Boo To You!

A Guide to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

I recently returned from a Walt Disney World vacation where I attended Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! This event is a captivating blend of spooky fun and Disney enchantment that offers a unique way to celebrate Halloween. The party takes place on select nights in Magic Kingdom from now through November 1. If you plan on attending this spook-tacular event, here are some tips to make the most of your experience!

Arrive Early

To attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you will need a ticket specifically for this event- you cannot use a regular park ticket. The party is from 7 pm-12 am, but you can enter Magic Kingdom at 4:00! I suggest arriving at 4:00 to maximize your time in the park. You can use this time before the party starts to ride attractions or get a bite to eat. Then at 7:00 as the sun sets, the party begins and Magic Kingdom transforms into a spook-tacular Halloween wonderland.

Another tip would be to spend the earlier part of the day, before the party, resting up for the late night. I wouldn’t waste a park ticket (or my energy) on visiting another park before the party. Instead, schedule a rest day! Enjoy the resort pool, do some shopping at Disney Springs, or have a character meal at a resort – there are plenty of non-park activities to choose from. Then you’ll be well-rested and have plenty of energy for the night’s festivities.

Prioritize Activities

There is so much to see and do at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! From character meet and greets to trick-or-treating around the park, there is something everyone can enjoy! With so much to do, there just isn’t enough time to experience it all, so I suggest making a plan ahead of time. Prioritize your must-do activities to make sure you have time for them.

Attractions

If you are interested in riding attractions during the event, you will probably find low wait times! Genie+ is not available, but there is a Virtual Queue available for TRON Lightcycle / Run. A few of the rides even have a Halloween twist! Try riding Space Mountain in the dark or see what spooky surprise you might find while riding Mad Tea Party.

Trick-or-Treat

What’s Halloween without candy? Upon entering the Magic Kingdom you will receive a bag to collect candy in as you trick-or-treat around the park! Snickers, M&Ms, Skittles…yum! There are even allergy-friendly centers if someone in your party has a food allergy and would like alternative treats. I found the trick-or-treating lines to be shorter towards the end of the night.

Costumes

This is a Halloween party, so why not dress in a costume? Seeing the park filled with an array of creative costumes adds an extra layer of excitement to the evening. Costumes are optional, but they are encouraged! If you do choose to wear a costume, make sure you follow the costume guidelines and dress comfortably for the heat and park activities. When we attended the party, we chose not to wear costumes in the August heat and instead wore Halloween shirts.

Entertainment

During the party, you can experience some event-exclusive entertainment, such as Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular (a wickedly fun stage show), and Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular (a dazzling fireworks show). I recommend all of these shows, so check your map for times and make sure you don’t miss them! The parade runs at two different times- I suggest watching the later parade, which will most likely be less crowded. Make sure you find a spot for the parade about 10 minutes early to see The Headless Horseman ride through Magic Kingdom!

Character Meet and Greets

Meet some of your favorite characters dressed in their Halloween costumes! Some of the character lines can get very long, so you may want to only choose one or two characters to meet. Jack Skellington and Sally are among the most popular characters to meet, so expect longer lines for them.

Snacks

You’ll find so many spooky treats throughout the park! Try some Zombie Fingers or Witches Cold Brew. I suggest eating a meal before the party starts so you don’t waste valuable party time having a sit-down meal. Save your party time for other activities and try the event-exclusive treats and beverages!

Photo Ops

Strike a spooky pose! You can find PhotoPass photographers all around Magic Kingdom, ready to take your photo with Halloween props or added Magic Shots. There are also large Halloween interactive photo frames you can step into for a photo!

Merchandise

Want a special keepsake to remember your night? You can find event-exclusive merchandise available in the shops!

There’s no better way to make your Halloween extra special than by attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World! If you want to attend this event, don’t wait! There are already event dates that are sold out, so you will definitely want to purchase your ticket in advance. Let’s make this Halloween season one to remember for years to come!

Kathleen Poolake

Marmora, NJ