2022 Disney World Halloween Events (a Complete Guide)

Updated for 2025! Boo. To. You. Happy Halloween!

Halloween at Walt Disney World is the most spook-tacular time of year.

Don’t worry, even though there are grim grinning ghosts, Disney World’s celebrations are family-ffriendly and far less frightening compared to another Halloween Orlando-based event (looking at you, Halloween Horror Nights) that many people love.

But, if you’re not into super scary celebrations or are traveling with little ones, Disney World Halloween events are the way to go.

This guide covers everything happening at Disney World for Halloween 2025: event dates, party details, character dining, decorations, resort activities, snacks, and more.

If you’re wondering about the Disney World Halloween events happening in 2025, grab some candy corn (sorry, not sorry, it’s the best) and keep reading.

In this article

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• 2025 Disney World Halloween Season Key Dates
• Magic Kingdom at Halloween
• Hollywood Studios at Halloween
• Animal Kingdom at Halloween
• Epcot at Halloween
• Halloween at Disney Springs
• Halloween Fireworks at Disney World
• Halloween events at Disney World Resort hotels
• Disney World Halloween decorations
• Wearing Halloween costumes at Disney World
• Trick-or-Treating at Disney World
• Disney World Halloween merchandise
• Disney World Halloween Treats
• “Halloween” attractions at Disney World
• Visiting when it’s both Halloween and Christmas

2025 Disney World Halloween Season: Key Dates

• Halloween season begins: Around August 15, 2025, when Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) kicks off
• Decorations up at Magic Kingdom: Usually by the first week of August
• Halloween season ends: October 31, 2025 (with Christmas decorations appearing as early as November 1)

Pro Tip: You can sometimes catch both Halloween and Christmas in a single trip if you visit at the very end of October and stay through the first week of November.

So, if you’re traveling to Disney World in August, prepare yourself for all things Halloween at Magic Kingdom extremely early in the season.

We’ve visited Disney World plenty of times during Halloween, and it still feels strange to be celebrating Halloween during a hot summer day.

But, if anyone can pull it off, it’s Disney.

Magic Kingdom at Halloween

Magic Kingdom is the only Disney World theme park that decorates for Halloween.

The majority of decorations, treats, and events will be found here. From pumpkin-lined lampposts to spooky fireworks, the park transforms in August and stays festive through October.

But, keep in mind not everything that occurs at Magic Kingdom for Halloween will be available to all park guests.

Let’s break it down.

What You Can See Without a Party Ticket

• Decorations (Mickey Pumpkins and other fall decor along Main Street, U.S.A)
• Most merchandise
• Most treats, snacks, and drinks
• Select Disney PhotoPass photos and Magic Shots available through October 31 (be sure to ask all PhotoPass photographers if they have any spooky-themed Magic Shots).

What’s Only at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

• Party-exclusive merchandise
• Exclusive event treats, snacks, and drinks
• Characters in Halloween costumes (rarely do they ever come out during the daytime; this isn’t Disneyland, unfortunately)
• Halloween Boo to You Parade
• Halloween fireworks show (Tip: you can see the show from a nearby resort, too. More on that below)
• Trick-or-treating around the park
• Special entertainment, like the Cadaver Dans, dance parties, stage shows, and more
• Exclusive Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party PhotoPass Magic Shots
• The chance to wear a Halloween costume inside Magic Kingdom

Are special Halloween events at Magic Kingdom worth the price?

It’s truly hard for us to answer this question with a definitive yes or no.

What we can say is…

It ain’t no Disneyland, where select characters roam in Halloween costumes all day long. Yes, Disney California Adventure also hosts a special ticketed event (Oogie Boogie Bash) but Halloween hits different at the happiest place on earth.

Side note: If you can ever visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure during their holiday celebrations, do it! We can say with 100 percent certainty that you won’t regret it.

But back to Disney World Halloween events…

They are fun and offer the chance to experience rare moments that we as park guests normally don’t get to.

But, these special events cost a big chunk of change. A Disney World vacation is already so expensive. No longer can the average family travel here without breaking the bank.

That’s not to say it isn’t still a magical time, but…

When it comes to making a decision like whether or not you should buy tickets for events like MNSSHP, you have to decide what is worth the cost, what isn’t, and if there’s somewhere else you’d rather spend your money.

