Intro
I am back from my Halloween trip to Disney World and ready to recap it all for you all! I was able to squeeze so much into a short trip and really did have a magical time. I tried some new things, explored new places, and was sure to include a few classic favorites.
Breakdown
- Theme: Halloween
- Length: 4 days
- Age and Group: Two adults
- Cost: $
Check-In Day
Since I have made a few trips to Disney this year (no regrets), I wanted to try my best to keep the cost of this one down. I booked a room at All Star Sports, which is one of the most affordable Value resorts on property. I will always have a soft spot for the All Star Resorts and really do love staying here! I love that Disney has options that range from affordable to total splurges. My next trip may be a splurge one, who knows! But for now, I am happy to save some money and enjoy the offerings of All Star Sports.
My flight came in extremely late, but luckily Mears runs 24/7, so I was able to get on a bus to my hotel with no problem. If you are looking for an affordable and simple transportation option from the Orlando Airport, Mears is definitely what I recommend.
When I arrived at the resort, I did have to go to the front desk despite doing online check-in, because it was so late. They actually ended up bumping me up to a preferred room, which was great, however it was unfortunately not the right room type that was needed for my travel party. Luckily, the amazing Cast Members at the front desk were able to get it all sorted out early the next morning.
Day 1: Magic Kingdom
My first park day was a solo day, as my friend wasn’t arriving until the next day. I have previously gone on a solo trip and actually really loved it! It is fun being able to set your own pace and schedule, especially as someone who loves to be at the parks open until close.
Rides
I purchased Disney Genie+ for the day, which ended up being super successful! I rode six rides with Disney Genie+ (Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain) and a few with essentially no wait (Space Mountain, People Mover, and It’s a Small World).
I would have most likely gotten on a few more rides using Disney Genie+, however it started storming pretty badly once I got off of Splash Mountain (ironically enough – at least I was already soaked!).
I also took the time this trip to meet some characters, which I really haven’t been able to do for a while! My favorite interaction of my entire trip was meeting Merida. For those who know me, you know that Merida is my absolute favorite. So much so that I named my dog after her! Meeting Merida made this trip absolutely perfect!
Food
Breakfast this morning was a quick stop at Joffrey’s for some coffee and then a “Binx Pastry Tail” from Cheshire Cafe.
For a midday break from the parks, I took the boat over to Wilderness Lodge. This was the first time I had ever been to that resort and it is definitely on my list now! It is so peaceful and beautiful, I really couldn’t get over it. Don’t forget about this resort when you are looking for a resort break on your Magic Kingdom day!
Lunch was a quick bite at Geyser Point, the outdoor lounge that is located right by the water.
For anyone who is questioning if they should take resort breaks during the day, I really do think it is one of the best things you can do on your vacation. It gives you the chance to check out resorts you may never stay at and have the opportunity to experience something new. Plus, taking a break during a hot Florida day is really a necessity!
After riding a few more rides back at Magic Kingdom and getting stuck in a storm, I mobile-ordered some dinner from Pinocchio’s Village Haus. I may or may not have eaten my flatbread on top of a trash can, but is it really a Disney trip if you don’t eat on a trash can at least once?
I ended the night by waiting out the nightly showing of Enchantment in the rain. The show finally did go on, with just about a 30 minute delay!
Day 2: Hollywood Studios & Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Hollywood Studios
I started my second park day bright and early and got to Hollywood Studios for rope drop! Sadly, a lot of the big rides I hoped to run to, were down first thing in the morning. But, I ended up having a really nice and relaxing morning at Studios!
Rides
Once I got into Hollywood Studios, I immediately ran towards Galaxy’s Edge, where I unfortunately saw that Rise of the Resistance was down. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway was also not running, so I hopped in line for Tower of Terror. It was a quick wait and from there I joined the Single Rider Line for Rockin’ Rollercoaster. I even got to sit in the front row! The Single Rider Line (only an option on certain rides) is definitely another huge perk of going to the parks solo!
I met up with a friend before leaving the park and we grabbed a seat for the Frozen Sing-a-Long! It is a really cute show and perfect for any Frozen fan!
Food
On this trip I really wanted to take some time to stop and enjoy the ambiance of the parks. This morning, after a few rides, I grabbed a coffee from Trolley Car Cafe (the Starbucks location in this park) and found a bench on Sunset Boulevard! It was so nice to just sit and enjoy my coffee, with all the excitement of the park happening around me.
