Disney World in October 2024
Hurricane Milton Update: Disney will close in phases on Wednesday, October 9th, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will close at 1PM. Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Disney Springs will close at 2PM. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and the two Disney miniature golf courses will be closed. Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park is already closed for its annual refurbishment.
October 10th - The theme parks (including Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party) will likely remain closed on Thursday, October 10th. Weather permitting, Disney Springs may reopen later Thursday afternoon with limited offerings.
Disney Resort Hotels: Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will temporarily close beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9. They will likely remain closed through Sunday, October 13th
Orlando International Airport has announced that they will cease commercial operations at 8AM on Wednesday, October 9th.
October is such a wonderful month to visit Disney World! When you're lucky, the weather starts to cool and there is so much to see and do. A lot of schools are now offering a fall break so October crowds are bigger than they used to be but we've put together the information below to help you have a great trip. Keep reading to find out about crowds, closures and special events during your October trip to Disney World.
Average High: 84° f
Average Low: 65° f
Average Monthly Precipitation: 3.24"
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Disney World Ride Closures & Refurbishments in October:
Magic Kingdom - Due to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (separately ticketed event) the Magic Kingdom will close early and regular evening fireworks will not be offered on party nights. 2024 Dates: August 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30. September 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29. October 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 2024. Click here for more information.
Magic Kingdom - Jungle Cruise closed August 26 - October 17th.
Epcot - Test Track closed until further notice for a major refurbishment.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios - Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will close permanently on October 10, 2024.
Blizzard Beach Water Park will be closed until November 3, 2024. Typhoon Lagoon water park is open, but will close for refurbishment on November 4th.
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter - Room refurbishments will occur from now until November 2024. Expect to see and hear construction during daytime hours.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Boulder Ridge Villas - Exterior refurbishments will occur from now until December 2024. Expect to see and hear construction during daytime hours.
Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course - Open now as a 14-hole course. Full 18-holes coming later this year.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake Tower - room refurbishments will take place from September 2024 - September 2025. Expect to see and hear construction during daytime hours.
Magic Kingdom - Due to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (separately ticketed event) the Magic Kingdom will close early and regular evening fireworks will not be offered on these dates: 2024 party dates to be announced but are typically offered on select evenings from mid-August to October: 31 or November: 1. Click here for more information.
We will update this section as information is released.
The Magical Extras Savings Card is included in every Walt Disney World Resort vacation package and provides discounts at several restaurants, shops, and activities. Click here for full details.
Click here for Universal Orlando closures and refurbishments.
Don't Miss Out on Great Experiences at Disney World!
We want to help you have the most wonderful, most memorable Disney vacation possible. We know that giving you good, up-to-date information and a few simple tools will make a huge difference in your Disney vacation. Long lines become short lines and you will have great memories of shared experiences instead of missed opportunities. That's why we're called Build A Better Mouse Trip.
Here’s how we help you Plan a great vacation:
Your travel agent – You have one agent from start-to-finish who knows your name and your priorities and who wants to do everything possible to help you have a wonderful experience.
“Best Days” Vacation Planning – We’ll help you pick the best park for each day based on hours and expected crowd levels then we help with dining reservations and understanding which Disney Genie+ and individual Lightning Lane selections might be right for you.
Saving Money – Of course we watch for discounts and promotion and automatically apply the best available offer to your reservation but we also help you avoid up-sells and options you won’t use.
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Special Events at Disney World in October:
The Magical Extras Savings Card is included in every Walt Disney World Resort vacation package and provides discounts at several restaurants, shops, and activities. Click here for full details.
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party - Select night at Magic Kingdom / 2024 Party Dates: To Be Announced . This is a specially ticketed event - you cannot use your Magic Your Way or Park Hopper Ticket - and is a lot of fun for families. Ticket prices range from $99 to #189 + tax depending on the date and age of participant. These parties include special activities, a parade, fireworks, rides and trick-or-treating and many guests wear costumes. Remember that this time of year can still be hot so choose costumes that will be comfortable. Warning: The Magic Kingdom generally closes early to the public on party nights and won't have the Disney Enchantment fireworks on these nights. Restaurant reservations in the resorts closest to the Magic Kingdom fill early on these nights.
Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival - 2024 Dates to Be Announced. This very popular event is included with your regular Epcot admission although there are special events related to this festival that do have a separate fee. Enjoy food and wine themed demonstrations. Chefs and winemakers from around the globe have booths were you can savor the amazing flavors available for sale- both in full meals and in snack sized portions. Tip: This is a very popular event so the weekends will be more crowded than usual at Epcot as locals and annual passholders come to take in the festivities. Weekdays, especially Mondays, will be much less crowded.
runDisney Food and Wine Marathon Weekend - October 31 - November 3, 2024. This event definitely affects hotel availability so book early.
Disney Springs - Lego Store Events - The Lego Store offers periodic activities like building events or Lego Club meetings, and special offers. Click here for the current month and next month's calendar.
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Crowd Warnings for Disney World in October:
Early Entry Benefits - All four Walt Disney World Theme Parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom) will open 30-minutes early for guests of the official Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Disney Springs hotels, and select others. Thoughts on Early Entry - This is a fantastic perk for those who qualify and is a great time to ride one or two popular rides. It is still a good idea for off-site guests to arrive prior to posted park opening time because the first hour of the day tends to be less crowded but you’ll also see crowds decrease for the last two (2) hours before closing.
Columbus Day Weekend - We always see a bit of a spike on a week with a federal holiday but this holiday doesn’t have the same impact as others, perhaps because many schools don’t offer that day off.
Be smart about Character Breakfast reservations - Something you should consider when thinking about Character Breakfast reservations is that the theme parks are at their least crowded and coolest when the parks first open for the day. In my opinion, there is no good reason to sit in a restaurant when lines are short and then head out to the attractions when the day is heating up and the lines have already started to form. A character lunch or dinner can give you a much-needed break in an air conditioned setting after you've had a chance to enjoy the parks when the crowds were low. If you love character breakfasts, consider booking a late character breakfast seating and treat it like brunch - this will still let you enjoy the short lines just after park opening before sitting down to eat. Water park days and departure day are also great possibilities for people who love character breakfasts.
Save time and money by having snacks, bottled water and other food items delivered directly to your resort by Garden Grocer - Click HERE for more information.
Why you need a Disney-focused travel agent: Tips and information like this one of the biggest benefits of having a Disney-focused travel agent help you plan your Disney vacation. Our agents will help you have a better trip by providing a "Best Days" itinerary that puts you in the best theme park for each day of your trip, by booking dining reservation on your behalf (subject to availability) at times that don't interfere with parades and fireworks, and by giving you excellent theme park tips and information that keep lines to an absolute minimum. You get all of this expert service at no extra charge when you book your Disney vacation through Build A Better Mouse Trip.
Use the month buttons below for lists of Disney World ride closures, attraction refurbishments, special events and crowd warnings by month. We hope this information helps you have a wonderful and memorable vacation.