Halloween is back at Magic Kingdom this year! This post is all about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party so you can plan your visit in the best way.
Since 2019, there has been no Halloween party at Disney. The Magic Kingdom is once again having its nighttime celebration on select nights between August 12 and October 31.
In this article, I share a complete guide so that you know what it is about and if you are interested, plan your visit during this season (even if it is in 2023).
For a summary of this article, you can see my reel on Instagram.
All You Need to Know About Halloween at Disney
What is it?
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is Walt Disney’s World Halloween party that takes place between August and October. During 2020 and 2021 it was not available, but this year it is back and with the usual entertainment and magic.
This is an after-hour event that takes place at Magic Kingdom on specific nights. It starts at 7 PM and ends at midnight. If you have a ticket for the party on that day, you can enter MK before the start time, as early as 4 PM.
This Halloween party at Disney is super fun, and as its name says, it’s not scary. Guests can trick or treat, meet characters that aren’t usually there on a regular day, enjoy themed snacks exclusively available during the event, dress up, and so much more!
Dates
- August: 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30.
- September: 2, 5, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30.
- October: 2, 4, 6 , 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31.
Entertainment
Costumes
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a party that allows you to put on a costume. Do not miss that chance! Many people put a lot of effort and it’s fun to feel like a child again and go to the place where dreams come true dressed as your favorite character.
There are some guidelines for the dress-up. I recommend going through them before deciding on your character or costume. In general, horror character costumes, offensive masks, or weapons are not allowed.
The last edition of this party was in 2019, and my family made a huge deal out of it. Check it out:
Of course, Zurg is the father of Mini Buzz Lightyear, because if something is true to this family, is that we take Halloween very seriously.
Trick or Treat
During the event, you can visit Trick or Treat locations throughout the Magic Kingdom. They usually have a sign that lights up and you see it from the distance. These locations are also marked on the map and itinerary of the event.
The treats are unlimited. You can go as many times as you want to each of the spots and ask for your candy. Upon entering the event, they will provide you with a treat bag. I recommend bringing an extra (and larger) bag, and a backpack to return to the hotel full of goodies. You will find these treats very useful during the post-Disney sadness back home.
The first time I went to this party I was pregnant, and I couldn’t ride many of the attractions. So I enjoyed the shows and the trick-or-treating.
As the end of the party draws near, the treats will increase their size. You can’t imagine the happiness on my face every time they gave me a handful of chocolates larger than normal. My husband states that he had never seen me smile so hard.
Shows
As you access the party, don’t forget to grab a map and itinerary of the event. There you will find the schedule of the shows and characters. It also details the exclusive snacks and where to find them.
- Mickey’s Boo To You Halloween Parade. My favorite parade. You’re going to sing the song for months (or years if you’re a bit like me). It has incredible floats and many characters that you don’t see during the day.
- Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. The Sanderson sisters arrive at the Magic Kingdom castle 3 times during this party to summon the most ruthless villains in a musical you can’t miss. I recommend attending the show at the closing time of the party, there are much fewer people.
- Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular. A fireworks show and projections hosted by Jack Skellington. It takes place once in each event.
- Disney Junior Jam and Monstruous Scream-O-Ween Dance Ball. These are dance parties in which the characters are the center of attention along with the little ones (and why not the adults). I think everyone should spend at least 30 minutes at this party to grab the energy of these very happy tiny people.
Characters
Be sure to check the list of characters available for meet and greet.
Some that I saw during previous editions: Jack & Sally, the Seven Dwarfs all together, Stitch dressed as Elvis, Jafar, Belle with Gastón, Lotso, Buzz Lightyear, Tarzan and Jane.
Rides
Magic Kingdom attractions are open during Halloween at Disney and some are themed differently than they are during the day. Space Mountain and Mad Tea Cups are two of the attractions that have a Halloween overlay.
As the event has a limited capacity of people, the lines are usually much smaller. If you have any pending attractions you can do it with a shorter wait.
Ticket Prices
Ticket prices for this party vary according to the date. In 2022 they are between $109 and $199 if you buy from an official agent like me. The closer to Halloween you plan to go, the more expensive admission will be.
If you are interested in buying tickets for 2022 or setting up your Disney trip for 2023 and paying for it in installments, you can contact me by filling out the quote form.
Is it worth the expense? In my family we love Halloween, and in my opinion, it totally is. Of course, it depends on the preferences of each group. I take it as an extra day at the Magic Kingdom, and buy one less ticket in my package if I travel with this in mind.
Tips
- Choose a light costume, in Orlando, the weather is very humid and if you have a heavy costume you can have a hard time. I recommend reviewing the costume guide on the official website. Some basic rules: no masks unless you are a minor, nothing offensive, scary, or with weapons. People are not allowed to take photos with you.
- If you can choose the date of travel, choose as far away from Halloween as possible. In August and September, the festival has smaller crowds.
- Choose activities that are not on a regular day, do not ride every roller coaster or attraction. Time is limited and you may not be able to tackle everything. Decide which show you don’t want to miss, if you’re interested in trick-or-treating or not, if you have to take a picture with a specific character, etc.
- Don’t use a park ticket in the morning if you have a Halloween party that night. This would just create something of a waste of money, as the Magic Kingdom closes early. With your ticket to the party, you can access the park before the start of the party (I recommend going around 5:00 p.m.). Schedule a stroll through Disney Springs, or a morning in the pool with a nap included. Plus, you’ll have more energy at the end of the night!
- If you’re interested in collecting treats, they really are limitless and no one will look at you funny for going through the same trick-or-treating spot repeatedly. I went into the same line about 10 times in a row (entered, exited, entered again) when my son decided it was time for a nap and my husband took the opportunity to go to Pirates of the Caribbean. Pro tip: Near the end of the night, the cast members give you a lot more goodies than they did when you started the party.
