We all know Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth. Even as I grow older, Disneyland has the same magic that it did when I was a kid. The park itself is huge, the rides are just like the movies, and the overpriced food is worth every penny. Disneyland is great during any time of the year, but they really step up their *mf* game in October.
From September 6th until October 31st, Disneyland is decked out in Halloween decorations. I am not exaggerating, you will find a pumpkin almost every 10 feet. There are Disney character pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns inside the rides, and an enormous Mickey Mouse pumpkin on Main Street. I personally love holiday decorations, so this is right up my alley.
Image Source: Justin Brown
Disneyland even changes some of their rides to match the theme. The Haunted Mansion, for example, gets a complete makeover to become The Nightmare Before Christmas. We are talking about new animatronics and new holographs. It seriously looks like a different ride. Even though I hate that movie (don’t come at me, it’s just my opinion), when I went on the ride it was freaking amazing! There was no hint of the Haunted Mansion left over.
In addition to Disneyland’s extensive cast of live characters, they add Jack and Sally to the mix. The people who play these characters nail it every time. Sally walks like a literal rag doll, and Jack stretches his long legs out in front of him in a stride. These employees deserve major props for always going above and beyond.
Image Source: Loren Javier
Besides the sick rides and crazy characters, Disneyland’s food gets even better in October. We all go to Disneyland for the food, don’t lie. Halloween-themed food sounds funny, but it is outright delicious. From pumpkin spice beignets to vampire macaroons, you can’t go wrong. I wish I had tried more food while there, but I had to stay faithful to Disneyland’s giant corndog.