Disney World October 2026 Schedule: Events, Closures & More
October at Walt Disney World Resort brings more Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party dates and additional Epcot International Food and Wine Festival flavors and performers. At this point we’re also hoping for cooler weather to continue as we brave it through the end of hurricane season. Here is a list of the new offerings and more of what’s on the Disney World October 2026 schedule of events.
Must See and More at Disney World October 2026: Halloween Parties, Food & Wine, Hurly-Burly
Walt Disney World’s 55th Anniversary is October 1
A special merchandise collection has already debuted to mark the 55th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort. You can find it at all four parks and resort hotels.
Hurly-Burly Opens at Disney World October 2026
This replaces Jellyrolls at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. In the afternoons Hurly-Burly hosts family friendly trivia and games. Things change for the late night crowd. Starting at 9:00 p.m. this venue turns into a 21 and up live music venue.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party October Dates
Magic Kingdom’s special ticketed Halloween event has lots of dates this month as the holiday approaches.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2026: Sold Out
DVC and AP discount ticket event dates happen early in the season but if you don’t already have tickets, this probably isn’t your year.
Disney says all 2026 event dates have sold out.
You can always check at the ticket counter or front gate but don’t count on getting tickets this way. Considering many dress up for the event, you may want more time and notice to plan.
If you already have tickets for this year, remember you can enter the park starting at 4:00 p.m.
If you don’t have tickets but will be at the parks this October, remember Magic Kingdom closes at 6:00 p.m. on the following special event dates this month:
Thursday October 1
Friday October 2
Sunday October 4
Tuesday October 6
Thursday October 8
Friday October 9
Tuesday October 13
Thursday October 15
Friday October 16
Sunday October 18
Thursday October 22
Friday October 23
Sunday October 25
Tuesday October 27
Thursday October 29
Saturday October 31
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival October Dates
Epcot’s food and wine festival runs through November 21 in 2026.
This month, additional booths will be open starting Friday October 2 including:
- India which has potato pea samosas and chicken tikka masala
- The Alps which has a Swiss cheese baguette, Tartiflette and Kirschwasser Torte
- Earth Eats which has a red wine braised beef short rib and lemon almond olive oil cake
- Coastal Eats which has a crab cake and seafood pot pie
The Wedge Hosted by Dairy Does More was also a late addition, opening September 18.
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit Scavenger Hunt is also a newer offering at the food and wine festival. It started on September 25.
Eat to the Beat Concert Series October 2026 Schedule
Nightly show times for the Epcot Food and Wine festival in the America Gardens Theatre are 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
- October 1 Smash Mouth
- October 2, 3 & 4 Champagne Orchestra
- October 5 & 6 Rey Ruiz (New in 2026)
- October 7 & 8 Tiffany
- October 9, 10 & 11 Viva Latina
- October 12 & 13 The Fray
- October 14 & 15 STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
- October 16, 17 & 18 Jaclyn Hayden
- October 19 & 20 Ben Rector
- October 21 & 22 Allen Stone (New in 2026)
- October 23, 24 & 25 SoundUp
- October 26 & 27 Lauren Alaina (New in 2026)
- October 28 & 29 Bowling For Soup
- October 30 & 31 Southbound
The Diamond Horseshoe Lounge Opens October 4
On October 4, The Diamond Horseshoe Lounge in Frontierland opens as a “limited-time, pop-up dining experience.” This comes after the Toy Story themed dance party was in this space this summer.
The menu includes the following appetizers:
- Glazed Sticky Ribs – Glazed in Barq’s Root Beer served with Cowboy Beans and Jalapeño Crisps $16.00
- Queso Fundido – with Barbecue Burnt Ends with Warm Tortilla Chips $15.00
- Sweet Golden Corn Fritters – with Red Chile Honey $12.00
- Charcuterie – Cured Beef, Candied Bacon, Smoked Pork, Green Chile Cheese, Smoked Cheddar and Pickles $22.00
- Chipotle Chicken Tostada – with Queso Fresco, Lime Crema, and Pickled Cactus Salsa $14.00
- Mini Hot Dog Platter – Wrapped in Pastry served with Tortilla Chips and a Side of Queso $12.00
The Diamond Horseshoe Lounge menu also has specialty cocktails, wine and beer along with some non-alcoholic options.
Newly Opened or Recently Changed at Disney World
Remember these additional recent updates as you plan your October visit:
- The Magic of Disney Animation building at Hollywood Studios is open: Inside you’ll find character meet and greets, a drawing class, a short film and many, many visual celebrations of Disney animated films.
- Bluey is still at Animal Kingdom: The Wildlife Express Train in the Africa area of the park will take you to Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station where you can still expect dancing, games like Keepy Uppy and animals native to Australia. This has stretched beyond it’s September 8 planned ending.
Whether you’re dreaming of experiencing the Halloween magic or planning your next Disney getaway, DVC Rental Store can help you enjoy Deluxe Disney accommodations for less!
For your next stay, browse our Confirmed Reservations for ready-to-book stays or request a free quote for your preferred resort and travel dates, and discover how you could save up to 65% compared to booking directly with Disney!
