September is a great time to visit Disney World this year!
Mickey Pumpkins Galore!
Kids are back in school, the weather should cool off a little, and you’ll beat the crowds coming in for the big 50th anniversary in October! And, there are some exciting new things to look forward to happening this month that we want to tell you allllll about. These are the BEST things to do in Disney World in September!
Celebrate Halloween
It’s been Halloween in Disney since early August so now everything is in full swing! Magic Kingdom has been pumpkin-fied and the fall vibes are immaculate👌. Even though there is no Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year, there is the Boo Bash After Hours event on select evenings!
Spooky vibes
There are themed cavalcades, food, and trick-or-treating to enjoy during the event, but it is currently sold out. We’ll let you know if we see any tickets get restocked! Also, make sure you check day of as they have been selling tickets at Guest Relations.
Click here to read more about Boo Bash!
There is also a TON of Halloween merchandise in the parks throughout September! We’ve seen cool items like the Oogie Boogie backpack…
Watch out for the Oogie Boogie Man!
…a Hocus Pocus spirit jersey…
It’s just a bunch of Hocus Pocus!
…and super cute Mickey pumpkin ears!
Halloween Ears
You could totally combine all these things and create an epic Disney Halloween outfit!
Click here to see more of the new Halloween merchandise in Disney World!
If you’re looking to celebrate Halloween in a more delicious way, there are a lot of festive treats available in the parks and resorts, but especially at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Try things like Frozen Apple Cider…
Frozen Apple Cider
So festive!
…or a Halloween shake that’s candy corn flavored!
What a beauty!
Aren’t these treats absolutely gourd-geous? Get it?? Okay…we’ll stop with the puns!
Click here to see more about the Halloween treats in Disney World!
If you want more of a sit down meal, you can make reservations at Hollywood and Vine for Minnie’s Halloween Dine! You’ll get to see Minnie and friends dressed in their spooky best!
Minnie looks so spooky!
September is an especially great time to celebrate Halloween in Disney World this year because October is likely to be very crowded due to the 50th anniversary!
Click here to see our full Minnie’s Halloween Dine review!
Expanded Dining Experiences
SO much dining is BACK in Disney World! We recently saw the return of the first buffet at Disney since the shutdown in March of 2020 at Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Boma — Flavors of Africa!
Boma is Back!
The restaurant is serving Breakfast and Dinner right now. At Breakfast, you’ll find traditional things like eggs, bacon, and Simba waffles, along with more unique offerings like Turkey Bobotie and Deviled Eggs with Smoked Salmon!
Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
Breakfast is $29 per adult and $17 per child.
Click here to see our recent review of Breakfast at Boma!
At Dinner, you’ll find things like African-spiced beef striploin, macaroni and cheese, Tunisian couscous and shrimp salad, spiced green beans, olive oil herb-crushed potatoes, and sweet corn pudding!
Dinner at Boma
Dinner is $49 per adult and $29 per child.
Click here to see a first look at Dinner at Boma!
Another buffet is coming back to Disney as well! The Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom will see the return of its Lunch and Dinner buffets on September 12th!
Crystal Palace
Offerings will include things like Parker House rolls, create-your-own fresh garden salad, seared pork tenderloin, fire-roasted prime rib, and braised beef short ribs.
Traditional Crystal Palace Buffet
Breakfast is still not available at The Crystal Palace.
Click here to see our most recent review of The Crystal Palace
Another returning favorite at Magic Kingdom is Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table! Morning meals started being served again starting August 27th. Up until then, the restaurant has only been serving Lunch and Dinner.
Pastry Plate
Reservations are now open for Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table, so grab them now if you’re heading to Disney World in September!
Click here to read more about Breakfast returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table
And over in Frontierland, The Diamond Horseshoe will make its return on September 12th as well!
The Diamond Horseshoe
Right now, the menu is showing an all-you-care-to-enjoy meal with literally the same menu that’s over at Liberty Tree Tavern, so we guess there will soon be 2 places you can get that famous Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake!
Click here to read more about the return of The Diamond Horseshoe
Watch Fireworks Shows for the LAST TIME
Yep, you read that right — the time has come where we have to say goodbye to our beloved Fireworks shows in Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. We knew that EPCOT Forever would be leaving us after Harmonious made its debut, but Happily Ever After? Disney completely blindsided us!
EPCOT Forever Fireworks
Happily Ever After will be replaced with Disney Enchantment for the next 18-months in honor of Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration. We assumed it would be returning after the anniversary festivities are over, but the way Disney worded the announcement made it seem like it will not be returning.
