September 12 – October 31 marks Halloween time at Disneyland Resort! Halloween and Christmas are my favorite times to visit the parks because of decorations, cooler weather, new sights, sounds and smells and, of course seasonal FOOD! I think one of the most unknown and BEST parts of Halloween time at Disneyland is the incredible magic at Big Thunder Ranch. This area of Disneyland park is hidden in the back behind Frontierland and Fantasyland. I have found that many people just don’t get around to discovering it’s hidden treasures. I can’t tell you how many times I have had people say “Disneyland has a petting zoo?” when I talk about Big Thunder Ranch. Big Thunder Ranch has an amazing barbeque restaurant, petting zoo and huge entertainment area. There are picnic tables, a trading pin cart, food carts, games for the kids and more – and it’s a great place to sit in the shade and rest when you need a rest from walking.
Halloween time brings even better amenities to Big Thunder Ranch. There is a huge tent where groups of guests are let in to “conjure a villain!” As you stand around, a cast member talks about how Halloween time brings villains to the parks. The cast member chooses a child to wave a magic wand over a smouldering cauldron while the crowd chants and claps. Suddenly, a villain appears out of a large magic box on a stage! The remaining time in the tent allows a line to form and each guest to take a picture with the villain. It is so much fun and the villains rotate throughout the day, so you never know who may be conjured next!
Another exciting part of Halloween at Big Thunder Ranch is the ability to take pictures with many costumed characters who roam the area. These characters take pictures and even sit and color with the kids! It’s really so much fun and a great way to spend a few hours during the day. There is always musical entertainment on the stage and Mickey and Minnie do dance parties with the kids throughout the day. There are carnival style games set up for the kids to play and the cast members all seem to really enjoy their shifts and making that special Disney Magic everyday during Halloween time!
Costumed characters:
- Mickey – wizard
- Minnie – witch
- Donald – pumpkin
- Chip and Dale – police officers
- And MORE!
I hope that if you visit Disneyland during Halloween, you will take a few hours and visit Big Thunder Ranch. It’s definitely a MUST DO during the holidays! I would love to hear your experiences.
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