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We attended Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party for the first time during my 40th Birthday Disney weekend! This special event has been on our bucket list for years, and we finally did it! I want to share our experience and lessons learned during our first visit. This is an incredible event, and of course, we are hooked and will definitely be back!
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What is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is a special after-hours event held at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World during the Halloween season. It’s a family-friendly celebration featuring Halloween-themed entertainment, trick-or-treating, and unique character meet-and-greets, all in the magical setting of Disney.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:
Key Features of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party:
- Trick-or-Treating: Guests of all ages can collect candy at various stations throughout the park. Disney provides bags, but you can bring larger ones if you plan to gather a lot of candy.
- Halloween-Themed Entertainment:
- Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade: This parade features Disney characters in their Halloween costumes, as well as appearances by the Haunted Mansion’s hitchhiking ghosts, the Headless Horseman, and more.
- Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular: A stage show hosted by the Sanderson sisters from the movie Hocus Pocus, featuring Disney villains and special effects.
- Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular: A fireworks show that combines projections, music, and pyrotechnics to create a spooky but fun atmosphere.
- Character Meet-and-Greets: MNSSHP is a rare opportunity to meet Disney characters dressed in Halloween costumes, including hard-to-find characters like Jack Skellington, Sally, and many others.
- Costume Fun: Guests are encouraged to dress up in Halloween costumes, making the event feel like a giant costume party. There are some costume guidelines to ensure safety and appropriateness.
- Attractions: Many popular Magic Kingdom rides remain open during the party, and some may have special Halloween overlays or effects.
- Exclusive Merchandise and Food: MNSSHP offers special Halloween-themed merchandise and treats only available during the event.
When and Where:
- Location: Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida.
- Dates: The event typically runs on select nights from August through October, with more dates closer to Halloween.
Tickets:
MNSSHP is a separately ticketed event, meaning you need a special event ticket. It’s not included with regular park admission. Ticket prices vary depending on the date, with Halloween night usually being the most expensive.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is designed to be a fun and spooky experience for all ages, making it a popular choice for families and Disney fans who want to celebrate Halloween in a magical way! 🎃
Entering the Party
We attended MNSSHP on August 9th, 2024, the party’s opening night this year. Like any event, especially the opening night, there are always kinks to work out, and unfortunately, the first kink started the moment we arrived.
On party days, Magic Kingdom closes at 6 PM, but if you have a ticket to the event, you can enter the park as early as 4 PM. The official party runs from 7 PM to Midnight. We arrived just before 6 PM because it had been raining, and by the time we arrived, it was just a drizzle, which helped with the heat quite a bit.
Party Wristbands
Upon entering the park for a party night, you should be given a special MNSSHP wristband at the entrance. We scanned into the park with our magic bands and spoke directly with a cast member. We asked if we needed anything else for the party, and they said no. Sadly, this was incorrect and led to a 45-minute debacle where we were told to return to the front to get the wristband. Then, once we were at the front, we were told to go to guest relations. It was confusing and frustrating, but again, opening night kinks with employees who were just as confused as guests.
There were many of us without wristbands, feeling like ping pong balls until finally, I noticed a woman directing traffic who looked like a manager and told her about our issue. I explained what had happened, and she told us to follow her and that she would fix this for us. She was terrific and took us to a backstage area where a guest relations group of cast members stood by with wristbands.
Not only did we quickly get our party wristbands, but we also received a free attraction credit to use in any park during the weekend. It pays to stay kind and patient, smile, and ask questions. We immediately got on the My Disney Experience app and submitted a cast member compliment for her. It turned a sour situation into magical pixie dust and set the tone for a great night.
Lessons Learned
The entire event was fantastic, but we made a Rookie mistake. We didn’t thoroughly discuss and plan our night and thought we could wing it. Once we were there, it was pretty overwhelming, and in order to utilize every second, we should have discussed priorities. We still had a great time, but looking back, we know we would change some things.