Happily Ever After in Magic Kingdom
The last showing of EPCOT Forever in EPCOT will be on September 28th and the last showing of Happily Ever After in Magic Kingdom will be on September 29th. So, now is the time to watch these shows for the very last time before they’re gone for good!
Click here to read more about the fireworks shows that are leaving Disney World
Visit ALL the Recently Opened EPCOT Food and Wine Booths
Remember when we told you about those 9 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival booths that wouldn’t be opening until October 1st? Uh…well, most of them opened EARLY! For some reason, 7 of the 9 food booths opened up early in August.
EPCOT Food and Wine
So, now you can enjoy those booths without the crazy crowds for the 50th anniversary in October! Visit The Alps for some of that amazing melty Raclette Swiss cheese that’s scraped directly from the wheel onto your potatoes!
The Alps Menu
There is also a frozen rose here that is perfect for the hot weather!
Click here to read our review of The Alps booth
The next booth that opened early was India! They have items like Madras Red Curry and Korma Chicken if you’re looking to add a little bit of ~spice~ to your EPCOT day.
India Booth Spread
And check out the Mango Lassi for a refreshing treat!
Click here to read our review of the India booth!
If you want something milder but still flavorful, head on over to Ireland to grab the Fisherman’s Seafood Pie or the Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake with Irish Cream Liqueur Custard!
Irish Menu Spread
They also have a Guinness Baileys Shake for some extra Irish fun!
Click here to read our review of the Ireland booth!
Moving on to Kenya, you can get things like the Kenyan Coffee Barbecue Beef Tenderloin or Piri Piri Skewered Shrimp!
Kenya
And the classic Tusker Lager you can find around Disney is also featured at this booth!
Click here to read our review of the Kenya booth!
Next to open early was a NEW booth — Lobster Landing! This booth has a whole New England Lobster Tail, Lobster Chowder, AND Baked Lobster Dip!
Lobster Landing
Try out the Cape Codder for a fun cocktail!
Click here to read our review for Lobster Landing!
And there is another brand new booth open already, too — Mac & Eats! Cheese lovers, this is the place to be! They have a Truffle Mac & Cheese and a Cowboy Mac & Cheese that you just gotta try!
Getting our Mac and Cheese feast ON!
And to cut all that rich cheesy goodness, get the Lemon Hazy IPA to wash it all down with!
Click here to read our review of Mac & Eats!
Finally, we have the Spain booth! A returning booth that has a Charcuterie Cup, Spanish-style Paella, and Seafood Salad on the menu.
Spain Menu Items
And it’s Spain, so of course there’s wine on the drink menu!
Click here to read our review of the Spain booth!
The only two booths that have yet to open are Belgium and Brazil, but we’ll let you know if they decide to open early, too!
Steakhouse 71
If you haven’t heard, The Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort closed earlier this summer to be “re-imagined” in time for Disney’s 50th anniversary. The restaurant is being replaced with Steakhouse 71 — a “new casual-themed dining concept that gets its name from the resort’s opening year,” according to Disney.
©Disney
The announcement was shared with a picture of a giant piece of cake, so we’re looking forward to trying THAT when this restaurant opens (or re-opens?). We don’t have an exact opening date for Steakhouse 71, but Disney has confirmed that it will be open in time for the celebrations on October 1st, so we can assume it will open in September!
Click here to read more about Steakhouse 71!
Space 220
The long-awaited Space 220 will FINALLY be opening in September!!! The restaurant was announced all the way back in 2017, so we’ve been waiting on this one for a while! It will be located in EPCOT’s Future World.
©Disney
We got a first look inside the restaurant a few weeks ago, and we caught a glimpse of what it will look like to take the “elevator” 220 miles up to space for your meal!
©Disney | You get to ride in a SPACE ELEVATOR!
We also got some menu details! Space 220 will feature a 2-course prix-fixe Lunch menu and a 3-course prix-fixe Dinner menu. The food was described as “modern and upscale.” There will also be “atmospheric cocktails” to try, which sounds…interesting!
Space 220 Concept Art ©Disney
Disney didn’t announce the exact opening date, but did say it’s scheduled to open in mid-September!
Click here to read more about Space 220!
Those are all of the BEST things to do in Disney World in September! There are a lot of fun things to choose from, so we hope you enjoy some or all of these activities! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news, tips, and updates.
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Is the seating inside Disney restaurants spaced out more due to COVID? Or, are they still accommodating as many diners are before the pandemic? I have a trip scheduled for mid-September and the dining situation has me most anxious above everything else.
Kathy, we’re seeing seating pretty much back to normal.