All Articles An all-ages guide to fall at Walt Disney World

An all-ages guide to fall at Walt Disney World

Not-so-scary Halloween events and more.

By Carly Terzigni23 Aug 2023 6 minutes read
Minnie and Mickey Mouse dressed up for the fall season at Disney World

For fans in the know, fall is one of the best times of the year to visit Walt Disney World. From beloved food festivals to not-so-scary Halloween events, the parks and resorts are teeming with family-friendly activities. Plus, crowds are typically lighter than in the summer months, and the weather finally starts cooling off, especially as you head into October. Keep reading for must-do fall activities at Walt Disney World for every age group.


Ages 2-5

Enjoy Halloween decorations without a park ticket

Want to get into the Halloween spirit without even stepping foot in a park? Campers at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground go all-out around Halloween with decorations that include pumpkins, twinkling lights, and larger-than-life lawn inflatables. Visitors can expect to start seeing the decorations pop up as early as September, but things really ramp up in October. Tots can toddle around and take in the colorful decor at their own leisurely pace, and there’s plenty of room to maneuver with a stroller. (Past Halloweens have featured golf cart parades and trick-or-treating, too.)

Something to keep in mind: Disney requires that visitors who aren’t spending the night at Fort Wilderness have a confirmed dining or activities reservation (i.e. horseback riding at the campground) to park there. You can also get to Fort Wilderness by bus, by boat from Wilderness Lodge or Magic Kingdom, or by ride-share service, like Minnie Van.

Dine with Minnie in her Halloween finery

Minnie and Mickey Mouse greeting diners at Hollywood & Vine
Hollywood & Vine
Image: Courtesy of Disney

Seeing Disney characters dressed up in Halloween costumes is rare and typically exclusive to Magic Kingdom’s ticketed Halloween Party, but beginning in mid-August, Minnie Mouse and her friends don their spooky finery at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Meals are served in an all-you-can-eat-buffet manner, and the characters approach your table as you dine, making it an excellent option to see them all dressed up without shelling out for after-hours event tickets or keeping kids up well past bedtime.

Something to keep in mind: As with many restaurants in the parks, booking a reservation is essential—you can grab one for Hollywood & Vine 60 days ahead of your visit, either online, in the My Disney Experience app, or by calling Disney World directly.

Ages 6-10

Go scavenger hunting at Epcot

Epcot is bustling with activity come fall. For food-lovers, there’s the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival—but don’t be fooled, it isn’t just for adults. There are usually a few food and drink picks tailored to kids, in addition to Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt. As you wander through the festival, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for figurines of Ratatouille’s Chef Remy, usually fixed atop the food booths (don’t worry—he’ll be big enough to spot). Snag a game board so your kids can check off every Remy sighting on the map, earning a special prize.

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit is also ongoing in October and has its own seasonal game that lets your kids take the lead. Once you purchase the game board and stickers, search the park for pumpkins themed after Disney characters. Bonus: kids receive a prize whether or not they finish the entire map.

Something to keep in mind: For both Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt and Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, the game boards, stickers, and prizes can be purchased and redeemed at Disney Traders, Port of Entry, Creations Shop, World Traveler at International Gateway, or the Festival Merchandise Kiosks—all in Epcot.

Preteens

Party all night long at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Family trick or treating at Mickey’s Not - So - Scary Halloween Party
Mickey’s Not - So - Scary Halloween Party
Image: Management/Tripadvisor

Perhaps the biggest draw for families visiting the parks in the fall is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This ticketed after-hours celebration takes place on select nights in Magic Kingdom from 7 p.m. ‘til midnight and is stacked with events like Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade, the ‘Hocus Pocus’ Villain Spelltacular show, character meet and greets (some of which are dressed up for the occasion), and plenty of Halloween candy. And yes, wearing Halloween costumes is strongly encouraged for guests of all ages—not just the kids.

Something to keep in mind: Festivities aside, the party is a great time to experience Magic Kingdom’s rides with much shorter waits, including Space Mountain (which runs with lights completely off just for party attendees) and TRON Lightcycle/Run.