Rides During the Party
The first thing we did was go straight to Space Mountain. This ride usually takes about an hour’s wait time, and tonight, it was only 15 minutes, which is unheard of. It was advised that for Halloween, there was a bewitching twist on some attractions, and Space Mountain was one of them. Sadly, instead of creating a cool Halloween overlay with spooky lighting and Disney Halloween music, they just run the ride in total darkness with an eerie soundtrack of screams. The ride is always fun and even more fun when you haven’t waited an hour, but overall, it wasn’t an impressive theme, and we would skip doing this again in the future to save time for other things.
We can’t go to Magic Kingdom for Halloween and NOT ride The Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean, so we headed there next. Both of these rides had very short wait times but were just in their original themes, with no unique overlays for the holiday. In general, we would skip all of the rides next time. Since we are pass holders who often go to the parks, we would focus on the unique holiday-specific things and skip the rides to save time.
Trick-or-Treating
We made a couple of trick-or-treat stops to use the adorable MNSSHP candy bags they give you when you enter the party. But in the future, we will stop at more than we did. I’ve been on a weight loss journey, so I wasn’t that interested in the candy, but my husband loves candy, and I wish we had utilized the candy lines more than we did. It’s actually amazing how much candy they scoop into your bag at each stop.
Boo to You Parade
Just before 8:15 PM, we found a spot in Frontierland for the Boo to You Parade, the first one of the night. I had always wanted to see this parade filled with unique and rare characters like the headless horsemen, the hitchhiking ghosts, Constance, the gravediggers, and all the featured villains. Hands down, this is one of Disney’s most fabulous parades. We were so impressed, and you can bet the music will stay in your head for weeks!
After the very crowded parade, we watched the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show from afar after the humidity spiked. We want to watch this again at a much better vantage point. I want to scope out a spot to stand before the parade in front of the castle. But it was just another lesson learned.
Party Photo Pass
One of the things we utilized the most was the photo pass opportunities with our annual pass memory maker. We stopped at every photographer we saw and ended up with many of the Halloween magic shots we wanted, but there were still so many more we could have and wanted to do. Next time!
Party Food
By this time, we were finally hungry. We had eaten a late lunch in Epcot to combat our hunger at the party so we didn’t waste time, but ultimately, we wished that we had shown up hungry and utilized all of the incredible party-themed food. We stopped at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café and tried the Halloween Pot Roast Sandwich and Terrifyin’ Twice-Spiced Chicken Sandwich, and both were excellent. The next time we attend this party, we will eat our way around Magic Kingdom and try more spooky treats, too.
Unfortunately, our poorly timed hunger also caused us to miss part of the 10 PM Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks. We did see the end of it near the Mad Tea Party Teacups. In the future, I would also scope out a better spot near the castle for this show. There are so many lessons learned!
Boo to You Parade on Main Street
We loved the Boo to You Parade, so we decided to catch the second showing of it at 11:15 PM, but this time, watch it on Main Street. While we loved it in Frontierland, I loved it even more on Main Street. It’s the same parade but was even more magical with the castle in the background. In Frontierland, you get a pre-parade show that fills the time as the crowds are waiting and features the Country Bears. But on Main Street, you get a preshow with Powerline Max from The Goofy Movie, and it was so fun. Both shows included pulling guests into the parade, and lots of fun dancing and music, but Powerline Max was the best!
We watched all of our favorite characters in the parade again. Mark took photos, and I took lots of videos to share on our social channels. We decided about halfway through the parade to finally go to a character meet and greet that had a massive wait all night, but it was less than 10 minutes during the parade.
Jack and Sally Meet and Greet
So we headed to the Town Square to meet Jack and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas. This has always been on my list, but they are rare characters I have only seen during RunDisney races. Sadly, I am a little too slow to stop for characters during races, so today was the day!
