Theme Park Halloween: Best Offerings from Disney, Universal and Others

Image: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. (Photo Credit: Walt Disney World Resort Media)
Image: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. (Photo Credit: Walt Disney World Resort Media)
Noreen Kompanik
by Noreen Kompanik
Last updated: 8:00 AM ET, Sat October 18, 2025

There’s something about celebrating the Halloween season at an entertainment theme park. And in 2025, theme parks across the U.S. will host a myriad of events that include haunted houses, thrilling attractions, all-out decorations and family-friendly activities.

Whether you’re looking for spine-tingling frights or not-so-scary fun, these heavy-hitter theme parks come alive with extra thrills around Halloween. Highlights include:

Disneyland Resort

Halloween time at the Disneyland Resort features the Oogie Boogie Bash, a fun and festive after-hours event party with lots of tricks and treats. Unique to the California park, the Haunted Mansion transforms into Haunted Mansion Holiday, inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Space Mountain changes to a spooky Ghost Galaxy theme.

Paint the Night Celebration dazzles at its sensational nighttime parade, and Halloween Screams immerses guests in wicked wonders and haunting melodies during the evening fireworks show (select nights) above Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Walt Disney World

Guests visiting Walt Disney World during this season can expect full-on celebrations at all four of its theme parks – Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The popular after-hours Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom features special entertainment, character meet-and-greets and themed treats.

Dance parties, live music and fun stage shows abound. Two events that truly showcase the season include Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade and Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular with lasers and fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle.

Universal Studios Hollywood

From watching horror to living it. Halloween means a wicked transformation for this Southern California theme park as its annual Halloween Horror Nights features eight terrifying haunted houses, sinister scare zones and attractions inspired by classic Hollywood horror films.

Attractions such as Jurassic World-The Ride, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers The Ride-3D and more will be open during the event running through November 2.

Universal Orlando Resort

The entertainment venue is home to four amazing theme parks – Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Universal’s Volcano Bay and Epic Universe.

Each of the parks will be completely decked out for Halloween with the top event of the season, Halloween Horror Nights, celebrating the evil and the macabre. The evening event features 10 terrifying haunted houses, sinister scare zones, live entertainment and exhilarating rides and attractions.

SeaWorld San Diego

Marking its fifth anniversary, Howl-O-Scream transforms SeaWorld San Diego into a spine-chilling playground of nighttime terror at this separately ticketed event showcasing five sinister haunts through eight eerie scare zones and four vile vignettes.

The San Diego Halloween Spooktacular represents a less sinister side of Halloween with pirate-themed family fun and adventures. These include trick-or-treat stations, a waterfront pumpkin patch, a pumpkin hunt and live entertainment.

SeaWorld Orlando

Orlando’s terrifying event returns again this year with unexpected horrors lurking around every bend. Howl-O-Scream’s menacing nighttime spectacular features five haunted houses, six scare zones, four pulse-pounding attractions – Mako, Infinity Falls, Ice Breaker and Pipeline.

Like its San Diego sister, SeaWorld Orlando is also inviting families to its Halloween Spooktacular, a kid-friendly event with little to no scares that features daytime trick-or-treating and dance parties to costume contests and face painting.


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Noreen Kompanik

Noreen Kompanik

Noreen Kompanik is a San Diego based journalist who is also the co-owner and publisher of Rovology, Travel By Vacation Rental and Book Cottages magazines. She transitioned to freelance writing after spending 35 years as a registered nurse. She is also a regular contributor to Europe Up Close, GoNOMAD, Edible San Diego, International Living, and San Diego Explorer. When she’s not home in sunny San Diego, you’ll likely find her in an exotic beach destination or exploring the backroads of Europe. You can find her on social media as @noreenwriter.

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