Walt Disney World® Resort's two after-hours, separately ticketed holiday parties—Mickey'sNot-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party—are among our favorite times to be in Magic Kingdom® park. But when planning holiday trips from year to year, especially with 2024 vacation packages now available, which party should you choose to attend?
It all comes down to personal preference, and the choice is made easy by those who have a special affinity for one of the holidays, as each event is a festive celebration of the holiday they each represent.
The Treats
The parties are light on the tricks as family affairs with goodies for all guests. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party offers trick-or-treat candy stations throughout the park, while Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party offers various types of cookies.
The Attractions
Each party offers various attractions with special overlays, in addition to a selection of standard attractions. The themed offerings include:
Mickey's Not-So-So-Scary Halloween Party:
Space Mountain: All lights are shut off for complete darkness while a special, haunting soundtrack plays.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Live actors join the attraction to bring pirates to life like you've never seen them before.
Mad Tea Party: Special lighting and a new soundtrack turn this attraction into a blur of Halloween color and sound.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Space Mountain – Holiday Run!!: An adventure through the cosmos is accompanied by high-energy holiday tunes.
Jingle Cruise: Packed with holiday-themed puns, this overlay, though available to day guests, brings an extra festive atmosphere to the night.
The Parades
The parades bring all the atmosphere to the holiday parties, coating the Magic Kingdom park streets with festive cheer, iconic characters and stunning choreography. The Halloween party sees the Headless Horseman take the reins before following up with haunts from the Haunted Mansion itself and the legendary Dapper Dans under their spookiest transformation: the Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet.
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Santa Claus and other familiar faces interact with guests during Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.
The Entertainment
Shows round out the holiday offerings, surrounding Cinderella Castle with entertainment throughout the night, including, as described by Disney:
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular: Gather ‘round as your host—Jack Skellington—delights with this not so scary-tale that proves anything can happen at Halloween! During a frightfully fun fireworks display, Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy are spirited away to a mysterious haunted house where they encounter dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts and a sinister gathering of Disney villains! Don’t miss this dazzling spectacular featuring state-of-the-art projection effects, lasers, lights and fireworks
Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular: The mischievous Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus return in 2023 to throw a glorious Halloween party. With only a few hours to run amuck, Winifred, Mary and Sarah decide to use their magic to host a decidedly wicked fun fest during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party—offered on select nights from August 11 through November 1, 2023. Enlisting the help of the Disney villains, the 3 sisters mix sinister shadows, terrifying nightmares and use the nefarious powers of their frightening colleagues to conjure the ultimate Hocus Pocus Party Potion—and cast a spell on everyone in Magic Kingdom park! Look for appearances from Dr. Facilier, Oogie Boogie and Maleficent. Combine them and other great Disney villains with amazing dancers, wild visual projections and otherworldly special effects to make Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular a not-to-be-missed Halloween treat!
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show: Look to the sky for a dazzling fireworks show that’s merry and bright. Get in the Christmas spirit as your host––Minnie Mouse––takes you through a sparkling fireworks extravaganza. Watch in awe as the sky becomes alight with festive colors to the tune of some favorite holiday carols.
Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration: Head over to Cinderella Castle for a yuletide stage show, starring Mickey Mouse! Feel the magic of the holidays come to life as music, laughter and shimmering snowflakes fill the air. Watch as performers dance and sing a medley of delightful holiday songs—while beloved Disney Characters spread joy and cheer.