Amazing Reasons to Visit Walt Disney World in October
So, you want to visit Walt Disney World this fall! It’s a great idea, but I should warn you about something.
A trip to Disney this October will differ from other recent years…but in the best possible way!
What is Walt Disney World in October like this year? It’s gonna be magical! Read on to learn why…
Let’s Talk about October Visits
The first thing you’re wondering about an October visit is whether the parks will feature shorter lines.
You’ve heard that Disney’s offseason occurs in the fall and want to maximize your ride-time at the parks.
Well, I want you to set your expectations appropriately. September is historically one of the slowest two months on the annual calendar, along with January.
In October, crowds have generally increased due to a pair of special events.
Disney hosts a special nightly event called Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party…and it’s spectacular!
Photo: Disney
Seriously, I’ve spent four out of the past five Halloween nights in Magic Kingdom because I love this party so much.
The challenging part in 2021 is that the park hasn’t announced its intentions yet.
Photo: Disney
Disney understandably canceled the Halloween party during the pandemic.
Now that we’re at the tail end of COVID-19 concerns, I expect this ticketed event to return in the fall. That’s not guaranteed, though.
From your perspective, the party comes with pros and cons. The pro is that the Halloween Party provides outstanding value for about $100-$130 per person.
The con is that when you don’t go to the party, Magic Kingdom closes early, usually at 7 p.m. So, it’ll limit your park time a bit.
Remarkably, you may not care, though. Let me explain why.
Let’s Talk about a Birthday Party for the Ages
October 1st, 2021, represents a hallmark achievement for The Walt Disney Company. On that date, Walt Disney World turns 50!
While Walt Disney slyly purchased land for the Florida Project during the early 1960s, his death in 1966 stymied development.
Magic Kingdom et al. wouldn’t open for another five years. Walt’s older brother, Roy, helmed the project and thereby secured Orlando’s future.
The tourist town you know had been swampland before Disney got involved.
Now, it’s a thriving city with more than four million living in the great metropolitan area.
Photo: GrayDC.com
You can imagine what a massive event this will be for both Orlando and Walt Disney World.
Park officials have already confirmed many plans for the 50th anniversary, but you may wonder whether those apply to you.
After all, you might not visit on October 1st. Well, that doesn’t matter as much as you might expect.
Photo: Disney
This birthday party will last for 18 months! Yes, Disney has indicated that the parks will celebrate the Big 5-0 through March of 2023!
What’s involved? Oh, it’s a massive event. At EPCOT, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will open to the public.
Just Announced! Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will open at EPCOT on Oct. 1, 2021 to help kick off the opening season of the @WaltDisneyWorld Resort 50th Anniversary celebration. Get more details on the Disney Parks Blog: https://t.co/ZZydSZ3IpY #DisneyWorld50 pic.twitter.com/cI7OU9TyX4
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) March 9, 2021
At Magic Kingdom, Mickey and Minnie Mouse will put on their finest Earidescent outfits and meet with party guests.
All four theme parks will decorate their most recognizable landmarks for the event.
Photo: Disney
The Tree of Life, Spaceship Earth, Cinderella Castle, and the Hollywood Tower Hotel will all display unique Imagineering tricks that will make them glow.
Unforgettable photo opportunities will abound, starting in October. By visiting then, you’ll be among the first!
(Disney)
Let’s Talk about the Weather
October represents an optimal time to visit Orlando. The reason why involves the weather.
Look, Florida’s almost always varying degrees of hot. However, it does experience some semblance of seasonal changes.
To wit, the average temperature drops during October. WeatherSpark suggests that the daily high is usually 80 degrees.
The site lists a range of 74-90 degrees as the likely high temperatures. For Florida, that’s really good.
Now, I’ll say that those numbers have ticked upward in recent years, and I’ve personally been at the park on an October day when it was 100 degrees.
Thankfully, those times remain the exception instead of the rule. You should have no problems with the weather during your visit.
In fact, you’ll probably decide that you should come to Orlando during October more often. It’s not too hot and not too cold, in Goldilocks terms.
About the Holidays
I’ve already mentioned the one holiday that matters most, along with an unofficial one that Disney will emphasize this year.
Let me blunt that Halloween has evolved into a massive celebration in Florida. I mean, it’s beloved everywhere…but especially there!
Photo: Disney
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party events will start in mid-September…if Disney hosts the parties this year.
Again, we don’t know yet and may only speculate. The current vaccination pace suggests that life should return to normal by the fall.
Since Disney makes a lot of money on its Halloween parties AND fans love them, I expect them to operate.
Even if they don’t, I’ll mention a fallback option in the next section.
Image Credit: Disney
The other “holiday” this year is the 50th anniversary celebration. Disney will make a fuss about October 1st since that’s the big day.
However, you can visit Walt Disney World in October at any point and still experience all the entertainment options. You’ll probably face fewer crowds that way, too.
While you can technically celebrate Walt Disney World’s birthday for 18 straight months, I do think you’ll enjoy it more during October.
For decades afterward, you can tell loved ones about how you visited Magic Kingdom during the month of its 50th anniversary. That’s a priceless anecdote.
(Disney)
Other Events to Remember
The University of Central Florida will be in the middle of its football season in October. Home games will take place on October 9th and October 22nd.
Meanwhile, the pandemic has impacted the Orlando Magic’s NBA schedule the past two years.
However, the team has started its regular season during October the past few years. I’d presume that’s the case this year, but it’s not a foregone conclusion.
Orlando City Soccer Club had at least one game in October in 2019 and another scheduled for 2020 before the pandemic.
Photo: Disney/MLS
The MLS Playoffs have taken place in mid-to late-October in recent years, too. That only applies if Orlando makes the playoffs, of course.
You’ll also want to pay attention to a different Orlando theme park. Universal Orlando Resort hosts Halloween Horror Nights.
The parks even presented a modified version during the pandemic last October. Universal has already announced its 2021 dates, too!
So, you’ll get a Halloween party of some sort if you want one. I mean, you could even do two, presuming Magic Kingdom hosts its event as well.
