Festivals. Concerts. Food. (That's our personal fave!) Events are some of the biggest reasons to visit Walt Disney World Resort. Many of the Disney World events have become so popular that people time their trips just to attend! Here is the full schedule of Disney World events in 2024 and beyond to help you plan your visit.
Separately ticketed events continue to remain popular, such as Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, plus Disney After Hours for dates in spring and summer. The 2023 holidays saw the debut of Disney Jollywood Nights, a new separately ticketed holiday event at Hollywood Studios — and we just learned it'll return in 2024! We update this post throughout the year as new event details are released and dates are added.
For those of you who have already picked your dates, this post also serves as a guide for what will be hoppening while you're there. You'll find all of the Walt Disney World events in 2024 on our Crowd Calendar. You can also see crowd levels and park recommendations on the days that events are taking place. We've even got a whole post detailing some of the very best times to plan a Disney World trip in 2024 and 2025. Be sure to bookmark this page if you've got a trip coming up to stay up-to-date on all of the exciting events to come!
Full Schedule of Events at Disney World in 2024 and Beyond
FEBRUARY TO MAY
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival — Feb. 28 to May 27, 2024
As the second event in the yearly lineup of the EPCOT festivals, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival blossoms each spring. This festival features tons of topiaries spread throughout the park. There is an abundance of food offerings at the outdoor kitchens scattered around World Showcase, World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature to enjoy while admiring the character topiaries.
Guests can also delight in the hundreds of butterfly species residing at the festival's screened butterfly house. Plus the Garden Rocks Concert Series is back at the America Gardens Theatre on select nights. EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is included with regular admission to EPCOT. This is one of the most colorful and popular Disney World events!
JANUARY UNTIL AUGUST
Disney After Hours — Select nights from Jan. 10 to Aug. 31, 2024
Disney After Hours events hoppen in spring and summer, with select dates available at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and EPCOT! These separately ticketed events allow guests to stick around after normal park hours with limited crowds. That means you’ll encounter little-to-no lines while you wait for rides, character meet-and-greets and other experiences at the parks. Plus, you'll get complimentary popcorn, ice cream and bottled beverages throughout the night! Check out our Disney After Hours guide for more details.
At Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, a themed Disney After Hours event — H2O Glow After Hours — takes place from May 25 to Aug. 31, 2024. You can expect low wait times for attractions, a DJ dance party with characters along the beach and more.
AUGUST TO NOVEMBER
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival — Aug. 29 to Nov. 23, 2024
The popular EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs every fall. If you're looking for Disney World events with plenty of food and drink, this is one of them! The festival features more than 25 international marketplace kiosks, which offer tapas-sized portions of regional specialties, as well as recommended wine and beer pairings. Plus, enjoy epic entertainment with the Eat to the Beat! Concert Series. This is a major event, and we recommend using our EPCOT Food & Wine Festival guide to help you make the most of it! EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is included with regular theme park admission.
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party — Select nights from Aug. 9 to Oct. 31, 2024
Boo to you — Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is back at Magic Kingdom Park! This separately ticketed event offers guests the opportunity to stay after normal park hours in their costumes to enjoy unique characters, attraction overlays, treat stops, photo opportunities and specialty food and drink. Enjoy exclusive entertainment including Mickey’s Boo-To-You parade, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show and Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks. Head over to our not-so-scary guide for all the details!
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend — Oct. 31 to Nov. 3, 2024
The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend combines the magic of a runDisney race with the festivities of the Food & Wine Festival. Races usually include the Disney Fall Feast 5K, Kids Races and the Half Marathon. Half-marathoners and Disney Two-Course Challenge participants can celebrate at an exclusive post-race party at the Food and Wine Festival.
DECEMBER
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party — Select nights from Nov. 8 to Dec. 30, 2024
Celebrate the holiday season with Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, back at Magic Kingdom Park! This special event occurs after regular park hours and requires a separate party ticket to enjoy all its exclusive offerings. Running from 7 p.m. to midnight on select nights, the party features rare characters, special entertainment, jolly-good treats, ride overlays and more! There is even “snowfall” on Main Street intermittently throughout the night.
Enjoy big highlights such as Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration castle stage show, the new Frozen Holiday Surprise show and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. There are also plenty of opportunities to meet your favorite Disney characters, some of whom are decked out in their holiday finest. Check out our festive party guide for all the exciting details!
While Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a separate event, there are still many festive holiday Disney World events. Each one brings merriment with the right touch of Disney. Let our complete guide to Disney World holiday events be your holiday planner! (Consider it our gift to you.)
Disney Jollywood Nights — Select nights from Nov. 9 to Dec. 21, 2024
Returning for its second year, Disney Jollywood Nights is a separately ticketed event taking place from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on select nights from Nov. 9 to Dec. 21, 2024. This event combines the holidays with the glitz and glam of the past.
