Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Hacks
THIS IS HALLOWEEN! Walk through Magic Kingdom Park gates and you’ll be greeted by massive scarecrows bearing jack-o-lantern heads, fall foliage lining the entryways of the buildings that make up Main Street USA, Mickey-shaped pumpkins smiling down on you at the Hub, and countless flares of fall throughout the Park. Yes, Halloween time is upon us, and the first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party has come and gone faster than long summer nights.
If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World during the Halloween season, you’re in for a fall of festive fun at the Resort with events like the International Food and Wine Festival over at EPCOT, the Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Festival, and of course, you can’t miss the hard-ticketed Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom!
Between the countless Epcot Festivals, special summertime offerings, Holidays in the Parks, and the parties at Magic Kingdom, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is hands-down my favorite event of them all! Last year, work and life made it impossible for me to attend for the first time since I can remember.
However, In 2018, I’m making my grand return to the party of all parties, and this time, we’ve decided to let you all in on the little hacks I utilize each and every year that almost guarantee me a stress-free and spook-tacular party. Let’s get into it!
Show Up Earlier than Early
One of the many reasons I love this Party is because it allows us Disney geeks to dress up as our favorite characters and trick-or-treat throughout the entire Magic Kingdom. I’ve made the mistake of not allowing enough time to put on my costume (and the costumes of my little cousins) before heading out the door.
Don’t forget, while the Party starts at 7:00pm, your Party ticket allows you to gain access to Magic Kingdom at 4:00pm…which is awesome! However, if you wait until 3:00pm to board your Resort bus, you’re going to be very far back in the queue of fellow party-goers waiting to enter, and you’ll be behind before you’ve even entered. Get there early, and then plan to arrive 20 minutes earlier than you thought was early!
What to Do Between 4:00-7:00
Between 4:00-7:00pm, the day guests will not have vacated Magic Kingdom Park, so you can expect attractions and experiences to be lined up tenfold. My advice to novice Disney-goers looking to maximize attraction time is to search out the ones with the lowest times in that 3-hour window (think Journey Under the Sea, it’s a small world, Dumbo).
Get them out of the way before the Party starts. This is also a great time to apply any last-minute makeup touches or hard-to-attach costume pieces too!
Since the Party events kick off at 7:00 sharp, you’re going to want to make sure you eat dinner BEFORE the trick-or-treating begins. In fact, I always make sure my meal is completely finished by 6:30pm so that I can line up to meet Jack Skellington and Sally when they first come out.
Check your Party guide for a full list of special Party-exclusive characters, but know that even though they will not greet guests until 7:00pm, the queues open an hour prior, so get in line if you want to snag those autographs and photos!
You Came For The Party- Do the Party Events!
If you’ve never visited Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park, a hard-ticketed party is not the time to do so. Or maybe it is, depending on your goals. If you want to enjoy a less-populated Magic Kingdom and gain access to shorter queue lines, a Party might be a great time for you to visit!
You can hop from attraction to attraction with minimal wait times while party-goers spend their time doing the Party-exclusive events like trick-or-treating, catching the Hocus Pocus castle show, and waiting for the fireworks.
Now, if you’re a seasoned veteran (and even if you aren’t), my advice is to take full advantage of the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party offerings…because the attractions will be there 365 days per year! The energetic Hocus Pocus castle show, unlimited trick-or-treating, the jaw-dropping Happy HalloWishes fireworks spectacular (SO incredible!), the spooky Headless Horseman-led Boo To You Parade, rare character meet-and-greet opportunities, and limited-time food offerings are only available during the Party.
The events are so expertly themed, decorated, and executed that using the entire duration of the party to soak in the events- and skip the attractions- is the best move you can make! One final word of warning: no matter if you’re hoping to see the castle show or the fireworks, scope our your spot early…earlier than early.
To Eat the Candy, Or Save the Candy?
If you hit all of the trick-or-treat locations- or even just a few- your candy bag is going to quickly transform from a lightweight tote to a heavy satchel that can double as a weight plate in the gym. Yes…you really will get that much candy….but resist the urge to scarf it all down in one night!
There are fantastically themed treats available only during the Mickey’s No So Scary Halloween Party, and my advice is to purchase as many as your belly can handle, especially this year, because the lineup is more extensive and mouth-watering than ever before. I’d be lying if I said I don’t snack on my candy throughout the night, but I’ve learned two things from my Party visits: pre-wrapped candy stays fresh for months, and sugar-induced belly aches don’t mesh with fireworks.
All that being said, a Magic Kingdom Party can be tailored to your family’s wishes. If you have one member of your party who wants to ride the attractions, the wait times will be greatly reduced from the day-to-day queues. If you simply can’t miss all of the shows, just ensure that you arrive early enough to get a comfortable spot for you and your family for the event.
Now You Know
If you want to watch those fireworks on Main Street, make sure you arrive at least 90 minutes prior to the first burst. Aside from checking the costume guidelines before you attend, you’re armed with every trick and hack in the book to make Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party a wickedly sinister night out that ghouls and ghosts won’t soon forget!
Are you attending a Mickey’s No So Scary Halloween Party this year? What is your favorite event associated with the Party? Will you dress up, and if so, who will you dress as? Let us know in the comments… and remember…BOO to YOU!
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Special thanks to Maria Salerno for writing this article: Hiya pal! I am a NYC-based writer thrilled to be a part of your Disney vacation pilanning! I’m a WDW Annual Passholder, so you can find me in the parks regularly throughout the year. In addition to being a Disney Parks loving girl, I’m also a Disney toy and merchandise collector, a runDisney enthusiast, and Disney music and movie aficionado. You can follow me on Instagram: NYCtoAP and find me on YouTube: NYCtoAP. Thanks for reading, hope to see ya real soon!