For lunch, a friend and I grabbed some drinks and snacks at Baseline Taphouse. I love the atmosphere of this lounge and the menu as well. With indoor and outdoor seating, it is the perfect place to stop and grab a quick bite!
Now, it’s time to stop by the resort and get ready for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!
Magic Kingdom – Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
I have not been to this Halloween Party in a few years, so I am so excited to be back! I love the atmosphere, the unique characters, the ride overlays, and the entertainment!
Rides
We didn’t focus too much on rides during this party, because there was just so much else to see and do! During the Halloween Party, Space Mountain has a special holiday overlay, where they turn off all the lights and pipe in special, Halloween music. As someone who loves Space Mountain, this overlay was everything I have ever wanted! It felt so strange to not have the usual lights and music, but that made it such a cool experience. I would definitely have done that over and over if I could have!
The only other ride we got on was Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, which was fun, as always!
Food
Dinner during the party was just a quick stop at Cosmic Rays, before getting back to all the entertainment!
Extras
Right when we got into the party, we headed straight to the queue for Jack and Sally’s Meet and Greet! This line can get extremely long, so getting to this first was definitely a priority. This Meet and Greet was really special and they let you take your time with them. It’s something you don’t want to miss if you are at Mickey’s Not So Scary!
Next, we met Mickey in his Halloween costume, followed by Minnie and friends in their costumes as well! I really love all of the characters that are dressed up for the party and how special those Meet and Greets are.
Finally, to round out the Halloween costumed characters, we met Winnie the Pooh and friends!
In terms of entertainment, this party did not disappoint, even with some stormy weather. The first Boo to You Parade was changed into a Rainy Night Halloween Cavalcade. This was the first time I had ever seen this cavalcade and it was really cute! I love seeing unique entertainment like this, that you don’t get to see everyday.
The second Boo to You Parade was delayed, but did end up going! This is one of the coolest parades at Disney, so I was so happy to get to see it once during this party.
Lastly, Mickey’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular was the perfect fireworks show to close out the night! I enjoyed the story of this show and the fireworks and projections were perfect.
Day 3: Animal Kingdom & Disney Springs
Animal Kingdom
The morning after a holiday party at Disney is always a rough one! Parties typically go until around midnight, making for an extra late night! But, I was so excited to get to Animal Kingdom, so I still got to the park pretty early.
One of the first things I did at Animal Kingdom was sit down for a showing of Kite Tails! Kite Tails is a show that happens at Animal Kingdom throughout the day, but will sadly soon be ending. The show got a lot of attention because of how the kites land after the show is over (check out my WDW story highlights on Instagram to see a clip). Despite all the controversy and excitement, I really do think the show is fun and wish it was staying at the park!
Rides
I didn’t ride too much at Animal Kingdom today, because of the super long wait times. If I planned to stay at the park all day, I probably would have invested in Disney Genie+ to avoid some of those lines! But, I really do enjoy just exploring Animal Kingdom, so it was a perfect morning.
I ended up riding Expedition Everest twice, thanks to the Single Rider line! Following my adventure to Everest, I checked out the animal trails. The Maharajah Jungle Trek and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail are great ways to see some animals and enjoy a relaxing walk!
Food
Once at Animal Kingdom, I enjoyed a quick breakfast and a coffee from Tamu Tamu. I love getting the Colossal Cinnamon Roll or really any of the pastries they have at this location!
For lunch, I hopped on a bus and made my way over to my favorite resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village. A friend and I had lunch reservations at one of the best restaurants at Disney, Sanaa! It is the only location where you can eat with an amazing view of the savannah.
Disney Springs
After a quick break back at the resort, it is time for dinner, shopping, and snacks at Disney Springs!
Food
We had dinner reservations for Boathouse, at Disney Springs. The dinner, atmosphere, and service at the Boathouse were all fantastic!
Before dinner, we signed up for the Gideon’s Virtual Queue (you didn’t think I would skip Gideon’s did you??). The wait for the Virtual Queue was about 3 to 4 hours, so we explored Disney Springs while we waited.
We did some shopping and stopped by Salt and Straw for ice cream. This new ice cream shop has been extremely popular and has fun and unique flavors!
As we waited for our Gideon’s, we decided to make a quick run over to Magic Kingdom to see Enchantment! Disney Transportation, however, had other plans and we ended up missing the show. However, we did get to see the fireworks as we walked over from the Contemporary, which really was a cool experience!
