It might be summertime, but we’re already looking forward to Halloween in Disney World (it’s one of our favorite times of the year)!

But in the weeks surrounding the parks reopening, Disney has shared that parades, fireworks, and character meet and greets are halted for the time being and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has been canceled for 2020.

But never fear, ghosts and ghoulies! Since there will be NO party this year, we’re taking a look at how guests can STILL celebrate Halloween in the parks. 

Dressing Up in the Parks

Halloween is the time to explore your ghoulish side or live out your Disney Princess dreams with a new costume in the Fall! Usually, guests of all ages are welcome to dress as their favorite characters for a night during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. But what are guests to do since the event isn’t happening this year?

Well, there’s still a way you can dress up in the parks this year! Guests under 14 years old are able to wear costumes in the parks whenever they’d like. While guests 14 years of age and older are not technically allowed to wear costumes, they can Disneybound instead!

In case you’ve never heard of Disneybounding, it’s when guests put together outfits to look like characters from their favorite films, represent attractions around the park, and more — without actually wearing a costume.

Although you can gather up items from your own closet at home, The Dress Shop at Marketplace Co-Op in Disney Springs also has some gorgeous numbers that would be perfect for Disneybounding. And, since spooky season is just around the corner, you can expect a few more Halloween-inspired dresses to wear soon!

While Disney has had a requirement in place that masks cannot cover the whole face when a child wears a costume, everyone will still need a protective face covering in the parks this year. And you can mix and match your face masks with your costumes or Disneybounds to complete your ensemble.

Halloween Treats

Although the exclusive treats from Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party won’t be available this year, Disney will likely still roll out different Halloween treats throughout the parks! Get ready for pumpkin-spiced EVERYTHING, people!!!!

In honor of the Fourth of July and Father’s Day, we’ve already seen themed feasts and brightly colored goodies to ring in the holidays. And while there are usually exclusive Halloween party treats, Disney also rolls out standard fall treats through the parks each year. We still anticipate that Disney will do the same this year.

We can expect some of the same cupcakes, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and ice cream treats that are usually themed for the fall to come back again.

Buuut, there will most likely be NEW snacks since Disney World introduces batches of original creations just in time for Halloween. (Disney, please bring back the Pumpkin Spice Milkshake and Constance’s For Better or For Worse Wedding Cake.)

These are the Halloween treats you might be able to spot every day in Disney World!

Halloween Decorations and Entertainment

In the reopened parks, there are a lot of changes with new sanitation and distancing measures, modifications in entertainment, temperature checks, and more. While we don’t know too much about Disney’s plans for decor this year, since the party is canceled, we will probably see SOME of the amazing decorations we look forward to each year!

You’ll be able to spot Halloween banners and bunting all around, scarecrows welcoming everyone to the parks, little pumpkins, and the cute Mickey Jack-o-lanterns on Main Street. PhotoPass will still be in the parks, so guests will have opportunities to take pictures in front of Cinderella Castle, the Haunted Mansion, and other spots around Disney World.

PhotoPass has already stated that different props will be made available, where guests will be asked to stand behind specific props or the props will be wiped down between each use. There are also usually some themed backgrounds that Disney puts out (so maybe you can pose with the Oogie Boogie Man himself!).

Take a look at all the attractions, entertainment, and stores that will be back in the parks when Disney World re-opens!

Halloween Merchandise

Just like there have been themed holiday treats in Disney World, we’ve also seen merchandise for the Fourth of July and Father’s Day. AND we’re ALREADY seeing Halloween items in the parks as well (some of them with the Sanderson Sisters!).

We’re talking about the themed ears, take-home candy from around the parks, spirit jerseys, and MORE. We hope to have more popcorn buckets like the Oogie Boogie Popcorn Bucket or an entire collection of spooky MagicBands to take home with us!

Annual Passholders will possibly still have the chance to pick up Halloween merchandise that Sandy Claws has put out especially for them.

Whether Passholders want to show off new pins or tees in time for the Fall festivities, we can’t wait to see what items Disney World conjures up soon!

Here’s all the Halloween merchandise that could materialize in the parks this year!

Halloween Activities at the Disney Resorts

If you think the parks are the only spots to get in on the fun, you’re going to want to visit the Disney Resorts (if we can still more-or-less resort hop by then) for more Halloween and Fall spirit! As the resorts start to reopen over the next couple of months, they will hopefully introduce the same activities and decorations that they have used each year.

We’ve already seen touchless activities, like trivia and Movies Under the Stars, brought back at the resorts. So we wouldn’t be surprised if the resorts transformed into their own wicked wonderlands to celebrate Halloween.

In the past, we’ve seen golf carts with skeletons and crisp Fall leaves at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, a lobby makeover at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and themed treats galore at places like Disney’s BoardWalk Inn.

We’re hoping that the resorts bring back familiar activities like costume contests, arts and crafts, and Halloween movie screenings in some capacity that guests of all ages will be able to enjoy. We just really want to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas under the night sky again!!

Take a look at the grand re-opening of the Disney Resorts here!

A Taste of Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

A new addition to this year’s Halloween line-up will be the extended Epcot Food and Wine Festival! Since the parks closed during the Flower and Garden Festival, the new  Taste of Epcot International Food and Wine Festival this year combines elements of the Flower and Garden Festival along with Food and Wine for an amazing time.

The festival started on July 15th when Epcot reopened, and it will last throughout the Fall. So it will be the longest Food and Wine Festival EVER. There are 20 food booths throughout the park with returning spots like Hawaii, Hops and Barley, and more!

Although you might not be able to trick-or-treat like you used to in the parks, you can still hop around to the different food booths in Epcot for some new and returning treats instead.

Check out our Best of the Fest from last year’s Food and Wine Festival!

While Disney World will still be having Halloween festivities in the parks, we’re curious to see how Disney will be adapting its holiday celebrations to fit the new safety guidelines. Halloween may not be the same as we’ve seen it before, but it’s still going to be a terrifyingly good time, no matter what!

Here’s what our readers think about Disney World’s re-opening timeline!

Will you be going to Disney World during Halloween time? Let us know in the comments below!