We think fall is the BEST time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival are just the beginning of what makes this time of year our favorite.
The weather still feels like summer
You may find Florida’s heat and humidity to be uncomfortable, but for us being based in New England visiting Orlando in the fall essentially helps us stretch out our summer. It may be September or October, but we can still spend time by the pool and work on our tans while visiting the resort. When the weather at home is just beginning to cool down, we can take a vacation to Walt Disney World and get one last taste of summer.
I don’t always make time to spend a day at the pool, but during Disney trips it’s nice to take a break. I’m usually super busy between the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and Halloween festivities that I really look forward to some relaxation by the pool.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is by far our favorite hard ticketed event at Walt Disney World, and this year the party starts on August 17! The party features some of the best entertainment at the resort, including the HalloWishes Fireworks, the Boo to You Parade and the Hocus Pocus Villains Spectacular. (This year is also the 25th anniversary of Hocus Pocus!)
The event also includes character meet and greets and dance parties, exclusive merchandise, and of course trick or treating! The party is also really the only time when adult guests can dress up and visit the parks, and seeing all the other guests in their costumes is all part of the fun! We love Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party so much that we do it multiple times in one trip if it takes place for more than one day that week.
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is a foodie’s paradise! This year’s festival features 35 outdoor kitchens around Epcot for 75 days. In addition to these kiosks, the festival includes cooking and beverage seminars, exclusive events with celebrity chefs, a live music series, event-specific merchandise, and more! World Showcase has always been one of our favorite places to spend time in Walt Disney World, We have a slew of posts and photos coming from this year’s festival, so be sure to check back here as the festival continues!
Lower crowds, sort of
There really isn’t a slow season at Walt Disney World anymore, but if you’re looking for the smallest crowds and the most “summer” weather, fall is the best time to go. Most kids are just going back to school, and while weekends and holidays can be crowded it is overall still considered value season. The heaviest crowds you’ll see in the fall are likely going to be during the weekends at Food and Wine Festival, but you can easily visit during the week (or towards the middle of the festival rather than right at the beginning or the end) to help alleviate this.
It’s value season!
Many of the costs associated with a Disney vacation fluctuate based on the time of year. The busiest (or peak) seasons are more expensive, while the typically less crowded seasons are less expensive. Most of the fall season is considered value season, and you’ll find prices like select dining experiences, resort stays, and theme park tickets to be lower.
And did we mention all the pumpkin treats and Halloween decorations!? Do you have a favorite time to visit Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments!
