October Disney World Crowds

There’s no better place to celebrate Halloween than WDW! To ensure that your October visit to WDW would be as spooktacular as possible, take a look at our October WDW Crowd Calendar before finalizing your trip.

While crowd levels can vary greatly throughout October, Halloween festivities and the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival remain as constants all month long. If you can find the perfect part of the month—with low crowds—for your trip, you just might discover the best time of the year to visit WDW.

Of all Halloween offerings at WDW, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (on select nights at the Magic Kingdom) is undoubtedly the highlight. But, if you decide against attending (tickets priced range from around $91-$128 for adults and $86-$123 for children ages 3-9), there are still more Halloween happenings across WDW than you could experience in one vacation.

From The Cadaver Dans (The Dapper Dans dressed in ghost-like garb, performing spooky tunes) to the Halloween snacks offered throughout all 4 parks, there are countless ways to enjoy the season—with or without attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP).

If you do choose to attend, you’ll very quickly realize why MNSSHP is one of my favorite events of the year at WDW!

The weather starts to cool off a bit in October (transitioning from hot to warm), seasonal experiences are at a high from beginning to end, and the crowds seem to go up and down (over and over again).

On all hallows eve, you can expect all 4 parks (especially the Magic Kingdom) to be very crowded as Halloween celebrations will be in full swing.

Dad’s Guide to WDW Crowd Calendar Disclaimer

This calendar is based on historical facts as we know them today, and personal experiences. Walt Disney World is an ever-changing destination and you might find the crowds, weather, or seasonal experiences to be different from what we’ve predicted.

How to Avoid October Disney World Crowds

Visiting in mid-late October (on at least some weekdays) but not on Halloween itself can give you the best chance for a low-crowd vacation.

To be cautious, as with any EPCOT festival, you might want to visit a different park on the weekends (especially on Saturdays).

One of the best tricks you can use to avoid crowds at the Magic Kingdom requires minimal effort and can have a huge impact. On the day of a MNSSHP event, before the party starts, the Magic Kingdom tends to be less crowded. I suggest planning for (at least one of) your Magic Kingdom day(s), regardless of whether or not you have a MNSSHP ticket for another night of your stay, to be on the day of a party. You can stay from rope drop until 4pm (when Cast Members start asking guests who aren’t attending the party to leave, ahead of its official start at 7pm).

Find more tips to avoid crowds at WDW here.

October Events

EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival – Taking place annually since 1995, this festival offers savory food, high quality (adult) beverages, fan-favorite merchandise, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series (at The America Gardens Theatre) and so much more.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party – Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Fireworks, Mickey’s Boo to You Halloween Parade, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, spooky attraction overlays, trick-or-treating, rare character meet-and-greets, wickedly delicious snacks, and much more make this special ticketed event (taking place on select nights) such a popular event (the signature Halloween offering at WDW).
Halloween at WDW – Throughout WDW, you can enjoy limited-time treats, gaze at the many festive decorations, hear Halloween music being played, and shop for Halloween-themed merchandise.

The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Wondering when is the best time to visit WDW? Of course, that really depends on you—your preferences, your schedule, and what’s on your must-do list. But, before booking your next vacation, here’s a breakdown of the factors you should consider.

October Disney World Crowds