If you’re hoping to experience Halloween Time at Disneyland Park, you don’t have to have a special event ticket or pay extra.

Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort is one of the most festive seasons of the year. You can choose whether you want to check out some seriously spooky villain-inspired experiences at the annual Oogie Boogie Bash, or explore all of the costumed characters and fall decorations at Disneyland Park. Either way, if you think you have to purchase a separate ticket just for all of the Halloween fun, we’ve got great news: it’s already included in your theme park ticket!

If you’re hoping to check out the pumpkin-inspired decor, seasonal nighttime entertainment, and more at Disneyland, you can do so without spending extra. Below, we’re sharing 10 thrilling Halloween Time things that are already included in a regular Disneyland theme park ticket – so make sure to add them to your list.

1. See the Giant Mickey Pumpkin (and Snap a Photo!)

Photo by Brian Shih

If there’s a photo you absolutely have to get during Halloween Time at Disneyland, it’s a snapshot with the giant and glowing Mickey pumpkin on Main Street, U.S.A.! This iconic decoration pops up right in line with Sleeping Beauty Castle, making it possible to capture the seasonal standout and the gorgeous castle in the background from the right angle.

To get an amazing photo with the giant Mickey pumpkin, you’ll want to line up for the Disney PhotoPass photographers who are always stationed around this park icon.

2. Catch Characters in Their Halloween Costumes

Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort

One of our absolute favorite Halloween details at Disneyland is seeing what spooky and adorable costumes our favorite Disney characters wear for the season. Every year, character meet and greets become even more exciting as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and the rest of the gang (including Chip and Dale!) don costumes as well as seasonally-inspired attire. You might catch Donald Duck dressed as a vampire, for example, or Minnie donning a towering witch hat. 

Since the costumes and clothing always change annually, it’s a thrill to see what the characters are wearing no matter how many times you’ve visited in September and October. And there’s no special “extra” or additional cost required to line up for meet and greets as usual when you’re in the park!

3. Ride Haunted Mansion Holiday

Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort

If there’s one Halloween attraction you don’t want to miss while visiting Disneyland, it’s the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay. Whether or not you’re a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, this seasonal change to the beloved Haunted Mansion is popular with Guests of all ages. It fuses Halloween, Christmas, and all of the characters you know and love from the cult classic Disney film into one hauntingly fun attraction.

Just head over to New Orleans Square to experience this classic overlay for yourself from September through early January! Be warned the wait can get pretty long during peak days during the Halloween season, so you may want to spring for Genie+ to save some time.

4. Watch Halloween Screams

Photo by Dom Tabon

During Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort, the usual nighttime entertainment is replaced with something wicked: Halloween Screams, a specially themed spectacular that brings some of Disney’s most frightening villains to life!

Halloween Screams is hosted by “Master of Scare-omonies” Jack Skellington and his pup Zero from The Nightmare Before Christmas. The two will introduce a whole celebration of all things evil, ghostly, and terrifying – but don’t worry, it’s not actually too frightening for Guests of any age. You’ll be surrounded by thrilling projections and soaring flames, get to see classic Disney villains like Ursula and Maleficent, and hear a bunch of showstopping Halloween songs.

On select nights, Halloween Screams is paired with fireworks, so check the Disneyland app for the latest showtimes and schedule to see if you can catch both the show and the fireworks on your next fall visit.

5. Check Out the Halloween Tree

Photo by Dom Tabon

The Halloween Tree is a small seasonal detail you might not have noticed before, if you’ve ever visited Disneyland during Halloween. Located in Frontierland near the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, this oak tree is decorated with glowing orange lights and hand-painted jack-o-lanterns hanging from its branches. And it’s not your average Halloween decoration; it’s actually inspired by author Ray Bradbury.

This tree draws its inspiration from Bradbury’s 1972 novel The Halloween Tree, which tells the story of trick-or-treaters who discover the origins of Halloween while looking for their missing friend. Bradbury meet Walt Disney in 1964, and he ultimately ended up helping to develop a number of attractions at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World (like EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth!) and screenplays for two Disney films.

Bradbury always hoped to have a Halloween Tree at Disneyland, so in 2007, the park’s tree was created and dedicated to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original story. Now, you can check out the tree each year – and it’s sure to make you want to read Bradbury’s tale.

Bonus: Halloween Fun is Included at California Adventure, Too!

If you’re visiting Disneyland Resort with a Park Hopper ticket or multi-day ticket, you’ll want to make sure to head over to Disney California Adventure Park to enjoy all of the incredible Halloween decor, entertainment, and attraction overlays there. California Adventure can be even more exciting than Disneyland during this time of the year! Here’s a look at the Halloween fun you can check out that’s included with a regular park ticket.

Explore Radiator “Screams” All Decked Out for Halloween

Photo by Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

When fall arrives, the town (or land, really) of Radiator Springs transforms into one seriously spooky destination! Incredible Halloween decorations descend on this area of California Adventure, turning it into Radiator “Screams” for the season. Here, you’ll find frightful touches everywhere you look, from the jack-o-lantern inspired traffic cones at the Cozy Cone Motel to the vampire-toothed tire garlands hanging overhead. Characters like Mater and Lightning McQueen also get in on the fun and appear wearing their Halloween costumes!

You definitely don’t want to miss the two seasonal attraction overlays in the land. Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree is a “Haul-O-Ween” makeover that brings spooky music and decorations to this kid-friendly ride. Over at Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters, the attraction transforms into Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween, with similarly seasonal songs and dances.

Ride Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark

Photo by Brian Shih

If you love Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission – Breakout!, then you’ve got to experience this extra-frightening version! Available from September 1 to October 31, this annual attraction overlay features menacing beasts and a more frightening version of the original ride’s story. The overlay officially opens at 3:00 PM each day, meaning you can ride this thrilling Halloween-inspired version well before the evening actually gets underway.

Note: This special seasonal overlay is only available from 3:00 to 6:00 PM on nights that Oogie Boogie Bash takes place, so you’ll want to check the daily schedule during your Halloween Time visit.

Visit Plaza de la Familia

Photo by Adrienne White

While not directly Halloween-inspired or themed, Plaza de la Familia at California Adventure is a must-visit during this time of year. Centered around the traditions of Dia de los Muertos, this limited-time experience includes entertainment, delicious food, and activities for every age group. You can learn more about everything included in the Plaza de la Familia celebration here.

Ready to buy your Disneyland Halloween tickets so you can experience all of these incredible seasonal offerings? Check out the latest ticket prices right here!