If you do attend the party, you will most certainly have fun (just know that it takes some planning). It’s great for groups who want to stay up late or those who enjoy party exclusive-offerings.

Otherwise, you can simply enjoy the Halloween decorations (which truly are great), the limited-time treats, fun Magic Shots, and cute merchandise available to every guest during regular theme park hours.

Plus, Magic Kingdom isn’t the only place to enjoy Halloween. Keep reading!

• Want more help deciding if the party is worth it? Read our Complete 2025 Guide to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party with pricing, touring tips, and how to avoid missing the best stuff.

Hollywood Studios at Halloween

Even though the other parks don’t go all out on decorations like they do over at Magic Kingdom, even Hollywood Studios gets in on the fun with Halloween-themed character dining.

Minnie’s Halloween Dine takes place during select months (usually August through November) at Hollywood & Vine. In 2025, the special character dining starts on August 16.

Typically, you’re able to meet Minnie, Mickey, Pluto, and Goofy in Halloween costumes! Yes, they’re adorable as you can imagine.

Reservations here for lunch and dinner are highly recommended, so make sure you book as soon as you can (60 days in advance)!

We’ve dined here many times before, and it’s definitely improved over the years.

Character dining experiences are far from cheap, but if you’re looking to do something extra special (and Halloween-themed), Minnie’s Seasonal Dine is a solid choice.

Animal Kingdom at Halloween

Last year, Halloween at Animal Kingdom was pretty limited but there were some Halloween treats plus over at the Animation Experience at Conservation Station, you could learn to draw a Disney villains like Bruce from “Finding Nemo;” Kaa and Shere Khan from “The Jungle Book;” Tick-Tock from “Peter Pan;” or Scar from “The Lion King. We are still waiting to hear if it will be back for 2025.

Epcot at Halloween

Even Epcot gets in on the Halloween fun! Here’s what you can find there:

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit

Returning in 2025 during Epcot Food and Wine is Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit.

The Halloween-themed scavenger hunt begins September 2 and runs through November 1. It usually costs $11.99 (plus tax).

You can purchase a game board and stickers at select merchandise locations, including:

• Creations Shop
• Port of Entry
• World Traveler
• plus many of the Festival Markets scattered around the World Showcase

To participate, all you have to do is hunt for pumpkins decorated like Disney characters and place the corresponding sticker on your game board once found.

You aren’t required to complete Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit in one visit, or even finish it at all. After you purchased the game board, you could return it to Disney Traders or World Traveler for a “spooky surprise.”

The game board can be redeemed through November 1.

Important: Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit and Remy’s Hide & Squeak occur at the same time, with the former ending at the end of October and the latter being available through the final day of the Food and Wine Festival.

Epcot Food & Wine Festival

While it doesn’t have the spooky theme or offer Halloween treats, it’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

The annual festival usually takes place during Halloween-time at Disney World. The 2025 Epcot Food and Wine Festival begins August 28 and runs on all the way through November 22.

You can keep track of the special event via our complete Epcot Food and Wine Festival guide.

Halloween at Disney Springs

Disney Springs usually gets in a little bit on the spooky season action, too.

You’ll find decorations, live music with a Halloween vibe, and, new for 2025, Jock Lindsey’s is getting in on the fun, too!

Jock Lindsey’s Halloween

Disney Springs has its first-ever Halloween lounge, and it’s one worth putting on your radar. Beginning August 19 through November 4, 2025, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar will debut a Halloween overlay with themed décor and a special menu.

If you’ve been around during the holidays, you may have seen Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar transformation. The Halloween version works the same way with limited-time decorations and a menu you can only find this season.

The menu includes spooky snacks like Alien Invader Sliders (fried chicken on cheddar-chive biscuits) and Cursed Mummy Sausages (mini sausages wrapped in pastry), along with creative cocktails such as the Cauldron Cooler (gin with ginger liqueur and butterfly pea extract) and the Scarab Beetle Essence (rum, pineapple juice, and grenadine). There’s even a non-alcoholic option, the Snake Egg Surprise, for kids or adults who don’t drink.

Because Disney Springs doesn’t require a ticket, this is a nice way to enjoy Halloween theming without paying extra for a party. If you’re already planning a shopping or dining night there during your trip, this makes an easy add-on.

