The Halloween season kicked-off at Disneyland Resort on Friday with all manner of seasonal food, merchandise, decorations and perhaps most importantly, spooktacular fun brought to life by beloved favorites like Jack Skellington and his ghostly dog Zero, Maleficent, Ursula the Sea Witch and many more.

Visitors decked out in Halloween attire, eager to experience it all, didn¡¯t waste any time descending on the resort this weekend to mark the official start of the fall celebration, which brings special Halloween offerings across both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.

The seasonal Halloween fun will last until October 31 and combined with the resort¡¯s ongoing 70th anniversary celebrations (which are also taking place this year), makes for an especially memorable time to be at the resort.

Here¡¯s a closer look at what¡¯s on tap this season.

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Halloween 2025 at Disneyland Park?

The temperatures in Southern California may still be soaring, but from the moment you enter the gates of Disneyland Park, you¡¯re immersed all things fall. That begins at the top of Main Street U.S.A. where there¡¯s a giant Mickey Mouse pumpkin perfect for a seasonal family photo (Just be sure to get in the official queue in order to take a photo here.)

The seasonal decor continues with autumn-colored bunting adorning Main Street shop fronts. To help further set the scene, a barber shop quartet is often on hand to sing seasonal and spooky songs.

As you explore Disneyland Park's Town Square, you'll also want to be on the lookout for Disney characters (including Mickey and Minnie Mouse), who are all sporting special Halloween attire featuring swirling colors of purple, green and orange. (Additional characters you may spot wandering Disneyland Park during the season include Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, and Drizella)?

After taking in the festive scene along Main Street U.S.A, be sure to pay a visit to Disneyland Park¡¯s Haunted Mansion, as there¡¯s no better place to truly kick-off the Halloween season.

Haunted Mansion: What's new and different

As regulars likely already know, the Haunted Mansion ride was inspired by Tim Burton¡¯s The Nightmare Before Christmas and in line with the beloved movie, features all types of macabre decor. ?

Jack Skellington has always been a major part of the Haunted Mansion experience and that continues for Halloween 2025.

Notable for this year (as part of the ride¡¯s seasonal overlay), is the giant, custom gingerbread house in the Haunted Mansion¡¯s Grand Hall. Each year for the holidays, Disney creates a new custom gingerbread house. This year,? the 13-foot-tall structure pays homage to the raven and the tableau includes ravens perched all over the house itself, as well clambering all over the Grand Hall's dining table devouring the holiday buffet.

A team of carpenters, storytellers, pastry chefs, bakers and confectionary experts collaborated to create the annual gingerbread house creation and it's a special sight to behold as part of the Haunted Mansion ride. (Hint: As you pass by the Grand Hall on the ride, inhale deeply and take in the sweet scent of tasty gingerbread that fills the hall for the Halloween season.)

The mansion is also decked out with more than 400 flickering candles meant to create a ghostly glow on the mansion¡¯s facade, and come nightfall, more than 100 jack-o-lanterns are illuminated.?

To further spice up the Halloween scene for the season, there are man-eating wreaths, vampire teddy bears and more than two dozen additional animated figures.

While the Haunted Mansion is one of the highlights of a Halloween visit to Disneyland Resort, there¡¯s plenty more on offer that you won¡¯t want to miss.

Happenings at Disney California Adventure Park?

Just like in Disneyland Park, Halloween and the fall season in general, is on full display in Disney California Adventure Park.?

New and notable here: The seasonal transformation or "overlay" on the Guardians of the Galaxy ride, which features a "Monsters After Dark" Halloween theme (available from 3.p.m. onward each day). Some fans have described this ride as Disney's best Halloween overlay.

The scarier than normal version of the Guardians of the Galaxy ride includes red lighting to help create a spooky atmosphere, along with cast members sporting blood-stained vests. There's also a caravan of monsters on the loose for the season. And once on the ride, you'll help Rocket rescue Groot, as you serve as bait for the cabal of monsters. (Just be prepared, as this ride can be especially spooky for young riders.)

