Must-Do Fall Events in the 2025 Disney World Event Calendar

Looking for the perfect Disney World events calendar to plan your magical fall getaway? Fall at Disney transforms the parks into a spectacular seasonal celebration with some of the most anticipated events of the year. Whether you're drawn to the culinary adventures of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival or the family-friendly fun of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the Disney World calendar of events offers something for every age and preference.

To help make the most of your vacation planning, this expert guide to the top 10 must-do fall events at Disney World for 2025 ensures you won't miss any of the magic that makes Disney in the fall truly special.

EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival transforms the park into a global culinary celebration that food enthusiasts eagerly anticipate each year. This gastronomic adventure lets you sample flavors from around the world without ever leaving Florida.

Food & Wine Festival highlights

These festival-exclusive kiosks serve delectable dishes and specialty drinks inspired by countries and cultures across six continents. The 2025 festival includes returning favorites and exciting new offerings to tantalize your taste buds.

Don't miss these festival standouts:

• Emile's Fromage Montage - This popular cheese crawl returns for 2025, inviting you to sample five cheese dishes from various marketplaces. Collect stamps in your festival passport at locations like Milled & Mulled, Brazil, and Greece to earn a complimentary dairy treat at Shimmering Sips.
• Eat to the Beat Concert Series - Held at the America Gardens Theater, this musical showcase features internationally recognized artists and local bands. New performers for 2025 include KT Tunstall, Bowling for Soup, and Jordin Sparks, alongside returning favorites like Joey Fatone & Friends, Hanson, and Boyz II Men.

Additionally, Living with the Land boat ride features seasonal themed displays showcasing ingredients during the festival, adding an educational dimension to your culinary journey through Disney World's events calendar. Running through November 22, 2025, the festival takes place throughout EPCOT, with marketplaces located in both World Showcase and the front of the park.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Spooky season comes alive with Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, one of the most anticipated events at Disney World in the fall. This separately ticketed, after-hours spectacular transforms Magic Kingdom into a hauntingly fun celebration that remains family-friendly despite the Halloween theme.

Mickey's Halloween Party entertainment

The party boasts exclusive entertainment you can't experience during regular park hours:

• Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween Parade – This twice-nightly procession features the Headless Horseman's spine-tingling ride down Main Street, U.S.A., followed by Disney characters in Halloween costumes, the Haunted Mansion's ghostly dancers, and even villains like Maleficent in dragon form.
• Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular – Jack Skellington hosts this immersive fireworks and projection show where Mickey and friends journey through a haunted house adventure. The castle projections, fireworks, and special effects create a memorable nighttime experience.
• Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular – The Sanderson Sisters from "Hocus Pocus" cast spells on the castle stage with appearances from villains like Dr. Facilier, Oogie Boogie, and Maleficent.

The party includes unlimited trick-or-treating with exclusive candy varieties, special character meet-and-greets with rarely-seen characters in Halloween costumes, and the ability to wear costumes inside the park (with specific guidelines). In fact, many attractions remain open with significantly reduced wait times compared to regular operating hours.

Mickey's Halloween Party dates and location

For 2025, the event takes place at Magic Kingdom Park on select nights through October 31. Each party runs from 7:00 PM to midnight, although party ticket holders can enter the park as early as 4:00 PM without needing a day ticket or park reservation.

The party schedule typically includes:

• 3-4 nights per week in September
• 4-5 nights per week in October (especially around Halloween at Disney)

Given the popularity of this signature Disney in the fall offering, tickets for preferred dates often sell out weeks or even months in advance. Therefore, securing your spots early is highly recommended for the best selection and pricing on the Disney World events calendar 2025.

Fall Decor and Treats Across Disney World

Beyond the headline events, the entire Walt Disney World Resort transforms with autumnal charm throughout the season. From mid-August through early November, the parks showcase a festive ambiance that enhances your fall vacation experience.

Fall decor highlights at Disney World.

Magic Kingdom leads the seasonal transformation with iconic orange and gold bunting draped along Main Street, U.S.A. Initially installed during the first week of August 2025, the decorations coincide with the start of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The familiar Mickey pumpkin heads and "pumpkin people" in Town Square create perfect photo backdrops for your visit.

Each park embraces fall differently. Hollywood Studios presents vintage Halloween glamor with classic character designs and subtle spooky touches that complement its golden-age atmosphere. Alternatively, Animal Kingdom keeps decorations understated, incorporating gentle autumnal touches that blend with the park's natural beauty instead of overwhelming it.

Disney After Hours at Hollywood Studios and EPCOT

Experience the magic of Disney parks after dark with exclusive access during Disney After Hours events this fall. These limited-capacity nighttime adventures at Hollywood Studios and EPCOT offer a unique way to enjoy your favorite attractions with dramatically reduced wait times.

After Hours Event Features

After Hours events provide a premium experience with significantly fewer guests than regular park hours. Primarily, you'll enjoy nearly walk-on access to top attractions with minimal wait times.

