Visiting Disney World in September

Disney World in September is a popular time to go. Schools are back in full session, and we can expect some of the lowest crowds at Disney World of the year. If you’re doing Disney on a budget, take advantage of the lowest ticket and hotel prices of the year!

Two popular Disney events are back in full swing: the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. Along with the festivals. The start of the Fall season also brings some of my favorite foods at Walt Disney World.

In this post, we discuss visiting Disney World in September, covering everything you need to know and more. If you’re planning a Disney vacation, grab a notebook and pen, and let’s dive in!

Historically, September is a great time to visit Disney, as crowds are typically lower due to children being back in school. We find September to be a more relaxed and enjoyable time to visit. (and y’all know we love a slow and peaceful vacation at Disney) The weather can still be an issue, which I will address below.

If you want to save money at Disney World, expect lower prices on hotels and park tickets. September prices are typically below average, especially toward the last half of the month. We have several posts on how to save at Disney here.

We can hardly keep up with Disney’s changes, but we try our best to update these posts. If we missed something, please comment, and we will fix it ASAP!

Weather At Disney World In September

It’s hot and even more humid. Temperatures can still reach the 90s at Disney World in September, and rainfall is frequent, which intensifies the already high humidity. September is also peak hurricane season in Florida, so I recommend closely monitoring the weather. If you need to cancel, the Disney cancellation and refund policy is worth bookmarking.

Now for the good news! Although afternoon temperatures can reach 85°— 90°, the evening and morning hours are significantly cooler. Don’t let September weather discourage you. One thing to remember about rain at Walt Disney World is that most showers are brief, sometimes lasting only a few minutes. Hopefully, you brought a good-quality poncho or have an umbrella, but if not, pop into a shop to stay dry!

Disney World Crowds In September

Shhh, we will let you in on a little secret: September is a great time for low crowds at Walt Disney World! Why? Well, the kiddos are back in school! In fact, because September at Disney World is considered one of the slowest months of the year, it has been nicknamed “Cast Member Month” by Disney employees.

You’ll a peak in guest attendance around Labor Day weekend, runs from Friday, August 29th through Monday September 1st. Most guests will leave by September 2nd-3rd, leaving very low crowds for the next few weeks.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party occurs several times in September. MNSSHP is a ticketed event available only on select days, making it easy to plan around those dates. In our experience, the closer it gets to Halloween, the higher the crowds will be. Overall, super low crowds make September a great time to visit Walt Disney World!

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Events At Disney World In September

With returning festival favorites like the Food & Wine Festival and everyone’s favorite, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Disney After Hours, and Disney H2O Glow, September is packed full of Disney fun!

EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
Dates: August 28th to November 22nd, 2025
This multicultural event is a food lover’s dream and one of the longest-running festivals of the year! Enjoy cultural events, cooking demonstrations, and samples of food and drink from all over the world! The Eat to the Beat concert series occurs nightly from August 28th to November 17th at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM. Click here for more details on dates and performers!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP)
Dates: Select nights from August 15th to October 31st, 2024
This hugely popular event takes place over the three months leading up to Halloween. Wear your best costume and enjoy themed food at select restaurants, Trick-or-Treat stations, dance parties, the “Boo-to-You” Halloween parade, event-exclusive merch, and Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular, which might be the best fireworks show at Disney! You can find more information here.

Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
Dates: Select nights from May 23rd to September 15th, 2025
This separately ticketed Three hour event over at Typhoon Lagoon that limits Attendance, essentially allowing those who purchase tickets to enjoy low weight times for the water rides, special appearances by characters, dance parties with your favorite toy story pals, and Enjoy ice cream, popcorn, and drinks all included with the cost of your ticket!

Disney After Hours
Dates: Select nights from May 23rd to September 15th, 2025
Enjoy three hours of extra fun at A select Disney theme park! This separately ticketed event takes place on select nights at select Disney World parks in September (through the 15th). Enjoy shorter wait times on your favorite attractions, popcorn, ice cream, and select bottled beverages at no additional cost with your ticket. You can find updated prices and availability here.

Closures and Refurbishments

The following will be closed or under refurbishment in September 2025.

Animal Kingdom

DINOSAUR (closed until 2026)
It’s Tough to Be a Bug (permanently closed)
The Boneyard (permanently closing September 2, 2025)

EPCOT

Spaceship Earth: (closed until TBD later in 2025)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney Jr. Play and Dance! (closed until TBD)
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (closed – opening later in 2026)

Magic Kingdom

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (closed until 2026)
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger (closed until 2026)
Liberty Square Riverboat (permanently closed)
Tom Sawyer Island (permanently closed)

Tips For Visiting Disney World In September

Get to the parks early! Lower crowds in September mean you can see and do so much more. This is a great time to tour the parks at a slow and relaxed pace, which is why September is one of our favorite months to visit.
If you’re cold-natured like me, I recommend bringing a light cardigan. It can get chilly at night when the sun goes down, and indoor rides and restaurants can be downright cold!
When deciding what to wear, I suggest keeping an eye on the extended forecast and packing accordingly. As discussed above, it can still be hot during the day, cool at night, humid, and rainy – so pack those Disney outfits accordingly.
As mentioned above, Disney World in September can still be hot. Bring all your essentials for hot weather. We have a short list below of the things we never leave home without.
When deciding what to wear, I suggest keeping an eye on the extended forecast and packing accordingly. As discussed above, it can still be hot during the day, cool at night, humid, and rainy – so pack those Disney outfits accordingly.

Disney Trip Essentials
Disney Crossbody Bag	Disney World Hacks	Portable Disney Fan

EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival is hugely popular, especially for locals and annual passholders. Expect crowds to peak during the evenings and weekends. For a more enjoyable visit, consider attending the festival on a weekday as soon as it opens.
On MNSSHP nights, Magic Kingdom closes early to the general public. If you don’t have a ticket, you won’t be able to stay in the park after 5 or 6 p.m. You can find all the dates and times here and plan accordingly. If you choose not to attend the party, this is a perfect opportunity to spend the evening at another park or do some resort hopping.
Most MNSSHP partygoers won’t enter the park until their party ticket allows them to, which saves the cost of a full-day ticket. As a result, you can expect lower crowds in the morning. This would be a good day to enjoy the park earlier!

I hope this is helpful. We'd love to hear your favorite Disney tips! Please share in the comments below or tag me on Instagram, follow me on Pinterest and Facebook, and join my email list so you don’t miss anything new. Thanks for being here, friends! 🙂