October is shaping up to be an eventful month at EPCOT, with four notable changes arriving that could affect how guests plan their days. Whether you're heading there for the Food & Wine Festival, a runDisney weekend, or just a regular park day, a few of these updates are worth building into your itinerary before you go.
On October 2, four additional festival booths — Coastal Eats, Earth Eats, The Alps, and India — join the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival lineup and will remain open through the end of the event. That same date also marks the launch of a new fireworks dining package at Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya in the Japan Pavilion. The experience pairs a multi-course meal with a reserved view of Luminous The Symphony of Us, priced at $120 per adult before tax and gratuity (about $149.50 all in), and $60 per child (around $74.70 total). Reservations are already open.
Guests visiting on October 23 or October 25 should take note of a meaningful schedule shift. Both dates fall during the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend — the 5K runs on the 23rd, the Half Marathon on the 25th — and EPCOT will open at 10 a.m. instead of the usual 9 a.m. on each of those days. Early Entry will also push back an hour, starting at 9:30 a.m. rather than 8:30 a.m. Guests with early dining reservations or park-opening strategies will want to plan accordingly.
On the other end of the day, eligible guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and qualifying hotels can take advantage of Extended Evening Hours at EPCOT on three Monday evenings: October 5, October 12, and October 19. Each session runs from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and includes access to a solid lineup of attractions — among them Frozen Ever After, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, Soarin' Around the World, Spaceship Earth, and Test Track, with generally lighter crowds than during the regular operating day.
Planning Your Trip
Undercover Tourist is an authorized seller of Walt Disney World tickets, often at a discount off gate price.
If you're still working out the details of a Walt Disney World trip this fall, comparing Walt Disney World ticket options ahead of time can help you make the most of a busy EPCOT month. This information was originally reported by Inside the Magic.
