Is Visiting Disney World in September Worth It? (Spoiler: 1000% Yes) See Why!

According to my kids, visiting Disney World in September is the best time to go. My daughter is an ex-cast member and has seen the crowd levels change (and become unpredictable) over the years, but one thing remains the same: September’s crowds and weather stay consistent.

It makes sense. Schools are back in full session, summer crowds are gone, and October/Halloween crowds haven’t arrived yet, resulting in some of the lowest crowds at Disney World this year.

September brings two popular Disney events, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. The start of the Fall season also brings some of my favorite things to eat at Walt Disney World. Let’s dive in!

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In this post, we discuss visiting Disney World in September, covering crowds, weather, events, packing tips, and more. Historically, this is a great time to visit Disney. September is the calm between summer and fall, people are back in school and at work, and it feels more relaxed and enjoyable. However, the weather can still be an issue, which we’ll address below.

September prices are typically below average, especially toward the second half of the month. If you’re doing Disney on a budget, this is a great time to go. We have several posts on saving money at Disney World.

Disney World In September

Let’s start with the weather. It’s hot and even more humid than July. Temperatures can still reach the 90s, 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? Mostly because kids are back in school! Fun fact. Because of the low crowds, September has been nicknamed “Cast Member Month” by Disney employees.

Guest attendance will peak around Labor Day weekend in 2026, running from Friday, September 4th, through Monday, September 7th, which is when most guests head home, 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!

Events At Disney World In September

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parade at Disney World

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 27th to November 21st, 2026
This multicultural event is a food lover’s dream and one of the year’s longest-running festivals! 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 27th to November 16th 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 7th to October 31st, 2026
This hugely popular event takes place over the three months leading up to Halloween. Wear your best Disney outfits and enjoy themed Disney 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.

Hot tip! 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!

Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
Dates: Select nights from June to September 5th, 2026
This separately ticketed three-hour event over at Typhoon Lagoon that limits Attendance, essentially allowing those who purchase tickets to enjoy low wait 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 through September 24th, 2026
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 24th). 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.

What To Pack

As mentioned above, Disney World in September can still be hot. Bring all your essentials for hot weather. Below is a very short list of the things we never leave home without.

If you’re traveling with kiddos, we have a Disney packing list for toddlers and babies!

When deciding what to wear, I suggest keeping an eye on the extended forecast, which can easily be found online. As discussed above, it can still be hot during the day, cool at night, humid, and rainy – so pack those Disney outfits accordingly.

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.
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!
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.

As fun as Disney Trip Planning can be, it can also be overwhelming. We have dozens of posts to help, but the list below is a good starting point. Enjoy reading our simple trip planning strategy, why we consider renting a pontoon boat and resort hopping, a Disney must, as well as some of our favorite foods at Disney World that we’ve enjoyed recently.

I hope these tips for visiting Disney World in March were helpful. If you have any favorites you’d like to share, please comment below, and we will add them to our list to try on our next trip!