Mickey's Trick and Treat Show

If you have little ones in tow, be sure to visit Mickey¡¯s Trick and Treat show, which can also be found in Disney California Adventure Park in the Hollywood Land section of the park.?An interactive music-filled show and costume party with Mickey and his pals, the show runs until October 31. Trick-or-treaters who participate in this special event can dance, enjoy not-so-scary stories and even take home a special treat.

Fall celebrations at Disney California Adventure Park also include a range of activities marking Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. The festivities include music from Disney and Pixar¡¯s film Coco, photo opportunities with a hand-carved Miguel and live entertainment ranging from storytelling to music and crafts.

Seasonal food offerings across the parks

What would a visit to Disneyland Resort for the holidays be without indulging in some of the special food on offer? And this year, there¡¯s plenty of new culinary creations available. In fact, the seasonal food offerings could take up an entire story of their own. Here are just some of the highlights, be on the lookout for new menu items at restaurants and food stands across both parks.

Disney California Adventure Park seasonal food

In Disney California Adventure Park, at Paradise Garden Grill, there¡¯s a variety of Mexican fare to sample, including a new loaded chicken quesadilla (featuring achiote chicken, roasted red peppers and onions and a chipotle cream topping).

Disneyland Resort's fall festivities include a variety of new food offerings including a new loaded chicken quesadilla (Photo Credit: Courtesy Disneyland)

Meanwhile, over at Aunt Cass Caf¨¦, the new seasonal fare ranges from a chicken pot pie soup (served in a bread bowl with crispy fried egg roll wrappers) to caramel apple bread pudding complete with carmelied apples, whipped topping and caramel sauce. Another special seasonal menu item here through October 31 is the Vampire Mickey-shaped sourdough bread.?

Hungry for still more new food offerings? Stop by Corn Dog Castle where they're serving a fried elote corn on the cob, a dish that involves a whole corn cob being dipped in batter and fried golden brown, then drizzled with?chipotle a?oli, and topped with chile-lime queso fresco and cilantro.

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Disneyland Park food

Back at Disneyland Park, there¡¯s all manner of new seasonal menu items that foodies will want try, including a long list of sweet treats that highlight seasonal flavors like cinnamon, caramel or pumpkin spice.

Some of the fun and noteworthy food options include a new Haunted Heatwave Pizza and also Pumpkin Spiced Breadsticks (think: breadsticks rolled in pumpkin spiced sugar served with a caramel cream cheese sauce) at Alien Pizza Planet.

Harbour Galley is serving fresh-baked pumpkin cookies, while Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe is offering everything from caramel apple cheesecake to spiced bundt cake.

At Blue Bayou Restaurant (where reservations are definitely a must), there¡¯s a Doberge Cake made up of layers of pumpkin spice sponge, chocolate whipped ganache and salted caramel buttercream.

The Halloween season food extravaganza at Disneyland Park also includes a few vegan and vegetarian options, including a sweet potato hummus dish at Cafe Orleans and butternut squash flatbread (made with roasted butternut squash pur¨¦e, roasted mushrooms, feta, and roasted diced butternut squash topped with garlic miso sauce and fried sage) at Red Rose Taverne.

Don¡¯t miss the evening Halloween fun

As night descends on Disneyland Resort, the seasonal fun culminates with the ¡°Halloween Screams¡± nighttime spectacular in Disneyland Park, a truly not to miss show that kicks-off with a larger-than-life Jack Skellington appearing from behind Cinderella's Castle as his dog Zero glides across the sky.

The spectacular show is set to Halloween music and features soaring images of ghosts in the night sky, along with cameos from the villainous Maleficent and Ursula the Sea Witch.

The show delivers one thrill after another thanks to its range of Halloween character guests and festive music. (And on select nights the extravaganza includes fireworks as well.)

Just be sure to arrive at Main Street in Disneyland Park at least 30 minutes before the evening show is set to start, so that you can secure a good spot amid the crowds!

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