Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year to visit the Walt Disney World Resort. It’s a season

of festive decorations, more bearable temperatures, lower crowds…and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! This year’s first Halloween Party takes place in just two weeks, on August 25th. So today, we’ve got some tricks and tips (or should we say “treats”?) to help you make the most of the event!

First, a little background. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a hard-ticket event at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Theme Park. This means that the park closes at 7pm on select autumn evenings for the party, and only guests who hold separate party tickets will be admitted after official closing time. Tickets start at $74 for adults and $69 for children ages 3-9 and can be purchased online through your My Disney Experience account (click here) or by calling 407-939-7679. Party guests enjoy a special fireworks show, a Halloween-themed parade, rare character meet-and-greets, a full schedule of entertainment, access to almost all of the park’s attractions, and (of course) trick-or-treating!

Once you purchase your party tickets, there are a few things you should know to help you enjoy the party to its fullest. Here are some of our favorite tips:

Tip #1: Arrive Early

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party officially begins at 7pm. However, in past years, party guests have been able to enter the park as early as 4pm, and there’s no indication that this year will be any different. Arriving early allows you to beat the rush, get settled in, and grab a bite to eat before the party starts. And there’s one more huge benefit for the early birds: FastPasses. While FastPasses are not distributed during the actual party, you may be able to make some for the pre-party hours of 4pm-7pm. Whether or not you can do this depends on many factors (which account you’ve linked your party tickets to, whether or not you visited a different park earlier in the day, etc). Feel free to e-mail us to discuss your specific situation.

Tip #2: Stay Late

Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade is one of the highlights of the party, and it runs twice nightly. The first parade can be VERY crowded, so scoring a good spot requires an early stakeout. Instead, consider hanging around for the second parade if you can. It will be much easier to find a spot AND you’ll enjoy minimal waits for attractions while everyone else is occupied with the earlier parade.

Tip #3: Take It Easy During The Day

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is five hours of jam-packed fun from 7pm-midnight. To really get the most out of it, you’ll want to try to stay until the end. The best way to do this, in our experience, is to take it easy that day. One of our favorite ways to spend a party day is to begin with a character breakfast, then wear the kids out at the pool until early afternoon. After that, it’s back to our resort for a power nap before the party.

On a related note, we never plan a “rope drop” morning for the next day either.

Tip #4: Have a Plan

Parties require less planning than regular days at the Disney parks, but it’s still a good idea to have a general idea of what you want to experience during the event. This is especially true if

you hope to meet some of the rare characters, as lines tend to grow quickly for them. Pick a few characters you know you want to meet, and get in line early for the popular ones. It’s also a good idea to make a list of 6-8 attractions that you definitely want to hit, along with a “B List” in case you get through all of your priority rides. Don’t forget to work in any entertainment that you hope to see, including stage shows and dance parties. There are several good websites online that contain information on showtimes and character experiences…but when you book with us, we can help you come up with a personalized party plan so that you don’t have to do any of the work.

Tip #5: Come Prepared

Cast members will hand out plastic bags to all party guests. But depending on how much trick-or-treating you plan to do, the bags might not hold all of your loot. And even if you only fill one bag, it can be cumbersome to carry it around. Consider bringing a comfortable backpack to store your treats. And don’t forget the autograph books! You can buy these in any Disney Store or in the theme parks, but I just LOVE the personalized ones on Etsy. These come with convenient matching carrying cases and pens, and they are super unique. Click here for one of my favorite Disney Etsy shops.

There’s one more important way to prepare for the party: KNOW THE RULES. Guests are encouraged to dress up and enjoy the Halloween spirit, but there are a few guidelines that Disney strictly enforces. Click here for more info.

And there you have it! Our complete rundown of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Are you heading to the party this year? Feel free to post your party pics on our Facebook page (click here)! You just might be featured in Magic Minus the Mayhem's 2017 photo album! Looking for help planning your next Disney World trip? Call or e-mail us today for a free, no-obligation quote!

Meredith McCutcheon

Owner and Disney Vacation Specialist

Ph: 313-600-1585

E-mail: disneymadeeasy@yahoo.com