It’s hard to believe but Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is back in the Magic Kingdom beginning Friday, August 9th! So, I thought I would do a little guide to the event as well as a few tips from my own experiences.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
For those who don’t know, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a separately ticketed event held on select nights at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Unlike at other parks, this party is pretty much the only way to experience Halloween at Walt Disney World. There’s fall decor up all day in the park, but the special entertainment and characters are party exclusives. It’s similar to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party but for Halloween and with candy instead of cookies!
Trick or Treat
This party is the only way you can trick or treat in the Magic Kingdom! In fact, the young and young at heart are given a bag upon entry to get your fill of candy! It’s so fun to walk down Main Street with a bag of candy while being dressed up. Additionally, this is the only time adults can wear costumes at Disney. Many adults go all out with their costumes. Some people don’t. It’s up to you!
Not So Spooky Spectacular
This is the party exclusive fireworks show! Personally, I consider this is a must-see experience of the party. Usually, you can even book a fireworks dessert party to beat the crowds. I booked a dessert party at the Tomorrowland Terrace back in 2019 on a solo trip. I really enjoyed having a place to sit and desserts to nibble on. However, I will caution people that the view from the Terrace isn’t good for viewing the projections or any extra stage characters. 😉
Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade
This party exclusive parade is my other can’t miss event at the party. My husband and I really like seeing the gravediggers since they drag their shovels across the ground and emit sparks. It’s a really cute parade that everyone should see at least once. They haven’t made many changes to it over the years, but they do sometimes rotate in different characters. Plus, the music is so darn catchy! The good news is that this parade happens twice a night. So, you have two chances to catch it.
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular!
This is a party exclusive castle stage show. I’ve seen it a few times and it’s cute. However, the show hasn’t changed since it was first introduced. So, I tend to prioritize getting candy, seeing special characters, or riding rides. If it’s your first time attending or you are a huge Hocus Pocus fan, then you should make time to see it. It’s usually shown several times during the party and I recommend looking over the times guide if this is important to you.
See Special Characters
Around the park, you will be able to see special party exclusive characters as well as more regular characters in their Halloween costumes! I loved meeting Winnie the Pooh and Friends in their costumes back in 2019. I also met Donald and Daisy in their costumes in 2016. I enjoyed meeting Elvis Stitch in 2019 since I was wearing a Lilo dress. There’s even a very popular Jack and Sally meet and greet during this party! However, the wait for them is typically pretty long.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Tips
- Purchase tickets in advance – The parties tend to sell out weeks in advance. If you wait until the day of the party, you will probably be out of luck. So, buy tickets as soon as you know when you are going.
- Eat early – You can enter the park as early as 4 PM even though the party doesn’t begin until 7. Typically, I use this time to eat dinner. Although, in the future I may delay heading over to the crowded park and grab dinner at a monorail resort prior to the party.
- Stake out a spot for the parade early – Unfortunately, there’s not a seated option for the parade unlike at the Oogie Boogie Bash Dessert Party. So, you will have to stake out a spot for the parade in advance. I recommend at least half an hour in advance, if not an hour. Lots of people have advised that the second parade is less crowded, but I’m not sure that’s true anymore. Either way, you will need to stake out a spot in advance.
- Enjoy some treats – There’s plenty of free candy to be had. However, they also sell party exclusive foods too. So, be sure to save some room for those!
- Have a rough plan – Consult the park’s schedule and party map ahead of time. Have a list of must-do’s and tackle those first. Then, do the nice to-do’s.
- Trick or treat later in the night – Maybe get some early in the party to snack on while waiting for the parade, but save the rest for later in the night. This way, you won’t get tired carrying around a bag full of candy.
- Be prepared for the heat – It’s probably going to be hot. So, drink lots of water and wear a light costume. I say skip the heavy face makeup and wigs/hats.
It’s really not so scary…
Have you ever attended this party? What are your must-do’s or tips?
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