How to Celebrate Halloween at Disney World

It’s that spooky season again, and what better way to celebrate than at the happiest place on earth?

That’s right, Disney World is once again pulling out all the stops for their Halloween festivities.

There’s something for everyone, from the Minnie’s Halloween Dine for the kids to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival for the adults.

It’s time to make your way to the magical kingdom and have the Halloween of a lifetime.

Start with Halfway to Halloween

The Halloween celebrations at Disney World start early with the “Halfway to Halloween” festivities in April and May, where you can find spooky treats, merchandise, and experiences throughout the park.

This is also usually when Disney announces its Halloween events, such as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

There’s also often a preview of the merchandise that will be released closer to the holiday.

See all the fun Fall and Halloween decorations

There’s nothing quite like the spooktacular Halloween decorations at Disney World!

The Halloween decorations appear starting in August, which is when the first Halloween events start, and stay up through the holiday.

They are usually taken down within a day or two of Halloween and immediately replaced with Christmas decorations, so if you want to see the Fall decor, it’s best to visit on or before Halloween day.

Taste all the fun Halloween food and drink

No trip to Disney World during Halloween is complete without indulging in some spooky sweets.

Think chocolate-molded skulls, key lime flavored zombie finger cookies, Jack Skellington pops, pumpkin cheesecake, Halloween cupcakes, and more.

Don’t forget the caramel and candied apples, a Fall-time staple!

Every year new Halloween treats debut and it’s always so fun to see what the Disney culinary team comes up with, like the plant-based monster cupcake and pumpkin cheesecake seen in the photo above.

Grab some cute Halloween merchandise

During the Halloween season, you’ll see lots of spooky gear like Halloween-themed Minnie ears, shirts with the Sanderson sisters, and pumpkin-themed Loungefly backpacks, at gift shops in the parks, resorts, and even at Disney Springs,

There’s even event-specific merchandise for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

Taste your way around the Epcot Food & Wine Festival

For the foodies out there, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is definitely worth a visit.

Perfectly timed to coincide with Halloween, this festival features food and drink from around the world, concerts from well-known artists, and fun activities.

Take a stroll around the World Showcase and fill your bellies while enjoying the spooky atmosphere.

For more info on this event, check out my Epcot Food & Wine Festival guide.

Check out Minnie’s Halloween Dine at Hollywood & Vine

Always the best host, Minnie Mouse puts on a seasonal character dining event at Hollywood & Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

During the Halloween season, she hosts Minnie’s Halloween Dine, where she and other characters dress up in costume or Halloween themed outfits, and meet with guests for autographs, hugs, and photos.

Bring the little ones for a chance to dine with some of their favorite Disney characters dressed in their Halloween costumes.

Visit the Hollywood & Vine page for dates on when this fun seasonal dining experience is available.

Check out all the Halloween fun at Disney Springs

Disney Springs is full of Halloween entertainment, from pumpkin displays to live entertainment.

Stop by and enjoy some seasonal shopping, and don’t forget to grab a bite to eat at one of their amazing restaurants.

While many of the restaurants and cafes have Halloween specials, one of the top spots to check out is Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar with a fun list of appetizers and drinks that are all Halloween themed.

In addition, every month, Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs releases a special flavor only available for that month.

For example, in August, it’s Peanut Butter Cold Brew with Reese’s Pieces, which is so Halloween-y, don’t you think?

And if you forgot a costume for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you’ll surely find something to put together at one of the many shops here.

Around early September, visitors can stop by the Disney PhotoPass studio to have pictures taken with Halloween-themed backdrops.

In addition, Disney Springs has some Halloween-time entertainment scheduled. Some offerings start in August, while others don’t start til September. Check the official Disney Springs Fall schedule for dates.

One of my faves are the skeleton stiltwalkers roaming Disney Springs every evening, Friday through Sunday.

In addition, you might also run into Zombeats, a 4-person zombie percussion group, as they perform for guests.

At Waterside Stage, you can catch Squad Ghouls, an a capella group, performing familiar tunes.

And last but not least, there’s a DJ in a mobile pumpkin spinning your favorite hits while they ride around Disney Springs. It’s kind of like a modern-day Cinderella!

Be sure to stop by and pick up a few extra for home to extend the Disney magic beyond your visit!

Celebrate at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Get your costumes ready and join Mickey and his friends for their annual Halloween extravaganza.

The Magic Kingdom transforms into a Halloween wonderland, complete with a parade, dance parties, stage shows, a dessert party, and special character meet-and greets.

There’s even trick-or-treating around the park and a special fireworks show behind Cinderella Castle!

Plus, there’s a musical stage show with your favorite Disney villains featured, like Cruella, Dr. Facilier, the Sanderson Sisters, Oogie Boogie, and more.

Most of the rides at Magic Kingdom are available with lower wait times due to the limited number of tickets sold.

Some rides, such as Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Mad Tea Party, even have a special Halloween-twist!

If you’re familiar with the super scary Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, MNSSHP is very much the opposite of that.

So if you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate Halloween without getting scared to death, this is the way to go!

The best part? Everyone is encouraged to wear Halloween costumes – even adults!

For more details on this fun after hours event, check out my guide to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Wear a costume to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Adults and older kids are not allowed to wear costumes to the parks – but an exception is made for guests attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

So if you’ve ever dreamed of going beyond a Disneybound outfit and showing up in full-on Disney costume, this is your chance!

There are still rules you need to follow, such as no long clothing that drags on the ground and no posing for photographs as if you’re an official character, but it’s a small price to pay for an evening of cosplay and fun in Magic Kingdom.

If you need a Halloween costume or just some fun Disney Halloween gear for your trip, check out my Disney Halloween costume & outfit collection on Amazon.

I’ve got collections including costume ideas and accessories for: Toy Story, Monster’s Inc, Emperor’s New Groove, Lilo & Stitch, TRON, Tally the Elf (yes, your favorite Christmas elf from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!), and more.

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Get some Halloween Magic Shots

Don’t forget to capture your memories on film with some of Disney’s special Halloween-themed Magic Shots.

These fun photo opportunities are available throughout the parks, and features some of your favorite characters and Halloween elements.

There are even some shots only available at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party!

Stay at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

While all of the Disney resorts have fun events on Halloween, the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground takes the top spot.

This resort hosts tons of fun activities on Halloween and the days leading up to it that you won’t experience elsewhere.

First, guests are encouraged to decorate their campsites with Halloween decor, much like people do at home.

So even if you don’t get a chance to take part in the resort activities, you’ll at least get to enjoy all of the fun decor as you make your way through the resort each day.

Next is the golf-cart parade, with guests decorating their golf carts as if they were Halloween parade floats.

There’s also a pet costume parade (how cute!!!) and a pumpkin decorating contest.

But the best event is the camp-or-treat event on Halloween night, where guests can trick-or-treat around the resort from 6-9 PM.

It’s perfect for families who want to enjoy some fun Halloween moments while avoiding the crowds at the parks.

What’s your favorite way to celebrate Halloween at Disney World?

There you have it, friends – your ultimate guide to celebrating Halloween at Disney World.

Whether you’re a foodie or a thrill-seeker, there’s something for everyone at the most magical place on Earth during the Halloween season.

So, pack your bags, grab your best Disney-themed Halloween costumes, and get ready for some magic this Halloween at Disney World.

This post was originally published September 13, 2023. It was last updated October 21, 2025.