If you and your family are looking to travel to Disney World in the Fall, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a must-do. From exclusive park access to trick-or-treating in costume to Halloween twists on classic Disney rides, the Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom is something that should definitely be added to your Disney Bucket List.
I've been doing Disney for 26 years, and I'm shocked that I just attended the Halloween Party for the first time. I don't think it's talked about or advertised as much as it should, but it is definitely worth the money. This is a unique opportunity to experience Magic Kingdom in a whole new way with short wait times, rare character meet-and-greets, and more.
Pre-Party Prep:
Purchase your ticket ahead of time, because they might sell out on the night you're planning to go.
Link your Halloween Party ticket to your MagicBand.
Look over these Disney costume guidelines when planning your costume for the Party.
Arrival:
Get your Halloween Party wristband upon entering the park.
Pick up the Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party map and a trick-or-treat bag for your candy.
What to bring:
Fully-charged phone
MagicBand (your ticket should be linked to your MagicBand, and you can scan your MagicBand to get all of your Halloween Party pictures if you have the Memory Maker)
Water (you will be very thirsty after all of the candy and all of the walking/running you do)
Snacks (so that you don't have to sit down and eat during the Party)
Your own trick-or-treat bag (the ones given to you are very small and can tear more easily)
Attractions:
Specially themed attractions exclusive to the Halloween Party: Haunted Mansion, Mad Tea Party, Monster's, Inc. Laugh Floor, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Space Mountain
Attractions not open during the Halloween Party: Carousel of Progress, Country Bear Jamboree, Jungle Cruise, and Mickey's PhilharMagic
Trick-Or-Treat Spots:
There are 14 trick-or-treat locations this year, and they are all marked by Mickey pumpkins on the Halloween Party map.
All of the trick-or-treat locations look the same and are identified by giant, glowing, inflated signs that say "Treats!"
There is nothing special or different between all of the trick-or-treat locations. There are a few Cast Members at each location handing out candy, and that is the extent of the treat spots.
They give you huge handfuls of candy at each stop, so there's no need to go to every single location.
Special Entertainment:
Disney's Descendance Party (from 7pm-midnight) at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe
Disney's Not So Spooky Spectacular (at 10:15pm) on Cinderella's Castle
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular (at 7:40pm, 8:35pm, 10:45pm, and midnight) on the stage of Cinderella's Castle
Mickey's "Boo-To-You" Halloween Parade (at 9:15pm and 11:15pm)
Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball (from 7pm-midnight) near Space Mountain in Tomorrowland
Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam (from 7pm-midnight) in Fantasyland
Food:
Don't make reservations at a sit-down restaurant during the Party, as this will eat up a lot of time.
There are only a few specialty foods that are sold during the Halloween Party, and all of them are sweet aside from the Lots-O-Burger at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe and Hades Nachos from Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe.
All of the specialty foods sold during the Party can be found inside of the Party map.
Merchandise:
Halloween Party Trading Pin
Halloween Party T-Shirt
Hocus Pocus Cauldron Mug
Hocus Pocus Spirit Jersey
Tips for those attending Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party:
1. Utilize all of the time that you are given in the park (4pm-midnight).
2. Rest and eat before you get to Magic Kingdom.
3. Grab a Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party map at the front of Magic Kingdom.
4. Don't try to hit all of the trick-or-treat spots.
5. Don't miss Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween parade.
6. Plan out which characters you want to meet (and where to meet them) before the Party begins.
7. If you are with children who can't ride Space Mountain, leave them at the dance party in Tomorrowland with an adult in your party. It's something fun for the kids to do other than just sitting down and waiting for you to get off of Space Mountain.
8. Take advantage of attractions and characters that are specific to the Halloween Party.
9. Ride Haunted Mansion once it gets dark to see the building in spooky lighting and to see and hear the live characters on the front lawn.
10. Do not miss riding Space Mountain in complete darkness or Pirates of the Caribbean, featuring live pirates.
How We Did the Halloween Party:
Bought the Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ticket + 1 day ticket to Hollywood Studios (this was a bundle that was around $210, but only a few Cast Members knew about it)
Got back to our resort around 2:45pm to get into our costumes
Planned to be in Magic Kingdom right at 4pm (when the park opened for MNSSHP guests), but we ended up arriving closer to 6pm
Ate a Quick Service meal at Columbia Harbour House before the Party officially began at 7pm
Rode three of the four attractions that had Halloween twists (we didn't ride the teacups)
Hit 5 trick-or-treat stops on our routes to the attractions that we wanted to ride
Got our picture taken with Pooh and his friends (dressed in Halloween costumes)
Watched the second showing of the Boo-To-You parade
What We Will Do Differently Next Time:
Buy a ticket to the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and not try and do another park the same day.
Get to Magic Kingdom right at 4pm, so that we have the maximum amount of time in the park.
Try and plan out the characters we want to meet ahead of time and where to meet them.
Eat before getting to Magic Kingdom.
Get to the Boo-To-You parade 15 minutes before it begins.
Was Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party worth the money?
YES. The prices vary, depending on what day of the week and what date you attend the Party (it's cheaper to go in September). I paid $105 for my ticket, which is cheaper than a 1 day ticket to just Magic Kingdom. With this Halloween Party ticket, I had access to all of the attractions open during normal hours (except 4) with very minimal waits, unique character meet and greets, a special Halloween parade, a Halloween fireworks show, and so much more. The park comes to life in such a different way on the Halloween Party nights, and it's something you don't want to miss!