Your Guide To Special Events Happening at Walt Disney World Each Month
One of my favorite things about visiting Walt Disney World is that no matter what time of year you visit there is bound to be something special going on! Though Disney World is actually incredible any time of year, planning your visit around a Festival, holiday or other occasions can add that extra element of fun to your Walt Disney World getaway. With that in mind, we here at MickeyBlog thought we’d provide you with a brief rundown of some of the special festivities that happen each month!
MARCH
What a month to be a Disney. Though the crowd levels can be a bit higher due to the influx of Spring Break crowds there are also a fun range of awesome activities to look forward to this month including:
- Atlanta Braves Spring Training – There are only a few more games to go but March is a great time for baseball fans to head down to Walt Disney World resort to watch your favorite baseball teams square off during Spring Training. The home team for this year are the Atlanta Braves with games held at the incredible ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Games will run through until the 23rd of the month. More information can be found here!
- Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – Epcot’s second festival of the year typically launches this month. You don’t need to have a green thumb to enjoy the incredible topiaries, floral displays, workshops, and wonderful festival kitchens serving up some tasty Spring grub. The Festival takes place each Spring. More information about the exciting activities on offer can be found here.
- Easter Weekend – This varies from year-to-year but in 2019 guests visiting during Easter weekend can enjoy a range of fun seasonal activities from meeting Mr and Mrs Easter Bunny and watching the incredible Azalea Trail Mades to going on an egg hunt at Epcot. Disney World also offers church services at the Contemporary Resort during Easter. For more information on this month’s Easter celebration check out this article.
- Mighty St. Patricks Day Festival at Raglan Road – For an Irish-themed celebration complete with dancing, drinks and delectable cuisine, head over to Raglan Road at Disney Springs in the lead in to St. Patricks Day (March 17th) for a toe-tapping good time. More information about their annual celebration can be found here.
APRIL
Spring is in full swing! With Easter crowds happening earlier in March, April is a great time to enjoy all that the Spring months have to offer at Walt Disney World including:
- Star Wars Rival Run Weekend – This is the ultimate runDisney marathon experience for Star Wars fans! The event takes place from April 4-7th. During this action-packed weekend, visitors can meet some of your favourite Star Wars characters, pose for photos, earn collectable themed medals, and dress the part in this immersive running event. Also, be on the lookout for special Star Wars-themed eats, treats and merchandise! More information about the Star Wars Rival Run can be found here.
- Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival- This celebration of all things Spring is still in full swing at Epcot. We recommend setting aside some time to enjoy the Garden Rocks Concert Series featuring amazing artists from today and yesterday. Best of all, it’s included in your theme park admission. Find out more here.
- Dapper Day Weekend – If one of your favorite things about visiting Disney World is seeing the timeless outfits worn by the citizens on Main Street U.S.A then this weekend (April 27-28th) is the perfect time to don your vintage finery and parasols and head to the parks for a glamorous weekend. For more info on the magical Dapper Day festivities visit their official page here.
MAY
- Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – Epcot’s Annual Spring Festival is in full swing until the end of the Month (May 29th). Though most people associate the festival with radiant blooms and character-themed topiaries, you’ll want to be sure to bring your appetites. The festival is brimming with Festival Marketplaces offering a fantastic array of sweet and savory treats! To help whet your palate check out this complete list of the Festival Menus.
JUNE
Summer has officially arrived at Walt Disney World. Celebrate by cooling off with the following event.
- H2O Glow Nights – Cool off and dance the night away at Typhoon Lagoon during this special Summer offering running on select nights from May 30th – August 24, 2019. The event features a DJ-hosted dance party, special Toy Story-themed experiences, limited time food and beverage offerings, and adults only area dubbed The Wharf. The cost to attend this event is $59 per person. Tickets can be purchased online via My Disney Experience.
JULY
As Disney approaches Mid-Summer, guests can celebrate America with special Fourth of July festivities and ways to cool off in the hot Summer sun.
- Independence Day – Though Disney has yet to announce their plans for this year’s Fourth of July celebration on year’s past American’s birthday has been celebrated with “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” at the Magic Kingdom as well as special performances by the Voices of Liberty Choir at Epcot, DJ Dance Parties in Frontierland and Tomorrowland and more! Keep following along with MickeyBlog and we promise to keep you posted.
- H2O Glow Nights – Typhoon Lagoon will continue to offer its evening dance party on select nights through July. Be sure to bring your appetites for delicious treats inspired by Andy Buzz and friends at the following locations: Leaning Palms, Typhoon Tilly’s, Happy Landings Ice Cream, Let’s Go Slurpin’. For more information about this splashtacular event check out this article.
