Disney’s Halloween Pet Parade

Gary Cruise banner

Every year our dogs Blue and Jake look forward to the costumed pet parade held at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground just before Halloween. It’s the high point on their social calendar!

Back in 2012 our boys Zak and Blue took third place honours with their costumes, Zak as the Headless Horseman and Blue as a canine aviator.

2012 Third Place Winners

The last few years the event has been held on October 30th, in the afternoon, and it always takes place in the off-leash dog park beside the 300 loop of campsites.

Dogs from across the continent . . . and the occasional very wary cat . . . put on their finest Halloween costumes and parade past the panel of judges from the nearby Best Friends Kennel. The nice folks at Best Friends provide all the prizes for the contest winners!

There is always a wide diversity of costumes . . .

Some are purchased.

Eeyore

Some are home made.

Home made costume

Some are formal.

Dog in a tuxedo

Some are just way cool!

Cool shades

Many are Disney themed.

Snow White


Dalmatians


Toy Story


There are cute little pets.

A Maltese named Preston


A cute pair of dogs

There are giant beasts who outweigh their humans.

Great Danes

Some costumes are whimsical.

Tooth Fairy


Cowboy dog


A Packers fan

Some costumes are lavish.

Wicked Witch of the Weird

Here’s one of those wary cats I mentioned earlier! Is that Cheshire Cat masquerading as White Rabbit?

Wary cat

Once everyone has paraded past the judging area . . .

Contestants on parade

. . . everyone waits, filled with anticipation . . .

Awaiting the results

. . . while the judges tally the scores!

The judges

Then the results are announced!

The winners in 2010 . . . Jack, Sally and Zero.

Jack, Sally and Zero

In 2015 it was a Star Wars family. The two dogs were dressed as R2D2 and C3PO.

Star Wars family

Our puppies have been shut out since that third place finish in 2012, but they’re determined to get back into the limelight. They will parade in their brand new costumes in just under six months and they’re already getting excited!

If you’re looking for a change of pace at Walt Disney World you might want to drop by for the annual Halloween pet parade. Call the Bike Barn at Fort Wilderness (407-824-2742) to confirm the date and time.

If you can’t wait until October, click on the white arrow in the image below to enjoy a ten-minute video of the 2015 event provided by our good friends at MouseSteps.com.

Note: Parking is very limited at Fort Wilderness. If you plan to come see the pet parade you should plan on using Disney transportation. Come by Disney bus, or catch a boat from the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary Resort or Wilderness Lodge.

Blue, Jake, Carol and I will be there to say hello!

Trending Now

Gary hails from Canada and he’s a lifelong Disney fan. In the 1950s he watched the original Mickey Mouse Club and The Wonderful World of Disney on a snowy old black-and-white television. Gary was mesmerized by the Disneyland that Walt introduced to the world during those Sunday night shows! In 1977 he took his young family to Walt Disney World for the first time and suddenly that Disney magic he experienced as a child was rekindled. Since then Gary and his wife Carol have enjoyed about 70 trips to Walt Disney World, 11 trips to Disneyland and 11 Disney Cruises.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

3 Replies to “Disney’s Halloween Pet Parade”

  1. I love your pictures! We are the Star Wars family in the photo! The competition really is getting tough, lots of great ideas!

  2. Hi Gary!
    One word… Adorable!
    I look forward to any blog post later this year where we get to see Jake & Blue in their finery. I’ll keep my fingers crossed they get their deserved first place!

    All the best
    Kelly

  3. Hi Gary,

    They all look so cute! Can’t wait until October to follow along on your trip report and see what Blue and Jake will be dressed as.

    Too bad it seems your Spring trip was cancelled. I look forward to your trip reports. You make it fun to read and it is nice that you and Carol share your adventures to WDW. Some day I’ll get back there. Maybe i”ll rent a trailer and stay at Fort Wilderness.

    See you in October! Figuratively that is.

    Doug