Top 5 Reasons to Visit Walt Disney World in the Fall

It's no secret that Disney World has something new and different no matter what time of the year you choose to visit. There are unique decorations and events relating to the closest upcoming holiday, extended parks hours or additional shows based on attendance, a variety of concert series occurring at different points in the year, and pretty much anything else you can think of. If you can name it, Disney probably has a designated time of the year to do it. Of all the seasons though, fall seems to be the busiest, and most fulfilling. There are numerous reasons for visiting Disney World at any time of the year, but here are my top five reasons to go during September, October, or November.

Milder, more comfortable Weather- Anyone who has been to south Florida in the middle of the summer can tell you it's pretty miserably hot. Add that to the stress of huge crowds and long lines, and Disney World becomes very hard to enjoy. However, starting around September, the weather gets a little milder and a little more bearable. Once you get into October and November, the days are all pretty nice. It's not too hot, not too cold, and once it gets dark, there's a great breeze that blows though. The only down side to weather at this time is that it can be pretty rainy, but storms tend to pass fairly quickly. Plus, if you're man enough to wait out the rain, it usually drives most others out of the parks! Which brings me to my next point...

Smaller Crowds- Disney's busiest times of the year are summer and Christmas. This is when most families go because this is when children are out of school. However, by the time fall rolls around, kids all over the country are back in classes and attendance to the parks drops dramatically. Smaller crowds and the milder weather makes the few things you do have to wait an extensive amount of time for seem like less of a hassle. Don't get me wrong, there will still be crowds, regardless of the time of your visit, but fall crowds are a mere fraction of summer crowds and make the walking, or any other issues that may arise, much more manageable.

The International Food and Wine Festival- For many people, the food at Disney World is a large part of their vacation. And there's no better way to get more of that food than to go during the Food and Wine Festival. Running from September to early November each year, the festival involves pavilions from about 25 cities around the world, set up all throughout the World Showcase in Epcot. These pavilions sell appetizer sized foods and desserts representing these cities, as well as drinks from that particular area. There are also countless events going on all over the park including wine tastings, cheese tastings, educational seminars, celebrity chef speakers, culinary demonstrations, book signings, and more. Some of these events are included in park admission, while others cost an additional fee. A full list of events, schedules, and prices can be found on Disney World's official website each year, as well as on numerous fan sites.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party- Halloween is a favorite holiday for the young, as well as the young at heart! And what could be more fun than dressing up and trick-or-treating with classic Disney characters? On select nights starting in September, the Magic Kingdom park closes early to hold their annual Halloween party. Guests who have bought tickets are invited to dress up, collect candy from their favorite characters, experience the rides with little to no waits, see a Halloween exclusive parade, then watch a Halloween version of the "Wishes" firework show. It's a fully immersive and themed "party" done in a way only Disney can. And yes, the characters are also wearing costumes. Again, specific prices and dates can be found online.The beginning of the Christmas season- Like the rest of the country, Disney begins to get ready for Christmas before Halloween has even passed. All throughout the property, trees and other decorations start appearing in mid-October, and during November, they gear up in full force. Characters can even be seen in Santa hats and other holiday dress. Although the most extensive of Disney's Christmas decorations, the Osbourne Family Spectacle of Lights, doesn't get started until Thanksgiving, it's always great to see other ways the company finds to make 43 square miles of property festive!! A visit planned near Halloween is a great way to get a taste of two holidays in one trip.

Everyone who goes to Disney World on a regular basis has their favorite time to go, and probably countless reasons why. For those who don't go often, or have never been during the fall months, I can't recommend it enough!! Disney is always at the top of their game, but for some reason, in the fall they just seem to shine that much brighter!