Halloween Time at Disneyland Returns with New Tricks and Familiar Treats

Whenever Halloween Time arrives at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, guests know they’re in for more than just a good time, but a spooky one as well. With characters like Jack Skellington making their seasonal return, Mickey and Friends showing off new Halloween fits, and festive treats appearing throughout both parks, the annual fall celebration comes with plenty of familiar traditions and a few new tricks to discover.

Halloween Time may be built around traditions guests look forward to every year, but a few new tricks are mixed in with the familiar treats. From now until October 31, 2026, guests can expect new scary seasonal food and drinks, updated hauntingly colorful Halloween outfits for Mickey and Friends, frighteningly fun merchandise, and more seasonal offerings across the parks, hotels, and Downtown Disney.

Returning favorites include the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay (inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas) at Disneyland Park and the Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout – Monsters After Dark overlay at the Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park.

Of course, Mickey and Friends are sporting new fits this year, with black-and-orange patterns inspired by harlequin designs, complete with frilled collars and cuffs and swirling confection details. The orange, yellow, and black combination is reminiscent of candy corn, giving their new looks a playful Halloween flair. Mickey and Minnie aren’t the only ones to sport new outfits. They will be joined by Goofy, Donald Duck, and the mischievous chipmunk duo Chip and Dale. And if you don’t have time to take photo ops with them, you’ll be able to see them at the Halloween Cavalcade, which makes its way through Disneyland Park.

Returning favorites also include Jack Skellington presiding over the Halloween Screams nighttime spectacular in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle and the family-friendly Mickey’s Trick and Treat dance party at Disney California Adventure.

Moving on to food, guests will be able to sink their fangs into some sweet and savory eats and drinks, and we had a chance to try some of the best items around Disney California Adventure Park.

Some of our favorites are the Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pull-Apart Bread. This tasty treat, available at select outdoor vendors, uses King’s Hawaiian rolls stuffed with cream cheese, then topped with buffalo chicken, Parmesan ranch, and fried onions. It tastes pretty much exactly how you would expect something called Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pull-Apart Bread to taste. The sweetness of the Hawaiian rolls works well with the tangy buffalo sauce and creamy filling, while the fried onions add some crunch to each bite.

The Villainous Wings were easily one of my favorites of the tasting. Tossed in a sweet and tangy gochujang sauce, drizzled with ghost pepper ranch, and finished with chives, the wings are juicy, messy, and absolutely finger-licking good. The gochujang brings plenty of sweet heat, while the ghost pepper ranch adds a creamy kick that ties it all together. The only drawback is that the order comes with just four wings, so they disappear pretty quickly.

The Ube Cheesecake Churro is rolled in chocolate cookie sugar and topped with an ube cheesecake whip and chocolate cookie crumble. It’s a fun and creative take on the classic churro, with the ube adding a light, creamy sweetness that pairs nicely with the chocolate cookie coating. Since the ube comes as a whipped topping rather than being incorporated into the churro itself, I wish there were a little more of it in each bite. It also isn’t exactly the most portable treat, since the topping can slide off pretty easily, so I’d recommend enjoying this one at a table instead of trying to eat it on the go.

For those who are thirsty, we tried three different drinks. Over at the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill in San Fransokyo Square, guests can cool off with the new Mango Agua Fresca. The house-made drink has a light and refreshing mango flavor, while chile-lime seasoning and chamoy add a tangy kick that helps balance out the sweetness of the mango.

The Cozy Cone Motel 1 — Churros has a Vietnamese Coffee with Ube Sweet Cream Foam, which was easily Nikita’s favorite beverage of the day. The coffee flavor comes through clearly without being overpowering or bitter, while the ube sweet cream foam adds just the right amount of sweetness and creaminess. Once mixed into the coffee, the ube gives the drink an almost milkshake-like richness without completely masking the coffee underneath. Topped with black sprinkles, it was my standout drink.

Over at Aunt Cass Cafe, Chocolate-Raspberry Cold Brew combines Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee with a raspberry foam topper, and it was surprisingly refreshing. The chocolate and raspberry flavors tasted much more natural than similar pairings found in candies or truffles, which can sometimes come off a little artificial. I also liked the chocolate shavings on top of the cold foam, though most were difficult to enjoy once they melted into the drink or got caught between the ice cubes. Overall, it’s a solid cold brew and one I’d happily order again.

Mickey’s Trick and Treat gives parents a nice break in the AC while younger guests get a chance to get in on the Halloween fun at Disney California Adventure with a family-friendly costume party starring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald. The interactive show mixes dancing, colorful projections, bubbles, special effects, and two original Halloween songs with Mickey telling a not-so-scary story about their friend Parker, whose mad scientist experiment sends bats, spiders, and ghosts into the celebration.

Despite all the spooky chaos, the show keeps things lighthearted and playful, encouraging kids and families to dance along before sending guests off with a special treat.

For fans of Halloween-themed Disney merchandise, the Mickey and Minnie Cutie Ghost designs return for 2026 with a new pastel pink-and-orange palette across apparel, ears, bags, home goods, and décor. So while guests can expect plenty of new fall attire, Mickey ears, and other seasonal merchandise throughout Disneyland Resort, a few items stand out from the crowd. One of the most popular is the Mickey Mouse Cutie Ghost Light-Up Fog Bubble Blower, which takes the familiar Disney bubble wand and gives it a spooky twist by filling each bubble with a smoke-like fog. The glowing ghost design makes it just as much a fun Halloween accessory as it is a toy.

Alongside the Halloween festivities, Plaza de la Familia returns to Paradise Gardens Park at Disney California Adventure through November 2, celebrating Día de los Muertos and the everlasting bonds of family with experiences inspired by Pixar’s Coco. The colorful celebration features marigolds, calaca figures, live mariachi music, and a Memory Wall where guests can leave notes honoring loved ones who have passed.

Music also plays a big part in the celebration with The Storytellers of Plaza de la Familia Celebrate the Musical World of Coco! A traveling troupe of storytellers brings the film and its themes of family and remembrance to life with songs including “Remember Me” and “The World Es Mi Familia,” along with the traditional Mexican song “La Llorona.”

Over in Cars Land, Radiator Springs once again transforms into Radiator Screams, with Halloween decorations, colorful lighting, and residents like Lightning McQueen, Mater, Cruz Ramirez, and Red dressed in their seasonal “car-stumes.” Two attractions also get into the spirit, with Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree becoming Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters transforming into Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween, complete with seasonal music and decorations.

Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort continues to work because it balances the traditions guests return for every fall with enough new food, character looks, merchandise, and seasonal surprises to keep things fresh. Whether you’re returning for Haunted Mansion Holiday and Halloween Screams or simply looking for something new to eat, there are still plenty of tricks and treats waiting throughout the resort.