Halloween season brings a familiar activity back to EPCOT this fall. Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit returns for 2026, giving guests a fun way to explore the park while the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is underway. Here is a look at the dates, the cost, and how the hunt works so you can plan it into your visit.
When the Hunt Takes Place
Begins
September 25, 2026
Ends
November 2, 2026
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit runs from September 25 through November 2, 2026, while supplies last. It lines up with the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, which runs August 27 through November 21, 2026.
Because the pursuit only covers part of the festival window, timing matters if you want to take part. If your trip falls within that late September to early November stretch, you will be able to join in during a regular park day.
How Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit Works
The activity is a scavenger hunt built around decorative pumpkins placed throughout the park, each one themed to a different Disney character. To start, you buy a game board with stickers for $11.99 plus tax.
From there, you search the park for the hidden pumpkins. When you find one, you add the matching sticker to your game board. You do not need to track down every pumpkin to finish, so the pace is up to you.
Where to Buy a Game Board
Game boards are sold at several merchandise spots around EPCOT. You can pick one up at Creations Shop, Disney Traders, the festival merchandise kiosks, Gateway Gifts, or World Traveler at International Gateway. Game boards will cost $11.99 plus tax in 2026.
Each guest can buy up to five boards. Keep in mind that each board earns just one keepsake, so plan your purchases based on how many prizes you want to collect.
Redeeming Your Board for a Keepsake
Once you have worked through your board, you can trade it in for a festival keepsake. Redemption is available at Creations Shop, Disney Traders, Gateway Gifts, or World Traveler.
Every board earns one keepsake, and redemption runs through November 2, 2026, or while supplies last. As with other seasonal offerings, the event is subject to change or cancellation, so it helps to confirm details when you arrive.
Where to Look Around the Park
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit is mainly contained within World Discovery, World Nature, and World Celebration, along with a section of World Showcase. That keeps most of the hunt in the front and central areas of the park.
This sets it apart from Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak, the festival’s other scavenger hunt, which centers on World Showcase and runs across the full festival. Pluto’s version has a shorter Halloween window, so the two hunts give you different ways to explore depending on the season.
A Bit of Background
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit first appeared at EPCOT in 2022 and has come back each year since. It has become a regular part of the park’s Halloween offerings during the Food and Wine Festival.
Its steady return means many guests already know the routine, and newcomers can pick it up quickly. The mix of a light challenge and a keepsake reward keeps it approachable for a range of ages.
Final Thoughts
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit gives EPCOT guests a simple, seasonal way to explore the park this fall, with boards at $11.99 plus tax and a keepsake waiting at the finish. With the hunt running September 25 through November 2, 2026, and the festival stretching into late November, you have a solid window to fit it in. Confirm the current details when you arrive, then set out to find those character pumpkins during your visit.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