Keep attention spans locked in at Disney Springs

Disney Springs may not have rides, but it has plenty of entertainment, including the Squad Ghoul, an acapella singing group that performs Halloween hits. (Catch them on the Waterside Stage in Disney Springs on weekends in late September and October.) Be on the lookout for other spooky cast members, including a percussion ensemble and stilt walkers. Disney Springs will also keep preteens busy with shopping at World of Disney, Tren-D, and DisneyStyle, and fun restaurants like Splitsville Luxury Lanes, T-Rex, and Planet Hollywood.

Something to keep in mind: Parents will have plenty to see and do at Disney Springs as well. The shopping and dining district gets in on the action each year with Fall Into Magic, a celebration of all things autumn. Adults, in particular, will enjoy the specialty, fall-only food and beverage items, plus seasonal shopping for rustic home decor and villain-inspired clothing.

Teens

Blow the shopping budget for the ‘gram

If you visit Disney World, but you didn’t share it on Instagram and TikTok, were you even there? Fortunately, Disney provides teens with plenty of fall photo ops. The parks and resorts are practically teeming with photogenic Halloween and fall-themed sweets, like the Tombstone Tart pastry at Golden Oak Outpost and a bright orange version of the Mickey-shaped Cinnamon Roll at Main Street Bakery. And don’t forget to pick up a new fall pair of Minnie Ears to maximize autumn vibes.

Go ham with spooky rides

Evening exterior view of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Image: Courtesy of Disney

Walt Disney World doesn’t give their rides any special Halloween treatment per se (unless you’re attending the Halloween party), but there are plenty of attractions that offer “ghoulish delight” year-round. Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror go all-out on the spook factor—but also consider Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot and TRON Lightcycle/Run at Magic Kingdom for top-speed, spine-tingling thrills, too. While not particularly spooky, DINOSAUR and Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom also kick up the adrenaline for even the most Halloween-averse teens.

Something to keep in mind: It may be worth purchasing Genie+, Disney World’s paid service that allows guests to skip the regular standby line. It’ll keep teens’ attention spans while they check every ride off their faves list.

Adults

Embrace your inner foodie at Epcot’s food festival

For those over 21, fall at Walt Disney World means strolling around the waterfront World Showcase with a glass of wine in hand. Starting in the summer and lasting through mid-November, the flagship Epcot International Food and Wine Festival draws in countless Disney fans for limited-time small bites and drinks (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic are available) and the annual Eat to the Beat Concert Series, which features a lineup of local and household-name music acts.

Something to keep in mind: Tackling the festival is often an all-day affair, even for the savviest of planners, and you may find that you need an additional day at Epcot if you want to try a bite of everything. Food booths open around 11 a.m. each day and close with the park. To save time, review each of the booth’s menus ahead of time so you can pick which to prioritize. And if you want to attend the concert series, get in line early, or look into booking a Dining Package that comes with guaranteed seating.

Lace up for the half marathon

Runners at Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon
Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon
Image: Courtesy of Disney

The average Disney World guest will clock tens of thousands of steps each day, but if that’s not enough, you can always run a quick half-marathon in the morning before heading to the parks. Disney World hosts several half- and full-marathon weekends throughout the year, including the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend, which typically falls over the first weekend of November. Dressing up is encouraged, and some participants go all-out with their running costumes, especially for the more casual 5K and 10K races. Disney character meet-and-greets, some of which you hardly ever see in the parks, can be found throughout the race course.

Something to keep in mind: The marathons start early each morning (typically at 5 a.m.) so that all of the runners can work through the race course before the parks open. Even if you are not running, it is helpful to note when the marathon weekends take place, as there are usually additional crowds and slight delays in park transportation.

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Carly Terzigni
Carly Terzigni has been writing about Walt Disney World since working on her first unofficial guide book to help plan her family vacation in middle school. Her writing has appeared in USA Today, Fodor’s Travel, Insider, and Family Vacationist, where she currently serves as Theme Park Reporter and Editor. She is based out of New England where she enjoys planning her next adventure, whether that’s across the country to check out the newest attraction or down the road to visit her favorite coffee shop.