Guardians of the Galaxy Ride Goes Spooky Ahead of Official Dates

A daring Halloween adventure is about to blast back into Disney California Adventure Park — but some eagle-eyed fans are already spotting something curious. Officially, Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark is scheduled to return August 22 through October 31, 2025. Yet, both the Disneyland website and app are currently showing today’s operating hours for the attraction… even listing Lightning Lane availability. The twist? You can’t actually book it, and it’s unclear whether that’s because it’s sold out for the day or simply not being offered yet. Is this a platform glitch or a surprise early drop? Let’s break it down.

What Is Monsters After Dark?

Each year during the Halloween season, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! Transforms after 3:00 PM into Monsters After Dark, a pulse-pounding overlay filled with dark humor, frantic music, and a creepier-than-usual tone.

A massive, fiery, demonic monster with glowing eyes and mouth roars at tiny Groot and Rocket Raccoon, who face it inside a dark, industrial space in Monsters After Dark. Rocket clings to a ladder while Groot stands bravely in front.

A Fiendishly Frightening Escape:
Groot has been left behind during the chaos of the Guardians’ latest rescue mission, and the Collector’s Fortress has descended into total pandemonium. Menacing beasts roam the halls, alarms blare, and danger lurks around every corner. Rocket needs your help to re-enter the fortress, distract the creatures, and get Groot out safely. Of course, in true Guardians fashion, the plan doesn’t exactly go smoothly

While it’s still family-friendly by theme park standards, Monsters After Dark amps up the tension compared to its daytime counterpart. Expect loud sounds in the dark, unsettling growls, and glimpses of snarling beasts. The combination of jump scares, chaotic visuals, and a heavy metal soundtrack may be intense for younger guests.

A digital map shows the Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! attraction with a 25-minute wait and Multi Pass option, featuring the colorful building. During Monsters After Dark, Rocket’s Race to Save Groot adds a spooky return to this thrilling ride.

Today’s Odd Listing — Glitch or Soft Launch?

Here’s where it gets interesting: despite the official start date being over a week away, the Disneyland app and website currently list Monsters After Dark for today, complete with posted operating hours and a Lightning Lane option. Yet, when trying to book, the attraction is unavailable.

That leaves fans wondering:

Is this an early tech error that accidentally revealed the ride’s seasonal overlay ahead of schedule?
Or is Disney quietly soft-launching the experience for select guests before the official return?

With no official statement from Disney, it’s all speculation — but it wouldn’t be the first time an attraction appeared early due to system testing.

Countdown to Chaos

Whether it’s a harmless scheduling glitch or the beginnings of a stealth debut, Monsters After Dark will be thrilling guests soon enough. Starting August 22, Rocket’s desperate dash to save Groot will take over the fortress each afternoon, giving Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort an extra jolt of chaotic, Guardians-style energy.

One thing’s for sure: if you see it listed in the app after 3:00 PM this fall, you’ll want to jump on that Lightning Lane — before Rocket leaves you behind, too.