October 2019

Autumn has officially arrived, marking one of the best times of year to visit Orlando. The season’s cooler temperatures and smaller crowds provide an unbeatable opportunity to get out and enjoy the diverse range of experiences spotlighted here — including our theme park’s latest additions!

Learn more: Fall in Orlando

Before you arrive, stock up on discounted theme park and attraction tickets from Tickets.VisitOrlando.com. Better still, make our Official Visitor Center (OVC) on International Drive your first stop.

In addition to even more discounted tickets than we sell online, the OVC offers immersion into some of our top attractions, trusted trip-planning advice, answers to your questions, no-cost currency-exchange services, a complimentary custom tote bag, and free, dedicated parking. It’s also an Amazon Locker affiliate, providing a safe place to pick up packages while you’re in town. Plus, mention promo code “InStore 10” to save an additional 10% on our already discounted tickets. What a way to start your autumn adventures!

Try Something New at a Theme Park

It’s been an incredible year at Orlando’s theme parks, which all have new experiences for you this fall.

Learn more: New Reasons to Visit Orlando

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Opening Dec. 5, 2019, at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® at Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando (Photo: Joshua Sudock, © Lucasfilm & Disney)

Walt Disney World® Resort

The biggest update at Walt Disney World Resort is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, where you can live your own adventure in a galaxy far, far away. Explore this immersive new land’s corners and back alleys as you build your own droid and custom lightsaber, sample the curious concoctions of the local cantina, and gather your crew for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, among other experiences. On Dec. 5, 2019, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will debut its second, highly anticipated attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which has been described as one of the most ambitious, advanced and immersive experiences ever undertaken by Walt Disney Imagineering.

Learn more: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Other fresh features at Disney’s Hollywood Studios include Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy and the Wonderful World of Animation nighttime show — but Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot® and Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park also have new experiences for you.

At Epcot, be one of the first people to witness Epcot Forever, a nighttime spectacular celebrating the park’s past and future with dazzling fireworks, stunning laser effects and choreographed kites set to beloved Disney music. This winter, the Space 220 restaurant will expand Epcot’s Mission: SPACE Pavilion with the celestial panorama of a space station 220 miles above Earth.

You can enjoy several celebrations related to The Lion King animated classic and its live-action reimagining at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, including Festival of the Lion King. And at Magic Kingdom Park, Happily Ever After combines the magic of Disney storytelling, beloved Disney characters, fireworks and music for an unforgettable nighttime spectacular.

Walt Disney World Resort also has a new transportation option: Disney Skyliner, a high-flying gondola system that connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and upcoming Disney’s Riviera Resort.

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™, New at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ — Hogsmeade™ at Universal’s Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort

At Universal Orlando Resort, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™ has arrived at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ — Hogsmeade™, part of Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Climb aboard this epic “story coaster” to soar through a forest filled with 1,200 real trees for a highly immersive adventure packed with state-of-the-art technology and a gripping storyline.

Learn more: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™

Speaking of Harry Potter™, don’t miss Dark Arts at Hogwarts™ Castle, an exciting display of magic, music, lights and special effects at Hogsmeade™. Featuring Dementors™, Death Eaters™ and other unspeakable creatures, the nighttime spectacle is available on select evenings through Nov. 15.

Sesame Street Land at SeaWorld Orlando
Sesame Street Land™ at SeaWorld® Orlando

SeaWorld® Orlando

Laughter and learning live at Sesame Street, and now, the famous neighborhood has come to life at SeaWorld Orlando’s Sesame Street Land™! Covering 6 acres, Sesame Street is exactly as you imagined, complete with an award-winning parade, rides and a fully interactive neighborhood for you to explore and enjoy, including Hooper’s Store and the famous stoop at 123. Walk down Sesame Street this fall at SeaWorld!

Learn more: Sesame Street Land

THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD at LEGOLAND Florida Resort
THE LEGO® MOVIE™ WORLD at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort

LEGOLAND® Florida Resort

Hit the streets of Bricksburg at THE LEGO® MOVIE™ WORLD, new to LEGOLAND Florida Resort. Based on the animated blockbuster THE LEGO MOVIE and its sequel, the land has three innovative attractions, themed dining and shopping, a spaceship-themed playground structure, character meet-and-greets, and other ways to play.

Learn more: THE LEGO® MOVIE™ WORLD

Feast at a Foodie Festival

SeaWorld Orlando's Craft Beer Festival
Enjoy Great Brews and Food at SeaWorld® Orlando’s Craft Beer Festival

Come hungry when you visit Orlando this autumn, because we’re serving up a cornucopia of fall food festivals! In addition to Walt Disney World Resort's Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (through Nov. 23) and Wonderfall Food & Beverage Guided Tour at Disney Springs®, you can look forward to SeaWorld Orlando’s Craft Beer Festival (weekends through Oct. 27), Food & Wine Weekends at Waldorf Astoria® Orlando (weekends through Nov. 24), Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic (Nov. 8-9), and FusionFest (Nov. 30 – Dec. 1), the latter of which celebrates 160 different heritages with food, music, fashion, dance, short films and more.

Learn more: Orlando's Fall Foodie Festivals

You can also dig into special fall menus at top restaurants throughout the destination.

Celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas

Orlando: Halloween Vacation Capital®

No destination does Halloween and Christmas better than Orlando — Halloween Vacation Capital® — and we have multiple opportunities to celebrate both this fall.

