Halloween in Orlando 2026

Halloween at Disney World

Walt Disney World is one of the biggest reasons to spend Halloween in Orlando, particularly if you’re travelling with children.

The main event takes place at Magic Kingdom, but Halloween and fall experiences can also be found elsewhere across Walt Disney World. Our Disney World Halloween guide goes into much more detail on decorations, entertainment, food, costumes and seasonal experiences across the resort.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Dates: Select nights from August 7 to October 31, 2026

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party transforms Magic Kingdom after dark with trick-or-treating, Disney characters in seasonal costumes, Halloween entertainment, themed attractions and plenty of Halloween food and merchandise.

The separately ticketed event officially runs from 7pm until midnight, with party ticket holders able to enter Magic Kingdom from 4pm.

Highlights include:

• Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade

• Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks

• Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular

• Trick-or-treat stations around Magic Kingdom

• Halloween character appearances

• The Cadaver Dans

• Seasonal food, drinks and merchandise

• Special Halloween versions of selected rides

• Halloween dance parties and entertainment

Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade features Disney characters, Haunted Mansion favorites and Disney villains, while Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular combines fireworks, projections and lasers around Cinderella Castle.

Selected Magic Kingdom attractions also receive special Halloween touches, while character appearances and entertainment continue throughout the evening.

Read more about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, or use our Guide to Magic Kingdom to plan the rest of your day at the park.

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular

The Sanderson Sisters take over the Cinderella Castle Stage for the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular.

Winifred, Mary and Sarah are joined by Disney villains for a stage show featuring music, dancers, projections and special effects. The show is exclusive to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and is one of the major entertainment highlights of the evening.

Halloween food at Magic Kingdom

Halloween also brings limited-time food and drinks to Magic Kingdom.

During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, selected dining locations offer party-exclusive dishes, snacks and desserts. Seasonal treats appear around the park, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to add Halloween food stops between rides, trick-or-treating and entertainment.

If food is an important part of your Disney trip, it is worth allowing time for seasonal snacks rather than trying to fit every ride and show into the evening.

More Halloween fun at Disney World

Magic Kingdom has the biggest Disney Halloween celebration, but it isn’t the only Disney park worth visiting during fall.

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit at EPCOT

EPCOT gets into the fall spirit with Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, a seasonal scavenger hunt that sends visitors around the park in search of decorative pumpkins inspired by Disney characters.

It also overlaps with the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, giving visitors another reason to include EPCOT in an autumn Disney World itinerary.

Our Guide to EPCOT covers the park’s rides, World Showcase, restaurants, festivals and tips for planning your visit.

Minnie’s Halloween Dine at Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios also joins the seasonal celebrations through Minnie’s Halloween Dine at Hollywood & Vine, where Minnie and friends appear in Halloween-inspired costumes during the fall season.

If you’re combining this with rides, Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, see our Guide to Hollywood Studios before you visit.

Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights

Dates: Select nights from August 28 to November 1, 2026

For something much scarier, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights transforms Universal Studios Florida into a huge nighttime horror event.

Halloween Horror Nights features haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment, special Halloween food and selected attractions running into the night. The event is aimed at visitors who want a much more intense Halloween experience than Orlando’s family-focused celebrations.

Each year brings a mixture of haunted houses inspired by major horror franchises and original Universal concepts, alongside themed scare zones filled with performers.

Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event and is generally better suited to teenagers and adults than younger children.

For more information, see our guide to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.

Where to stay for Halloween Horror Nights

Halloween Horror Nights can finish very late, so choosing accommodation with easy access to Universal can make a big difference.

Our vacation rentals near Universal Studios Orlando include villas, condos and townhomes around Orlando, with selected homes offering private pools, games rooms, themed bedrooms and home theaters for the following day’s downtime.

Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND Florida

Dates: Select dates from September 5 to October 31, 2026

Families with younger children can head to LEGOLAND Florida Resort for Brick-or-Treat Monster Party.

Unlike Orlando’s major nighttime scare events, Brick-or-Treat focuses on playful Halloween fun, with trick-or-treating, LEGO Monster characters, seasonal entertainment, special activities and Halloween-themed attractions. Families can expect themed LEGO displays, character encounters, Halloween games, candy and seasonal entertainment throughout the event. Brick-or-Treat is included with regular LEGOLAND Florida theme park admission on participating dates rather than requiring a separate nighttime event ticket.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort is in Winter Haven, around an hour from Orlando, so allow extra travelling time if you’re staying close to Disney or Universal.

