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At Walt Disney World, when you travel changes the trip as much as which parks you pick. The same week can land in the middle of an EPCOT festival, days away from a Halloween party, or during the Christmas overlay. Two categories are worth separating: festivals, included with park admission, and separate-ticket evenings, sold apart and booked early.

Disney images, logos and properties: ©Disney.

Halloween nights at Magic Kingdom

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes up much of late summer and autumn: roughly thirty-eight nights between August 7 and October 31, 2026, from 7 p.m. to midnight. The park closes early to regular guests and reopens for party ticket holders.

There is a parade and fireworks made for the event, characters in costume, trick-or-treating through the park, and an overlay worth the trip on its own. Saturdays and the dates nearest Halloween sell out first.

Christmas nights at Magic Kingdom

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party takes over: twenty-three nights from November 8 to December 22, 2026, from 7 p.m. to midnight.

One thing almost nobody knows, and it changes the arithmetic: the party ticket admits you to the park from 4 p.m. and requires no day ticket at all. A Christmas party evening can therefore replace a park day rather than be added to one, which makes it far cheaper than it first appears when you compare properly.


Spaceship Earth lit in purple and pink and the decorated Christmas tree reflected in the EPCOT lagoon at nightfall


Spaceship Earth at EPCOT during the holidays. Disney images, logos and properties: ©2026 Disney.

The four EPCOT festivals

EPCOT runs four festivals covering most of the year, and all are included with park admission. Only the food and beverage booths are paid per item.

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts opens the year, January 15 to March 1, 2027. The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival follows, March 10 to May 31, 2027, with its topiaries and gardens. The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival holds the autumn, August 27 to November 21, 2026. And the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays closes the year, November 27 to December 30, 2026, with holiday traditions around the World Showcase.


Two women wearing Mickey and Minnie ear headbands laugh over small plates at a table by the Morocco pavilion, at EPCOT


Guests at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Disney images, logos and properties: ©2026 Disney.

runDisney race weekends

Four race weekends sit on the calendar: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in January, Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February and March, runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend in April, and Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend in October. They fill the resort hotels and change the mood of the parks for a few days, whether or not you are running.

Choosing your dates

The question is not only what the weather is doing, it is what is happening that week. A family travelling for the children gains by aiming at a Halloween night in September, when dates are less contested. A couple without children gets more from an EPCOT festival midweek.

Some dates cost you in crowds: American Thanksgiving week, the stretch between Christmas and New Year, and spring break. We will tell you plainly what each window gains you and what it costs.


Mickey in a purple suit and Minnie in a fairy dress pose on Main Street, U.S.A. decorated for Halloween, in front of Cinderella Castle lit in blue, at Magic Kingdom


Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Disney images, logos and properties: ©2026 Disney.

What needs a separate ticket

EPCOT festivals are included with admission. The two Magic Kingdom parties are not: they carry their own date-specific ticket, and the party parade and fireworks cannot be seen any other way. This is the most common confusion, and it costs a wasted evening when discovered on site.

Talk it through with a Magic Maker

Our Magic Makers are advisors trained on the Disney destinations. They know the real calendar for your dates and will tell you plainly what each window gains you and what it costs. The quote is free, and so is the advice.

Write to createursdemagie@voyagesaquaterra.com or call 450-628-6241, toll free 1-866-628-6241.


Voyages Synergia Magic Makers Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Earmarked Gold Producer


All rights reserved Voyages AquaTerra. Disney images, logos and properties: ©2026 Disney.

Frequently Asked Questions

Special events at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida require the purchase of additional tickets. Contact your Magic Maker to ensure you purchase your tickets in a timely manner, as they are available in limited quantities.
Depending on your interests, these evenings in the theme parks of the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida can represent a unique moment during your stay. Speak with your Magic Maker to see if they match your personal interests.
Depending on the event you wish to attend at the Walt Disney World Resort, dates vary and tickets will be available in limited quantities. Your Magic Maker will notify you when tickets are available for purchase.
Yes, you will be required to exit the park prior to the start of the special event taking place at the Walt Disney World Resort. Contact your Magic Maker to help you plan your route.
No, you will be able to enjoy the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival with your regular admission ticket. Contact your Magic creator for all the details.
The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort has been returning to the same months for several years. Contact your Magic Maker to ensure you book your stay during this thriving spring festival if you wish to attend.
From mid-November, the 4 theme parks are adorning themselves with their finest assets to celebrate Christmas. A festival is also held there, as is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Contact your Magic Maker to find out about special activities taking place at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida during this festive season.
Yes, you will need to purchase tickets specifically for the Walt Disney World Resort Theme Park After Hours as these are special nights where a limited number of tickets are available. Contact your Magic Maker for details.
You can find this information on the Walt Disney World Resort Florida website. Your Magic Maker may also let you know in advance of what will be happening during your stay at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida so that you can plan your stay around these special events.
Yes, everyone is welcome at these special events at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Contact your Magic Maker to find what works best for your family.
It is a festival that celebrates the arts in all their forms, as much visually as in music or gastronomy. Speak with your Magic Maker to find out more about this festival that will amaze all your senses.
With several races of different distances and routes through the theme parks of the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, there is something for beginners and advanced runners alike. Speak with your Magic Maker to plan your stay for these magical sporting events.
Yes, a Walt Disney World Resort water park offers Disney H2O Glow after Hours where the park lights up in the evening. Consult your Magic Maker to add this most entertaining evening to your stay.
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