Halloween Fireworks at Disney World

There are Halloween-themed fireworks at Magic Kingdom, but they are only shown during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

While fireworks viewing inside Magic Kingdom hits differently, you don’t have to be in the park to enjoy fireworks – you can see and hear them from nearby resorts, too!

The beach at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a great area to not only watch the fireworks, but also hear the music (it’s usually piped in).

Depending on how late California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is open and based on when Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular runs (usually shows once at 10 p.m.), you may be able to catch the fireworks from the restaurant’s balcony.

The same can be said for ‘Ohana at Polynesian. Both dining locations also pipe in the show’s music.

• Get maps on the best places to watch Magic Kingdom fireworks from outside the park

Note: In order to enjoy fireworks from California Grill and ‘Ohana, you must have dining reservations.

Halloween events at Disney World Resort hotels

While the Disney World Resort hotels don’t go all out for Halloween, there are certain limited-time goodies and activities available, like:

• Pumpkin carving displays created by Cast Members (especially at Deluxe resorts)
• Halloween crafts, games, and movies on October 31
• Resort-exclusive snacks at Quick Service locations

If there are specific activities happening at your hotel, there should be an activity schedule posted (most likely in the lobby). Or, ask a Cast Member!

Fort Wilderness Is Halloween HQ

If you want to stay at a resort that truly gets into the Halloween spirit, you need to book a reservation at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campsites and Cabins.

These are only just a few of the things you can expect at Fort Wilderness.

Note: If you aren’t a camper, you can stay at the Fort Wilderness Cabins and still participate in all the fun below.

2025 Fort Wilderness Halloween Recreational Schedule

Here is a look at the schedule of activities for the few days leading up to and including Halloween at Fort Wilderness.

While this schedule is not guaranteed to be the same every year, it should give a good idea of what to expect if planning for future trips.

Decorations

First, the decorations. Did we say the decorations? Campers go all out with the decor they bring to set up at their campsites. It’s pretty remarkable.

It’s like Clark Griswold on Christmas, but with more taste and sometimes even a Disney spin.

Take a look:

And at nighttime:

With Fort Wilderness having a campsite decorating contest, it’s no wonder campers go all out.

FYI: Campers do the same when it comes to the holiday season.

Golf Cart Parade

Next at Fort Wilderness’ Halloween extravaganza (not an official name, but totally should be), is the Halloween Golf Cart Parade

Golf cart parades are a holiday Fort Wilderness staple. They even have parades for Christmas and July 4th. This is serious business. They even declare winners.

For Halloween, guests decorate their golf carts like you would your home. And these aren’t just any standard decorations.

These golf carts are transformed into masterpieces, like a massive Magic Band box. You read that right. They even throw out candy! It’s so much fun.

You can watch the 2023 parade here.

Other Halloween Fun

That’s not all, either. Fort Wilderness, of course, also has a pet costume parade and contest.

The resort is even known for having a mummy run, where teams dress up someone with toilet paper to resemble a mummy. The “mummies” then have to run and are judged for their toilet paper attire.

Chip ‘n’ Dale have also been known to wear Halloween costumes (similar to like they’ve worn at Magic Kingdom – below) during Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long.

If you’re staying here when these Halloween events are scheduled, you should be able to find registration forms for select activities at the Outpost, the Settlement, or the Meadow Trading Post.

“Return to Sleepy Hollow”

Years ago, there was another fun event called “Return to Sleepy Hollow,” which included a showing of the 1949 animated Legend of Sleepy Hollow inside Tri-Circle-D Ranch stables.

The best part was that the Headless Horseman even made appearances!

But, this event appears to have been permanently retired (although we can still hold out hope, right?!).

Can you visit Fort Wilderness during Halloween if you’re not a resort guest?

This is tricky, but the closer it gets to actual Halloween (October 30 and 31), the stricter they typically are about letting in non-resort guests.

You could try visiting, but know you might be turned away. They’re known to check MagicBands and MagicBand+.

But, some campers set up shop for several weeks. We recommend (depending on your visit) to try exploring Fort Wilderness and the Halloween decorations around early to mid-October.

You may have a better chance of gaining entry than on actual Halloween.

• Read about our own experience staying at Fort Wilderness in October 2020

Disney World Halloween decorations

One of the most asked questions we get is, “When do Halloween decorations go up at Disney World?”

