Hi Lisa!
I'm glad to hear that you are planning your dining reservations for your October vacation. Since you can begin
making your dining reservations 180 days in advance, you have a few weeks left to finalize the restaurants on your "must-do" list so you can make your reservations as soon as possible and get the best selection of restaurants and times!
My favorite special event in Magic Kingdom is
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! I love the fun and festive atmosphere in the theme park, as well as the incredible shows, parade and fireworks. Plus, there's nothing better than trick-or-treating in the theme park. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will take place over several evenings this fall, where Magic Kingdom will close early for the party. Once the party starts, only Guests with tickets to that evening's party will be able to enjoy the theme park's attractions, Character Experiences, entertainment and dining. Since dining reservations for restaurants inside of theme parks do not include admission to the theme park, you will need to purchase a party ticket to enjoy your dining reservations if they occur during party hours.
We don't have the details for this year's party, but last year Magic Kingdom closed at 6:00 p.m. to prepare for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which started at 7:00 p.m. So after 6:00 p.m., Guests enjoying dinner reservations needed party tickets. I recommend that you keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog so you can get the latest information about this year's party as it's announced, including information about dining during the party.
T-T-F-N, ta ta for now!
~Crystal