Three Disneyland After Dark Events Confirmed for 2025

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Recently, Disney updated the ‘After Dark’ page of their website and quietly confirmed the return of three after dark themes returning in 2025. They are Sweetheart’s Nite, Star Wars Nite and Pride Nite. All three ran multiple dates in 2024, however, there’s one notable absence from the list - Disney Channel Nite.

While not outright confirmed by Disney, it does appear as though Disney Channel Nite failed to make the cut for 2025. It’s no surprise, really. The event only ran for two dates in 2024 and both took an abnormally long time to sell out. While my wife and I had a great time during our experience at the event, it’s no surprise Disney decided against a repeat, as that’s usually an indication of a lack of interest on the guest’s part.

Looping back to the three that did make the cut, the only confirmation was that they were returning. There wasn’t any information as to dates, price, and activities released. However, there is plenty of historical data to look back on to summarize. But first…

What are After Dark Events?

If you’ve never heard of Disneyland After Dark events, they’re after-hours, hard-ticketed events held during the first half of the year at Disneyland. By ‘hard-ticketed’, I mean they’re not included with your regular park ticket and you’ll need to purchase an event-specific ticket in order to attend.

On event nights, Disneyland park will close early to regular park guests, usually at 9pm. Guests with an event ticket are allowed entry into the park three hours prior to start time and are given a wristband. If a guest doesn’t have one, they’ll be asked to leave once the park closes.

Aside from Oogie Boogie Bash, which isn’t generally considered part of the after dark line up, the events run for four hours, from 9pm to 1am. During the party, guests are treated to special photo opportunities, rare character appearances, dance parties, parades, specialty food and drink options, event merchandise, and more.

Now, let’s take a look at Disneyland’s 2025 after dark line up and what they entail.

Sweethearts Nite

First, we’ll discuss Sweethearts Nite, as this will be the first after dark event held in 2025. Sweethearts Nite takes place on select nights in late January and February, with the final event usually taking place on or shortly after Valentine’s Day.

In 2024, tickets for Sweethearts Nite started at $139 and topped out at $169, with dates closer to and on Valentine’s Day commanding the higher end of the pricing spectrum. During the event, the main attraction were rare character appearances and meet and greets, including Indiana Jones and Marion.

Sweethearts Nite has been a mainstay since Disney started running after dark events in 2019 and has gotten more and more popular every year. Tickets sell out quickly and typically go on sale in November. I expect expanded dates this year, still throughout the months of January and February, though.

Star Wars Nite

Star Wars Nite has been another popular addition to the after dark line up over the years. Year after year, it’s usually the event with the most dates and they often coincide with “Season of the Force”, a separate event that takes place during the day in Tomorrowland and Galaxy’s Edge.

In 2024, Disney ran multiple event nights, more than prior years, throughout the months of April and May. Like Sweethearts Nite, tickets topped out at $169, however, started much higher at $159. And unlike prior years, it look an exceptionally long time to sell out.

You could argue that was because prices were higher and there were more dates, and you wouldn’t be wrong. Those aspects certainly played a part, but I feel it had more to do with the lack of any substantial changes made to the event and guests (locals, namely) grew tired of it.

The event did eventually sell out, making its return in 2025 an all-but-certain reality, which has now proven to be accurate. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney ran fewer nights next year. Look for tickets to Star Wars Nite to go on sale in February 2025.

Pride Nite

Returning for its third year, Pride Nite has been quite successful for Disney, offering the LGBTQ+ community and their allies their own night of celebration. Historically speaking, there aren’t many dates offered for this event, with only two in 2023 and 2024, respectively. However, based on its past success, I expect that to change in 2025.

At past events, Pride Nite featured rare character appearances, photo opportunities, specialty menu items, a pride parade (cavalcade style) down Main Street U.S.A, a Ohana dance party featuring Lilo and Stitch, line dancing at the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, and more.

June is pride month, and Disney will likely continue to hold Pride Nites in that month. Following the usual two month in advance sales pattern, expect tickets for Pride Nite 2025 to go on sale in April.

Will There Be a Fourth After Dark Event?

The presumed exclusion of Disney Channel Nite leaves an open slot for a fourth after dark event, which begs the question as to what it’ll be, assuming Disney even wants to do one. It seems as though Disney is desperately trying to create an event that appeals to nostalgic millennials, with Throwback Nite in 2023 and Disney Channel Nite in 2024, and just haven’t been able to nail it down, so-to-speak.

With March being the spiritual halfway point to Disneyland’s Halloween season, they could take another crack at a Villains Nite, like they did in 2022, to piggyback on the ever growing success of Oogie Boogie Bash. Disney likes to make a big deal out of the “Halfway to Halloween” celebration, so running Villains Nite events during that period could be a great way to drum up additional hype.

While I don’t necessarily believe this to be the case, as millennials have been cash-cows for Disney in recent years, there’s the argument that Disney could be moving away from nostalgia-related events and towards something recent. What that would be, exactly, remains a mystery.

As stated above, though, I don’t think that’s the case. Nostalgia is big business across multiple industries. But none, in my opinion, know how to capitalize and deliver on it better than Disney. They just need to iron out the theme and its marketing, and tickets will undoubtedly sell fast.

Of course, considering 2025 is Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, which will undoubtedly be a year-long celebration at the park, it’s possible Disney is simply applying the nostalgia elements (and budget) to that rather than holding a singular event, and then launch another Disney Channel or Throwback-style event in 2026.

Either way, we won’t know for sure what Disney is doing until they themselves make the announcement. However, I don’t see a reason why they wouldn’t announce the return of Disney Channel Nite with the other three if they had any intention of holding it.

That being said, I do believe the three announced after dark events are all we’re getting, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I would rather Disney increase the amount of nostalgic-related elements of an after dark event to the park’s daily offerings during the 70th anniversary, than to have to pay additional money to see it.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, learn more about Disneyland’s 2025 ticket deal to save hundreds on kids tickets. Additionally, read about my experience at one of Disneyland’s good neighbor hotels. Also, see my ten best tips for purchasing Disneyland tickets. Lastly, for great deals on Disneyland vacation packages and tickets, get a quote from the folks at Get Away Today, the most knowledgeable and experienced Disney vacation planners.

Disneyland Magic Key: Pricing, Details, Benefits and More

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Originally launched in late 2021, just months after Disneyland reopened to guests from the 2020 covid-19 closure, Magic Keys program are Disneyland’s exclusive annual pass program. It differs from its predecessor, know then as simply Annual Passes, or AP, not only in name, but in price-point, benefits (or lack thereof) and availability.

Prior to 2020, one could purchase an annual pass through Disneyland’s website or at the ticket booths at any point as there were no limitations placed on inventory. With the Magic Key (MK) program, however, you can only purchase one when Disney releases them for sale. Disney says this is done to limit the amount of MK holders, since locals tend to make up the majority of daily park attendance and often cause crowds to swell, causing a major “inconvenience” to out-of-area visitors.

Consequently, this lack of constant availability has caused a huge amount of pent-up demand for magic keys, often resulting in hours-long virtual queues for eager key holder hopefuls. I say “hopefuls” because there have been sales when by the time some have gotten through the virtual queue, the key they wanted, or all keys in general, were sold out.

The last magic key sale occurred in March 2024 and, surprisingly, lasted through June when all sales were finally paused. Recently, Disney announced magic keys would once again go on sale on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at no sooner than 9am. In this post, I’ll discuss the recent price increase, the four individual tiers, the benefits of each, and more. Let’s get into it.

Disneyland Magic Key Tiers, Price and Benefits (2024/2025)

Much like the original iteration of the program, there are four tiers of magic keys to choose from. Each has its own price, benefits and amount of blockout dates. Thanks to a class-action lawsuit in 2022, all Disneyland magic keys now come with blockout dates.

As far as benefits are concerned, all four have the same general benefits, though with varying levels. For example, you get a better discount on dining and merchandise with one key over another, but all keys do offer a discount.

Additionally, only the top tier key, the Inspire, includes parking without further charge. The remaining three keys offer discounts on parking, and only at certain parking lots, depending on the key you choose. Let’s take a look at the tiers and what they offer:

Inspire Key Price: $1749 (or $121.67 per month)

This is the Rolls-Royce of the Disneyland Magic Key program. If you visit the parks a lot and want the best benefits available with the lowest amount of blockout dates, this is the pass for you. Currently, the only blockout dates with this pass are the two weeks around Christmas and New Years. Every other day is fair game, provided there is reservation availability. Inspire Key benefits include:

• Reservation-based entry on the majority of dates throughout the year

• Hold up to 6 park reservations at a time

• 25% off of Lightning Lane Multi-Pass

• Unlimited PhotoPass photo digital downloads

• Up to 20% off merchandise

• Up to 15% off dining

• Free standard parking at Mickey & Friends, Pixar Pals, and Toy Story

• Park hopping included (after 11am)

Based on tier 0 days, which are days when Disneyland charges the least amount of money for an adult, one-day park hopper ticket, the break even point for this tier is eleven visits. If you’re a local, you visit the parks more than most, typically park your own vehicle, and often indulge in Disneyland’s restaurants and gift shops, this key is a bargain despite the high price-point.

Believe Key Price: $1374 (or $88.34 per month)

If the price of the Inspire Key gives you sticker shock, you can save by going with the Dream Key, though you’ll go down a peg or two with the benefits a bit and will have to deal with additional blockout dates. Despite the blockout dates, you’ll still have access to the majority of the year as it’s mostly during the two weeks around Christmas and New Years, spring break week, and a few random weekends.

• Reservation-based entry on most dates throughout the year

• Hold up to 6 park reservations at a time

• 25% off Lightning Lane Multi-Pass

• Unlimited PhotoPass photo digital downloads

• Up to 10% off merchandise

• Up to 10% off dining

• 50% off standard parking at Mickey & Friends, Pixar Pals, and Toy Story

• Park hopping included (after 11am)

The Believe Key’s break even point is nine visits, again, based on the price of a tier 0 adult, one day ticket with park hopper option included. This is another great option for locals who visit often, but perhaps best for those who typically take an Uber to parks, as you’ll be charged half the rate for parking. Though, with Uber’s pricing increasing in recent years, it may be more cost-effective to just pay the half rate to park yourself.

Enchant Key Price: $974 (or $55 per month)

If you’re not a SoCal resident, this is the lowest you can go and is the most affordable option. Its price may be great, but you’ll receive less benefits and have significantly more blockout dates. Blockout dates for this key include nearly all holidays and the days surrounding them, spring break week, most weekends, and the entirety of summer.

• Reservation-based entry on select dates throughout the year

• Hold up to 4 park reservations at a time

• 25% off Lightning Lane Multi-Pass

• Up to 10% off merchandise

• Up to 10% off dining

• 25% off standard parking at the Toy Story lot ONLY

• Park hopping included

This pass comes with a break even point of just six visits, making it an ideal key for those who live close enough to Disneyland to visit often, but not close enough to be considered a local who visits weekly, or even monthly. If there are weeks or months between your visits, the limit of four reservations at a time wouldn’t hinder you much as you’d go through them rather quickly and typically, reservations are much easier to come by these days.

Imagine Key Price: $599 (or $24.84 per month)

This key is only available to SoCal residents living in zip codes 90000 - 93599. Due to it being the lowest priced key for the four, it also comes with the least amount of benefits and the greatest amount of blockout dates.

• Reservation-based entry on select days throughout the year

• Hold up to 2 park reservations at a time

• 25% off Lightning Lane Multi-Pass

• Up to 10% off merchandise

• Up to 10% off dining

• 25% off standard parking at Toy Story ONLY

• Park hopping included

This key pays for itself in just four visits, but comes with a tremendous amount of blockout dates and you’re limited to just two reservations at a time. Really take the time to research the blockout calendar below and find out if it’s worth upgrading to the Enchant Key instead. It may have a great entry price, but it’s limited in just about everything else.

To see the full blockout date calendar for all four Magic Keys, go here.

As you can see, along with the increase in price, there are quite a few benefits attached to these keys than there were in prior years. At one point during its run as the AP program, Disney offered the option to upgrade your pass by paying a separate annual charge for MaxPass (the digital version of FastPass and what is now Lighting Lane).

Instead of offering the same for Lightning Lane, Disney opted to offer the benefit of a per-purchase discount on the service for all Magic Keys. While it’s certainly better than nothing, this is clearly an attempt by Disney to increase daily sales of Lightning Lane and to no overwhelm the attractions any more than they already are.

One added benefit I particularly like is the inclusion of unlimited PhotoPass digital downlaods (be sure to check out our article on this service) for Inspire and Believe Key holders. In my opinion, this one benefit alone increases the value of magic keys.

Magic Key Reservations & No-Show Policy

As you can see above, each Magic Key includes a certain amount of reservations you’re permitted to hold at any given time. The Enchant Key, for example, permits four reservations to be held at a time and the Inspire and Believe Keys include up to six.

These reservations are available on a rolling period. Meaning, if you’re an Enchant Key holder and you’ve used all four of your reservations for an upcoming trip, you won’t be able to make another reservation until you’ve either checked into the park or canceled one.

Speaking of canceling, if you’re sure you’re not going to be able to make it on the day of your reservation, be sure to follow the no-show policy or you’ll be suspended from making additional reservations for 30-days.

Here’s what you need to know about the Magic Key no-show policy:

• Any key holder who no-shows on three reservations in a 90-day window will be suspended from making additional reservations for 30-days

• This suspension will continue even if the current key is upgraded or renewed during the suspension

• A cancellation must take place by 11:59pm the day before the reserved date

• As long as you’re scanned into the park prior to closing on the reserved date, it will not count as a no-show

In short, do everything you can to avoid racking up no-shows. If you’re suspended and you’re on the payment plan, you’ll still be charged for that month and Disney will not extend you another month on your term.

Park Hopping Privileges

Another added benefit to Magic Keys is being able to park hop without any added cost. The way you park hop is the same as a regular park ticket holder:

• From opening to 10:59am, you must start your day at the park in which you made a reservation for

• After 11am, you will then be able to hop over to the other park

• If you arrive on property after 11am, you will be able to enter either park no matter which one you made a reservation for

Let’s say you wanted to make a reservation for Disneyland Park but the only available reservations for that day are at Disney California Adventure (DCA). You can use the above rule to “hack” your way in, so-to-speak. You’ll go ahead with making the reservation for DCA, arrive on property at or shortly after 11am, and simply head over to Disneyland Park. Or simply begin your day at DCA and hop over to Disneyland after 11am.

Disneyland Magic Key Important Reminders

• At this time, Magic Keys are renewals only. New sales of Magic Keys are suspended more than they’re not, as Disney only releases them for sale once they’ve reached a certain threshold of non-renewals or when they predict a slump in attendance. The next round of Magic Key sales in November 6, 2024.

• Park admission isn’t guaranteed. This isn’t the days of old anymore. For the foreseeable future, you’re at the mercy of the reservation system. Thankfully, it has become MUCH easier to snag reservations, even at the last minute.

• Payment plans are still a thing and are still for Californian residents only. If you live outside the state, you will not be able to finance a Magic Key through Disney’s payment plan. If you do reside in the state, you’re still able to make payments.

• Blockout dates are now in included in EVERY key. Even the highest tiered key now includes blockout dates.

• Imagine Keys are for SoCal residents only. Unless you’re account is registered with a Southern Californian zip code, the Imagine Key won’t even be presented to you as an option. They Enchant Key will be the lowest you could go.

• Special events are NOT included. You cannot use your Magic Key to get into events such as Oogie Boogie Bash, Disney Merriest Nights and Disneyland After Dark. Nor will you receive discounts on those tickets. You will, however, often get a jump on purchasing those tickets ahead of the general public.

Lightning Lane Premiere Pass: Disneyland’s New $400 Skip-the-Line Service

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Recently, Disney confirmed that a long-rumored addition to the Lightning Lane line up of services, Lightning Lane Premiere Pass, would be coming to the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. While this service is being offered at both coasts, this post will focus on Disneyland’s version.

If you don’t know what Lightning Lane is, it’s the latest iteration of Disney’s beloved FastPass service and until recently was known as “Genie Plus”. The name “Lightning Lane” was a byname for the physical queues at the individual attractions, while the service itself was called Genie Plus. This often confused guests, so the service went through a much-needed refresh in order to simplify it.

Prior to Genie Plus (and the covid-related closures) we had the paper FastPass tickets, which were free, in addition to the digital, app-based version of the program, MaxPass, which used to cost $15-$20 per person, per day. When Disneyland reopened in 2021, then Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, rolled out the loathed Genie Plus (which was nearly identical to MaxPass) and discontinued the free paper version of FastPass.

Then, as already stated, Genie Plus was done away with. Now, we have Lightning Lane Multi-Pass (LLMP), which is the standard service with multiple attractions included, and Lightning Lane Single Pass (LLSP), which grants you one-time access to two premium attractions, Star Wars - Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers, at a separate cost per attraction.

One caveat to this service is you can only use it on each attraction one time. Additionally, you can hold only one LLMP selection at a time and cannot select another until you’ve used your current LLMP selection or until two hours have passed, whichever comes first. For example, if it’s 11:00am and you select Space Mountain with a return time of 2:05pm, you cannot make another selection until 1:00pm or until you’ve redeemed it at 2:05pm.

A few months ago, eagle-eyed fans noticed a small update in the Disneyland app which seemed to indicate that another tier was coming to the Lightning Lane line up and recently, that rumor proved to be true with the announcement of Lightning Lane Premiere Pass. Suffice it to say, Disney fans are up in arms over it. Particularly because of its price.

Lightning Lane Premiere Pass Details and Cost

Lightning Lane Premiere Pass (LLPP), debuting at Disneyland on October 23, will cost upwards of $400 per ticket, per day. Though during the initial roll-out, the service will cost a flat $400 for the remainder of 2024 and starting January 2025, will vary between $300 - $400, dependent on demand. That means that at its highest price, LLPP will cost park-goers a staggering 12.5 times more than the standard LLMP service.

While similar in nature, there are a few differences between LLPP and LLMP, such as:

• You can use it whenever you want (you’re not restricted to the two-hour rule)

• You won’t need to constantly look at your phone

• It’ll be sold in limited quantities daily

• Access includes the premium attractions not included with LLMP

Despite the high cost, you can still only use it at each attraction one time. The stand out difference is you’re not held to a quantity or time restriction. In theory, you could go from one attraction to the next in quick succession without worrying about return times.

LLPP will be available to guests to purchase up to two days prior to your visit through the Disneyland app or website. There will be limited quantities available, especially during the roll out. If this is something you’ll be interested in, be sure you’ve already purchased your ticket and have a reservation tied to it.

Unlike LLMP, you won’t be able to purchase LLPP at the time you purchase your ticket unless your ticket/reservation is within the two day timeframe and there’s available inventory. Day-of purchasing is also possible, again, provided there’s inventory available.

Another similarity of LLPP to LLMP is it’s good for Lightning Lane eligible attractions at both Disney California Adventure and Disneyland proper. However, it does not give you park hopping privileges. You will need to add the park hopper option to your tickets to access both parks, which will set you back another $65 - $75 per. Let’s take a look at a worst case scenario price for a one-day visit:

• Adult One Day Ticket on a Saturday in December: $206

• Park Hopper option: $75

• Lightning Lane Premiere Pass: $400

• Total = $681

That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially considering that’s just one adult. Families would get a small break, especially if you take advantage of the kids’ ticket deal for 2025. However, even for kids, the park hopper option and LLPP pricing doesn’t change. Your only break will be with the tickets.

Considering the average family size of those vacationing at Disneyland is four, that family would be looking at thousands for a one day visit. Tack on another two or three days and that number rises substantially. Though, I don’t feel purchasing LLPP would be necessary (or cost effective, for that matter) for a multi-day visit, but we’ll discuss that in further detail below.

There has been much criticism and flat-out angry comments on social media about this new offering from Disney. Most of those comments declaring how Disney is pricing families out and catering only to the rich. While I can sympathize, I don’t see that as the case here. Honestly, I think Disney is playing the long-game with this decision, and it has nothing to do with pricing families out.

Why Disney Lightning Lane Premiere Pass

Turning to commentary, I feel it’s important to discuss what I believe LLPP’s intended purpose is. Disney is the originator of this system, a system most theme parks today utilize in one form or another. For years, guests of Disney parks enjoyed this perk free of charge, while others charged for it.

Corporations aren’t too keen on leaving money on the table, which is why it came to no surprise to me when Disneyland first introduced MaxPass, the paid, digital version of FastPass. Since the free paper version was still being offered at the time, most didn’t mind the paid upgrade.

Like many, I knew this was just the beginning, as I predicted (mostly to myself) that Disney would eventually move to rid itself of the “free” version of FastPass and monetize it completely. They just needed an excuse, and that excuse would come in the form of a 13-month closure brought on by a global pandemic.

Disney would reopen from this closure in May 2021, but with no physical character interactions, no park hopping, reservation and face mask requirements, and most germane to this post, no FastPass or MaxPass. That’s right, only traditional stand-by queues were offered and that, coupled with low attendance, made attraction hopping a breeze.

Despite not being offered at the time, FastPass distribution kiosks and signage remained, leaving Disney fans hopeful for its (presumed) return. That return would never come, however, as then-new Disney CEO, Bob Capek, announced the impending debut of Genie Plus and the accompanying Lightning Lanes, which became the total replacement for FastPass and MaxPass.

As it pertained to FastPass, the covid-closure was a bit of a blessing for Disney. They didn’t need to spend time phasing it out and they purposely made it unavailable to guests when they reopened, which I believe was mostly a way to manufacture demand for a product guests would pay for, much like what they do with Magic Key sales.

So what does all of this have to do with Lightning Lane Premiere Pass? In my opinion, it’s the beginning of another phase-out, but this time with the intention of phasing out the low price-point of Lightning Lane Multi-Pass.

If you’ve been to the parks at all in the last few years, you’ve undoubtedly noticed the often slow-moving traditional stand-by queues. Sure, pent-up demand has played a role, but so has LLMP, which is priced insanely low compared to other theme parks offering a similar service.

Disneyland is an expensive place to visit, with many taking on debt and/or saving for years in order to treat their families to a magical vacation. For many, Disneyland is a once every few years, or once-in-a-lifetime trip. If they’re already willing to spend hundreds, or even thousands, just to walk through the gate, then they’re certainly willing to spend another $32 per person for a service that’ll help them maximize the limited time they have.

For a lot of folks visiting Disneyland, coming up with that amount, even for a family of five, isn’t much of an issue. At minimum, they’ll find a way, and this has led to Lightning Lane queues becoming over-saturated and causing the traditional stand-by queues to get longer than they need to be. It’s gotten so bad that on some days when you use LLMP, it’s almost like paying extra just to wait in another line.

How to do you fix that? The obvious answer would be to charge more and while I believe many would still pay it, you would eventually hit the mark where casual guests and Magic Key holders, who make up a large chunk of the daily attendance, would balk and not pay it.

So with less people purchasing LLMP, that would certainly solve the over-saturation issue, however, it would create a new problem - a decline in profits. The Disney bean counters would never allow it, so what does Disney do? Simple, you charge less people more money and target the right guest. Enter, Lightning Lane Premiere Pass.

At $300 - $400, LLPP is a premium product. It does virtually the same thing, only it allows for more freedom throughout your day since you wouldn’t need to concern yourself with return times, cool down periods, or being on your phone all day. These perks allow for greater flexibility and may allow you to hit every major attraction in one day.

That’s a massive selling point for those short on time. You see, it isn’t necessarily the “rich” that Disney’s targeting here, it’s those who are short on time. The ones that only have a day, maybe two to spend in the parks and are looking to maximize their time. Sure, that price-point does put LLPP out of reach for many, but there are just as many who would make it work despite their financial situation.

Back to my statement above about Disney charging more for LLMP and guests balking at it - I believe that would be the case if there wasn’t a competing, higher-priced service to make the now higher priced LLMP seem like a value by comparison. That’s what I believe the ultimate goal of LLPP is.

It’s isn’t so Disney can eliminate LLMP altogether, but raise the price, perhaps to around the $100 mark, so they can increase profits, while selling the service to less people and thus reducing the amount of congestion in the Lightning Lanes. Those who paid for LLMP and LLPP would get on the attraction quickly, as promised, and guests in the stand-by queue wouldn’t be faced with longer than necessary wait times.

Is LLPP a service I would purchase? As a Magic Key holder, probably not. I go often enough to where I have no need to ride every attraction in one trip. If I don’t get to ride a specific attraction, I’ll just prioritize it on the next visit. However, not everyone has that luxury as it may be their one and only visit. It’s those who LLPP would be most beneficial for.

As such, I wouldn’t expect Magic Key holders to receive any kind of discount on LLPP. There’s a possibility that Disney Vacation Club (DVC) owners could receive a discount, as there’s been a recent push by Disney to provide them with more in-park perks, but that’s just speculation on my part.

