Disney resorts really go all-out on Halloween! If you’re looking for a memorable, free way to celebrate Halloween during your Disney trip without spending hundreds of dollars on tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, hanging out at the resorts is a great alternative. If you’re staying at a resort on Disney property, then of course you’re welcome to participate in the holiday events scheduled for your resort. You can also plan to visit any other resort that is hosting Halloween activities that your family would like the best - just note that you very likely will not be permitted to park at a resort that you’re not currently registered at unless you have an Advance Dining Reservation set. So, either arrive via Disney transportation (bus, boat, monorail, Skyliner, or Minnie Van) or make a dinner reservation for Halloween night so you can easily park/Uber at your preferred resort.

I stopped by quite a few resorts in 2021 to join in the festivities, so here’s a quick overview of some of the best resort Halloween activities. Every resort will have, at the very least, candy distribution or a Trick-or-Treat Trail. Almost every resort has a costume contest or parade, as well. I’d estimate that about 50% of guests at the resort events were in costume, so no one will feel out of place no matter what they’re wearing. There were also plenty of adults getting candy for themselves along the treat trails, so feel free to join in even if you don’t have any kids in your group. In case you’re trying to decide on the best resort to visit for Halloween fun, I’ve ranked the resort activity line-ups in order of my least to most favorite.

#6 - Pop Century Resort

At Pop Century, Halloween festivities started on October 30 with a surprise afternoon visit from Donald, Pluto, and Goofy wearing Halloween costumes! Then on October 31, I got a chance to enjoy the Trick-or-Treat Trail. There were seven different candy stations scattered throughout the resort, each hosted by different departments (Custodial, Merchandise, Front Desk, etc.). The trail began by Surfer Goofy, where guests were given a free trick-or-treat bag and a map of the trail. It was very crowded and busy, but the party was exciting and every kid there was clearly having a great time. I ranked Pop Century in the lowest spot only because they didn’t really add many extra activities for Halloween - they only added the Trick-or-Treat Trail and the Costume Cavalcade, but the rest of the activities (campfire, Movie Under the Stars, craft) are just the same activities they do every night.

#5 - Contemporary Resort

I stopped by the Legend of Sleepy Holloween Party at Contemporary around 7:00 PM and they had so much going on! There was a Trick-or-Treat Trail that had mostly indoor stations (fun, but kind of a short trail compared to other resorts). The party was held outside near the marina/pool area and they had a very cute photo op area set up at the classic silver “Mickey Ears” statue and a “Make Your Own Slime” station. The whole courtyard had high-energy music playing and lots of party lighting. The main attraction was the Costume Parade and the Dance Party, both of which attracted huge crowds. If you like to be the center of attention, the Costume Parade will be a good fit for you - they had a Cast Member with a microphone hosting the event and every participant did a big entrance where they were announced and walked through the crowd to a round of cheers. I ranked Contemporary as #5 based on my personal preference - while it was fun, the parade and dance party were both incredibly loud and packed with people, and it had a wild, almost rave-like vibe. It’s definitely a fun choice if that’s the kind of party you enjoy, but of all the resort celebrations, this one absolutely felt the most overwhelming/overstimulating.

#4 - Polynesian Village

Polynesian Village hosted a very laid-back Halloween party with lots of fun activities, like Pick a Pumpkin Patch, Spooky Island Costume Contest, a Trick-or-Treat Trail, and their usual Aloha! After Dark Party with a Halloween twist. A cool bonus here is that you can watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach during the party. Kids and adults alike were all having a great time at this event, and while it was loud, it wasn’t too crowded and everyone had plenty of space on the Great Ceremonial House Lawn. The lawn had a great Halloween ambiance with lots of glow necklaces, light projectors, inflatable ghosts, a fog machine, and unique photo ops. If a dance party is part of your ideal Halloween night, you can’t go wrong with visiting Polynesian Village!

#3 - Grand Floridian

Grand Floridian hosted such a fantastic Halloween party! They made the Courtyard Lawn super creepy with red lighting and tons of spooky fog rolling over the entire lawn. They had a bunch of really special Halloween photo ops, lots of games like Tip Toss, What’s In Your Suitcase, and Bellhop Relays, a Pumpkin Patch, and they showed a Movie Under the Stars. The Trick-or-Treat Trail was really long here, with ten different stations, so everyone ended up with a huge amount of candy. They didn’t have a dance party or costume contest at Grand Floridian, so this is a great option if you’re not planning on dressing up and are looking for a quieter, more calm event. Grand Floridian really nailed the Halloween theme better than any other resort, and it’s worth stopping by just to spend some time in that haunted courtyard.

#2 - Wilderness Lodge

Wilderness Lodge puts on one of the best Halloween events! There were two full days of Halloween activities, and the Trick-or-Treat Trail was the most inventive one. There were seven stations themed to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and they were well spread out all over the resort so I never encountered any crowded areas or long lines. This was the most entertaining Trick-or-Treat Trail, with a game to participate in at each station that made the whole experience more interactive. The entire outdoor area of Wilderness Lodge was just full of laughter as kids played each game and won their candy. There were some great photo ops available, and the lakeside view plus the breezy evening weather made this the most pleasant and relaxing Halloween event.

#1 - Fort Wilderness

If you’re looking to be surrounded by Halloween 24/7, Fort Wilderness is the clear winner! They have Halloween-themed activities happening all month long, but the activities really ramp up starting on October 28 and continue all the way through the 31st. There’s no shortage of things to do, and you could easily have the best Halloween ever by simply staying at Fort Wilderness - no park tickets required! I was able to attend the Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival on October 29, and there were so many things going on - crafts, face painting, scavenger hunts, geocaching, a pumpkin patch, slime making, pumpkin bowling, and more. It was very busy, there was a really long ticketing line at the Bike Barn because tickets were required to participate in some of these activities. But it was so much fun and everyone around was having a blast.

Note that Fort Wilderness is incredibly popular for Halloween, so much so that access to the resort is restricted to Fort Wilderness guests only on October 30 and 31. Parking at Fort Wilderness will not be permitted unless you’re registered guests or have an Advance Dining Reservation for Trail’s End or Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Cast Members at the parks will scan guests’ MagicBands before letting them board a bus/boat to the resort to ensure that they’re registered Fort Wilderness guests. Both of those days are filled with unforgettable activities like a golf cart parade, a site decorating contest, a pumpkin decorating contest, a pet parade, Camp-Or-Treat, and the famous Wicked Wilderness Beach Bash. This is one of the most popular holidays at Fort Wilderness all year, so cabins, campsites, and golf carts will sell out months in advance - so you’ll need to plan far ahead if you want to join in the fun. If you love Halloween and love the campy camaraderie of Fort Wilderness, Halloween here can’t be missed!