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10 Things Nobody Tells You About Visiting Walt Disney World Around Halloween

Boys and girls of every age, wouldn’t you like to see something strange – or maybe not so scary? Autumn and Halloween are great times to visit Walt Disney World is a magical time, with Mickey Mouse pumpkins, friendly scarecrows, and plenty of food and decorations to get you in the fall spirit! But make sure you’re aware of everything that fall in Florida, especially Disney World, encompasses:

10. Most of the Halloween festivities occur at the Magic Kingdom – While other parks do have some fall decor and things to experience, the most Halloween you can get is at the Magic Kingdom. This is most likely due to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party taking place at the Magic Kingdom, and the decorations for it don’t really come down during the day when the party isn’t occurring. You’re also going to find the most Halloween themed merchandise at Magic Kingdom, even though it is available at the other three parks, some of the resorts, and Downtown Disney/Disney Springs.

9. Cold fronts start to come through around Halloween time – In Florida in the fall, it could either still be very hot or cold fronts can start coming through that are surprisingly chilly! Make sure you come prepared with a jacket just in case and check the weather forecasts before your trip.

8. It’s still a busy time of the year – A common misconception is that kids being back in school results in a less crowded theme park or more vacancy at hotels. There isn’t really a down season at Walt Disney World, so still plan ahead!

7. Food and Wine Festival runs around the same time as Halloween events – If you’re hoping to avoid traffic at Magic Kingdom by going to Epcot and have no intentions of going to Food and Wine Festival, then you might want to go to another park or location at Disney World! Food and Wine Festival begins usually a week or so after Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween. Food and Wine Festival is always extremely popular so depending on the date of your trip, you might be able to experience both in one vacation!

6. You can enjoy the decorations and merchandise beginning in late August or early September – Disney prepares for Halloween and fall as early as late August so guests can get to see everything regardless of when their trip is. This includes Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, since it begins mid-September. So if your trip is at the end of August and you’re worried you’ll miss out on all of the Halloween fun, don’t worry! You can still enjoy Mickey Mouse pumpkin treats.

5. Hurricane season isn’t just the summer months – Hurricane season in Florida isn’t just during the summer. It usually extends out all the way through November, so be aware of the fact that it very well may rain or a thunderstorm might happen. Be prepared for this happening so your vacation doesn’t get ruined by a rainy day! Peak times during hurricane season are usually late August and September.

4. Some Halloween merchandise is exclusive to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party – You can purchase most Halloween merchandise from any of the gift shops at Walt Disney World or from the Disney Parks Product section of the Disney Store website, however some of it is limited to the Halloween Party. This merchandise is usually specific to the Halloween Party event rather than just Halloween.

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3. Extra magic hours and general Magic Kingdom park hours during this time are limited – Due to the Halloween Party occuring at 7:00 p.m. on the nights Magic Kingdom hosts it, extra magic hours for guests staying at Walt Disney World resorts can be limited for you depending on the date of your stay. If you are not attending the Halloween Party, be sure to take note of the dates of your stay that might fall on the same night as a party and make plans to attend another park instead of the Magic Kingdom for after 7:00 p.m.

2. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets are not included with park admission – A frequently asked question at Walt Disney World around Halloween time is if guests can attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party with their regular park admission. The answer is no! The Halloween Party is a separately priced and ticketed event. Prices vary by date and are more expensive the closer you get to Halloween, but the special events with rare characters and seasonal parades that happen at the Halloween Party are well worth the price!

1. For Not So Scary Halloween Party, you can enter the park before the party begins – Even though the party begins at 7:00 p.m., you can get in as early as 4:00 p.m. to the Magic Kingdom with your Not So Scary Halloween ticket. This way you can enjoy all that the Magic Kingdom has to offer before the party starts so you don’t have to worry about missing out on anything! This also means that guests not attending the party have to leave the Magic Kingdom at 7:00 for the party to begin.

Halloween time at Walt Disney World is, in my opinion, one of the greatest times to visit. As long as you know that it won’t be an empty park even though kids are in school and that it might still rain, you’ll have a wonderful vacation!

BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best Walt Disney World deal, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius!

About Jessica S.

Jessica is a multimedia journalist and lover of all things Disney, including Marvel and Star Wars. Jessica is an Annual Passholder at Walt Disney World and visits approximately once a month. She loves any excuse to Disney Bound or cosplay at the parks and you can probably find her on The Haunted Mansion.

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