It may feel like the dog days of summer outside, but fall is in full swing this month at Disney and Universal parks and resorts. Fall is filled with seasonal festivities and experiences that offer something for everyone, whether you love exploring new cuisines from around the world, dressing up and trick-or-treating, or thrilling scares from your favorite horror movies. Here’s a preview of what’s in store at Disney and Universal parks and resorts this fall season:
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Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
This Halloween event is a must-do for anyone traveling to Walt Disney World in August, September, and October. It’s completely family-friendly and is great for kids of all ages (provided they don’t mind staying up late!). This separately ticketed event occurs on select nights from August 7 through October 31. The party runs from 7 pm until midnight, but you can begin entering the Magic Kingdom as early as 4 pm with a party ticket. We highly recommend arriving as soon as you are allowed entry to maximize your time in the park. Here are some of the highlights of this experience at Magic Kingdom.
Trick or Treating
One of the best parts of attending Mickey’s No- So-Scary Halloween Party is seeing everyone’s unique costumes! Adults and kids alike are encouraged to dress up, so get creative and come up with a group costume that showcases your favorite Disney characters. Then, head to the trick-or-treat trails throughout the park and grab some candy. You receive a trick-or-treat bag once you enter. Don’t miss the trick-or-treat trail inside Princess Fairytale Hall and the Diamond Horseshoe, where haunted spirits and Disney Villains may appear as you visit.
Entertainment
Some of Disney’s best seasonal entertainment is at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! You won’t want to miss the Boo-to-You Halloween Parade (which performs twice each party night). This parade is filled with catchy tunes and a collection of Disney characters dressed in Halloween costumes. From pirates to waltzing ghosts and grave diggers, it’s one thrilling party. Get a spot early to view the iconic Headless Horseman’s ride down the parade route. Head to the castle stage for the Hocus Pocus Villains Spelltacular stage show, featuring the Sanderson Sisters and Disney Villains, along with Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show, hosted by Jack Skellington. There are also several dance parties and shows throughout the park, like the Jack Sparrow Buccaneer Bash in Adventureland, the DescenDANCE party inside Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, and a Masquerade with Stitch and Angel at the Rockettower Plaza Stage.
Rare Character Interactions
The park is filled with rare character meet-and-greet locations, as well as opportunities to spot them roaming around. You can dance to “I2I” with Max as Powerline in Adventureland, snap a pic with Minnie and Mickey together in their vampire-themed Halloween costumes, meet Pooh and Friends in adorable bumblebee and butterfly costumes, and much more. One of the most popular meet-and-greets is Jack Skellington and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Head over to the Haunted Mansion, where you can interact with Madame Carlotta and a Butler from inside the mansion, and Cast Members go all out with the theming as well.
Attractions
Several attractions are available during the party, often with shorter wait times than during the day. Some attractions even have special Halloween-themed overlays. The Mad Tea Party features special effects and spooky lighting, while the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor becomes a treat trail where monsters interact with you. Space Mountain also has a spooky soundtrack and is completely dark for an eerie feel.
EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival
This annual festival at EPCOT is a favorite for foodies! In 2026, the festival runs from August 27 through November 21. There’s nothing like spending a fall day strolling through the World Showcase and sampling food and drinks from around the world. The best part? Access to the festival is included with your theme park admission! During the day, you can roam around various themed kiosks (called Global Marketplaces) that feature small plates, desserts, snacks, and drinks from various regions around the world. The complete foodie guide hasn’t been released yet, but be sure to sign up for our newsletter for details. The festival also includes nightly concerts with some of the best acts from the last four decades. New musical acts this year include Fitz and the Tantrums (Sept 13-14), Rey Ruiz (Oct 5-6), Lauren Alaina (Oct 26-27), Big Head Todd and the Monsters (Nov 4-5), and Grace Potter (Nov 9-10). There are also a host of returning favorites, like:
- Hanson (Aug 28-31)
- Evolution of MoTown (Aug 27 and Sept 1-3)
- MercyMe (Sept 18 -19)
- New Found Glory (Sept 28-29)
- Smash Mouth (Sept 30- Oct 1)
- The Fray (Oct 12-13)
- Ben Rector (Oct 19-20)
- STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas (Oct 14-15)
- Southbound (Oct 30 – Nov 1)
- Boyz II Men (Nov 2-3)
- The Beach Boys (Nov 11-12)
Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort
Disneyland has several fall and Halloween-themed experiences included with daily park admission, like pumpkin decor and attraction overlays like Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree, Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween, and Guardians of the Galaxy—Monsters After Dark. There’s also a full-scale Día de los Muertos celebration at Plaza de la Familia, featuring puppets, songs, and live musicians who share the story of this fall tradition and celebrate the music of Coco. During the Halloween season, which begins on August 21, the Haunted Mansion is taken over by the characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas and remains that way through Halloween and Christmas. The attraction features nods to the movie as well as appearances by Jack Skellington, Sally, and Oogie Boogie.
Oogie Boogie Bash
Disneyland’s after-hours Halloween event sells out nearly every year and is hosted on select nights from August 25 through October 31 at Disney California Adventure Park. The event features themed trick-or-treat trails like Villains Grove, which winds through the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail with eerie lighting and spooky surprises. You can also take photos with Disney characters in their Halloween attire, including a meet-and-greet with Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle as the Sanderson Sisters. New this year, Madame Leota’s Swinging Wake is a Haunted Mansion-themed street party that is the main exclusive entertainment offering during the Bash. The Headless Horseman also makes an appearance before the street party!
Halloween Horror Nights—Universal Studios
Halloween Horror Nights has an entirely different vibe than the family-friendly experiences at Disney parks. This horror event is not recommended for children under 13 and is consistently ranked among the best Halloween events in the country. The event celebrates its 35th anniversary this year with more scares and thrills than ever before. The scares start August 28 and run through November 1. During the event, you can scream to your heart’s content through haunted houses and scare zones themed to some of the most iconic horror movies and TV shows ever created. Here’s a breakdown of what this year’s event includes:
Haunted Houses
There are 10 haunted houses throughout the park, each with a unique theme based on current and trending horror flicks. This year’s haunted house themes include:
- Hellraiser
- Ozzy Osbourne
- Sinners
- Stranger Things 5
- Evil Dead Burn
- Cybergoria
- Invasion: Alien Abduction
- Jack and Oddfellow: Chaos & Control
- Madlands: Caged Cannibals
- H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!
Scare Zones
In addition to the haunted houses, these scare zones feature roaming “scareactors” throughout the park, each with a unique theme. They are walk-through, open-air experiences that happen throughout the night, so there are always ways to be scared. This year’s themes include:
- Downtown Clown Town
- Fortnitemares
- Sideshow of Decay
- Infernal Carnival of Nightmares
- Mel’s Drive In: Zombies
- Club Horror
Shows
There are two exclusive entertainment shows during Halloween Horror Nights. New this year, Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins features a special broadcast from WSQK featuring the monsters and music from the hit Netflix show. Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus is the other exclusive show featuring thrilling stunts, acrobatics, and pyrotechnics, with a storyline centered on vampires invading a city.
Book Your Fall Travel Plans with Wishing on a Star Travel®
There’s still time to plan your 2026 fall or holiday vacation! Whether you plan a last-minute getaway over a teacher workday weekend or are looking ahead into the new year, we can help! Whenever you decide to visit, let our Earmarked Disney travel agency, Wishing on a Star Travel®, help you plan a fantastic vacation. Our team of over 50 agents is happy to help you create a lifetime of memories. Get a quote today.
