Halloween Details Revealed for Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World has announced details about Halloween entertainment, decorations, snacks, costumes, and more at Magic Kingdom. The fall holiday will be celebrated from September 15 to October 31, 2020. In this post, we’ll share what was announced and offer some thoughts about visiting.
We’ve been anxiously awaiting this news, and are pretty excited. While the low crowds have been nice, Magic Kingdom really needs a shot in the arm to give it some life and character. This should offer exactly that, with the Main Street Pumpkin Festival, Pumpkin Citizens of Town Square, and Mickey Head Pumpkin Wreaths all returning to Main Street USA.
Equally as important (at least, from our perspective), is the food. All four parks at Walt Disney World will offer fall eats and treats, including all things pumpkin spice, apple sweets, and cinnamon delights. This is a small thing but should make a big difference in the guest experience as, frankly, the food has been lacking…
Let’s start our look at the fall offerings in Magic Kingdom, which is the host of spook season at Walt Disney World. The big surprise here is a special Halloween-themed cavalcade with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and pals wearing their favorite Halloween costumes.
Over in Frontierland, Chip ‘n’ Dale will appear in costume. We’re hoping they will be joined by the ghost Country Bears and that was just omitted from the press release (unless Disney is trying to keep attendance down and realizes that would cause a huge spike in crowds). Other Disney characters will be dressed up and riding the horse-drawn trolley down Main Street, USA.
To bring some Halloween party fun into Magic Kingdom this year, guests of all ages will be allowed to wear costumes into the park during regular operating hours from September 15 to October 31, 2020. (Normally, costumes are only allowed for adults during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and other special events.)
As an important reminder, costume masks are not permitted for adults; only children younger than 14 years old are permitted to wear costume masks. Costumes cannot be objectionable, obscene, or overly ornate–use common sense. In addition, all guests are required to wear approved face coverings during their visit.
Additionally, Disney PhotoPass Photographers will be available throughout Magic Kingdom for themed photo ops. These are probably many of the magic shots available at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and–good news–we got every single one of those last year but forgot to write a post about them all…so I guess now it’s the time to do that?
Halloween-themed merchandise will also be available in select locations around Magic Kingdom. Featured items include a new spirit jersey, Loungefly backpack, and candy-swirl Minnie Mouse headband, along with a selection of apparel inspired by Disney Villains and more.
It’s worth noting that at least some of the Halloween merchandise is already on the shelves (we saw it during our last visit to Magic Kingdom). I don’t keep track of Disney merchandise “drops” well enough to know whether this is everything, but the point is that Walt Disney World isn’t waiting until September 15 to debut the new items–meaning that other aspects of the Halloween season could likewise begin early. (Probably not the cavalcade, though.)
Finally, fall foods at Walt Disney World. While we’re pretty hyped about all of this, the food is definitely the highlight for us (because you can’t eat a cavalcade!). Here are the treats coming to each park, beginning September 8, 2020 unless otherwise noted…
Magic Kingdom
- Mickey Cinnamon Roll (Available at Main Street Bakery) — Mickey-shaped cinnamon roll drizzled with orange and white icing
- Cinnamon Donuts (Available at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café) — Served in a Hitchhiking Ghost Novelty container
- Hades Nachos (Available at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café) — Black bean nacho chips with “fiery” buffalo chicken, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, salsa, and jalapeño
- Constance’s For Better or For Worse Wedding Cake (Available at Liberty Square Market) — Citrus cake with raspberry Bavarian cream, whipped cream flowers, and a chocolate axe
- Pumpkin Spiced Waffle Sundae (Available at Sleepy Hollow) —Pumpkin spice-flavored waffled topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and sprinkles
- Poor Unfortunate Souls Float (Available at Storybook Treats) — Cream cheese soft-serve, black raspberry syrup, and Coke
- Pumpkin Spice Milkshake (Available at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies) — Topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, sprinkles, and a Mickey-shaped marshmallow straw
- Pumpkin Spice Soft-Serve Sundae (Available at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies) — Served as a sundae topped with whipped cream, caramel, and sprinkles
- Mickey Monster Mash Burger (Available at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café) — Burger with Meunster cheese, potato barrels, bacon, and sriracha aïoli
- Headless Horseman Rides Again (Available at Sunshine Tree Terrace) — Strawberry DOLE® Whip with Fanta Strawberry and a Headless Horseman Novelty Straw
- Not So Poison Apple Cupcake (Available at Pinocchio Village House) — A spiced apple cupcake with pecan crunch buttercream themed after a poison apple
- Orange and Black Sugar Churros (Available at Various Churro Carts and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café)
- Oogie Boogie Dice Novelty Glow Cubes (Available at Various Quick-Service Restaurants)
- Jack Skellington Sipper (Available at Various Quick-Service Restaurants and Outdoor Vending Locations)
- Oogie Boogie Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Various Popcorn Carts)
- Mickey Pumpkin Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Various Popcorn Carts)
- Halloween Base Popcorn Bucket (Available at Various Popcorn Carts)
- Hitchhiking Ghost Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Liberty Square Popcorn Cart)
- Hitchhiking Ghost Sipper (Available at Various Quick-Service Restaurants)
- Madame Leota Sipper (Available at Sleepy Hollow)
Note that several items from Magic Kingdom are recycled from previous years, so if you’d like to get a jump-start on planning, consult our Halloween Snack & Dessert Food Guide to Magic Kingdom from last year.
