Visiting Walt Disney World in September 2026
If you’re planning a vacation to Walt Disney World, September is usually either at the top of your list or the very bottom. The reason is that there are very clear pros and cons to visiting Disney World in September. On one hand, September can be incredibly hot and humid, and it’s also right in the middle of hurricane season. So if weather is a priority for you, September will likely be the last month you would choose. Many also avoid September because the school year is just beginning. Taking your kids out of school for a week or two right at the beginning of the year isn’t usually a family’s first choice.
On the other hand, September boasts some of the lowest crowds of the year. If you enjoy short lines and fewer people in the parks, September can be amazing! Disney also offers some of the best deals of the year around this time, so it can also be one of the least expensive times to visit the parks. And did we mention Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? These ticketed events take place all throughout September and October, and they are extremely popular.
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Planning a Disney World vacation in 2026? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year!
News and Updates
- Disney World vacation packages are now available to book through December 2026!
- Disney is offering their dining plan for kids for free in 2026. Guests staying at one of the Disney World Resorts will get a free Disney Dining Plan for kids (ages 3 to 9) when buying a Disney Dining Plan as part of their package for the remaining adult members of their party.
- Some great Disney deals are coming for early 2026! This spring, you can save up to $250 per night when you book a 4-night, 4-day (or longer) room-and-ticket package at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels. The offer is good for most nights from February 22 through July 25, 2026. There are also other ways to save — like special discounts for most Sunday to Thursday stays between January 4 and February 19, 2026.
- Making a room-only reservation? You can save up to 25% on stays most nights from February 22 to April 30, or up to 20% for Sunday to Thursday nights from January 4 to February 19.
September At-a-Glance
- Don’t forget to pack your sunscreen and drink lots of water! Temperatures in September are still quite warm! And while Disney offers many ways to cool off, you will definitely want to be prepared with sunscreen and water.
- Be prepared for rain. As September can be very hot 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 hotter 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.
- After Labor Day, crowds in September lighten quite a bit. Many schools are back in session, and not many want to miss the first weeks of school. So if that isn’t an issue for you, this could be a great time to visit the parks!
- The Food and Wine Festival is quite popular with locals. Consider visiting Epcot on weekdays if you’re trying to avoid the crowds.
September Events
Halloween arrives early at the Disney World Resort! A highlight of the season is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which takes place on select nights from mid-August through October 31. 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 typically takes place from the end of August through mid-November. 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. There are currently no events scheduled for September.
September Refurbishments & Closures
*We’ve included all current refurbishments here on this list… even ones that may be open in time for September 2026. (Please note that this list could change at a moment’s notice.)
Magic Kingdom
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be closed until 2026. An opening date has yet to be announced.
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will be closing for enhancements from August 2025 until 2026.
- Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade is permanently closed.
- Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island are permanently closed.
EPCOT
- Spaceship Earth is currently closed for refurbishment and is scheduled to reopen on October 25, 2025.
Hollywood Studios
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid is permanently closed and was replaced with a fully reimagined production called “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” on May 27, 2025.
- Jedi Training Academy: Trials of the Temple has permanently ended.
- Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is permanently closed.
- Muppet*Vision 3D permanently closed on June 8, 2025.
- Disney Junior Play and Dance! will be closed from May 25, 2025, through 2026.
- Villains Unfairly Ever After Show opened on May 27, 2025.
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will be closing at some point in 2026 for reimagining. The newly reimagined attraction starring The Muppets will debut in Summer 2026.
Animal Kingdom
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug is permanently closed and will be replaced with Zootopia: Better Zoogether, which will open on November 7, 2025.
- DINOSAUR will permanently close on February 2, 2026.
- Kali River Rapids will close for refurbishment from October 6, 2025, through December 2025.
- Primeval Whirl, TriceraTop Spin, and The Boneyard are permanently closed.
- Dinoland USA, 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.
Other
- Disney Skyliner will be closed January 25 through January 31, 2026, for routine maintenance.
- Blizzard Beach Water Park is closed for the season.
September Weather
Overall, the weather in Orlando is quite hot in September. The average high is 90 degrees, and the low is typically around 72 degrees. Technically, it is Orlando’s rainy season as well. In fact, September is often considered to be the wettest month of the year. That being said, most rain in September will come in short “spurts” rather than be an all-day thing. Brief afternoon downpours are very typical!
One other thing to keep in mind is hurricane season. While it is rare that Disney World needs to close due to hurricane-related weather, it HAS happened in the past. Since 1971, the Walt Disney World parks have had to close around 13 times due to hurricanes. We’ve seen three closures in August, six in September, three in October, and one in November. Closures are typically only a day or two, but it is certainly something to be aware of when planning your September vacation.
September 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 that 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. 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.
September tends to be one of the lightest months of the year in terms of crowds. This is due to several factors, including the start of a new school year as well as the weather. Weekends at Epcot will be busier than normal with locals due to the Food and Wine Festival, and the Magic Kingdom will undoubtedly see some crowds in relation to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
Labor Day weekend is really the only “holiday” during the month of September. And while you may see a slight uptick in crowds, it’s typically not a huge draw in terms of crowds due to most families not wanting to pull their kids out of school during their first weeks back.
Ready To Start Planning Your Visit To Walt Disney World In September?
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 (you are here) | October
November | December
Planning your first Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to visit my step-by-step guide to start planning!
