Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is one of the best events at Walt Disney World. It is two of my favorite things in one place~ Disney and fall! Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, aka MNSSHP, is a must do for your whole family! If you are in Orlando and the Halloween party is happening, I think it is definitely worth getting tickets! Trick or treating, the Boo to You Parade, an appearance of the Headless Horseman….and did I mention exclusive Disney treats? Yes! Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is amazing, and I am going to share my Top Ten First Timer Tips for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party with you!
Tip #1: Book a nice, sit down lunch reservation. This will help you maximize your time at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. The Magic Kingdom typically opens at 4PM for guests with a party ticket. If you book a good, filling lunch, you can arrive at the party with a full stomach! That also allows you to maximize your time at the party, so you can possibly eat Quick Service or some of the Halloween snacks for dinner as you are making your way around the park.
Tip #2: Keep your costumes fun, but simple. Last year, I made my daughter and I matching Ariel t-shirts to wear for the party. This corresponded with our Mermaid Makeover at the Pirates’ League. She wore black leggings under her tutu, and halfway through the night, it ended up in my park bag. There are a lot of ways to make your own Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Costumes, yet keep it simple and Disney themed. Getting on and off the rides was so much easier, since we weren’t in super elaborate costumes. Plus, it is still hot in Florida during the fall. Stay cool and comfortable in an easy costume!
Tip #3: Book a makeover at the Pirates’ League or Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. This was probably the best thing we did, in regards to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. We booked a 5PM, and since they let us in at 4PM with our party ticket, it worked out perfectly. It made our costumes that much more festive, and I didn’t have to spend a lot of time doing our hair or make up for the party. You can choose an Empress, Mermaid, or Pirate Makeover. We went with the mermaid makeover, and it went perfect with our Ariel t-shirts. Plus, it was so fun to do it together, as they allow adults here, unlike the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. However, the Bibbidi Bobbidi is a wonderful option if you have a little girl or boy who wants to be dressed like a princess or prince for the party!
Tip #4: Save your trick or treating for later in the evening. Trick or Treating at Magic Kingdom is part of the fun, for sure! Where else can you trick or treat in a magical atmosphere? However, it is a good idea to save your trick or treating for later in the evening. First, you don’t have to carry around all the candy as you are enjoying the party. They give you a lot of candy, and you may even want to bring your own bag since the ones they pass our are really small. Second, you can enjoy the attractions with little to no wait, whereas the trick or treat stations get crowded at the beginning. We hit some on the way out of the park, and we still got a lot of candy!
Tip #5: Be sure to see the Boo to You Parade. Most parties, the parade runs twice. We chose to see the first parade, and then after HalloWishes we made our way back to Caribbean Beach. My favorite parade viewing spot, no matter what parade, is outside the Christmas Shop in Liberty Square. This is hands down the best, in my opinion, and we sit {or stand} there every parade. The Boo to You Parade is one of the highlights of Mickey’s Not So Scary, and you will want to see it. Since I was traveling with a 7 year old, I thought it best to see the early parade so we didn’t miss it. This is the only time you will see the Headless Horseman. And it is SO cool!
Tip #6: Set your priorities. There is SO much to see and do. Some guests go just to meet exclusive characters such as Jack and Sally and the Seven Dwarfs. Others take advantage of the low crowds and enjoy head liner attractions over and over again amidst the party atmosphere. Take a look at the event guide and map, and have a plan and your “must dos”. The 7PM-12AM time slot goes by quickly! We made it a priority to enjoy attractions, see the parade and HalloWishes, and meet Ariel in her mermaid form since we were dressed as mermaids.
Tip #7: Take advantage of the early entry privilege. While Disney will not publicly post that they allow party guests in at 4PM, that has been the trend for many years, and appears to be as such currently. This gives you an extra 3 hours to enjoy Magic Kingdom before the party officially starts. You can eat a quick meal, visit some characters, or in our case, get a makeover at the Pirates’ League or the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Or, if characters are your priority, this is a great time to get in line to see them. This is a hard ticketed event. So that means you need to purchase a separate ticket for it. That being said, get there as early as possible to get the most out of your time!
Tip #8: Haunted Mansion is an absolute must do. That being said, it does tend to have a longer wait. So, it is good to get a spot in Liberty Square for the Boo to You Parade, and head right to Haunted Mansion after it passes you. This is the only time you will see Madame Carlotta and Madame Rinata sitting outside the Haunted Mansion. They sit on the lawn, and entertain guests. There is always an exclusive MemoryMaker photo opportunity and magic shot outside the Haunted Mansion, as well!
Tip #9: See HalloWishes. Hallowishes is the exclusive fireworks display that only happens at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. As far as viewing spots, I don’t think there is a terrible seat anywhere. We actually watched it from behind the castle, close to the Cheshire Cafe. We got an ice cream cone and found a spot to sit to watch Hallowishes. While this may not be the BEST viewing spot, it worked for us. The majority of Hallowishes is fireworks, with a bit of castle projection. Most importantly, it only happens once during the party. Unlike the parade, which has two occurrences. You definitely don’t want to miss it, and it makes a nice end to the evening if you have young children.
Tip #10: Bring anything that glows. Glow sticks, necklaces, bracelets….even the light up toys you can buy in the parks. Remember how fun it was to glow during the Main Street Electrical Parade? These accessories are something you must have in your park bag! They add so much extra fun to the evening!
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Carrie is the author and founder of A Princess and Her Pirates. She likes to share her Disney travel tips, crafts, recipes, and ways that she finds JOY everyday in her life! She believes that everyday brings new joy, and that everyone needs to have a little happiness in their life! She is the wife to a sweet pastor, and mom to three kiddos-twin boys and a princess girl. Carrie is a travel agent with Destinations in Florida, where she enjoys making MAGICAL vacation memories for everyone! Contact her today at carrie@destinationsinflorida.com to start YOUR vacation planning!
Love these tips!! I went last year for the first time. Wish I’d known about Pirate’s League for grown ups, that looks fun 🙂
Thanks, Julie! Yes, I purposefully booked Pirates’ League since they make over adults. That way, we could do it together!