Three stories demand attention this week. The expected October 7 ticket price hike is 48 hours out, Costco quietly dropped a genuinely good 2-Day Park Hopper deal valid through December 18, and Disneyland published 7 hotel perks for October that include free kid-friendly programming most hotel guests won't hear about unless they ask. Plus a popcorn bucket recall worth knowing about, and the Monsters Inc. 25th Anniversary pin drop that's taking on a "last chance" meaning now that the ride closes in 2027. Here's what changes.
🚨 Trip-Planning Impact
October 7 ticket price hike is 2 days out. The pattern is consistent: Disneyland raised prices October 8, 2024, October 9, 2023, and October 11, 2022. Wednesday October 7, 2026 almost certainly lands another increase on multi-day tickets, Park Hopper add-ons, Magic Keys, Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and parking. If you have any 2026 or 2027 trip in mind, buy tickets by Tuesday night.
Costco dropped a $329.99 2-Day Park Hopper with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and $60 Dining Card. This is the single best family-ticket deal available right now. A standard two-day ticket with the same perks (Park Hopper + LLMP) would run $503, meaning Costco's bundle saves $233 before the dining card value. Valid for admission October 2 through December 18, 2026, which covers all of Halloween Time plus the first five weeks of Holidays at the Disneyland Resort. One important catch: the ticket has a 13-day fuse once first used, so you cannot attend Halloween Time (ending October 31) and Holidays (starting November 13) on the same ticket. Pick a season.
If you don't have a Costco membership, Get Away Today runs comparable multi-day deals with their own savings stacked plus interest-free payment plans, and they consistently come in competitive on the overall value.
Disney Visa Cardmembers get up to 20% off Disneyland Resort hotels Sun through Thu nights. Rates valid October 11 through December 18, must book by December 15. This covers the back half of Halloween Time and most of Holidays season. Worth running the math if you have the card. The Sunday-through-Thursday restriction means Disney is specifically trying to fill its softer midweek nights, which is also when crowds are lowest. Good overlap for families willing to pull kids out of school for a Monday or Tuesday.
🏨 Hotel Perks for October (Mostly Underpublicized)
Disneyland published 7 October hotel perks for overnight guests at Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian, or Pixar Place Hotel. Most of these aren't well advertised at check-in, so families who booked a Disneyland Resort hotel for an October trip should actively ask for details. The ones that matter for kids 2 to 8:
Trick-or-treat trail runs across all three hotels throughout October. Free, works for any age, exactly the kind of low-stimulation Halloween activity that pairs well with afternoon nap breaks.
Washcloth animal-making class at Discovery Den (Disneyland Hotel) on Tuesday mornings (October 7, 14, 21, 28) at 9:30 AM. This is genuinely adorable for the 3-to-6 crowd and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, which fits well into a morning rope-drop break.
The Nightmare Before Christmas movie screening on Frontier Lawn at Disneyland Hotel on Tuesday nights (October 7, 14, 21, 28) at 8:00 PM. Outdoor screening, bring your own blanket. Works for kids old enough to handle the Nightmare aesthetic (generally 5+), and the park-adjacent setting beats trying to wind down kids back in the hotel room after a long day.
Free drawing class at The Sketch Pad Café at Pixar Place Hotel Tuesdays at 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM. Perfect afternoon nap-break alternative if your kid is older and would rather draw than sleep.
Joe Gardner (the piano teacher from Soul) meet-and-greet at Pixar Place throughout October. One of the lower-traffic character meets at the resort.
The Haunted Mansion street party at Frontier Lawn on Tuesdays at 7:00 to 8:00 PM might be too intense for sensitive young kids. Preview the vibe before committing.
🎢 Ride Status This Week
| Ride | Status | What Parents Should Know |
|---|---|---|
| Mad Tea Party | Still closed, no reopen date | Extended closure continues into October |
| Monsters Inc.: Mike & Sulley to the Rescue | Closing in 2027 for Avatar land | Ride on any 2026 or early 2027 trip |
| Fantasmic! | Weekend-only | Fri, Sat, Sun performances only |
| Bluey's Best Day Ever! | Thu through Mon schedule | Dark Tuesdays and Wednesdays |
| Pixar Place Hotel Pool | ✅ Fully reopened | Normal operations |
| Mark Twain Riverboat | Still closed for refurb | Skip Rivers of America |
| Haunted Mansion Holiday | ✅ Open | Friendlier than regular Mansion for sensitive kids |
| Autopia (gas-powered) | Active, closes early 2027 | Ride before conversion |
🎃 Halloween Time, Final 26 Days
Halloween Time is in its final push through October 31. Crowd forecasting from Touring Plans shows Mondays through Thursdays holding at 4 to 5 out of 10 through mid-October, climbing to 6 to 7 for the final two weeks. Weekends sit at 7 to 8 across the month, with Halloween weekend itself (October 30 and 31) at the very top. For families with any flexibility, Monday October 5 and Tuesday October 6 are the best crowd days remaining in the entire season.