So, no, Disney isn’t pricing anyone out by offering this service. Lightning Lane Premiere Pass’s existence isn’t going to affect your park experience much (or at all). You’ll still pay the same as anyone else to get in and you’ll still have access to the same attractions via stand-by or LLMP/LLSP. This is simply another way for Disney to increase profits from those willing to pay it and (what I believe) to ultimately solve the current dilemma created by the Lightning Lane program.

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Disneyland Kids’ Ticket Deal Returning in 2025

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Disneyland Kids’ Ticket Deal 2025

Recently, Disney officially announced the return of their mega-popular kids’ ticket deal at the Disneyland Resort for 2025. These deeply discounted tickets offer tremendous value for families, with prices as low as $50 per day.

These tickets go on sale beginning October 22, 2024, and are valid from January 7 through March 20, 2025. While they’re not restricted to certain dates, such as strictly weekdays, they are subject to theme park reservation availability.

Disney rarely offers discounted Disneyland tickets, especially discounts this good. At these prices, families will save between $150 - $200 per multi-day kids’ ticket and there’s no cap on how many you can buy. Sure, you’re restricted to a three-month window and they only apply to kids, but still, the savings are significant.

Additionally, these tickets offer a fair amount of flexibility, with the option to purchase a variety of add-ons. You’ll have the flexibility to choose a single-day ticket, 2-day, or 3 day, and you can choose to upgrade to the park hopper option and add Lightning Lane Multi-Pass (though there won’t be any discounts on those options).

As stated above, these tickets don’t go on sale until October 22 and little details have been released so far. Thankfully, this same deal was offered in 2024 and considering Disney’s track record of repeating promotions while changing little, we have much to go by.

While you can purchase these tickets directly through Disney, they’ll also be available for purchase from my partners at Get Away Today, a reputable Disney travel agency that I highly recommend. You can purchase just tickets, or have them bundle your entire trip in one package. Their customer service and knowledge of Disney vacation planning are simply unmatched (use code INKED10 to save).

As mentioned above, these tickets are subject to theme park reservation availability. Disney allocates a limited number of reservations for the kid’s ticket deal, and your ability to secure a reservation depends strictly on that group of reservations.

This is why you may see days where the kids’ ticket deal reservations are sold out, but reservations for other ticket holders, such as Magic Key or regular kid ticket holders, are available. While some exceptions may be possible, they’re not guaranteed.

That’s why if you’re planning a trip in that timeframe and want to take advantage of this offer, I highly suggest deciding on your dates prior to purchasing them, and make your reservations as soon as you do so.

Additional terms and conditions of the Disneyland kids’ ticket deal include:

• They’re valid only for children between the ages of 3 and 9

• Upgrading to a park hopper will cost $65 to $70 extra, depending on the number of days on the ticket

• Lightning Lane Multi-Pass is an additional $30 per day

• Tickets are valid beginning January 7 and expire 13 days after first use or March 20, whichever comes first

• Tickets are nonrefundable and cannot be resold or transferred

• They cannot be used for hard ticket events, such as after dark events

With all that covered, let’s take a look at what you’ll be saving. Remember, Disney typically raises their ticket prices in the fall. At the time of this post’s publishing, that hasn’t happened yet, but it almost certainly will in the coming days or weeks. For now, this is based on current pricing.

On average, families spend three days at the Disneyland Resort. Under the kids’ ticket deal, you’ll spend $150 ($50 per day) for each kids’ ticket. Normal pricing, without additions such as park hopping and Lightning Lane, is $365.

That’s a significant savings of $215 per three-day ticket. Now times that by however many kids are in your family, and you can see how quickly it can add up. This is actually a shockingly deep discount, especially considering Disney’s upward trend in attendance in recent years.

So with Disneyland being as popular as it’s ever been and soaring attendance levels, why are they offering this promotion? There’s no way to know for sure, but Disney is likely forecasting attendance slumps for 2025, since pent-up demand from the covid-closures has started to wane and inflation rates hurting many people’s wallets.

With 2025 being a big year for the company, as it’s Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, the last thing Disney wants is for the parks to be slow. There’s going to be a whole host of food, drink, merchandise, and other up-charge offerings, so Disney will want the parks busy.

Dangling this carrot in the faces of parents with multiple children will almost certainly guarantee that. It’s also advantageous for the company, as the period between January and March is already a typical slow period for the parks, so this deal will provide the desired boost they’ll be looking/hoping for.

Will the Kids’ Ticket Deal Make the Parks Crowded?

Almost certainly, but it largely depends upon when you go. If you’ll be going within the first few weeks of the promotion, I would expect little impact. However, once it gets closer to March, and especially within the final two weeks of the promotion, you can definitely expect a noticeable uptick.

To make matters worse, those final weeks coincide with the first few weeks of DCA’s annual California Food and Wine Festival, which draws a crowd all its own. My wife and I were there during the second to last week of the kid’s ticket promotion in 2024 and crowds were definitely thicker than usual for that time of year.

Though the parks didn’t see the same winter slump in 2024 as they normally do, I still recommend visiting between January and mid-February if you’re planning to take advantage of the promotion. Of course, you’ll want to avoid Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend (1/18 - 1/20) but aside from those dates, you should be ok.

Once we hit Valentine’s Day and President’s Day (2/14 and 2/17, respectively), that’s when I expect crowds will begin to pick up. Finally, avoid the final week or two if you can help it. These special tickets are no good after March 20, and many will be rushing to the park to use them before they expire during this time.

Will There Be Hotel Discounts?

Yes! In addition to the incredible savings with the kids’ ticket deal, Disney is also offering up to 25% off nightly rates for stays of four nights or more at any of the three on-property hotels, subject to availability. This is for either weekend or weekday dates and during the same period as the kid’s ticket deal.

For shorter stays, guests can enjoy up to 20% off stays in standard and premium rooms at The Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, and The Disneyland Hotel and Villas. As well as up to 10% on guest rooms at the Pixar Pier Hotel for stays on Sunday through Thursday nights.

There’s also a solid chance that Disney will offer Disney VISA cardholders and Magic Key holders similar hotel discounts, possibly superior to the one being offered to the general public. The winter/spring timeframe is usually when Disney likes to entice locals to stay on property, who generally make up the majority of Magic Key holders.

Like the ticket deal, bookings for hotel discounts open on October 22, 2024, for stays between January 7 and March 20, 2025 and can be made through the Disneyland website or through my partners at Get Away Today.

Is Disneyland Worth Visiting in 2025?

That’s a loaded question, as it’s all a matter of perspective and how your family likes to vacation. Coming from big Disneyland fans, my wife and I would give an emphatic “yes” to that question, but others may tell you the opposite due to cost and other factors.

Truth be told, there is little planned for 2025 in terms of new attractions or lands. In 2025, the newest attraction in the resort, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, would have opened on November 15, 2024. Will TBA be a big enough draw to last throughout 2025? I believe it will.

The biggest draw, at least to a certain niche fanbase, will certainly be the addition of “Walt Disney - A Wonderful Life”, a new stage show set to take place in the Main Street Opera House, opposite of “Great Moments wih Mr. Lincoln”, that’ll feature the first ever Walt Disney audio-animatronic.

Additionally, Disneyland park will celebrate its 70th anniversary. There haven't been any concrete details released yet, but you can certainly count on limited edition merchandise, special food and drink offerings, decorations, new nighttime entertainment, character appearances, and more.

I’ve attended the 40th, 50th, and 60th Disneyland anniversary celebrations, in addition to the 100th anniversary of the Disney Company, and each one was a good time, so I don’t expect the 70th to be any different.

Furthermore, you can count on the return of several after dark events, such as Sweetheart’s Night and Disney Channel Night (or a variation of the same), both of which took place within the same timeframe of the ticket deal in 2024.

Also taking place in the January 7 to March 20, 2025, timeframe is the Lunar New Year celebration and the California Food and Wine Festival (partially), both of which occur at Disney California Adventure. As you can see, these discount Disneyland tickets offer tremendous value.

All things considered, I feel 2025 will be a great year for the Disneyland Resort. Riding off the sure-to-be successful grand opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the highly anticipated debut of Walt Disney - A Wonderful Life, and what’s sure to be a grand celebration of the park’s 70th birthday, coupled with significant savings from the kids’ ticket deal and hotel discounts, if you’ve been on the fence about a Disneyland vacation, I suggest pulling the trigger.

As mentioned at the beginning of this post, you can purchase these tickets (and your entire vacation as a whole) through Get Away Today. Purchasing through them is the same as purchasing through Disney, only with Get Away Today, you’ll receive personalized and friendly service from people who know the parks better than most. They’re the only agency I will partner with and for good reason, as they have a great reputation and proven track record. See the great deals they offer here and use code INKED10 to save on your vacation package.

Hunt For Pumpkins at Disneyland with ‘Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit’

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

While on a Disneyland vacation, most guests tend to focus primarily on riding as many attractions as possible. No judgements here as for a while, that was the same goal my wife and I had. However, there’s something to be said about the non-attraction offerings at the resort that many miss out on.

If you’re someone who visits regularly, or you just want to add a little variety to your Disney trip, consider participating in Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, a scavenger hunt of sorts taking place at Disneyland park, Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney during the Halloween season.

It works the exact same way Eggstravaganza (the annual Easter egg hunt at the resort) does. In each park and in Downtown Disney, there are a dozen or so themed pumpkins inconspicuously placed in random spots and it’s up to you to locate them. When you’ve found them all, you get to select a prize.

It’s a great way to kill a couple hours in the parks while allowing the kids to burn energy and stay occupied. Or, if you’ve ridden most of the attractions already, it’s something different to do and allows you to see the park from a different perspective. Let’s get into it.

*NOTE: We did the pumpkin hunt in Disneyland, so this post will be primarily focused there

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit Price and Purchase Locations

There are a number of locations where you can purchase a card for Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit and they depend on where in the resort you’ll be hunting in. In Disneyland, you can purchase the cards at the following locations:

• Disneyana

• Disney Showcase

• Emporium

• EngineEar Souvenirs

• Eudora’s Chic Boutique

• “it’s a small world” Gift Shop

• The Star Trader

• Westward Ho Trading Company

In Disney California Adventure:

• Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff

• Elias & Co.

• Gone Hollywood

• Ramon’s House of Body Art

• Rushin’ River Outfitters

• Seaside Souvenirs

• Trolley Treats

In Downtown Disney District:

• Acorns Gifts and Goods

• The Home Store

• Disney Pin Traders

• The Dress Shop

• Disney’s Fantasia Shop

• STOR-E

• WonderGround Gallery

• World of Disney

The price for one card is $9.99. Again, this is per card and per location. So if you wanted to do the scavenger hunt in both parks and in Downtown Disney, you will need to purchase a card at each one. Honestly, unless you have a large group, one card would do just fine. There’s no real reason for each kid or adult to have their own, unless they’ll each want their own prize, as you only get one per card.

When you complete your purchase, you’ll be given a two-sided card in the shape of a pumpkin. One side will feature a Mickey head graphic, with thirteen locations printed in white bubbles. On the other will be the stickers you’ll place on the front side as you locate the pumpkins.

The front side gives a general location as to where you’ll find the pumpkins. Some, such as “Emporium” and “Red Rose Tavern” are pretty straightforward. Others, like “Frontierland Stagecoach”, require some thought and aren’t so easy to spot.

The stickers on the back are images of the actual themed pumpkins, so you’ll have some reference to go by. If you get stuck, simply ask a cast member and they’ll give you a few clues to help narrow it down.

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit Locations

I’m not going to totally reveal the exact locations, as that would defeat the entire purpose of the game. What I will tell you is, at Disneyland, there are thirteen of them and they’re all themed after a Disney character. For example, there’s a pumpkin themed after BB-8 in Star Traders and a Tiana-themed one at Tiana’s Palace.

One thing I will tell you is the pumpkins are almost always on the exterior of their respective locations and more often than not, you’ll need to look up in order to spot them. There are two or three that are placed in the interior, but that isn’t the case with most of them.

Main Street and Fantasyland have the most with three pumpkins each, Tomorrowland comes in second with two, with the rest spread out between Frontierland, Adventureland, New Orleans Square and ToonTown. There are none in Galaxy’s Edge, though. I guess the citizens of Batuu didn’t feel like participating this year.

Additionally, you will not have to ride any attractions or enter their queues to find the pumpkins. They’re all completely visible from the walkways. There are a few that are located in highly trafficked areas, though. So keep this in mind while hunting.

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit Prizes

Once you’ve located all the pumpkins and have completely filled your sticker card, simply return the card to any Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit location and select your prize. The included prize is your choice of one of five character-themed pumpkin sippers.

Honestly, the prize is pretty cheap. Though considering you’ve only spent ten bucks, it’s to be expected. In addition, they have several pieces of merchandise themed for Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit available for purchase, including a pin. The pin is nice, but it’s a highly bloated price of $39.99.

All in all, we had a lot of fun. It was a nice break from the norm and it gave us a chance to enjoy ourselves without having to spend a bunch of time in a queue. Definitely give this a try when you visit.

Every 2024 D23 Disneyland-Related Announcement

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I have to be honest, after the extreme disappointment D23 2022 was, I was fully prepared to be let down once again this year. However, with Universal Studios Florida expanding with their third theme park, Epic Universe, and the city of Anaheim recently approving Disney’s DisneylandForward requests, I had a glimmer of hope that Disney would bring their A game. Long story short…they did.

Walt Disney World received the vast majority of the new additions, with Animal Kingdom getting a new land with three new attractions based on Indiana Jones and Encanto, Hollywood Studios getting a Monsters Inc-themed land and attraction, and Magic Kingdom receiving an original Cars-themed land and a Villains-themed land. All of this is in direct response to Universal’s Epic Universe expansion.

As amazing as all of that sounds, this post is going to focus on the announcements made for the Disneyland Resort. While we didn’t get nearly as many as I was hoping for (still no People Mover), we did receive a few golden nuggets. So what were they? When can we expect them? Where are the new rides going? I’ll discuss all this and more below. Let’s get it into it.

Opening Date Revealed for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

For months, Disney fans and bloggers alike have speculated as to when the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction would open. Most were calling for September or October, while others (myself included) felt November or December was more likely given how far behind Disneyland was to Walt Disney World (theirs opened a few months ago).

Well, if you had November 15 on your bingo card, you hit the nail on the head. That is the date Disney gave for TBA’s debut. Additionally, it was also announced that the former Critter Country would be (more fittingly) renamed to Bayou Country. If you recall, I discussed my desire for Disney to rename this area, The Bayou, in the post I made about Critter Country closing a few months back.

On top of that, we also recently learned that the Hungry Bear restaurant would be getting a new name and theme after the beloved Country Bears. Going forward, it’ll be known as Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree, a nod to the former Country Bear Jamboree attraction. No word yet as to when it’ll reopen, but I anticipate it’ll do so long before November. In the meantime, go here to see Hungry Bear’s new menu.

A Brief Mention of Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary Celebration

In 2025, Disneyland Park will celebrate its 70th birthday. Nothing much else was mentioned, other than additional details will be announced in the coming months. One thing we know for sure is there will be no new rides (we’ll discuss this further into the post), as nothing beyond Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is actively being built.

Disney has a lot to live up to, as their 60th anniversary in 2015 (their diamond celebration) was a smash hit. While we don’t yet know what they’re planning, we can speculate. A new nighttime fireworks show is likely in the works, as well as a foodie guide with 70th anniversary-themed food, treats and beverages.

My biggest hope is we’ll see the return of a nighttime parade. The millennial child in me would love to see the Main Street Electrical Parade make its grand return. Though if anything, it’ll likely be its spiritual successor, Paint the Night. Either way, it would be great to see a nighttime parade in the park again.

A New Mission Based on Mandalorian and Grogu Coming to the Millennium Falcon Attraction

One piece of unexpected news that came out of D23 Horizons was the announcement that the Millennium Falcon attraction at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World will be getting a new mission based on the upcoming 2026 Star Wars film centered around Madalorian and Grogu.

This is great news. Don’t get me wrong, Millennium Falcon is a great ride but if you go to the parks often and experience the same mission time after time, it quickly becomes stale, despite its amazing theming and detail.

The new mission is set to debut in 2026, along with the film. So if you’ve had your heart set on experiencing the original mission, you still have time. The film’s release date is in late May of 2026, so expect to see Millennium Falcon go down for a refurb in March 2026 (or sooner) to prepare.

New Coco-Themed Boat Ride Coming to Disney California Adventure

That’s right. Disney California Adventure will be the first Disney theme park to host an attraction based on the beloved Pixar film, Coco. Additionally, this will be the first boat ride in California Adventure’s history (no, Grizzly River Run doesn’t count).

With that announcement came the news that Imagineers will break ground on this new attraction in 2026. As to where it’ll be going, well, that’s up for debate. Many assume that it’ll actually be its own land and will be part of the DisneylandForward expansion, but I have another idea.

I believe it’s going to become the fifth Pixar Pier attraction, and built behind Incredicoaster. If you look at the concept back when Pixar Pier was first conceived, what is now known as the Pixar Pier Band Shell was being billed as the Pixar Pier Theatre. The concept art illustrates guests going into and out of it. Clearly, this was going to be something guest-facing.

If you look at the backstage area behind the facade on Google Earth and measure the acreage, there’s roughly 2.5 acres of space back there. Do the same test for the Little Mermaid attraction, which is the largest dark ride in the resort, and it comes out to just 0.8 acres. Clearly, there’s more than enough room for Disney to construct a substantial show building.

Regardless of where it’s going to go, whether it’ll be part of a Coco-themed land (which would be fantastic) or a singular attraction as part of Pixar Pier, it’s great to see Coco (and hispanic culture in general) receive recognition and representation through a proper Disneyland attraction.

A Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic is Coming to the Main Street Opera House

Months ago, the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction closed for what was initially believed to be a brief, routine refurb. When Disney internet sleuths discovered the work permit for this project, it had an estimated valuation of five million dollars. This peaked everyone’s interest because usually, routine maintenance never amounts to this much money.

Then, rumors began to swirl that this was anything but routine, and Disney was actually (secretly) constructing an audio-animatronic of Walt Disney himself to possibly become part of the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln show. Needless to say, people were losing their collective minds over this, and waited in agonizing anticipation for confirmation.

Finally, at D23 Horizons, Josh D’Amaro revealed the news - the Main Street Opera House will soon host a new show called, “Walt Disney - A Magical Life”, featuring an advanced audio-animatronic of Disneyland’s founder. Even better, the show will be in rotation with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, instead of replacing it. This new show is expected to debut in time for Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration.

Understandably, there are people who feel this is disrespectful of Disney to be doing this. I’m of the belief that this is no different than Walt himself conceptualizing the original Abraham Lincoln animatronic all those years ago. To him, he was honoring a man he greatly admired. While the Disney company itself may or may not admire Walt, there are many of us Disney fans who do. I feel it’s only right (and frankly, long overdue) for Walt to be honored in the park that wouldn’t exist without his creative vision.

Avengers Campus E-Ticket Attraction (FINALLY) Coming - Along with a FOURTH Attraction

Ever since the opening of Avengers Campus in 2021, we’ve been promised an Avengers e-ticket level attraction. Exactly what that looked like was unknown. At the infamous 2022 D23 event, all we were given was some inauspicious concept art and the reveal of King Thanos as the big baddie of the attraction. After that, it was mostly crickets.

At this year’s D23, we were finally given confirmation that the Avengers e-ticket was indeed on the way. Also, the name was revealed as Avengers Infinity Defense (doesn’t quite roll of the tongue, does it?). Additionally, a model of the ride vehicle was on display at the event, revealing that the attraction will definitely be screen-based and in the same vein as the new Peter Pan attraction at Tokyo DisneySea.

On top of that, we were surprised with the news that a fourth Avengers Campus attraction is also on the way. It’ll be called Stark Flight Lab and is likely going in the space formally occupied by the now-canceled Doctor Strange show. As you can see in the concept art above, this attraction will use a robotic arm to lift your ride vehicle, making you flip, spin, and otherwise have a great time. It was said that it’ll feature multiple “test flights”, meaning your experience could differ with each ride.

Josh D’Amaro stated that would work would begin in early 2025. Likely meaning sometime between January and March. It’s safe to assume that Stark Flight Lab will be the first attraction to open, as it seems to be closer to a flat-style ride and Avengers Infinity Defense appears to be more complex in design and function.

New Avatar Experience Land Confirmed to be in Disney California Adventure

Shortly after returning to the company as CEO, Bob Iger let slip during an earnings call with investors that they were planning to bring an Avatar “experience” to the Disneyland Resort and that it would be (I’m paraphrasing) as amazing as Pandora - The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom in Florida.

Speculation immediately began as to what Iger meant by “experience”, and whether or not that meant we would be getting a “cheap” version of Pandora, which clearly wouldn’t impress anybody. And if it was an actual land, where would it go? Disneyland isn’t exactly flush with space. After that brief mentioning, we would only get teasers and bits of information. Then, a few months ago, we would get the first piece of concept art.

Disney dropped this concept art shortly before the City of Anaheim was set to vote on their DisneylandForward proposition and as you can see, this is exceptionally more than just an “experience”. This is an entire land with an e-ticket-level attraction to boot.

The timing of the drop was a clear message from Disney to Anaheim officials - “don’t approve our proposition, and this is what Anaheim will be missing out on”. Whether or not this actually swayed the city is up for debate but regardless, their plans were approved.

Then, fast forward to D23 Horizons, the big news was dropped that an Avatar-themed LAND is for sure coming to Disney California Adventure. Additional concept art pieces, including those of the now-confirmed e-ticket boat ride, were also released.

While we don’t know for sure, the Avatar boat ride is expected to the same ride system used for the amazing Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in Shanghai. If that’s the case, then there will no be no arguments from me as that ride is a show-stopper. It uses practical effects and sets in conjunction with screens. In addition, it’s not your typical boat ride as this system is multi-directional.

So where in the park is Avatar going to go? That’s currently the hot-button topic. Considering the park’s current space constraints, it’ll either need to take the place of a currently occupied space or be a part of the Disneyland Forward expansion. The only two locations in the park-proper where it could go are Hollywood Land and Grizzly Peak.

If they go with either of those, Disney would have to bulldoze and completely flatten both spaces, as there’s no way to re-skin either of them into anything remotely resembling what we see in the concept art. Additionally, that would defeat the purpose of their current plan, which is to increase capacity. Not spend multi-millions of dollars for it to remain the same.

If you ask me, my money’s on Avatar Land (or whatever it’ll be called) being the first IP Disney will use in their Disneyland Forward expansion of DCA. For something of Avatar’s caliber, one of the most financially successful franchises of all time, you’ll need a blank canvas to work with and it doesn’t get much more “blank” than a parking lot.

In the concept art above, the three structures you see in the middle of the piece is the Pixar Place Hotel. To the left, you’ll see a bridge crossing over what is now Disneyland Drive, through a tunnel of greenery and into a highly-themed area. This space is currently the Simba Lot and that is where I believe Avatar will go.

As far as when it’ll happen, it’s likely still many years away. While it is in actual development, if the current pace of Disney projects is any indication, we’re looking at between 2028 and 2030 at the earliest.

To compare, the announcement for Star Wars - Galaxy’s Edge came during the 2015 D23 in August. Then, construction didn’t begin until April 2016 and finally, the then-new land wouldn’t open until summer 2019. If Disney followed this same timeline for Avatar and broke ground in April 2025, then summer 2028 is what we would be looking at. This is best-case, though, and honestly, I just don’t see it happening that soon.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, see my tips for spending one day at Disneyland. Also, if you’re looking for somewhere to eat in Downtown Disney, read about my experience at Centrico. Attending Oogie Boogie Bash? See my 12 tips for a better experience. Lastly, for deals on Disneyland, Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line vacation packages, visit Get Away Today.

2024 Disneyland Halloween Foodie Guide

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

Disney foodies, get ready to indulge and let the spooky fun begin because Halloween time is about to take over Disneyland Resort! Starting August 23, the resort will be filled with ghostly goodies, eerie decorations, and plenty of frightful fun.

The talented culinary teams at the Disneyland Resort are brewing up some spooky treats that you won't want to miss. Whether you’ve got a sweet tooth or prefer something savory, there’s a ton of delicious options to try. Imagine sinking your teeth into the new Caramel Apple Cheesecake at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, or sipping on the returning Ursula Shake from Schmoozies!

Over at Disney California Adventure Park, the Día de los Muertos celebration at Plaza de la Familia runs from August 23 through November 2, 2024. This joyful event celebrates family with unique photo opportunities, a memory wall to share your own stories, live performances, character greetings inspired by Pixar’s Coco, and of course, some mouthwatering food.

