Orlando · Events

Orlando Family Events: September and October 2026 (Dates + How to Plan Ahead)

By Janet
Updated August 2026 · 7 min read

This is my favorite stretch of the Orlando year. The parks are still hot, but the crowds soften, the Halloween events start stacking up, and every single park has something going on at once. The catch is that the good nights sell out and the prices climb the closer you get, so this is a season you want on the calendar early.

Here is what is actually happening over the next couple of months, with the dates I could verify, plus the little things I always buy before we go so nobody melts down in a parking lot.

How to use this: pick two or three events (not eight), book the tickets now while weeknights are still available, and grab the plan-ahead gear early: comfy shoes, a fan, a charger, a refillable water bottle. The people who plan ahead always have the better day.

September 2026 in Orlando

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (Magic Kingdom), select nights, part of the Aug 7 to Oct 31, 2026 run. September party nights fall mostly on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with one Thursday on Sept 24. Party runs 7pm to midnight, and your party ticket gets you into the park as early as 4pm. This is a separate ticket, not included with admission. More in my family Halloween in Orlando guide.
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, Aug 27 to Nov 21, 2026. Included with regular EPCOT admission (you pay for the food and drinks). September is the sweet spot: the booths are open, the crowds are lighter than October, and strollers are welcome everywhere. See my Food and Wine with kids guide.
SeaWorld Spooktacular, select dates, Aug 29 to Nov 1, 2026. Included with regular admission, and it happens during the day. This is still the gentlest option for little ones: trick-or-treating around the park, a Sesame Street dance party, crafts, no jump scares. My honest take is in SeaWorld with toddlers.
LEGOLAND Florida Brick-or-Treat, select dates, Sept 5 to Oct 31, 2026. September dates are Sept 5, 6, 12, 19 and 26. Included with regular admission on event dates, and 2026 has a record 18 dates plus a new Brick or Treat Street. Details in my LEGOLAND guide.
Halloween Horror Nights (Universal Studios Florida), Aug 28 to Nov 1, 2026, running Wednesday through Sunday through September. This one is not for kids (no trick-or-treating, no friendly characters), but September weeknights are the cheapest and least crowded of the whole season if you are planning a grown-up night. My breakdown is in the Halloween Horror Nights guide.

October 2026 in Orlando

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party hits its busiest stretch: every Thursday, most Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays, plus Halloween itself on Saturday, Oct 31. If you want Halloween night, buy it early, that one always goes first.
runDisney Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, Oct 22 to 25, 2026, themed to The Aristocats this year, with 5K, 10K and half marathon options. Even if nobody in your house is running, it is a genuinely fun weekend to spectate. I wrote a whole runDisney spectator guide with kids for exactly this.
LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat October dates: Oct 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31.
SeaWorld Spooktacular and EPCOT Food & Wine both keep running straight through October, so you can stack a daytime event and an evening one in the same trip.

A local heads up on weather: September and early October are still full-on Florida. It is hot, it rains most afternoons, and the humidity does not care about your hair. Plan mornings, take a midday break, and come back for the evening events. That single change is what makes these long event days survivable with kids.

What to buy to plan ahead

The gear list barely changes from event to event, which is the good news. Here is what actually earns its spot in my bag for a September or October park day:

Broken-in comfy shoes. Do not debut new sneakers on a party night. Ask me how I know.
A handheld or stroller-clip fan. Non-negotiable in Florida in September.
A portable charger. The Disney app, mobile order and photos will drain your phone by 2pm.
A refillable water bottle. Free ice water at quick service counters saves real money over a full day.
A packable rain poncho. Cheaper and lighter than a stroller-full of regret at 3pm.
A light layer for evenings. Late October nights finally cool off a little.
A trick-or-treat bag or bucket if you are doing Not-So-Scary, Spooktacular or Brick-or-Treat. The candy adds up fast.

My full theme park packing list for kids has the whole rundown, and if you are still buying tickets, start with my discount Disney World tickets guide.

Grab the plan-ahead gear

The fan, charger, comfy shoes, ponchos and park-day essentials I bring to every one of these events are all in my Amazon storefront.

See my Amazon picks → As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Where to stay (or just where to swim)

You do not have to book a whole hotel to get a resort day out of this season. If you are local, a day pass at a resort pool is my favorite cheap reset between event days: here is how I use ResortPass for Orlando day passes. And if a trip comes together last minute, which happens a lot in the fall, this is how I book last-minute Orlando hotels without overpaying. For a full weekend plan, my Orlando family staycation resorts post is a good starting point.

Book the extras: for Orlando attractions, tours, and experiences beyond the theme parks, you can book tickets and experiences here.

Frequently asked questions

Which Orlando Halloween event is best for little kids?

SeaWorld Spooktacular, because it runs during the day, is included with regular admission, and has zero scares. LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat is a close second and is also included with admission on event dates. Mickey's Not-So-Scary is wonderful but it is a separate ticket and runs 7pm to midnight, which is a lot for toddlers.

Do I need a separate ticket for these events?

It depends. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Halloween Horror Nights both require a separate ticket. EPCOT Food and Wine, SeaWorld Spooktacular and LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat are included with regular park admission on event dates (food and drinks cost extra at Food and Wine).

When do these events sell out?

Halloween night and the October Fridays and Saturdays go first. September weeknights usually stay available the longest and are the cheapest, which is why I always aim for a Tuesday or a Sunday early in the season.

Is September a good time to visit Orlando?

For value, yes. It is one of the lower-crowd months and hotel rates drop after the summer. The trade-off is heat, humidity and daily afternoon storms, plus it falls inside hurricane season, so travel insurance and a flexible ticket are worth the peace of mind.

Heads up: some links in this post are affiliate links, including my Amazon storefront, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Event dates come from official announcements and reputable reporting and can change. Always verify on the official event sites before booking.

Janet

Orlando mom of two and the creator behind Planet Janet TV. I keep a running list of the events worth planning around. Come say hi on Instagram.

See the whole year at a glance

Disney holiday parties, EPCOT festivals, runDisney weekends and seasonal events, all in one running calendar.

Read the Orlando family events calendar →

Sources: Disney Parks Blog (Not-So-Scary dates), Disney Parks Blog (Food & Wine dates), SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular, LEGOLAND Florida Brick-or-Treat, Universal Halloween Horror Nights, runDisney Wine & Dine. Dates can change; verify on official sites before booking.