Disney World Finally Brings Back EPCOT Halloween Tradition, But Time Is Already Running Out

Halloween at EPCOT isn’t always as obvious as it is at some other Disney World parks. You won’t find the same level of spooky decorations around every corner, but one popular seasonal tradition has officially returned for 2026.

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit is back at EPCOT, giving guests another activity to enjoy while walking around the park this fall. However, anyone familiar with the scavenger hunt from previous years may notice that Disney waited a little longer to bring it back this time.

The 2026 version officially began on September 25 and will continue through November 2, creating a relatively short window for guests to take part.

For $11.99 plus tax, guests can pick up a game board, search EPCOT for Disney character-inspired pumpkins, match them with stickers, and eventually walk away with a Halloween-themed keepsake.

And there’s some good news for anyone worried about spending valuable park time tracking down every last pumpkin: Disney doesn’t require you to finish the hunt before collecting the prize.

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit Is Back at EPCOT

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit is essentially a giant scavenger hunt spread throughout EPCOT.

Guests begin by purchasing a pumpkin-shaped game board and sticker sheet for $11.99 plus tax. Disney is selling the maps at several locations around EPCOT, including Creations Shop, Port of Entry, and World Traveler.

From there, the search begins.

The front of the board features an EPCOT map showing the different areas where guests can find the pumpkins. Rather than using ordinary pumpkins, Disney has themed each one around a recognizable character.

That turns a normal walk around EPCOT into a game, especially for families with younger children who may enjoy having something to search for between attractions, meals, and festival stops.

Once guests locate a pumpkin, they find the corresponding character sticker and place it in the appropriate spot on their map.

It’s a simple concept, but that simplicity is part of what makes these seasonal scavenger hunts work so well at EPCOT. Guests don’t have to plan their entire day around the experience. Instead, they can work on it while doing everything else they already planned.

You can spot a pumpkin, add a sticker, and then continue toward your next attraction or dining reservation.

Plenty of Disney Characters Join the Hunt

Disney didn’t limit the 2026 scavenger hunt to Pluto.

The pumpkins scattered around EPCOT feature a surprisingly large collection of Disney characters. Guests can search for designs inspired by Pluto, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, WALL-E and EVE, Groot, Figment, Dory, Olaf, Chip ‘n Dale, and Goofy.

That lineup also gives the hunt a little variety.

Some characters naturally fit the pumpkin theme, while others are more unexpected. Figment is an especially fitting addition for an EPCOT scavenger hunt, while characters such as Groot and WALL-E bring different Disney franchises into the activity.

The game board itself also leans heavily into Halloween.

Mummy Pluto appears on both sides of the board chasing after a Mickey Mouse jack-o’-lantern, helping turn what could have been a basic park map into something guests may want to keep after their trip.

Of course, the map isn’t the only souvenir involved.

You Don’t Actually Have to Find Every Pumpkin

Here’s the part that may come as a relief to families trying to squeeze a lot into one EPCOT day.

You don’t have to finish Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit to receive the prize.

Disney allows guests to redeem their game board whether they successfully track down every character pumpkin or not. The keepsake can be picked up at Creations Shop, Port of Entry, or World Traveler.

That makes the experience considerably easier for guests who don’t want the scavenger hunt taking over their entire visit.

EPCOT can already require plenty of walking. Add attractions, food stops, character meetings, shopping, and everything happening around World Showcase, and some families simply may not have enough time to hunt for every pumpkin.

Instead of forcing guests to choose between finishing the activity and moving on with their day, Disney gives them the option to collect the prize anyway.

Of course, anyone who loves scavenger hunts can still try to complete the entire board before redeeming it.

Just remember that both the maps and prizes are available while supplies last, so waiting until the very end of the event could come with some risk.

The 2026 Prize Is Something Guests Can Actually Use

Disney has also changed up the reward for this year’s Pumpkin Pursuit.

Guests who redeem their game board receive a mini Mickey Mouse candy bag.

The round bag features Mickey’s face against a black background, with Mickey ears extending from the sides. On the back, Disney added a Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit graphic using yellow and orange lettering.

It’s a fitting prize considering the Halloween timing.

Rather than handing guests another small decorative item, Disney has tied the keepsake directly into the season. The miniature candy bag could also become part of a Halloween display or simply serve as a souvenir from the EPCOT visit.

As with the game boards, though, Disney says the prize is only available while supplies last.

That means guests visiting closer to November 2 shouldn’t necessarily assume the candy bag will still be waiting for them.

This Year’s Pumpkin Pursuit Has a Shorter Window

The biggest thing guests should keep in mind this year is the timing.

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit began on September 25 and is scheduled to continue through November 2.

That gives guests a little more than five weeks to participate.

The later arrival means some guests who visited Disney World earlier in the Halloween season didn’t get the opportunity to participate this time around. By the time the scavenger hunt began, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party had already been running at Magic Kingdom for weeks.

Still, the September 25 start puts Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit right in the heart of the fall season at EPCOT.

It also gives families another optional activity that doesn’t involve waiting in a traditional attraction line.

That can be particularly useful during a busy EPCOT day. Instead of thinking of the scavenger hunt as something that needs its own block of time, guests can make it part of their normal trip around the park.

Heading toward World Showcase? Keep an eye out for pumpkins.

Walking to your next attraction? See if another character is hiding nearby.

Stopping for food? Check the surrounding area before moving on.

There’s no requirement to complete everything, and there’s no pressure to finish before claiming the reward.

A Small Addition That Can Change an EPCOT Day

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit isn’t a new ride, nighttime spectacular, or major Halloween event. It’s a much smaller addition to EPCOT’s fall lineup.

But that doesn’t mean it can’t become one of those little activities families remember from their vacation.

For $11.99 plus tax, guests get the game board, the experience of searching EPCOT for the character pumpkins, and the opportunity to redeem the board for this year’s mini Mickey Mouse candy bag.

Families can make the hunt as competitive or relaxed as they want. Some guests may race around EPCOT trying to find every pumpkin. Others may stumble across only a handful while going about their normal day.

Either approach works.

That flexibility is especially helpful at a park where guests already have plenty competing for their attention.

The only real limitation is time. With Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit scheduled to end on November 2 and supplies not guaranteed to last through the entire run, anyone hoping to participate shouldn’t wait too long.

For guests visiting EPCOT over the next several weeks, Pluto and his collection of Disney-inspired pumpkins are officially waiting to be found.