I love it when the cast members commit entirely to their character roles, and Jack and Sally are amazing. They instantly noticed the birthday buttons that I had customized with my name and “40th Birthday, and Jack said how impressive it was that I had had 40 Halloweens. They took their time interacting with guests and never broke character or made guests feel rushed, even though it was almost midnight. We took lots of photos and videos and were given cards with their autographs; it was such a cute touch. As we left, Sally said she hoped I had a “horrible birthday” and wished us unwell. It was hilarious.
Another thing we would do differently at the party is to meet and greet with more characters. We had the option for many good ones but opted to take photos with shorter lines and less standing around. Oh well, at least now we have a great game plan for our next visit!
To recap, here are some Tips and tricks.
Ultimate Guide to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) at Walt Disney World is one of the year’s most anticipated events.
Ticket Purchase & Early Planning
- Buy Tickets Early: MNSSHP is a popular event, and tickets often sell out, especially closer to Halloween. Purchase them as soon as possible.
- Choose the Right Date: If you have flexibility, consider attending on a weekday, as these nights tend to be less crowded compared to weekends.
- Arrive Early: While the party officially starts at 7 PM, ticket holders can usually enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4 PM. This gives you extra time to enjoy the park before the festivities begin.
Costume Planning
- Disney’s Costume Guidelines: Make sure your costume adheres to Disney’s rules—no masks for guests over 14, and nothing too scary or inappropriate. Be creative, but also practical for Florida weather.
- Comfort is Key: It’s a long night of walking and standing, so wear comfortable shoes, and consider lightweight costumes. Bring ponchos or umbrellas in case of rain.
Trick-or-Treating
- Get Your Candy Early & Late: Start trick-or-treating early to avoid the initial rush. Later in the night, lines tend to shorten, and cast members often give out more candy.
- Bring a Larger Bag: The small bags provided may not be enough for the serious candy hauler. Bring your own reusable bag to maximize your loot!
Entertainment & Attractions
- Don’t Miss the Shows: Key entertainment includes the “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular,” “Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade,” and the “Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular” fireworks. Check the times guide and plan to get a good spot early.
- Ride Popular Attractions: Many of the most popular rides have shorter wait times during the party. Prioritize attractions with Halloween overlays if that is something that interests you.
- Character Meet-and-Greets: MNSSHP is one of the few times you can meet rare characters, like Jack Skellington, Sally, and many others. Lines can be long, so plan accordingly.
Food & Snacks
- Specialty Treats: During the party, there are exclusive Halloween-themed snacks and drinks available. Check out the special offerings ahead of time and make a list of what you want to try.
- Mobile Order: To save time, use the My Disney Experience app for mobile food orders. This can help you avoid long lines at popular snack spots.
Maximize Your Time
- Plan Your Night: MNSSHP offers so much to do that it’s impossible to see it all in one night. Prioritize your must-dos and allow for some flexibility in your schedule.
- Take Advantage of PhotoPass: Special Magic Shots and photo opportunities with spooky effects are available during the party. If you have Memory Maker, make the most of these unique photo ops.
Avoid Common Mistakes
- Don’t Overcommit: It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, but pace yourself. The party lasts until midnight, so take breaks and hydrate throughout the night.
- Check the Weather: Florida weather can be unpredictable. Be prepared for both rain and humidity, and keep your plans flexible.
After the Party
- Beat the Crowds: The party officially ends at midnight, but many guests start leaving after the last parade. If you want to avoid the rush, consider staying a bit later to soak in the atmosphere.
Final Thoughts
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a 10/10 experience for Disney fans of all ages. With a bit of planning and these tips, you’ll be ready to enjoy all the spooky fun without missing a beat. Remember to embrace the Halloween spirit, and most importantly, be patient and kind, and have fun!
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It’s been a long time since I’m been to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. I took my godson when he was 8. I had the mindset that childless adults couldn’t go trick or treating on their own there. You and Mark have inspired me to go without a kid.