Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party — Is it Worth it?

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is the Halloween-themed special event for Halloween at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.  Please note: There is also a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party offered at Disneyland.  Since I’ve never been to that one, I don’t feel like I can tell you much about it, so this post is strictly about MNSSHP at WDW.  It’s held on select evenings starting in AUGUST (which seems REALLY early to me to start thinking HALLOWEEN but I digress).  The party is a special “extra” event that requires a separate ticket.   The event runs 2 – 3 nights per week through November 1.  Officially, the party goes from 7 pm to midnight on the days it is scheduled, so the Magic Kingdom closes to regular day guests at 7 pm.

Party ticket prices start at $74 for the parties at the beginning of the season, and gradually increase, the closer you get to Halloween.  Tickets for the parties close to Halloween tend to sell out early, even though they are priced $100+.  This year, the dates for MNSSHP are August 25 and 29, September 1, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29 and October 1, 3, 5, 6, 9,10, 12, 13 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29 and 31 and November 1.

The main question I usually get is “Is the Halloween Party Worth it?”  And my answer, as with many things Disney is, “It depends.”  A few years ago, when tickets were still $50-$60, my answer was an automatic YES.  I think the parties are fun and the parade and the fireworks are really something special.  However, prices have gotten a lot higher over the last few years, making it a much more challenging decision.

Benefits:

• Early admission: Even though the party doesn’t start until 7 pm, you can enter the park with your party admission any time after 4 p.m. 4 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. means 8 hours in the Magic Kingdom; and with the exception of the “SOLD OUT” parties and the parties close to Halloween, generally the crowds are lighter than a “typical” park day at the Magic Kingdom, so you can usually take advantage of shorter lines and ride more attractions.
• Boo to You Parade: This is one of my favorite parades that Disney offers. The Boo to You parade features floats and dancers that you don’t get to see any other way.  All the Disney characters featured in the parade are wearing their Halloween costumes.  It’s fun and not to be missed if you attend the party.  It’s offered twice during the party, once at 9:15 pm and once at 11:15 pm.  Generally, we attend the 11:15 pm parade as the crowd is lighter by then.

• Hallowishes Firesworks: At 10:15 pm, a special Disney Villains themed fireworks display shoots off over Cinderella’s castle. If you’re not a fireworks fan, it’s a great time to get on rides with short or nonexistent lines, but if like me, you’re a fireworks fan, Hallowishes is pretty terrific.
• Headless Horseman: Right before the parade, as long as the weather is good, the Headless Horseman gallops down the parade route, through the empty streets (blocked off for the parade). It’s creepy and cool at the same time.  Note: He does not always ride so you can’t count on it 100% but when he does, it’s a big highlight of the night.

• Special party-themed merchandise: At 7 p.m., the shops will put out special Halloween Party themed merchandise that is ONLY available during the party. At minimum, there are usually special pins, shirts, and ears, and often other “special” items.  There are special Halloween Party pins available for Annual Passholders and DVC Members, again, that you can only get during a party.  If you’re not a merchandise person, this is no big deal but as a (somewhat reformed) souvenir junkie, I’m always eager to check out the special party themed merchandise.
• Treat Stations: throughout the park, there will be “Treat” stations where you can stand in line with your trick or treat bag and get free candy from whomever is a party sponsor that year. This is something I think has kind of deteriorated in recent years, but still seems to be a fairly big draw, especially for the kids.  You used to get more candy, and a bigger variety of candy.  Now, it seems the lines are longer, the candy is pretty standardized, and you don’t get much at the various stations.  Not a big deal for me personally as I generally skip this altogether, but for some people it’s a main attraction.  This year, there are 14 “Treat” stations, including a special “allergy-friendly” station in the Town Square Theater for those with special dietary restrictions.
• Castle Forecourt Stage Show: There is always a Villain themed stage show offered on the Castle Forecourt Stage a few times during the party.  It’s usually a 15-20 minute show and I’ve always enjoyed them as a way to see characters you don’t often get to see in the parks.  This year’s show is themed the Disney classic Halloween movie, “Hocus Pocus”. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’ve heard good things.  It sounds campy and fun.
• Costumes: MANY MANY MANY guests dress for Halloween for these parties, and that is one of the best highlights for me personally. I love seeing everyone in their costumes.  The creativity and variety is really fun to see.  There are some restrictions for security purposes—you can’t wear any costumes that cover your face, you can’t carry weapons, etc. (for a full list of restrictions, check out Disney’s website), but people manage to do some pretty terrific costumes.  You don’t have to wear a costume, but it’s more fun if you do–even if it’s something quick and simple.  One note: Keep the Florida heat and humidity in mind.  It is NOT fun to melt in your costume, trust me on this.

