Festivals. Concerts. Food. (That's our personal fave!) It seems like there's always one occasion or another to visit. Events are some of the biggest reasons to visit Walt Disney World Resort! While some of Disney World's special events occur during what was once considered more "off-peak" times in spring and fall, others hoppen during very busy times. Many of the Disney World events have become so popular that they bring more people to the parks! Here is the full schedule of Disney World events in 2022 to help you plan your visit.
While 2020 and some of 2021 featured modified events, things continue to open up around the resort in 2022. We continue to see entertainment return as well as events like Disney H20 Glow After Hours. Plus we have the ongoing Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration to enjoy! And in perhaps the biggest news so far this year — Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will return in 2022! 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 2022 and beyond 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 2022. 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 2022
Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration — Oct. 1, 2021, to March 2023
It's the big 5-0! "The World's Most Magical Celebration" kicked off Oct. 1, 2021, and will run for 18 dazzling months all across the resort! Guests can take in special entertainment, including a new cavalcade at Magic Kingdom, and new nighttime spectaculars with "Harmonious" at EPCOT and "Disney Enchantment" at Magic Kingdom. Disney's Animal Kingdom debuted a new daytime performance, "Disney KiteTails." And each of the park's icons become "beacons of magic" each evening, in addition to featuring special EARidescent decor, lighting and more. Characters don their best party attire, and several new additions will open as the event progresses. The very first? Remy's Ratatouille Adventure opened Oct. 1 in EPCOT, and we've got a lot more to look forward to in 2022, including Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opening May 27!
MARCH - JULY
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival — March 2 to July 4, 2022
As the second event in the 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 and Future World to enjoy while admiring the character topiaries. This year's festival continues through July 4.
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!
runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend — March 31 to April 3, 2022
Formerly the Star Wars Rival Run Half Marathon, this all-new runDisney event offers up a new theme each year. The 2022 races featured returning classics, including the Expedition Everest 5K (a nighttime run with a scavenger hunt!), the Race for the Taste 10K and the Tower of Terror 10-miler. Enjoy Sunrise Yoga for a relaxing morning with a magical backdrop — Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom!
Disney H20 Glow After Hours
After a two-year hiatus, Disney H2O Glow After Hours will be returning to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park in 2022! The water park is hosting the after hours parties every Saturday night from May 28 to Aug. 27. This separately ticketed, tadpole-friendly evening event features DJ dance parties, speciality food and drink, and a chance to enjoy your favorite water attractions glowing at night!
We can't wait to soak up all the fun of these year's event. Keep an eye on our guide to H20 Glow After Hours for all the hoppin' details.
JULY - DECEMBER
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival — July 14 to Nov. 19, 2022
The popular EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival usually runs from July to November. 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. Most years, guests can spend time sharpening their culinary and beverage skills in seminars (did not hoppen in 2021, but we hope they return in 2022!). There are also usually opportunities to partake in special dining experiences with celebrity chefs for an additional charge (also did not hoppen in 2021). This is a major event, and we recommend using our EPCOT Food & Wine Festival guide to help you make the most of it!
We anticipate that the Eat to the Beat! Concert Series will return in 2022, along with Mariachi Cobre, JAMMitors and Voices of Liberty. EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is included with regular theme park admission.
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party — Aug. 12 to Oct. 31, 2022
Boo to you! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is returning! This separately ticketed event at Magic Kingdom Park 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 like Mickey’s Boo-To-You parade, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show and Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks. Bring on spooky season!
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend — November 4 to 7, 2022
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.
Disney Very Merriest After Hours (Magic Kingdom) — November to December 2022
Similar to Boo Bash, the new Disney Very Merriest After Hours event rang in the 2021 holiday season at Magic Kingdom. On select nights from Nov. 8 to Dec. 21, guests enjoyed Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, a new castle stage show, character sightings, castle projections, ride overlays and, of course, festive food! The event ran from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and event tickets allowed early entry starting at 7 p.m. without daytime admission or a Disney Park Pass reservation.
While Disney Very Merriest After Hours 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 Very Merriest took the place of one of our favorite Disney World events, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party — though we're not sure which of the two will return in 2022. The party normally runs from 7 p.m. until midnight. The big highlights from this event are Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration castle stage show, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks and magical snowfall over Main Street, U.S.A. There are also plenty of opportunities to meet your favorite Disney characters, some of whom are decked out in their holiday finest.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (EPCOT) — November to December 2022
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays takes place each winter; in 2021, the festival ran from Nov. 26 to Dec. 30. 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 appetito!
The Candlelight Processional returned in 2021! The show tells the story of Christmas with a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir. Last year, instead of hosting choirs from the community, the cast member choir expanded. 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 2022
In 2021, Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park started celebrating the jolly season Nov. 12. Guests could wave at favorite characters in their holiday best, as well as Santa, in Festive Flotillas along Discovery River. The Merry Menagerie, life-size animal puppets of penguins, foxes, polar bears and more, created a winter wonderland at Discovery Island. At night, guests could 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 2022
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. This show takes place intermittently throughout the night. Plus guests can catch Santa driving by in a special seasonal motorcade!
Holiday Celebrations at Disney Springs — November to December 2022
Holidays at Disney Springs is a special event that replaced Festival of the Seasons at Downtown Disney (the previous name for the entertainment area). Holiday decorations include the Disney Springs' Christmas Trail, a trail of trees decorated and themed as Disney characters. In the evening, guests visiting Town Center encounter a magical snowfall. Jock Lindsay's Holiday Bar returns again with holiday decor and a limited-time menu. Holidays at Disney Springs is a free Disney World event to enjoy throughout your day.
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend — Jan. 4 to 8, 2023
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. In 2021, the event moved to a virtual race for the health and safety of participants, but it resumed in person in 2022 (though some races had virtual counterparts).
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 — Mid-January to late-February 2023
Grab a paintbrush, and let your imagination flow! This EPCOT festival celebrates visual, performing and culinary arts. There are usually gallery exhibits, living statues, artist appearances and much more that take place during the festival. The 2022 festival ran from Jan. 14 to Feb. 21 and saw the return of the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, which was unavailable during the modified 2021 festival.
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 — Feb. 23 to 26, 2023
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.
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!
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