The event featured the return of the fan-favorite "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM" nighttime spectacular, plus even more special entertainment such as a DJ Dance Party, Latin Street Fair, sing-along at the Hyperion Theater and a holiday special at Theater of the Stars hosted by Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog (you know we frogs will be there!). There were also two new limited-capacity entertainment areas at the Hollywood Brown Derby and the Hollywood Tower Hotel Courtyard.
Guests also could meet Mickey Mouse and friends, Powerline Max, Phineas and Ferb, Edna Mode and select characters from "The Incredibles." The party includes access to favorite rides such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (with a virtual queue), Slinky Dog Dash, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and more. Enjoy special PhotoPass stops and holiday-themed Magic Shots around the park, as well as specialty food offerings. Check out our Jollywood Guide for all the jolly details!
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays — Nov. 29 to Dec. 30, 2024
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays celebrates many holiday traditions. Storytellers from many of the countries, such as La Befana at the Italy pavilion, recount holiday customs from their respective countries. Santa Claus even makes special appearances too! There's also seasonal food from each country available for purchase. Buon appetite!
The Candlelight Processional tells the story of Christmas with a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir. The Candlelight Processional is typically performed three times nightly. Much like other EPCOT festivals, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is included with regular admission to EPCOT. We have tips on all of these festivities (and yes, the food too) in our full guide!
Holiday Celebrations at Disney's Animal Kingdom — November to December 2024
Guests can see their favorite characters in their holiday best, including Mickey and Minnie at Adventurers Outpost. The Merry Menagerie, life-size animal puppets of penguins, foxes, polar bears and more, create a winter wonderland at Discovery Island. At night, guests can check out the Tree of Life Awakenings — Holiday Edition, during which the tree shimmers and sparkles along to a musical score. There were also special seasonal decorations and food to enjoy around the park!
Holiday Celebrations at Disney's Hollywood Studios — November to December 2024
Share a meal with Santa Goofy, Minnie Mouse and friends at Hollywood & Vine for a Christmas feast. Sunset Season's Greetings lights up Tinseltown as snow falls and dazzling projections light up the Hollywood Tower Hotel to tell special holiday tales from your favorite characters. Enjoy a special holiday finale to the Frozen Sing-Along, featuring our favorite snowman, Olaf. Plus guests make have a chance to see Santa Claus himself!
Holiday Celebrations at Disney Springs — November to December 2024
The main highlight of the holidays at Disney Springs is the Disney Springs' Christmas Tree Stroll, with fun Disney-themed trees throughout. In the evening, guests visiting Town Center encounter a magical snowfall. Enjoy lots of festive food, including Jock Lindsay's Holiday Bar, returning again with holiday decor and a limited-time menu. Plus, you can spend one-on-one time with Santa!
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend — Jan. 8-12, 2025
The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend features Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge, Dopey Challenge, runDisney Kids Races, Walt Disney World 5K & 10K, Walt Disney World Half Marathon and the headlining race, the Walt Disney World Marathon. The courses of the longer races take runners through all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.
If you're planning a trip that overlaps with a race, you should know that Disney races are some of the Disney World events that will bring in heavy crowds. Crowd levels are usually affected by the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend since the event brings in thousands and thousands of runners and spectators each year. Traffic around the resort is also affected by the Walt Disney World Marathon. When visiting during this special event, expect travel time between the Disney parks to take longer. We have a separate post on what to expect at the Disney World Marathon if you want to start planning!
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts — January to February 2025
Grab a paintbrush, and let your imagination flow! This EPCOT festival celebrates visual, performing and culinary arts. There are gallery exhibits, living statues, artist appearances and much more that take place during the festival — including the popular Disney on Broadway Concert Series.
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is included with admission to the park, but there may be separately ticketed events within the festival itself if you are looking for additional experiences such as culinary classes or art workshops. Here is our full guide to the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts to inspire you.
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend — February 2025
Inspired by the Disney Princesses, this event celebrates strong, determined women. Weekend events include the Disney Princess 5K, Disney Princess Enchanted 10K, Disney Fairy Tale Challenge and the headlining event, the Disney Princess Half Marathon. The half marathon takes runners through Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. Traffic around the parks is typically affected by this race every year.
runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend — April 2025
Formerly the Star Wars Rival Run Half Marathon, this all-new runDisney event offers up a new theme each year. The 2024 theme was "Embrace the Adventure," with the Neverland 5K, Adventure Is Out There 10K, Hakuna Matata 10-Miler and the Stitch's Ohana Challenge.
We hope you found this list of Disney World events hopful as you plan your visit. By now you've realized that the parties, festivals and events are some of the best reasons to visit! If you're looking for more tips, check out the When to Visit Orlando page on our Orlando Planning Timeline!
Related: Complete Guide to Disney World Holiday Events
Hoppy planning!
