October at Disney World

October used to be a relatively slower time of the year, but now many schools have fall breaks, which means it can get kind of busy.

Here’s what you need to know:

Is October a good time to visit Walt Disney World?

We used to love recommending October to people. The crowds didn’t use to be that bad, and the fall decorations at Magic Kingdom were always fun. And then a few years ago the crowd trends changed and suddenly, October took on an entirely different feel.

Here’s the deal:

We know that there are lots and lots of people who can only visit during October. And we don’t want to say anything to scare anybody or to make them think their trip will be ruined because the parks are crowded.

Our goal is to prepare you. There are still lots of reasons to love Walt Disney World in October – and if you go into it knowing that you’ll need to plan for the crowds, you’ll still have a magical trip.

Why we love October at Walt Disney World

• Because the parks are so busy, you’ll often find them open later into the night – which is great for people who prefer closing the parks down (rather than opening them up!).
• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party happens several nights per week during the month, and if you’re looking for something extra special to tack onto a trip, we think the party is a great option for any group that can stay up until midnight.
• The Epcot Food and Wine Festival can be a lot of fun, especially if you enjoy sampling new food and drinks from around the world.

There are a few downsides to visiting Walt Disney World in October, too. Here are some things to consider:

• October is busy. Like, really busy. If you have a good plan and are flexible, we are positive you will still have a great time. Just be warned that it absolutely, positively will be crowded.
• When it comes to the weather, it will be hot. Plus, October is still in the middle of Hurricane Season, and speaking from experience a hurricane doesn’t have to be super close to Orlando to cause it to rain even more than what you’ll usually see.
• While the Food and Wine Festival over at Epcot can be a lot of fun during the day, during the evenings and especially on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights it can sometimes feel more like a club and less like Disney World.

Is Disney World busy in October?

Yes. Over the past 5-10 years, October at Walt Disney World has increasingly grown busier and busier, to the point where now nearly the entire month of October is busy.

The main reason we’ve found for this is the increasing number of schools that now offer extended Fall Breaks much like the traditional Spring Breaks.

That, paired with a holiday, the runDisney Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon, and “Jersey Week,” makes WDW a popular place for families to vacation during the fall.

Even though most of the month will be busy, there are still a few days that will be busier than others.

To avoid the heaviest crowds in October, skip these dates:

• October 6-9 – peak Indigenous Peoples’ Day crowds
• October 10-16 – heavy crowds as many schools are out for fall breaks
• October 30-31 – heavy crowds as guests arrive for Halloween and the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon

PLANNING FOR DISNEY WORLD IN OCTOBER

PARK HOURS | PRICES & DISCOUNTS | SPECIAL EVENTS | WEATHER | WHAT TO WEAR | REFURBISHMENTS & CLOSURES | WHAT’S NEW | TIPS

PARK HOURS

Disney publishes its park hours about 75 days in advance, but those hours can (and very often do) change.

Note: This used to be about 180 days in advance, but since the reopening, they have transitioned to a roughly 75-day window.

As the dates get closer, it isn’t unusual for Disney to tweak either the opening or closing times. And during especially busy times of the year, they may change both.

That means to avoid having your plans sidetracked, you’ll definitely want to keep checking the park hours – including while on your trip.

When it comes to park hours – in general – the heavier the crowds, the longer the parks will be open during the day. Of course, that also means that the parks will be open fewer hours of the day during less busy times of the years.

It isn’t unusual to see park hours extended in October to accommodate the busy crowds.

Read More:

• Guide to Magic Kingdom Park Hours
• Guide to Epcot Park Hours
• Guide to Hollywood Studios Park Hours
• Guide to Animal Kingdom Park Hours

PRICES AND DISCOUNTS

The busier that October gets, the fewer the discounts that have been offered – but they are still around, there just may not be as many rooms available to be booked at a discounted rate.

But remember: Disney doesn’t offer discounts to be nice, they do it to fill hotel rooms. For the best chances of snagging a good deal, keep your travel dates and preferred resort flexible. 

SPECIAL EVENTS

International Food And Wine Festival

Probably the most famous of all the Epcot festivals is the International Food and Wine Festival.

Held every year in the fall, if you are a fan of good food and fun drinks, you’ll definitely want to plan to spend some time at Epcot during your trip.

