Top 10 Planning Tips for a Fall Disney World Trip

There’s no doubt about it – the fall season is our absolute favorite! The way nature begins to ease away from the heat of summer and prepares for the crisp winter is so soothing and cozy to us. The “cooler” air starts moving in; the leaves are gathered into a pile to be jumped in; we put together our costumes for the Halloween festivities and join family for Thanksgiving. Wherever you may call home, Disney (you’re home away from home) is calling your name this fall! But before you slide on your fall boots and grab a pumpkin spice latte, you’ll want to keep in mind a few planning tips to make the most of your fall Disney World trip!

1 – Look for Discounts

With school back in full swing, many families take the bulk of the fall season to focus on academics and athletics. While this isn’t the case for major school breaks such as Thanksgiving, we will say the crowd level is much more tolerable and enjoyable during the fall season at Disney World. Disney, therefore, knows how to boost attendance and typically offers pretty fantastic discounts over the fall season. Be sure to check for discount packages on the Walt Disney World website. Just be sure to see what’s available, and don’t hesitate to ask Disney for their best discount!

2 – Plan your Epcot visit around the Food & Wine Festival

The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is a fantastic event that is definitely something you’ll want to experience when visiting Epcot. The festival typically runs from late August to mid-November. Epcot is filled with extra venues and kiosks with flavors from all around the world to excite your taste buds – plus, there are special entertainment and merchandise worth checking out. If this is your cup of tea, plan to visit Epcot with the Food and Wine Festival as a focus.

3 – Get in Shape for a runDisney Race

Yep, you can stay fit while enjoying all the Disney goodies! Over the fall season (typically the first week in November), the Wine & Dine Half Marathon is offered. Speaking from personal experience, we can say the Wine & Dine Half Marathon is a blast! If a half marathon is a little intimidating, you can go for the Wine & Dine 5K or 10K run. Put on those running shoes and jog into fall.

4 – Purchase Magic Kingdom Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets in Advance

Make the most of the fall season by attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. This special ticketed event runs from mid-August to Halloween night and allows guests to wear costumes and trick-or-treat through Magic Kingdom – no matter what age. The special parade, fireworks, entertainment, merchandise, and food are absolutely “Spooktacular”! Purchase your tickets well in advance before the night you are seeking sells out.

5 – Order an In-Room Celebration

Continue the Halloween spirit with a special in-room celebration. Magical Floral and Gifts has special Halloween-themed celebrations that can be ready in your Disney Resort room upon arrival. It’s a memorable experience entering your resort room for a special surprise!

6 – Make Minnie’s Seasonal Dining Reservations

Hollywood and Vine Restaurant at Hollywood Studios offers seasonal dining for both lunch and dinner. The “Halloween Dine” usually runs from early September until early November. Minnie and her favorite friends will haunt Hollywood and Vine as they make their way from table to table to greet diners. This makes for fun Halloween photos and is an excellent opportunity to see some of the most popular characters in their Halloween finest. Book your reservations 60 days in advance, as this character dining experience does fill up fast.

7 – Reserve an Eat to the Beat Dining Package

While discussing dining reservations, check out the Eat to the Beat Dining Package. This is an excellent opportunity to eat at one of Epcot’s excellent table-service restaurants while securing VIP seating for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival’s Eat to the Beat Concert Series. Be sure to check out the concert lineup well in advance and select from one of the many Epcot restaurants. You’re going to eat anyway – might as well get an excellent seat for the concert out of the deal!

8 – Budget for Christmas Shopping

While you’re planning for the entertainment and dining above for your incredible fall trip, you may want to budget for Christmas shopping. If you’re anything like us, you’ll find the fall season a perfect time to start gathering gifts for friends and family. You’ll start seeing Christmas merchandise on Disney’s shelves during late fall. You can also find Christmas merchandise year-round at Disney’s Days of Christmas in Disney Springs and Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Magic Kingdom. Everyone loves a gift from Disney under the tree!

9 – Prepare for Not-So-Typical Fall Weather

When you think of fall, you might think of crisp air, sweaters, and the like, but not in Florida. September weather in Florida is just an extension of summer. We typically will continue to have temperatures in the low 90s throughout September, with the crazy Florida humidity. October will still see very warm temperatures in the early weeks, mostly in the upper 80s, and will be in the low 80s by the end of the month. At some point in October, the humidity also gets much better. November is really the best fall month to visit, and we may finally experience cool mornings and evenings. The best part is that while you may be able to slip on a jacket now and then, you can still pack your bathing suit for a dip in the resort pool! That’s right – Disney keeps their pools heated. It’s really a great time to enjoy the Florida weather.

10 – Get Your Camera Ready!

Last but not least, be sure to bring along your camera. Of course, every season at Disney is stunning – but for people who love fall as much as we do, you’ll especially fall in love with all the fall décor featured throughout the parks and resorts. The splash of orange, yellow, and brown is just about everywhere, along with the Mickey-shaped pumpkins. Capture those memories on film so you can recall your fantastic fall visit to Walt Disney World time and time again!

Enough planning… let’s get to enjoy a memorable fall at Walt Disney World!