At Hollywood Studios, you can experience these popular rides:

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Rock' n' Roller Coaster
• Toy Story Mania!
• Alien Swirling Saucers

EPCOT After Hours includes access to:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
• Frozen Ever After
• Soarin' Around the World
• Test Track
• Spaceship Earth

Both events include unlimited complimentary ice cream novelties, popcorn, and bottled beverages throughout the night from conveniently located carts. Hollywood Studios also features rare character appearances, including Duffy the Disney Bear, Pinocchio & Jiminy Cricket, Mary Poppins, and Glamorous versions of Daisy, Donald, and Goofy.

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend offers fitness enthusiasts a chance to sprint through the parks as part of the fall at Disney celebration. Scheduled for October 23-26, 2025, this popular runDisney event combines exercise with the culinary delights of EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival.

Wine & Dine race events

The 2025 weekend celebrates "Disney Magical Mealtimes" with races themed around different meal times of the day. Each completion earns you a one-of-a-kind medal reflecting that theme. The event includes:

• Disney Wine & Dine 5K – A 3.1-mile course featuring Mulan and Mushu theming, perfect for beginners or families
• Disney Wine & Dine 10K – A 6.2-mile journey with Olaf theming
• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon – The signature 13.1-mile experience themed to Lady and the Tramp
• Disney Two Course Challenge – For the ambitious, combine the 10K and Half Marathon for a total of 19.3 miles and receive an additional medal featuring Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather

Throughout each course, participants enjoy Disney character sightings, entertainment, and the unique experience of running through Walt Disney World Resort.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

As autumn leaves give way to holiday cheer, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party emerges as a magical transition from fall to winter festivities on the Disney World events calendar. This beloved after-hours celebration transforms Magic Kingdom into a winter wonderland, typically beginning in early November while fall colors still adorn the resort.

Christmas Party entertainment and parades

The heart of this festive gathering includes exclusive holiday entertainment you won't find during regular park hours. First and foremost, "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade" features Santa Claus, marching toy soldiers, dancing gingerbread men, and Disney characters in their finest holiday attire. Along with the parade, "Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks" illuminates Cinderella Castle with stunning pyrotechnics choreographed to classic holiday tunes.

The party provides unique experiences, including:

• "A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas" stage show
• "Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration" castle stage show
• Character meet-and-greets with Disney friends in holiday costumes
• Complimentary hot cocoa and cookies at designated locations

Christmas Party dates and location

Held exclusively at Magic Kingdom Park, the 2025 celebrations typically run from early November through December 22 on select nights. Yet this popular event usually begins while fall at Disney events are still underway, creating a unique overlap of seasonal celebrations that many visitors specifically plan their trips around.

Disney Jollywood Nights

Add a touch of Hollywood glamor to your holiday season at Disney Jollywood Nights, a sophisticated Christmas celebration at Disney's Hollywood Studios. This separately ticketed event offers a refined holiday experience with sparkling décor, modern beats over classic holiday songs, craft cocktails, and rare character interactions.

Jollywood Nights entertainment

The event shines with exclusive shows throughout the park:

• Disney Holidays in Hollywood – A star-studded variety show hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, featuring appearances by Mickey, Minnie, Tiana, Belle and others alongside jazz musicians
• What's This? Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along – Join Jack Skellington for a musical adventure at Hyperion Theater
• Glisten! – An ice skating spectacular on Hollywood Boulevard featuring champion skaters performing to holiday tunes
• Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! – A nighttime spectacular with fireworks, lasers, and projections on the Chinese Theater

Jollywood Nights dates and location

For 2025, this festive celebration occurs on 13 select nights from November 8 through December 22 at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The event runs from 7:30 PM to 12:30 AM, yet ticketholders can enter as early as 5:30 PM.

Complete 2025 schedule:

• November: 8, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29
• December: 1, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 22

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Cap off your fall at Disney Adventure with a global holiday celebration! EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays wraps the park in festive cheer from November 28 through December 30, 2025, making it the perfect finale to your autumn Disney experience.

Festival of the Holidays highlights

At its core, this celebration showcases holiday traditions from around the world. The centerpiece is the beloved Candlelight Processional, where a celebrity narrator retells the Christmas story accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra, herald trumpets, and the Voices of Liberty. Performances occur nightly at 5:00 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:15 PM, each lasting approximately 50 minutes.

Festival of the Holidays dates and location

The festival runs daily throughout EPCOT from November 28 (the day after Thanksgiving) through December 30, 2025. Ultimately, this timing allows you to experience both fall and winter holiday celebrations during a late November visit.

Conclusion

Fall at Disney World offers an unforgettable blend of festive magic, from the spook-tacular thrills of Halloween to the heartwarming traditions of the holiday season. With the unique overlap of autumn and winter celebrations, visitors can experience pumpkin-lined streets one day and sparkling Christmas décor the next, all within the same trip.

Staying close to the magic ensures you can enjoy every moment of these limited-time events without the hassle of long commutes or complicated travel logistics. For the best rates, personalized service, and a seamless planning experience, book your seasonal stay directly with Vacation Central Florida and make the most of this enchanting time of year near the Disney theme parks.