There wasn’t much of anything announced for Oogie Boogie Bash specifically, so I omitted it from the list. You’re not missing much. It was literally just chicken strips at Flo’s V8 Cafe. I’m hopeful that OBB will receive its own foodie guide soon, otherwise it’ll be a massive disappointment. The rest, however, looks delicious!

It’s time to dive into this year’s foodie guide to Halloween at Disneyland. Let’s get into it…if you dare.

Disneyland Park Halloween Delights

Alien Pizza Planet (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Dark Matter Pizza: Slice with celestial tomato sauce topped with mozzarella cheese, spicy Italian sausage, roasted mushrooms, and black olives (Available by the slice or a whole pie) (New)  

• Alien Buzz Macaron filled with berries and cream (New)  

• Blush Pasta: Italian Sausage with chef’s choice of pasta topped with spicy blush sauce and garnished with tomato relish (Currently available through Nov. 14)  

• Apple & Pecan Salad: Mixed greens with frisée, candied pecans, Granny Smith apple, feta cheese crumbles, and maple dressing​ 

Bengal Barbecue (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 13; mobile order available)  

• Hoopla Wrap: Wild boar sausage with a cucumber-tomato salad and miso aïoli on a grilled lavash (New)  

Blue Bayou Restaurant (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; reservations recommended) 

• Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake with spiced anglaise, chocolate crumb, and pecan tuile (New)  

Café Daisy (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Daisy’s Goody-Goody Donuts: House-made mini apple cider donuts with spiced apple sugar (Available Aug. 23 through Jan. 7, 2025) (New)  

• Caramel Apple Cold Brew: Cold brew coffee with apple and caramel syrups, whipped topping, caramel drizzle, cinnamon sugar, and an apple chip (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

• Toontown Fall Harvest Pumpkin Iced Tea: Sweet tea with vanilla and pumpkin spice syrup, whipped topping, caramel drizzle, and cinnamon sugar (Non-alcoholic) (New) 

Carnation Café (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; reservations recommended)  

• Spicy Chicken Sandwich: Hand-breaded fried chicken breast tossed in spicy chile sauce with pepper jack and mustard on a brioche bun  

• Spiked Pickle Lemonade: Tito’s Homemade Vodka, Minute Maid Lemonade, pickle juice, and sweet and sour topped with Sprite and a pickle spear (New)  

• Elysian Brewing Night Owl Pumpkin Ale (New)  

• Spaten Oktoberfest Ur Märzen (New)  

Churros near Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14)  

• Green Apple Churro with Caramel Sauce: Classic churro rolled in green apple sugar and served with a caramel dipping sauce 

• Caramel Dipping Sauce  

Churros near Haunted Mansion (Available Aug. 23 through Jan. 5, 2025) 

• Bride Churro: Elegantly dressed churro in a bouquet of vanilla and sugar 

• Groom Churro: Classic churro dressed in a duo of dark and milk chocolate  

• Couples First Kiss: A side of strawberry sauce and wedding cake crumbles to top off your Bride or Groom Churro 

Churros near Sleeping Beauty Castle and Churros near Town Square (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14)  

• Maleficent Churro: Classic churro rolled in chocolate cookie crumbles 

• Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce

Edelweiss Snacks (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Fantasyland Garlic Cheesy Brat: Bratwurst in a cheesy garlic pretzel bread (New)  

• Alpine Almond Delight: Rolled Danish filled with pastry cream and almond cream finished with sliced almonds (New) 

Galactic Grill (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• “Ghost” of Anaheim Burger: Angus beef and vegetable patty, ghost pepper salsa verde sauce, pepper jack, green chile pico de gallo, cilantro-lime cabbage slaw, and crispy onions on a toasted brioche bun (New)  

• Pumpkin Pie Chai Tea: Iced chai tea topped with a pumpkin pie cream (Non-alcoholic) (New) 

• Açai Blueberry Smoothie with açai, blueberries, banana and orange topped with whipped cream and matcha powder (Non-alcoholic) (Also available with Glow Cube or Mickey Mouse-shaped Pumpkin Glow Cube) (New)  

• Darth by Chocolate: Layers of chocolate pudding, red velvet cake, chocolate mousse, and crushed chocolate crème-filled cookies 

Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Rest in Chocolate Sundae: Rocky Road Ice Cream buried in a chocolate-covered waffle cup with chocolate cookie crumbles and gummy worms, topped with a chocolate tombstone  

Harbour Galley (Available Aug. 23 through Jan. 5, 2025; mobile order available)  

• Transylvania Transfusion: Dark berry and cherry punch garnished with fresh berries (Non-alcoholic) (New)

Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Jack-O’-Lantern Mickey Pumpkin Macaron: Pumpkin macaron shell filled with caramel buttercream and pumpkin cheesecake (New) (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31) 

• Spiced Bundt Cake: Spiced cake filled with cream cheese frosting and topped with purple glaze, sprinkles, and spiced mousse with a Mickey chocolate decoration (New)  

• Caramel Apple Cheesecake: Caramel cheesecake with a caramelized apple filling, green-colored white chocolate mousse, chocolate flakes, and chocolate bat decoration (New)  

• Apple Almond Croissant: Apple-stuffed croissant with almond topping (New)  

• Hazelnut Brownie Tart with Chocolate Frosting: Hazelnut spread and brownie filling topped with chocolate frosting and sprinkles (New) 

Pear Blackberry Cheesecake Crostata: Fresh pears with New York cheesecake and blackberry jam in pie crust topped with caramel (New)  

• Boo-gogi Toasted Sandwich with Corn Cheese Soup: Marinated beef, grilled onion, mozzarella, and kimchi aïoli on sourdough served with corn cheese soup 

• Pumpkin Muffin topped with cream cheese icing 

• Mickey Bat Cookie: Shortbread bat cookie dipped in dark chocolate with a vampire Mickey face (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

Little Red Wagon (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Blueberry Corn Dog: Hand-dipped corn dog topped with blueberry compote and bacon powdered sugar (New)  

Market House (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31) 

• Mickey Bat Cookie: Shortbread bat cookie dipped in dark chocolate with a vampire Mickey face

Maurice’s Treats, Fantasyland Fruit Cart, and Lemonade at small world Promenade (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14)  

• Trick-or-Treat Mix with gummy worms, M&M’S Chocolate Candies, marshmallows, and pretzel sticks 

Mint Julep Bar (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Tangy Apple Mickey-shaped Beignets dusted with tangy apple powdered sugar (Available in packs of three or six) (New)  

• Caramel Dipping Sauce (New)  

Plaza Inn (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31) 

• Poison Apple Cake: Red cinnamon cake with cream cheese & caramelized apple filling, red cream cheese frosting, and a green ganache (New)  

• Chocolate Shortcake: Chocolate pound cake, cookie crumbs, chocolate syrup, whipped topping, gummy candy, and a chocolate tombstone (New)  

• Chocolate Silk Cheesecake: Chocolate cheesecake topped with white chocolate mousse, chocolate curls, and sprinkles (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14) (New)   

Popcorn near Haunted Mansion (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14)  

• Halloween Candy Mix-in: Popcorn with chocolate-covered pretzels, candy corn, and M&M’S Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies (New)  

Pretzels near Star Tours – The Adventures Continue (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14)  

• Supernova Pretzel​: Jalapeño cheese-filled pretzel topped with spicy crumble and lime

Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14)  

• Churro Loops con Cajeta: Fried churro loops tossed with spiced cinnamon sugar and served with cajeta caramel (Available Aug. 23 through Jan. 4, 2025) (New)  

• Mickey-shaped Pumpkin Salted Dulce Cream Puff filled with pumpkin mousse and salted dulce de leche (New)  

• Iced Mexican “Hot” Chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate shavings (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

• Cantaloupe Agua Fresca: Cantaloupe purée with lime juice (Non-alcoholic) (Available Aug. 23 through Jan. 4, 2025)  

Red Rose Taverne (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Autumnal Harvest Flatbread: Roasted butternut squash purée, roasted mushrooms, plant-based feta and roasted diced butternut squash topped with garlic miso sauce and fried sage (New)  

• Enchanted Pumpkin Stuff: Pumpkin mousse with pumpkin cake and apricot marmalade center topped with green sprinkles, silver stars, chocolate branch, and leaf (New)  

• Spicy Chicken Cordon BOO: Fried chicken filet seasoned with four-chile spice, pickle aïoli, pickle chips, prosciutto, and Swiss cheese on a toasted brioche-style bun 

• Maple French Toast Sandwich: French toast with an egg patty, bacon, and muenster cheese served with maple syrup (Available for breakfast only) 

• Pumpkin Cheesecake Taverne Cold Brew: Caramel, vanilla and cinnamon cold brew with pumpkin cheesecake topper (Non-alcoholic)  

• Mickey Bat Cookie: Shortbread bat cookie dipped in dark chocolate with a vampire Mickey face (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)

Refreshment Corner (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Philly Potato Dog: Baked potato topped with an all-beef hot dog, thinly-sliced beef, peppers, pepperoncini, provolone, and cherry spread (New)  

• Embers con Queso: Hot crunchy cheese curls with nacho cheese and jalapeños (New)  

River Belle Terrace (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31; reservations recommended)  

• Pumpkin Spice Pancakes: Pumpkin maple syrup and cream cheese icing with choice of bacon or sausage (Available for breakfast)  

• Candy Bowl Pudding: Chocolate pudding with peanut butter chantilly and chocolate-peanut butter pieces  

Royal Street Veranda (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Pumpkin Spice Fritters: Warm pumpkin spice fritters served with a cream cheese dipping sauce 

• Pumpkin King Cold Brew: Joffrey’s Pumpkin Creme Brûlée Cold Brew, pumpkin spiced creamer, toffee chips, and Jack Skellington décor (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

Stage Door Café (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Graveyard Banana Funnel Cake: Classic funnel cake topped with banana cream, chocolate cookie dust, Halloween candy, whipped topping, and sprinkles  

Tiana’s Palace (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Strawberry Pie-filled Beignet: Strawberry cream filling topped with strawberry glaze (New)  

The Tropical Hideaway (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 13)  

• Utundu Chicken: Fried chicken thighs, shishito peppers, harissa aïoli, and a lime wedge (New)  

• Monstropolis Float: Ube-dusted DOLE Whip Pineapple and Mango with passion fruit coconut juice and lychee fruit (New)  

Halloween Delights at Disney California Adventure

Aunt Cass Café (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available) 

• Taro Bread Pudding: Warm taro and white chocolate bread pudding with whipped cream and boba pearls served with a coconut-vanilla sauce (New)  

Award Wieners (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Brewery X Baja Breeze (New)  

• Party Beer Co. LAFC Hazy IPA (New)  

Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14)  

• Spicy Meats Pizza: Mango-habanero sauce topped with pepperoni, spicy sausage, and chicken drizzled with ranch dressing (Available as a slice or whole pie) (New)  

Cappuccino Cart (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Peanut Butter Cold Brew: Chocolate and peanut butter-infused cold brew topped with a peanut butter cold foam, drizzle, and M&M’S Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

• Peanut Butter Cold Brew Cocktail: Peanut butter whiskey with chocolate and peanut butter-infused cold brew topped with peanut butter cold foam and drizzle (New) 

• Pumpkin Bundt Cake: Pumpkin cake drizzled with dulce de leche and topped with cream cheese frosting

Churros at Hollywood Land (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14)  

• Matcha Chai Madness Churro: Matcha and pistachio sugar-coated churro drizzled with chocolate sauce and topped with almonds (New)  

Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Lava Cake: Warm chocolate lava cake topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, fresh berries, and strawberry sauce (New)  

• Candy Corn Float: Fanta Orange with mango sorbet and whipped cream (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

• Witch’s Hat Sundae: Mint chip ice cream with hot fudge and whipped cream topped with a “witch’s hat” waffle cone 

Corn Dog Castle (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31; mobile order available) 

• Spicy Beef and Mozzarella Corn Dog drizzled with blackberry sauce and topped with pickled serranos served with Cuties Mandarin or a small bag of chips

Cozy Cone Motel 1 – Churros (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available) 

• Peanut Butter-Chocolate Churro: Peanut butter sugar-coated churro with peanut butter candy and chocolate sauce (New)  

• Fire Truck Slush: Strawberry slush with a hint of chile-lime seasoning and lime 

• Strawberry Slush Margarita with a hint of chile-lime seasoning and lime (New)  

Cozy Cone Motel 2 – Ice Cream Cones (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available) 

• Mater’s Haul-O-Ween Cone: Ube soft-serve with black sprinkles served in a cup or a cone (New) 

• Ube-Vanilla Twist Soft Serve: Ube and vanilla swirl with black sprinkles served in a cup or a cone (New)  

Cozy Cone Motel 3 – Chili Cone Queso (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available) 

• Slow-burning Mac and Cheese: Pasta with red pepper cheese sauce topped with chile-cheese puffs  

Cozy Cone Motel 4 – Frozen Cone-Coctions (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available) 

• 4-by-S’more Mule: Toasted marshmallow mule with cinnamon whiskey (New)  

• Cucumber-Jalapeño Lemonade (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

• Cucumber-Jalapeño Margarita (New)  

• Golden Road Brewing Street Cart Cerveza Cucumber-Jalapeño Beer Cocktail: Cucumber-Jalapeño Chamoy Lemonade with Golden Road Street Cart Cerveza (New)  

• Party Beer Co. Cool Dood Cucumber Sour Cucumber-Jalapeño Beer Cocktail: Cucumber-jalapeño chamoy lemonade served with Party Beer Co. Cool Dood Cucumber Sour (New)  

• Unsung Brewing Company Poison Green Apple Hard Seltzer (New)  

• Party Beer Co. Cool Dood Cucumber Sour (New) 

• Green Cheek Beer Co. West Coast IPA (New) 

• Golden Road Brewing Street Cart Cerveza 

Cozy Cone Motel 5 – Popcorn Scoop (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available) 

• Cozy Corn: Buttered corn on the cob with spicy lime mayo, rolled in a choice of cotija or spicy crushed chile-cheese puffs

Flo’s V8 Cafe (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Mango-Habanero Chicken Strips tossed in mango-habanero sauce, topped with green onions, and served with steak fries drizzled with ranch dressing  

• Seaborn Chili Mango Margarita (New)  

• Hamilton Family Brewery Cross Street Cherry Seltzer (New)  

• Seaborn Prickly Pear 

• Hamilton Family Brewery Blinker Fluid West Coast IPA

Hollywood Lounge (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Asian-inspired Spicy Pork Tacos: Kimchi, cucumber, carrots and pickled onions with sriracha aïoli in a flour tortilla (New)  

• Cucumber-Mint Lemonade (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

• Mystical Mandarin Margarita: Tequila, mandarin syrup, triple sec and lemon-lime mix (New)  

• Dreadful Dragon Fruit Margarita: Tequila, dragon fruit syrup, triple sec and lemon-lime mix (New)  

• Spooky Spicy Pineapple Margarita: Tequila, pineapple-habanero syrup, triple sec, and flavors of lemon-lime (New)  

• Sisters Elixirs with mandarin, dragon fruit, and spicy pineapple margaritas (New) 

• Mango Habanero Michelada: Calidad beer, classic Mexican-style lager mango habanero michelada with chile-lime seasoning and lime (New) 

• Backlot Michelada: Calidad beer, classic Mexican-style lager michelada with chile-lime seasoning and lime 

• Seaborn Paranormal Peach Margarita (New)  

• Blueberry Moonshine Cocktail (New)  

• Calidad Beer Classic Mexican-style Lager (New)  

• Green Cheek Beer Co. Lavender Lemonade Hard Seltzer (New)  

• Paperback Brewing Backlot IPA (New)  

• Route 30 Brewing Co. Oktoberfest (New)  

• Paperback Brewing Backlot IPA Mango Habanero Michelada (New) 

• Paperback Brewing Backlot IPA Michelada (New)  

Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14) 

• Monster Baby Cookie: Shortbread cookie dipped in chocolate with a Jack-Jack chocolate piece 

Lamplight Lounge – Boardwalk Dining (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14) 

• Muensters, Inc. Sliders: Smashed burger patties, muenster cheese, Anaheim chile, house chipotle sauce, candied bacon, house pickles, and crispy onions on a peppered brioche bun served with house kettle chips 

• Halloween Cocktail: Frangelico, orange juice, vanilla vodka, butterscotch syrup, almond orgeat syrup, and angostura bitters (New)  

Lamplight Lounge (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; reservations recommended) 

• Pumpkin Spiced Latte Donuts (New)  

• Halloween Cocktail: Frangelico, orange juice, vanilla vodka, butterscotch syrup, almond orgeat syrup, and angostura bitters (New)  

• Bivouac Cat’s Paw Cider (New)  

• Ommegang Imperial Peanut Butter Stout (New)  

Mortimers Market (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14)  

• Vampire Mickey Bread  

Poultry Palace (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14) 

• Chipotle Chicken Drumstick Box served with slaw (New)  

Sonoma Terrace (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31; mobile order available)  

• Enegren Brewing Company Oktoberfest Märzen Lager (New)  

Señor Buzz Churros (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14) 

• Poison Apple Churro: Green cinnamon sugar with granny smith apple icing

Schmoozies! (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Ursula Shake: Coconut and taro shake with whipped topping and cotton candy, dusted with blue sugar  

• Mickey Mouse Mummy Shake: Chocolate shake with whipped topping and chocolate cream-filled cookie ears made with M&Ms Crunch Cookie Chocolate Candies  

• Mickey-shaped Waffles with maple syrup (New)  

• Pumpkin Espresso Martini with caramel vodka (New)  

• Party Beer Co. Catpuccino Vanilla Bean Coffee Stout (New)  

• Bivouac Ciderworks San Diego Jam Mixed Berry Cider (New) 

• Unsung Brewing Company Mimosa Hard Seltzer 

Smokejumpers Grill (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Villainous Double Cheeseburger: Double cheeseburger with pepper jack, chile peppers, arugula, and spicy aïoli served with crinkle-cut fries (New)  

• Oogie Boogie Apple Lemonade: Green apple lemonade with cherry-flavored popping spheres and raspberry sauce (Non-alcoholic)  

• Green Apple Lemonade Cocktail: Vodka with green apple lemonade, cherry-flavored popping spheres, and raspberry sauce (New)  

Studio Catering Co. (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; mobile order available)  

• Asian-inspired Spicy Pork Tacos: Kimchi, cucumber, carrots and pickled onions with sriracha aïoli in a flour tortilla (New)  

• Cucumber-Mint Lemonade (Non-alcoholic) (New)

Willie’s Churros (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14)  

• Pumpkin Spiced Churro drizzled with cream cheese icing and topped with graham cracker cereal 

Wine Country Trattoria (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14; reservations recommended; book here) 

• Pumpkin Tiramisu: Layers of pumpkin mousse and coffee-soaked ladyfingers topped with cinnamon sugar  

Select Outdoor Vending Locations (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 14)  

• Ghost Pepper Turkey Leg (New)  

• Garlic Cream Cheese Bread (New)  

• Red Beef Tamale with molcajete salsa (New)  

• Green Chile and Cheese Tamale with tomatillo salsa (New)  

• Candy Apple Cotton Candy: Green and purple caramel apple cotton candy (New)  

• Spicy Dog 

• Pickle Enchilado 

• Candy Apple Mimosa: Sparkling wine with green apple and caramel syrups (New)  

• Sierra Nevada Brewing Oktoberfest 

• Seaborn Baja Lime Margarita (New)

Halloween Snacks at Disneyland Resort Hotels

Disneyland Hotel 

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

• Spider Eye Punch: Planteray Pineapple Rum, Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum, Tanqueray London Dry Gin, Heering Cherry Liqueur, Luxardo Maraschino Originale Liqueur, lime juice, pineapple juice, honey syrup, and Angostura Bitters with Green Poison Red Apple Glow Cube (New)  

• Pina Ghoulada: Planteray 3 Star White Rum, Plantation Original Dark Rum, Giffard Crème de Banane, lemon juice, creme of coconut, tamarind syrup, Amaro Montenegro Liqueur, and Angostura Bitters (New)  

• Scarecrow Old Fashioned: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram Liqueur, Falernum, and Angostura Bitters (New) 

The Coffee House (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31; mobile order available)  

• Mickey Bat Cookie: Shortbread bat cookie dipped in dark chocolate with a vampire Mickey face (New)  

• Pumpkin Bundt Cake drizzled with dulce de leche and topped with cream cheese frosting (New)  

• Maple Apple Cider: Minute Maid Apple Juice, maple syrup, and fall spices (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

• Pumpkin Spice Latte (Non-alcoholic) (Available hot or iced) (New)  

• Joffrey’s Pumpkin Crème Brûlée Cold Brew (Non-alcoholic) (New) 

• Chai Ginger Latte (Non-alcoholic) (Available hot or iced) (New) 

Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates Halloween (Aug. 23 through Oct. 31; reservations recommended)  

• Treat you and your ghouls to an all-you-care-to-enjoy meal with a Halloween twist featuring Goofy and friends for a frightfully fun experience. (Reservations available starting Aug. 15)  

• Menu highlights include:  

  • Blackberry Ginger Soda: Blackberries, Liquid Alchemist Ginger Syrup, simple syrup, lime juice, and soda water (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

  • Blood Orange Spritz: Pomegranate juice, lime juice, blood orange juice agave, and soda water (Non-alcoholic) (New) 

  • Maple Apple Cider: Minute Maid Apple Juice and maple syrup with fall spices (Non-alcoholic) (New) 

  • Maple Apple Hot Toddy: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Liquid Alchemist Ginger Syrup, fall spices, maple syrup, and Minute Maid Apple Juice (New)  

  • Pumpkin Mule with Mickey-shaped Pumpkin Glow Cube: Tito’s Handmade Vodka, pumpkin purée, lime juice, ginger, simple syrup, and fall spices

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa  

Hearthstone Lounge (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

• Dark Comes the Night: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, lemon juice, honey syrup, ginger ale, and bitters (New)  

• Halloween Espresso Martini: Flor de Caña Spresso Coffee Liqueur, and Flor de Caña “Eco” 15 Year Rum (New)  

GCH Craftsman Bar (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

• Dark Comes the Night: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, lemon juice, honey syrup, ginger ale, and bitters (New)  

• Halloween Espresso Martini: Flor de Caña Spresso Coffee Liqueur, and Flor de Caña “Eco” 15 Year Rum (New)  

GCH Craftsman Grill (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

• Mummy Donut: Donut bar glazed with white and dark chocolate 

• Pumpkin Donut: Cake donut decorated with Halloween colors

Grand Californian Great Hall Cart (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31) 

• Oogie Boogie Cookie (New)  

• Gingerbread Pumpkin Cookie (New)  

• Apple Crumble Loaf Cake (New)  

• Halloween Cookie Box (New)  

• Poison Apple Cookie: Decorated sugar cookie 

• Spooky Pretzel Sticks: Decorated pretzel sticks 

• Macarons  

• Halloween Crisped Rice Treat  

Storytellers Cafe (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

• Dark Comes the Night: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, lemon juice, honey syrup, ginger ale, and bitters (New)  

• Halloween Espresso Martini: Flor de Caña Spresso Coffee Liqueur, and Flor de Caña “Eco” 15 Year Rum (New)  

Mickey’s Autumn Adventures at Storytellers Cafe (Available Sept. 3 through Nov. 18; reservations recommended)  

• Join Mickey, Minnie, and their pals sporting their best fall fare for a delightful breakfast or brunch with an autumn touch. (New) 

Pixar Place Hotel  

The Sketch Pad Café (Available Aug. 25 through Oct. 31) 

• Pumpkin Cheesecake Overnight Oats topped with granola, dried cranberries, and gummy worms (New)  

• Salted Caramel Whoopie Pie made with dark cocoa powder and layered with a salted caramel buttercream (New)  

• Pumpkin Cold Brew (Non-alcoholic) (New)

Ghoulish Goodies in Downtown Disney

Ballast Point Brewing Co. (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31) 

• Black Garlic Thai Chili Wings: Wings tossed in spicy black garlic Thai chili sauce, served with ranch, and garnished with sesame seeds and green onions (New)  

Beignets Expressed (Available Oct. 1 through Nov. 21)  

• Caramel Apple Crumble: Caramel apple icing with a caramel drizzle sprinkled with “pumpkin” spiced crumbles  

Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes (Available Oct. 31 through Nov. 3)  

• Fright Night Mini CrazyShake Flight (New)  

• Candy Apple Mini CrazyShake: Apple butter shake with a vanilla-frosted and crushed candy apple rim topped with a candy apple, whipped cream, and crushed candy apple 

• Mini Pumpkin Pie Mini CrazyShake: Pumpkin pie shake with a vanilla-frosted and sugar cookie crumbs rim topped with a pumpkin pie bar, whipped cream, and a cherry  