For Halloween, options include specially ticketed events like Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World Resort, as well as SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular and Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida Resort, both of which are included with park admission. (On Saturday, Oct. 12, LEGOLAND Florida is also hosting a Halloween-themed 5K, the specially ticketed Brick Dash, which serves as the perfect complement to Brick or Treat and helps raise money for Merlin’s Magic Wand.) Halloween events at our theme parks all have new reasons to visit, and there are plenty of other spooky celebrations for kids and adults alike.

Learn more: Halloween in Orlando

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando (Photo: Kent Phillips, © Disney)

In early November, our theme parks, attractions, hotels and other venues will start rolling out their Christmas holiday events, including Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World Resort, Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration, and Holidays at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. Expect to discover exciting new features at all of them, with 2019 marking the first year that holiday decorations will be present in all four Walt Disney World theme parks. Also in November, you can enjoy gourmet Thanksgiving feasts at our acclaimed restaurants. Stay tuned to Visit Orlando’s blog for details!

Enjoy Outdoor Adventures

Kayaking at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
Kayaking at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

With fall’s cooler temperatures, there’s no excuse for not taking advantage of Orlando’s great outdoors — especially given how many options we have in that regard. We offer kayaking, off-roading, zip-lining, airboat and boat tours, natural springs, nature and hiking trails, amenity-loaded public parks, birding, wakeboarding, and much more. Better yet, these experiences can all be found within an hour of our theme parks, and often closer!

Learn more: Orlando Eco-Adventures

Experience Performing Arts

Orlando Ballet at IMMERSE in Downtown Orlando (Photo: Shannon Smith)

Fall is arts season in Orlando, making it a great time to take in live theater, concerts, ballet and more at our performance halls, with downtown’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts leading the way. Other venues with robust fall offerings include Orlando Shakespeare Theater (aka Orlando Shakes) and Orlando Repertory Theatre (aka Orlando Rep) in Loch Haven Cultural Park near downtown, The Winter Park Playhouse, and the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden.

Learn more: Fall Arts in Orlando

You can also catch live music at places such as Hard Rock Live® at Universal CityWalk, House of Blues at Disney Springs, Tin Roof at ICON Park™, B.B. King’s Blues Club at Pointe Orlando, and the Amway Center in downtown Orlando, among others. For the best in electronic dance music, check out Electric Daisy Carnival, aka EDC (Nov. 8-10).

FusionFest in Orlando

Don’t forget our fall cultural events, either, starting with IMMERSE (Oct. 18-19) — a two-day multimedia spectacular in the heart of downtown Orlando — or the aforementioned FusionFest. Other cultural galas include Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival and Asian Cultural Expo (Oct. 19) and Festival Calle Orange (Oct. 27).

The Orlando area also hosts some high-profile outdoor art shows during the fall, including the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival (Oct. 12-13) and Winter Springs ARToberFEST (Oct. 19-20).

Get Your Holiday Shopping Done

The Mall at Millenia in Orlando

As the temperatures drop, shopping and fashion start heating up at retail meccas throughout the destination — making fall ideal for holiday shopping! What’s more, you can save big by hitting up our famous discount malls, which include Orlando International Premium Outlets®, Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets® and Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores.

Learn more: Fall Shopping in Orlando

You can also shop high-end luxury at The Mall at Millenia, exclusive retailers and family fun at The Florida Mall®, and one-of-a-kind finds at stores in Winter Park and other distinctive neighborhoods. These and other shopping hotspots, including Disney Springs, Universal CityWalk, Pointe Orlando and ICON Park, are all within a 15-mile radius of our theme parks.

Learn more: Orlando Insider Shopping Tips

Dive Into Warm Water

Lazy River at Hilton Orlando
Lazy River at Hilton Orlando

For most of the country, fall brings chilly temps that are better for sweaters than swimsuits — but in Orlando, you can enjoy relaxing warm water for most of the season! Even when temperatures drop, heated water helps keep our resort pools and water parks open for business.

Learn more: Orlando Water Parks

Orlando’s top water parks include Universal’s Volcano Bay, Disney’s Blizzard Beach® and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon®, Aquatica® Orlando, and LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s onsite water park. (However, please note that Disney's Blizzard Beach will be closed for refurbishment for most of the season.) You’ll also find water parks at numerous Orlando resorts, including The Grove Resort Orlando, Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites, Margaritaville Resort Orlando, Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld and Reunion Resort.

If your place of lodging doesn’t have a water park, chances are it has a pool, many of which have enticing extras like lazy rivers, waterslides, gorgeous scenery, kid-friendly fun and other features, including heated water.

Learn more: Cool Pools in Orlando

Tour a Brewery

Beer Flight at Crooked Can Brewing Co. in Winter Garden

Orlando visitors and locals love beer so much that, over the past decade, dozens of acclaimed microbreweries have popped up to slake our thirst. As a result, you can build a day trip — or even an entire vacation — around bespoke breweries in Orlando this fall.

Learn more: Orlando Breweries

Want to experience multiple breweries without worrying about driving? Look into Hop On! Central Florida Brew Tours, which partners with the Central Florida Ale Trail for four-hour excursions to multiple Orlando-area breweries. Bottoms up!

Learn more: Hop On! Brewery Tours

Hit the Links

Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando

Ready to master your golf game? Come to Orlando this autumn and challenge yourself on our gorgeous greens, many of which were designed by iconic players and renowned course architects. Some of the best include Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Shingle Creek Golf Club, Walt Disney World Golf, Reunion Resort & Golf Club, Grand Cypress Golf Club and Orange Lake Resort, to name a few.

Learn more: Orlando Golf

Written by Nate Shelton, consumer content writer at Visit Orlando. He's an experienced journalist and native Floridian who enjoys the entertainment, cultural and culinary aspects of Orlando and Orange County.

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