Are you wondering to wear to Disney world in October? Disney World is the happiest place on Earth no matter when you visit however October can be a tricky a month to pack for. In this guide we round up the best things to wear in Disney World in October for men, women and children as well as taking into consideration the weather, dress codes and Disney World events happening in October.
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What is the Weather at Disney World in October
When you are considering what to wear to Disney World whatever month or season you are visiting the number one thing that will affect your Disney World Outfit is of course the weather.
The good news is that the weather at Disney World in October makes it a pretty great time of year to visit. The humidity of the summer months is dampening and the average temperatures are pretty pleasant for Florida.
For instance the average high hovers in the 80s Fahrenheit (around 26 Celsius) and the lows only go down to the Mid 70s. The evenings may drop in the 60s which can feel on the chilly side so layers are going to be important on your Disney World October packing list.
Note: If your Disney vacations spans two months then be sure to check out our
- What to Wear to Disney World in September or
- What to wear to Disney World in November guide.
And if you are planning to head to other attractions outside of Disney World be sure to check out our guide on what to wear in Orlando in October which covers the beaches, water parks and other attractions including some that have dress codes.
Will it rain at Disney World in October?
As Disney World is in Florida you are pretty much guaranteed to experience rain whatever month of the year you visit. It is in Central Florida after all. However the good news is that October in Disney world is not as renowned for its torrential downpours as other months.
However it is worth that October is still technically hurricane season in Florida (albeit late in the season).
Therefore it is best to be ready in what you pack for Disney World for some rain as you are likely to experience some.
Visiting Disney World in October
So now you know what you can expect from the weather in October, we will turn our attention to what you can expect if you are visiting the Disney parks in October including special events.
October is actually in my opinion one of the best months to visit Disney World, and not just because the summer heat is largely over.
The reason I love visiting is because of the special Halloween season. Halloween at Disney World comes with a lot of special touches including:
- Character Meet and greets with classic Disney characters in halloween outfits,
- Halloween theming throughout the park i.e. pumpkins everywhere through the Magic Kingdom
- Unique Halloween meet and greets such as Jack Skellington
- Villians being out in forces and of course
- The famous Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.
And although it is not compulsory, you will find that these events and activities will have a bearing on how a lot of people dress in the parks in October.
It is worth noting however that with these special events comes larger crowds, particularly the closer you get to Halloween and for the Columbus day weekend. If you are worried about crowds and have some flexibility in time of travel we recommend traveling in Early October vs Late October, and checking the disney world crowd calendars.
Note: most of the Halloween events including the Not So Scary Halloween Party takes place at Magic Kingdom park. The other parks are far more muted in terms of their halloween celebrations.
However, it is also worth noting that October is also the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. This is a food and drink festival that is particularly great for adults visiting Disney. And you will find a lot of people will have t shirts themed to the festival on the day they are visiting Epcot.
Note: This guide is intended to cover all of the parks at Walt Disney World but specifically looks at how the weather effects what to wear to Disney World in October. If you want a specific park by park break down which looks at unique meets and greets, presence of water rides and more then you will want to check out our individual park by park guide.
- What to Wear to Animal Kingdom
- What to wear to Epcot
- What to wear to Hollywood Studios
- What to wear to Magic Kingdom
What to Wear to Disney World in October
So now we have looked into the special events, weather and dress code, we will give you some outfit inspiration for what to wear to Disney World in October based off our personal experiences in the parks at this time of year.
Quick Dry Shorts
Whenever I visit Disney World my favorite type of bottoms to wear are quick dry shorts. The reason for this is that they will dry off quickly if you get caught in a Florida downpour or if you go and get soaked on one of the water rides such as Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom or Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom.
I like to go for a darker color in case they get very wet so they don’t go overly see through and they match with most things.
I think these are great whether you are looking for a Disney World outfit for men, women or children.
T Shirts
You can not go wrong in whatever park you are going to in whatever month with a t- shirt. In fact T Shirts should be the most prominent item in your Disney October wardrobe.
I also recommend wearing T shirts in a cotton or another natural fabric as they are more breathable and you don’t want unbreathable fabrics in Florida.
Given the weather in October I would personally pack mostly short sleeve t shirts and tank tops. However having one long-sleeved shirt is a good idea for colder days, or days when you plan on having an Early morning in the park to rope drop.
You could go with a plain t-shirt which is no problem at all however I personally love to wear a t shirt themed to the park.
