The Absolute Best New Foods At Disneyland Halloween Time 2026 (And What To Skip)

The cool breezes have yet to start blowing and the leaves may not have changed color, but that doesn't mean the ghosts and goblins haven't started showing up at Disneyland. If you're a fan of all things villainy, then this is the time to head to the Happiest Place on Earth. Don't worry: Mickey and Minnie will still be there, but so will all your favorite villains from Captain Hook to Maleficent.

The villains aren't the only ones out in force. Throughout the Disneyland Resort there are plenty of evil treats making their debut as well. It doesn't matter if you prefer savory, sweet, cocktails, or cold brew, between both parks there's something for everybody — actually a few somethings. So if you're looking to take a break between Guardians of Galaxy – Monsters After Dark and Haunted Mansion Holiday, I've got you covered.

Bouncing between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park, I tried 11 different food items. Some didn't quite measure up; dishes that were so sweet, salty, or spicy, I knew after just one bite they were going in the trash. But there were also several options that were the perfect breakfast treat, lunch option, or dessert. Dishes that were so scrumptious, I couldn't wait to finish them. Wanna know which ones to invest in and which you should skip altogether? Read on to find out.

Some recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.

Every time I go to Disneyland, I make a point of getting at least one churro while I'm there, so I was super excited to sample the new Churro Hand Tart. But this isn't your typical churro. It still has plenty of cinnamon sugar and a nice crust, but that's where the similarity ends. In fact, at first glance, this scrumptious treat looks more like a Pop-Tart flavor than the classic Disney churro. But just because it doesn't look the same doesn't mean it isn't absolutely delicious.

While the first bite was a little overwhelming, and full of sugar and spice, the second bite was much better. It was as if my palate had time to adjust to the sweet cinnamon sugar flavor bomb that coated the top of the tart. But what really excited me about this substantial hand tart was the spiced cake hiding inside the crust. Super moist and buttery, this cake reminded me of a classic cinnamon coffee cake where the vanilla cake has a thick layer of cinnamon paste sandwiched in the middle.

Not only is the final tart a great way to start your day at Disneyland, it's the perfect compliment to a hot coffee or latte. A combination I put together the minute I walked through the front gates.

I'll never turn down a macaron (as in the French cookie), and it's actually one of my favorite treats. That light meringue-type cookie enveloping a sweet, creamy center? I can't get enough. Usually the Disney versions are top-notch, and I wish I could say that was the case here. Don't get me wrong, this Mickey-shaped macaron is absolutely adorable, as it looks exactly like a waffle complete with an actual pad of butter on top. But then I took a bite.

Even though the texture was everything I look for in a macaron, the flavor was less than desirable. While the cookie tasted just like a cinnamon waffle complete with all those delightful baking spices I associate with fall, it was the creamy center that flipped the whole thing on its head. It was just too salty. Now, I love a good salty-and-sweet combination, but the filling was so salty it  completely overwhelmed the cookie's flavors, leaving a weird taste in my mouth that just wasn't any good.

I'm generally not a fan of spicy foods, so I was a little wary about tasting this bread. But I love sweet Hawaiian rolls, shredded chicken, and fried onions, so I decided to give the Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pull-apart Bread a shot. I'm so happy I did, because this dish was out of this world delicious.

If you like Buffalo Chicken you absolutely must get this. The chicken was tender, the fried onions had a great crunch, and the Buffalo ranch had plenty of flavor without being overly spicy. Yes, there was a definite hint of heat to the chicken topping, but when eaten in conjunction with the soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls, you get a bite that's full of flavor.

Normally, Buffalo chicken wings are served with carrots and ranch dressing to cut the spice. There aren't any carrots here, and the ranch is actually made with Parmesan. The end result is a dish so full of tangy, spicy flavor I just couldn't stop eating it. But best of all, since the bread is made up of four Hawaiian dinner rolls, there's enough to share with one or two other people and still be totally satisfied. Available at various outdoor vending locations in California Adventure, this is a dish that absolutely should not be missed.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm a huge fan of Disney's churros. I even like most of the different flavors Disney releases during its holiday events, and Halloween Time is no different. In fact, the resort currently has 4 alternatives to the original. I couldn't taste them all, so I chose the Ube Cheesecake because I'm a huge cheesecake fan, and it looked just like Halloween thanks to the vibrant purple and black coloring.