• Witch’s Brew Mini CrazyShake: Ube blueberry shake with a vanilla-frosted rim with purple and black sprinkles topped with a witch’s hat sugar cookie and whipped cream 

California Churro (Available Oct. 1 through 31)  

• Spooky Churro: Cinnamon sugar churro covered in peanut butter and chocolate drizzle with peanut butter candies  

• Vampire Juice Churro: Chocolate cream cookie with vanilla cream-flavored sugar with edible glitter and buttercream frosting topped with gummy vampire candy (New)  

• Witches Brew Churro: Green sour apple sugar with edible glitter and caramel drizzle topped with sour gummy candies (Available Oct. 28 through 31 only)(New)  

Céntrico (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 3)  

• Halloween Buñuelo: Spiced chocolate, cinnamon sugar, and seasonal corn (New)  

• Boo-ñuelo: Cinnamon-sugar coated buñuelo covered with chocolate and Halloween candy (New)  

• Pumpkin Spice Horchata (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

• Casa de Sangre Margarita: Tequila blanco, black cherry syrup, liqueur, lime juice, and black cherry garnish (New)  

Clyde’s Hot Chicken (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

• Spooky Scorch: 5-piece chicken stick seasoned with habanero and ghost pepper blend of spices (New)  

Kayla’s Cake (Available Sept. 1 through Oct. 31)  

• Caramel Apple Macarons: Dulce de leche buttercream with salted caramel ganache (New)  

Naples Ristorante e Bar (Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

• Blooderscotch Cannoli filled with pumpkin and butterscotch chip cream, whipped cream, red caramel “blood” drizzle, and a sugar knife 

• Pumpkin Pancakes: Two pumpkin spice pancakes served with mascarpone cream, candied pecans, and maple syrup (New)  

• Strawberry Brains: Black sugared rim, lemonade, and strawberry purée (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

• Haunted Casa: Blanco tequila, sour mix, soda, and purple casa mix floater served in a clear skull glass (New)  

• Monster Mule: Reposado tequila, sour mix, pumpkin syrup, and ginger beer served in a black copper mug (New)  

• Pumpkins and Pancakes Ticketed Event: Celebrate the flavors and fun of fall with this special event featuring a family-style breakfast with hot cocoa and cider, pumpkin picking and decorating, a photo opportunity, take-home treats, and – for those over 21 – bottomless mimosas. Reserve your spot here.  (Available Oct. 19, 20, 26, and 27) (New)  

Paseo (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 3)  

• Pumpkin Dessert: Spiced sponge cake, maple syrup ganache, walnut crumble, pumpkin mousse, gruyere, and rosemary ice cream (New)  

• Muertos Margarita: Tequila blanco, RIPE Margarita Mix, orange juice, pineapple juice, and salted black sugar foam top (New)  

Salt & Straw (Available starting Aug. 23)

• Pumpkin Spiced Waffle Cone: Salt & Straw’s signature waffle cone infused with a blend of warm spices 

Splitsville Luxury Lanes (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

• Mad King Burger: 14 oz. double-decker burger with American cheese, special sauce, and bacon topped with onion rings and served with lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, and a side of fries (New)  

• Ghost Brownies: Ghirardelli brownie topped with torched marshmallow fluff, chocolate drizzle, and ghostly marshmallows  

• Vampire’s Kiss: Raspberry vodka, raspberry purée, and black raspberry liqueur topped with Moscato 

Tiendita (Available Aug. 23 through Nov. 3)  

• Halloween Buñuelo: Spiced chocolate, cinnamon sugar, and seasonal corn (New)  

Candy Locations Throughout the Disneyland Resort

• Scare-Car Apple: Granny Smith apple dipped in caramel and green-colored chocolate and decorated with dark chocolate-covered marshmallow wheels, rainbow sour strips, M&M’S Mini Chocolate Candies, and a white chocolate hat (Available Sept. 29 through Oct. 31)(New) 

• At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats 

• Black Bat Minnie Cake Pop: Chocolate cake pop and chocolate Minnie ears covered in black-colored dark chocolate and finished with a dark chocolate bat bow (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31) (New)  

  • At Disneyland Park: Candy Palace  

  • At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats and Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff  

• Lotso Cake Pop: Vanilla cake pop covered in magenta-colored chocolate and decorated with chocolate pieces (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31) (New)  

  • At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats and Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff  

• Skeleton Minnie Apple: Granny Smith apple dipped in caramel and decorated with white chocolate-covered marshmallow ears, a black sugar dress, white M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies, and a black and white skull bow (Available Sept. 29 through Oct. 31) (New)  

• At Disneyland Park: Candy Palace  

• At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats  

• Llama Poison Cereal Treat: Bottle-shaped cereal treat dipped in pink and tan-colored chocolate and topped with a white chocolate llama piece (Available Sept. 29 through Oct. 31) (New)  

  • At Disneyland Park: Candy Palace

• Oogie Boogie Cereal Treat: Cereal treat dipped in green-colored white chocolate with a dark chocolate face (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

• At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats and Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff  

• Black Bat Minnie Caramel Apple: Granny Smith apple dipped in caramel and decorated with dark chocolate-covered marshmallow ears, a black sugar dress, black M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies, and a black dark chocolate bat bow (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31) 

  • At Disneyland Park: Candy Palace 

  • At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats and Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff  

  • At Downtown Disney District: Marceline’s Confectionery

• Skull Apple: Granny Smith apple dipped in caramel and decorated with marshmallow ears dipped in red-colored white chocolate and a green-colored white chocolate skull face (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

• At Disneyland Park: Candy Palace 

• At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats

• Candy Corn Minnie Apple: Granny Smith apple dipped in caramel, vanilla chocolate, orange-colored chocolate, and yellow-colored chocolate, and decorated with a chocolate bow and marshmallow ears (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

• At Disneyland Park: Candy Palace 

• At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats   

• Minnie Bat Cereal Treat: Mickey-shaped cereal treat dipped in black-colored dark chocolate, sprinkled with black and grey sugar, and finished with a bat chocolate piece (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

  • At Disneyland Park: Candy Palace  

  • At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats and Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff  

  • At Downtown Disney District: Marceline’s Confectionery 

• Ghost Cereal Treat: Ghost-shaped cereal treat dipped in white chocolate with a dark chocolate ghost face (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

  • At Disneyland Park: Candy Palace  

  • At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats and Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff  

• Pumpkin Mickey Cake Pop: Vanilla cake pop dipped in orange and yellow-colored white chocolate with chocolate stem and chocolate Mickey ears (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

  • At Disneyland Park: Candy Palace 

  • At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats and Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff  

Halloween Marshmallow Wand: Marshmallows on a stick dipped in caramel and milk chocolate and drizzled with orange and purple-colored white chocolate (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

• At Disneyland Park: Candy Palace  

• At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats and Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff  

• At Downtown Disney District: Marceline’s Confectionery 

• Minnie Witch Caramel Apple: Granny Smith apple dipped in caramel and decorated with milk chocolate-dipped marshmallow ears, a purple skirt, orange M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies, and a chocolate witch hat (Available Aug. 23 through Oct. 31)  

  • At Disneyland Park: Candy Palace  

  • At Disney California Adventure Park: Trolley Treats and Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff  

2024 Plaza de la Familia Foodie Guide

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Plaza de la Familia is making its return to Disney California Adventure Park from August 23 through November 2, 2024! The entire familia can join in on a celebration inspired by the traditions of Día de los Muertos. With festive décor, lively music and delicious food, it's a celebration you won’t want to miss. Plus, there are special offerings inspired by Pixar’s award-winning film, Coco!

Over at Paradise Garden Grill, you can indulge in both savory and sweet treats that draw inspiration from Coco and the rich cultures that celebrate Día de los Muertos. From Al Pastor Tacos to Street-style Watermelon, you’re in for a treat.

Once you’ve satisfied your cravings, why not get creative? Design your own paper alebrije, or spirit guide, and craft masks of Pepita or Dante, Miguel’s loyal companions. You might even get to meet Miguel himself! And don’t forget to leave a heartfelt message to a loved one on the Memory Wall at the Mexican Árbol de la Vida, or Tree of Life.

2024 Plaza de la Familia Foodie Guide

Paradise Garden Grill (Available through Nov. 14; mobile order available) 

• Carnitas Wet Burrito: House-made pork carnitas, Spanish rice, refried beans, cilantro, onions, salsa verde, and salsa roja served with house-made tortilla chips  

• Al Pastor Tacos: Pineapple-achiote-marinated pork with avocado spread and tomatillo salsa, served with Spanish rice and refried beans topped with queso fresco  

• Huarache with soy chorizo beans and seasoned steak tips topped with lettuce, cheese, avocado crema, and tomatillo salsa and served with Spanish rice and refried beans topped with nopales pico de gallo (Plant-based)

• Street-style Watermelon with lime juice, chile-lime seasoning and chamoy (Plant-based) 

• Chile Verde Chicken Flautas topped with avocado spread, shredded lettuce, crema, queso fresco, tomatillo salsa, and pickled onions served with Spanish rice and refried beans topped with nopales pico de gallo

• Street-style Taco: Pineapple-Achiote-marinated pork in a corn tortilla served with Spanish rice and refried beans topped with queso fresco (Kids Meal Offering) 

• Vanilla Layer Cake: Layers of vanilla cake filled with a cinnamon mousse and sweet cream cheese frosting

Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta (Available through Nov. 14)

• Horchata Cheesecake: Horchata-flavored cheesecake finished with orange, white chocolate curls

These offerings should come as no surprise to anyone who visited during Plaza de la Familia last year, as many (if not, all) of the dishes are repeats of 2023’s event. Additionally, quite a few of the entrees, including the carnitas wet burrito, chicken flautas, and the al-pastor tacos are the exact Coco-inspired offerings from Pixar Fest.

For me, the clear stand-out is the horchata cheesecake offered at Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta. I’m a sucker for anything horchata and I don’t remember seeing this one on the menu last year, so I’m looking forward to it. The remaining offerings, however, are a bit of a dud for me.

We tried a number of these on our visit during Pixar Fest and to put it simply, we weren’t impressed. The chicken flautas depended too much on the toppings, with the chicken itself lacking any kind of flavor. Additionally, the wet carnitas burrito was not only equally bland in flavor, but doughy in texture as well.

To say we were disappointed would be an understatement. I’d like to say that Disney improved upon these entrees for this event, but I seriously doubt it. Personally, I would have liked to see a complete overhaul of the menu and possibly even bring in a reputable chef to handcraft the menu. It feels as though this event is an afterthought, just living in the shadow of the concurrent Halloween festivities and considering what this event represents, it deserves more. A lot more.

Beyond the food and celebrations, Disney characters representative of Hispanic culture regularly conduct meet and greets in this area of the park. There’s a hut placed between Goofy’s Sky School and Paradise Garden Grill - that’s where the characters will often be.

Typical characters you’d encounter here are Miguel from Coco, as well as Mirabel and Bruno from Encanto. Additionally, it isn’t unheard of to see some of Disney’s legacy characters, such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Daisy in special outfits, stop by to celebrate with guests.

As is, this isn’t an event I would plan an entire trip around. I do hope to see it ascend to that status, as it’s a deeply meaningful celebration and should be treated as such. That aside, if you’re already planning a trip to the parks during the event’s timeframe, I definitely recommend carving out some time to partake in the festivities.

Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree Foodie Guide

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Recently, Disney made an announcement that absolutely nobody saw coming. The Hungry Bear restaurant, located in the formally named Critter Country - now Bayou Country - is receiving a new name and re-theme to Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree. Yes, you read that correctly. The beloved Country Bears are taking over the Hungry Bear!

It’s a nostalgic nod to the Country Bear Jamboree attraction, which formally occupied the space adjacent to Hungry Bear and closed in September of 2001 to make way for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction.

The Country Bears have been making a comeback of sorts, with the Magic Kingdom version receiving a modern update and the newly minted Big Al statue placed in DCA’s Grizzly Peak area. It only makes sense for Disneyland proper to partake in their revival as well.

While we have yet to receive an opening date from Disney, it was announced during D23 that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Bayou Country will be making their debuts on November 15. It’s safe to assume that Hungry Bear would definitely be open by then, though there’s reason to believe that it may open sooner than that. Time will tell (Update: Disney recently announced that Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree will open on October 25).

In the meantime, Disney has surprised us with a foodie guide for Hungry Bear. If the new name didn’t give it away, the new menu is a call-back to Hungry Bear’s original BBQ-joint flare with a couple of twists sprinkled in.

Traditional BBQ favorites make up the majority of the menu, including pulled pork, sliced brisket, baked beans and spareribs. Oddly, the only chicken option is the garden-variety fried strips on the kids menu. No grilled or smoked options to speak of (as of now, anyway).

While it may or may not be the final menu, let’s get into the offerings Disney is planning to serve up at opening.

Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree Foodie Guide

Entrees

• Smoked Barbecue Combo Platter: A selection of house-smoked meats, served with baked beans, house slaw, white bread, and pickles with a choice of two of the following: Pork Spareribs, Pulled Pork, Sausage Link, or Beef Brisket (New) 

• Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwich: Tangy BBQ sauce, house slaw, bread and butter, and pickles served with beer-battered fries (New) 

• Smoked Beef Brisket Sandwich with tangy BBQ sauce, pickled red onions, and pickled jalapeños served with beer-battered fries (New) 

• Smoked Angus Beef Burger and Pulled Pork with American cheese, golden aïoli, pickled red onions, bread and butter pickles, and crispy onions served with beer-battered fries (New) 

• Corn Ribs Plate: Chile-lime aioli, parmesan, crispy onions, cilantro, and scallions with house slaw and beer-battered fries (Plant-based) (New) 

• Loaded Fries topped with smoked pulled pork, queso sauce, pickled red onions, and pickled jalapeños, cilantro, and scallions (New) 

• Classic Cheeseburger served with beer-battered fries

• Chicken Tenders Plate served with house slaw and beer-battered fries

Sides and Kids Menu Offerings

• Beer-battered Fries (New)  

• Baked Beans (New)  

• House Slaw (New) 

All kids’ meals are served with Cuties Mandarin Orange and Applesauce and a choice of small DASANI Water or small Low-fat milk. 

• Pork Spareribs (New) 

• Toasted Cheese Sandwich (Disney Check Meal) (New)

• Hamburger (Disney Check Meal)

• Chicken Tenders 

Desserts and Drinks at Hungry Bear BBQ Jamboree

Desserts  

• Banana Pudding: Bananas, whipped cream, crushed wafer cookies, dulce de leche, and toffee (New)  

• Funnel Cake Fries dusted with powdered sugar. For an additional charge, add some extra sweetness to your funnel cake fries with Banana Caramel Dipping Sauce! (New)  

Beverages  

• Sparkling Strawberry-Pickle Lemonade​: Simply Lemonade, Minute Maid Strawberry Smoothie, flavors of lime, Sprite, pickle juice and a pickle spear (Non-alcoholic) (New)  

• Strawberry Shortcake Lemonade​: Simply Lemonade, Minute Maid Strawberry Smoothie, sweet cream topping, shortbread crumbles, and strawberry dust​ (Non-alcoholic) (New) 

• Lemonade-Iced Tea: Simply Lemonade and Gold Peak Unsweetened Iced Tea garnished with a lemon wheel (Non-alcoholic) (New)

• Hungry Bear Mason Jar with choice of beverage at time of purchase (Additional charge for specialty lemonades)

As stated at the beginning of the article, it is surprising that Disney decided not to include a grilled or smoked chicken option. Though that could be easily added once enough guests have expressed their desire for a proper chicken dish.

Additionally, I’m also surprised that Disney didn’t take advantage of this opportunity to add adult beverages to the menu, further expanding the efforts they began in the middle of 2023. Fewer things go as perfectly together than grilled meat and cold beer, but I digress.

Personally, I’m all for this change and I think most Disney fans will be as well. The Country Bears is an IP that, despite being around since the early 1970’s, is just now gaining major steam among millennials (who are all about nostalgia) and Gen Z, and Disney is taking full advantage.

While you never really know, I wouldn’t expect this newly-gained popularity to lead to a revival of the Country Bear Jamboree attraction. For starters, their old spot is currently occupied by Winnie the Pooh, and he’s a major merchandise mover for the company. That lovable, yellow bear isn’t going anywhere.

However, I would expect to see the Hungry Bears return to the area for meet and greets. Currently, you can see them in DCA’s Grizzly Peak from time to time. But I feel moving them back to Disneyland proper, in the land they once called home, would be far more fitting.

12 Tips For Your First Oogie Boogie Bash

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Oogie Boogie Bash has been the Disneyland Resort’s annual Halloween party since its inception in 2019. It’s a superbly popular, special ticketed event inside Disney California Adventure on select nights throughout the months of August, September and October.

If this will be your first Oogie Boogie Bash (or you haven’t been in a while), this post will offer you twelve of my best tips to make the most out of your experience. My wife and I are regular OBB attendees, and each time we go we learn something new to add to our ever-evolving repertoire of strategies.

For more details about Oogie Boogie Bash, you can consult my 2024 Oogie Boogie Bash Guide. Let’s get into it!

1) Take Advantage of Early Entry

The actual event runs from 6pm to 11pm, but your OBB ticket includes early entry into Disney California Adventure starting three hours prior to the event (3pm). This is advantageous for several reasons.

Early entry allows you to research the pamphlet and figure out where your favorite villains’ treat trails will be, get in an early meal, or knock out a few attractions before the event starts. It’s especially helpful if you’re planning to purchase a dining package.

2) Use The Grand Californian Park Entrance for Quicker Access

Disney’s on-property, high end hotel has its own exclusive entrance into Disney California Adventure. While you’ll still need to go through a security check, it’s often far less crowded, particularly in the mid-afternoon.

You can use this entrance even if you’re not a registered guest and there will be cast members stationed nearby to help you with your event wristband and candy bag.

Keep in mind that if you’re being dropped off via a ride sharing service or a friend/family member, you’ll need to be dropped off at Downtown Disney and then enter the hotel there as Disney restricts drop offs to registered guests only.

If you’re a registered guest at Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel, cast members will also be stationed at its exclusive entrance into the park to assist you with checking into the event. If you’re not a registered guest at PPH, you cannot use this entrance.

3) Bring Your Own Trick or Treat Bag

One of the primary perks to Oogie Boogie Bash is the ability to trick or treat throughout the park at various “treat trails”. This is included with your ticket, and both kids and adults alike can partake.

When you check in, you’ll be provided with a complimentary bag, but it is super small. Cast members often give out heaping handfuls of candy out (especially towards the end of the night) and that bag will fill quickly.

To combat this, bring your own, larger bag with you (or purchase one at the various shops around the park). Thus far, Disney has permitted this ‘hack’ without any restrictions. Backpacks and tote bags are fair game (so far).

4) Research Character Locations Prior to the Event

If you’re attending the very first Oogie Boogie Bash of the year, then you’ll have to do your research on character offerings when you’re provided with your pamphlet. Past the first night, though, there will be plenty of online resources to help you.

There are a plethora of Disney influencers on YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms, such as the Fresh Baked and Magic Journeys channels that are usually quick to post guides on which villains are being featured and where they’ll be located, special food offerings, and more.

Conducting this research prior to arriving can help you come up with a game plan and spend your time more efficiently. There’s nothing worse than wasting time at an event you’ve paid a pretty penny to be at.

5) Enjoy an Early Dinner

Since you’re permitted into the park at 3pm, it makes sense to get in an early meal during this time. This is especially true if you plan to book the dining package at Wine Country Trattoria.

If you get hungry later on, there will be plenty of special food and snack offerings at various locations throughout the park that you can only purchase during the event or during the Halloween season to hold you over.

6) Attend the Second Parade Showing

Oogie Boogie Bash’s parade, Frightfully Fun, has two showings each event night. Once at 7:45 and another at 10:00. Whether or not it’s worth spending the time to watch it is a matter of perspective but if you’re keen on watching it, do so at the second showing.

Reason being is because, much like any parade or show at Disneyland that has two showings, the second one almost always has lower crowds. Making finding a preferable viewing spot much easier.

This doesn’t matter much if you’re purchasing the dining package or the dessert party, as you’re guaranteed a great view with both. However, with the purchase of either of those, you do have the option of which showing you’d like to attend.

7) Save Villains Grove for Later or During Parade Times

Villains is perhaps the most anticipated attraction during Oogie Boogie Bash. If you’re unaware, it’s a walk-through attraction featuring several scenes themed after many of Disney’s most beloved villains. They use lighting effects, music, projections and more to make it the amazing experience that it is.

As such, it’s hugely popular and often has a long queue to get in. However, if you wait to go during one of the parade times or towards the end of the night, you’ll likely be able to walk right in or have a minimal wait.

We I went to OBB, my wife and I held off until the end of the night and were able to go through it twice without any wait at all. Additionally, there was barely anybody else in the attraction. Making it an even better experience.

8) Take Advantage of Low Attraction Wait Times

There are usually far less people in the park during these special ticketed events than during normal park hours, which means the queues at the attractions are often minimal. Most are practical walk-ons while high demand attractions, such as Radiator Springs Racers, are about a third of the normal queue length.

While I always recommend prioritizing the event-specific attractions over the everyday ones (since that’s what you’re paying for), walking onto an attraction that normally sees high wait times is hard to pass up. Remember, as long as you have fun, that’s all that matters.

9) Don’t Purchase Oogie Boogie Bash Tickets Through Resellers

How long it takes varies by year but generally, Oogie Boogie Bash tickets always sell out quickly. Unfortunately, many will purchase these tickets with the intent of reselling them on third party sites, often at two to three times their original value. While it’s tempting to go this route, I suggest avoiding it.

If Disney discovers that your OBB ticket was purchased from a third party, they will not take pity on you. You won’t get into trouble, but they will not let you in and won’t care how much you paid for them. For that reason, I highly recommend not doing this. It isn’t worth the risk.

I have heard of military personnel being able to purchase event tickets on the same day of a sold out event at the booths. I also know that each Disney resort hotel keeps a small stash of OBB tickets for registered guests. They start selling them at 5am on the day of the event. I recommend getting there prior to that time to increase your chances.

10) Get Your Mobile Orders in Early!

During special events like Oogie Boogie Bash there are often special food and drink items only available during the specific event or season. Many of these items are available through Disney’s mobile order service, which can save you significant time versus the traditional stand-by.

However, due to the limited hours of the event, mobile order pick up times tend to get snagged up quickly. Additionally, the items themselves sell out rather fast. Much like character locations, it’s best to research the offerings ahead of time and get your mobile orders and pick up times early on. You can always modify it as needed.

11) Know the Halloween Costume Guidelines

Oogie Boogie Bash is the one time a year where kids and adults alike are not only allowed, but encouraged to wear Halloween costumes in the park. So be sure to take advantage of this rare opportunity.

There are just a few guidelines to follow. They are:

• No weapon accessories (lightsabers being the exception).

• No masks (face paint is ok, provided there are no words painted on the face).

• Costumes considered offensive or pose potential safety hazards (i.e, a cape that drags on the ground) are prohibited.

• You may dress as a Disney character, but you cannot pose for pictures and/or sign autographs with other guests (as if you were a sanctioned Disney character actor).

12) Don’t Bother Purchasing Lightning Lane Multi-Pass

Lightning Lane Multi-Pass cannot be purchased or used during Oogie Boogie Bash. If you’ve spent the day in either park prior to the event and purchased Lightning Lane, you’ll be unable to make selections after 6pm. Don’t fret because as stated above, most attractions are walk-ons during the event anyway.

If you’re a DAS (Disability Access Service) guest, the only attraction during the event that you’ll be able to use it for is Villains Grove. However, even that could be rendered unnecessary by following the advice for Villains Grove in tip #7.

Planning a trip to Disneyland during Halloween? If so, read my 2024 Disneyland Halloween Guide. Additionally, get information about dining reservations, mobile order, and more by reading my Disneyland Dining Guide. Finally, read about the changes to the DAS program. For great deals on Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line packages, visit my partners at Get Away Today.

Pixar Fest Character Locations Guide

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Pixar Fest is in full swing at the Disneyland Resort and one of the main offerings are the many characters you can potentially interact with. Some of these are the usual suspects you’d regularly see in the parks, while others are making their first ever appearance!

Aside from the food, rare character meet and greets is our favorite part of special events, festivals, and After Dark events Disney puts on throughout the year. Seeing the characters you know and love brought to life and interact with them is priceless and one of the hallmarks of a Disney vacation.

Disney is advertising more than twenty new and familiar characters during Pixar Fest, but keep in mind that you’re not guaranteed to see all of them. Many factors such as staffing, unforeseen circumstances, and the recent unionization of Disneyland performers can impact the amount of characters out at a particular time.