Click here to shop Halloween T Shirts
Now I would normally say theme to the unique meet and greets in the parks however October in Disney World is a special month. There are different character meet and greets out if the marks for instance you usually get to see Jack Skellington in October and he isn’t normally a regular meet and greet therefore a Nightmare before Christmas T shirt works for both the unique character and the Halloween theme.
Click here to shop Nightmare Before Christmas Shirts
Alternatively you could go with one of the many villains who will be out in the park for Halloween season and there are some great villain t-shirts available online for reasonable prices.
Or if you are going with a large group then there are lots of matching family Disney vacation t shirts available that have an added Halloween touch which would be perfect for visiting Disney World at October.
Click here to shop Villain Shirts
Jumper or Sweater
If you are staying in the Parks for the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or even if you are just waiting in the parks till later in the evening to see the fireworks or parades it can get chilly.
Be sure to bring plenty of layers with you so you are ready for the drop in temperatures in the evening in the form of a light sweater or jumper.
Again any jumper or sweater will do but again we love to theme our sweater to the parks. Of course a classic Disney spirit jumper is never a bad choice in the parks however we also love these Disney Halloween sweaters.
Note: the cooler weather of October especially if you are entering the parks in the early morning can mean that a light jacket can also be useful.
Best Shoes for Disney in October
Sneakers
If you are wondering what the best comfortable shoes for Disney in October are my answer is always sneakers. Disney, no matter the park you go to, will involve lots and lots of walking so therefore comfortable walking shoes should be your number one priority for picking your Disney in October shoes. There really is nothing worse than having sore feet at Disney.
For this reason sneakers and tennis shoes are our top pick. As you can get rainy days in Florida whatever month you travel it is also a good idea to pick a pair with some waterproofing.
However if you don’t want to wear sneakers in the park a good alternative are Crocs.
Crocs
Crocs are great because they will dry quickly once you’ve been on Splash Mountain or if you get caught in the Florida rain. And as an added bonus there are Disney version ones available for both adults and young children. For more information on whether Crocs are comfortable at Disney check out this post.
If you can’t find any online you like they will be available for sale at the park and in Disney Springs but you will be paying a premium.
Click here to shop Halloween Crocs
If you like me however don’t like crocs then I would recommend adding a pair of Flip FLops to your Disney day pack.
Should I wear Flip Flops to Disney World?
In my opinion no you should not wear flip flops to Disney. In fact they are usually on my what not to wear to Disney World list.
They are not against the Disney dress code however they don’t have good arch support for long walking days or any real grip on slippery surfaces.
However in case you get caught in the rain or for when you inevitably come on Splash Mountain or Kali River Rapids and get soaked through we recommend having a pair of Flip flops with you to save your form having to walk around in wet shoes at disney all day. Flips
Best Disney Ears for Halloween
We love wearing ears whatever month we go to Disney World however we love themed ears and Halloween is no exception.
Our favorite Disney ears for Halloween have to be Halloween themed. There are some great classic Mickey ears with Halloween designs
But for something a bit different you could get Disney Villain Themed Ears
And something tells me that Hocus Pocus will be very on trend for all Disney Halloween Attire in 2023.
Click here to shop Disney Halloween Ears
Best Costumes for Kids visiting in October
Now there are quite strict rules about what not to wear at Walt Disney World. One of the main rules is that adults aged 14 and over are not permitted to wear costumes in the parks.
This applies to all the parks all the times – with a couple of notable exceptions like the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (Read on for more information about the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party dress code).
So if you are going at any other time other than for this special ticketed event leave the adult costume at home. If you want to dress up or pay homage to characters in some way then Disneybounding is best for you – read on for more info on great Disney Bounds for Walt Disney World in October.
But if your kids want to wear costumes relating to their favorite characters, my advice is to know which park their favorite is for a meet and greet so they can get the best possible interaction by dressing up to meet them.
Click here to shop Disney villain costumes
Although costumes are available in the park and there are some great experiences for dress up such as the Bibbidi Boppity Boutique I would really advise you to bring costumes with.
Costumes you purchase online at Amazon or in Target will be cheaper than the in park counterparts so it will save you money if you bring them to Disney World with you.
However if your kids don’t want to wear costumes that is fine too. A themed t shirt is also a great and will be a great talking point at character interactions. Or why not commemorate your Halloween Disney World trip with a family matching tee.
Best Disneybounding ideas for Disney World in October
Disneybounding for those of you don’t know is a way to pay homage to your favorite characters when you can’t dress up as them as an adult.
Now I normally recommend matching your outfit to a meet and greet you plan to do in the park but October in Disney World is different especially if you are visiting the Magic Kingdom.
