Visiting Walt Disney World in October 2024
If you’re a fan of Disney villains and Halloween fun, Disney World in October could be exactly what you’re looking for! While it isn’t necessarily cold in October (the high is still 85 degrees), it is much cooler when compared to the summer months. You might even want a light jacket or long sleeves in the evening! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will likely be back for 2024 with multiple parties throughout the month. And while all of the Halloween events and festivities bring crowds, October can be an amazing time to visit Walt Disney World!
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Planning a Disney World vacation in 2024? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year including the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the return of the Disney Dining Plan, and more!
October At-a-Glance
- Be prepared for some rain. As October can still be warm and humid, rain happens. Ponchos are a great thing to keep handy for afternoon showers!
- Mornings are a great time to visit the pools. Due to the warmer temperatures, the pools can get quite busy during the heat of the day as well as in the evenings when guests return from a day in the parks. Consider visiting in the mornings when they will be less busy.
- Major refurbishments are not typically common in October. Disney tends to schedule their refurbishments during less busy months, but that doesn’t mean closures can’t or won’t happen in October.
- The Food and Wine Festival is quite popular with locals. Consider visiting Epcot on weekdays if you’re trying to avoid the crowds.
October Events
Halloween arrives early at the Disney World Resort! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will take place on select nights beginning August 9 through Halloween. The very popular ticketed event lasts from 7:00 PM to midnight and features trick-or-treating, a special Halloween parade, fireworks, specialty menu items, not-so-scary entertainment, your favorite characters dressed in their Halloween attire, and so much more.
Another festival to be aware of is Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival which takes place from August 29 through November 23. This is a highly anticipated event at the park, featuring a wide variety of food and beverage booths to satisfy the most discerning palates. In addition to dining options, attendees can take part in scavenger hunts, enjoy live music, participate in the Wine and Dine Half Marathon, and explore exclusive festival merchandise.
Walt Disney World (as well as ESPN Wide World of Sports) typically hosts several athletic events each month. These events don’t usually have a major impact on crowds in the parks, but they will likely affect resort availability and crowds at Disney’s value resorts. Here’s a look at what’s currently scheduled for October:
- Disney Season Kickoff Soccer Tournament – October 12-13, 2024
Other notable dates for October include Columbus Day weekend, which falls October 12-14 in 2024. Columbus Day will be the first major holiday since the end of summer vacation, so this weekend will undoubtedly be one of the busiest of the month. October 31 is another notable date as many try to attend Disney’s Halloween ticketed event.
October Refurbishments & Closures
*We’ve included all current refurbishments here on this list… even ones that may be open in time for October 2024. (Please note that this list could change at a moment’s notice.)
Magic Kingdom
- Tron Lightcycle Power Run is now open!
- Splash Mountain closed permanently on January 23, 2023, to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The newly re-themed attraction opened to the public on June 28, 2024!
- Country Bear Musical Jamboree is now open!
- Jungle Cruise will be closed through October 17, 2024.
- Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island will close permanently at some point (likely 2025) as the Rivers of America will be replaced with a newly announced Cars area. Dates have yet to be announced.
- Starlight Night Parade will be debuting in Summer 2025.
EPCOT
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is now open!
- Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is now open!
- Test Track closed on June 17, 2024, for a multi-month refurbishment. A reopening date has not yet been announced but will likely be sometime in 2025.
- Luminous: The Symphony of Us will not be showing on October 22, 2024.
- Frozen Ever After will be closed from November 2-6, 2024.
Hollywood Studios
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid is permanently closed, and will be replaced with a fully reimagined production called “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.” The new show is expected to debut in Fall 2024.
- Jedi Training Academy: Trials of the Temple has permanently ended.
Animal Kingdom
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug will be closing at some point to make way for a Zootopia Tree of Life Show. The new attraction will open in Winter 2025.
- Primeval Whirl is permanently closed
- It is anticipated that Dino-Rama, as a whole, will likely close at some point to make way for a major expansion. Disney has announced that the replacement will be “Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom.” Concepts include Encanto and Indiana Jones, and DINOSAUR will be converted into an Indiana Jones attraction. Dates have yet to be announced for this major project.
Other
- Blizzard Beach closed on March 17, 2024, for winter refurbishment and will reopen on November 4, 2024.
October Weather
The weather shifts greatly in the month of October. We finally get some relief from the summer heat! The average high is 85 degrees and the low is typically around 65 degrees. Rain is starting to let up as well as October marks the end of hurricane season.
While it is rare that Disney World needs to close due to hurricane-related weather, it HAS happened in the past. Since 1985, the Walt Disney World parks have had to close nine times due to hurricanes. Closures are typically only a day or two, but it is certainly something to be aware of when planning your October vacation.
October Disney World Crowd Calendar
Crowd calendars are very popular, but they can also be a bit unpredictable. It’s best not to completely rely on them when making your Disney World vacation plans.
While crowd calendars can be a big help in knowing what to expect, keep in mind, they are predictions at best. When designing our calendars, we take a look at events, school calendars, ticket prices, park hours, holidays, and typical monthly patterns. But unfortunately, our crowd calendars cannot predict other things such as weather, travel advisories, pandemics, or last-minute openings or closings of shows and attractions.
On top of that, many are choosing to travel differently these days. Quiet months have become popular due to runDisney events as well as other Disney events and promotions, while busier seasons have seen a downward trend in the last couple of years.
The crowds in October 2024 will most likely be moderate and steady. While there are no major holiday weekends, Halloween festivities do bring many to the parks as well as Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival.
Ready To Start Planning Your Visit To Walt Disney World In October?
Here are some resources to help you get started!
Walt Disney World Resorts:
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Disney Value Resort Hotels
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Disney Moderate Resort Hotels
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Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels
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Disney Deluxe Villas
Walt Disney World Dining:
Walt Disney World Attraction Guides:
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Attraction Guide for Magic Kingdom
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Attraction Guide for Epcot
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Attraction Guide for Hollywood Studios
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Attraction Guide for Animal Kingdom
There’s nothing better than knowing what to expect on your Disney World vacation. Our monthly guides can help you visit with a plan!
January | February
March | April
May | June
July | August
September | October (you are here)
November | December
Planning your first Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to visit my step-by-step guide to get started!
