Every year, in late summer, the Magic Kingdom transforms into a autumn wonderland. There are Micky-shaped pumpkins, scarecrows, and vibes the rival pumpkin spice lattes. While there’s not much change in temperature until much, much latter in the year, the fall atmosphere really sets in. The primary reason for the shift in decor is due to one of Disney World’s biggest special ticket events – Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This is a super fun after-hours event in Magic Kingdom. It’s a great event for kids and adults alike, and has a lot to offer depending on your interests. While this post will give you a sense of everything the party has to offer, it’s impossible to do everything. As you read through the details, consider what matters most to you!
Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Basics
For select nights from August through October, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party runs from 7:00PM to midnight. All guests who have a party ticket though are permitted entry into the Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00PM. That’s 3 extra hours of park time before the party officially starts! Tickets for the party tend to go on sale much earlier in the year, and if you’re planning on going on some of the most popular dates (i.e. Halloween day and the days closest to it), you’ll want to buy early.
Headliner Entertainment
Unique to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are a handful of special, seasonal shows. First, there’s the Boo-To-You Halloween parade. This one’s super cute with the Headless Horseman riding through the parade route, Disney villains that you really don’t see at any other event, and the Haunted Mansion Gravediggers. For each party night, there are two scheduled parade times. If you don’t have super little ones to tend to, we recommend catching the later time since that usually has smaller crowds.
Next to the parade, there’s also Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular and the Hocus Pocus Villian Spelltacular. The Spectacular is an amazing fireworks and projections show hosted by Jack Skellington that, I’m not going to lie, is amazing. This is a spooky version of the standard nighttime fireworks show at Magic Kingdom. Full disclosure, we did not watch the Hocus Pocus show because we just didn’t feel the need because Jack was SO good. If you’re interested, the Hocus Pocus show features the Sanderson Sisters performing on the Cinderella Castle stage.
Throughout the park, there are also themed dance parties. On multiple occasions, we saw Max in his PowerLine costume gather guests together to dance it out!
Attraction Overlaps & Trick-or-Treating
A couple of the rides at Magic Kingdom has spooky overlays during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party. Space Mountain is in pitch darkness and features a Halloween-themed soundtrack. We actually rode it, we think, too early. While the ride was pitch black, there was zero sound. It was scary in its own way! There’s also special lighting and music at the Mad Tea Party and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor.
Alongside the rides, you can’t forget about the candy! When you check into the the party, you’re given your trick-or-treat bag. I’ll be honest, it’s really small for the amount of candy you could get. Throughout the park, there are around 15 candy stations where you can get giant scoops of candy added to your goodie bag. Trust, if getting loads of candy is one of your goals, you won’t be disappointed. Further, the party offers an allergy-friendly options. To do this, you would pick up a special teal bag when you check in for the party and visit the dedicated candy stations with allergy-friendly options.
Rare Characters & Spooky Magic Shots
Also unique to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are the characters and Magic Shot options. Winnie the Pooh and friends, for example, are dressed in their Halloween costumes. Stitch is dressed like Elvis. You can get photos with Jack & Sally Skellington as well! If photos with characters is one of your priorities, you’ll want to line up right away. We watched the line for Jack climb to 2+ hours while we were there. You can save a little bit of time here by lining up for your characters right at 4PM. We personally didn’t feel like it was worth it to spend SO much party time waiting in line for characters.
We did, on the other hand, love the Magic Shots. In comparison, we didn’t have to wait long for any of the photo options, and they’re all just super fun.
Event Snacks & Merchandise
During the party, you can also get a bunch of fun, spooky-themed food. As a family who loves Disney food, this was a must. With options like the buffalo chicken hand pie and the char siu chicken wings, we couldn’t resist. We loved every bite, but there’s always a couple of duds every year. Since these are also special offerings, be prepared to wait in line.
For merchandise, there’s a lot of fun not-so-scary Halloween party branded shirts, pins, and more! We splurged on a Stitch stuffie that’s dressed up like a spider. So cute!
Pro-Tips for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
| Strategy | Why It Works |
| Dress for Florida Weather | August/September temperatures are still hot and muggy; choose lightweight costume materials. |
| Check Costume Rules | Adults can wear costumes, but full masks and floor-length capes are prohibited. |
| Pick a Main Priority | You can’t do everything in 5 hours; choose 2–3 main priorities (Shows vs. Characters vs. Rides). |
| Wait on Candy Trails | Treat lines are much shorter towards the end of the night. |
Conclusion
Do we think it was worth the ticket price? For us, yes. We love Halloween, fall, and Disney. If you don’t love all three of those things, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party might not be worth the investment for you. I’ll be honest and say that I’m not sure we’d take our toddler any time soon. It’s long and late. For this particular investment, I think it’d be more worthwhile if it’s something we think they could remember. What do you think? What has your experience with the party been like, and what tips and trick might you offer to folks considering it? Let us know in the comments!
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