10 Reasons to visit the Disneyland Resort in the fall

The Disneyland Resort is a wonderful place any time of the  year, but if you held a gun to my head, I would have to say that my favorite time to visit is in the Fall.  Yes, you do get all the extended park hours in the summer and you do get all the holiday splendor in the winter and you do get all the excitement during spring break, but autumn at the Disneyland Resort is not to be missed.  Here's why:



The weather is cooler
Southern California at this time of the year is cool and crisp in the mornings and evenings, yet sunny during the daytime, with little chance of rain.  It doesn't get any better!

The crowds are thinner
Late September and October are considered the "off season".  Historically, fewer people visit the Disneyland Resort, so you get to walk around the park without feeling like a sardine in a tin can.  As a result of lighter attendance......

The lines are shorter
Less wait time everywhere!  In the restaurants, at all the attractions, at character meet and greets.  That means you get to do and see more in a day, so you can take it easier and enjoy yourself at a more relaxed pace.

Flights and hotels are cheaper
Since it's the off season, flights are cheaper and hotel rooms are cheaper.  If you have preschool aged kids, it's a no brainer.  Even if you have elementary school-aged kids, consider taking them out of school for a day or two!

You'll find great deals on Disneyland Resort rooms
The Disneyland Resort always has great deals on on-site hotel rooms during the fall.  Right now, they are offering 20% off Sunday through Thursday rates on premium rooms, and 15% on standard rooms.  Annual passholders get up to 25% off!

The decor is spectacular
The Disneyland Resort really goes all out with the fall time decor.  You'll see beautiful fall colors in every corner of the parks.  Main Street, lined with hundreds of pumpkins, is a must-see.  So is Rancho Zocalo, all decked out for Dia de los Muertos.  They pay attention to every last detail, from the bunting on the lamp posts to the marigolds in the flower beds!

Special Halloween eats and treats
Cooler weather always gets my appetite fired up, and there's no shortage of seasonal goodies at the Disneyland Resort!  From pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin beignets, candy corn apples, there's something for everyone to enjoy.


Special character appearances
At what other time do you get to see Mickey dressed as a vampire, Minnie dressed as a witch, even Pooh dressed as a pumpkin?  Sooo adorable!!

Special Halloween overlays on select attractions
In the fall, Space Mountain gets its annual Ghost Galaxy makeover.  Even better, the Haunted Mansion turns into Haunted Mansion Holiday, with Jack Skellington and his jolly haunted friends taking over the mansion.  I think I like Haunted Mansion Holiday better than I do the regular Haunted Mansion!

Mickey's Halloween Party
It has been almost one year since the kids and I got to experience Mickey's Halloween party for the first time, and boy do I want to go again!  We had so much fun visiting the park in costume, trick-or-treating around the park, seeing the special Halloween parade and fireworks show, joining the dance parties around the park, and enjoying next-to-nothing wait times late at night!