These are the main reasons that Disneyland is better at Halloween time than Disney World is. Disneyland and California Adventure go all out for the Halloween season and it’s hard to beat what they do.
Big Mickey Pumpkin
At the top of Main Street, USA you can find the big Mickey pumpkin aka Blinky. It’s huge, iconic, and so festive. Unfortunately, Disney World does not have the big Mickey pumpkin decoration that Disneyland has.
More Decor
The Disneyland Resort has more Halloween decor throughout the parks than the parks at Disney World have. Aside from the Mickey pumpkin, you’ll find decor all throughout Main Street USA, the Halloween Tree in Frontierland, decor at both park entrances, decor all over Buena Vista Street, and more.
Oogie Boogie Bash
Oogie Boogie Bash is a separate ticketed event in the evening at California Adventure park. Disney World has Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party instead, but many guests love Oogie Boogie Bash more.
Haunted Mansion Holiday
Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom in Disney World does not do anything extra or special for Halloween. At Disneyland, Haunted Mansion transforms into Haunted Mansion Holiday where it gets a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay. This ride is spectacular and is so fun to go on to celebrate the Halloween season. There is decor all throughout the ride and outside of the ride. Haunted Mansion is a ride that people like better at Disneyland than Disney World because of this overlay. Read about more rides people like better at Disneyland here.
Ride Overlays
Disney World doesn’t do any major ride overlays for Halloween, they just do a few minor things like adding Halloween lights to Mad Tea Party. At California Adventure Mission: BREAKOUT! changes to Monsters After Dark at night where it has a Halloween scene and spooky lights on the building. Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree changes to Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters changes to Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween. Read more about the Disneyland Halloween rides here.
Radiator Screams
Magic Kingdom doesn’t have a Cars Land yet, but it’s hard to beat the magic and spookiness of California Adventure’s Cars Land at Halloween time. Radiator Springs becomes Radiator Screams which means Halloween decor everywhere, Cars in costumes, and more. Lightning McQueen is a superhero, Mater is a vampire, Cruz is a pirate, and Red is a clown.
Better Weather
The weather in California is usually really nice in the fall. Florida is more prone to rainy days and hot days in the fall than California is.
Characters in Costumes
I already mentioned the Cars characters in costumes, but you can also find Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and their friends in costumes and Halloween outfits on Main Street, USA throughout the day. If you wish to see them in their normal outfits, you can still do that in Mickey’s Toontown.