Disney has already announced the biggest 2027 dates: the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts runs January 15 to March 1, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival runs March 10 to May 31, and runDisney has race weekends in January, February and April. Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge opens July 1. Halloween and Christmas party dates, plus the fall EPCOT festivals, usually come out later in the year.
After 10 years and more than 1,000 vacations planned, one of the first questions I ask families is “What do you want to see while you’re there?” Disney’s events can make a trip extra special, but they also change crowds, hotel prices and even which rides you can get on easily. This calendar puts every 2027 Disney World event in one place so you can pick dates that fit your family.
2027 Disney World Events Timeline
Here’s every 2027 event in date order. Events marked “Dates not announced yet” happen every year, but Disney hasn’t released the 2027 dates. I’ll update this page as soon as they’re out.
January and February 2027
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
January 6–10 · Resort-wide · Race registration
runDisney kicks off the year with races from the 5K up to the full marathon, including the 48.6-mile Dopey Challenge. If you’re not running, this still matters: resort hotels fill up, buses are busy before sunrise, and a few roads close during races.
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
January 15–March 1 · EPCOT · Included
This is one of my favorite EPCOT festivals and it’s about a week longer than in 2026. Expect Food Studios with dishes that look like art, the free Disney on Broadway Concert Series at the America Gardens Theatre, paint-by-number murals, and Disney Lorcana scavenger hunts. The festival is included with EPCOT admission. You only pay for the food you buy.
Lunar New Year
Around February 6 · EPCOT · Included
EPCOT usually celebrates Lunar New Year at the China pavilion with special food, performances and characters. It overlaps with the Festival of the Arts, so you can enjoy both on the same day.
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend
February 25–March 1 · Resort-wide · Race registration
This race weekend lands right as the Festival of the Arts winds down. It’s another weekend when hotels book up early.
Winter also has some of the year’s best weather, but watch out for Martin Luther King Jr. weekend (January 18) and Presidents’ Day week (February 15). Both bring big crowds.
March, April and May 2027
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
March 10–May 31 · EPCOT · Included
The festival is a little shorter this year, starting a week later than in 2026 and ending on Memorial Day. You’ll find character topiaries all over EPCOT, Outdoor Kitchens with spring dishes, and the free Garden Rocks Concert Series with three performances each night.
Spring break and Easter
Mid-March–mid-April · All parks · Peak crowds
Spring break is one of the busiest stretches of the year, and Easter falls early in 2027, on March 28. That means the week before and the week after Easter will be very busy. Here’s my full spring break 2027 guide. If your kids’ spring break isn’t tied to Easter, late April and early May are a sweet spot: the festival is still going and crowds drop.
runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend
April 15–18 · Resort-wide · Race registration
A shorter race weekend with a 5K, 10K and 10-miler. It has less impact on crowds than January and February.
Carousel of Progress
Late spring (targeted) · Magic Kingdom · Reopening
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress closed in July 2026 for a big update, and Disney is targeting a reopening in late spring 2027.
June, July and August 2027
Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge opens
July 1 · Bay Lake · New resort
Disney’s newest Disney Vacation Club resort opens on Bay Lake, near Magic Kingdom. Rooms can already be booked. I expect early summer dates to go quickly.
Monstropolis and Tropical Americas
2027, month not announced · Hollywood Studios & Animal Kingdom · New lands
Disney lists Tropical Americas, the new Encanto and Indiana Jones land at Animal Kingdom, for 2027 but hasn’t given a month. The first part of Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios is expected around summer 2027, and the new door coaster is coming later. I’ll update this page when Disney announces exact dates.
Fourth of July
Sunday, July 4 · All parks · Busy holiday
Independence Day lands on a Sunday, so expect a busy holiday weekend and extra fireworks. Summer is also hot, so I always plan a midday pool break. My guide to Disney World in summer has more tips for beating the heat.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
August–October 31 (expected) · Magic Kingdom · Separate ticket
The Halloween party usually starts in early to mid-August and runs on select nights through October 31. It’s a separate ticket at Magic Kingdom. Here’s why it’s one of my favorite Disney events.
September, October and November 2027
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
Late August–November (expected) · EPCOT · Included
EPCOT’s longest festival usually runs from late August until just before Thanksgiving. Disney hasn’t released 2027 dates yet, but it’s been on a similar schedule for years.
