What’s happening at Disney World in October? Is this month a good time to go? Can you have some Halloween fun without paying for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?
Guide2WDW is here with the answers to all this and more in this edition of This Month at Disney World. We’ll cover everything that’s going on at Disney World this month, including crowd levels, ticket prices, deals, and more!
Find out if you should visit Disney World in October, what special events are going on, and tips to have a spooktacular vacation this month.
Is October a good month to visit Disney World?
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If I could pick one month to visit Disney World, I would pick October.
Part of that is my love for all things Halloween. The fall decorations have been up since July, when it was sweltering enough in Orlando that drinking a hot PSL would cause you to ignite from the insides. October features cooler weather, so is the one chance to enjoy the fall decorations while it actually feels like Autumn.
However, the summer lull is officially over. Crowds tick up compared to the very low wait times in August and September. On average, October is a moderate month for crowds, but some weeks are much better than others.
Crowds spike by the middle of the month, but the second half of the month has some of the best weeks to visit. In fact, I rated the last week of October as my pick for the best week to visit Disney World this year. But there’s more to it than just lower wait times.
October is packed with seasonal events like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. Plus, EPCOT has a ton of new things this month, including a Moana attraction and the return of Soarin’ Over California.
October is my favorite month to visit Disney World. If you’re interested in experience the glory that is WDW in October, get in touch with our friends at Vacationeer, who can do all the planning for absolutely no charge.
What’s happening at Disney World in October 2023?
Magic Kingdom in October
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: Boo to you and you and you! With better weather and more dates, October is the best month for Magic Kingdom’s Halloween Party. You can find out more about the party in our Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party runs on the following nights this month:
- October: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31
EPCOT in October
Journey of Water – Inspired by Moana debuts October 16: After a lengthy construction, World Nature’s newest attraction is finally ready for guests. This walkthrough attraction features interactive fountains and magical water displays that teach you about the Water Cycle.
EPCOT will hold previews for DVC and Annual Passholders before the attraction opens on the 16th.
Soarin Over California is back! As part of the Disney100 celebration, Disney World has brought back the original California film for Soarin’. While the Soarin’ around the World version makes more sense for EPCOT’s theme, I just love the California version. And I’m not alone. Since its debut in September, lines for Soarin’ have been among the longest at EPCOT.
If you can snag a Lightning Lane, take some time to stop and smell the oranges.
New characters around EPCOT: This October, you can meet with some new and recently debuted characters.
- Figment – Imagination Pavilion
- Mickey and Minnie in Disney100 outfits – Imagination Pavilion
- Moana – Near Journey of Water (Starting October 16)
New Spaceship Earth Light Show: As part of the 100th anniversary celebration, Spaceship Earth features a new light show set to “When You Wish Upon a Star.”
EPCOT Food & Wine Festival: It’s fun to be a foodie at the EPCOT during the Food & Wine Festival. With dozens of food booths and some amazing items to try, eating and drinking around the world is the most fun during this fest. You can find out everything that’s going on this year in our EPCOT Food & Wine Festival guide.
Eat to the Beat Concerts October Schedule: During the Food & Wine Festival, EPCOT hosts free concerts in the America Gardens Theatre. Some of the most anticipated bands this month include Boyz II Men, Taylor Dayne, and Hanson. Here’s the full Eat to the Beat lineup:
- October 1-2 – Boyz II Men
- October 3-5 – Wish Radio
- October 6-7 – Mark Wills
- October 8-9 – Sugar Ray
- October 10-12 – Icon Party Band
- October 13-14 – Hoobastank
- October 15-16 – Air Supply
- October 17-19 – Evolution Motown
- October 20-21 – Taylor Dayne
- October 22-23 – Billy Ocean
- October 24-26 – Sound Up
- October 27-30 – Hanson
- October 31-November 2 – Rexine
Hollywood Studios in October
Extended Evening Hours Continues: Extended Evening Hours returned last month to Hollywood Studios.
- October 5
- October 11
- October 19
- October 25
If you’re staying at at Deluxe Resort, you should take advantage of these late nights at DHS. If not, be warned that lines will be longer this day.
Animal Kingdom in October
Go on Dinosaur and It’s Tough to Be a Bug while You Still Can: As anticipated, we got some huge Animal Kingdom announcements at Destination D23 last month. While we don’t have any concrete closing dates, it’s clear that the days are numbered for DinoLand USA and It’s Tough to Be A Bug.
If you are a fan of these Animal Kingdom attractions, go on while you still have the chance!
Tips for visiting Disney World in October
Here are a few of our favorite Disney World tips for visiting this month.
- Tip of the Month: Check your resort for Halloween activities. You don’t have to pay for Mickey’s Not So Scary to have some Halloween fun at Disney World. If you’re visiting on the week of Halloween, check in with your resort about special activities. In the past, we’ve done trick or treating at our resort, and then joined a giant dance party on the Boardwalk. Last year, the Swan and Dolphin had a Spooky Skeleton Pool Party and Trick or Treating that was free for guests, plus some premium Halloween add-ons. So, check in with your resort for the special Halloween festivities. It’s a way to have some spooky fun without shelling out the cash for Magic Kingdom’s premium party.
- The second showing of the Boo To You Parade is less crowded. If you’re going to Mickey’s Not So Scary, don’t sweat the crowds for the first parade. The later parade is much less crowded, so you can get a good spot without lining up an hour ahead of time. For more Halloween Party tricks, check out our 13 Not So Scary Halloween Party Tips.