Plaza de la Familia at DCA continues through November 2. Miguel meet-and-greets remain quick waits on weekdays. The Coco music sets in Paradise Gardens Park run through the afternoon.
Mickey and Friends Halloween Cavalcade continues at Disneyland. Halloween Screams fireworks runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights only.
Oogie Boogie Bash tickets have been sold out for weeks, but the events themselves continue through October 31. If you see "Oogie Boogie Bash" on the calendar for a given night, DCA closes early to the general public (typically 6:00 PM) that evening. Plan accordingly if you're not attending the party.
Monsters Inc. 25th Anniversary pin drops Tuesday October 6 and Wednesday October 7. This takes on new sentimental weight given Disney confirmed the ride closes in 2027 for the Avatar land. For families whose kids love Monsters Inc., it's a small way to mark the occasion before the ride is gone.
🍿 Food Worth Knowing
Popcorn bucket recall: the Winnie the Pooh Hunny Bee Sipper has been pulled from the parks. Reports indicate the straw mechanism was defective, so Disney removed it from sale. If your family bought one in the past few weeks and it's not working as a drink container, bring it to Guest Services. Refunds should be straightforward given the known defect.
Four new Halloween popcorn buckets continue to sell: the Halloween Villains Cauldron ($16), Headless Horseman, Vampire Mickey, and the Hatbox Ghost. The Jack Skellington Gravestone Bucket is also back from 2025. Per-person limits apply (typically 10) on most of these. If your kid collects buckets, hit the Main Street popcorn stands first.
The new Churro Hand Tart continues to be the sleeper hit of Halloween Time snacking.
Plaza de la Familia food at DCA (Rancho del Zócalo and the carts around Paradise Gardens Park) remains the best Halloween Time eating, particularly for families who want authentic food that's also kid-friendly.
Alien Pizza Planet, Little Red Wagon corn dogs, and Ronto Wraps at Galaxy's Edge remain the reliable year-round kid-friendly picks.
Bopo Go! at Downtown Disney: still not open. Approaching 3 months of visible construction.
💰 Deals & Tickets
Buy tickets before October 7 to lock in current pricing. This is the last window with any certainty. If you have Costco, buy the $329.99 bundle. If you don't, use Get Away Today or Undercover Tourist.
Disneyland Hotel Holiday Discount is live at up to 20% off for bookings between October 11 and December 18 (Disney Visa cardmembers get the full 20%, non-cardmember rates run slightly lower).
2027 Disneyland vacation packages remain open for booking. Booking before October 7 locks in 2027 pricing at pre-hike levels.
8 Tier 0 days scheduled for November for anyone within driving distance looking for the cheapest tickets of the remainder of 2026.
👀 What We're Watching
Monsters Inc. 2027 closure timing. No specific closure date yet. Avatar land groundbreaking suggests the ride closes mid-to-late 2027. If your kid loves Monsters Inc., prioritize a ride on any 2026 or early 2027 trip.
Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens November 15 (41 days out). 40-inch height requirement. The theming is warmer and less intense than Splash Mountain was, which reads better for sensitive 4 to 7 year olds.
Holidays at Disneyland Resort runs November 13 through January 6, 2027. Santa moves to Mickey's Toontown Trolley Barn this year (better location for families with young kids), new character dining options at Storytellers Café, and the Haunted Mansion Holiday 25th anniversary gingerbread music box.
Coco ride construction at DCA continues. Opening speculation now points to 2028 or 2029.
Anzellan droidsmiths at Droid Depot still pending install. No date announced.
New pin trading vending machines have been added around the parks. Interesting detail for families with kids who've gotten into pin trading. Faster than hunting down cast members with lanyards.
Tomorrowland reimagining scope continues to expand. Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and Autopia both potentially in scope. If either is on your kid's must-do list, ride sooner rather than later.
Disney continues cost-cutting across the parks (1,000 confirmed job cuts, early retirement packages for senior employees). Expect operational and entertainment belt-tightening to continue. If something feels thinner on a trip in the next few months, you're not imagining it.
Planning a Disneyland trip for Halloween Time, the Holidays, or in 2027? Start with our 2-day toddler itinerary and Lightning Lane strategy guide, both updated for current ride status, October hotel perks, and the October 7 ticket price hike math.