Here's All the Halloween Fun Still Happening at Disney World This Year

Covid-19 forced the cancellation of Walt Disney World's annual of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties, but the spooky season is still alive and well. The suspension of parades, fireworks and character meet-and-greets means some of the most popular components of the parties can't happen this year, but the decked-out Magic Kingdom, truckloads of ghoulish themed treats, and costumed characters galore are all out in full force to deliver a frightfully fun time. Here's what this year's Halloween festivities look like at reopened Walt Disney World.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has always been held at Magic Kingdom, and even though the parties aren't happening, the park remains the centerpiece of this year's celebrations. Iconic Mickey pumpkin wreaths line Main Street, U.S.A., setting the stage for the park's seasonal offerings, which run through Oct. 31.

Note that a theme park ticket and Disney Park Pass reservation are both required to visit the park during this period.

Festive fall foliage adorns Main Street's shops and seasonal displays fill the windows.

Traditional parades and character meet-and-greets have been put on hold, but whereas guests used to need a separate Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ticket to see Mickey's "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parade, they now get treated to regular appearances by character cavalcades showcasing many of the characters and some beloved music from the Halloween parade.

And, for guests who've been missing the Dapper Dan, Main Street's beloved barbershop quartet, beginning Sept. 20 the quartet will return in zombified form as the Cadaver Dans.

It brought a smile to many faces when guests heard the opening notes to "Boo to You" on Sept. 15. Costumed Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Daisy are joined by a few other familiar characters from the "Boo-to-You" Halloween parade.

"It's Good to Be Bad," the Disney Villains anthem, plays over the loudspeakers as Gaston leads the way ahead of iconic Disney villains, including the Queen of Hearts, Captain Hook, Maleficent, and the Evil Queen.

The Hundred Acre Wood gang brings a softer side to the cavalcades, parading down Main Street, U.S.A. and around the hub in front of Cinderella Castle aboard and alongside the Main Street Trolley.

There's an age-old debate about whether it's a Halloween or a Christmas movie, but at Walt Disney World, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas takes center stage at Halloween. This year, Jack's Nightmare Cavalcade makes the rounds to "This Is Halloween" and stars the Pumpkin King himself, Jack Skellington, plus Sally and Oogie Boogie.

It's not a full-blown cavalcade, but catch Chip and Dale in costume cruising along the Rivers of America between Frontierland and Liberty Square.

Guests will want to be sure to stop at those Disney PhotoPass photographers for some extra spooky Magic Shots, with unexpected haunts, like Haunted Mansion's hitchhiking ghosts, appearing in their photos later.

Other PhotoPass Halloween Magic Shot locations include Main Street and in front of the castle, where a flaming pumpkin might appear in guests' hands, and one with Zero, the ghost dog from The Nightmare Before Christmas, in front of Haunted Mansion.

Kids used to love trick-or-treating at the candy stations throughout the park during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. That's been put on hold this year, but there are still treats galore to be found throughout the park. Frankly, who needs a Milky Way or a Snickers when you can get a Headless Horseman Rides Again float? This Dole Whip float, made with strawberry Dole Whip, Fanta Strawberry, and a Headless Horseman straw is available at Sunshine Tree Terrace.

Start your morning with a stop at the Main Street Bakery for a Mickey-shaped cinnamon roll drizzled with orange and white icing.

Pay a visit to the Haunted Mansion then celebrate surviving your run-in with 999 happy haunts with this mini wedding cake from Liberty Square Market. The citrus cake with raspberry Bavarian cream and whipped cream flowers is topped with a tiny chocolate version of murderous bride Constance Hatchaway's ax.

Disney Villains don't just get their own cavalcade this holiday season, they get plenty of treats too, like this Ursula-inspired float, made with cream cheese soft-serve, black raspberry syrup, and Coca-Cola. Get it at Storybook Treats in Fantasyland.

Sweet treats don't get all the themed fun. At Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland, get this burger with Muenster cheese, potato barrels, bacon, and sriracha aioli.

No fall celebration is complete without some pumpkin spice. Don't miss the Pumpkin Spice Milkshake, topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, sprinkles, and a Mickey-shaped marshmallow straw, available at Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies in Tomorrowland.

The Magic Kingdom isn't the only place for seasonal snacks! Disney World parks, resorts and Disney Springs are all serving up exclusive spooky treats, souvenir buckets and sippers. The Disney Parks Blog has all info on where to get Halloween eats at the theme parks, hotels and Disney Springs.

Previously, with the exception of when attending special events like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, guests over the age of 14 haven't been allowed to wear costumes to Disney World's theme parks. But, from now through Oct. 31 during regular park hours, guests of all ages are welcome to wear costumes to the parks.

All guests must still wear an appropriate face covering and guests younger than 14 years old are permitted to wear a costume mask in addition to their approved face covering. Some guests, like this trio dressed as Lock, Shock and Barrel from The Nightmare Before Christmas, are getting extra creative by incorporating their face coverings into their costume

Disney fans clamor all year long for seasonal souvenirs and collectibles, from Minnie ears and spirit jerseys to Loungefly bags and pins, but perhaps never more passionately than during Halloween. A huge range of Halloween merch is available throughout the parks, hotels and Disney Springs.

If you didn't get the memo, collectible popcorn buckets and souvenir sippers are A THING at Walt Disney World. This season's spooktacular lineup includes an Oogie Boogie bucket, sold with either popcorn or churros in it, depending on the location, a Jack Skellington sipper, Oogie Boogie's Glow Cubes, a Haunted Mansion Hitchhiking Ghost popcorn bucket, treat container and sipper, and a Mickey Mouse pumpkin popcorn bucket. Available at various quick-service locations.

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience that transforms young guests into princesses remains closed, but Disney has released a new line of princess dresses so kids can still dress up like their favorite Disney princess this Halloween. The dresses are available at Walt Disney World as well as at ShopDisney.com.

To date, guests have only had two modified character dining experiences to choose from at reopened Walt Disney World - one at Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera at Disney's Riviera Resort and the other at Garden Grill Restaurant at EPCOT. But, beginning Sept. 25, Hollywood & Vine will reopen with "Minnie's Halloween Dine," a modified character dining experience that will feature a "monster feast" brought to your table, with appearances from Minnie, Mickey, Goofy and Pluto. The foursome will don their Halloween costumes and make the restaurant rounds, waving at guests from a safe distance.

At the end of the day, you'll get one last chance to see Mickey and the gang in costume. Just before park closing, they wave goodbye from the train station platform.

Magic Kingdom's official park closing time is currently 6 pm, well before dark, but as it begins to get dark earlier or if you have a dining reservation at the end of the night (Liberty Tree Tavern and Be Our Guest both offer reservations until 7 pm), you may get the chance to see the Mickey Pumpkin wreaths glowing on your way out. They make for a festive end to a spooktacular day.