I only wish this churro tasted as good as it looked. Coated in a chocolate cookie sugar, chocolate cookie crumbles, and a stunning whipped purple cheesecake topping, how could this churro be anything but outstanding? I'll tell you how. The cookie crumbles were soggy. The ube cheesecake tasted nothing like cheesecake, either, but rather like a light frosting infused with an artificial ube flavor. The chocolate cookie sugar really didn't add much except for a spooky coloring.

See, what I love about the classic Disney churro isn't just the flavor. It's the texture: Crispy on the outside, and moist on the inside. This ube version wasn't crispy or moist. Instead, it seemed stale, like it had been sitting in the case for hours waiting for me to come along and free it from its display cage. If you're a churro fan, skip this one and stick with the classic.

Since it's Halloween Time, the Disney resort is covered in Halloween-themed decorations and color. But the Imagineers didn't stop at decorating the resort. They made sure the food was Halloween-themed, as well. Several of the dishes have a Halloween theme or color scheme, but none are as cute as the BBQ Pork Muenster Grilled Cheese.

This sandwich looks just like something out of Monster's Inc, thanks to its thick sliced smile covered in deep fried jalapeños and green olive eyes. It was so cute I almost didn't want to eat it. But hunger won out and I took a bite — and it was so good. The barbecued pork was sweet and tangy while the muenster cheese added a creaminess that made the whole bite slide down my throat with ease. And while I'm not a big fan of spicy foods, the fried jalapeños only add a slight kick.

Unlike the pull-apart bread where the spice is front and center, the spice in this grilled cheese kicks in on the finish, with a lingering smokiness that reminds me more of a habanero. When combined with the tangy barbecue sauce and mild Muenster cheese, you end up with a sandwich that hit all the right notes and kept me coming back for more. As an extra bonus, the sandwich comes with a red cabbage slaw and crispy tater tots, creating the perfect choice for a nice lunch or dinner break.

Once fall hits, I know it's only a matter of time before I get to enjoy a nice sweet piece of apple pie. It's one of my favorite fall desserts, especially when served with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. So, when I saw that The Golden Horseshoe had a new Apple Pie Sundae on its menu, I was quite excited.

A decent-sized slice of apple pie topped with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream, salted caramel drizzle, cinnamon streusel, whipped cream, and a cherry, this indulgent dessert looked amazing. Separately all the pieces are delicious. The ice cream was cool and creamy. The cinnamon streusel had a delightful crunch and plenty of fall spice, the apples were nice and tart, and the crust was buttery, flaky goodness. But when you put all those pieces together? You end up with a dessert that was just way too much to stomach.

If Disney had just served the pie with ice cream and left off the caramel drizzle, whipped cream, and a cherry, this might have been the winner I wanted it to be. But all those extras turned it into a cloyingly, heavy concoction, and nothing like the fall dessert for which I was hoping.

Halloween isn't the only holiday associated with fall. If you're a fan of brats and beer, Oktoberfest is probably on your list, as well. Since there are several locations throughout California Adventure that serve beer, it's only fitting that there's a German-style sausage to enjoy along with it.

Where other Halloween Time options gilded the lily (like that apple pie), all the extras piled on top of the pork cheddar sausage make an outstanding lunch option. The sausage has tons of flavor. The sauerkraut provides a great sour kick and the velvety mustard beer cheese sauce is so luscious, I could have eaten it all on its own. The only thing I wasn't wild about was the pretzel bun on which it was served. I just don't like this new pretzel-everything trend, and a regular sausage bun would have been totally fine.

Even so, that bun wasn't enough to keep me from devouring the whole thing, then licking my fingers when I was done. It was completely satisfying, and I'm sure would have been perfect with an iced cold Hefeweizen.

It was announced at D23 that Coco 2 is in the works. To celebrate this announcement and Dia de Los Muertos, you can find a few Mexican dishes throughout the parks. One of my favorites is the classic tamale, so I chose this large Beef and Cheese Tamale from the Studio Catering Co. in Disney California Adventure.

It wasn't quite like the tamales I'm used to, but it was still pretty tasty. The shredded beef filling was nice and tender with hints of spice. I'm sure it was slow roasted for hours to get it to be that supple and have so much character. The tamale itself had plenty of that corn flavor I adore, but it wasn't as moist as those I've enjoyed in the past. It could have been from the cheese that was fried on top, which created this strange sort of crust enveloping the whole thing.

