Happy Halloween! Although it’s only August and the temperature might be 100 degrees in your hometown, last week marked the start of the Halloween season at Walt Disney World Resort with the return of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park. The annual after-dark special event transforms the Most Magical Place on Earth into a spooktacular spectacular. On today’s blog we’re giving you the low-down on the annual event, what’s new for 2019 and our experience at the party last year.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a special ticketed event which runs for 36 days on select nights until November 1st. The event allows attendees to trick-or-treat throughout Magic Kingdom Park, enjoy exclusive entertainment including shows and fireworks, and take advantage of special Disney character meet-and-greets and low waits for select attractions. Tickets start at $74+tax for children ages 3-9 and $79+tax for adults and children 10 years of age and older. Pricing increases as party dates approach Halloween itself. New this year, Disney is offering a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Pass for attendance most event nights. At just $299 plus tax, the pass is a great deal for local residents who can attend the party on several occasions.
Although Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party officially kicks off at 7 pm, party-goers can enter Magic Kingdom at 4 pm - giving you three additional hours of fun. You’ll receive a trick-or-treat bag and event bracelet which signals that you’ve purchased party tickets. Disney cast members will escort anyone out of the park without a bracelet approximately one hour before the start of the party. If you’re already at Magic Kingdom before the start of the party, you can get your admission bracelet and trick-or-treat bag at one of the many check-in spots inside the park.
One of the questions we receive frequently from clients revolves around when to attend the party during a Walt Disney World Resort trip. First, there’s never a bad time! We do recommend avoiding a weekend party date if possible as many Orlando locals tend to attend on Friday nights, making the party more crowded. Attending the party at the start of your trip is a great option if you arrive at your Disney resort in the morning or very early afternoon, or on a non-park day when you’ve slept in late and relaxed by the pool, allowing you to enjoy the party until the close at midnight. Hopefully, you won’t turn into a pumpkin!
What makes Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party so special? Live entertainment, special touches, attraction overlays and exclusive photo opps with characters not regularly seen at the parks.
First, let’s start with the classic Boo To You Parade which is presented twice per night. You’ll know when the parade is about to start with the appearance of the Headless Horsemen. Shortly thereafter, Mickey, Minnie and friends kick off the fun in new-for-2019 Halloween costumes proceeded by Hitchhiking Ghosts from the Haunted Mansion joined by the spectral Bride, and characters from The Incredibles and Toy Story. The parade ends with a crew of frightening floats featuring Disney Villains.
The popular Hocus Pocus Villains Spelltacular runs three to four times per night with the Sanderson Sisters from the cult classic film returning to the mortal world for a night and throwing a wicked Halloween party. No worries if you haven’t seen the movie. In true Disney fashion, the show steals your attention for 20 minutes with memorable song and dance numbers, stunning projections and special effects, and amazing costumes.
Replacing HalloWishes, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show debuts this year. “Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” serves as the host of this all-new nighttime extravaganza, with state-of-the-art projection effects, lasers, lighting and dazzling fireworks filling the sky above Magic Kingdom® Park. Jack has come to tell a not-so-scary story about how anything can happen on Halloween night. Jack’s ghost dog, Zero, then flies off carrying everyone along on a trick-or-treating adventure, where four friends – Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy – find themselves drawn into a mysterious haunted house. Their journey takes them from one room of the house to another, encountering dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts and a whole series of troublemaking Disney villains.” The nighttime show happens only once per night, so be sure to check your party map to confirm the schedule.
One of the highlights for many attendees is the opportunity to interact with characters not normally found at Disney parks. The most popular is the aforementioned Jack Skellington and his bride Sally. You’ll also find long lines to meet Moana, the Seven Dwarfs and Stitch in his Elvis attire. We recommend queueing up for the character lines before the party actually starts or during the parades, performances/shows and fireworks. Prioritize which characters you want to meet because there isn’t enough time during the party to meet them all. Not to mention you’ll want to catch the parade, shows and experience the attractions.
Speaking of attractions, most Magic Kingdom rides are open during the party with a few amping up their Halloween spirit. For example, Space Mountain takes some new turns for the party - you’ll be riding in complete darkness to a hard-rock soundtrack. You’ll encounter non-animatronic pirates as you seek treasure on the Pirates of the Caribbean, and a live character from the Haunted Mansion is strategically placed on the attraction grounds. Don’t skip the fun photo stations! New this year, Mad Tea Party features special lighting and music, spiraling you further into madness!
In addition to the shows, parades and attraction overlays, there are special little touches throughout that create an even more magical environment. Last year during our party visit, we danced to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on the way to Adventureland. We also noticed that the fall décor which is cheerful during the daylight hours takes on a new ambiance as the night progresses. And let’s not forget the opportunity to Trick-or-Treat in the Magic Kingdom! Halloween candy never tasted so devishly delightful!
We think that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is one of the best special events at Walt Disney World Resort and absolutely worth the price of admission! Do you agree? We’d love to hear about a favorite character you’ve met, costume you’ve donned or memory from attending the party?