With so many characters to see during Pixar Fest, you may be wondering what characters you can meet at Pixar Fest and their locations. During our visit, we painstakingly sought out as many of them as we could to bring this information to you. We didn’t get pictures of all of them, but we did find out where they are. Do keep in mind that this list isn’t absolute and you should always refer to the Disneyland app day-of for current character information.

Pixar Fest Characters at Disney California Adventure

While the entire resort is on the festivities, much of the event’s offerings are being held at Disney California Adventure. These include many food and drink offerings, Club Pixar, the Better Together Parade, and more. The characters, however, seemed to have been split fairly evenly.

In the backlot area of Hollywood Land, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl conduct meet and greets in front of a “We Are Incredible” backdrop in their retro suits. While these two are typically seen on a day-to-day basis, namely near the Incredicoaster attraction, you rarely see them in these outfits.

During our visit, we only saw them together one time. Aside from that one time, it was either one or the other. This is going to be an ongoing comment throughout this post as Disney seemed to be suffering from staffing issues while we were there.

One of the bigger character draws during Pixar Fest are Mei and Ming Lee from Turning Red. Prior to Pixar Fest, these two have only made one appearance in the parks and that was during Lunar New Year earlier in the year. Their debut saw hours-long queues.

During Pixar Fest, their meet and greet is set up in front of the waterwheel in Grizzly River Run, just up the way from the Little Mermaid attraction. These two will always do meet and greets together, so just know that when their thirty-minute interval is up, you’ll either need to wait for them to come back or return at a later time.

Disney could potentially have another pair of actors lined up to swap out with them so if that’s the case, you’ll only need to wait a few minutes. If they don’t, it’ll be at about thirty minutes before they’ll come back out. Cast members will keep the queue updated and will usually cut off the queue so folks don’t end up waiting for nothing. It can happen, though. So be prepared for that possibility.

In Pixar Pier, you’ll see many of the usual suspects. These include Woody and Buzz Lightyear, who take photos in front of the Toy Story Mania attraction. Further down the pier and across from the Pixar Pals Fun Wheel in the band shell, there’s a mixed bag of characters that appear. These include:

• Mike and Sulley from Monsters Inc.

• Joy and Sadness from Inside Out

• Anger from Inside Out (Beginning June 14)

• Bo Peep and Jessie from Toy Story

They’re completely random and depend entirely on staffing. On one of the mornings during our visit we were hoping to catch Mike and Sulley together but unfortunately, Sulley was the only character to appear. I asked a cast member if there was any chance for Mike to show and was told that, “Unfortunately, Mike is stuck in traffic in Monstropolis”. You have to admire her commitment to the “bubble”.

Another great way to see characters at DCA is during the Better Together Pixar parade that runs twice daily at DCA. You won’t be able to take pictures with any of them, but the parade is a practical smorgasbord of Pixar characters. Some you’ve seen in the parks before and others you’ve never seen.

A few examples include Joe Gardner from Soul, Carl from Up, Miguel from Coco, Mei Lee in Red Panda form from Turning Red, Luca, Alberto and Giulia from Luca and more. As stated above, the parade runs twice daily and because it hasn’t exactly been the most stellar of Disney’s parade, snagging a prime viewing spot is a fairly easy endeavor. For more information on that, including my recommendations to viewing areas, read my Pixar Fest 2024 Ultimate Guide.

To recap, Pixar Fest characters and locations in DCA are:

• Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl in the Hollywood Land Backlot

• Edna and Frozone near the Incredicoaster attraction

• Lightning McQueen, Mater, and more from Cars near the Cozy Cones in Cars Land

• Mike, Sulley, Bo Peep, Jessie, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Lotso, Joy, and Sadness throughout Pixar Pier

• Mei and Ming Lee near the Grizzly Peak waterwheel

• Dug (talking version) in the Grizzly Peak area near Redwood Creek Challenge

• *NEW - Beginning June 14, you can now meet Anger (from Inside Out) by the Pixar Pier Band Shell

Additionally, characters you’ll see during the parade include:

• Red Panda from Turning Red

• Carl, Dug, Russell, and Kevin from Up

• Joe Gardner from Soul

• Joy and Sadness from Inside Out

• Luca, Alberto, and Giulia from Luca

• Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl from The Incredibles

• Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie from Toy Story

• Miguel and Dante from Coco

• Mike and Sulley from Monsters Inc

Pixar Fest Characters in Downtown Disney and Resort Hotels

While not exclusively for Pixar Fest, Disney is touting the ability to meet beloved character Bing Bong from the movie, Inside Out, at the Pixar Place Hotel. Bing Bong usually meets guests of the hotel in the pool area but if you’re lucky (like I was) you can sometimes catch him in the lobby of the hotel.

Another character you’ll likely encounter at the hotel is Joe Gardner from Soul. You can often find him playing on the piano in the lobby area across from the registration desk. I’m not sure if he’ll pose for photos with you, but at the very least you can say you watched Joe Gardner play live jazz.

While not live characters, Downtown Disney features two cars cosplaying as Woody and Buzz Lightyear up against a Pixar Fest mural on the former ESPN building. This photo-opp is available to all guests, regardless if you hold a park ticket or not.

As far as characters outside of the parks go, that’s about it. While things could always change in that regard, there are only two months remaining for Pixar Fest at the time of this post’s publishing, so I’m doubtful. Besides, other than the parks and hotel, there are no other locations where a Pixar character meet and greet would make sense.

Pixar Fest Characters at Disneyland Park

DCA may be considered the “Pixar Park”, but Disneyland proper is also getting in on the action. However, the majority of all Pixar Fest characters meet with guests in the same area, and that area is the Fantasyland Theatre across from the it’s a small world attraction.

The meet and greets occur between the hours of 11:30am and 5:30pm daily during the Pixar Pals Playtime Party. It consists of a high-energy stage show featuring many Pixar characters, about a half dozen Pixar-themed photo-opps, and several meet and greets with rare characters.

The first two you’ll likely encounter are Russell and Dug from the movie Up. During our visit, they were greeting guests near the entrance of the theatre, just prior to the official start time of the party. Note that this isn’t the talking version of Dug that you would meet at DCA.

Their official meet and greet area is to the left of the stage, up against the Up-themed backdrop. Again, I’m sure there was a staffing shortage during my visit, as none of the characters were ever out at the same time. It seemed as though the same two or three cast members were pulling double-duty and acting as multiple characters each.

In the upper area of Fantasyland Theatre, just behind the stands, are two additional meet and greets. Both of which are brand new to the parks. They are Ember and Wade from Elemental, and Luca and Alberto from Luca. Unfortunately, Alberto never came out during our time there. We did, however, get some quality time with Luca.

Both Ember and Wade made their appearances together while we were there, but I’ve recently read that both have been making sporadic solo appearances. Again, the recent cast member unionization and/or staffing shortages are the likely culprits. If you have your heart set on a photo with them together, you may have to camp out for the opportunity.

Additional newcomers, Barley (left) and Ian (right) Lightfoot from Onward, are also available for meet and greets in front of Barley’s mighty steed, Guinevere, located to the right of the theatre stage. For us, these two and Ember and Wade were the main highlights.

Much like Russel and Dug, the Lightfoot’s meet and greet area is in the lower level of the theatre, mixed in with all the Pixar-themed backdrops. Don’t get scared away if there’s a performance of the Playtime Party stage show happening, as the brothers will still make their scheduled appearances.

Another character that has been popping up around the theatre lately is Merida from Brave. Based on the photos I’ve seen, she’s been hanging around in the upper area of the theatre, near Troubadore Tavern.

Finally, the Pixar Pals Playtime Party stage show features numerous Pixar characters in a high energy song and dance performance. The show occurs in thirty-minute intervals between 11:30am and 5:30pm. At the conclusion of each performance, a few of the characters actually leave the stage to dance with guests.

The characters appear in phases, starting with Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and Bo Peep. Joy and Sadness then join the party, before concluding with appearances by Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Frozone, and Edna (subject to change, as always).

Joy and Sadness spent the most time dancing with guests. I have to admit, the highlight of the day was watching Sadness dance as unhappily as she could to Taylor Swift’s mega-hit, Shake it Off. The second was snagging the above-displayed rare photo of four of the main characters from The Incredibles.

Outside of Fantasyland Theatre, there isn’t much going on in the way of Pixar meet and greets aside from Miguel, from Coco, who often greets guests in his charro (a suit often donned by mariachi performers) in Frontierland near the Day-of-the-Dead display. To see Miguel in his regular clothes, you’ll need to watch the Better Together parade at DCA.

It’s baffling that they didn’t set up a temporary meet and greet for Coco-related characters near Paradise Garden Grill in DCA, considering that this particular restaurant’s entire menu is being billed as “Coco-inspired” during Pixar Fest, but I digress.

To recap, Pixar characters and locations in Disneyland Park are:

• Barley and Ian Lightfoot, Ember, Wade, Luca, Alberto, Russell, Dug and Merida at Fantasyland Thestre

• Joy, Sadness, Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bo Peep, Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Frozone, and Edna during the Pixar Pals Playtime stage show

• Miguel in Frontierland

• Buzz Lightyear makes occasional appearances in Tomorrowland as well

Attractions Featuring Pixar Characters

Costumed and face characters aren’t the only way to get your Pixar character fix as there are many attractions throughout both parks featuring several Pixar IP’s. Currently, none of these attractions are listed on the refurbishment calendar and since Pixar Fest is still going on, the chances of it staying that way are good.

The vast majority of Pixar-themed attractions are in California Adventure. They feature a whopping ten rides versus Disneyland park’s two. So if your goal is to remain in the Pixar bubble as much as possible, DCA is likely where you’ll want to spend most of your time.

So which rides can you see Pixar characters on at Disneyland? They are:

• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (DL)

• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (DL)

• Incredicoaster (DCA)

• Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind (DCA)

• Jessie’s Critter Carousel (DCA)

• Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters (DCA)

• Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree (DCA)

• Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Resue! (DCA)

• Pixar Pal-A-Round (DCA)

• Radiator Springs Racers (DCA)

• Toy Story Midway Mania (DCA)

• Turtle Talk with Crush (DCA)

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, and especially if during Pixar Fest, read my Pixar Fest Ultimate Guide to help navigate all of the offerings. Additionally, see many of the Pixar Fest food and drink offerings by reading The 24 Pixar Fest Foodie Offerings We Tried to see pictures, prices, and more. Furthermore, photos from our tour of the new Pixar Place Hotel. Finally, for great deals on Disneyland, Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line vacation packages, visit my partners at Get Away Today.

Pixar Fest 2024 Ultimate Guide

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

With Pixar Fest 2024 in full swing at the Disneyland Resort until August 4, you may be wondering what’s being offered and what there is to do. We’ve recently visited the resort to experience Pixar Fest for ourselves and man, we honestly don’t remember the last time we’ve had so much fun at the park.

There’s so much to see, experience and eat that it could seem daunting to even attempt to experience everything (pro tip - it is). If you have a few days at the parks, you shouldn’t have any issues seeing most of it. If you only have one day, however, you may need to pick and choose.

If you don’t already know, the Disneyland Resort has hosted only one other Pixar Fest back in 2018. It wasn’t all that popular at the time, largely due to Disney seemingly phoning it in, and didn’t return in 2019. From 2020 until now, the parks have been working to recover from the effects of the pandemic. That now seems to be the case, as Disney decided to bring it back for 2024 and this time around, inject of whole lot of effort into making it successful.

If you’re thinking of visiting the parks during Pixar Fest, or you’ve already booked dates, this information-packed guide will help you navigate all of the offerings so you can prioritize which elements of Pixar Fest you’d like to experience. Let’s get into it.

Pixar Fest Decorations

The entire resort is adorned in Pixar Fest decorations. In the esplanade (the open space between Disneyland and DCA) there are numerous banners on the posts and a giant Pixar Fest display showcasing dozens of Pixar’s most popular characters and the infamous Luxo ball in the center.

It’s an impressive display during the day, particularly when the sun is hitting the panes near the top. In the evenings, though, it’s a bit of a dud as there’s nothing to illuminate it. That’s a huge (and surprising) miss on Disney’s end. It would’ve been an attraction all its own had it lit up at night.

Additionally, there are several smaller versions of this display scattered throughout Downtown Disney, as well as more banners. The main attraction are the two cars in Woody and Buzz Lightyear cosplay displayed against the former ESPN Zone building.

The parks are no different as both Main Street U.S.A in Disneyland and Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land are also adorned in Pixar Fest banners. Additionally, the parks each feature their own large display, similar to the ones in the planters in Downtown Disney, but much larger in scale.

While these don’t light up either, there are spotlights installed at their bases to give them some illumination. In Disney California Adventure, the display is located in the hub area, in between the Carthay Circle building and the Elias & Co gift shop. It interacts with MagicBands, if you have one.

The display in Disneyland is located in Town Square near the flagpole, where the Christmas Tree and Mickey Head Pumpkin are displayed during their respective holidays. Unlike the display in DCA, this one does not interact with MagicBands. It is a popular PhotoPass spot, though.

Better Together Pixar Parade

The Better Together Pixar parade is one of the main features of Pixar Fest and runs twice daily at Disney California Adventure. It isn’t entirely new, as many of the floats and characters appeared in the former Pixar Play Parade during Pixar Fest 2018.

This year, however, the parade has a new name, theme song, and features a few new floats/characters, including those from Turning Red, Luca and Soul. While it’s possible this could change, the floats and characters you can expect to see in this parade (in order), are:

• Luxo Lamp

• Turning Red featuring the giant panda

• Up featuring Carl and Dug

• Soul featuring Joe Gardner

• Inside Out featuring Joy and Sadness

• Luca featuring Luca, Alberto and Giulia

• The Incredibles (not on a float) featuring Mr. and Mrs. Incredible

• Toy Truck featuring Woody

• Pixar Grand Finale featuring Miguel (Coco), Jessie, Buzz Lightyear, Sully, and Mike (Monsters Inc.)

You can see the difference in quality between the floats from the Pixar Fest of 2018 and new ones made for the 2024 version. The Luca float, in my opinion, was the best of the bunch. However, it felt like a wasted opportunity to hold two day time parades and not reserve one for nighttime, as many of the floats (the Soul float in particular) would’ve looked amazing lit up at night, but I digress.

Better Together Parade Route

The Better Together parade runs the same route as every other parade at DCA. Since there’s two per day (once at 4pm and again at 6:30pm) the first parade begins from behind Hollywood Land (adjacent to Mission Breakout), down the main street of Hollywood Land, through Buena Vista Street, down the Performance Corridor and then through Paradise Gardens Park, before concluding just before Pixar Pier.

The second showing will be the exact opposite, starting in Paradise Gardens Park and concluding at the end of Hollywood Land near Mission Breakout. Generally, many (myself included) feel the second showing of any parade or show at Disney is best as there’s often less competition for the most coveted viewing spots.

Better Together Parade Viewing Spots

There are several viewings areas for Better Together (or any parade that happens to be showing at DCA). One of the most popular of which is in Paradise Gardens Park in the stretch between the Little Mermaid attraction and Corn Dog Castle.

Another popular spot is along the street of Hollywood Land. This is especially true for the second showing, as there’s typically a lot of shade in this area. My personal favorite (and it’s from here where I took the photos you see in this section) is the island where the water fountain is, directly across from Carthay Circle and facing the entrance to the Performance Corridor.

This was where I stood for the 6:30pm showing and I had a great, mostly unobstructed view of the characters and floats. In addition to that, it was well shaded. Though by this time the sun was already working its way down, so I imagine that would be especially advantageous during the 4pm showing.

Keep in mind that if you choose a spot at the opposite end of where the parade begins, you won’t actually see any floats until 15-20 minutes after the official start time. For example, if your spot is in Hollywood Land for the second showing, which begins at 6:30pm, don’t expect to see any floats until closer to 6:45 or 6:50, possibly later if there any delays.

Better Together Parade Dining Packages

Unlike for other parades, such as the Frightfully Fun parade during Oogie Boogie Bash, there’s only one dining package offered for Better Together and it’s more of a dessert party than anything else. However, it does come with a reserved seat along the parade route in the Performance Corridor.

The cost is $69 per person (2 and under are free, but they must sit on your lap). At one hour to forty-five minutes prior to your selected parade time, you’ll check in at Sonoma Terrace, where your reserved seating is. The earlier you arrive, the better as seats are first come, first serve. If you snag a table at the front, you’ll have an unobstructed view of the parade. Though you’ll have the sun beating down on your as there are no umbrellas for these tables.

The tables behind the front row still have a great view and depending how you look at it, may be better than the front row, as they’re slightly elevated and come with umbrellas. If having others in front of you doesn’t bother you, these may be preferable.

You’ll receive a variety of Pixar-themed foods and desserts, along with two mocktails and unlimited water, tea, coffee and soda. Once the parade begins, though, they will no longer bring any beverages to your table. So be sure to get your monies worth before the parade start time. To book this package, go here.

Pixar Pals Playtime Party and Club Pixar

Club Pixar Hours and Offerings

Club Pixar is in the backlot area of Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure. During the day, there are several Pixar-themed backdrops you can take photos with, in addition to a Mr. and Mrs. Incredible meet and greet in their blue retro super hero suits. This is also where the Hanger Management food marketplace is located.

Once it starts to cool down, Club Pixar comes further to life with neon lights themed to Pixar characters, live performances, dance lessons, photo-ops, games, and more. Additionally, there’s an area themed after a drive-in where you can watch Pixar shorts while relaxing in a classic car. Seating is limited and competitive here.

Another element to Club Pixar are the games guests can play. One such game is a giant chess board (with accompanying pieces) themed after the Pixar short, Geri’s Game. These games, in addition to the live performances, are only accessible to guests between 4:30pm and 8:30pm.

Many were hoping that Club Pixar would be a call-back to the nighttime events, Mad T Party and ElecTRONica, Disney used to put-on in the backlot area. There was live music by local DJ’s, themed cocktails served in a pop-up style bar, lighting effects and more. These events were immensely popular with teenagers and adults.

Alas, that has proven to not be the case, as Club Pixar is more on the family-friendly side of things. It isn’t a bad thing, as the offerings in this area are unique and fun in their own right, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how much of a missed opportunity I feel it is to not feature a Pixar version of the Mad T Party during Pixar Fest.

Pixar Pals Playtime Party Hours and Offerings

The Pixar Pals Playtime Party takes place at Disneyland Park in the Fantasyland Theatre across from the It’s a Small World attraction. A sign out front states the hours are between 11:30am and 5:30pm but when we were there, a few of the characters began coming out for meet and greets right at 11am when the cast members dropped the rope.

There’s a lot going on in this relatively small space. The main feature is a high-energy stage show starring many of Pixar’s most beloved characters, such as Woody, Bo Peep, Jessie the Cowgirl, Sadness, Joy, Edna, Frozone, The Incredibles and more. At the conclusion of the show, many of these characters leave the stage and dance with the crowd. If you’ve never seen Sadness dancing to “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift, you’re in for an entertaining treat.

Another feature of Pixar Pals Playtime Party are the incredible (no pun intended) amount of character meet and greets going on. The day-to-day ones include Dug and Russel from Up, Ember and Wade from Elemental, Luca and Alberto from Luca, and Barley and Ian Lightfoot from Onward. Lately, Merida from Brave has also been making sporadic appearances.

Down on the dance floor, there are several themed backdrops for guests to take pictures with, including the Piston Cup from Cars and Boo’s door from Monsters Inc. This is where there seemed to be a lack of forethought, as there where several things all happening in one cramped area. For instance, during the stage show, both Joy and Sadness were dancing in the crowd while Barley and Ian Lightfoot came out for a meet and greet, all while guests were taking photos with the backdrops.

Also here is one of the main food locations during Pixar Fest. Troubadore Tavern, which is located at the entrance to the Fantasyland Theatre, has received a Pixar makeover, offering several themed dishes, drinks and snacks with a Pixar flare. These include:

• Roundup BBQ Potato

• Una Papa Loca Potato

• Firetown Mac and Cheese Bites

• Mixed Emotions Popcorn

• Joyful Tenders and Mac (kids)

• Lotso Berry Lemonade

• “Adventure is Out There” Cold Brew (pictured above)

We tried nearly every Pixar Fest item at Troubadore Tavern and for the most part, all of them were tasty. We didn’t get around to trying every food item during our Pixar Fest visit (there were over 80, after all), but we did try 24 that you may want to learn more about.

Pixar Character Meet and Greets

Disney rolled out all the stops when it comes to character meet and greets for Pixar Fest, as there are well over twenty beloved Pixar characters out interacting and taking photos with guests. While some are the usual characters you would normally see in the parks, there are several new additions. Including:

• Ember and Wade from Elemental

• Barley and Ian Lightfoot from Onward

• Luca, Alberto, and Guila from Luca

• Mei and Ming Lee from Turning Red

• Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc.

• Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story

• and many, many more

For us, the rare character meet and greets are our favorite aspect of these special events. It’s why we attend Oogie Boogie Bash every year and it’s why we’ll likely continue to attend Pixar Fest. Some have standard queues, while others, including Mei and Ming Lee, had huge queues. Checking the app (or with a Cast Member) about when they’ll be making their appearances and being there early is key if you want a photo with your favorites.

READ: Pixar Fest Character Locations Guide

Pixar-Themed Food and Drink Items

As we briefly discussed above, Disney has rolled out over 80 new food and drink items for this year’s Pixar Fest. Many restaurants and snack carts in both parks are participating, as well as several eateries in the Downtown Disney District.

Exclusive to Disney California Adventure are the six Pixar-themed marketplaces. You may recognize these marketplaces as they’re the same ones used during the California Food and Wine Festival, Festival of Holidays and Lunar New Year. Their names and locations are:

• The Spark, inspired by Soul

• 4*Town Favorites, inspired by Turning Red

• Gusteau’s To-Go, inspired by Ratatouille

• Portorosso Pasta, inspired by Luca

• Hanger Management, inspired by Inside Out

• Elemental Table, inspired by Elemental

The Hanger Management marketplace is located in the Club Pixar (Backlot) area of Hollywood Land while the remaining five are placed along the Performance Corridor between the main entrance to Avengers Campus and the Little Mermaid show building.

We tried several offerings at these booths and found them to be hit and miss. The Jumbo Panda Bao was the clear winner for us, especially with the accompanying chili-garlic sauce. Another favorite was the Kol Nut Whoopie Cookie Pie from Elemental Table.

The mac and cheese from Hanger Management, however, we loathed. It was an obvious move on Disney’s part to provide a safe option for picky eaters, but it was too safe of an option. The mac itself was cold and overcooked and to make matters worse, the Cheeto puffs were stale.

Outside of the marketplaces, there were several excellent Pixar Fest offerings. For starters, the “Shake 2319” sold at Schmoozies in DCA was one of the best shakes I’ve ever tasted. Also, while basic in nature, the Pixar Fest cake, sold at the Plaza Inn in Disneyland Park, was perfectly moist and had just the right frosting to cake ratio.

If you’re looking for actual food, the Bruno sandwich sold at Jolly Holiday Bakery and the Una Papas Loca Potato sold at Troubadore Tavern are both solid options. I wish I could recommend the Coco-inspired menu at Paradise Garden Grill in DCA, but it mostly fell flat for us (the sole exception being the Tres Leches Parfait).

In total, we tried 24 Pixar Fest food and drink items during our visit. If you’d like, you can read through that post to see what we do and do not recommend. No matter your palette, there’s something for everyone at Pixar Fest.

Search for Hidden Pizza Planet Trucks

I’m sure you’ve heard of hidden mickey heads, but have you ever heard of hidden Pizza Planet trucks? I’m doubtful, because it’s new for this year’s Pixar Fest. Scattered throughout the resort are creatively themed and decorated Pizza Planet trucks that do an excellent job blending in with their surroundings.

There’s no official guide book, checklist, or anything like that, but there are fifty of them for you to find. To my knowledge, they’re only in the two parks. The truck photographed above is in one of the window displays of the Emporium on Main Street. I’ve seen others in the DCA Starbucks, Mission Breakout and in Adventureland.

It’s too bad Disney didn’t offer something similar to what they do for Easter and sell people an official checklist that offers clues to help you locate all fifty trucks. If you’re successful, you’d turn it in and receive a pin or something similar. Honestly, if you want to keep the kids busy and distracted, just have them search for these trucks. They could spend an entire day on this.

Together Forever - A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular

Much like the Better Together parade at DCA, the Together Forever Pixar Nighttime Spectacular at Disneyland is a rehash of the 2018 version, with several familiar moments from Toy Story, Inside Out, Coco and The Incredibles retained, and new scenes added from Turning Red, Luca, Soul, Onward and Elemental.

As far as where to view the show from, the same rules that apply to other fireworks shows at Disneyland, also apply here. The cream-of-the-crop spot is dead-center in front of the castle. For that view, you’ll need to arrive several hours prior to showtime and loiter until cast members put the ropes up.

