Record Crowds Expected at Disney World on October 20 Due to Halloween Party and IT Conference
Magic Kingdom’s early 6 p.m. closure for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is forecast to spill guests across EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom with resort transportation expected to face severe delays
Overview
- Magic Kingdom’s daytime capacity is projected to peak by mid-afternoon, triggering its scheduled 6 p.m. closure for the separately ticketed Halloween event
- Overflow from the early closure will push thousands of guests into EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, where wait times for headliner attractions could exceed 90 minutes
- Attendees of the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo at the Swan and Dolphin Resort are expected to exacerbate congestion with longer lines on Friendship Boats, the Skyliner and the monorail
- Guests without Halloween party tickets are advised to skip Magic Kingdom or rope drop less busy parks like Animal Kingdom and plan to leave before late afternoon peak crowds
- Leveraging Park Hopper flexibility, securing Lightning Lane reservations early and exploring non-park venues such as Disney Springs offer reliable ways to avoid the worst of the crowds