What is the Halloween parade at Disneyland Paris?
The Halloween parade currently running at Disneyland Paris is called "Mickey’s Halloween Celebration". First performed in 2013, it has been expanded over the years with new floats (the decorated vehicles of the parade) and new characters.
It stars Mickey and his friends, with dancers and music. It only runs during the Halloween season, from 26 September to 1 November.
During the parade, a showstop takes place on Central Plaza (the big round square in front of the castle, also known as "the hub"). A showstop is a pause in the parade: the floats stop and the dancers perform on the spot, in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
To see where this parade fits into the season, you can read the complete guide to the Halloween season. And if you like the Villains, here are the Disney Villains of Halloween.
Not to be confused with the regular parade
Halloween parade times
The Halloween parade runs twice a day, in the daytime only. The first showing passes by around 15:25, the second around 17:00.
These times are a guide only and may change: remember to check them in the official Disneyland Paris app on the day of your visit.
One important point to understand: these are not two different Halloween parades. It’s the same parade passing by twice a day, in one direction and then the other.
The first showing goes from Fantasyland (the area of the park behind the castle) towards the park entrance, and the second follows the route the other way. That’s why the best spot for the 2026 Halloween parade isn’t the same depending on the showing you pick.
The parade lasts about 25 minutes. All the details are on the Mickey’s Halloween Celebration page.
The parade today
Times change from day to day. For the exact time on the day of your visit, open the day’s programme in the official Disneyland Paris app.
How early should you arrive?
The best spots for the Halloween parade
My two safe bets are the Central Plaza hub (the round square in front of the castle) and Town Square (the square just past the entrance), both facing the castle. The exact best spot then depends on the showing you pick, since the parade is performed twice in opposite directions.
Below are my five recommended spots. The table that follows sums them up at a glance, then I go through each one with its pros and cons.
The viewing spots at a glance
| Spot | What you see | 1st (~15:25) | 2nd (~17:00) | Good to know | How early |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 To the right of the hub, on Central Plaza | The castle and the floats arriving from Fantasyland, good view of the showstop | Yes | No | Very busy. No view once the floats head back down Main Street | ~1 hour |
| #2 In the middle of the hub, on Central Plaza | The castle, the dancers and all the floats going round | Yes | Yes | Very popular, with visitors walking past who aren’t watching | ~1 hour |
| #3 On Town Square, facing the castle | Decorated Main Street, clear view. For the 2nd showing, the floats setting off with the castle behind | Yes | Yes | Very popular (long wait). Sometimes reserved for VIPs or the press team | ~1 hour |
| #4 At the bottom of the hub, facing Main Street | The floats arriving from Main Street and the dancers right in front of you during the showstop | No | Yes | Highly sought after. Tight space, view limited to the stands on the right and left | 30 to 45 min |
| #5 In front of Bella Notte, in Fantasyland | The floats coming in and going out | Yes | Yes | Less attractive background for photos | ~15 minutes |
My five recommended spots for the Halloween parade, by showing.
The spots in detail
#1 To the right of the hub, on Central Plaza (1st showing). This is where I stand for the first showing. You get a clear view of the castle and of the floats as they arrive from Fantasyland (the area of the park behind the castle), and the showstop is easy to see thanks to the stands. On the other hand, it’s very busy (arrive early) and you won’t see the floats once they head back down Main Street U.S.A.
#2 In the middle of the hub, on Central Plaza (1st and 2nd showings). This is the spot where you see the most: the castle, the dancers performing on the hub and all the floats going round. The downside is that it’s very popular, with a steady stream of visitors walking past who aren’t watching the parade.
#3 On Town Square, facing the castle (1st and 2nd showings). Town Square is the square just past the park entrance. The view is completely clear, with Main Street decorated for Halloween. For the second showing, you see the floats setting off and then heading back up, with the castle in the background. Watch out, it’s a very popular spot (long wait) and it’s sometimes reserved for VIPs or for the Disneyland Paris press team.
#4 At the bottom of the hub, facing Main Street (2nd showing). For the second showing, this is the ideal spot to watch the floats coming up Main Street U.S.A., with the dancers right in front of you during the showstop. It’s one of the most sought-after spots: space is tight and the view is limited to the stands on the right and left.
#5 In front of Bella Notte, in Fantasyland (1st and 2nd showings). This is the spot I pick when I arrive shortly before the parade. You get a direct view of the floats coming in and going out. The only drawback: the background is less attractive for photos.
The Halloween parade route
As the parade is performed twice in opposite directions, here are both routes.
First showing (around 15:25). The parade sets off from Fantasyland (the area of the park behind the castle). It moves on to the Central Plaza hub (the round square in front of the castle), where it does two loops with the showstop (the pause with the dancers). It then goes down the whole length of Main Street U.S.A. (the long avenue between the castle and the entrance) to Town Square (the square just past the entrance) and ends just after the Ribbons and Bows Hat Shop.
Second performance (at around 17:00). This time the parade sets off from the park entrance. It passes in front of the New Century Notions - Flora’s Unique Boutique shop, without going round Town Square, then heads up Main Street U.S.A. to the Central Plaza hub, where it does two laps with showstops. It ends its route in Fantasyland, in front of the "it’s a small world" ride.
The times given are a guide only and may change: check them on the official Disneyland Paris app on the day.
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Further reading
To plan the rest of your Halloween visit:
- the Halloween season, the complete guide.
- the Villains Disney puts in the spotlight during the season.
- the Halloween party, the evening event.
- the park’s regular parade, not to be confused with the Halloween one.
- the Christmas parade, for the following season.
Frequently asked questions
01 Where is the best place to watch the parade and how early should you arrive?
The safe bets are the Central Plaza hub and Town Square, facing the castle. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for a good spot, and around 1 hour for the front row. As the parade is performed two times, in opposite directions, the best spot depends on the performance.
02 Is there a viewing area for wheelchair users?
Yes, a free viewing area is set aside for visitors in wheelchairs. Its location can vary depending on the day and any construction work. It can’t be booked: on the day, ask the Cast Members along the route to point you in the right direction.
03 How do you get the best photos of the parade?
Stand in Central Plaza or Town Square, facing the castle: you’ll get the floats and dancers with the castle in the background, for a lovely shot. For the second performance, Town Square gives you the floats coming back up with the castle behind them.
04 Do you need a special ticket or pay extra to enjoy a season (Halloween, Christmas)?
No. The seasons and their entertainment (decorations, parades, shows, meet and greets) are included in the standard admission ticket, with no extra paid evening event. Two dates are the exception: 31 October and 31 December. On those days, you need a dated ticket for that day, among the most expensive of the year. Only the usual services remain optional, like Premier Access (a paid fast track) or the premium viewing area for the parade. That said, tickets are often more expensive during high-demand periods like Halloween, Christmas and the French school holidays.
05 Which Halloween parade is on, and how many times a day?
The Halloween parade is called Mickey’s Halloween Celebration, at Disneyland Park, from 26 September to 1 November. It runs twice a day, with the route reversed from one performance to the next. The best spots are in my Halloween parade guide.