At the Magic Kingdom in October there are loads of special meet and greets in the form of the villains so maybe mix up your October Disneybounds being villainous.
In my opinion the easiest Disneybound Villains outfit is Cruella DeVil. The mainly black and white color palette makes it really easy to find great pieces and you can put together some really cute Disneybound outfits on this theme.
My other favorite villain Disneybound is of course the Queen of Hearts. Again she has a quick to recognise color palette and lots of heart for great accessorizing opportunities.
For our full list of Villain Disney bound inspiration click here.
What to Bring to Disney World (non clothing)
Sunscreen
The sun in Florida is strong always and there are plenty of sunny days in October. I recommend you bring sunscreen with you and use it at regular intervals as there is nothing worse than sunburn at the parks.
Ponchos
Ponchos are a really handy thing in your Disney World day pack. Now I personally don’t wear them when I am on a water ride like Splash Mountain or the Kali River Ride.
However if there is a sudden downpour and you are out in the open I like to have a poncho with me that I can quickly throw on myself and the kids so we don’t get drenched.
Now if you forget your poncho they are readily available at the parks however they are much more expensive so try and remember to bring one from home.
Click here to buy Disney ponchos
Stroller
If you are travelling with a baby or toddler we recommend taking a stroller with you even if you don’t use one at home. Your average day at Disney takes more steps than your average day at home so even if your little one has moved on from the stroller they may like to use at the parks. And it will save you carrying them too.
Just remember to check the dimensions of your stroller, particularly if you plan on bringing a double stroller with you. That is because Disney has strict rules about stroller sizes.
Click here to shop strollers for Disney.
Stroller Cover
As we have mentioned there is a chance that you will experience rain at Disney world in October. Strollers are really handy when traveling to Disney with littles but have to be left at stroller parking outside of rides.
Now it may be sunny when you join a queue but if it is a long queue the Florida weather may change while you are inside and you won’t want the stroller to get soaked so be sure to bring the water proof stroller cover with you.
It will also keep your little dry when they are inside during rain showers at Disney.
Click here to shop stroller covers.
Carrier
Although strollers are very useful at Disney we also recommend bringing a carrier with you. That is because although strollers are useful for walking around the park, they can’t be used in the queues.
If you do pack a carrier, we recommend packing one that is good in hot weather. Our favorite carrier is the Ergo Baby OMio Breeze, as this has a cooling mesh.
Umbrella
This one should be pretty self explanatory. Florida in October can be rainy tso you may want an umbrella. We love a Disney themed one. Click to shop Disney travel umbrellas here.
However don’t use this during parades and shows, as this will block many people’s views. Instead we recommend a poncho for these times.
Snacks
We love all the Mickey themed snacks in the park however these can get expensive. Be sure to pack plenty of snacks in your Disney day pack for October.
Swimwear
While this isn’t one for the at the Parks themselves as Swimwear at the parks is a bit of a no no. However you will definitely want swimwear in Orlando in October.
The pools are open at Disney in October and you can also visit one of the Disney water parks such Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach. Also October is the perfect time to visit one of the many beautiful Orlando beaches.
Depending on how many water parks and beaches you plan on visiting will depend on how many pieces of swimwear you need. For a two week Disney World vacation in Orlando I would take two pieces.
What to Wear to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
The biggest thing about the what to wear to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party compared to a normal day at the Magic Kingdom is that adults as well as kids can wear costumes to this event.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a special ticketed event that occurs after hours on select nights. The event has a limited number of tickets so be sure to have the dates when tickets are released in your diary if you want to attend.
The best things about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party isn’t only that adults can wear costumes but there are special calvacades with your favorite characters, special treats, special meet and greets and of course the fan favorite trick or treating at Disney World.
The guidelines for what to wear to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are
For children under thirteen
- Costumes and costume masks can be work providing that vision isn’t obstructed.
Adults and Over 13s
- Costumes may be work providing you do not sign autographs or pose for pictures with guests.
- That costumes can not be offensive or violent and must always be considered family friendly.
- Costumes can not include anything that could be mistaken for a weapon
- Nothing that can endanger yourself or another guest
- Costumes can not drag on the floor i.e. floor length princess gowns.
- No Masks of any kind
- Accessories may be work providing face not covered, that they cant be mistaken for weapons and wings must be transparent. If you wear a cape it can not go below the waist.
For a more complete list of rules please see the Event website.
Have you been to Disney World in October? What did you wear? And if you have been to Mickey’s Not so Scary Halloween Bash we would love to know what you wore there too so please do leave a comment.