Our personal favorite is in between and near the end of the Main Street buildings. My reasoning is twofold, in that you still get a great view of the projections and fireworks in and around the castle, but you also get to see the projection on the Main Street buildings as well, which adds to the experience in my humble opinion.

If you watched the 9:00pm showing of Fantasmic, specifically from one of the reserved viewing areas, you can stay put and watch the fireworks from there. The music will be piped in and you’ll (somewhat) see the projections on the water walls on the Rivers of America. In my opinion, it isn’t a great spot but if you’re already there, it beats having to fight your way through the crowds to the Main Street.

The show happens nightly at 9:30pm but due to local noise ordnances, the fireworks aspect of the show occurs only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. During the week the show will be featured with projections only. Either way, you’re in for a great show.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, be sure to stay privy to ride closures with my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar. Furthermore, don’t get caught off guard by non-availability at your favorite restaurant by reading my 2024 Disneyland Dining Guide and 10 Best Disneyland Tips: Dining. Also, learn about the recent changes to Disney’s DAS program here. Finally, for great savings on tickets and vacation packages to Disneyland, Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line, visit my partners at Get Away Today.

The 24 Pixar Fest Foodie Offerings We Tried (+ Our Recommendations)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

A couple of months ago, Disney released the 2024 Pixar Fest Foodie Guide and we were floored by how many items would be offered throughout the event. Over 80 new and returning treats are now available for guests to try.

The last Pixar Fest took place in 2018, and it didn’t have nearly the amount of food and drink that are being presented this year. I asked various cast members around the resort if Disney is trying to make Pixar Fest an annual foodie festival of sorts and while no one could (or would) say for sure, the general consensus was learning towards a “yes”.

No complaints here. Personally, we love the food festivals DCA puts on every year, especially Food and Wine Festival. Combine our love of trying new foods with our resounding millennial-loyalty to the Pixar characters we grew up with and Disney has a recipe for success.

There was no way we were going to be able to try everything in the three days we were there (we were also trying Season of the Force offerings as well), but we gave it our best. In total, we tried 24 Pixar Fest offerings in three days. Some were great, some were just ok and some were downright bad. In this list, we’re going to show you what we tried and what we liked/didn’t like about them, along with information such as price, where they’re sold, etc.

Finally, they’re in no particular order. Let’s get into it.

1) Panda Apocalypse

Location: 4*Town Favorites Marketplace (Performance Corridor)

Price: $6.75

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 7

This dessert features several layers of chocolate chunk brownie and New York-style cheesecake, finished with a topping of orange and red cream cheese frosting. It is inspired by Mei Lee’s (Turning Red) favorite fictional band, 4*Town.

The brownie portion was moist, not dry in the slightest. However, it was mostly all frosting. Additionally, the sweetness from the frosting overtook the hearty-ness of the brownie instead of complimenting it. All in all, it was good, but it isn’t something I would plan a visit to park around.

2) H2O-Rita

Location: Elemental Table (Performance Corridor)

Price: $17.00

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 8

The H2O-Rita is one of two cocktails offered at Elemental Table. It’s made with a tequila base and mixed with blue curacoa syrup, lychee nectar, yuja puree, lime juice and garnished with a rock candy stick. Essentially, it tasted like a blue-raspberry margarita.

Admittedly, the serving size took me by surprise (in a good way) as I was expecting a much smaller cup. The price tag is on par with most cocktails at the Disneyland Resort (maybe a buck or two cheaper, actually).

The rock candy stick gives the drink “gram” appeal, but doesn’t add much of anything to the flavor profile. The drink isn’t too strong, leading me to believe that there isn’t much tequila in it. If you enjoy margaritas, though, you’ll certainly enjoy this.

3) Ramon Nachos

Location: Studio Catering Co. in the Backlot

Price: $12.99

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 10

It’s an interesting choice on Disney’s part to omit the possessive from Ramon Nachos (for example, Ramon’s Nachos), but that’s just a nit-picky thing on my part that 99.99% of the remaining population cares nothing about. That’s literally my only “complaint” as these nachos were absolutely on-point.

The chips seem to be the same ones used in the Lobster/Barbacoa Nachos at Lamplight Lounge. They’re thick, crispy, salted just enough, and don’t sog under the pressure of its toppings. Speaking of toppings, they include grilled chicken, queso blanco, refried beans, pico de gallo, salsa verde, cotija, serrano peppers and radishes.

Again, no complaints here. The chicken had a smokey flavor profile and wasn’t dry. The flavor combination of the queso, salsa verde, and serrano peppers was astonishing. If I had to list a negative, it would be the amount of queso. There wasn’t much and I wish there was more. That’s it, though. Highly recommend.

4) Nobody Like U Cooler (non-alcoholic)

Location: 4*Town Favorites Marketplace (Performance Corridor)

Price: $7.50

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 9

The Nobody Like U Cooler is the sole drink offering at the Turning Red marketplace and to me, was the clear winner of all the drinks we tried (including the cocktails). It is made with a Joffrey’s Raspberry Rose Tea base, finished with white cranberry, lime & orange juices and cherry syrup, garnished with an orange wedge gummy.

Obviously, this drink is sweet, fruity and is essentially candy in liquid form. I didn’t find it offensively sweet, though, and orange is the flavor that comes through prominently. That tells me it’s the citrus saving this drink from being too sweet.

5) Sea Monster Friends Parfait

Location: Jolly Holiday Bakery (Disneyland)

Price: $6.79

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 6

The Sea Monster Friends Parfait sold at Jolly Holiday Bakery is layered with graham cracker crumbs, mascarpone cheesecake, berry blue gelatin and blue chantilly topped with an edible Luca chocolate decoration.

We were fairly split on this one, as Kisha felt the flavor of the gelatin grossly overpowered the dessert (and had a bad taste to begin with). While I didn’t mind it too much, I can agree that it definitely overpowers the rest of the ingredients.

The cheesecake and graham crack crust alone, without the gelatin, worked well together and unlike other parfaits we had during Pixar Fest, the crust wasn’t soggy and had an actual crunch to it. However, once you add the gelatin to the mix, it definitely takes it down a few notches.

6) 2319 Shake

Location: Schmoozies! (DCA)

Price: $9.79

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 9

The 2319 Shake was one of our favorites from Pixar Fest. If you don’t know what “2319” is, it was the code used in the animated film Monsters Inc. whenever a human-related contamination was found. One of the scarers in the film, George Sanderson, was often the ill-fated victim of this.

The shake is sold at Schmoozies, which is located in Hollywood Land near the entrance to the Backlot. It’s a shake made with orange, vanilla, guava and pineapple, topped with shaved coconut, whipped cream and garnished with an orange cone.

Much like most shakes from Schmoozies, it’s huge! Both of us split one and it was still too much. If you’re coming with a group of three to four, there would plenty for everyone to get multiple spoon fulls. That helps to stomach the nearly ten dollar price tag. Again, we loved this one and wouldn’t hesitate to get it again.

7) Joyful Mac and Cheese

Location: Hanger Management marketplace (Backlot)

Price: $8.50

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 3

This is where things take a turn for the worst. If you read my initial post about the then-upcoming Pixar-themed marketplaces, I mentioned how I felt the offerings at the Hanger Management booth were, at best, underwhelming and lazy. I get it, Disney needed to satisfy picky eaters, but this, in my opinion, was too dumbed down.

I knew I would hate it, but for research purposes, we tried the Joyful Mac and Cheese. We almost ordered the half and half dish, which featured a split plate of the Joyful and Angry Macs, but we just couldn’t stomach the idea of eating the red-dye loaded Angry Mac.

In short, the Joyful Mac and Cheese was a slight step up from its boxed counterpart, but a massive step down from mac dishes you’ll find throughout the resort (such as the Truffle Mac & Cheese at Hearthstone Lounge). Our dish, in particular, was cold, the Cheeto puffs were stale and the macaroni was overcooked. We both felt it would’ve been slightly better had the puffs been crushed and baked into the mac.

Needless to say, it’s a hard pass for us. If there’s an individual in your family (or perhaps it’s you) who is a picky eater, this is their safe option. Outside of that, I’m going to recommend staying far away from these dishes as there are other, far superior options throughout the resort.

8) Pixar Fest Cake

Location: Plaza Inn (Disneyland)

Price: $9.29

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 7

This cake is the flagship offering during Pixar Fest and is one of the only returning items from the 2018 event. As such, we had to try it. It’s sold at Plaza Inn which is located adjacent to the entrance to Tomorrowland in the hub. You cannot mobile order anything here, but the cake slices are readily available near each cash register.

We were happily surprised by how moist the cake was, especially considering how mass-produced it is. The red, yellow, and blue colors you see are simply food coloring to give it that Pixar flare and thus, do not add any flavor to it. The frosting was sweet, as you’d expect, but didn’t overpower as it was layered evenly with the cakes.

It isn’t something I would go out of my way to get, but if I found myself near Plaza Inn and wanted a slice of cake, the Pixar Fest Cake fits the bill nicely. I will say that the price point is way too high for what is essentially a basic (albeit good) slice of cake.

9) Pineapple Coconut Float

Location: Tropical Hideaway (Disneyland)

Price: $9.29

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 8.5

This was another favorite treat of ours. It’s sold at Tropical Hideaway in Adventureland and is inspired by the Pixar short film, “Lava”. It is made with Dole Whip pineapple soft serve, blue Dole pineapple-coconut juice, strawberry “lava” (syrup) and topped with a turtle gummy.

I’m not a huge fan of coconut, so I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t like it but honestly, the coconut didn’t come through as much as I thought it would. It actually helped to balance out the sweetness from the pineapple and strawberry syrup nicely.

Again, this is another item I feel is priced too high, even by Disney standards, but it’s definitely splittable between two people. Additionally, this location doesn’t offer mobile order and does not give Magic Key discounts. Despite the lack of competition from mobile order, the line here can get long. So plan to arrive close to opening (11am) if you want to avoid that.

10) Una Papa Loca!

Location: Troubadour Tavern (Disneyland)

Price: $10.49

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 7.5

The Una Papa Loca! is one of two baked potato “snacks” offered at Troubadore Tavern during Pixar Fest. If you’re unaware, Troubadore Tavern is a walk-up style snack stand situated near the entrance of Fantasyland Theatre.

The baked potato is topped with various ingredients, including chicken, cheese, avocado salsa, sour cream, onion, cilantro and spiced corn chip crumble. In case you’re wondering, those “spiced corn chips” were essentially crumbled up hot Cheetos.

Our only real complaint was the potato itself could’ve used seasoning as we felt there wasn’t any. They seemed to heavily rely on the toppings providing all the flavor, which they did. However, the potato having an appropriate amount of seasoning would’ve made this decent dish a great one.

11) Mood Stabilizer Cocktail

Location: Hanger Management marketplace (DCA - Backlot)

Price: $17.00

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 6

This Pixar version of a Makers Mule was decent enough. Again, the size of the cup took me by surprise as Disney doesn’t usually serve cocktails in cups this big, but I’m not complaining. The watermelon came through in a big way, making this a rather refreshing drink on a hot day. Which is something you usually don’t associate with a bourbon-based drink.

12) Mr. Potato Head Churro

Location: Churro cart near Goofy’s Sky School (DCA)

Price: $7.25

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 10

The Mr. Potato Head churro is sold at the churro cart near the stand-by entrance to Goofy’s Sky School in Paradise Gardens. This is one of three special churros offered for Pixar Fest and was he hands-down winner of the three.

There’s literally nothing I didn’t like about it, except maybe there was a tad too much chocolate sauce used on mine. As you can see in the photo above, my churro was practically swimming in it.

The saltiness from the chips (Lays, essentially) blended in perfect harmony with the sweetness of the churro and chocolate. I went into this wanting to dislike it but one bite in and I was hooked. I would order this again and again.

READ: Pixar Fest Character Locations Guide

13) Firetown Mac & Cheese Bites

Location: Troubadore Tavern (Disneyland)

Price: $11.49

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 8

These mac and cheese bites were getting a lot of hate online, so I was eager to try them for myself as I’m known to indulge on these whenever I see them on a restaurant’s appetizer menu. To make them even more appealing, Disney used gouda cheese (which I love) and tossed them in a four-chili rub to give them a spicy kick.

I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to spice, but I found these to be tolerable. If you’re a connoisseur of all things spicy, you may even find these not spicy at all. To me, they are more about the flavor of spice rather than containing an actual heat.

My only two complaints were the price and the lack of an accompanying dipping sauce, which I feel it needed. I ordered a side of BBQ sauce with mine, but it doesn’t come with the dish on its own. Offering a chili-spiced ranch or even a jalapeño-queso dip would’ve been fantastic.

14) Mixed Emotions Popcorn

Location: Troubadour Tavern (Disneyland)

Price: $8.79

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 8.5

This popcorn has every reason to be hated but to be honest, we thoroughly enjoyed it. In the box, you’re given a mixture of ube-flavored popcorn, M&M chocolate candies, freeze-dried skittles and pretzel sticks. I never would’ve imagined that these four ingredients would work so well with one another, but they do.

For the price, you’re given a rather decent portion size. The popcorn is served in a box with theming to the original opening-day lands of Disneyland; Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. I wish it was served in a bag instead of a box, though, as that would’ve been easier to stash in my backpack, but I digress.

15) Red Panda Bao

Location: 4*Town Favorites marketplace (DCA - Performance Corridor)

Price: $9.00

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 6 (7 with the sauce)

The Red Panda Bao is a jumbo vegetable and pork stuffed bao served with a side of chili-garlic dipping sauce. It takes inspiration from Mei Lee, the main character in Turning Red, who turns into a giant red panda when she experiences strong emotions.

The bun was cooked to perfection, however, we felt there should’ve been more stuffing inside considering this is being billed as a “jumbo” bao. Additionally, the pork was mostly flavorless. However, once you add that chili-sauce to the mix, it kicks it up a couple notches. It’s spicy, but not unbearably so. Without the sauce, it’s a fairly basic bao not worth going out of your way for.

16) Kol Nut Cookie Whoopie Pie

Location: Elemental Table marketplace (DCA - Performance Corridor)

Price: $7.00

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 8.5

This dessert sold at the Elemental Table marketplace takes inspiration from the rocks from Pixar’s sleeper hit, Elemental. It’s two cake cookies baked with cocoa powder, with cream cheese frosting sandwiched between and topped with crushed cinnamon candies.

All told, this dessert was delicious. The hero is the creamy frosting in the middle, but the cake cookies were perfectly moist with the cinnamon candies on the top cookie giving it a “burnt” texture, without actually being burnt. It was an all around great dessert option.

17) Lotso Berry Lemonade

Location: Troubadour Tavern (Disneyland)

Price: $9.99

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 6.5

The Lotso Berry Lemonade is made with strawberry-flavored lemonade with a sweet cream topper and “garnished” with an Outshine strawberry fruit bar. Yes, you get a whole ice cream bar included with your lemonade.

This drink is practically liquid sugar and is delicious, but only in small doses. Here’s a tip, use the ice cream bar as a stir-stick to mix the lemonade and the sweet cream together. It gives it a thicker consistency and ups the ante on the overall flavor.

18) Blackberry Churro

Location: Tomorrowland Churro Cart (Disneyland)

Price: $7.25

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 1

I never thought I would be giving a Disneyland churro such a low rating but for us, this blackberry-flavored churro was a miss. While we all know the flavoring for the churros is often artificial, Disney usually does a better job at hiding the taste. That wasn’t the case here, as it had “artificial” written all over it.

The banana-strawberry dipping sauce didn’t help matters, as it wasn’t anything to write home about either. All told, there was nothing redeeming about this churro for us. For our money, we’ll stick with the traditional churro or head across the esplanade to pick up the above-mentioned Mr. Potato Head churro.

19) Carnitas Wet Burrito

Location: Paradise Gardens Grill (DCA)

Price: $13.99

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 6

The Carnitas Wet Burrito served at Paradise Gardens Grill is from the eatery’s special Coco-inspired menu during Pixar Fest. For me, it falls under the category of didn’t hate it, but didn’t love it either. It was simply ok. The filling inside the burrito was decent, but I felt the carnitas could’ve used more and/or better seasoning.

The tortilla itself is really where it fell apart for me. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been spoiled with fantastic Mexican food, but I found the tortilla to be doughy and flat in flavor. If there was an option to make this dish a burrito bowl, I would likely rate it much higher.

20) Multi-Colored (Sulley) Churro

Location: Hollywood Land Churro Cart (DCA)

Price: $7.25

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 5

The Multicolored Churro (or what I affectionately refer to as the, “Sulley” churro) is sold at the Hollywood Land churro cart. Sometimes the cart is placed in the Backlot and other times it’s parked near the entrance of the Backlot.

This churro is one of three Pixar-themed churros offered during Pixar Fest and to be perfectly honest, it was only mildly better than the blackberry version discussed above. The flavor from the white-cherry drizzle comes through in a big way and distracts from the churro. If you like artificial white-cherry, you’ll love this.

21) “Adventure is Out There” Cold Brew

Location: Troubadour Tavern (Disneyland)

Price: $6.79

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 9

The “Adventure is Out There” cold brew is the final Pixar Fest-themed treat we tried at Troubadour Tavern. It’s made with dark chocolate cold brew with a butterscotch cream topper and garnished with confetti quins and a wafer cookie.

We all know the running joke about Disneyland and their cold brews. My personal favorite (and the only one worth getting more than once) is the Black Caf at Docking Bay 7. This cold brew, however, was exceptional and came extraordinarily close to claiming that title. This needs to stay on the regular menu once Pixar Fest concludes.

22) Chile Verde Chicken Flautas

Location: Paradise Gardens Grill (DCA)

Price: $13.99

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 6

This dish is also from the Coco-inspired menu at Paradise Gardens Grill and much like the burrito discussed above, was also in a gray area in terms of how we liked it. Reason being is the chicken inside the flautas was flavorless with seemingly no seasoning at all. Disney relied solely on the toppings to provide all the flavor. Additionally, the accompanying refried beans tasted like they came out of a can.

23) Silenzio Bruno! Sandwich

Location: Jolly Holiday Bakery (Disneyland)

Price: $14.99

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 9

The Silenzio Bruno! sandwich is served at Jolly Holiday Bakery located near the entrance to Adventureland in the hub. It’s a cold sandwich on an Italian roll filled with chopped ham, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, pickled onion and pepperoncini with Italian dressing and served with house-made potato chips.

Kisha reports that the sandwich is the perfect meal on a hot day. It isn’t overly dressed, contains the perfect amount of filling (not too much or too less of a certain ingredient) and the bread itself seemed hallowed as to not contain too much bread, which is a common issue with sandwiches.

24) Red Velvet Tres Leches Parfait

Location: Paradise Gardens Grill (DCA)

Price: $7.49

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes (does get taken off mobile order from time to time)

Rating (out of 10): 9.5

The Red Velvet Tres Leches Parfait was probably the most delicious dessert out of everything we tried. It’s served at Paradise Gardens Grill and is layered with a pink cinnamon mousse, churro crunch, red velvet cake and orange mousse, garnished with a chocolate skull decoration.

All the flavors of this parfait came together so well that it was hard to put down. We both regretted not getting our own. So why did I give it 9.5 and not 10? The churro crunch in the middle had no crunch to it at all, which was a bit of a let down. Had it been crunchy as advertised, this parfait would’ve exceeded a 10.

Planning a Disneyland vacation? If so, be sure to consult my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar to stay on top of ride closures. Also, learn about the different aspects of dining, such as mobile order and advance dining reservations, by reading my 2024 Disneyland Dining Guide. Furthermore, learn about the recent changes to Disney’s DAS program here. Finally, for great pricing on Disneyland, Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line vacation packages, visit my partners at Get Away Today (use code “INKED10” for $10 off your purchase).

Oogie Boogie Bash 2024: Ticket Prices, Dates and What to Expect

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

While we already knew that Oogie Boogie Bash would be making a return in 2024, Disney recently released additional information about this year’s event during the Halfway to Halloween celebration.

If you don’t know what Oogie Boogie Bash is, it’s an annual after-hours, separate ticketed event held at Disney California Adventure on select nights throughout the Halloween season. It’s different than normal theme park Halloween events, as it’s more about the spirit of Halloween rather than the scares.

It started back in 2019 as the successor to Mickey’s Not-so-Scary Halloween Party as a way to beef up the crowds at DCA. The gamble worked, as many would argue that Oogie Boogie Bash has surpassed its predecessor in nearly every way.

In this post, we’re going to discuss several topics pertaining to Oogie Boogie, such as 2024 event dates, ticket prices, when tickets go on sale and some frequently asked questions about the event. Let’s get into it.

Oogie Boogie Bash 2024 Dates and Ticket Prices

This year, Disney’s Halloween season at the resort kicks off on August 23. In prior years, Halloween didn’t begin at Disneyland until the first or second week of September. Consequently, as I previously predicted, Oogie Boogie Bash will expand with event dates in August.

There are a total of 27 event nights this year, which is surprising as that’s only two more than last year. Considering the immense popularity of the event (evident by it’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it ticket sales), I have to believe that Disney could’ve held thirty or more parties.

Additionally, there’s no word on if they’ll be a D23-specific night like there was in 2022. I doubt this is something they would intentionally hold back so since they haven’t announced it, it’s safe to assume it isn’t happening. I’ll be sure to update if that changes.

In 2024, Oogie Boogie Bash dates are:

August

• Sunday, Aug. 25

• Tuesday, Aug. 27

• Thursday, Aug. 29

September

• Tuesday, Sept. 3

• Tuesday, Sept. 10

• Thursday, Sept. 12

• Sunday, Sept. 15

• Tuesday, Sept. 17

• Thursday, Sept. 19

• Sunday, Sept. 22

• Tuesday, Sept. 24

• Thursday, Sept. 26

• Sunday, Sept. 29

October

• Tuesday, Oct. 1

• Thursday, Oct. 3

• Sunday, Oct. 6

• Tuesday, Oct. 8

• Thursday, Oct. 10

• Sunday, Oct. 13

• Tuesday, Oct. 15

• Thursday, Oct. 17

• Sunday, Oct. 20

• Tuesday, Oct. 22

• Thursday, Oct. 24

• Sunday, Oct. 27

• Tuesday, Oct. 29

• Thursday, Oct. 31

Disney hasn’t released date-specific pricing just yet, but did announce a price range of $134 - $189, which is the exact price range as last year. This is interesting as it marks the first time since the party’s inception that there wasn’t a price increase.

That was another prediction of mine, that Disney would forego a price increase in favor of expanding the number of nights since they’re now starting in August. That’s another reason why I’m baffled that they didn’t add more nights to the calendar.

I’ll be sure to update this post once date-specific pricing is released but generally, you can expect the price to be higher on Friday and Saturday event nights and even higher as Halloween approaches. The Halloween night event almost always sells out first and is always at the highest price point.

Furthermore, I’m predicting that three events in August will be at or near the low end of the price range. My reasoning for this belief is two-fold. For one, this is the inaugural year for Disneyland’s early start to Halloween and two, that final week or so in August is almost always slow (crowd-wise). Setting the price at the lower end of the spectrum for those dates would certainly entice more guests to visit.

When Do Oogie Boogie Bash 2024 Tickets Go On Sale?

Unfortunately, Disney made no mention as to when Oogie Boogie Bash tickets would go on sale, other than stating they would do so, “in the coming weeks”. In 2023, tickets went on sale in late June, but that was when the halfway mark to the Halloween season was closer to June. Since it’s now in early May, I would predict sales dates in late May.

As has been the case with After Dark events this year, definitely expect to see Magic Key holders to get first crack at tickets with exclusive sales dates. Disney could even hold an Inspire Key-only sales date, much like they did with the Star Wars Nite event.

As stated above, there’s not yet been any mention of a D23 night. If they do decide to add one, you would need to be a member of D23 in order to purchase tickets. If you’re not a D23 member but you know someone who is, you’ll be able to attend the party with them provided they’ve purchased the tickets.

Be wary of uninformed opinions of how quickly Oogie Boogie Bash tickets will or will not sell out. Many will point to how long it took for tickets to the bloated amount of Star Wars Nites to sell out. Honestly, they’re not entirely wrong, but Star Wars Nites are not Oogie Boogie nights. Not by a long shot. While many of the offerings during Oogie Boogie events remain the same year after year, Disney changes them up just enough to remain appealing.

Typically, one or two new villains are added to line-up of treat trails, which prove to be immensely popular with event-goers. Admittedly, the parade could use a refresh, but that’s a conversation for another post. Villains Grove is a major attraction and the chance to see even more rare characters entices more and more guests to attend.

To sum it up, don’t slack on tickets or count on them not selling out quickly. They likely will. So if you’re intent on attending Oogie Boogie Bash this year, be ready to go on the first available sales date you can participate in.

