Hey there, Isabel! Welcome to planDisney! Boy oh boy, this is going to be an exciting trip, and I am happy to help you make the most of your visit!
October is my favorite time to visit the Disneyland Resort. The weather is usually great, with warm days and cooler nights, and the Halloween season adds an extra sprinkle of Disney magic everywhere you look!
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort is so fun. The parks are filled with pumpkins and fall decor, plus you’ll get to experience seasonal overlays on select attractions, which will make the visit feel extra magical.
Let’s jump right in!
First, make sure you have the
Disneyland Mobile App downloaded so you can easily check attraction wait times, entertainment schedules, dining options, and park hours right from your phone. Trust me, this app will become your best friend before and during your trip!
One of my biggest tips is to have each person choose one or two “must-do” experiences before your trip. It helps everyone feel excited and included. Have a flexible game plan for the day. Disney days always go more smoothly with a little planning and some flexibility for unexpected changes like attraction refurbishments or temporary closures.
Next, I recommend purchasing
Lightning Lane Multi Pass for each Guest. It can save so much time waiting in lines and helps you fit even more magic into your day! Each Guest can reserve return times for eligible attractions throughout the day, one time per attraction. If you did not purchase it when you bought your tickets, no worries at all! You can add it once you’ve scanned into the parks on the day of your visit.
If you have Park Hopper tickets, your Lightning Lane Multi Pass works in both parks, which is fantastic. One of my favorite tips is that knowing that you can book a Lightning Lane return time for the other park before hopping over there. It’s a great way to make the most of your day and head straight to your next adventure once you arrive!
A great perk of Lightning Lane Multi Pass is the included unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital downloads. Be sure to stop for photos with the PhotoPass photographers throughout the parks! Some of our favorite family memories have come from those pictures. It’s nice having everyone included in the photo, and Disney PhotoPass photographers always know how to capture those extra magical moments.
Since you mentioned a mix of ages, the older kids may enjoy exploring on their own for part of the day. When my own kids were teens, they loved having a little independence while still meeting back up later for meals or attractions together. If that feels right for your family, I recommend making an
dining reservation so everyone can reconnect, relax, and share their favorite moments from the day.
Another tip that has worked well for our family is setting a snack and souvenir budget before the trip. We like to put those amounts on Disney Gift Cards for the kids. It keeps expectations manageable and helps them thoughtfully choose the treats or souvenirs that will mean the most to them. There are SO many tempting Disney treasures everywhere you turn!
Isabel, I could chat first Disney visits with you all day long, but I’ll wrap up here for now. I hope this helps you feel excited and prepared for this first Disneyland Resort adventure! Please send us more questions anytime. We are always happy to help!
Kimberly