Disneyland Happiest Haunts Tour Review

Step into a world where hinges creak in doorless chambers, strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, candlelight flickers in the still air, and ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. This is the unique experience of Disneyland’s Happiest Haunts Tour, a journey unlike any other!

The tour was not just spooky but also interactive and engaging, making it a perfect way to kick off the Halloween season. We began by going backstage and meeting two very famous ghosts from the Haunted Mansion, Phineas and Gus. The highlight was taking a photo with them, adding a fun and personal touch to the experience.

Our stroll down Main Street was a treasure trove of knowledge. We uncovered Xavier Atencio’s musical contributions to the Haunted Mansion and paid our respects at his window. The tour also shed light on the origins of Jack-o-Lanterns, the Phantom of the Main Street Cinema, and more. And we got to see Tilly the Ticket Taker, all decked out for Halloween.

Partners Statue

Our journey continued to the Partners statue, where we delved into the rich history of Halloween in the City of Anaheim. This part of the tour was particularly captivating, as it unveiled Disneyland’s extensive history of Halloween dating back to 1959.

While at Tomorrowland, we learned about the “ghosts” of past rides and how you can still see remnants of the PeopleMover. One of the most fascinating things I discovered was that in 1967, Imagineers saved the organ from the set of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This organ can now be seen in the ballroom of the Haunted Mansion, where it is still being played.

Día de los Muertos and Ray Bradbury’s Halloween Tree

During the tour, we learned about the history of the Matterhorn, discussed Disney villains, and even saw ghostly mine trains at Big Thunder Mountain. My favorite part was learning about Día de los Muertos and Ray Bradbury’s Halloween Tree. I found this part of the tour excellent and very informative, especially when we gathered around the Halloween Tree to learn the history of trick-or-treating.

The tour concludes in New Orleans Square with a fascinating overview of the iconic Haunted Mansion, the legendary figure Marie Laveau, and New Orleans’s deep-rooted history with voodoo. After the tour, participants receive a set of Halloween collectible cards and a tote bag. Additionally, the tour guide informs us that a “phantom pass” (lightning lane pass) has been added to our tickets, providing us with priority access to popular attractions such as Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Matterhorn, Star Tours, or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I chose to use mine on Big Thunder Mountian Railroad.

Overall, I had a great experience with the Happiest Haunts Tour. However, I believe it could have been even better with a few additional elements to make it more worthwhile, especially considering the price of $120. Compared to other tours I’ve taken at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, the experience could have been enhanced by including a treat and a ride on the Haunted Mansion. But since that ride is using a virtual queue this year, that might not have been possible. Additionally, I wish the reserved fireworks seating could have been in front of the castle instead of “it’s a small world.” It would have been great to mention Rolly Crump’s Museum of Weird during the tour. Not saying it was a big miss.

The Happiest Haunts Tour is a limited-time offering at Disneyland Resort. Visit the Disneyland site for more details.

Happiest Haunts Tour photo gallery