Same-Day Admission to DCA with Oogie Boogie Bash Tickets

Many ask what time do Oogie Boogie Bash events start and if they could get into the park early with those tickets. The event officially begins at 6pm and goes until 11pm but with your ticket, you can actually get into DCA earlier than that.

Guests with tickets to Oogie Boogie Bash can enter Disney California Adventure as early as 3pm. That’s three additional hours of park time. Many use this time to research the park guide, get in an early dinner, or camp out at the most popular event offerings to be the first in line.

If you do arrive early, you can check in and receive your event wristband and treat bag near the main entrance to Avengers Campus. If you arrive closer to the event start time, though, you’ll receive them the gate in which you entered.

Additionally, there’s no need to worry about reservations as your ticket is your reservation (remember those simple days?). Aside from that, if you want to spend time in the park prior to 3pm, you’ll need a regular park ticket or Magic Key, in addition to a reservation.

What to Expect at Oogie Boogie Bash

If you’ve never attended Oogie Boogie Bash before, you should know that it isn’t scary like Knott’s Scary Farm or Halloween Horror Nights at Universal. The mood at Oogie Boogie is generally lite, and more about the spirit and celebration of Halloween than the scares. If you have littles, they shouldn’t have any issues as far as being scared is concerned.

We don’t yet know what the exact offerings will be during Oogie Boogie Bash 2024, as Disney doesn’t release that information until the event gets closer. As stated above, the main offerings generally remain the same every year, with just a few changes or additions. That said, I can fill you in on what will likely be offered with a decently high degree of certainty.

Villains Grove

You can definitely expect to see Villains Grove return to the event. Each year, Redwood Creek Challenge is transformed into a ethereal world of Disney villains. If you’ve never experienced it, it’s a walk-through attraction featuring several scenes with projection, lighting, and shadow effects, in addition to musical elements, themed after many of Disney’s most beloved villains, such as Scar and the Queen of Hearts.

It’s the attraction that consistently has the longest queue during the event and many would argue that it’s worth the price of admission all its own, so be sure not to miss it. While it can always change, scenes from past events included:

• Frollo’s Sanctuary

• Maleficient

• Queen of Hearts’ Garden.

• Scar’s Elephant Graveyard

• Dr. Facilier’s Friends on the Other Side

• The Queen’s Lightning Forest

• Home of the Wisps

Treat Trails Featuring Disney Villains

Another villain offering during Oogie Boogie Bash are the treat trails that feature several, rarely-seen Disney villains. These treat trails are not your typical character meet and greets, as cast members entice guests to keep moving through the queue with handfuls of candy.

The villains will interact with guests and periodically stop to pose for photos, but you won’t be able to take a selfie or group picture with them. This keeps the line flowing, ensuring short wait times. At last year’s event, we didn’t wait longer than ten minutes to see each one. A few examples of villains from past parties include:

• Ernesto de la Cruz (Coco)

• Judge Doom (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?)

• Sid (Toy Story)

• Cruella (live-action version)

• Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty)

• Mother Gothel (Tangled)

• Oogie Boogie (Nightmare Before Christmas)

Frightfully Fun Parade

The Frightfully Fun parade is exclusive to the event and runs twice nightly at 7:50pm and 10:05pm, respectively. The first showing begins in Paradise Gardens, runs up through the Performance Corridor, then down Hollywood Land, before concluding near Mission Breakout. The second showing runs in the opposite order.

It’s a relatively short parade and it isn’t the greatest thing Disney has ever produced, but it’s fun and fine for what it is. The Headless Horseman kicks off the parade, followed by multiple villains and Halloween-themed floats, including those from Nightmare Before Christmas and the Haunted Mansion. Mickey and Minnie Mouse also make an appearance, of course.

You can add to the experience by purchasing a dining package with reserved viewing at Wine Country Trattoria or a dessert party with exclusive seating along the parade route in front of Sonoma Terrace, along the Performance Corridor. The viewing area of the latter option is in front of Grizzly Peak, just across from the main entrance to Avengers Campus.

Halloween-Themed Food and Drinks

While the Halloween season in general brings about several specially-themed Halloween treats throughout both parks, Disney will also reserve a handful that are exclusive to Oogie Boogie Bash attendees.

These special offerings include everything from tasty desserts and full-blown entrees to bagged candy and cocktails. As stated above, Wine Country Trattoria offers a special three-course meal as part of a dining package for the parade and several other locations, including Studio Catering Cart and Schmoozies, get in on the action as well.

These are the main offerings during Oogie Boogie Bash, but there are plenty of others as well. In addition to the Villain Treat Trails, you’ll also experience several traditional character meet and greets, unlimited trick or treating, ride attractions with low to no wait times and more.

Speaking honestly, I love the existing offerings, but I wish Disney would offer just a bit more. Personally, I would love to see a special dining experience with ultra-rare characters. Imagine enjoying a three or four course meal at Carthay Circle while the Seven Dwarfs make their way around the room. Or the villains of Pixar greeting you while dining at Lamplight Lounge. The possibilities are truly endless.

Oogie Boogie Bash Frequent Questions

How quickly do Oogie Boogie Bash tickets sell out?

In prior years, tickets sold out either the same day or by the next day. In other words, they go super quick. Be sure to be on-the-ball once Disney announces the on-sale date.

Are the attractions open during Oogie Boogie Bash?

As long as they’re not down for refurbishment, yes, most or all attractions are open during the event. Often with little to no wait times.

Does DAS work during Oogie Boogie Bash?

Yes and no. The only attraction that offers DAS during Oogie Boogie Bash is Villains Grove. Since there aren’t as many people in the park during the event, the rides have little to no wait times, making DAS mostly unnecessary. To read about the recent changes to DAS, go here.

Does Genie Plus work during Oogie Boogie Bash?

No. If you’ve purchased Genie Plus during normal park hours, it will no longer work once the event begins. Additionally, you cannot purchase it during the event.

Is the park crowded during Oogie Boogie Bash?

Busy is a relative term and highly depends on you perceive it. From my perspective, the crowd levels are nowhere near like they are during the day. That said, the queues at the most popular offerings, such as Villains Grove and certain character experiences, can experience long wait times.

Are costumes allowed at Oogie Boogie Bash?

Yes! Both children and adults alike can dress in a Halloween costume for the event. There are a few rules, however. They are:

• Guests who dress like Disney characters cannot pose for pictures or sign autographs

• Costumes cannot have sharp or pointed objects or material

• No part of the costume can drag on the ground

• Costumes that surround or cover the entire body may not be allowed

• Costumes must not be violent, objectionable, or offensive

• They may not contain objects that could be construed as weapons

Which entrance can I use?

All three entrances into DCA can used to access the gate. All guests can utilize the main gate and the Grand Californian entrance, and guests who’re registered at the Pixar Place Hotel may use their exclusive entrance as well.

Is there a World of Color showing during Oogie Boogie Bash?

While there was a villains-themed World of Color shown during the first Oogie Boogie Bash, it has not made a return since. This could always change in 2024, though.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, be sure to consult my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar for information on current and upcoming ride closures. If you only have one day to spend, read Disneyland in One Day: 8 Tips to Maximize Your Time. Additionally, see my 2024 Disneyland Halloween Guide. Finally, for great prices on Disneyland tickets and vacation packages to just about anywhere, visit my friends at Get Away Today.

An Overview of the Six Pixar-Themed Marketplaces at Pixar Fest

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

When Disney released details of what to expect during Pixar Fest in 2024, one of the offerings mentioned were several Pixar-themed marketplaces in the Hollywood Backlot area. If you’ve ever attended a Food and Wine Festival or Lunar New Year, you’d know exactly what those “marketplaces” are.

If you don’t know, they’re essentially themed food booths with certain elements having to do with whichever festival is taking place. For example, during Food and Wine, one of the marketplaces was called “Garlic Kissed” and featured food items related to - you guessed it - garlic.

They’ve proven to be insanely popular, so it only made sense for Disney to theme after some of Pixar’s most beloved films and use them to elevate the offerings during Pixar Fest.

In this post, we’re going to take a look at the names of these marketplaces, which film they’re themed after, and images and descriptions of what each one is going to offer. Unfortunately, I can confirm that there will not be a Sip and Savor Pass for sale during this event.

1) “The Spark” - Inspired by Soul

Inspired by Pixar’s hit film Soul, “The Spark” will offer several brand new food and cocktail offerings, in addition to an exhaustive amount of beers and seltzers. The booth’s sole entree offering is the Supper Club Chicken & Potato Waffles with peach cobbler sauce and cinnamon-herb crumble. For dessert is the Half Note Jazz Cake which, by the website’s own admission, is essentially a basic red velvet cake.

The Great Beyond, one of two crafted cocktails at this booth, is made with gin, maraschino liquor, violet & blue curacoa syrups, lemon juice and pear nectar. The second cocktail, SPARK-ler, seems like it’ll be on the sweeter side with a concoction of varying syrups including mango, pineapple and cotton candy.

2) 4Town Fav*4*ites - Inspired by “Turning Red”

The Turning Red marketplace is the one I’m most looking forward to, as all of the offerings look stellar! First, the Red Panda Bao is a jumbo bao stuffed with vegetables, pork and a chili-garlic sauce. The word “jumbo” in the description indicates a single bao per purchase, though a sizable one.

You can follow this up with the Panda Apocalypse, a pan-baked, chocolate-layered brownie and New York-style cheesecake topped with orange and red cream cheese frosting. Finally, wash it all down with the Nobody Like U Cooler, a non-alcoholic beverage made with Joffrey’s Raspberry Rose Tea, white cranberry, lime & orange juices and cherry syrup, garnished with an orange wedge gummy.

3) Gusteau’s To-Go inspired by “Ratatouille”

It would’ve been criminal for Disney to feature Pixar-themed marketplaces at Pixar Fest and not include the most food-relatable IP in their portfolio. After all, Ratatouille’s entire premise was centered around a rat who loved to cook.

Gusteau’s To-Go’s criminally small menu consists of the Ratatouille Pizzetta topped with mozzarella, eggplant, squash, zucchini, a drizzle of tomato sauce, and a wedge of French camembert. The only other food offering is a macaron themed after Chef Gusteau, with creme brulee mousse and a caramel center.

The two alcoholic offerings, the Le Critique Cognac Sidecar and Little French Daiquiri, make up the only drinks on the menu, with no non-alcoholic options.

4) Portorosso Pasta inspired by “Luca”

Representing Italy, the Luca booth features only one food offering, but may be the most interesting of the bunch that has the potential to “steal the show”. It’s the Portorosso Pesto Pasta, Portorosso being the fictional Italian town where the movie is based. The dish is ribbon pasta tossed in a basil pesto with potatoes and green beans mixed in.

The non-alcoholic Sea Monster Lemonade consists of white grape juice, lemonade and peach syrup garnished with blue citrus mango jellies. Rounding out the drink offerings, the adults-only Silenzio Limoncello! has a Limoncello base with amaretto & Aperol liquors, blood orange syrup, lemonade and house-made oregano tea and garnished with micro daises.

5) Hanger Management inspired by “Inside Out” 

The Hanger Management marketplace offers a simple menu consisting of two variations of a basic macaroni and cheese dish. One of which is traditional yellow mac topped with a handful of Cheeto puffs and the other being the “angry” version topped with hot Cheetos. In all honesty, this is quite disappointing and uninspiring as it looks to be nothing more than boxed mac and cheese.

The cocktail appears to be a variation of a Maker’s Mule. It’ll have a bourbon base with watermelon liquor, candied orange & watermelon syrups, and orange & lime juices topped with ginger beer and garnished with watermelon candies.

I feel Disney dropped the ball here (the food, specifically). The food offerings are about as basic as it gets without any real creativity added whatsoever. Considering all of the mood elements featured in Inside Out, this marketplace could’ve been the stand-out with multiple incredibly creative dishes.

6) Elemental Table inspired by “Elemental”

If you’re looking for plant-based options, the Elemental marketplace is for you. Food offerings include a BBQ-spiced IMPOSSIBLE chicken dish with hot mustard sauce, pickles and charred onions, followed by the Kol Nut Whoopie Cookie Pie baked with cocoa powder and filled with cream cheese frosting and topped with crushed cinnamon candies.

The drink offerings, both of which are tequila-based, are visually stunning and will undoubtedly be popular. First is the H2O-rita made with tequila, blue curaçao syrup, lychee nectar, yuja purée and lime juice garnished with a rock candy stick. Lastly, the Exothermic Margarita consists of tequila, ancho chile liqueur, passion fruit nectar, lime & grapefruit juices and agave nectar garnished with a rock candy stick.

While there are some disappointments on the menus of the marketplaces (Hanger Management, specifically), overall, I’m looking forward to sampling the majority of them.

Of the all the cocktail offerings, the two at the Elemental marketplace are sure to be the clear stand-outs as they’re the most Insta-worthy of the bunch. As it pertains to food, I’m most looking forward to the jumbo bao at the Turning Red marketplace and the pesto pasta dish at Luca’s.

I’m going to reiterate my stance on what I believe is an epic let-down at the Hanger Management marketplace. I wish Disney would have gone the BBQ route here, offering a creative version of the classic pulled-pork sandwich with several emotions represented in different variations, or something similar.

Despite this, I’m predicting Pixar Fest will be a massive success. More and more, guests are clamoring for more “non-standard” Disney. Usually, that comes in the form of an After Dark event where in order to partake, you’d have to pay for another ticket.

Special events like Pixar Fest and Season of the Force, however, are available to all guests who hold a regular ticket or Magic Key, making it accessible for everyone to enjoy. With Pixar Fest looking like an un-official “foodie festival”, I hope to see it become a part of DCA’s annual line up of festivals. Time will tell.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, be sure to stay on top of ride closures by reading (and saving) my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar. To see all the activities taking place at Pixar Fest, read Pixar Fest 2024: 10 Things to Know. Additionally, to see the newly transformed Pixar Place Hotel, read my Tour of the Pixar Place Hotel post. Lastly, for deals on Disneyland tickets and vacation packages, see my friends at Get Away Today.

New Downtown Disney Restaurants Opening Soon (+ More Announced)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

It’s time to ready your stomachs because two new, highly anticipated restaurants are opening soon in the Downtown Disney District! Additionally, we now have word of what’s coming to the location formally occupied by Tortilla Jo’s, which has recently permanently closed.

The two upcoming restaurants (well four, technically) I’m referring to are Din Tai Fung, Paseo, Centrico and Tiendita. These eateries were announced during the parks panel presentation during the loathed 2022 D23 expo and while progress has been slow, we’re now just a month or so away from these culinary delights making their debuts.

Let’s dive into the details of these restaurants and what we know about what’s taking over Tortilla Jo’s spot. Additionally, we’ll discuss the status of a few other eateries that have been confirmed, but haven’t yet began construction.

Paseo, Centrico, and Tiendita in Downtown Disney

As recently announced by Disney Parks Blog, this three-in-one eatery will open to guests in May. No specific date was given but considering that Mother’s Day is a massively profitable weekend for restaurants, I would imagine they would push to be open by then.

These concept restaurants are being brought to the Disneyland Resort by Mexico’s first Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytan. His dishes inspire a multi-cultural journey to his homeland of Huitzuco, Mexico, with style and technique from his culinary training in France.

I took the photo above in March and as you can see, much of the infrastructure of Centrico and most parts of Paseo are already done. Since this photo, they’ve begun installing tables and decorative features, indicating that an opening date is imminent.

In Paseo, a stunning wooden staircase leads you upstairs to the main dining room and bar lined with rich tiles, woods, textures, leathers and accents that showcase Mexico’s proud culture of craftsmanship. In addition to the main dining room, there will be an extended patio offering a unique view of Downtown Disney.

A full menu hasn’t been released yet, but a few examples you can expect include elevated versions of ceviches, roasted marinated pork, lamb barbacoa and mejillones (mussels). These dishes, and more, celebrate Chef Graytan’s love of his homeland, with nods to the French culinary style.

The courtyard bar and restaurant, Centrico, will occupy the space of the former Uva Bar in the center of the walking space through Downtown Disney. Its open, airy space designed with lush greenery and wooden elements create an upscale, yet relaxing environment for guests.

Again, we haven’t seen a full menu, but elevated quesabirria, chicken enchiladas, tlayuda (an Oaxacan, pizza-like sharable), Caesar salad and an assortment of tequila-based cocktails make up a few of the featured items.

Tiendita, the third and final element to this new concept, will serve as the quick-service location, with a variety of selections such as fish tacos, roasted corn, ice cream-stuffed chocolate tacos (you read that right) and breakfast favorites such as a chorizo burrito will be served.

This is great as the resort, Downtown Disney specifically, is severely lacking in the breakfast department. It’ll be great to have an option in the morning (and a quick one, at that) for a pre-park meal. Furthermore, Tiendita will feature self-ordering kiosks instead of traditional cashiers.

Din Tai Fung and More Upcoming Downtown Disney Restaurants

The next restaurant we’ve finally received an update on, and the one I’m personally looking forward to the most, is Din Tai Fung. Much like Paseo and Centrico, we don’t have a firm opening date yet, but Disney is advertising a summer 2024 opening.

Din Tai Fung is another Michelin-level restaurant coming to the resort, with the brand being based out of Taiwan. They’re known for the house-made baos, but also feature signiture soup dumplings, wontons, noodles, steamed buns, pork chop fried rice and a variety signature, crafted cocktails.

Furthermore, we now know the highly anticipated Ponto’s Bakery will move into the space currently occupied by Earl of Sandwich, in the building adjacent to the entrance to Disney California Adventure. Earl of Sandwich is in the process of moving into a temporary location near the Star Wars Store to accommodate this move.

Presumably, the current building will be demolished to allow Ponto’s to build a custom space. Earl of Sandwich will finally get its permanent space in the west end of Downtown Disney near the guitar pick-shaped stage.

New Steakhouse and BBQ Concepts Coming to Downtown Disney

Tortilla Jo’s, a long time Downtown Disney restaurant that’s been open since 2004, recently closed its doors for good. It simply didn’t fit in with the new aesthetic Disney is going for with the new Downtown Disney. For a while, what would take its place was a mystery. Until now, that is.

While Disney remains mum on the details, we now know that a new steakhouse and bbq concept will take the place of Tortilla Jo’s. Disneyland has been without a steakhouse since the closure of Steakhouse ‘55 at the Disneyland Hotel a few years ago and the resort has never had a proper BBQ eatery, so these will undoubtedly be welcomed additions.

It’s unclear if the steakhouse will be a revitalized version of Steakhouse ‘55 or one run by a third party. The latter of which is the most likely, as Disney already has a relationship with STK Steakhouse at Disney Springs in Florida. Personally, as long as it isn’t a Ruth Chris, I’m good either way.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If you’re considering staying on property, read about our tour of the new Pixar Place Hotel. Additionally, get tips and advice on purchasing tickets by reading 10 Best Disneyland Tips: Tickets. Furthermore, stay updated on ride closures by reading and bookmarking my 2024 Attraction Refurbishment Calendar. Finally, to save money on Disneyland tickets and vacations packages, see my friends at Get Away Today.

An Overview of Disability Access Service (DAS) Changes at Disneyland

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

Recently, Disney announced changes to their Disability Access Service (DAS) that will apply to both the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. This post will focus on what these changes mean for visitors to Disneyland so if you’re planning a trip to WDW, you read more about their details here.

DAS at Disneyland began a number of years ago with the intent of providing guests with certain disabilities who cannot wait in traditional queues a more comfortable experience at the parks. This service enabled those guests and their group to skip the stand-by queues in a manner much like how Genie+ works.

Unfortunately, DAS has been wrought with abuse over the years, enabling many who really shouldn’t be using the service to cheat the system by skipping lines. This has led to many issues, the worst of which being an over-inflation of wait times in stand-by queues and Lightning Lane queues alike.

The changes go into effect at Disneyland on June 18th and were made with the intention of both making the service easier to use for those who require it and to better prevent abuse and/or misuse. In this post, I’ll discuss the details of DAS, such as who can use it, how to sign up for it, policy changes and more.

What is Disability Access Service (DAS)?

As stated above, DAS is a service offered at Disneyland that provides guests with certain disabilities who are unable to wait in traditional stand-by queues quick access to select attractions in both parks. For the most part, those disabilities include autism and other development related disorders.

Instead of waiting in stand-by queues, guests utilizing DAS and their party arrive to their selected attraction during the designated return window, similar to how Genie+ works. Upon arriving, DAS guests will use either the Lightning Lane or exit to access to the attraction, bypassing the stand-by queue.

The total wait for each attraction is comparable to the posted time for stand-by but instead of waiting there, DAS guests spend that time elsewhere that’s more comfortable, or at another attraction or show that has a tolerable wait.

If you’ve ever used Genie Plus (or its predecessor, MaxPass), this process will be familiar to you. Like Genie Plus, you may select only one attraction at a time and can only make another selection once you’ve used your current allotment or a certain amount of time has passed. Unlike Genie Plus, you can select the same attraction more than once.

So what can you do while waiting for your return time? You can spend that time exploring the park, enjoying other attractions with shorter wait times (Adventureland Treehouse for example), meet your favorite characters or take this time to enjoy a meal or snack.

When approved, your DAS eligibility is good for every day on your Disneyland ticket or up to 120-days, whichever is shorter.

Who Can and Cannot Use DAS at Disneyland?

Once the recent changes have been implemented, only guests with “hidden” disabilities such as autism or similar developmental or mobility disorders that make it difficult to impossible to wait in traditional queues will be eligible for DAS.

Another feature of the program is the ability to take strollers (if the DAS eligible guest requires it) all the way to the loading area of the attraction. Most guests must leave strollers in the designated area outside of the attraction but DAS guests are given exceptions. In order to take advantage of this, be sure to ask for a stroller tag when you sign up.

If the guest’s disability requires the use of a wheelchair or scooter, that guest will not need DAS unless there are additional elements to the disability that might require it. Otherwise, those guests should refer to the cast member at each attraction about what to do.

At most attractions in Disneyland park, this typically means accessing the attraction through the exit as stand-by queues in the older attractions aren’t ADA friendly. The modern attractions in the park, in addition to those at California Adventure, do have ADA compliant queues.

If your mobility issue prevents you from standing for long periods of time but doesn’t require the use of a wheelchair or scooter, you may be asked to bring or rent one as the solution as you may not be eligible for DAS as it’s mostly for guests with “invisible” disabilities.

Furthermore, at Disneyland, you do not need to provide proof of disability as Disney take guests at their word. However, the more details you can provide to the cast member, the more they’re able to help you. It’s best to be perfectly honest as if it’s proven a guest has lied about the disability, they’ll face a lifetime ban from both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

How to Sign Up For DAS at Disneyland

There are two ways to sign up for DAS. You either speak with a cast member on arrival at the park or online via DAS Advance up to 30-days prior to the first day of your visit. Keep in mind that starting June 18, you will no longer be able to sign up inside the park, as that service will be moved outside in the esplanade.

Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, but no matter which option you go with, the guest requiring DAS will need to be physically present. If that guest is a minor, the parent will be able to speak for them, but they’ll still need to be present as they’ll have their photo taken. Additionally, you’ll need to ensure that you have all of your tickets purchased by then.

How to Sign Up For DAS Advance

The advantages to DAS Advance are; it’ll be done in an environment the guest is comfortable with (they’re home) and as an added bonus, the cast member will assist you with making your first two attraction selections for each day of your visit. You can register to begin that process at this link.

As mentioned above, you may begin the process through DAS Advance up to thirty days, but no less than two days prior to the day of your first visit. The downfall to DAS Advance is the wait for a cast member can be long, especially in the afternoon and evening. Logging in first thing in the morning is key to avoiding a lengthy wait.

DAS Advance key info:

• Hours of availability are 9am - 8pm

• It is currently only available in the English language

Before beginning your video chat, be sure to:

• Log into your Disney account

• Review and accept the terms & conditions

• Ensure park tickets are linked together in the account

• Make sure the guest requiring DAS is physically present

Once you’ve connected with a cast member, you’ll discuss with them your needs. If approved, you’ll be able to select two DAS return times for select attractions for each day of your visit. Some of these attractions include Matterhorn Bobsleds, Big Thunder Mountain, Incredicoaster and Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission BREAKOUT.

How to Sign Up For DAS in Person

If you choose to wait until you arrive (and you’re arriving prior to June 18), make your way to guest services inside either park to inquire. At Disneyland Park guest services is at City Hall and in DCA, you’ll find it just past Oswald’s to the left, just inside the gate.

The only real advantage to this is it’s typically faster than doing it in video chat, but that could be offset if there are many others in line. People go to guest services for several reasons, not just to sign up for DAS, and there are usually only a small handful of cast members available to assist.