Crowds at Disney World in October 2023
As we showed in The Best Months to Visit Disney World, October is a moderate month for crowds. However, some of the weeks are much more crowded than others.
Crowds spike during the first two full weeks of the month. In 2022, the weeks ending in October 9th and October 16 were both in the top ten most crowded weeks of the year, with that middle week of the month being the most crowded. And comparing the last four years, the first two full weeks of the month are tied for 13th on average when it comes to wait times across all four parks.
The second half of the month is much less crowded. After the mid-month peak, lines go down pretty dramatically. Last year, the average wait time for the final week of October was 10 minutes less than the peak crowds that month — representing a 21% reduction in wait times across the board. And looking at the last four years, the final two full weeks of the month have significantly shorter wait times, with the last week being in the top 10 for least crowded weeks at Disney World.
So, the first two full weeks of October: pretty crowded.
But then after that, wait times should go down the rest of the month.
Wait Times by Day of the Week in October
When we plan out our vacation, we try to visit each park on days when each park will be the least crowded. For example, Mondays are typically the most crowded day at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, so we try to plan on doing Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom those days. However, that wasn’t the case last October at WDW.
Here were the most and least crowded days at Disney World in October last year:
October 2022 – Average Wait Time
| Day of the Week | Magic Kingdom | EPCOT | Hollywood Studios | Animal Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 40 Minutes | 40 Minutes | 51 Minutes | 46 Minutes |
| Tuesday | 31 Minutes | 36 Minutes | 50 Minutes | 47 Minutes |
| Wednesday | 43 Minutes (Longest) | 36 Minutes | 47 Minutes | 40 Minutes (Shortest) |
| Thursday | 28 Minutes (Shortest) | 40 Minutes | 51 Minutes | 48 Minutes |
| Friday | 29 Minutes | 44 Minutes (Longest) | 52 Minutes (Longest) | 56 Minutes (Longest) |
| Saturday | 39 Minutes | 36 Minutes | 44 Minutes (Shortest) | 46 Minutes |
| Sunday | 31 Minutes | 33 Minutes (Shortest) | 47 Minutes | 39 Minutes |
Wait times via Thrill-Data
You can read more about the best and worst days to visit each park in our When to Visit Disney World Guide:
- The Best Days to Visit Magic Kingdom
- The Best Days to Visit EPCOT
- The Best Days to Visit Hollywood Studios
- The Best Days to Visit Animal Kingdom
Extended Evening Hours Schedule
Extended Evening Hours lets guests at Deluxe Resorts stay in the park 2 hours after regular closing. Here’s the October schedule.
| October 2, 2023 | EPCOT (9 pm to 11 pm) |
| October 5, 2023 | Disney’s Hollywood Studios (9 pm to 11 pm) |
| October 9, 2023 | EPCOT (9 pm to 11 pm) |
| October 11, 2023 | Disney’s Hollywood Studios (9 pm to 11 pm) |
| October 16, 2023 | EPCOT (9 pm to 11 pm) |
| October 19, 2023 | Disney’s Hollywood Studios (9 pm to 11 pm) |
| October 25, 2023 | Disney’s Hollywood Studios (9 pm to 11 pm) |
| October 30, 2023 | EPCOT (9 pm to 11 pm) |
What’s the best week to visit in October?
If you want the lowest crowds, visit Disney World during the second half of October. Crowds will be lightest during the last full week. In fact, that’s my pick for the best week to visit Disney World this year.
Disney World Ticket Prices This Month
Disney World tickets have variable pricing based on the first day you go into the parks. One of our favorite money saving tips is to choose your starting date carefully. If you have some flexibility in your vacation schedule, picking the cheapest day to start going into the parks can save you a lot of money.
Here’s the per-day price of a standard 4-day ticket in October, based on the starting date.
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $139+ | $141+ | $143+ | $142+ | $141+ | $140+ | $140+ |
| $140+ | $139+ | $137+ | $137+ | $137+ | $137+ | $137+ |
| $137+ | $137+ | $137+ | $137+ | $137+ | $137+ | $137+ |
| $137+ | $137+ | $137+ | $137+ | $137+ | $138+ | $137+ |
| $137+ | $138+ | $138+ |
Disney World Deals – October 2023
Disney Water Park Seasonal Pass – Visit the Disney World water parks now through May 24, 2024 for $79 per pass.
Disney is also running a Disney Dining Promo Card promotion, starting October 27. You can get up to $200 per room per night depending on where you stay. You can find out all the details on Disney World’s Dining Promo Card promotion.
Disney World is also running a few room-only promotions at their resorts for Annual Passholders and other guests.
- Annual Passholders: Save Up to 35% on Rooms at WDW Resorts
- All Guests: Save Up to 25% on Rooms at Select Disney World Resorts October through December (October 2 – December 25)
- Disney+ Subscribers: Save Up to 35% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels This Holiday Season
US Military Discounts – Active or retired military members can get great deals on hotels and tickets that can be used by themselves or their families.
October Ride Refurbishments and Closures
Magic Kingdom
- Splash Mountain: Permanently Closed. Will reopen as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in late 2024.
Water Park Schedule
While the weather gets a little cooler, October is still a great month to plan a visit to one of Disney World’s water parks. However, recently Disney has not been running both water parks at the same time. Here’s Disney World’s water park schedule for this month:
- Typhoon Lagoon is open at Disney World, including all of October.
- Blizzard Beach is closed for the season.
We want to hear from you!
Let us know in the comments below: Do you have any questions or advice for visiting Disney World in October?
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