October Disney World park hours updated and Maelstrom closing to be replaced by a Frozen attraction

Disney announced yesterday that Maelstrom will be closing “soon” for a transformation to a Frozen based theme.  They will also offer a meet and greet in the Norway pavilion again.  Many moons ago I mentioned that they were looking at transforming the theater area into a meet and greet area.  It remains to be seen if the meet and greet will offer a separate Fastpass.

The final date for Maelstrom will be Sunday, October 5th.  I booked our Fastpasses for the final hour this morning.  The new Frozen based attraction is scheduled to reopen in “Early 2016.”  So, don’t get too excited about running over to Norway next month to meet Anna and Elsa.  They will remain in the Magic Kingdom for quite some time.

Speaking of Anna and Elsa, we met them with a 15 minute wait last night at the Halloween Party and got in line around 11:15pm.   Anna was unusually excited and it was the best meet we’ve had with her.

Here’s the updates to the park hours for October 2015.  Be sure to check the Crowd Calendar for exact times that changed.

October 2  Animal Kingdom

October 3  Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Studios

October 4  Animal Kingdom & Magic Kingdom

October 5  Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Studios

October 6  Hollywood Studios & Magic Kingdom

October 7  Magic Kingdom

October 8  Magic Kingdom

October 10  Hollywood Studios

October 11  Hollywood Studios & Magic Kingdom

October 12  Magic Kingdom

October 12  Hollywood Studios

October 12  Hollywood Studios

October 14 Hollywood Studios & Magic Kingdom

October 15 Hollywood Studios & Magic Kingdom

October 17 Hollywood Studios

October 18 Hollywood Studios & Magic Kingdom

October 19 Hollywood Studios

October 20  Magic Kingdom

October 21  Animal Kingdom

October 22  Magic Kingdom

October 25  Hollywood Studios & Magic Kingdom

KennythePirate’s October Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar with Dining and Fastpass+ Booking Dates

October 2014 Disney World Crowd Calendar, Fastpass+ Booking and Dining Windows and Best Times to Visit Disney World

Updated 8/11/2014

October starts off as a warm month and begins to cool off as the month goes along.  It’s still in the high season for hurricanes, so be sure to check into travel insurance for your trip.   We tend to see moderate rainfalls, but showers can happen any afternoon and some Halloween Parties experience rainfall.  The crowds in October tend to be in the low to moderate range.  The Halloween Parties are quite popular and sell out often on weekends and around Halloween.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival with the Eat to the Beat Concert Series will bring in some crowds, but nothing like Summer season or the big Holidays.  The Columbus Day weekend is typically really busy, but can be managed with good TOURING PLANS and Fastpass+ usage.   Mid-week Halloween Parties are generally the best if you’re vacationing here.  It’s my opinion that everyone should experience the Halloween Party at least once.  The lower crowds can also lead to Attraction Refurbishments that are typically not announced until summer.  Be sure to check back during the summer months to see if anything has changed.

October is a great month as far as crowds are concerned and is among the best times to visit.  Regardless of the times you can still enjoy the parks by going to a green park, arriving at least 45 minutes before rope drop.

I recommend the strategy of arriving early and taking a mid-afternoon break.  Go for a swim with the kids and enjoy the pool, then take a nap of an hour or so before returning to a park for evening entertainment and rides.

What will the weather be like during your October trip?

Month

Avg. High

Avg. Low

Mean

Avg. Precip

Record High

Record Low

Oct

84°F

66°F

75°F

2.52 in.

95°F (1958)

38°F (2008)

October is in the median range in terms of temperature and rain.  It’s still hurricane season, so be prepared.  Late in the month may have some cooler nights, so bring a sweater.

Dress in light colors and wear comfortable shoes with socks that breathe.  Bring a small, handheld fan for each child.  Bring a poncho for each person and a stroller cover because there’s often afternoon thunderstorms in the summer.

Should I use Extra Magic Hours privilege?

Avoid the trap of visiting a park on its longest hours day.  More people will be there and the wait times can be 30% to 100% higher than other days.  The BEST day to visit the Magic Kingdom in terms of lines is a Halloween Party day.  Many attractions are walk-on.

The Magic Kingdom will only offer Wishes and Main Street Electrical Parade on select nights each week.  Those park days tend to be more busy than others.  If the evening spectaculars are important, chose the day with the lowest hours or park hop into the Magic Kingdom at night.

If you are planning to use Extra Magic Hours, use the morning ones, they are a great benefit, if you leave after lunch or parade time.  Avoid the parks that offer evening Extra Magic Hours because they have large crowds at night and many rides have long lines.  If you choose a Late Extra Magic Hour park, you should plan to sleep in the next day.

What attractions are actually open for Extra Magic Hours at Disney World?

What are the hours for Disney Quest and Cirque du Soleil?

• Disney Quest – 11:30am to 10pm Daily
• Cirque du Soleil – 6:00pm & 9:00pm Tuesday-Saturdays

What attractions will be CLOSED for refurbishment during your October trip?

• Disney World Attraction Refurbishment List

Do you need to know what activities will take place at your Disney World during your October trip?

Updated at the first of each month!

• Walt Disney World Resort Activities Guides

Special  Events at Walt Disney World

• Free Dining Plan – October 1-3 & 26-31 (Be sue to book your Table Service meals in advance!)
• Epcot Food and Wine Festival featuring Eat the to Beat Concert Series- October 1-31
• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party:  Magic Kingdom  –
  • October 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31

Do you need a great map that includes attractions, restaurants, Fastpass kiosks and characters?

• Animal Kingdom Map
• Epcot Map
• Hollywood Studios Map
• Magic Kingdom Map

Typical Best Days to Go

Magic Kingdom:	Tuesday and Friday
Epcot:	Monday and Thursday
Hollywood Studios:	Sunday, Tuesday and Friday
Animal Kingdom:	Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

To read the crowd aspect, follow the DATE at the top!

Lowest Crowds

Low Crowds / Best Park

Moderate Crowds

Busy Crowds

Insane Crowds / Worst Park

Click on an image for a full sized view.  BE SURE TO PRINT IN LANDSCAPE MODE!