Should You Go to Disney After Hours BOO BASH?
The secret is out. Walt Disney World will bring back a ticketed event this Fall, just not the one you expected.
Unfortunately, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will not be held, but something similar will take its place.
Should you go to Disney After Hours BOO BASH? Let’s talk about whether it’s worthwhile.
What Happened to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?
Disney executives faced a challenging decision this Fall. Their theme parks haven’t hosted an after-hours ticketed event since the pandemic started.
Hosting one during the Fall of 2020 would have made no sense. It also would have flown in the face of the other safety precautions in place at the parks.
However, fans sorely missed a Magic Kingdom staple last year. An October without Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) felt wrong.
Disney didn’t want to skip the popular holiday for two straight years. Conversely, many of the best parts of the Halloween party remain untenable.
The parks haven’t brought back parades or fireworks presentations due to social distancing considerations and safety concerns.
Now, that situation may change by the Fall. The company recently announced that it is altering several pandemic-related policies. But it may not.
Park officials don’t want to sell tickets to a familiar event, only for guests to complain that it’s not the same.
To Disney’s credit, it has demonstrated impressive transparency throughout the pandemic.
Executives indicated before Walt Disney World reopened that they would follow CDC recommendations to ensure customer safety.
Not enough has changed for Disney to confirm established Halloween party amenities like the Boo to You Parade and HalloWishes.
Of course, Disney had replaced HalloWishes with Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular in 2019 anyway.
The point is that Disney couldn’t host MNSSHP the way that people would expect. So, it’s cleverly gone a different way…
What Is Disney After Hours BOO BASH?
Do you remember all the way back to April of 2019? That seems like forever ago, doesn’t it?
Well, Disney revealed something new, a modified Disney After Hours experience, one that mirrored MNSSHP.
Called Disney Villains After Hours, this event was immediately recognizable to fans as an extension of the Halloween party.
Disney loves how profitable the event is during the Fall and wanted to host it other times on the annual calendar.
Meanwhile, fans wanted to go whenever. Few people visit on October 31st anyway. So, the actual date is irrelevant to the party’s spirit.
I’m mentioning that because the name here drives home the point that this isn’t the Halloween party that you know.
No, this is Disney After Hours, along with some spooky Cavalcades and the Cadaver Dans.
You shouldn’t look at it as an attempt to reboot MNSSHP. In reality, this is a temporary replacement for Disney Villains After Hours.
You’re attending a Disney After Hours event, only you’re getting Halloween amenities to boot. What are they? Here’s what the Parks Blog says:
“Spooky festivities will include Halloween-themed cavalcades, character sightings throughout the park, special performances by the Cadaver Dans, décor, lighting, music, treat stops with plenty of candy and so much more!”
This announcement says a lot in few words. Yes, it IS a Halloween party after the park closes. And yes, it will include candy and Halloween décor.
You can see characters without the parks…but you probably cannot interact with them. They’re sightings, not greetings.
Yes, some recognizable parts of MNSSHP will return, most notably the Cadaver Dans, the ghoulish evil twins of the Dapper Dans.
Overall, this experience makes no attempt to match MNSSHP. As such, it’s closer in tone to Disney Villains After Hours.
More Details about BOO BASH
Notably, Disney After Hours BOO BASH will debut on August 10th. That’s earlier than the Halloween Party has ever started, albeit by only a week.
This after-hours ticketed event will end on Halloween, cementing the fact that it’s the only one that we’ll get at Magic Kingdom this Fall.
The distinction between MNSSHP and BOO Bash is a matter of semantics, though.
Fans of the original will love the temporary stand-in. You’ll still get to take pictures at Disney during the Halloween season.
Free candy will be available at kiosks throughout the park, guaranteeing that you’ll eat well.
Also, while there haven’t been any confirmed details yet, I’m confident that specialty foods and drinks will be on sale, along with unique merchandise.
You’ll get access to shorter lines, too. That’s always been one of the best reasons to attend Disney After Hours and MNSSHP.
During the pandemic, lines have shrunk anyway. Still, you’ll love the after-hours access, especially if crowds pick up again in the Fall. That’s a decent bet.
The Parks Blog didn’t list pricing for BOO Bash, but I’d expect it to fall in line with other Disney After Hours events. Those are similar to MNSSHP anyway.
Something the Parks Blog did confirm is that you CAN wear a costume to BOO BASH.
Kids under the age of 14 can wear a full costume, including a mask. Those who are age 14 or above cannot wear a costume that covers the face.
Should You Go to Disney After Hours BOO BASH?
Yes! Of course, you should! It’s the first Halloween party at Magic Kingdom in two years! Haven’t you missed them?
I was at Walt Disney World on Halloween this past year, and I can tell you that it just didn’t feel the same without a ticketed event!
The introduction of BOO BASH represents something more to Disney fans. It’s the promise of a better holiday season than we had in 2020!
Starting in early August, we can stay at Magic Kingdom after it closes to regular guests.
Then, we can ride all the rides and watch the various Halloween Cavalcades.
For a while, we can forget that the pandemic ever happened and move on with our lives.
No, BOO BASH won’t work the same as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, but that’s a good thing!
We’ve all gotten used to the old Halloween party. Something new is capable of surprising us. Let’s trust Disney to bring some new magic into our lives!
Besides, what else are you going to do? You’ve sat around the house for long enough, haven’t you? Live a little and go to Disney this Fall!