Gators, Ghosts & Goblins at Gatorland

Dates: October 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25, 2026

Halloween gets a uniquely Florida twist at Gatorland.

Gators, Ghosts & Goblins is a daytime family Halloween event featuring themed decorations, trick-or-treating, interactive characters, animal encounters, live entertainment, games and photo opportunities.

It's a good option if you want Halloween activities without committing another evening of your Orlando vacation to a separately ticketed theme park event.

Family-friendly Halloween events in Orlando

There are plenty of Orlando Halloween events where the emphasis is on costumes, candy and seasonal entertainment rather than serious scares.

Families can choose from:

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for Disney characters, trick-or-treating, parades and fireworks.

• Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND Florida for LEGO characters, candy and activities aimed particularly at younger children.

• Gators, Ghosts & Goblins for daytime Halloween activities alongside Gatorland’s animals.

• Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit at EPCOT for a gentler Disney Halloween activity that can be incorporated into a regular park day.

• Minnie’s Halloween Dine for a Disney character meal with seasonal costumes.

These events are particularly useful for families who want to enjoy Halloween in Orlando without haunted houses or intense scare actors.

Scary Halloween events in Orlando

Visitors looking for a much more intense Halloween experience can head to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.

Rather than trick-or-treating and family entertainment, HHN is built around haunted houses, scare zones, horror characters and late-night entertainment.

It is worth considering the ages and preferences of everyone in your group before booking. Families with younger children may prefer to concentrate on Disney, LEGOLAND and Gatorland instead.

Tips for celebrating Halloween in Orlando

• Book the biggest events early

Halloween events can sell out, particularly popular October dates and Halloween night itself. If Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Halloween Horror Nights is one of the main reasons for your trip, secure tickets before building the rest of your itinerary around it.

• Check whether you need a separate event ticket

Not every Orlando Halloween event works the same way. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Halloween Horror Nights require separate event admission, while other seasonal activities may be included with standard attraction admission. Always check the ticket requirements for your chosen date before visiting.

• Check costume rules before leaving your villa

Costume policies vary between Orlando Halloween events. Disney allows costumes during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party subject to its official guidelines, while Universal has much stricter rules for Halloween Horror Nights. Check the latest event guidance shortly before visiting, particularly if you’re planning a detailed costume.

• Avoid planning every late-night event back to back

Halloween events can involve several hours of walking and may finish very late. If you have a longer Orlando vacation, consider alternating event nights with pool days, resort time or a slower morning.

• Think about journey times

Orlando’s Halloween events are spread across several areas. Disney World and Universal are relatively close to many major Orlando vacation communities, while LEGOLAND Florida is further south in Winter Haven. Choosing where to stay based on the events you plan to visit can reduce driving time considerably.

Where to stay for Halloween in Orlando

Staying close to the attractions makes it much easier to experience several Orlando Halloween events during one trip.

Our Orlando Halloween villas put families and groups close to Disney World, Universal and Orlando’s other major attractions. Selected homes feature private pools, home theaters, games rooms and themed children’s bedrooms, giving you plenty to do when you are not at the parks.

You can also browse our wider villas for Halloween collection or choose one of our Orlando villas with magical themed rooms to keep some of the fun going when you return from Disney or Universal.

For Disney-focused trips, staying close to Walt Disney World can make late Magic Kingdom evenings and multiple park days easier. Visitors concentrating on Halloween Horror Nights may instead prefer accommodation with straightforward access to Universal.

FAQs about Halloween in Orlando

When does Halloween start in Orlando?

Halloween celebrations in Orlando begin well before October 31. Major events such as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Halloween Horror Nights start in August, with more seasonal events continuing through September and October.

What are the best Halloween events in Orlando for families?

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is one of the biggest family Halloween events in Orlando, with trick-or-treating, Disney characters, parades and fireworks. Families can also visit Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND Florida and Gators, Ghosts & Goblins at Gatorland.

Is Halloween Horror Nights suitable for children?

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal is designed to be much scarier than Orlando’s family-focused Halloween events, with haunted houses, scare zones and horror characters. Families with younger children may prefer Disney, LEGOLAND or Gatorland instead.

Where should I stay for Halloween in Orlando?

Staying close to the theme parks can make late-night Halloween events much easier. Orlando vacation rentals near Disney World and Universal include homes with private pools, games rooms, home theaters and themed bedrooms, while selected villas have wizard, villain and fantasy-style rooms that fit the Halloween atmosphere.