Finally back at Disney Springs, we got our Gideon’s and all was right with the world!
Day 4: EPCOT
I am always so excited for my EPCOT day, especially during a festival! I also woke up early to get my Virtual Queue and Individual Lightning Lane for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. If you are able to, I definitely suggest doing both of those options to get on this ride twice. It is so worth it and you get more chances to get a new song!
Rides
My first ride of the day was my Individual Lightning Lane for Guardians of the Galaxy. I got One Way or Another, which I have had before, but luckily I have another ride later in the day!
Next, I joined the Single Rider Line for Test Track, which moved extremely quickly! After Test Track, I saw that the wait time for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure was only about 30 minutes, so I made my way over to World Showcase. As a newer ride, Remy’s usually has a longer wait, so this was a great chance to get on this popular attraction!
After a lunch break, it was back to some more rides! We rode Spaceship Earth, Soarin’, and Guardians of the Galaxy again. I was so excited to get Disco Inferno on this ride, which I had not heard before! I have now gotten 3 out of the 6 possible songs, so I am halfway there!
Food
I have really been looking forward to coming to EPCOT again for the Food and Wine Festival! Last year’s festival had some amazing food and I couldn’t wait to get back.
First things first, before I tried anything new, I stopped by Connections Cafe for some Starbucks to start the day!
Once I got into World Showcase, I decided that I would try to complete Emile’s Fromage Montage. This activity allows you to try five designated “cheese” dishes and then celebrate with a free completer surprise! Luckily they will count multiples of the same dish, so a friend was able to help me finish this by also trying a few of these with me! Here are the items I tried:
- Pao De Queijo: Brazil
- Mac & Cheese: Mac & Eats
- Raclette: The Alps
Now, extremely full from all these amazing cheese dishes, I showed my fully stamped booklet to get my completer prize – a Strawberry Cheesecake Dole Whip in a Souvenir Cup!
After lunch, we took a quick resort break over at the Riviera Resort. It is so convenient to get to this, and many other resorts now, with the Skyliner! The Riviera is one of my favorites, so I love making a stop at this resort during my trips.
Stopping at Bar Riva is a must at the Riviera Resort. Serving as the resort’s pool par, this spot is the perfect place to grab a refreshing drink and enjoy the atmosphere of the resort. I tried the Mediterranean Mint Lemonade and loved it!
Aside from the Fromage Montage, I also tried the Rocky Road Chocolate Cake from Flavors From Fire and the S’mores Cookie from Karamell-Kuche in the Germany Pavilion.
Extras
I was so excited to stop by a few character Meet and Greets at EPCOT! I was able to see Vanellope, from one of my favorite Disney movies, Wreck-It Ralph. Next, we said hi to Joy, from Inside Out! These characters can be found in ImageWorks, right after you exit Journey Into Imagination With Figment.
We finished out the night and the trip, with EPCOT’s nighttime show, Harmonious. I love watching Harmonious and then taking some time to hang out around Spaceship Earth on my way out of the park. Spaceship Earth is really something else at night and such a great way to conclude a trip to Disney!
Check Out
This was such an amazing trip, so it is extra hard to go back home! It was great to have some solo time, try some new experiences, enjoy amazing food from the Food and Wine Festival, and check out all the Halloween excitement at the parks.
Have you ever been to Disney during Halloween? What is your favorite thing to do to celebrate the spooky season at the parks? Let us know in the comments!
Overview
- Check-In: All Star Sports
- Day 1: Magic Kingdom
- Rides: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, People Mover, It’s a Small World
- Food: Joffrey’s, Cheshire Cat Cafe, Geyser Point, Pinocchio’s Village Haus
- Day 2: Hollywood Studios & Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
- Rides: Tower of Terror, Rockin’ Rollercoaster, Frozen Sing-a-Long, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
- Food: Trolley Car Cafe, Baseline Taphouse, Cosmic Rays
- Day 3: Animal Kingdom & Disney Springs
- Rides: Expedition Everest, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
- Food: Tamu Tamu, Sanaa, Boathouse, Salt & Straw, Gideon’s
- Day 4: EPCOT
- Rides: Guardians of the Galaxy, Test Track, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Spaceship Earth, Soarin’,
- Food: Connections Cafe, Emile’s Fromage Montage (Brazil, Mac & Eats, The Alps), Flavors from Fire, Karamell-Kuche, Bar Riva
