2018 Halloween Time and Mickey's Halloween Party details

by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix, staff writer
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2018 Halloween Time and Mickey's Halloween Party details

The Disneyland Resort will celebrate Halloween Time September 7 through October 31, with Mickey's Halloween Party planned for 15 nights at Disneyland.

Halloween Time – Friday, September 7 through Wednesday, October 31

Halloween Time brings the return of popular attractions to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. While Jack Skellington has claimed Disneyland's Haunted Mansion as his own—transforming it to the Haunted Mansion Holiday—Oogie Boogie will return to Disney California Adventure park across the esplanade. The main entrance gates will feature an Oogie Boogie sculpture, and a cloud of bats will swirl around the spire of the Carthay Circle Theater. Buena Vista Street will be treated with Halloween decor, including the popular Headless Horseman statue introduced in 2017.

Cars Land will again host the Haul-o-Ween festival, featuring the Radiator Springs residents in their Halloween costumes. Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOreee and Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween attractions will each feature Halloween music and decor for the season. The Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark overlay will return for 2018.

In addition to the Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland, Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy returns for Halloween Time. Also returning are the popular Dia de los Muertos displays in Frontierland and the Main Street Pumpkin Festival. This is always a fun time to visit Disneyland, with the Disney characters dressed in Halloween costumes and the park decorated for the season.

Mickey's Halloween Party

This after-hours event takes place on 15 nights this year, and requires a separate event ticket to attend.

Mickey's Halloween Party includes trick-or-treat stations, themed entertainment, a performance of the event-exclusive Halloween Screams fireworks, and a return of the Frightfully Fun Parade and Ride of the Headless Horseman down Main Street, U.S.A., both introduced in 2016.

Ticket prices jumped again this year, with Halloween night tickets hitting $130. All regular-price tickets are now above the $100 mark for the first time. AP discounts apply to only three of the parties, all on weeknights (see the price calendar below). It appears Disney has eliminated the advance purchase discount for non-passholders, and the regular price is the same regardless of when you purchase your ticket.

Two party perks added in 2017 are back for 2018. Party guests can take advantage of a three-hour early-admission period before the party kicks off to visit both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure to see the seasonal decorations in both parks before the main event begins. PhotoPass downloads of souvenir photos taken during the event are again included, although this perk won't matter as much to Signature and Premier annual passholders.

Dates and prices are as follows:

  • AP – Discounted advanced-purchase price for Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club members and Disney Visa cardholders
  • Gate – Regular price

 

September
Sun 16 Mon 17 Tues 18 Wed 19 Thur 20 Fri 21 Sat 22
     

6:00–11:00

AP: $95
Gate: $105

 

7:00–midnight

AP: $115
Gate: $115

 
Sun 23 Mon 24 Tues 25 Wed 26 Thur 27 Fri 28 Sat 29
 

6:00–11:00

AP: $95
Gate: $105

 

6:00–11:00

AP: $95
Gate: $105

 

7:00–midnight

AP: $115
Gate: $115

 
Sun 30 October
  Mon 1 Tues 2 Wed 3 Thur 4 Fri 5 Sat 6
   

6:00–11:00

AP: $115
Gate: $115

   

7:00–midnight

AP: $115
Gate: $115

 
Sun 7 Mon 8 Tues 9 Wed 10 Thur 11 Fri 12 Sat 13
   

6:00–11:00

AP: $115
Gate: $115

   

7:00–midnight

AP: $115
Gate: $115

 
Sun 14 Mon 15 Tues 16 Wed 17 Thur 18 Fri 19 Sat 20
   

6:00–11:00

AP: $115
Gate: $115

   

7:00–midnight

AP: $130
Gate: $130

 
Sun 21 Mon 22 Tues 23 Wed 24 Thur 25 Fri 26 Sat 27
   

6:00–11:00

AP: $115
Gate: $115

   

7:00–midnight

AP: $130
Gate: $130

 
Sun 28 Mon 29 Tues 30 Wed 31      
 

6:00–11:00

AP: $130
Gate: $130

 

6:00–11:00

AP: $130
Gate: $130

     

As we've noted in past years, Disney seems to have realized that some locals were taking advantage of the three-hour "early" admission offered on party nights, and are using the party as their semi-annual trip to Disneyland. In past years, going the party route offered a slightly higher cost per hour, but a lower absolute price. The party also offers smaller crowds and access to exclusive Halloween entertainment.

That math doesn't work as well in 2018, with the Halloween Party ticket costing as much as $23 more than a one-day ticket for the same day.

The seasons calender has not yet been published for October 2018, so we do not yet know if Halloween will be a labeled a Value, Regular, or Peak day—but assuming it is labeled a Regular day, the choice is between a one-day ticket valid from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (10 hours) for $117, or a Halloween Party ticket, valid from 3 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (8 hours) for $130.

In this example, someone planning to visit on September 19 could buy one of the following:

  • A $97 one-day ticket, good for 10 hours (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
  • A $105 Halloween Party ticket, good for 8 hours (3 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.)

Advance purchase tickets for the Halloween Party go on sale to Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders on Tuesday, June 5. Passholders can purchase tickets online by logging into their account on the Disneyland website. Disney Rewards Visa card holder and Disney Vacation Club members may also be eligible for this pre-sale, so check with your respective member services departments, or by by calling (714) 781-4400, or in person at a Disneyland Resort ticket booth.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, June 12 to the general public.