Seven Things You Should Know about a Fall Disney Visit
Are you ready to visit Walt Disney World this fall? Me too!
My family is taking our annual Halloween visit to Walt Disney World, and we’re not letting the pandemic keep us away from Orlando.
If you’re like me and ready to travel, here are six things you should know about a Disney fall visit.
Visiting the Parks Works Differently
Due to Coronavirus issues, park officials have changed several aspects of a park visit.
Most of these differences make sense and won’t infringe on your fun. However, you should know what they are.
For starters, you’ll need a Park Pass to enter your preferred theme park.
Disney must monitor admission to ensure that the parks honor social distancing guidelines.
Park Passes work like a headcount, providing management with an estimate of how many visitors will attend each theme park.
Disney regularly updates Park Pass availability. So, if you don’t get the reservation you want initially, keep trying!
Also, you should know that Disney doesn’t allow Park Hopping this fall. It’s not an option for the same reason that the Park Pass system is in place.
If guests can attend multiple parks, Disney’s headcount grows wildly inaccurate.
Finally, to sanitize the parks, Disney must close earlier than usual.
Starting on September 8th, the four theme parks shut down for the day as early as 5 p.m. and no later than 7 p.m.
People who get bored have another option, though. Disney Springs remains open until 10 p.m.
My suggestion is that you plan a full park day. Then, enjoy dinner and shopping at Disney Springs afterward. You’ll have a more relaxing vacation.
Safety Rules (temperature check, hand sanitizer, etc.)
Look, if you’ve read this site over the past six months, you know the deal.
We’re all living in a pandemic, and Disney has thankfully taken the matter seriously.
The parks have modified many policies to protect guests.
You must pass a temperature check before you can enter any Walt Disney World theme park.
Once you’re inside, you must wear a face cover. You may remove it to eat or drink, but that’s it.
Disney cast members enforce the new rules to ensure that everyone feels safe during a visit.
Also, you’ll find ample hand washing stations and hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the parks.
In fact, the exit areas for most attractions feature hand sanitizer. So, the instant you deboard a ride, you can clean your hands.
All these policies make sense and will protect you without inconveniencing you.
No Halloween Party
Yeah, I know. This one bums me out, too. My family hasn’t missed Halloween at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) since 2016.
I just explained the problem a moment ago, though.
Disney’s Halloween Party lasts until either 11 p.m. or midnight on most nights.
The parks already must close early for cleaning purposes.
Disney cannot possibly operate a ticketed event that lasts until midnight while still protecting guests from COVID-19.
Something has to give here. Unfortunately, it’s the Halloween event.
Park officials have confirmed that MNSSHP won’t run at all in 2020.
I do have a positive update, though. The parks will still feature fall/Halloween décor. So, at least there’s that.
Some Other Closures
With attendance down, Disney executives would act foolishly if they kept everything open.
For this reason, some hotels, restaurants, shops, and amenities remain closed. These places apparently won’t reopen during the fall.
However, Disney has already surprised fans by bringing back a couple of unexpected places.
Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will return soon. I would have lost those bets.
For now, MickeyBlog has compiled a comprehensive list of closures for the month of September.
If we’re being honest, you won’t miss most of them. Walt Disney World features a comical number of restaurants and shops. It’s overkill.
With your options reduced, you’re less likely to suffer indecision paralysis from freedom of choice.
The only sticking point here involves the water parks. Disney hasn’t reopened either one yet.
I suspect that they may do so later this year, but I certainly cannot guarantee it. If you plan to swim, expect to do it at the hotel pool instead.
The Weather Is Unpredictable
You’ve spent time in Florida, right? If so, you know the deal.
Florida is like a weather mood ring. It behaves mercurially, and you can never accurately anticipate what will happen next.
On the plus side, the sweltering heat of the summer fades away. By mid-October, you should enjoy comfortable temperatures most of the time.
I like to travel during the fall for this reason. I’ve found that October and November are two of the most temperate months for Central Florida.
This year, you should understand that hurricane season appears worse than average.
Realistically, this news is likely to impact you in only one way. You may experience heavy rain showers.
Theoretically, Disney might close the parks in the unlikely event of a hurricane coming ashore, but that’s only happened twice over the past decade.
So, pack umbrellas or slickers in case of rain. Otherwise, you’ll love the weather during a fall Disney visit.
The Festival Is Unique This Year
For various reasons, Disney isn’t hosting the 2020 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival as you remember it.
However, this statement is a technicality more than anything.
EPCOT operates an eerily similar exhibit in its place. The Taste of EPCOT Food & Wine Festival marries concepts from Disney’s two most popular events.
You’ll enjoy the food and wine from one alongside the shrubbery Disney characters from the 2020 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival.
The latter event debuted on March 4th. Walt Disney World shut down less than two weeks later.
You’re effectively getting a combo festival, which I would argue is better than Food & Wine would be on its own.
Small Crowds
Okay, here’s the best reason to get excited about a fall trip. Disney crowds have been crazy-low since the park reopened.
Throughout the rest of your life, you will NEVER visit Walt Disney World at a time when the crowds are smaller.
Park officials have limited capacity. Disney hasn’t revealed the percentage yet. However, Shanghai Disneyland started with a 30 percent capacity limit.
Presumably, the Florida park has matched this strategy, at least close enough that it works as a general estimate.
What does this mean for you? Historically, when you’ve stood in line for a ride, let’s say that 1,000 people were there with you.
Right now, you’d only have 300. So, wait-times are 70 percent lower.
You can imagine how much more you’ll get done at the parks when they’re that empty. And it’s this reason that has solidified our decision to visit this fall.
For Disney fans who want to say that they’ve done it all, the next few months present an unprecedented opportunity, one that we should take.
If you agree, contact a MickeyTravels agent to find out the best deal you can get on a trip. Disney just announced some exciting discounts, too!
Feature Image Rights: Kent Phillips