Once I broke through the crust and got a forkful of tamale and beef dipped in the salsa verde and lime crema, I ended up with an entree that was truly delightful, and would go great with a margarita. While it wouldn't be my first choice, if you're craving Mexican food, it's definitely worth a visit to Hollywood Land to pick up this tamale.

At the end of Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland is a Little Red Wagon which has been serving corn dogs since 1995. These are quite a popular, and the line always seems to stretch well past the Plaza Inn next door. While the classic corn dogs are still available, the chefs at Disneyland have released a special corn dog just for Halloween.

Now, I'm an anomaly in that I've never been a big fan of Disney's corn dog. It's always been too greasy for me, so I wasn't excited about tasting the new chili-cheese version. But let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised. The corn crust wasn't nearly as greasy as it usually is, but even better was the meaty chili sauce in which the corn dog was swimming. Thick and rich with only a hint of spice, the chili was exactly what I look for when I'm craving the winter dish.

In fact, even though it's called a spicy chili-cheese corn dog, it really isn't super spicy. Instead, the chili and jalapeño-cilantro crema add a nice, subtle kick to an already tasty dog. Even the hot cheese puff dust isn't too overpowering. It adds a beautiful pop of color and even more savoriness to the already delectable dog. Even if you have wait in line a while, trust me when I tell you it's definitely worth it.

Apple pie isn't the only dessert associated with fall, as pumpkin is another. Disney knows this, and offers up four different choices. I opted for the Crunch Cake because I'm a sucker for a cookie crust — and this one is outstanding. Full of that classic cookie flavor, the crust reminds me of a buttery blondie. It's the perfect base for that classic pumpkin pie filling layered on top.

Just as I expected, the pumpkin was smooth and luscious, full of cinnamon and cloves, all the flavors you want in a pumpkin pie. The dollop of spiced chantilly cream adds an extra layer of baking spices that meld harmoniously with the pumpkin. The only drawback was that cookie. As I mentioned, I thought it was a shortbread, but when I bit into it, I discovered it was actually a graham cracker. It wasn't the flavor that turned me off, though — it was the sogginess. This cookie was so soft it melted as soon as I bit into it. So, I removed it and finished the cake.

There's only one other drawback to this heavenly treat: its location. The only place you can taste it is at the River Belle Terrace which is one of the few sit down restaurants in the park. If you're planning on having a full meal, by all means end it with this amazing treat. But if you're looking for a quick sweet to grab and go, there are other, better choices. 

I've never been a fan of red velvet cake. There's just something about it that doesn't taste right to me. But I love chocolate, especially dark chocolate and raspberries. So when I saw this stunning slice and read the description, I just knew I had to try it. It was the best decision I made all day, as this cake may be "villainous," but in all the very best ways.

A moist, blood red velvet cake that's layered with thick, rich, dark chocolate ganache, this dessert is so decadently delicious, I literally licked the plate when I was done just to make sure I got every last morsel. If you're the chocoholic I am, you'll be happy to hear that the ganache isn't the only chocolate included in the cake. There are also tons of mini chocolate chips throughout the slice that add a delightful crunch to make the experience all the more satisfying.

But it isn't just the cake and different types of chocolate that made this cake absolutely amazing, it's the raspberry jam. Sandwiched between the cake and ganache, the jam adds just the right amount of tart fruit to counter the intense chocolate. Seriously, if you only sample one new treat during Halloween season (and who could do just one), it must be this Red Velvet Cake. If I'd had the space, I would have ordered a few more.

I love Disney, so whenever there's a new seasonal menu, I head down to the Happiest Place on Earth and attempt to sample as many new items as I can (my stomach can only hold so much, though). I chose only new food items here because I've already had the classics, and know what works and what doesn't. While there are inevitably a few misses, there are always numerous hits, as was the case here.

Several of the items were provided to me by the Disney chefs, and I happily sampled each and every one. But since the company only provided a small sample of the new menu, I added to my list based on treats I thought looked or sounded interesting. I wanted a variety, which is also why I picked both sweet and savory dishes. After all, odds are if you choose to enjoy an entree, you're going to want something sweet afterwards. At least I always do.

Once I had my list, I went from location to location in each park, purchased the item, and ate it immediately. That way I could enjoy it the way the chefs meant it to be. In some cases it worked and in others it didn't. But either way, I happily got a complete picture of what Disney has to offer this year and I was thrilled to be back.