Disneyland’s Halloween Time starts on September 7^th.  We try to have a Disney trip at least once a year, so we decided instead of keeping ourselves locked into the summer, we would try to space our visits out so we could enjoy the park during other times of year.  We did Halloween Time two years ago and it may be my favorite time of year there! It was perfect because my daughter was on Fall Break at the time, so we went during the week.  As did everyone else in Arizona and Nevada who were also on Fall Break, so it was still really crowded.

The exciting thing about crowds is we saw tons of friends from my daughter’s school, and in a crowded Adventureland, I ran into a good college friend who lives in Nevada and we were able to meet up later for a drink.  So, while crowds are no fun to manage, they do have their perks as well.

What We Did

The first thing we did was head to Mickey’s Halloween Party.  This requires a separate ticket for admission and must be purchased in advance because they sell out quickly.  We flew into town on a Monday afternoon, so we chose that night for the Halloween party.  It worked out perfectly!  My sister and her family arrived the day before we did, so we met up with them that night.

Kids and adults are encouraged to dress up – Ella went as Alice in Wonderland and I was Mary Poppins;  practically perfect in every way.  There are different Trick-or-Treating stations around the park and it’s not as crowded, so lines for the rides aren’t bad at all.  It was a good way for us to knock out the bigger rides so we didn’t have to worry about them the rest of the trip.

We watched the Frightfully Fun Parade, which was a lot of fun and may be my favorite parade.  It’s very Haunted Mansion/Nightmare Before Christmas themed with a lot of Disney Villains.

The next day, we did Disneyland.  This day was super crowded and a little stressful, so we gave up on trying to ride rides and we ended up doing some things we never get to do, because no one ever wants to do them.  Until it’s so crowded and hot and everyone’s over it, all of a sudden Hall of Presidents sounds pretty appealing.

We even watched Steamboat Willie and went to the Disney Gallery on Main Street, which was actually really interesting as it goes through the history of the park.  Then we hung out at the Grand Californian.

California Adventure was our third day.  My friend lives in L.A. and she met up with us for this adventure.  This was a couple months before Tower of Terror closed, so we rode it as much as our stomachs would allow.  It’s my favorite ride and I get a little giddy on it.

Our final park day was spent back at Disneyland.  The crowds had thinned out a just a bit, so it wasn’t as stressful.  We took a break mid-day and went back to the hotel for a swim and went back to the park that night.  We spent our last day shopping in Downtown Disney and hanging out at the Disneyland Hotel.

The Haunted Mansion is amazing at this time of year. It’s The Nightmare Before Christmas themed and it smells like gingerbread inside. They keep it this way through the holidays.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.  We like to stay on property and this was the first time we stayed at this particular hotel.  Grand Californian is definitely our favorite, but this one was convenient as well and we had an awesome view of California Adventure from our room.

Our pool was being remodeled at the time, so it was closed.  We had access to the pool at the Disneyland Hotel and we took advantage of it.

Where We Ate

Bengal Barbecue – This was on one of the super crowded nights.  We did a grab and go with chicken skewers and it was actually really good.

Flo’s V8 Café – For breakfast, we had Tow Mater waffles and Turkey Bacon.

Pluto’s Dog House – I try and stay as far away from Toon Town as possible, but in doing so, Ella hasn’t really spent much time there.  This trip, I made sure she got to do what she wanted there since we’re convinced it’s not going to be around much longer.  She wanted to eat hot dogs at Pluto’s Dog House.

Uva Bar – This is where we met said college friend for a drink and some snacks before pizza and beer for dinner.

Our Standby’s {Places we eat at a lot when we’re here}:

Blue Bayou – Make reservations ahead of time.

French Market Restaurant – Yummy soups and sandwiches.

In Room Dining – This has become one of our favorite traditions.  We order breakfast in our room the morning we leave.  I just want all the coffee, Ella wants all the pastries.

La Brea Bakery – Located in Downtown Disney it’s quick and easy.  We usually grab something and take it back to our room when we need a break or when we’re done for the night.

Mint Julep Bar– Beignets and coffee in the afternoon.  They have seasonal flavors for the holidays, so the ones we ate this time were pumpkin, of course.

Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria – Also in Downtown Disney, they have yummy pizza and beer, what more can you ask for?

Tiki Juice Bar – Can’t go to Disneyland without getting a Dole Whip!

We’re always planning our next Disney adventure and Ella really wants to go back to Disney World, so that’s what our plan is.  It’s just a matter of when?  So much travel, so little time…

If you need help planning your Disney vacation, contact Kim Rowland at Mickey Travels.  She has been booking our Disney trips for several years and she’s always very helpful and knows things we don’t know.