Hello, August! The calendar has flipped another page, and some big changes are coming to Disney World this month. While there are exciting attractions, entertaining shows, classic characters, and delicious dining you can count on, we’ve also got some new things on the horizon. If you’re planning a trip soon, there are a few upcoming events of which you’ll want to be aware.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Begins
Ghosts, ghouls, and foolish mortals alike are all ready for Magic Kingdom to transform into a happy haunt during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. In 2026, the spooky vibes start earlier than ever before! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party happens on select nights from August 7th through October 31st.
The early August start means that guests will have more dates to experience this popular seasonal party. As a reminder, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party includes exclusive entertainment, character meetings, treats, and more. Here’s some of what you can expect:
- The fan-favorite Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade
- The Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks hosted by Jack Skellington
- An opportunity to attend Magic Kingdom dressed in costume
- The villain-packed Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
- Trick-or-treat trails across the park with included candy
- Exclusive Halloween props and Magic Shots from Disney PhotoPass photographers
- Characters in rare Halloween costumes
- Attractions with eerie, limited-time overlays
The event runs from 7 PM to midnight on party nights. As an added bonus, Halloween party guests can actually enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4 PM on the date of their party. If you are visiting Magic Kingdom between August and October, you’ll want to take note of the party dates even if you’re not attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. On party dates, Magic Kingdom will close to the public at 6 PM. If you don’t have a party ticket, you will need to leave the park early (yes, they do check for wrist bands!).
If you want to attend but don’t yet have a ticket, you can check Disney’s website for available dates. Fair warning: some dates have already sold out! You’ll want to act soon, or you’ll miss out…and that would be scary.
Magic Kingdom Fireworks Changes
On a somewhat related note, the start of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party season also means changes for Magic Kingdom’s nightly fireworks shows. The normal show, Happily Ever After, does not occur on party nights. Party guests are treated to Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Fireworks hosted by Jack Skellington instead.
If Happily Ever After is on your wishlist, you’ll need to attend Magic Kingdom on a non-party date. As an alternative, check out the MouseHouseNewsNet YouTube Channel. We have a video of the full Happily Ever After fireworks show posted that you can watch anytime!
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Starts This Month
Over in EPCOT, a different sort of seasonal celebration begins this month. August 27th is the first day of the 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. This is one of the most anticipated EPCOT festivals of the year, and if you want to taste a bit of everything, you have until November 21st to do so.
The highlight of a festival that literally has “food” in the name is obviously the cuisine. Disney has confirmed the return of Global Marketplaces and that some will have phased openings. Unfortunately, the full list of booths and final menus have not been revealed just yet. MouseHouseNews.net will bring you all of the details once they are available!
In the meantime, we do have confirmation of several returning favorites dishes and their corresponding Global Marketplaces:
- Grilled Bushberry-Spiced Shrimp Skewer with Sweet-and-Sour Vegetables and Coconut-Chile Sauce will be returning to the Australia booth
- Kirschwasser Torte with Cherry-Brandy Buttercream, Fondant, Sugared Almonds, and Cherry Compote will be returning to the Alps booth
- Street Corn-style Dumplings composed of Chicken Dumplings with Tomatillo Salsa Verde, Street Corn Salad, Cotija, Lime Crema, and Cilantro will be back at the Gyozas of the Galaxy booth
What Else We Know About Food & Wine 2026
Food & Wine celebrates everything delicious. Disney confirmed a few other festival favorites will be returning for 2026:
- The ultimate cheese crawl is coming back. Participating in Emile’s Fromage Montage is simple: purchase specific food items during the festival, collect a stamp in your festival passport booklet for each purchase, and earn a prize once you’ve collected the required number of stamps. Eligible items have included both sweet and savory options in the past, so there’s something for everyone. It’s a tasty way to sample a variety of festival items!
- You can enjoy nightly concerts in the America Gardens Theater in the American Adventure Pavilion as part of the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. These concerts are included with the price of your EPCOT admission, and feature performances by nationally-recognized musical artists as well as local Orlando talent across a variety of genres. If you want to guarantee a seat, you can purchase an Eat to the Beat Dining Package.
- Remy’s Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt will also be returning. To play along, you can purchase a scavenger hunt map and stickers at a participating merchandise location during the festival. After you’ve found all of Remy’s hiding spots and filled in your sticker map, you can redeem it for a prize. If you’re visiting in the month of October, an additional scavenger hunt, Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, will also be available.
Plan Your Visit and Stay Tuned
Disney Adults love visiting Disney World in August. You’ll still get to enjoy some of those summer perks like free water park admission on check-in day, while also experiencing the start of some Disney World fall traditions.
If you would like an expert to help you plan your Disney vacation, I have the perfect suggestion for you! MouseHouseNews.net’s Marcus is a Travel Advisor who knows the ins and outs of creating magical vacations. To receive a free quote, click the button below to visit his travel website.
The MouseHouseNews.net team is excited to bring you all the details about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, and more fall happenings from around Disney World. Follow us here on the blog as well as on the MouseHouseNewsNet YouTube Channel for all the sights and sounds of Disney World. We’ll see you real soon!
