Park Watch: What’s Happening This Month
OCTOBER 2023
Boo to you and you’re welcome!
Halloween festivities are in full gear in both parks and a certain wayfinder is opening a new attraction in EPCOT. Also, it’s still Hurricane season in Florida, so definitely get the travel insurance.
Disney World
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival continues and runs through November 18. This popular festival event includes an awesome variety of food with over 25 global marketplace booths, great wine selections, entertainment, and more. New booths and menu items are being added each month!
Disney has released the full line-up for the popular Eat to the Beat Concert Series that includes Boyz II Men, Hanson, 98° and more! Eat to the Beat Dining Packages are available again this year and you can setup MouseWatcher alerts to snag a seat for your favorite performances!
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
It’s spooky season in the Magic Kingdom and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party continues on select nights in September and all through November 1. Many nights area sold out already, so be sure to check for party tickets before booking your trip.
August: 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29
September: 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29
October: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31
November: 1
Ticket prices range from $109 to $199 plus tax, depending on the date selected. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 per ticket to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, valid for select event nights in August and September.
Party-exclusive entertainment and activities:
- Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade
- Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show
- Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show hosted by Jack Skellington
- Meet-and-greets with characters in their Halloween costumes and rare character appearances
- Trick-or-Treat trails
- Access to most Magic Kingdom rides and NEW in 2023, guests will have a chance to join a Virtual Queue for the new TRON Lightcycle / Run in Tomorrowland
- Special Halloween ride overlays on many attractions including Halloween music on Space Mountain, live actors on Pirates of the Caribbean, spooky lights and music on the Mad Tea Party teacups, and the pièce de résistance – spooky lighting and special cast member costumes on the Haunted Mansion and live “ghostly” story tellers outside.
- Disney Junior Jam Dance Party at Storybook Circus and more character-themed dance parties
- Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet
- Party-exclusive snacks and merchandise
- Event-exclusive PhotoPass Magic Shots
Also returning this year, the Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace, the Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing, and the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Dining Packages at Be Our Guest and Cinderella’s Royal Table.
Read more on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party:
What to Expect at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Disney100 Celebration at EPCOT
The Disney 100th Celebration has officially begun in Walt Disney World. This special event started in Disneyland in January and is now making its way to Disney World, with EPCOT as hosting park.
Mickey and Minnie will greet guests in special 100th anniversary platinum outs and Spaceship Earth will light up each night with a special show. The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and the Festival of the Holidays will also offer special Disney100 food and drink options.
The Disney100 Celebration will run through December 31, 2023.
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, Opens in EPCOT
The interactive walkthrough attraction will officially open on October 16, 2023. Journey of Water Inspired by Moana at EPCOT is brand new a walk-through experience designed to entertain and educate guests on the important role that water plays in our lives.
Bonus: A new Moana meet-and-greet will also be part of the Journey of Water experience.
Disneyland
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort
Spooking Season is officially open in Disneyland and goes through October 31.
Main Street becomes a pumpkin festival with hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins on display and guests can enjoy special seasonal entertainment, eats and drinks. There are also seasonal overlays to some of the rides, including the Haunted Mansion Holiday hosted by Jack Skellington.
The Halloween Screams show is now a projection and special effects show that will light up Disneyland Park most nights of the Halloween season. The show is enhanced with fireworks on select nights. (To make way for Halloween Screams, Wondrous Journeys will have its last performance of the year on Aug. 31.) You can book the Halloween Screams Dining Package at Plaza Inn to enjoy some spooky treats and reserved viewing area for the Halloween Screams Nighttime Spectacular. Reservations are highly recommended. Same-day reservations can be made on a limited basis and are subject to availability.
Things get spooky in Disney California Adventure Park too. Haul-O-Ween in Cars Land has the residents of Radiator Springs dressing in silly costumes and decorating their homes and shops. Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween and Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree are two ride overlays in Cars Land. Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission Breakout! also gets a Halloween overlay, becoming Guardians of the Galaxy — Monsters After Dark.
Oogie Boogie Bash
On select nights during Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure hosts the Oogie Boogie Bash. This year’s event is already sold out and runs on select night through Oct. 31.
September: 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28
October: 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29, 31
Oogie Boogie Bash activities include the the Frightfully Fun Parade, spooky immersive trick-or-treat trails, the Villains Grove Trail, and special character meet and greets. The party runs from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, but your ticket also lets you into Disney California Adventure Park as early as 3:00 PM.
You can enjoy premium reserved seating to watch the Frightfully Fun Parade at Oogie Boogie Bash by booking the Oogie Boogie Bash Dessert Party. You can also book the Oogie Boogie Bash Parade Dining Package at Wine Country Trattoria where you can enjoy a special 3-course meal before enjoying the parade from a reserved standing viewing area.
Plaza de la Familia
Disneyland celebrates the traditions of Día de los Muertos (or Day of the Dead) at Disneyland’s California Adventure Park with festive entertainment inspired by the Disney and Pixar film “Coco.”
The festival features special entertainment like “A Musical Celebration of Coco” that uses Folklórico dancers, Mariachi singers, and other cultural musicians to tell the tale of Miguel’s adventure into the Land of the Dead. You can also enjoy Mexican-inspired menus available at Paradise Garden Grill during Plaza de la Familia like carnitas burritos and plant-based chorizo quesadillas.
For 2023, Plaza de la Familia is expanding beyond Paradise Gardens to include festivities over at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
The Plaza de la Familia celebration runs through November 2, 2023.