Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party returns for the first time since 2019 as one of Disney’s best events ever, with iterations made to its best offerings ever.
Get the Party Started
The party kicks off at 7 p.m. on select nights, but guests with party tickets can enter Magic Kingdom Park® as early as 4 p.m. without a park reservation or day ticket. Party guests can interact with standard attractions and offerings prior to the start of the party.
Starting at 6 p.m., party guests who have been in the park all day can acquire a party wristband from locations throughout the park. Non-party guests are prompted to exit the park beginning at 6 p.m., when party guests can wait in queues for characters and attractions.
Genie+ is not available during the party but can be used in the hours before the party officially starts. We found Genie+ unnecessary for the party, as wait times were far shorter due to the event’s limited capacity.
Though the party stretches on until midnight, we recommend those attending once in a year prioritize their must-dos and create an itinerary. Rain can impact any party night (more on that later) and the party is already so loaded with offerings that it can sometimes be difficult to do everything.
Attractions
The party kicks off at 7 p.m. on select nights, but guests with party tickets can enter Magic Kingdom Park as early as 4 p.m. without a park reservation or day ticket. Party guests can interact with standard attractions and offerings prior to the start of the party.
With so much available, riding standard attractions was not the highlight of the party for us. The attractions that see overlays are well worth the effort: the pitch-black and scary-music-filled Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean with live actors and Mad Tea Party with its Halloween overlay. They make for an exclusive party experience that transform some of our favorite attractions into something fresh and exhilarating, and will be a must-do for us every time.
We skipped the standard attractions in favor of time to attend the rest of the party's events, but rest assured that many of fan-favorites were running throughout the night.
Dining
Party-exclusive dining options are as robust as ever.
We focused on the Un Poco Loco Tots at The Friars Nook and the Spellbinding Fried Pie at Golden Oak Outpost. The tots were rich and flavorful, with the chorizo bringing enough complexity to the spicy cheese to make this one of our favorite quick service options in all of Disney's Magic Kingdom, no matter the time of year.
The Spellbinding Fried Pie was similarly great, with a generous portion of chicken and buffalo sauce packed in a perfectly flaky crust. The included candy eye is sweet, as described, and should be saved as a treat before or after eating the savory pie. Spice levels on neither dish were so intense as to ward off the heat-averse, but brought enough to the table that guests who want some excitement in their food have plenty to enjoy.
Trick or Treat
Trick-or-treating remains as a Mickey's Not So Scary staple, and it is as fun and time-efficient as ever. A couple walk-throughs of treat stations (including Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, which shows a continuously running, party-exclusive show guests can both sit in and watch or walk through on their way to candy) gave us plenty of candy to last the following days, and made the party feel even more robust than it already did.
Treat stations are conveniently placed near major attractions and character meet-and-greets, making them a fun, natural way to get an authentic Halloween experience.
The Show Must Go On
The shows and characters appearing throughout Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party are the highlight of the event and a standout among all Walt Disney World Resort has to offer.
Specialty character meet-and-greets, like Jack and Sally and Elvis Stitch, often require at least an hour of time to engage with. Those who want to spend time with these rare characters should consider lining up for them before the party begins, or should see the earlier parade and visit characters during the later run.
Mickey's Boo to You Halloween Parade is our all-time favorite Disney parade, and is such a spectacle you might find yourself wanting to see it twice. It's an easily accomplishable task with showings at 9:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
Many nights, the parade is led by the fabled Headless Horseman, riding atop a monstrous horse through the parade route. We recommend standing outside or near the Starbucks to get the best possible view, but do note he will not ride if the streets are wet from rain. He didn't ride on our night, and announcements do not disclose whether or not he will, although asking a nearby cast member will often yield the answer. Both parades and fireworks can be canceled in the event of tumultuous weather, both of which will be announced over the park's intercom system. The first parade of our party was canceled, but both the second parade and the fireworks occurred on time.
Just as spectacular as the Headless Horseman is Powerline, the epic boy band and dance crew led by frontman Max Goof. Exclusively available along the Main Street, U.S.A. Area parade route while Boo to You rolls through its early destinations, this exciting, cannot-miss introduction invites guests to partake in a dance party in the park streets before the parade arrives. It's an incredible beginning to an equally incredible parade, and begs guests watch the entire thing from somewhere on Main Street.
We watched the parade from the flag circle near the park's entrance, and got to see the best of all its offerings as it neared the end of its route. We won't spoil all the floats, characters and routines within the parade, but we just highly, highly suggest you make every effort to monitor the weather and see it during your party.
We similarly won't spoil Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show, but we count it among Disney's best ever. With special effects that have been updated with Disney Enchantment's new technology and one of the biggest jaw-drop elements of any Disney live show or spectacular, we cannot imagine ever skipping this 10:15 p.m. event. The best viewing location is in the zone in front of the iconic Partners statue.
Guests can also find the Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular on the Cinderella Castle Stage at 7:40 p.m., 8:35 p.m., 10:45 p.m and 12 a.m. in October, with all showings but the first available in previous months. We are privy to the last showing while guests clear out the park following the last parade showing, but do note the gift shops close during the final showtime. Guests who want to shop should not wait until the last minute to do so.
We loved everything about the Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular, and will make it a priority alongside the rest of the the shows and dance parties each time.
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