Hiya, Kayla! Welcome to planDisney!
This is a great question, Kayla! You’re asking about my two favorite times of year to visit Walt Disney World Resort, great minds think alike! Both the Halloween and Christmas seasons are great times to visit. And if you’re wondering if early September really counts as Halloween season, I’m happy to confirm that it absolutely does!
Let’s start with November. Since you’ve visited in December and January before, you already know that the parks are absolutely magical at this time of year. Everywhere you look, there’s festive cheer in the air! And it’s not just the parks,
Disney Springs and the Disney Resort hotels across property also feature beautiful decorations. My favorite Disney Resorts during the holiday season are Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Their lobbies are absolutely stunning!
The weather in November can be mild, and sometimes even chilly. It’s important to pack layers to be prepared for that. Crowds do tend to increase around the week of Thanksgiving, so that’s something to keep in mind when planning.
EPCOT will host the
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. While the dates will be announced closer to the season, it’s always a must-do in my opinion. Magic Kingdom Park hosts
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios hosts
Disney Jollywood Nights. Both events are a lot of fun and ones I highly recommend!
Early September is also a great time to visit! You’ll find Halloween and fall decorations throughout the parks, Disney Springs, and Disney Resort hotels. My favorite decorations are the Mickey Mouse pumpkin wreaths lining Main Street, U.S.A.
The weather in early September will likely be hot and humid, similar to August, so it’s important to stay hydrated and take breaks as needed! Afternoon rain showers are also common, so packing rain gear is a must.
You may be able to catch the end of the
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. While dates for 2026 have yet to be announced, the festival ran from August 28 through November 22 in 2025, so this will depend on your arrival date. Magic Kingdom Park will host
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which features my favorite parade, Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade. It’s fantastic!
Since school will have recently resumed across much of the country, crowds tend to be lower in early September. While this is never a guarantee, we’ve visited in late August and early September several times and have found this to be the case.
I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that you really can’t go wrong with either time of year. Each time frame has a lot to offer, and I’m confident you will have a wonderful vacation regardless of when you visit. I hope this has been helpful, Kayla!
Happy planning!
Olivier