Spooky Season Fun: How Disney and Universal are Celebrating Halloween

If you’re thinking about a fall getaway that’s festive, fun, and full of unforgettable memories, Halloween season at both Disney and Universal offers something for everyone. Whether you’re traveling with toddlers, teens, or just love a good seasonal celebration yourself, there are some truly special ways to enjoy the magic of Halloween.

Let’s take a look at all the ways you can celebrate spooky season in style!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World 

This fall, you can get the chance to visit Magic Kingdom for some not-so-scary fun. Eerie music, spooky shadows, and haunted mansion hums will fill the park on select nights August 15 through October 31st at Magic Kingdom. This special-ticketed event is the perfect blend of festive and family-friendly. 

What you can expect during this event: 

• Halloween Attire: You can meet Minnie and Mickey for the first time TOGETHER in their Halloween outfits. 

• Trick-or-treating at more than a dozen stations throughout the park (yes, adults too!). Each guest will be given a treat bag and may even encounter some character surprises along the trick-or-treat trail.  

• Rare character meet-and-greets like Jack & Sally. 

• The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular - a fan-favorite castle show starring the Sanderson Sisters and a little help from their villain friends. 

• Boo-To-You Halloween Parade -  Be alert for the headless horseman, and then watch as Mickey, Minnie and friends show off their Halloween best. Get ready to see a few rare character sightings, like Pain & Panic from Hercules and Vanellope from Wreck-It Ralph. To ensure that all ages are able to enjoy the parade, it will take place at 8:15pm each night. 

• Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks display - Join Jack Skellington for story time, as he transforms Cinderella Castle into a haunted house, leaving Mickey and friends inside attempting to escape.

• Ride Overlays - Select rides will get a spooky transformation.  

• Zombie Dance Parties 

• Specialty Halloween themed food and drinks 

• New Halloween themed merchandise 

• Since this is a limited-ticket event, you can also expect lower crowd levels and shorter wait times on rides. 

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is perfect for families who want to soak in the Halloween spirit without anything too scary. Costumes encouraged! 

Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort

If you're on the West Coast or looking for something a little different, Disneyland has its own version of Halloween magic. From mid-August through October, both parks are beautifully decorated for the season, and California Adventure hosts its own after-hours event: Oogie Boogie Bash.

What you’ll typically find at an Oogie Boogie Bash:

• Interactive villain treat trails

• The Frightfully Fun Parade

• Special character appearances and entertainment.

  
  

It's a Halloween celebration that puts a twist on classic Disney. 

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios (Orlando & Hollywood)

If you have older kids or adults in your group who love a good scare, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is one of the most intense and immersive Halloween events out there. With highly themed haunted houses, live scare zones, and entertainment inspired by popular horror films and shows, this event is perfect for thrill-seekers.

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is the ultimate haunted experience:

• Elaborate, movie-quality haunted houses based on iconic horror films and shows

• Scare zones with roaming “scareactors” and spooky atmospheres

• Live Shows 

• Exclusive horror-themed food and drinks

If you choose to take a break from the scare, you can also enjoy live shows and thrill rides.

This is a special-tickets event and is not recommended for children under the age of 13.

Halloween on the High Seas – Disney Cruise Line

For a more relaxed but still festive fall experience, Disney Cruise Line offers Halloween on the High Seas sailings, available on select cruises from mid-September through October. These cruises combine the fun of Halloween with the magic of Disney and the calm of cruising at sea.

Onboard, you’ll find:

• Ship-wide fall decor, including the signature Pumpkin Tree

• Mickey's Mouse-querade - a "scare-a-bration" with some of your favorite Disney friends in their Halloween finest

• Halloween Activities: Creepy crafts and games for the entire family

• Spine-Tingling Treats - Halloween-themed desserts, drinks, and trick-or-treating

• Fall-inspired entertainment

It’s a unique way to enjoy Halloween while also sneaking in a little vacation to rest and recharge.

Where Will You Celebrate the Spooky Season? 

No matter what kind of Halloween magic you're after - sweet and fun at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary, the laid-back West Coast charm of Disneyland, a thrilling night at Universal, or a festive cruise adventure - we would love to help you find the perfect fit for your family.

These events are incredibly popular and many of them sell out early, so let’s get your party tickets secured, your resort or cruise booked, and your fall itinerary mapped out, stress-free and full of magic.

Get started by connecting with one of our AMAAB Travel Advisors, and we will start planning a fall trip full of fun, memories, and just the right amount of spooky magic.