Tips for Making the MOST of Your Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Contributed By
Melissa McGill
As a lover of fun Halloween experiences (I’m not a horror movie fan, but I love cute & spooky), Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is my absolute favorite seasonal event!
Nothing beats hearing “Boo To You” and experiencing not-so-scary fun in Magic Kingdom.
But what’s the best way to plan your MNSSHP day? Here I’ll cover my top tips for attending the event and even detail a sample itinerary. Jump into your doom buggy, it’s time to get spooky!
What is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is an after hours event in Magic Kingdom held on select nights starting early August through October. This separately ticketed event is from 7pm - midnight, and you can enter Magic Kingdom with your ticket as early as 4pm.
During the event you can experience:
-Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade
-Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular
-Trick-or-Treat locations throughout the park
-Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
-Unique Character Experiences
-Themed Treats, Decor, and Merch
-Favorite attractions with lower waits
Starting Your Party Day
One thing I recommend is starting with a rest or resort day, and also consider having a slower morning the following day. Since you’ll be at the park late, it’s helpful to have a slower morning the same day as the party, and to also sleep in after partying all night with Mickey and friends. An option for your slower mornings is a character breakfast or brunch to keep the magic going throughout the day.
You can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4pm without a park ticket for that day. While some clients love that strategy and want to get in as early as possible, the crowds from 3:30 - 4:30 tend to be heavy. If you don’t mind entering a bit later, I recommend entering around 5pm to avoid standing in line to get into the park. If you do have a park ticket for the day, or you're an Annual Passholder, enter the park around 2 or 3pm to avoid long lines, then pick-up your party bracelet and bags at locations inside the park.
My family enjoys having an early dinner at O’hana before the party, then heading over to Magic Kingdom via Monorail. O’hana opens at 3:30pm for dinner, so secure that first reservation and you should be done eating and have time to hop on the monorail and enter the park between 5-5:30pm.
Planning Your Party Day
After Hours Events are a great way to maximize your time because you can typically walk on rides with low crowds during the event (especially towards the end of the evening) with fun themed extras! But with SO MUCH to do it can be overwhelming, so having a plan upfront helps you be prepared.
THREE TIPS FOR YOUR PARTY DAY:
ONE. Start by deciding what your intentions or must do activities are by picking 3-5 party activities.
TWO. Align those intentions with your park plan, notating key activity times.
THREE. Ask questions regarding your entry and exit plans for the event. Consider what time you will enter and what's the focus before the party even officially begins at 7pm.
One thing to keep in mind is that Magic Kingdom is a large park. We recommend that the party be a secondary visit. Focus on rides and every day experiences on your main MK park day and pursue the unique Halloween experiences during the party. Of course, you still want to take advantage of short lines, so be sure to prioritize attractions!
Sample Itinerary
4pm - 5pm: Enter Magic Kingdom, collect bracelet, candy bag, and go through first candy station
5:30pm - 6:30pm: Enjoy rides in either Adventureland, circling the park clockwise (Adventureland to Frontierland to Liberty Square)
6:30pm - 7:00pm: Eat a Quick Service dinner. I recommend checking out Cosmic Rays- you’ll escape the higher crowds of people entering and exiting and likely get to enjoy the first Moonlight Melodies performance.
PRO TIP: Several Quick Service restaurants close by 5pm, only Cosmic Rays, Pecos Bills and Casey’s Corner are open for the event, the rest become Trick or Treat locations.
7:00pm - 8:00pm: Continue enjoying rides in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, trick-or-treating, or do a character meet and greet.
8:15pm: Catch the first Boo To You Parade! My favorite low key spot is in Liberty Square in front of the Diamond Horseshoe. If you want to see Powerline Max you’ll want to be on Main Street to catch him and his dancing crew. Be sure to get a spot on Main Street 30 minutes before the Parade start time.
8:45pm - 9:45pm - Continue enjoying rides, trick-or-treating and character meets.
9:45pm: Grab a spot for Not-So-Spooky Spooktacular which starts at 10pm. You’ll want to be in front of the castle for this experience.
PRO TIP: Grab a spot off the Tomorrowland Bridge for lower crowds.
10:30pm - 11pm: Grab a snack and hang tight in front of Main Street to enjoy the Hocus Pocus Spelltacular
11pm - Midnight: This is where you’ll see the shortest ride and trick-or-treat lines, enjoy as much as you’d like, then shop the Emporium as you exit for party merch.
Every party experience will be different, so be sure to really lean into what’s most important for your group. The party goes by fast, so having a plan is really important.
Working with an experienced travel advisor who specializes in Disney Destinations can be a huge difference in the amount you are able to accomplish. For example-- understanding where special characters are, when they start meeting, and how to navigate the park best can really help you maximize your time. A Mouse and A Beach also offers a Special Event Day Planner to detail your final plan when you book your after hours event with us so you're ready to have a fun and stress free MNSSHP!
In addition, I’ve partnered with Somewhere Worthwhile to put together a 27 page guide to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. If you are like me and want to deep dive into learning all there is and feeling prepared to make the most of every moment, this might be right for you. Learn more about that here.
Still need tickets? They are selling out FAST but there are still a few available dates in October, and our AMAAB advisors can help! Submit a quote today and we’ll pair you with one of our magical advisors.
Stay Spooky!
AMAAB Travel Advisor
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