At a glance
Mickey’s Halloween Celebration is the seasonal Halloween cavalcade (a shorter procession than a full parade) at Disneyland Park. Exclusive to Disneyland Paris, it celebrates two American autumn traditions together, the Harvest Festival and Halloween, and, unusually for this kind of show, it features no Disney villains at all.
The procession opens with Daisy, Miss Harvest, followed by four floats. "The Harvest Festival" carries Donald, Scrooge McDuck and Huey, Dewey and Louie, followed by Winnie the Pooh and friends and Pluto. "Clarabelle Cow’s Crazy Farm" has Horace Horsecollar, the Three Little Pigs, black cats, crows and owls. On "The Horn of Plenty", Mickey, Minnie, Chip ’n’ Dale and Clarice move among an abundance of fruit, vegetables and sunflowers. Last comes "Mickey’s Manor of Illusions", clearly inspired by Frontierland’s Phantom Manor, with its ghostly couples and nods to the Phantom and the Bride.
The procession pauses for a show-stop in Central Plaza, with 84 performers in total. The soundtrack is based on the song "Vive la Vie" (sung in English despite the title), composed by Scott Erickson with lyrics by Fabrice Ferrer, Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda, preceded by a Disney adaptation of "Shine On, Harvest Moon" (a 1908 standard made popular by Ruth Etting in 1931). The show-stop comes with "Great Big Year", a new piece of country-rock-inspired music.
Created by art director Kat de Blois and developed over the seasons by show director Emmanuel Lenormand, the cavalcade is a production exclusive to the Paris park.
Mickey changes outfits in full view, mid-parade. Several costume changes along the way that always surprise the crowd. The Manor of Illusions float, inspired by Frontierland’s Phantom Manor ride, is one of the most impressive of the year.
Duration, crowds and access
- Duration
- 25 min
- Arrive
- 60 min before
- Wait level high (60+ min)
- All ages no age restriction
- Included in the park ticket price Yes
- Paid premium viewing area when available: from €21 to €24/person
- Wheelchair access dedicated accessible area with a Priority Card
- Max companions per Priority Card 2
History
The autumn entertainment on Main Street U.S.A. has gone through several phases. Mickey’s Halloween Celebration was introduced on 5 October 2013 in a first version lasting about 7 minutes, with only two floats: the "Harvest Festival", led by Clarabelle Cow, crowned Harvest Queen 2013, and the "Horn of Plenty". It brought two characters never seen before at the resort to Disneyland Paris: Clarabelle Cow in 2013, then Horace Horsecollar in 2014, the couple created by Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney in 1929 for The Plow Boy cartoon.
In 2014, the "Clarabelle Cow’s Crazy Farm" float joined the line-up and Daisy took over the Harvest Queen title at the head of the parade. In 2018, for Mickey’s 90th birthday, the cavalcade was completely reworked: new costumes, new music, an added show-stop on Central Plaza, a cast raised to 84 performers and a brand-new fourth float, "Mickey’s Manor of Illusions", inspired by Phantom Manor.
Developed by Disney Live Entertainment, this cavalcade drops dark visuals in favour of rural themes and harvest colours. Its very upbeat soundtrack and lively choreography make it a production that park regulars love time and again.
Theme & story
The cavalcade celebrates Halloween by mixing an American harvest festival, Halloween folklore and the world of Phantom Manor. Mickey and friends ride on four floats (The Harvest Festival, Clarabelle Cow’s Crazy Farm, The Horn of Plenty and Mickey’s Manor of Illusions), with show-stops in Central Plaza set to "Vive la Vie", a Disney adaptation of "Shine On, Harvest Moon".
Who it’s for
Pros and cons
Strong points
- A cast full of characters
- Show-stop on Central Plaza
- Highly detailed Manor of Illusions float
- Catchy music
Weak points
- Season limited to about one month
- Big crowds along the route
- Arriving 60 min early is advised
- Show-stop mostly visible from Central Plaza
My verdict
I find this cavalcade gives off a hugely infectious energy, perfectly backed by a really catchy autumn soundtrack. The bright colours and the characters’ special outfits put you in the seasonal mood straight away. It’s a joyful, colourful parade that I really recommend fitting into your autumn day.
It’s a very popular show, so inevitably a lot of visitors gather along the route, especially at weekends in October. My tip: pick a spot near Sleeping Beauty Castle. The stops planned there usually give the best chances to interact with the performers.
The show in detail
- Frequency twice a day (during the Halloween season)
- Type seasonal Halloween parade
- Original concept Kat de Blois (art director)
- Development Emmanuel Lenormand
- Directors Françoise Baffioni and Emmanuel Lenormand
- Soundtrack Vive la Vie, a Disney adaptation of Shine On, Harvest Moon (intro), Great Big Year (at the show-stop)
- Number of floats 4 (2 in 2013, 3 from 2014 to 2017)
- Float names The Harvest Festival, Clarabelle Cow’s Crazy Farm, The Horn of Plenty, Mickey’s Manor of Illusions
- Show-stops Central Plaza
- Number of routes 2 different routes (the same route, reversed)
- Origin of the floats vehicles adapted from the Disney’s Fantillusion electrical parade
- Number of performers 84 (over 60 from 2013 to 2016)
- Route 1 Fantasyland → Le Théâtre du Château → Central Plaza → Main Street U.S.A. → Town Square
- Route 2 Town Square → Main Street U.S.A. → Central Plaza → Le Théâtre du Château → Fantasyland
Map & getting there
The parade takes place in Disneyland Park. It follows the official parade route between Fantasyland and Town Square by way of Central Plaza and Main Street U.S.A.
For the first performance of the day, it starts in Fantasyland, does two loops of Central Plaza with a show-stop, then heads down Main Street U.S.A. to Town Square, where it ends after the Ribbons and Bows Hat Shop.
For the second performance, it starts in Town Square, goes up Main Street U.S.A., does two loops of Central Plaza with show-stops, then ends in Fantasyland in front of "it’s a small world".
The most popular spots are on the right or in the centre of the Central Plaza hub, at the bottom of the hub facing Main Street, in Town Square facing the castle, or in front of Pizzeria Bella Notte in Fantasyland. The wheelchair area is usually by the technical booth or near Le Théâtre du Château, and it can move depending on construction work.
Your questions about this show
01 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.
02 What is the paid premium viewing area for a parade?
It’s a reserved area near the castle that you buy in the Disneyland Paris app (Buy section, then Shows and parades). The price varies by date, around €20 per person (free for under-3s). There’s no seating and you need to be there at least 10 minutes before the start time.
03 How early should you find a spot for a parade or show?
Allow 30 to 45 minutes at quiet times, and up to 1 hour to 1 hour 30 at busy times for the best spots. The details for each spot are in my dedicated articles. If you buy paid access, just turn up 10 to 30 minutes before.
04 Where can you find today’s show and parade times?
In the Disneyland Paris app (the Today in the park section) or on my blog. The times change every day depending on the season and the crowds, so I recommend checking that same morning.
05 Can shows and parades be cancelled?
Yes. In severe weather (high winds, storms, heavy rain), night-time shows can be cancelled without notice or replacement. Parades sometimes are too. Check the status on the day in the Disneyland Paris app.
