Disney World in September 2026 (Weather, Crowd Expectations, and Details)

September is a super hot month that takes everyone by surprise. While most people are ready to break out their boots, watch college football, or order their favorite pumpkin brew, those visiting Disney World with the hopes of “low crowds” are realizing that they come with a price: heat exhaustion.

It wasn’t so long ago that I was riding the Skyliner with a family on their first visit. They mentioned that they couldn’t believe the record heat. They were under the impression that it would be cooler and were surprised when I told them that both August and September were the worst months. If you’ve read this website, even semi-regularly, you know that I’ve seen numerous guests pass out from dehydration in the parks over the years. Most of which have happened in September.

I don’t ever mention that to scare anyone, but if it helps one person remember to stay hydrated and take proper breaks, then it’s worth it. It’s sure not the kind of memory you want to laugh about around the kitchen table in the future, all the while thinking it wasn’t funny at the time. Let’s save those memories for Mickey ice cream bars that melt so fast they make an incredible mess all over your child’s matching Disney t-shirts. (Don’t forget to take a picture!)

As for September, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is in full swing, it’s hurricane season, and you will likely experience lower crowds than usual in the parks. If you’re visiting the Magic Kingdom, you’ll get to see the beautiful autumn decorations, and there will be food booths galore at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.

This guide has been updated for 2026 pending news and announcements. We’ll provide those updates as they are announced. Halloween details are generally released about halfway to Halloween. We anticipate knowing more after Easter and before mid-May.

The Weather in September

As we’ve already discussed, September is hot. It can be miserable. September is also prime hurricane season, so you’ll want to remain weather aware. If you’re investing a decent amount of money in your trip (regardless of when you visit), you might want to consider purchasing trip insurance. To be fully transparent, as regular visitors, this is not something we do often for Disney World. But it is something that adds an extra layer of protection when we cruise or plan once-in-a-lifetime trips to other destinations. An authorized Disney travel planner can help you better discern should you have any questions.

Crowds in September

September is one of the slowest months of the year at Disney World. But, again, the tradeoff is the heat. For most, it’s simply not worth it. If you do decide to visit in September, you’ll want to remain aware of evenings when Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is held at Magic Kingdom.

On these evenings, Magic Kingdom closes at 6:00 p.m. There are advantages and disadvantages when visiting the Magic Kingdom on a party date. As far as negatives, the park closes early. So if this is your only day at Magic Kingdom, we recommend choosing a non-party date. It would be a shame not to see the fireworks or explore the park after sunset. We have listed the party dates in our September timeline below to help you plan.

That said, if you have more than one day to spend at Magic Kingdom or have the park-hopper ticket, you might prefer to take advantage of lower crowds on a party date. While there are no guarantees, the party dates tend to be significantly slower at Magic Kingdom because not everyone is willing to burn their ticket on a day when the park closes early.

Other Reminders

Magical Dining usually lasts throughout September. This is a charity event (not affiliated with Disney) that includes a few restaurants at Disney World. It’s a wonderful promotion that allows guests to try special menus at more-than-reasonable prices. If you have any interest in dining at these locations, you’ll likely want to participate. (2026 Dates and participating locations to be determined.)

Extended Evening Hours are offered twice weekly for deluxe and deluxe villa resort guests. If you would like to learn more about this benefit, see our guide to Extended Evening Hours at Disney World.

Ride Closures:

Magic Kingdom Temporary Ride Closures: TBD

Epcot Ride Closures: TBD

Hollywood Studios: TBD

Disney’s Animal Kingdom: TBD

Significant park construction continues throughout 2026 at Magic Kingdom (Villains Land and new Cars area), Hollywood Studios (Monsters, Inc.-themed land), and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Tropical Americas-themed land).

Final Thoughts

We will update this calendar as more announcements are made. As always, we hope that these timelines will serve not only as a current reference but also as a future one. For a complete overview of what to expect throughout the year, see our guide: The Best and Worst Times to Visit Disney World. Check back with us soon at ResortsGal.com for more Disney World news, resort updates, and reviews!

For big-picture planning, visit our 2026 Disney World Planning Guide and How Much a Disney World Vacation Costs. Once you’ve explored these guides, consider taking our free planning course to tie it all together.

In the Comments

Did you find this September planning guide helpful? Will you be visiting in 2026? Let us know in the comments below.