Tips for Making the Most of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World

Bibbity Boppity BOO! Halloween is our favorite time of year and there is no other place to celebrate with little ones than Disney World.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is by far the best event that Disney puts on, in my humble opinion. Don’t get me wrong, we love Disney ALL year round. They do everything wonderfully! But, it is so much fun to get the entire family dressed up to party and trick-or-treat with your favorite heroes and villains in the “happiest place on earth”.

Last year was our first year attending the event, and I am so happy we splurged on purchasing the extra hard ticket on top of our season passes. I can’t wait to go this year!

Here are our top 4 tips for making this event a Spooktacular one!

1). BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW

As of today, there are only a handful of dates left for the party. Disney sells a limited amount of tickets for these hard ticketed events, which means crowds will be low, the lines for the rides shorter, and added characters that are not usually in the park, plus  “Boo-to-You” parade, and “Happy Hallo-Wishes” firework display, this is a no brainer! Buy your ticket today! 

2). GET THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO DRESSED UP

You don’t have to go crazy, but this IS the day where if you happen to feel weird dressing in character, you shouldn’t! It is not just about your little Prince, Princess, or Pirate – parents and grandparents dress up too! Participation makes for great camaraderie and even better photo-ops. It doesn’t have to be all coordinating outfits either, but getting into the spirit makes it way more fun!

Need Costume Ideas: My favorite costumes from last year were the family who dressed up as the entire cast of Harry Potter (I know not Disney) with Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore, Trelawney, Hermione, Harry, and Ron. Another family dressed as Alice and Wonderland with Queen of Hearts, White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, and Alice. The costumes were stunning! Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook, and The Lost Boys is always a winner too!

We are still working on our costume – 2 and 3-year-olds are quite fickle! We have gone from Toy Story to Frozen to Cinderella to Cars. I am sure it will be a last-minute decision with me and my hubby scrambling to find something to wear or calling our friends at Madness and Method Craft Boutique for a costume (Alex is AMAZING). At this point, my vote is on Toy Story!

3). MAKE MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY YOUR ONLY OUTING OF THE DAY

The Halloween Party itself is from 7pm-12am, but you can enter the Magic Kingdom as early as 4 pm. That is a long day for young children and adults! My advice is to have a leisurely day at your hotel pool or check out Downtown Disney, go back to your hotel for a nap, and then get ready for the party! It could be hot in Orlando in October, so you will miss some of the heat, and still have the energy to go Trick or Treating, have a dance party with your favorite characters, and of course, ride the rides!

If you do not own a season pass or are visiting from out a state, making MNSHP your only event of the day will save you a few bucks too. The Halloween Party tickets run as low as $64, where a daily Magic Kingdom park tickets are around $99. You will still get a full day at Disney, with some added spookiness, for a fraction of the price.

4). PLAN ON EATING DINNER EARLY

You can enter the park at 4 pm, make dinner reservations or plan on grabbing a quick service meal by 6 pm. This way everyone has full bellies and lots of energy to play at the Halloween Party. Taking time to eat more than just a snack (there are some yummy treats to be had) will take away from seeing all that you can at MNSHP.  Make sure to make the most of the Magic Kingdom once it transforms at 7 pm.

NEED A STRATEGY FOR SEEING EVERYTHING AT MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY?

There are a lot of tips and tricks out there for making the most of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween. While last year we had no strategy at all and missed a lot of the characters we could have seen, this year we will be following some of the advice we learned from Undercover Tourist Blog on how to make the most of your time at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.  Now that the kids are a year older and a bit taller, we will definitely be wanting a little more of a game plan.

PLANNING A DISNEY TRIP

This is also a great time for out-of-staters to plan a Disney Vacation. In general, the crowds are low and the weather is getting nicer. Visit in October and make Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party as part of your plan.