Halloween season
September–October 31 · All parks · Busy party nights
Fall decorations go up across the resort, and Halloween party nights continue at Magic Kingdom. Party nights close the park early for regular guests, which makes non-party days busier.
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
Late October (expected) · Resort-wide · Race registration
Dates aren’t out yet, but this race weekend usually lands in late October or early November.
Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 25 · All parks · Peak crowds
Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest weeks of the year, and the holiday season starts right after Halloween.
Holidays at Disney World in 2027
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
November–December (expected) · Magic Kingdom · Separate ticket
The Christmas party runs on select nights at Magic Kingdom, with a holiday parade, fireworks and snow on Main Street, U.S.A. It’s a separate ticket.
Disney Jollywood Nights
November–December (expected) · Hollywood Studios · Separate ticket
Hollywood Studios’ holiday after-hours event with shows and characters. It’s also a separate ticket.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
Late November–December (expected) · EPCOT · Included
Holiday Kitchens around World Showcase and the Candlelight Processional at the America Gardens Theatre. Included with EPCOT admission.
Christmas and New Year’s Eve
December 25–31 · All parks · Peak crowds
Christmas falls on a Saturday in 2027. The week between Christmas and New Year’s is the busiest of the year, and ticket prices are highest then.
Disney After Hours in 2027
Disney After Hours is a separately ticketed event where a small crowd gets about three extra hours in the park after it closes, with short waits and included snacks and drinks. Disney has scheduled 47 nights for 2027:
- Magic Kingdom: 16 nights, about 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 18 nights, about 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
- EPCOT: 13 nights, about 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Prices vary by park and night, and tickets are on sale now. If you’re hoping to do a lot of big rides in one night, this can be a better deal than buying Lightning Lane passes. Here’s how Lightning Lane works in 2026 if you’re comparing.
How Disney Events Affect Crowds
Events change crowds in ways that aren’t always obvious. Festivals bring locals and Annual Passholders to EPCOT on weekends. Party nights close Magic Kingdom early for everyone else, so the days without a party are busier. And race weekends fill up resort hotels months in advance.
If you’re still deciding when to go, my guide to the best time to visit Disney World in 2027 breaks down crowds, weather and prices month by month.
Before you pick dates, check my free Disney Crowd Calendar. You can enter your park days and see the crowd outlook for each one.
How I Plan Around Events
Here’s what I tell my families:
- Book your hotel early for race weekends, spring break and holiday weeks. Rooms sell out first then. My guide to choosing the right Disney resort can help you narrow it down.
- Visit EPCOT on a weekday during festivals. Weekends get busy with locals.
- Do a party night at the end of your trip, after you’ve done your must-do rides during the day.
- Have a ride plan for busy weeks so you know what to book first and what to rope drop.
My free Ultimate Disney Ride Strategy Guide walks you through which rides to book first in all four parks and how to rope drop like a pro.
Ready to Plan Your 2027 Disney World Vacation?
Whether you want to see the Flower & Garden topiaries, run your first race or celebrate Christmas at Magic Kingdom, we’ll help you pick the right dates, book the best resort for your family and plan your park days.
Fill out the form below and we’ll reach out to start planning.
Disney World 2027 Events FAQ
What events are at Disney World in 2027?
Disney has announced the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts (Jan 15–Mar 1), the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival (Mar 10–May 31), three runDisney race weekends, and 47 nights of Disney After Hours. Halloween and Christmas party dates, Food & Wine and Festival of the Holidays dates usually come out later.
When is the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival in 2027?
March 10 through May 31, 2027. It starts about a week later than in 2026 because the Festival of the Arts runs longer.
When is the EPCOT Festival of the Arts in 2027?
January 15 through March 1, 2027, about a week longer than the 2026 festival.
Are EPCOT festivals included with park tickets?
Yes. The festivals are included with EPCOT admission. You pay for the food and drinks you buy at the booths, and dining packages for concerts are extra.
When are the 2027 Halloween and Christmas party dates released?
Disney hasn’t announced them yet. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party dates usually come out in the spring, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party dates usually follow soon after.
What opens at Disney World in 2027?
Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge opens July 1, 2027. Disney lists Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom for 2027, and the first part of Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios is expected in 2027. Carousel of Progress is targeted to reopen in late spring 2027.
Do runDisney weekends make the parks more crowded?
Somewhat. Marathon Weekend and Princess Half Marathon Weekend fill up resort hotels and early morning buses, and some roads close during races. Park crowds rise a bit, but the bigger impact is on hotel availability and prices.
