October is here, friends!!

The first full month of fall has arrived in Disney World, and we’re hoping it will bring some cooler weather with it! A lot of people are heading to Disney this month for the 50th anniversary, so if you’re planning on being a part of that group, you need to know all the new and exciting things happening! Here are the 5 best things to do in October in Disney World.

1. Celebrate the 50th Anniversary

Duh! The 50th is what so many of us have been eagerly waiting for, and it’s time to celebrate. And, oh boy, are there a LOT of ways to celebrate! But, we wouldn’t expect anything less from Disney — they are half a century old, after all.

First off, you’ll find that special EARidescence scattered throughout things like food items and merchandise around all of Disney World.

You can also see Mickey and friends wearing their special new costumes with the color scheme! Expect them to be in the new character cavalcade that takes place in Magic Kingdom.

Speaking of characters, you can also find 50 new golden character statues in all 4 parks for the celebrations.

Don’t forget to check out the 4 park icons at night — they’ll each be transformed into Beacons of Magic and they’re sure to be a spectacular sight to see!

You can also see a brand new daytime show over in Animal Kingdom! Disney KiteTails just made its debut for the anniversar. You can watch it at the Discovery River Amphitheater.

And, something that’s been flying under the radar a little — 2 new EPCOT Food and Wine Festival booths just opened as well — Brazil and Belgium! You gotta go and try delicious eats like that Brazilian Cheese Bread and Belgian Waffles.

Disney has also released a TON of new food items for the 50th throughout the parks and hotels. There is a lot of glitter and a lot of “Walt’s Favorites” on the list — you can see everything here.

Part of the festivities include the beginning of Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours in the parks. All Disney hotel guests can now enter the 4 theme parks 30 minutes before park open every day. But, only guests staying at Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Disney hotels have access to those Extended Evening Hours. See if your hotel qualifies here, and check out the schedule for the evening hours here.

There are a few other very exciting things happening as part of the celebration that deserve their own spot on this list, so we’ll get to those next!

See everything announced for the 50th anniversary here

2. Visit (or stay at) Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The Contemporary has a lot of new things going on, and you definitely need to go check them out! To start, many of the rooms just got a major makeover and they’re now themed to the Incredibles! It’s a totally new look for these rooms, in a hotel that opened with Disney World 50 years ago in 1971.

The hotel also just got a brand new restaurant — Steakhouse 71. The steak joint has taken over where The Wave used to be in Contemporary’s lobby. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner inside a space with theming that pays homage to the style of the 70s.

Dishes include things like the Floridian Eggs Benedict, a Prime Rib Sandwich, and, of course, steak!

The restaurant also has a lounge area with small plates and cocktails. Make your reservation right now!

Click here to see our dinner review for Steakhouse 71!

Another restaurant inside the Contemporary is also getting in on the celebrations! California Grill has an all-new prix fixe menu for a limited time. It includes 3 courses — 1 appetizer, 1 entree, and 1 dessert — for $89 per adult (ages 10 and up) and $39 per child (ages 3-9), plus tax and gratuity.

The menu has dishes inspired by past favorites as well as new market-fresh creations, like The California Grill Sushi Classics Trio, House-Made Artisanal-Style Duck á la Orange Pizza, and an EARidescent Grand Marnier Soufflé.

A special fireworks dining party is also happening at California Grill! Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors & Fireworks takes place in the private Sonoma and Napa Rooms at the restaurant. There is a selection of specialty drinks, sushi, and small plates that pay homage to the original menu from the resort’s opening in 1971!

After cocktail hour, you can go out on the observation deck to watch Disney Enchantment — the new fireworks show at Magic Kingdom. Then, you go back inside again for dessert! Reservations are available now and The cost is $129 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

See a REVIEW of the Celebration at the Top Fireworks Party HERE! 

3. Watch the New Fireworks Shows

Speaking of fireworks, let’s break down the new shows! The first is Disney Enchantment, which is the new show at Magic Kingdom for the 50th anniversary. The show has replaced Happily Ever After and officially debuted on October 1st.

The show has fireworks and enhanced lighting set to Disney music, and there are immersive projections extended down Main Street, U.S.A.!

The show features the original song: “You Are the Magic” by seven-time GRAMMY-winner (and former Disney cast member!) Philip Lawrence. And, don’t worry, Tinker Bell still flies in this show! This time, she even spreads shimmering gold pixie dust!

The other new show is Harmonious in EPCOT. Taking over for EPCOT Forever, this show also just made its debut! It’s one of the largest spectaculars ever created for a Disney park, with 5 huge floating set pieces that house special effects for the production.

Harmonious also includes Disney music with classic songs presented by diverse cultural musicians from around the world (in more than a dozen different languages) to keep with the international celebration that is EPCOT’s World Showcase.

Take a CLOSER look at Harmonious HERE! 

4. Say ‘Bonjour’ to the New France Addition

The addition to EPCOT’s France pavilion finally opened to everyone on October 1st! Inside, you’ll find a whole new ride — Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure!

We got a first look at the attraction, and now, it’s officially open! You get to shrink down to rat-size and go on a journey across Chef Gusteau’s restaurant kitchen in Paris. It seems like we’ve been waiting for this ride to open for a LONG time, so we can’t wait for everyone to check it out!

Remy’s is operating with a virtual queue, similar to the one previously used for Rise of the Resistance, and a paid Lightning Lane that will be part of the individual attraction selections.

Also new to the France pavilion is La Creperie de Paris, an all-new restaurant! The restaurant has a table service location and a quick service location, so you can choose which works best for you (but they do have different menus).

We got to try out the sweet crepes and savory galettes at the two locations and give you all a full review, which you can find here for the table service, and here for the quick service.

5. Visit Main Street Confectionery

Main Street Confectionery just reopened in Magic Kingdom after being closed for renovations. The location has an all-new look and all-new treats to try! The Confectionery is home to Mars Candy Treats, so get ready for Snickers, Skittles, and M&Ms.

It also now has the “Kernel Kitchen,” which is where you can customize your very own popcorn!

You pick your base popcorn flavor, choose a syrup, and then add whichever toppings you would like. But, maybe don’t pair the cheddar popcorn with chocolate.

If popcorn isn’t what you’re craving, you can get a huuuge variety of M&Ms or Skittles inside to fill up your candy bag. There is also fresh cotton candy, some fun drink options, and loads of other sweet treats!

So, stop on in when you’re on Main Street, U.S.A. to see the Confectionery’s all-new look and satisfy your sweet tooth!

Those are the best things to do in Disney World in October! We hope you get to try everything on the list if you’re going to the parks soon. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news and updates!

Click here to learn more about Disney World’s 50th anniversary!

Will you be in Disney World in October? Let us know in the comments!

The post The 5 BEST Things to Do in Disney World This October first appeared on the disney food blog.