Why You SHOULDN’T Do Halloween at Disney World

Are you thinking about spending Halloween in Disney World?

Happy Halloween!

We get that it seems like a great time to visit the parks. Magic Kingdom is all dolled up in its best Halloween and fall decor. There will be a lot of fun Halloween merchandise to get your hands on, and there will even be some Halloween snacks. But before you book that trip, we’re going to tell you why you might want to reconsider!

Yes, we’re going to tell you why you should NOT go to Disney World for Halloween.

Only one park gets Halloween decorations

If you go to Disney World, you might think that all four parks will be decorated for Halloween. After all, all four parks get Christmas decorations. Well, that’s not the case for the spookiest holiday of the year. The only decorations you’ll see in the parks for Halloween will be in Magic Kingdom.  Yep, that’s it. The rest of the parks will just look like they do throughout the rest of the year.

Halloween in Magic Kingdom

However, you will see some signs of Halloween in Disney Springs, so there is that. But it’s not going to be like Disneyland, where both parks get all the fun spooky decorations.

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There’s nothing special happening on Halloween Day

If you’re expecting to see some specific Halloween-themed entertainment, a spooky parade, or even some spooky fireworks in Disney World, it’s not going to happen unless you attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. In fact, nothing special happens in the parks on Halloween.

Halloween in EPCOT in 2022 looked like any other day and there’s nothing going on

The only evidence of Halloween you might see on the actual day is Halloween merchandise in the stores and a few Halloween snacks here and there. The majority of Halloween stuff is once more reserved for those who have tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

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Disneyland Does More For Halloween

If you visit Disney World expecting a whole Disney Halloween experience, you will be in for disappointment, mainly for the reasons we’ve already listed. Here’s the thing: you can get the full Disney Halloween experience in Disneyland. Disneyland goes all out for the holiday. Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure get all decked out in Halloween decorations.

Halloween Time at Disneyland

Both parks also have a TON of spooky snacks for you to try. There’s Halloween entertainment, including the Halloween Screams fireworks at Disneyland that you can view without needing a ticket to Oogie Boogie Bash, Disneyland’s Halloween Party. If you want the whole Disney Halloween vibe, go to Disneyland instead.

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If you want classic Magic Kingdom photos, you can’t get them

Although some visitors to Disney World will love having all the fall and Halloween decor in their photos, imagine those who are visiting Disney World for the first time and have a certain image of Magic Kingdom in their minds. However, when they get there, they’re up to their ears in orange and black, and that might not vibe with the kind of photos they wanted for their trip.

Pumpkins EVERYWHERE

Main Street, U.S.A., in particular, is all decked out for fall and Halloween, and those iconic photos will not look like the classic Disney World photos some people want to hang on their walls year-round.

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Adults cannot wear costumes

If you think you can visit Disney World on Halloween, you might think you could at least put on a costume on the day, right? Well, you can’t, unless you’re attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Costumes are not allowed for adults in the parks, even on Halloween.

Adults can only wear costumes to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

So if you love getting dressed up for Halloween and going out, you can’t really do that without a ticket to the Halloween party.

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Magic Kingdom closes early

Magic Kingdom will close early at 6PM on days leading up to Halloween and on Halloween day itself. This is because the park is reserved exclusively for those who have a ticket to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. So if you wanted to spend Halloween night in Magic Kingdom without a party ticket, you’re out of luck.

Sign posted on days there’s a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Also, if you don’t have a park hopper ticket, you’ll be stuck leaving Magic Kingdom early that evening with nothing else to do for the rest of the night.

What Time Does Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Start?

So if you’re considering visiting Disney World for Halloween, we hope we gave you some things to consider. There’s always Disneyland, too, if you just want a Disney Halloween experience, so keep that in mind if you want to have a bonafide Disney Halloween.

IT’S SPOOK-TACULAR!


Get ready for the spookiest season of the year at Disney World! We are beyond thrilled to announce the arrival of our brand-new guide — Halloween at Disney World: DFB’s Spook-tacular Guide!

From the thrills of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party to the enchanting resort decorations that’ll send shivers down your spine, our guide is packed with tips and tricks to help you squeeze every ounce of ghoulish fun out of your visit. Plus, we’ve got the inside scoop on all the limited-time-only bone-chilling activities happening across the parks!

Get the Halloween at Disney World: DFB’s Spook-tacular Guide to make your frightfully delightful adventure even more magical!

Have you visited Disney World during Halloween without a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Party ticket? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments!

The post Why You SHOULDN’T Do Halloween at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.