Welcome to a new edition! This week it’s of course all about the Halloween Season launch! We also look at some of the latest projects and news. Let’s go!
Halloween
It’s spooky season time and this year things are a little bit different. We’re referring to 2026 as “phase 1” of the re-imagining of the season. As season more focused on Disney Villains, a sleek and mysterious aesthetic and more detailed offerings.
The first sign of this re-invention is literally a sign – the new Halloween Main Street Station medallion which is really a masterpiece with integrated lighting, 3D lettering and more for a very high end look.
Here’s a look at how it was made.
The entire Main Street Station decoration package was reworked – gone are Mickey and Friends in favor of the new artistic direction: sleek Disney Villains, with stained glass style artwork covering the windows in the same-ish vibe as the originals. As a result, and while it’s still “over the top”, Main Street Station feels less defaced and more rethemed.
In Town Square we’re back to Disney Friends and here the idea is Candles. Yes candles – in not really sure how Halloween screams “candles” but why not and the execution is at least lovely. It’s interesting that this doesn’t really match Main Street Station or the Main Street banners, it’s a little sandwiched in the middle.
At night it does look fantastic and so you really can’t fault that. Hope you like it because as you know these investments are multi year!
The little “escandalo” is that yep the Halloween Garlands and all memories of Pooh Balloon are not returning this year. The garlands were falling apart and would have needed a full replacement. They just didn’t really fit in the new theme so now we get to enjoy the Main Street projections unobstructed. We will miss them but garlands can just be a Christmas exclusive, and that’s maybe not a bad thing.
Over on Castle Stage the gorgeous set we’ve been covering for a few weeks now is complete and dramatically lit at night.
If you see Maleficent at night on stage here it’s only for the media event we attended (and where we were shown the concept art). Indeed there is nothing on that stage, at any point. Maleficent and Evil Queen appear during the day in the area in front of the stage and that’s it.
It does feel very awkward and I guess the investment in the set is for .. phase 2 in 2027 when entertainment gets overhauled ?
After the success of the “UNlucky Nugget” last year, the creative teams took notes and decided to extend the idea to the entire Thunder Mesa entrance. Lights and decorations now match the “Phantom Manor Wedding” inspired theme and it looks fantastic. With that, we say goodbye to the pumpkin men and women – RIP. Or I guess rest even more in peace. Were they already dead? Anyways.
Last Chance Cafe is actually really well done, with custom decor AND soundtrack recorded just for the location.
We got a look at the concept art and some of the props for this fantastic idea. Maybe we can push it it even further next year?
Even the popcorn cart is part of it. Well done all around!
Inside the UNLucky Nugget, the overlay is back, with more special effect pieces and links to the attraction. Great to see the creative teams have taken an already good overlay and pushed it even further.
The menu was also reworked and ok listen. It’s still Disneyland Paris quick service – ish food so it is what it is. It’s pretty okay, the pulled pork sandwich fairs well (albeit with lots of bread) and the burger has a cool Phantom Manor topper.
But where the location shines are the dessert actually!
The wedding cake is great and such a simple but smart idea! We also tired the graveyard dessert which is nice but may not warrant the €2 extra (really why). Overall if you’re looking to experience the UNLucky Bugget the afternoon “sweet break” or “sweat break” as they typed it, may be a great option (and cheaper.
Since we’ve moved on to food, here are all the menus for the location that have special Halloween items.
And then we went to try a lot of them. No major drama this year (lol). It’s all pretty safe. Donuts are donuts. The Victoria’s cake to share and smaller cakes both look great and taste pretty nice. It’s not perfect but it’s fun.
When it comes to the basic quick service options, it’s as you’d expect. Is it nice ? No. Is it eatable ? Sure. There’s a beef (Hyperion) and chicken (chalet) option. The chicken fares better. The pumpkin dessert is super cute and well done on the Disney Castle design! The inside is your run of the mill industrial mousse, it tastes good but is it worth the calories, I just don’t know. You also have to smash it to eat it so make sure to take your photo before the tragedy unfolds.
The M&M’s “mysterious doors” treasure hunt is also back this year, you know the drill.
Okay almost there guys! Characters. While stage and parade entertainment is the weak point this year, characters did get the Phase 1 upgrade with some lovely fun new costumes. We’re talking your Paris level of quality here and it’s wonderful to see. Paris costuming really is unmatched.
Mickey and Minnie wave at Guests on Main Street Station while Donald and Daisy meet in Town Square, and an array of Villains meet in Fantasyland. Jack and Sally are back in their great photo location from last year in Frontierland, and a new addition this year is Dr. Facilier in a new outfit at the Frontierland Gazebo.
It’s of course lovely to see Mickey’s Halloween Celebration, hopefully in its last season (at least for most of the units) as it’s expected the Resort will pivot away from the harvest theme and lean more into the “spooky” and “villains” themes, maybe next year. Or the next, who knows.
And that’s the Disney Halloween Festival 2026. The first phase of an exciting new direction. Now what are you still doing here, go try that haunted wedding cake!
Construction and Refurbishments
While we’re all busy at Disneyland Park, the Up Spinner is coming together slowly with some new facade moldings that look lovely.
At Animation Celebration, the “Frozen: a Musical Invitation” sign has been removed, now that the show has ended. There’s a design behind it!
And at Animagique Theater, the crew is trying a new way to attach the Mickey and the Magician tarp, with a different support system. Good luck this time!
New snacks at the World Premiere food truck, “Cone Buddies”. They’re ice cream creations in sweet puff pastry cones (€7)
At Disney Hotels, the oversized pumpkins have returned for the season.
Work is complete in these areas of Disney Hotel Cheyenne with some fresh resurfacing.
And walls are down at the Disney Hotel Cheyenne General Store after a facade refurbishment and.. new themed window blinds.
This and That..
We’ve got another Disneyland Pass Night in the Calendar: Christmas Wishes on November 20 at Disneyland Park:
- €65, member +1 paying Guest
- On sale Sep 29, 11am
- 10pm to 2am. Early entry from 6:30p
- 25% merch discount
Some pretty dramatic views of black smoke seeping across both parks on Monday.
Turns out the dramatic fire was at a storage facility across the road from the resort. None of the Parks facilities, Cast or Guests were, to our knowledge, affected.