EPCOT
- Halloween Cupcake (Available on Halloween Day Only at Sunshine Seasons) — Choice of vanilla or chocolate cupcake with buttercream and a Mickey Pumpkin garnish
- Nemo & Squirt’s Noggin Concoction (Available on Halloween Day Only at Coral Reef Restaurant) — Chocolate brownie stuffed with a chocolate chip cookie topped with white chocolate-covered pretzels and a Mickey Pumpkin Garnish
- Halloween Sugar Cookie (Available on Halloween Day Only at Traveler’s Café and Garden Grill) — Sugar cookie topped with Halloween Sprinkles
- Liquid Nitro Cake Pop (Available on Halloween Day Only at Desserts & Champagne Marketplace in World Showplace for EPCOT Taste of International Food & Wine Festival) — Liquid nitro chocolate cake pop with Halloween sprinkles
- Oogie Boogie Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available Canada Popcorn Cart and Fife & Drum)
- Green Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Eats at EPCOT Experience and Mission Space Popcorn Cart)
- Halloween Base Popcorn Bucket (Available at all EPCOT Popcorn Locations)
- Tire Pumpkin Novelty Straw (Available at Sunshine Seasons and Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue)
Animal Kingdom
- Scar Cupcake (Available at Creature Comforts, Flame Tree Barbecue, and Restaurantosaurus) — Red velvet cupcake with toasted marshmallow filling, chocolate marshmallow frosting, chocolate pebbles, white chocolate flames, and an edible icing image
- Spooky Apple Punch Specialty Beverage (Non-Alcoholic) (Available at Flame Tree Barbecue and Isle of Java) — Sprite with Monin Apple Syrup poured over ice, garnished with a rocky candy apple straw, a gummy worm, a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube, and a sugar lime rim
- Rotten Apple Punch Specialty Beverage (Alcoholic) (Available Flame Tree Barbecue) — Angry Orchard and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky over ice, garnished with a rocky candy apple straw, a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube, and gummy worms
- Tire Pumpkin Novelty Straw (Available at Tamu Tamu, Trek Snacks, Restaurantosaurus, TriloBites, and Outdoor Vending Ice Cream Carts)
- Purple Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Trek Snacks)
- Halloween Base Popcorn Bucket (Available at Trek Snacks)
Hollywood Studios
- Poison Candied Apple (Available at Trolley Car Café) — Apple and caramel mousse covered in red glaze with a crunchy candy base
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Cannoli (Available at PizzeRizzo) — Pumpkin cheesecake mixed with a hazelnut praline crunch in a cannoli shell
- Pumpkin Tiramisu (Available at Rosie’s All-American Café) — Layers of cream mascarpone and spiced pumpkin cake
- Box of Bones Chocolate Éclair (Available at Backlot Express) — Chocolate éclair with dark chocolate mousse and white chocolate bones
- Frozen Apple Cider (Non-Alcoholic) (Available at Rosie’s All-American Café, Backlot Express, and PizzeRizzo) — Served with a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube
- Frozen Apple Cider with Crown Royal Regal Apple (Alcoholic) (Available at Rosie’s All-American Café, Backlot Express, and PizzeRizzo) — Served with a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube
- Orange Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Anahiem Produce, Hollywood Popcorn, and Animation Popcorn)
- Tire Pumpkin Novelty Straw (Available at Rosie’s All-American Café, Backlot Express, PizzeRizzo, and Anaheim Produce)
Ultimately, this announcement about fall and Halloween at Walt Disney World has us really excited. Not so much about the substance of the entertainment or decorations (although the food lineup does look formidable), but the fact that Walt Disney World is doing something–and it’s more than just decorations on Main Street USA. After Walt Disney World cut fall park hours, we weren’t expecting much for Halloween–and it’s still disappointing that Magic Kingdom won’t be open after sunset at all in September or October.