AUGUST
The Summer may be winding down but this month thing will really kick off at Walt Disney World with festivals, seasonal soirees, a special Pride event and most importantly the opening of the much anticipated Star Wars Land!
- Opening of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge – Star Wars fans around the globe will be flocking to Walt Disney World the end of August to be among the first to fly the Millennium Falcon when this new land at Hollywood Studios officially opens on August 29th. Be prepared for a whole lot of fun but also capacity crowds and lots of standing in line! For more information on all this exciting land has to offer check out this article.
- Disney’s International Food and Wine Festival – The culinary event of the year will officially kick off at Epcot at some point around the end of August (dates haven’t been officially announced as of yet.) Guests can expect incredible concerts, amazing eats, special culinary events and more. Keep following along with MickeyBlog and we promise to keep you posted when official dates are announced.
- Gay Days – Come out and show your support for the LGBTQ community from August 13 – 19, 2019. More information on the special activities planned for this weekend can be found here.
- Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party- We agree that it’s never to early to start Trick-Or-Treating. Magic Kingdom’s insanely popular Halloween Parties will kick off August 16th and run select nights throughout the month. Prices start at $79 per adult and are already on sale. Check out this article for more information
- H20 Glow Nights – Summer may be winding down but there’s still time to party the night away at Typhoon Lagoon. H20 glow nights will be held on August 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22 and 24.
SEPTEMBER
This month temperatures remain hot but crowds start to thin out making it the perfect time to enjoy some of these fantastic Fall offerings:
- Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – By the time September starts the Festival is in full swing! Be sure to check out some of the amazing concerts on offer as part of the Eat to the Beat Concert Series which is included in the cost of your Epcot admission!
- Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party – Don your Halloween costumes and head over to the Magic Kingdom for one of these special ticketed events filed with magic and mayhem. The party will take place during the following dates in September: September 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29 Check out some of the reasons why we’re already excited!
OCTOBER
Get ready for a spooktacular month filled with special Halloween eats, treats and merchandise. In addition, visitors to Walt Disney World can enjoy the following special events:
- Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party – Watch the Sanderson Sisters take to the stage, the gravediggers march down Main Street and a villainous fireworks display as Magic Kingdom gets a Halloween Makeover. The party requires a special ticket which can be purchased via My Disney Experience and takes place on the following nights: October 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31
- Epcot International Food and Wine Festival – Set aside a bit of money in your Disney budget to attend one of the Food & Wine Festivals special culinary events. Whether its dining at some of Disney resorts most world-renowned eateries, learning some tricks of the trade during a workshop led by a celebrity chef or attending the hugely popular Party for the Senses, Epcot at this time of year is a food lovers dream.
- Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon – On March 19th, sign-ups open for this delectable race where you’ll get to mingle with some much-loved Disney characters. Race weekend takes place from October 31 – November 3rd. Guests can expect races covering all ages and skill levels and a challenge for those wanting to tackle two courses. Readers are encouraged to visit runDisney for more details on this exciting Fall offering.
NOVEMBER
Seemingly overnight Disney World makes the transition from Halloween/Fall to all things Christmas. This means a changing of the guard when it comes to special events being held in and around the parks! Check out our list of noteworthy happenings.
- Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – For those visiting the first half of the month, it is still possible to enjoy all of the culinary eats and treats at Epcot’s food-focused festival. Though dates have yet to be announced for the 2019 Festival, in 2018, the Festival ran until November 12th.
- Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic – This is a Disney culinary event that is swiftly gaining moment. Held in the beautiful surroundings of the Swan and Dolphin Resorts, the Classic runs from November 8-9 and is jammed packed with wines from around the world, pastries, pastas and so much more. The event takes place both evenings from 5:30pm – 9:00pm and also includes educational seminars covering a wide range of topics from pasta-making to cheese pairing. For more information on this special culinary event check out this article.
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – There’s nothing more magical than Christmas at Magic Kingdom. Whether its watching wooden soldiers marching down Main Street, stealing a moment with Santa or watching as snow magical falls from the sky, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is one of the best ways to experience the Christmas Season at Walt Disney World. Tickets have yet to go on sale for this year’s Yuletide Soirees but keep following along with MickeyBlog and we’ll keep you posted.
- Epcot International Festival of the Holidays- Each November, Epcot is magically transformed into a winter wonderland. Each of the countries that make up the World Showcase will celebrate their special holiday traditions through the art of storytelling, delicious cuisine and more. Dates for this year have yet to be announced by last year’s festival kicked off Mid-November.
