Día de los Muertos to life. Guests can not only learn more about the holiday’s meaning but also experience it through music, art, and vibrant cultural displays inspired by Coco. The added cultural layers, while still having room to celebrate the westernized Halloween, are what make Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park so special this spooky season.
Plaza de la Familia and Halloween Time start August 22, 2025, and run until November 2, 2025.