Hi Cheryl! Traveling with a large group makes a Disney World vacation so much fun! We traveled with a group of 19 for my 40th birthday, and it was such a memorable visit for all of us! One piece of advice that will be helpful as you plan your visit with 22 is to plan some Disney favorites to do together (that’s why you’re all visiting at the same time!), but also allow the group to split up and chart their own course for individual or small group adventures!
You came to planDisney at the right time! That big group of 22 should get excited because reservations for Walt Disney World Resort hotels are available to be booked NOW for October 2026!
Head over to the
Disney World website to make your reservations! When you arrive at the website, look for the “Build Your Vacation” banner at the top of the page. You can enter your preferred travel dates, party size, and preferred Disney World hotel or search for all available hotels!
Cheryl, since you are traveling in October, I must recommend my family’s favorite fall activity at Disney World…
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! This spectacularly spooky event is held at Magic Kingdom on select nights from August 7 through Halloween! This timeframe fits perfectly with your October visit! And nobody knows how to throw a Halloween party better than Mickey and Minnie! Guests can come to the party dressed in costumes and trick-or-treat through Magic Kingdom! You’ll find favorite Disney characters will also be dressed in their Halloween costumes! There is a special parade, Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, that runs twice during the party! My favorite parts of the parade are the Headless Horseman, who makes his haunted ride along the parade route a few minutes before the parade begins, and the Haunted Mansion gravediggers! Don’t miss this parade! There is also a Halloween-themed fireworks show over Cinderella Castle that is stunning! While I don't always stop to watch fireworks at Magic Kingdom, I DO when it is the Halloween fireworks show!
My favorite part of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the entry time perk! The Halloween party officially runs from 7:00 PM to midnight (of course!), but ticketholders can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 PM! Take advantage of those extra hours!
Here is a PRO TIP for you, Cheryl! Guests with existing reservations can begin purchasing Halloween party tickets tomorrow, May 5, 2026! So, if you’re ready to book that big family gathering, head to the Disney World website to make your magical reservations!
Dreams do come true!
Jonathan