- Candlelight Processional – One of the highlights of a Winter visit to Walt Disney World is checking out Epcot’s amazing retelling of the Christmas Story. Featuring a full orchestra, massive choir and celebrity narrator its magical performances that you won’t soon forget. Dates and narrators have to be announced for this year but keep following along with MickeyBlog for updates!
- Special Yuletide Tours – Get into the Christmas spirit with one of Disney’s amazing guided tour offering behind-the-scenes insights into how Disney readies itself for the Holiday Season. There’s the Disney Yuletide Fantasy Tour which is a 3.5 hour tour as well as the 6 hour Disney Holiday D-Lights Tour. More information on these offerings can be found here.
- Resort Gingerbread Displays – By the end of November, several of Disney’s resorts including the Grand Floridian, Boardwalk, Beach Club and Contemporary are famous for the colossal Gingerbread creations. If visiting at this time be sure to set aside some time to go resort exploring.
- Disney Springs Christmas Treet Trail – Visitors heading to Disney’s Downtown Shopping District in November and December will want to be sure to take time to explore this gorgeous display of Disney Christmas Trees. Dates have yet to be announced for this year but in 2018 the display was available from Mid-November.
DECEMBER
The seasonal festivities continue this month including the following (mentioned above):
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – No Christmas visit to Disney is complete without this seasonal soiree. One of our favorite moments is A Frozen Holiday Wish when Elsa uses her ice powers to give Cinderella Castle a wintry makeover.
- Epcot International Festival of the Holidays-Be sure to bring your appetites to sample Christmas dishes from around the world at the incredible festival marketplaces that are a highlight of this festival.
- Candlelight Processional – Get the VIP treatment by booking the Candlelight Processional dining package which comes with a delicious meal at one of Epcot’s amazing eateries as well as guaranteed seating at a Candlelight Processional performance.
- Special Yuletide Tours (see above)
- Resort Gingerbread Displays (see above)
- Disney Springs Christmas Treet Trail (see above)
- Meeting Santa – During the month of December, you’ll definitely want to bring along your Christmas lists as there are several ways to meet Santa. Head over to Disney Springs where he’ll be on hand to meet guests near the Christmas Tree Trail. Santa and Mrs Claus typically hold court in the American pavilion at Epcot, he’s near the fire station at Magic Kingdom and also on Sunset Boulevard at Hollywood Studios.
- Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides – Though you may not go dashing through the snow, setting off on a sleigh ride through the gorgeous Cyprus forest at Fort Wilderness is equally as magical and can add an extra element of Christmas fun to your holiday visit.
- New Year’s Eve Events – End the year on a magical Disney note. Though Disney has yet to announce events for December 31, 2019, be on the lookout for a nice mix of romantic dining options, family friendly feasts, dance parties and more. Check out this article for a taste of what was on offer last year!
JANUARY
As quickly as the Christmas decorations went up in November, they come down in Early January. But visitors this month still have a few fun events to kick off the new year in style!
- WDW Marathon Weekend – The first runDisney event of 2020 will take place from January 8 – 12th. This weekend will be filled with races, special events and more! For a look at some of the events offered in 2019 check out this article. Readers are encouraged to visit runDisney for more information on race registration.
- Epcot International Festival of the Arts – The Epcot Festival Year kicks off with this celebration of the culinary, visual and performing arts. Though dates for 2020 have yet to be announced the 2019 fest kicked off on January 18 and ran through February 25th.
FEBRUARY
This is a popular month to visit the parks with Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day and milder weather. Check out the following events that you may want to check out as well if planning a February 2020 getaway!
- Princess Half Marathon – Don your princess finery, bring your tiara and get ready for one of runDisney’s most popular weekend events. Next years event will take place from February 20 -23rd. Visit runDisney for more information on registering!
- Epcot International Festival of the Arts – Throughout the month of February visitors to Epcot can enjoy amazing eats and fun hands-on exhibitions during Festival of the Arts. Also, be sure to set aside some time to take in the Disney on Broadway concert series bringing some of the Broadway’s biggest talents to Epcot to perform some of Disney’s biggest musical numbers!
In addition to all of the incredible events we’ve highlighted taking place at Walt Disney World over the next year, we’re also keeping a close on special openings like:
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Skyliner
- Epcot’s Space-themed Restaurant and more!
Keep following along with MickeyBlog and we’ll add in more special events as and when they crop up over the year. In the meantime get a jumpstart on your travel plans but getting a FREE no-obligation quote. Simply fill out our form below to get your quote from MickeyTravels.
Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to help you with everything from finding your perfect package to helping you plan lots of special touches to make your visit truly magical. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at mroden@mickeytravels.comor follow along on Facebook