We just returned from a trip to Walt Disney World and had a FANTASTIC time at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (our second time doing this event) and I learned a few things I thought might be helpful for other moms to know. Here are some of the questions I had leading up to it and what I learned.
What is the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?
It’s a ticketed event at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom with a Halloween theme. Kids (and some adults) wear costumes, ride rides, trick or treat at Magic Kingdom and there are shows and interactions with characters you don’t usually see. There is a focus on villains, but it’s not scary.
Is the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Worth It? How is it different from a regular night at Magic Kingdom?
In my opinion – absolutely! Yes, pay the fee. I have kids who are elementary school age and this is the second time we have done this event. It’s is VERY fun and we had lots and lots of special moments with unusual characters, shows, fireworks and a parade that are nothing like the regular events at Magic Kingdom. The costumes are so fun to see. The Disney characters were among us in some places. For example, over in Tomorrow Land, there was a huge dance party and my kids were dancing with Sully, Boo and Mike Wizowski from Monsters, Inc. – to Tina Turner. My daughter is stilling singing Roll’n on a River and it’s been three days since we were there!
What time can you get into Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?
4:00! The event is from 7-12, but if you have little ones you will want to go as early as possible to get the most bang for your buck.
Are there Fast Passes available during the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? How crowded is it?
There are no fast passes available, but that’s okay, you don’t need them. That’s another wonderful reason to go to this event. There is limited attendance so the lines are nonexistent.
Now I WILL say, that during the overlap (4:00 when you can get in and 7:00 when the event starts) it’s nutty. Main Street USA – where everyone was leaving in droves was super extra crowded as a bunch of people are coming in.
How do they know who’s supposed to be there for the event and who was just already in Magic Kingdom during the day?
My husband and I were wondering how this was going to work. They give you wrist bands when you enter for the Halloween Party. Regular Magic Kingdom “closes” at 6:00 that day, but we noticed several people without bracelets hanging around. At about 7, the cast members line up in human barricades at the entrance to each main section and start turning away people who don’t have bracelets. The people running the attractions also check for bracelets.
Trick or Treating at Magic Kingdom
They give you a bag with a handle so you don’t need to bring your own.
Observation: People are really into free candy. We went up the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and there was a HUGE line. I thought it was for the ride, but it was for candy. There was NO line for the actual attraction. I was kind of floored by this because the park is what’s special here, not candy you can get at Wal-mart. Some of the candy stations were really crowded. As the night wears on, there is less of that, so we rode rides early and trick or treated a little later.
Additional Tips
- When you enter the park, pick up a map – those maps aren’t all over the park like the regular ones. It has show times and details you will want to know about.
- Take strollers to help younger ones last longer. Plus, you can put a cooler with drinks and a bag of snacks in the storage bin underneath.
- Get your family picture in front of the castle up front while your kids are all fresh in their costumes. Also, Mickey was available indoors near the entrance of the park with a very short line so we also got those pictures with the kids in costume with Mickey up front.
- Stay until the end if you can. There was a show at 11:15 with villains and then afterwards they came down into the crowd and we got to take pictures with them, which was fun. (And the show was good!)
- There is a parade at 8:15, but it actually starts about 8:10 so just to be safe I would find a spot and be ready to start at 8:05. Also, we prefer to watch the parade near the start of it, so once it’s over we can dash off for more rides.
- Go to the dollar store and get some glow sticks. I gave them to our kids just before the parade, which gave them something to play with while they waited. Also, those things are so inexpensive that we had plenty and shared with the little kids around us. I also put bracelets on the handles of our strollers so when we went to look for them in the not-well-lighted stroller parking areas we could spot them easily.
- I just used my phone for pictures, but there was a time or two I wish I had lugged my big camera around for the event. I dunno, it’s heavy but there are a few pictures I took that I wish were higher resolution. You can use the photo pass which is a card you get scanned by Disney photographers who are taking your picture. The photos are viewable online later. Tip for the photo pass – take a picture of it with your phone so if you lose the pass before you get home, you can get the number from it off the picture and still see your photos.
Got any tips for the Halloween Party, or any other Disney adventures? Please share.
More posts on Disney:
Planning Your First Trip to Disney with Little Kids
Did you know there are Disney World Apps?
Surprising Our Kids With a Trip To Disney
You’re welcome, Disney…for this free commercial.
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