Monsters Roam Disney California Adventure After Dark This Holiday

ANAHEIM, CA —Oogie Boogie is guarding the gates of Disney California Adventure, and that isn't the only change at the park. Starting Halloween season, expect to see some creepy monsters when you visit Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! after dark.

The Marvel-themed ride opened two years ago and has thrilled guests with irreverent story and wild drops since the attraction opened in 2017. Exclusively for the Halloween season, guests are in for a scary treat as the attraction transforms nightly into Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark.

When you step onboard prepare for some spooky differences to the famous ride.

The chaos of creatures on the loose and Rocket scheming to save Groot adds to the high-energy action, only during Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort, Sept. 6-Oct. 31.

Here's the gist:

In Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, Rocket finds his Guardians of the Galaxy pals trapped in the Fortress of The Collector, Taneleer Tivan, and guests assist him with a daring escape plan.

The Monsters After Dark transformation picks up moments afterward, as Rocket discovers that in the hurry to free his friends, they have inadvertently left Groot behind. Now Rocket needs to distract all the monsters he has unleashed inside the Fortress, and he enlists the guests to help while he rescues his little friend.

Joe Rohde, creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, called it “creepy, chaotic and very funny.” Rohde worked on development of the original attraction.

The transformation from Mission: BREAKOUT! to Monsters After Dark happens each evening, and the set up is worth watching.

The Collector’s Fortress goes dark, alarms sound and special lighting on the exterior of the Fortress alerts guests that something inside has gone awry.

Guests entering the lobby will be greeted with flashing alarms and creepy sounds – warning signs that creatures have escaped their vitrine cages and all kinds of chaos is erupting. The Collector’s ever-resourceful assistant Apheta tries to keep calm by reassuring guests that all is in order, and this is just a momentary setback.

In keeping with the dark humor of the experience, all-new 1970s-style punk rock song, “Monsters After Dark,” enhances the thrill of the experience. The song was written especially for this attraction by Tyler Bates, composer for the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films.

If you want to hear the tune? Find it on Amazon Music.

Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark is only available during Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort.

Guests may check park time guides, the official Disneyland mobile app or disneyland.com for the timing of this nightly transformation.