For the last couple of weeks we’ve been fretting about Walt Disney World entering a cost-cutting spiral, with reductions in hours and entertainment resulting in reduced attendance, resulting in more cuts (and so on). This puts some (not all) of those concerns to bed. Granted, a lot of this is merchandise and food–things Disney can sell to guests–but it still amounts to a win-win, rather than a lose-lose. With the Christmas season on the horizon–normally Walt Disney World’s big holiday season–this news has us feeling at least somewhat reassured. Here’s hoping our renewed sense of confidence ends up being justified.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of this news of Halloween festivities at Magic Kingdom? Excited for the cavalcade, character costumes, PhotoPass magic shots, or food? Planning on going in costume to Magic Kingdom in September or October? Think this will provide a nice shot in the arm for Magic Kingdom? Does this likewise have you optimistic for Christmas season at Walt Disney World? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Thank you for the great info! Are they going to be doing anything special at the other parks for Halloween day? We are set to be at Hollywood Studios that day. Or should we change that?
Will there be a limited edition magic band this year? There isn’t usually a limited edition and a limited release magic band. N
Do you know if they’re doing any Halloween activities for little ones on the Boardwalk like they usually do on the 31st? If not do you know the best area of Disney customer service to call to find out?
Does anyone know if the Haunted Mansion will be getting the Nightmare Before Christmas treatment this year; and will it be up through the holiday season?
That’s only at Disneyland Resort and they haven’t even opened yet. They don’t do that at WDW.
Will there a parade? Will we have to buy extra tickets for a Halloween party?
There is no Halloween party, just Halloween decorations. Probably no parade, but just the same little events they have now during the day
This excites me !!! Our Halloween tickets were cancelled. This is even better! â¤ï¸
Tom,
I love your Big Bad Wolf costume. You are so cute in that, and look so young.
I’ve never been to Disney World in the Fall, so any Halloween decorations and snacks would be a plus to our trip! Even with all the reduced dining options and menu, we are psyched for our trip as we need a vacation BADLY, with all the things that have happened to us prior to and during our NJ Pandemic Shutdown! Vacations are the best medicine for my clinical depression!!!!
While adults aren’t allowed to wear costume masks, can we wear COVID-19 masks that have character faces on them?
Of course! 😉 (As long as they follow the Disney mask guidelines)
Like so many others I’m wanting the diningn plan to return , going in November and no dining plan is a major disappointment . Disney needs to take a poll and listen to their guest at this time, snacks are great but the restaurants being open could very well be a game changer for attendance!
I totally agree with you.
Our trip is in October and I love the DISNEY DINING PLAN.
It’s not a bargain or savings at all but I appreciate the ease of it.
It makes our trip almost an all-inclusive vacation.
Well I was hopeful when your heading said food, however those are all snacks-so actual real food- not sugar and carbs, is still extremely limited!
Thanks for the good news! 🙂 Yay!
Any ideas what this means for us on the West Coast? Is it too much of a longshot to hope that Disneyland might be open for Halloween? (Or is even Christmas unlikely to happen at DLR?)
Tom, I REALLY look forward to your posts! Your humor (or attempt at) really makes me smile ear to ear and gives me a shot in the arm when I need it most! I especially enjoy your Country Bear comments! Thanks!
This makes me want to book a trip for my birthday in mid-October. I’m going absolutely bonkers having had to cancel two Disney trips for May (Tokyo and Orlando), and not even getting to plan my birthday one (that’s half the fun!). I just may do it to simply soak up the autumn ambiance and stuff my face with all of the pumpkin treats. Happy birthday to me!
Although I’m still holding on to hope that Disneyland will open by then (I’m sure it won’t), since it’s closer and cheaper for me, being in central California.