Ushering in the Fall Season at Walt Disney World

Fall has officially arrived, and right on cue the air has turned cool and crisp… at least up here in the northeast! But even though the warm weather still persists in Florida, Walt Disney World is bursting with all kinds of autumn excitement. So let’s dive in and share with you our Top Four Fall Disney Moments we’re most looking forward to:

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Right now the spooky season is in full swing at the Magic Kingdom, and what better way to celebrate then by partying on into the wee hours of the morning with your favorite Disney pals. The Boo-to-You Parade is back and just as sinister and sensational as it ever was. All your favorites are back, from the shovel-smashing grave-diggers and the hitchhiking ghosts to the eerily fog-laden Madame Leota tombstone float and Vanellope waving from her gumball machine. And for the first time, you can dance your way onto Main Street U.S.A. with a majorly awesome 90’s crew led by Max Goof cosplaying as Powerline – his favorite pop superstar!

You can also take in the “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” stage show featuring the Sanderson Sisters, and stand in awe (or fear!) of the “Not-So-Spooky Spectacular” nighttime fireworks display hosted by Jack Skellington. This mesmerizing show also features fireworks, projections, and more of your favorite Disney characters. Additionally, you can party on with Zombies and Cheerleaders at the ZOM-BEATZ BASH! as you BAMM out to music inspired by the ZOMBIES movies seen on the Disney Channel.

Of course, no Halloween party is complete without the treats, and you’ll find plenty of candy stops located throughout the park. For a bit of extra Halloween magic, be sure to visit Mickey’s PhilharMagic and the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. Even though the normal shows aren’t running, you can grab a seat and enjoy some classic Disney Halloween cartoons like The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (at Mickey’s PhilharMagic) or delight in the Halloween antics of Buddy Boil at the Laugh Floor.

The International Food & Wine Festival

The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is starting earlier and earlier every year, with this year’s festivities kicking off back in July, but you can enjoy the culinary delights and exotic flavors offered up by the dozens of kiosks all the way through mid-November. With over 25 kiosks to choose from, you’re sure to find something that will tempt your tastebuds! Standouts this year include:

• The Fry Basket (new this year) offering up French fries presented with unique savory and sweet toppings. Can’t decide which one to try? Get the Fry Flight which include Sea Salt and Malt Vinegar Fries; Barbecued Bacon Fries with smoked aïoli; and Sweet Potato Casserole Fries with candied pecans, toasted marshmallow cream and caramel whisky!
• Visit the India kiosk and sample three items that are new this year: Crispy Paneer with Mango-Curry Ketchup, Potato and Pea Samosa with Coriander-Lime Cream, and Chicken Tikka Masala with Fennel-spiced Yogurt and Naan Bread.
• Need something yummy to start the day? Then head on over to the Belgium marketplace (which opens at 8:30 a.m.) and treat yourself to some Belgian Waffles topped with either Warm Chocolate Ganache or Berry Compote and Whipped Cream. If you need a little pick-me-up, help yourself to a Chilled Mocha Coffee!

Finally, you can also take part in a new event at this year’s festival, Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit! Armed with your map and stickers (available for a small purchase), you can search EPCOT for hidden decorative pumpkins themed to Disney characters. When you’re done, you can turn your map in and get a special keepsake. (Don’t worry if you didn’t find them all, everyone gets one!). This new experience runs through Halloween, or as long as supplies last.

The Food!

Of course we know it’s all about the food, and there will be plenty of sweet and savory treats to enjoy at Walt Disney World throughout the Fall season! There are far too many to list here, but we thought we’d share some of our favorites from the Magic Kingdom resorts:

Madame Leota Dark Chocolate Cake at the Contempo Café in Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Treat yourself to this sinful dessert made with a Devil’s Food mini cake filled with dark chocolate ganache topped with chocolate glaze and marshmallow webs.

Gasparilla Island Grill at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

You’ll find a collection of four ghoulish delights here, try them all!
Jack O ’Lantern Mickey Cake Pop: Jumbo pumpkin-spiced yellow cake pop enrobed in orange-colored white chocolate
Black Flame Candle: Candy corn-colored vanilla sponge cake candle with caramel buttercream and white chocolate ganache
Bewitching Minnie Mousse Cupcake: Cookies ‘n cream-filled chocolate cupcake enrobed in ganache
Hocus Pocus ‘Amuck’ Cakes: Chocolate Devil’s Food cupcakes filled with peanut “boo”tter mousse

Polynesian Village Resort

You’ll find two new scrumptious treats here to help you get into that Halloween spirit – tropical style!

At Capt. Cook’s and Kona Island you can try the Tamatoa – chocolate chiffon cake with Hawaiian Chantilly filling and shiny sprinkles. Over at Pineapple Lanai you can cool off with the Not-So-Scary Pumpkin Soft-serve – pumpkin spice flavored soft-serve and coconut haupia with caramel drizzle, graham cracker crumbs, and a white chocolate Mickey-shaped pumpkin!

Finally, at the Wilderness Lodge you can sample the Halloween Drink Flight at the Geyser Point Bar & Grill. The Flight includes a sampling of four holiday drinks: Blood Orange (tequila, blood orange, and simple syrup with lime juice), Black Magic Margarita (tequila, blue Curaçao beverage syrup, green apple syrup, grenadine, and sour mix), Around the Pumpkin Patch (tequila, pumpkin spice, lime juice, and sour mix), and the Poison Apple (tequila, green apple syrup, lime juice, and sour mix).
Over at the Roaring Fork you can enjoy the Haunted Forest Apple Mousse, a green cake with cookies n’ cream mousse, and not-so-poisoned sour apple mousse with dark chocolate tree branches.

The Decorations!

The Christmas season brings festive garlands and holiday lights to the streets of Main Street U.S.A., but you don’t have to wait for the Christmas trees to arrive to start enjoying some wonderful fall ambiance. The Halloween decorations started going up back in August, and for many of us, that’s the true sign that the Halloween season has begun. Once you enter the Magic Kingdom you’ll be immersed in a world filled with scarecrows, haystacks, grinning jack-o’-lanterns, and orange and yellow buntings adorning the eaves and windows of all of the Main Street buildings. One of our favorite pieces of decor was always the Mickey-shaped glowing pumpkins hanging on the lamp posts on Main Street, and they are joined this year by a special 50th anniversary Cinderella coach pumpkin!

It all comes together to make the fall season a truly magical experience at Walt Disney World. Now let’s bring on those Happy Haunts!