This could get worse starting June 18 as guests of both parks will need to go to a single location in the esplanade. A particular location hasn’t yet been announced, but it’ll likely be one or two of the unused ticket booths. For this reason, I highly recommend signing up through video chat.

How to Use DAS at the Parks

Using DAS in the parks is easy and similar in nature to Genie Plus, as you’ll book your attraction return times within the Disneyland app. You can also ask cast members stationed throughout the park to do it, but it’s much quicker through the app. To make your first selections (aside from the ones you made in the video chat) you must be scanned into the park.

One you’re in the park, open the Disneyland app and sign into your account. Scroll to the “More” option at the bottom of the main tab. Then, tap the DAS button to see available attraction selections. Note that only guests who have been approved for DAS will be able to view this.

When you arrive to the attraction for your return time, simply hold your phone or MagicBand up to the Mickey-shaped scanner to access the attraction. Keep in mind that the person who was approved for DAS must scan theirs first, followed by the rest of the group.

If you have a park hopper ticket, you will not be able make DAS selections for the other park until you have been scanned into it. For example, if you’re currently in DCA, you won’t be able to make a DAS selection for an attraction in Disneyland until you’re actually in Disneyland.

Which Rides and Attractions Work With DAS?

At Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, guests with DAS can access all attractions. Including the ones without Lightning Lanes. This is especially advantageous for DAS guests as those with Genie Plus can only access select attractions.

For example, none of the Fantasyland attractions, aside from Matterhorn Bobsleds, are included with Genie Plus. Since these attractions don’t have Lightning Lanes, you’ll likely access the ride through the exit where a cast member will scan you in. If you’re unsure, just check with a cast member.

Additionally, the attractions with Individual Lightning Lanes are also included in DAS and do not require a separate purchase. These attractions include Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance in Disneyland and Radiator Springs Racers at DCA.

If an attraction you have a return time for were to break down, you will be issued a “Multiple Experiences Pass”. Normally, this pass would only work on attractions that are on Genie Plus but with DAS, you’ll be able to use it on any attraction.

Does DAS Work During Special Events?

Generally, no, DAS does not apply to special events such as After Dark Nites and Oogie Boogie Bash. Reason being is because during these events, there are far less people in the parks than a normal day and the majority of event attendees are there for the special event’s offerings, not the rides.

As a result, the lines for attractions during these events are mostly on the short side, at most. When we attended Disney Channel Nite in March, most of the attractions were walk-ons, with Space Mountain having the worst line of the night at just twenty minutes.

The sole exception to this is the Villains Grove attraction during the annual Ooogie Boogie Bash at DCA. Though there are ways to avoid it, the queue for Villains Grove is often long, so cast members are stationed near the entrance to assist DAS approved guests.

How Many Guests Can Be in a DAS Group?

With the old policy, the general consensus was six to a group (five family members for every one DAS guest). However, it wasn’t exactly a hard and fast rule as cast members didn’t want to break groups up so essentially, your group could be as big as you wanted it to be.

As of June 18, 2024, you’ll be permitted four to a group (three family members for every one DAS guest). From what I’m hearing, this is going to be enforced much more than it used to be, but you can discuss that with the cast member during the sign up process.

While there are no guarantees, if the fifth person in your group is a child or an elderly parent, you stand a good chance of gaining an exception. Remember, Disney’s goal here is to reduce abuse of the system, so don’t count on everyone being approved if you have a large group.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, be sure to read my review of the new Pixar Place Hotel. Additionally, read up on the multiple aspects of dining with my 2024 Disneyland Dining Guide. Furthermore, learn how to save money at Disneyland by reading 10 Best Disneyland Tips: Food and Drink. Finally, to save money on Disneyland tickets and vacation packages, visit my friends at Get Away Today.

Our Tour of the Pixar Place Hotel at Disneyland

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

In 2022, Disney announced what many Disney fans were longing for since the reimagining of Paradise Pier into Pixar Pier in 2018; the loathed (I’m probably sugar-coating it a bit) Paradise Pier Hotel would receive an reimagining of its own into Pixar Place Hotel.

Unlike other Disney projects, it didn’t take long for Disney to begin the construction process on the project. Slowly but surely removing old references of its former identity and throwing in splashes of badly needed color and character (literally).

With this transformation, it was also announced that Southern California favorite Great Maple Modern American Eatery would take over the space inside the hotel once occupied by PCH Grill. Great Maple would go on to open to guests months before the grand reveal of the hotel’s refreshed identity.

Finally, in late January, 2024, the transformation was completed (sort of) and guests could now say they were staying at the first Pixar-branded hotel in the company’s extensive portfolio, and the reviews have been largely positive.

Admittedly, I initially thought this was going to be another cheap re-theme of an already cheaply re-themed, aging property, but Kisha and I recently had the opportunity to tour it and I must admit, the Imagineers did a wonderful job. They indeed redeemed what was once considered Disney’s worst hotel.

So what does the exterior and interior look like? How about the rooms? Wondering if the food at Great Maple is worth it? I answer all of these questions and more in the post below. Let’s get into it.

Pixar Place Hotel Exterior, Lobby and Great Maple Restaurant

If you are at all familiar with Paradise Pier Hotel, it wouldn’t take long for you to notice the stark difference of the new exterior. While a bit bland, the newly painted building’s eggshell white exterior is complimented by the Pixar reds, yellows and blues, beating out the building’s former uninspiring, drab look of yellows and greens by a long shot.

Additionally, branded signage has been added to the upper portions of the building on either side. At night is when the hotel’s exterior comes to life, as a newly installed lighting package illuminates the walls. I feel the street-facing portion of the building could use some additional signage to give it more character but as is, it’s a huge upgrade.

Upon entering the lobby from the hotel’s main entrance off Disneyland Drive, you’ll immediately take notice of a large scale model of Pixar’s long-time mascot Luxo Jr balancing on another iconic symbol of Pixar, the Pixar ball. Additionally, you’ll also take notice of the dozen or so color changing panels hanging above from the upper atrium.

A plethora of seating options and faux plants have been added to area, making it a nice place to hang out while you wait for check-in or for the rest of your party to arrive. Just to the right of Luxo is the hotel’s sole gift shop STOR-E, a quick-bite eatery and coffee spot called Sketch Pad Cafe, and further down the hall, Great Maple Modern American Eatery.

We had the chance to dine at Great Maple during our tour and it instantly became one of our favorites on property. Prices are a bit high, but the service was great, the food was delicious and the vibes were vibin’. If you want to read more extensively about our experience and what we ordered (including prices), you can read my review here.

Continuing with the tour, to the left of the Luxo statue is where the check-in desk, elevators and additional sitting areas are. Here is where Imagineers went wild with Pixar theming elements. Across from the check-in desk is a lounge-style seating area themed after Finding Nemo, on the walls behind the check-in desk are illuminated portraits of several Pixar characters and near the staircase is a jazz-style piano where Joe Gardner from Pixar’s Soul makes sporadic appearances.

In addition to Joe Gardner, another regular character appearance is Bing Bong from Pixar’s beloved movie Inside Out.We spotted him by the Luxo statue, but I have heard he also makes regular appearances on the pool deck for hotel guests. Don’t count on either of these characters being a permeant fixture at the hotel, as Disney will likely phase them out as the newness of the hotel dissipates (or swap them out).

One thing I noticed about the lobby was how peaceful it was in comparison to the Grand Californian’s lobby. GCH’s lobby is top-tier and my favorite, but it’s often busy as non-hotel guests from the park utilize it for mid-day park breaks, mixing with the already heavy hotel guest crowds.

Of the two, GCH definitely has the better lobby, but we were at Pixar Place in the middle of the day on a Saturday when both parks were packed and we had it largely to ourselves. Furthermore, we were in the lobby at several points of the day and aside from check-in time, there were very few people around.

Pixar Place Hotel Pool Deck

On the third-floor rooftop deck you’ll find an abundance of seating, a pool, splash pad, whirlpool and the 186-foot water slide themed after several characters from Finding Nemo. The pool area is fenced off and only accessible with a room key. Out of respect for people’s privacy, I didn’t photograph the pool area. However, Disney was kind enough to provide the above photo.

The remaining area of the rooftop deck is open to all guests, whether you’re staying at the hotel or not. Here you’ll find fire pits in the form of several Pixar characters, ample lounge-style seating and overhead lighting. With the fire pits providing warmth and the walls blocking the wind, I can see this eventually being a popular hangout space among locals.

If you plan to book, keep in mind that the pool area is fairly undersized for a Disney hotel, as compared to the Grand Californian and The Disneyland Hotel’s pools. While winter won’t be a problem, I can definitely see it being one in the summer. Especially in the afternoon when many families take a break from the parks.

Additionally, a cast member tipped to us that the pool deck is a great place to watch the evening fireworks show. During the show, the lights are dimmed and music is piped in. Even though you don’t need to be a hotel guest to access it, most people are unaware of this spot so it’s rarely ever crowded. If you just want to see the fireworks and don’t care where you watch them from, this is a solid option.

Pixar Place Hotel Rooms

Guest rooms have received a serious upgrade from their previous set-up with, you guessed it, several not-so-subtle touches of Pixar-themed decor all throughout the room. Pixar has never been known to be subtle, though, so it works with their brand identity.

Coming from someone who typically prefers hotels with the “less is more” philosophy as it pertains to room decor and color palette, I can make an exception here. If you are going to book a room at a hotel branded after Pixar, stepping into an animated multi-colored room shouldn’t come as a surprise, after-all.

Most rooms come with a pull-out sleeper couch, though in the two queen rooms pictured above, the sleeper is twin-sized whereas the king bed rooms come with a queen sized sleeper. Either one would be advantageous for families with several children, though. Additionally, one and two-bedroom suites are also available. Additional room features include:

• Tons of indirect and recessed lighting options

• A work desk with a literal (bolted down) Luxo Lamp

• Mini-fridge and coffee maker (K-cup variety)

• An abundance of USB and USB-C ports

• Storage options

• Shampoo, conditioner and body wash dispensers on the shower wall

Your view will depend upon the room you book and floor you receive. Most east facing rooms get a view of Disney California Adventure, with elements of Pixar Pier and the Cadillac Range of Cars Land highly visible. These rooms could offer an excellent vantage point of the park’s nighttime spectacular - World of Color.

West facing rooms won’t get as good of a view, as all you’ll see is the hotel’s pool and a vastness of parking spaces (for now, that is). I say this because if Disney gets their way with their DisneylandForward expansion plans, these rooms will have a prime view of whatever land they’re planning to build there (Pandora, anyone?).

For now, if you don’t book a room with a prime view of DCA, you could always utilize the elevator and get the “in between the towers” view, as pictured above, for free. Though I wouldn’t count on it being crystal clear as it seems someone forgot the “clean the elevators” element of the redesign (during our tour, anyway).

Pixar Place Hotel Nightly Rates

Like any hotel, rates at Pixar Place will vary based upon season and availability but generally, you should find Pixar Place to be a couple hundred dollars cheaper than The Disneyland Hotel and a few hundred less than the Grand Californian. I say generally because if the lower-tier rooms at either property sell out, Pixar Place will command higher prices as a result.

Furthermore, despite the official re-opening in late January, there are still many yet-to-be finished rooms unavailable to guests. They are expected to be completed later this year but in the interim, expect the dip in available inventory to inflate nightly rates.

That said, I would expect Pixar Place to fluctuate between the $350 - $600 range for a basic room with either a standard or premium view throughout the year. For club level, tack on another couple hundred, probably more once the club level lounge opens later this year.

While Pixar Place is still considered third place behind the Grand Californian and The Disneyland Hotel in terms of class, it is now at least on-par with many of the higher end good neighbor hotels with this re-branding and new amenities, which makes the price tag much more tolerable than it was previously.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, read about the changes made to Advance Dining Reservations at the resort. Additionally, read about the upcoming closure of Critter Country and what I think Disney should do with the area. Furthermore, read about what to expect during this year’s Pixar Fest here. Finally, to save money on Disneyland tickets and hotel packages, visit my preferred Disney travel agency, Get Away Today.

Visiting Disneyland in September 2024

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

Is Disneyland Crowded in September?

Historically speaking, September has always been the best time of year to visit the Disneyland Resort (well, part of it anyway). The best time, of the best time, to visit Disneyland is between the end of August and mid-September.

That timeframe is loaded with days on the low end of the crowds spectrum. Typically by Labor Day, many schools in Southern California are back in session and parents are back in the office. Since Disneyland is largely a local’s park, it sees a temporary dip in attendance in that period.

One caveat to this that could end up making a liar out of me is the fact that for the first time at Disneyland, Halloween season begins in late August. In prior years, it began in mid-September and caused a spike in crowd levels that would continue to snowball until after well Christmas.

Another wildcard this year is the upcoming Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction. The current opening timeline is being billed at, “late 2024”. However, there’s been significant progress on the attraction in the last couple months, making the possibility of a September opening a decent one.

I doubt Disney wants to open this attraction in the colder months, as wait times for water-based attractions are typically low, for obvious reasons. Disney needs Tiana’s to be a smash hit, so opening it when the temperatures are still fairly hot would be preferable as demand would surely be high.

Looking at the single-day tickets calendar, weekdays during the first two weeks are priced at the low end of the spectrum at $104. Some view this as an indicator that it’ll be a slow day, but it could potentially be a situation where you might want to utilize the, “zig while they zag”, strategy.

The reason I say that is because value-seekers will likely see that price as an opportunity to go doing those low-demand days which in turn could cause crowds to swell. Weekends surge to the $160 mark and weekdays in the latter half of the month aren’t far behind that.

Keep in mind that since locals are back in school and work, the bulk of the crowds you are going to see will be in the mid-afternoon and evening hours. If you commit to rope dropping the parks and being back at your hotel by 1:00 or 2:00pm, your opinion on how crowded it is will largely differ from someone who didn’t arrive until 5:00pm.

Something else to consider is the annual Oogie Boogie Bash party at Disney California Adventure. On Oogie Boogie nights, DCA closes early to regular ticket holders, often causing a huge migration across the esplanade to Disneyland park, causing an even bigger swell.

With Halloween beginning in August this year, this is yet another wildcard that could have an adverse effect on crowds during a traditionally slow time. As it pertains to evenings, anyway.

That said, as the month progresses and Halloween gets into more people’s minds, the crowd levels will steadily rise. Due to this, I’ll stick with my usually recommendation and say go ahead and book dates between the last week of August and mid-September.

You’re going to get all the benefits of visiting during the Halloween season with far less crowds than any other time. Do be weary of weekdays, though. As I discussed above, that $104 price tag could make weekends more favorable if you can swing the extra cost.

Anaheim Weather in September

Anaheim generally has pleasant weather in September. The humidity remains low despite day-time temperatures often exceeding 80 degrees for the majority of the month. It’s more of a dry heat, though, and generally isn’t too bad.

Night-time lows dip into the mid-sixties for the first half of September. As the month progresses towards October, it’ll get down to the low sixties while rarely going below that. Many assume that because it’s Southern California it’s always warm. That isn’t the case, so be sure to pack a hoodie.

Precipitation is nearly non-existent as September is one of the driest months in Orange County, so I definitely wouldn’t bother with packing an umbrella or rain jacket.

Overall, aside from a few unusually high temperature days, September is great month, weather-wise, to visit Disneyland.

Disneyland Resort Hotel Rates

Disney has years worth of historical crowd pattern data to go off and they’re known for maximizing profits whenever and wherever they can. One of their most profitable sectors in which to do that is nightly rates at their branded hotels.

The Disneyland Resort currently has three; the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, The Disneyland Hotel and Pixar Place Hotel. They each vary in rates and amenities, but all offer an opportunity to stay within the Disney bubble. Disney considers resort hotel guests to be the most valuable.

Hotel rates are a good indicator of expected crowd patterns for any specific period because as stated above, Disney will maximize their profits however they can. So if they’re expecting a busy week, their hotels will command high nightly rates.

The following are averages of the three resort hotels listed above. Keep in mind that if you decide to book, your average may be lower or higher than what I’m listing below. Disney prices their hotels dynamically, similar to how airlines price tickets, so they’re easily affected by demand, major area events, etc.

Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Rates: The ‘Grand’ is always priced the highest as it’s Disneyland’s luxury, high end resort. For a standard view room, the average rate in September is $761.24. For a club level room with the same view, the rate spikes to $1,351.31.

The Disneyland Hotel Rates: This is Disneyland’s original hotel (though there isn’t much of the actual original hotel remaining) and is considered their mid-range offering. For a standard view room, September’s average rate is $588.90 and for a club level room of the same view, you’re looking at $987.45. For a deluxe studio in the Discovery (Villas) Tower, it’s $680.99 per night.

Pixar Place Hotel Rates: Pixar Place is Disneyland’s newest(ish) hotel offering, recently completing it’s years long transformation from its previous Paradise Pier Hotel brand. For a standard view room, you’re looking at a nightly rate of $481.25 and $692.25 for club level.

Disney is definitely trying to entice people to stay on-property as the rates for September are indeed lower than they were in July or August. You may think that’s obvious since those are summer months but in recent years the holiday season has rivaled summer as the resort’s busiest time of year.

After breaking up the averages between the first and second half of September, the average rates are higher in the latter half than they are in the first. That’s a huge indicator to me that, despite the early kick-off of Halloween at the resort, Disney is still expecting lower crowds in that first half.

Disneyland Rides Closed in September

Disney typically doesn’t release attraction refurbishment information until 45-days ahead of time. At the time of this post’s publishing, that’s a ways off. While I don’t have anything concrete to offer at this time, I do have some suspicions as to what’ll be open or closed.

Firstly, as discussed above, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure could, in theory, be open by September. I have my doubts, personally, but it’s definitely possible given the recent progress. If I had to bet the farm, I would say September is a pipe dream at the moment.

On the flip side, I am fully expecting Haunted Mansion to reopen in time for the kick-off to the Halloween season as Haunted Mansion Holiday. It would be an “egg-to-the-face” moment for Disney if their biggest holiday attraction isn’t open in time, so I believe they’ll make it happen.

If you haven’t heard, Disney is walling off Critter Country in May in order to convert two of the land’s gift shops into themes after two supporting characters from Princess and the Frog, among other smaller projects. While I don’t know how long this closure will be for, I would be shocked if it was still closed come September.

All that said, Disney would have completed the major refurbishments by this point, as they cannot afford to lose more capacity during their incredibly busy holiday season. Still, I would anticipate a few quick closures here and there, but nothing big.

Still, there’s always the chance that both Tiana’s and Haunted Mansion experience construction delays and thus, remain closed. If this happens, capacity throughout the rest of the park will suffer as a result. I’ll keep my eyes on these and update this post as credible information becomes available.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If you’ll be visiting during Halloween, be sure to read 2024 Disneyland Halloween Guide to read about what to expect, tips and more. For tips and advice on tickets, read 10 Best Disneyland Tickets: Park Tickets. To learn about the changes made to Advance Dining Reservations, read Improvements Made to Advance Dining Reservations at Disneyland. Finally, for great deals on Disneyland tickets and vacation packages, visit my friends at Get Away Today.

Improvements Made to Advance Dining Reservations at Disneyland

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Anyone who’s ever tried making an advance dining reservation (ADR) for a Disneyland restaurant knows how frustrating that process can be. Depending on the restaurant, the competition for a table could be fierce.

Making matters worse, using the website or app to find an available ADR was often annoying.. If there wasn’t anything available and you wanted to search for another day, you were forced to back out of the current page and begin your search all over again.

Recently, Disney announced a few changes to the ADR search process that have since been implemented. Among those changes is the ability to search for an available ADR over a period of up to ten days all at once!

Additionally, tabs are now displayed above the ADR results, indicating which meal period is being displayed. For example, if you don’t see a desired result for dinner, you can now just select the “lunch” tab for instant results, again, without having to completely start over.

This update is now available on both the Disneyland website and app (both iOs and Android). Below, I’ll discuss these changes in greater detail and what you can expect moving forward.

Issues with Advance Dining Reservations at Disneyland

Disneyland die-hards are well aware of the potential complexities of making an ADR. If you’re new to Disneyland and/or ADRs (and if you’re reading this I’m assuming you are), then you’re likely unaware of the common hiccups and loopholes involved.

For example, a seasoned planner would know not to take the unavailability of ADRs at face value. Often, one would simply need to continuously hit refresh between meal period and time searches and an available ADR would magically appear.

Additionally, with the cancellation policy instituting a per person fee if not followed, if you checked again in the days leading up to your desired date (or even day-of) you would, at times, find last minute availability.

Before these recent changes, there have always been a few rules pertaining to advance dining reservations guests had to follow. They are:

• You may make an ADR up to 60-days in advance

• You must provide a credit card to guarantee your ADR

• You must cancel within the stated window to avoid a penalty

These are still true today and apply to all guests, regardless of whether you’re a resort hotel guest or simply visiting for the day. The problem, however, was that the playing field was not level for all, as casual guests often find themselves at a disadvantage due to not being aware of reservations.

If you weren’t a seasoned pro and didn’t look for ADRs first thing in the morning 60-days out, you would often find yourself out in the cold. Even worse, most casual guests aren’t even aware that you can make reservations that far out (or even at all). So they’ve arrived disadvantaged.

These new features won’t solve these issues entirely, as I feel Disney needs to do a better job at advertising the reservation policies to guests and said guests need to do their own legwork to secure them, but they certainly help to smooth out a previously bumpy process.

The New 10-Day Search Feature for Dining Reservations

As mentioned above, when searching for a Disneyland ADR, you would select your desired date, party size and meal period. You would then be presented with a list of restaurants with availability within the parameters of the information you have entered.

Assuming you weren’t satisfied with the results and wanted to search for another day of your visit, you would need to back out and begin the process all over again. Meaning, you would need to re-enter all of your information, not just a new date.

With the recent change, you can now search up to ten days at once, making the process much easier. You have two options in which to do this:

1. Select “Check all Availability” on the Disneyland website or “Check Dining Availability” in the app. Then select your party size, desired date, and meal period. You’ll then presented with a list of restaurants. Under each restaurant, you’ll see “Check Availability for Multiple Days”. Select that to search a range of up to ten days if you don’t see any initial times.

2. On the Disneyland website, go to the “Things to Do” tab and select “All Dining”. You’ll be taken to a list of all restaurants. Those that accept ADRs will have “Check Availability for Multiple Days” underneath them. Select that to conduct a range search right from the beginning.

For some reason, Disney IT decided to implement the ten-day search differently between device and method. In the first example above, you cannot conduct a range search from the start when using the app. For some reason, you’re forced to search a singular date before being presented with the ability to select a range of dates.

This presents a potential issue because by having to initially search for one day, you’ll only be presented with restaurants that have availability for that specific date. Other restaurants may have availability on days at either end of the selected date but because you’re presented with limited options, you won’t have a full list to work with.

For example, say you want to dine at Lamplight Lounge for dinner and you’re utilizing the app to conduct your search. You search for May 12 for a party of four, but since there’s no ADRs available, Lamplight wouldn’t be included in the list and consequently, you’re never given the opportunity to search for that particular restaurant.

To circumvent this, I recommend using a computer (or the browser on your phone) to access the actual website. This way you can select the “All Dining” option to see a list of ALL restaurants that accept reservations and conduct a date range search right from the beginning.

Additionally, there will be four tabs at the top of the search results for different meal periods. They’re presented in time ranges, but essentially are for breakfast, lunch, dinner and an “all” option. If you don’t see availability for dinner, you can now easily hit the “Dinner” tab for instant results, rather than having to start over.

As you can see in the image above, the search results will be presented in descending order from top to bottom according to date and for the reservation times, from left to right beginning with the earliest.

The amount of available reservations will vary depending on which restaurant you are trying for, as some are more in demand than others. You’ll seldom see wide open availability for the harder-to-get eateries. Some of these include:

• Lamplight Lounge

• Blue Bayou

• Napa Rose

• Carthay Circle

The less popular restaurants typically have many options for dining times, often in just a few days notice or even day-of. In the search results for these restaurants, you’ll often see availability in 15-minute increments, rather than a spatter of random times. Some of these restaurants include:

• Wine Country Trattoria

• GCH Craftsman Bar & Grill

• Great Maple Modern American Eatery

• Cafe Orleans

Ultimately, I’m happy with the changes Disney has made to the ADR process. There’s definitely some fine-tuning that needs to occur, along with additional changes for the quirks and annoyances that remain. Overall, it’s made the process less time consuming and more efficient for the guest, which should always be the goal.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, be sure to read 10 Best Disneyland Tips: Park Tickets for tips on saving money on tickets and how to avoid getting scammed. If you’re visiting in May or June, be sure to read Disney Closing Critter Country Indefinitely in May. For information on Pixar Fest, read Pixar Fest 2024: 10 Things to Know. Finally, to save money on Disneyland tickets and vacation packages, visit our friends at Get Away Today.