Walt Disney World has canceled the 2020 edition of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and has tweaked the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, the company announced Thursday evening.
Not-So-Scary is an after-hours, extra-ticket event at Magic Kingdom theme park, and it typically begins in mid-August and runs through early November. It has included in-park trick-or-treating, Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade and themed fireworks. Its cancellation is the latest theme-park development tied to the coronavirus pandemic, which also forced the shutdown of all Walt Disney World theme parks and hotels.
“We determined that many of its hallmarks — stage shows, parades and fireworks — are unable to take place in this new, unprecedented environment,” a post on the official Disney Parks Blog said in announcing the changes.
Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom are scheduled to reopen — with restrictions — on July 11. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot are set to reopen July 15.
When Epcot returns, it will feature “A Taste of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival,” the blog announced Thursday. Epcot’s popular food and wine event typically begins in September.
The event will be “offering over 20 signature global marketplaces like Hawaii, Hops & Barley, and Islands of the Caribbean, spaced out around the park,” the blog post says. It will continue into the fall, the blog said without being specific about an end date.
However, the event’s Eat to the Beat concert series, featuring dozens of artists at the America Garden Theatre, will not be produced in 2020, Disney says.
“There will be plenty of music to enjoy at America Gardens Theatre with local Epcot entertainment such as Mariachi Cobre, the JAMMitors and more,” the blog post said. Their performances will be sprinkled throughout the day, Disney aid.
In addition, Disney H2O Glow Nights, a special event at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, will not take place for the rest of 2020, Disney said.
Decisions were not announced about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom or the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, including Candlelight Processional.