This Week at Disney World: October 11 to 17

Happy Sunday! We are officially in the thick of Halloween season at Walt Disney World, which is my favorite time of year to be here and also one of the trickier weeks to plan. Here's what the week ahead looks like. 🎃

What's Happening in the Parks

Monday is a holiday. Columbus Day weekend means Magic Kingdom will be busy through Monday, then things usually settle a bit midweek. If you have flexibility, Tuesday through Thursday are your friends this week.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is in its final stretch, with party nights sprinkled through the rest of October. The later-in-October dates sell out first, so if you are still deciding, check availability early in the week rather than the day of.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is still running at Epcot and will be through mid-November. Weekends bring the Eat to the Beat concerts and noticeably thicker crowds in World Showcase after 4pm. Weekday lunch is the sweet spot.

At Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, it is a quieter week with no festival overlay, which honestly makes them great midweek choices. Animal Kingdom in October is lovely because the animals are more active in the cooler mornings.

Snacks and Merch I'm Watching

Halloween merch is picking over at this point, so if you spot a spirit jersey or a pair of pumpkin ears you love, grab them. Restock is unpredictable this close to the end of the season. I always check World of Disney at Disney Springs when the parks come up empty.

Snack-wise, the Not-So-Scary party treats are worth the detour if you have a ticket. Outside the party, the fall sweets at Sleepy Hollow and the seasonal offerings rotating through Food & Wine booths are where I'm spending my snack credits this week. More ideas over on dining.

What to Wear This Week

Mid-October in Florida is still warm: highs in the upper 80s most days, dropping into the high 60s overnight. The humidity does start easing, which you can feel.

• Orange, black, and deep purple color stories still feel right without being costume-y
• A light flannel or cardigan tied at the waist for park-close, especially at Animal Kingdom and Epcot
• Breathable fabrics over anything heavy, because the afternoon sun has not gotten the fall memo
• Halloween ears while you still can. Mine are the sequined pumpkin pair. More ear ideas here

One Planning Tip

If you are visiting a Not-So-Scary party day, do not plan a full Magic Kingdom morning on top of it. The park closes early to non-party guests, so I use the daytime for a resort pool or a low-key Epcot lunch and save my energy. Building this into your itinerary now saves you a lot of regret at 9pm.

Have a wonderful week, friends. 💜