Halloween

Halloween has always been an extremely popular time to visit Walt Disney World, with specially ticketed events at Magic Kingdom a highlight for many guests.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

One of the hottest parties around, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a specially ticketed event (translation: it costs extra) at Magic Kingdom. During the party you’ll find special character meet and greet opportunities, dance parties, the popular Boo to You parade, fireworks, and of course, trick-or-treating.

WEATHER​

While October at Disney World remains hot, there are some glimpses of cooler temps, especially in the mornings and after the sun goes down. 

During October, the temperatures will range from lows in the upper 60’s to highs in the low 80s.

The rain chances also decrease, with October only seeing around 3 inches of rain per year.

But even though the rain chances aren’t as high, we still recommend that you come prepared with ponchos, multiple pairs of shoes (in case one pair gets wet), and umbrellas just in case. Remember, October is still hurricane season in Florida – so the chance for extended rains is there.

Swimming In October

The heat of the midday sun means that the pools are still a good option for those looking to take a swim.

In addition to the pools at the resorts, at least 1 of Disney’s 2 water parks will remain open.

If swimming is a must-do, and you are worried about the crowds, consider starting your day at the pool and head to the parks later in the day. Most people reverse that plan, which means the pools can get quite busy by the end of the day.

WHAT TO WEAR​

Traveling in October? Summer clothes are still likely going to be your best bet.

Shorts, Capri pants, and moisture wicking socks are all good options.

One place where you might get cold, however, is inside some restaurants and attractions.

And in fact, even during the hottest months we keep a light jacket in our park bag because coming out of the sun into an air-conditioned space is sometimes too cold for our liking.

If you’re the kind of person that finds sitting under the AC to be too much, you might want to consider tossing in a light jacket, too.

REFURBISHMENTS AND CLOSURES​

While routine refurbishments aren’t typically scheduled in October, you’ll likely still run into a few attractions that are closed.

WATER PARKS​

Mid to late October is often when 1 of the 2 water parks will close (one at a time) for refurbishment. Which one closes first often changes from year-to-year, so be sure to check the calendar if you have plans to go to one on your trip.

WHAT’S NEW?​

• At this time, no major new attraction, restaurant, or show is scheduled to open in October.

TIPS FOR DISNEY WORLD IN OCTOBER

• Fall breaks are very common now, so plan for the parks to be busy.
• Keep checking for discounts. Even if you’ve already booked, discounts can still be applied.
• The pools can get quite busy. For the lowest crowds, consider visiting in the morning.
• If you plan to visit the Food & Wine Festival, consider going on a weekday when the crowds are lower.

WHAT ORDER SHOULD YOU VISIT THE PARKS?

Depending on the length of your trip, here’s how many days we recommend for each park:

When it comes time to decide which days are best for each park, here are some general things to keep in mind:

• Hollywood Studios is consistently the first park to reach capacity, primarily because of popular attractions like Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash.
• Magic Kingdom is the most popular park overall. It is also the park most first-time visitors think of when they think “Disney World”. Saturdays are the busiest, with mid-week typically the least busy.
• Epcot hosts nearly year-round festivals, and those festivals are popular with both out-of-state visitors as well as with locals. And, since a lot of what the festivals are famous for are alcohol and food, the areas around the Festival Booths can be a lot busier (and a bit rowdier) than what you’d find during the daytime hours on the weekdays. If that isn’t the vibe you are looking for, you may want to skip Epcot during the nighttime on Friday and Saturdays.
• Even with the new Park Pass system, Animal Kingdom remains one of the “easiest” parks to fit into a trip. You should be able to plug it in wherever it makes the most sense for you.

HOW OUR CROWD CALENDARS WORK

1. For each day of the month, we tell you on a scale of 1-10 how busy the entire Walt Disney World Resort is when compared to other days of the year.

2. Then, for each park you’ll see the park hours and any special events that are planned.

3. We also track refurbishments and closings (which you can toggle on and off).

4. We have a handy feature that allows you to automatically add your Advanced Dining Reservation date to your calendar.

5. And, one of the most useful features is the ability to be able to print the calendar so that you can have a paper copy for planning (or to just use as a backup).

October Crowd Calendar