This is a very good question. Usually, Halloween decorations will begin to appear in early August. In 2024, the first sign of decor appeared on August 5 and we expect something similiar for 2025.

Halloween decorations will remain through the last MNSSHP (the final 2025 party is October 31), with holiday decorations going up as early as the following day (usually early November).

It’s important to note that the only decor guests with standard theme park admission will get to see are the pumpkins, scarecrows, and other fall decor along Main Street, U.S.A.

Sometimes even Liberty Square gets in the autumn spirit with a few decorations.

During MNSSHP, the castle will have spooky coloring and projections, along with the Haunted Mansion and other areas showcasing special lighting.

And, even though Magic Kingdom is the only park that decorates for Halloween, Disney Springs also has their own fall and Halloween decor, too.

Wearing Halloween costumes at Disney World

Both kids and adults are allowed to wear Halloween costumes during special events like MNSSHP or if a Disney Resort hotel is having a costume contest.

Disney also has attire guidelines, even when it comes to dressing in a Halloween costume, though.

• Read more about costumes and what to wear to Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Trick-or-Treating at Disney World

If you’re looking to do some trick-or-treating at Disney World, you can do so while attending MNSSHP.

There are different treat stops, where you can pick up candy that’s included with your party ticket.

There are also select locations offering allergy-friendly treats.

As for resorts, on actual Halloween, there is usually trick-or-treating offered and sometimes only to resort guests (but you can always ask to make sure).

Be sure to check your resort’s activity guides to see what is available on Halloween, including trick-or-treating.

• Read our tips on trick-or-treating during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Disney World Halloween merchandise

Whether it be general Halloween merchandise available to all guests or exclusive MNSSHP merch, there is always something new to buy during the Halloween season.

Halloween merchandise can be found all over Disney World property, including at Disney Springs, Disney resort hotels, and all theme parks.

Many items from the Halloween merchandise line can also be found online at ShopDisney.

Disney World Halloween Treats

You can find special Halloween treats at parks, resorts, and Disney Springs. Disney usually releases an official guide detailing what’s available and where in early August. We’ll update this guide with more info once that is released.

And, if you plan to visit Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party, you’ll also have access to its own exclusive treats.

“Halloween” attractions at Disney World

During MNSSHP, there are select rides with Halloween overlays, including Mad Tea Party, Space Mountain, and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy.

If you don’t attend MNSSHP, there aren’t really “Halloween” attractions at Disney World.

But, there are a few attractions we recommend that will certainly get you in the spooky mood (and will make you also scream, as one sometimes does on Halloween).

They include:

Magic Kingdom

• Haunted Mansion: for obvious reasons
• Space Mountain: it’s pitch black and far from a tame roller coaster
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: ride at night (we swear it goes much faster)

Hollywood Studios

• Tower of Terror: you drop 13 stories down a haunted elevator shaft. Need we say more?
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster: there’s nothing quite like blasting off directly into a roller coaster loop

Animal Kingdom

• Dinosaur: some find this ride the scariest on property and who can argue with darkness and dinosaurs that jump out
• Expedition Everest: an even more thrilling ride at night (and maybe an even scarier one with Disco Yeti)

Visiting when it’s both Halloween and Christmas

If you time it right, there is a way to experience both Halloween and Christmas at Magic Kingdom during one trip.

Better yet, there’s even a way you could see not just Halloween and Christmas, but also do MNSSHP, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP), and Food & Wine (which ends in November) all at once!

How?

You’ll want to make sure you’re there for the very last MNSSHP party and the very first MVMCP. But, this will only work if you have a week-long trip.

In 2025, the last MNSSHP is October 31, 2025. In 2025, the first MVMCP is on November 7, 2025.

Again, if you have a week-long trip (plus a few days), you could hit up both parties.

But, if you can’t make both parties or can only do one, there is a way to just see both sets of decorations.

Halloween decorations will be up through October 31 and Christmas decorations begin going up as early as the following day, on November 1.

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Tell us your favorite about celebrating Halloween at Disney World in the comments!

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Heather ThomasWith 20+ years planning Disney World trips, Heather joined WDW Prep in 2014 to help others plan for their own families. As the WDW Prep Editor, she travels monthly to stay current and has helped propel the site to millions of views per year. Learn more Latest posts by Heather Thomas (see all)

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