Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party is a special ticketed event that takes place at the Magic Kingdom between August and October. As with any Disney World event, there are tips and tricks you should use to maximize your experience.
We attended a couple parties over the last two years, but please keep in mind that things may change over time.
DO: Line up for the special characters early
Though the party officially started at 7pm, we found out you could line up for the most popular characters (Jack & Sally, Seven Dwarfs) roughly an hour early, beginning around 6pm. If one of these special Halloween meet-and-greets is a must-do on your list, line up early.
We specifically lined up for the Seven Dwarfs at 6pm. As time wore on, the line grew and grew, snaking around Storybook Circus.
DON’T: Spend a ton of time trick-or-treating
One of the special activities during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is the ability to trick-or-treat around the Magic Kingdom. That’s a pretty cool thing to do, but you shouldn’t make it a priority.
We received a decent-sized bag for trick-or-treating (and some candy) as soon as we entered the park. We didn’t make it a point to trick-or-treat, but we did make sure to hit a few of the more special locations such as the candy stop inside the Enchanted Tiki Room and the location in the closed Stitch’s Great Escape. The remainder of the night we only stopped for candy when we saw there was absolutely no line.
Without even trying, we had a ton of candy. So much that we ended up leaving a lot behind as we didn’t want to travel with it back on the plane.
DO: Watch the ‘Boo to You’ Parade
The Halloween ‘Boo to You’ Parade is arguably the best parade at Disney World. It has fun and unique floats, including a special march of the Headless Horseman to start things off. The parade is super popular, so you’ll want to grab a spot early. Or, if you don’t mind a late night, plan on catching the second viewing where the crowds will be noticeably lighter.
For us, we watched the parade twice on the same night. It’s that good.
DON’T: Skip the fireworks
Disney rolls out some fantastic fireworks for their parties, including a very fun show during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. While the show we saw in 2017 was comparable to ‘Wishes’ in that the castle was barely used for projections, it’s possible that will change in the future.
For now, the real star of the show is the 180-degree fireworks that fill the sky during the Happy HalloWishes Fireworks show. If you’ve never seen Disney World utilize their additional fireworks launch locations, you won’t want to miss it.
If you want the fireworks spoiled, watch the video below. While awesome, it fails to capture the moments when the fireworks surround you.
DO: Wear a costume
Disney World is at its best when everyone joins in the fun. Why not make the most of the ability to wear a fun and creative costume at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? That’s especially true for adults who can dress for the occasion (with some stipulations – no masks, etc) and show off their favorite Disney character.
DON’T: Waste time having a sit-down meal
Given the limited hours of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, it doesn’t make much sense to dedicate a large chunk of time for a sit-down meal. Some meals may take an hour or two, which is a huge amount of time for an event that is scheduled to last between 7pm and 12pm.
This advice may not be for every group, but we can’t recommend having a lengthy meal when there’s already so little time and so much to do.
DO: Visit the Haunted Mansion
Some sections of the Magic Kingdom transform for Halloween. One of the best is one of the most appropriate – the Haunted Mansion. The ride itself is the same, but it feels even more fun during a Halloween celebration. It’s the outside fun that’s especially worth checking out.
Madame Rinotta & Butler Broome provide some lively interactive entertainment while guests wait in line for the Haunted Mansion.
DON’T: Go without a plan
Disney World is best when you have some sort of plan in mind during your visit. That’s not to say you have to schedule everything, but you should have a rough idea of what you want to do to make sure you experience everything.
For us, we knew we wanted to see the parade and the fireworks. We had other days scheduled at Magic Kingdom, so rides weren’t a top priority. Instead, we wanted to make sure we did all of the special things (character meet-and-greets, photos, parade and etc) that are only available during the party. Others may wish to only do rides due to shortened waits, but we elected to see characters and take in the special entertainment instead.
DO: Have fun
It goes without saying, but you have to pay a good amount to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Don’t stress. Enjoy it!
