Halloween is an incredibly enjoyable time in our household. Throughout the entire month of October, my daughter Mia and I immerse ourselves in all things pumpkin and spooky delights.
However, the true fun of this season awaits at Disney. In this article, I want to share with you some essential do’s and don’ts to ensure you make the most of your Halloween visit to Disney World.
If you are planning on visiting Disney World in October, keep reading, as I will set you up for success with packing, planning and things to do!
But first of all, let’s talk about setting the mood. We love immersing ourselves in the Halloween spirit by watching some classic Disney Halloween movies. Our top picks are “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Hocus Pocus,” and, last but not least, “Edward Scissorhands.”
The Decor
Fall is Mia’s and my favourite season of the year. The Disney Halloween and fall decor style makes it a pretty special time of the year to visit.
Disney Springs and the parks are filled with brown leaves, burnt colours, and, of course, eye-catching pumpkins and spooky accessories.
Disney Halloween: The One Big Mistake Boo
In October, the crowds at Disney World can range from moderate to quite busy. However, despite this, Mia and I still wanted to experience Trick or Treating at Magic Kingdom.
However, after doing some digging, I discovered that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party requires a separate admission ticket. This means that if you plan on attending the party, you will need to purchase a separate admission ticket on top of the one required to enter the Magic Kingdom. This can be pretty pricey, with the total cost for both of us exceeding $600 for that day alone.
Insane, right?!
I thought Mia might enjoy Trick or Treating at Disney Springs or Magic Kingdom. Unfortunately, Disney World has limited the Trick or Treat activities to only those attending the party.
You can only do Trick or Treat at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
Magic Kingdom closed that day at 6:00 p.m. for the party guests to attend. Mia and I left for Disney Springs hoping to do Trick or Treat at Disney Springs; it didn’t work out that way.
The stores were not participating in Trick or Treating, and there were no candy stations!
I was so sad for her! We had planned our entire Disney Halloween trip around the idea of Trick or Treating at Magic Kingdom, only to discover that it was only possible by purchasing a ticket for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
Now to the best part!
The Logistics
During our trip to Florida, we had six days to enjoy ourselves. Out of these, we spent four full days visiting the parks, and the remaining two days were dedicated to flying to and from Calgary.
the Flights
To maximize the time, we took red-eye flights from Calgary to Florida. We were checked in at the hotel and ready to enjoy ourselves by 10:00 a.m. The flights back home were the same, arriving at Calgary at 2:00 a.m.
The Hotel
We stayed at a hotel in the Disney Springs area, making it incredibly convenient to explore the area at our leisure.
The hotel also offered a hot tub and swimming pool with a convenient restaurant. We loved the hot tub and swimming pool, which provided the perfect rest after a long day of adventures. I particularly enjoyed lounging by the pool and sipping a Piña Colada.
The hot tub was a true lifesaver after a day of walking and standing. It helped us soothe our legs and unwind, getting us ready for our next unexpected adventure.
One of the most significant advantages of staying at a Disney Springs hotel was the complimentary shuttles that took us to and from all the Disney parks. The buses were always on time and with enough seats for everybody. The travel time was short, and we didn’t have to worry about traffic, making it a hassle-free and convenient option.
The Packing and The Weather
When packing for the trip, I prioritized keeping the luggage as light as possible. To begin with, I checked the weather conditions in Orlando. The weather was hot, which was great news for the trip.
During our stay in October, the weather remained warm, with temperatures around 30°C, with some humidity in the air. We experienced some light rain early in the morning, which felt refreshing and a perfect way to start the day.
Mia wore Crocs throughout the trip while I packed my running shoes and flip-flops for the swimming pool. Our clothing consisted of T-shirts and shorts, and I would advise carrying a lightweight sweater as nighttime could be a bit chilly.
A lightweight or collapsible water bottle is preferable; you can refill it at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe and Pinocchio Village Haus in Magic Kingdom. You may also get a free cup of water at any dining place.
A small cellphone charger is a must! Despite poor reception at the parks; activities such as taking pictures and videos, communicating with other trip members and checking the Disney Genie app will drain the battery. I learned this the hard way when I had to purchase a battery charger called FuelRod at the Merchant of Venus in the Tomorrowland area. It cost $30 USD and came in a nice clear case with two charging cables for Android and Apple devices.
Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must! At 30 degrees Celsius, the sun was shining bright and ensuring proper sun protection for skin and eyes will keep you safe, and you will look great in all the pictures!
Finally, I brought a light crossbody bag (although a lightweight backpack works too). I prefer crossbody bags because I can easily access my belongings without taking them off. My go-to choice is the Lululemon Festival bag; I have had it for years and used it on countless trips.
The Disney Genie Service
This is an optional service, costing an additional $20 USD per person.
The Genie Service is a faster lane for some attractions and dining restaurants.
The way it works is to download the app on your phone, and the Attractions & Shows tab will display a list of the attractions available for reduced timelines. It will show you the waiting time for the standard lane and the Lighting Lane; from there, you can book the experience.
For more updated information, check the official Disney Genie Service page.
Mobile Data
Having a working phone (at least with data) is required to use the Disney Genie Service, book an Uber, and even WhatsApp calls among your trip members if you get dispersed around the parks!
Disney does not offer Wi-Fi service throughout the parks, so bringing your own data service provider is necessary.
I used and can recommend Holafly, which is a data provider around the world. It worked perfectly for us; they will answer you quickly if you have questions.
Get Yourself Ready For Halloween At Disney
In closing, our Disney Halloween trip was a mix of exhilarating moments, some unexpected challenges and a bit of exhaustion.
We plan to return in 2024, armed with the knowledge to make the most of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
We’ll update this post to let you know if it’s worth the additional cost.
Until then, we hope our insights help you create magical memories during your own Disney Halloween adventure.
Let us know how your trip was!
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These are such helpful tips! It’s really good to know about the Halloween party, I wouldn’t have realized there were separate tickets for that. Thank you for sharing your experience!