Unique tricks and treats fill Halloween Time 2013 at Disneyland with thrills, villains, and plenty o’ pumpkin

in Disney, Entertainment, Theme Parks

Throughout this month and continuing through next week’s haunted holiday, Disneyland is hosting Halloween Time, decorating the park with hues of orange and black amidst an exciting array of new attractions and overlays, each fitting with the spooky season.

Halloween Time is a chance for Disney’s Villains to step forward into the spotlight, commanding as much attention as they desire. But this daily Halloween festival isn’t meant to be scary, only offering an occasional “boo” with some of its more thrilling rides. It’s fun for the whole family, adding even more exciting experiences this year.

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

To provide an overview of Halloween Time this year, we enlisted the help of local Southern California reporter Audra Stafford (@SDentertainment) to take a closer look at some of its most thrilling experiences:



Stepping inside Disneyland, it’s immediately obvious that Halloween has descended. As Mickey Mouse meets and greets in Town Square, he’s surrounded by pumpkins everywhere.

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Main Street’s the same, with every shelf featuring an amusing Jack-O-Lantern fitting each shop’s theme.

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

A highlight of Halloween Time, Space Mountain becomes Ghost Galaxy, injecting a few startles courtesy of a creepy etherial space monster following the ride’s every twist and turn.


Video: Full ride on Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy


Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Gamers will find a bonus treat awaiting them in the arcade at the exit of Space Mountain in the form of retro video game machines inherited from Flynn’s Arcade in the much-missed former ElecTRONica event.

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Another highlight is Haunted Mansion Holiday, as Jack Skellington has “wrecked the halls” to bring his brand of Christmas into The Haunted Mansion. The attraction is updated for 2013 with new effects and surprises.


Video: Full ride on Haunted Mansion Holiday 2013


Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

The line often looks extremely long with posted wait times upwards of 60 minutes, but thanks to a fast-moving queue (and no FastPass getting in the way) the maximum wait time is often just 30 or less.

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Normally sleepy Big Thunder Ranch comes alive for the Halloween Carnival during this time of the year. Adding to the live band, character opportunities, pumpkin carvers, and a petting zoo is the addition of Pirates League makeovers this year.

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

But the most exciting opportunity is the Conjure a Villain experience in which guests enter a carnival tent to help magically summon a Disney Villain, though it’s a surprise just which one will arrive. There’s always a long line to get in to this mysterious tent, with wait times generally around 30-45 minutes. Fortunately, there is seating available to wait it out while small groups go in at a time. But once inside, the experience is well worth it.


Video: Conjure a Villain during Disneyland’s Halloween Time


Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

There are characters aplenty during Halloween Time, both at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, often seen just out and about in the parks. Even more opportunities are available during Mickey’s Halloween Party, the nighttime separately-ticketed events.

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

And then there are the many treats scattered throughout the parks, including plenty of sweets, candies, cupcakes, chocolates, cookies, and a whole lot of pumpkin.

We even have a cooking demonstration with one of Disneyland’s chefs, brought to us once again by Audra Stafford, helping to prepare pumpkin beignets:

Here’s the full recipe:

Pumpkin Beignets

Makes 25 beignets

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons pumpkin purée
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream
1/4 cup warm water
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
2 teaspoons pumpkin extract (optional)
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Pinch salt
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tablespoon dry instant yeast
Vegetable oil, for frying
Powdered sugar, for coating

  • Combine pumpkin purée, sugar, cream, water, eggs, shortening, pumpkin extract, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk to combine. Add flour and yeast, stirring by hand to combine.
  • Mix dough with the dough hook attachment until it forms a ball around the hook; the dough may be a little sticky.
  • With floured hands, remove dough from hook and roll into a ball. Place dough in a clean bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
  • Roll dough on a well-floured surface to 1/3-inch thickness. Cut into 25 squares. Cover with a clean dishtowel and set aside in a warm, draft-free area for 45 minutes.
  • Line a plate with paper towels; set aside.
  • Pour vegetable oil into a deep pot to a depth of 3 inches. Heat oil to 350°F.
  • Working in 2 or 3 batches, carefully drop dough into oil. Cook, turning frequently with a long-handled slotted spoon, until puffed and golden, about 3 minutes.
  • Remove beignets with a slotted spoon and transfer to the plate lined with paper towels. Lightly tent with foil to keep warm while remaining beignets cook.
  • Generously sprinkle powdered sugar on top of warm beignets; serve warm.
  • And some more tasty treats:

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    (The pumpkin fritters in New Orleans Square are must haves!)

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    Even the merchandise gets into the sweet spirit with creepy candy apple mouse ear headbands.

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    There’s most definitely no shortage of entertainment during Disneyland’s Halloween Time, so much so that during my recent two days spent at the parks I did not take part in a single attraction that was not somehow Halloween related. I took multiple spins on Haunted Mansion Holiday, enjoyed Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, and even rode the Sailing Ship Columbia for the first time to get a better view of the Mansion.

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    I even played a game of “Where’s Jack?” spotting the Pumpkin King in the New Orleans Square crowd.

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    In fact, the only downside to a Halloween Time visit to Disneyland is seeing the sad state of New Orleans Square’s famed Court of Angels stairway, now walled off from public view on its way to becoming an exclusive part of the Club 33 expansion.

    Disneyland Halloween Time 2013

    That sad moment aside, Halloween Time is a frightfully fun adventure through Disneyland that gets better with every visit, continuing through October 31 – with Haunted Mansion Holiday sticking around through the end of the year fittingly spanning both Halloween and Christmas seasons.

    More photos from Halloween Time 2013 at Disneyland:

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