• Character Greetings: As with the parade, all the characters at the Character greetings during the party are in their Halloween costumes, so you can get unique pictures that you can’t get on a normal park visit.

• Special PhotoPass Themes: If you have PhotoPass pictures taken during a Halloween party, you will have access to the Halloween party themed PhotoPass stickers and borders that you can add to your pictures.
• There are usually some special “Magic Shots” only available during the Halloween Party. If you’re not familiar with Magic Shots, these are pictures taken of your group by PhotoPass photographers with something special added “magically” into the picture after they take it.  For MNSSHP, these usually include hitchhiking ghosts or a ghostly hearse driver.  Note: I have heard recently that ghostly magic shots are no longer limited to MNSSHP; however, in my experience, you had to get the picture taken at the party to have access to those special shots.
• Shorter lines for attractions: You cannot book Fast Pass Plus reservations for any attractions during a party, but generally, you won’t need them. Once the party gets going and regular day guests have left, there are a lot fewer guests in the park than on a regular day.  There are exceptions to this:  In recent years, Disney has increased the number of tickets they sell for parties, and the sold out parties, especially near Halloween, can get pretty crowded from what I’ve heard.  I’ve only ever attended parties in late September or early October, so our experience has always reflected pretty light crowds, especially later in the evening after parents with little kids have gone home.

Things to Consider:

1. There’s no getting around it, this is a pricey ticket.  If money is no object, the parties are fun and offer some unique merchandise and entertainment that you won’t get to see unless you buy a ticket to a party.  So, I say go for it.  If, however, you are like me and money IS a big deal, this can be a much more challenging decision.  If you are an Annual Passholder, you technically already have a park ticket for this day, so you can feel like you are paying twice to attend a party.

Some ways that we’ve made the party ticket a worthwhile spend for us:  1) we usually plan the party for a day we DON’T visit any other parks—we just go to the party. Often, this is the day we arrive, and would most likely not get a “full” day in at the parks anyway.  2) We avoid parties that fall on weekends or close to Halloween—those tend to be more crowded (and more expensive!)  3) We plan to arrive at MK at 4 p.m. to maximize our time at the park for the evening.  If possible, we either sleep late that day, or, if it’s a travel day, we try to catch a short nap in the afternoon before the party.  4) we stay for the entire party, not leaving until they throw us out after midnight.  5) We take advantage of as many party-themed unique entertainment options as we can.  In other words, we watch the shows, we go to the parade, we stake out a good spot for the fireworks.  We will take character pictures if the lines aren’t too long.  6) We ride as many of our favorite attractions as we can during the party, knowing the lines will be longer on other days.  We usually ride during the first parade, as well.  6) We take lots of PhotoPass pictures.

If you are NOT an annual passholder, planning to attend a party means you can buy one day less on your park tickets.  If you were planning to purchase 5 day pass, purchase a 4 day pass instead.  Just make sure you don’t visit any parks on the day of the party—make it a rest day, or a Disney Springs day.  It’s not a big savings on your park pass, but it can help defray the cost of your party ticket a little bit.

2. Do you LOVE Halloween?  Do you like to be SCARED at Halloween?  This is NOT a scary Halloween event, like Halloween Horror Nights at Universal or Fright Fest at Six Flags.  This is a family themed Halloween event, much more focused on FUN than SCARE.  So, if you love haunted houses and people jumping out at you, you might not enjoy Disney’s idea of Halloween.
3. Do you like to dress up for Halloween? Do you have a terrific family theme idea for your Halloween costumes?  Do you like seeing the characters in unique costumes you don’t normally see them in?  If any of these answers are yes, you would probably enjoy the party.
4. AGE and ENTHUSIASM. I’m not sure this is a great value for families with small children, even though small children are part of the target audience.  Most of the time, I see families with small children leave after the fireworks, about an hour and a half before the end of the party, and often I see small kids conked out on parents’ shoulders or in strollers way before that.  That’s a lot of money to spend for a couple of hours of entertainment and some trick or treating.  And some REALLY cute pictures!  Definitely an individual decision for sure.  If you know you won’t be happy after 10 pm, you’ll just be too tired, the party probably isn’t worth it for you.
5. There is an available add-on you can get, again, if money is simply not a concern for you: there is a HalloWishes Dessert Party, priced at $79 per adult, $47 per child ages 3-9. Note: the HalloWishes Dessert Party requires a MNSSHP ticket, so this is $79 on TOP of the party ticket.  Basically, Halloween themed desserts and a special fireworks viewing area.  Personally, I don’t think this is a good value at all…it takes up too much of your time and there is just too much other stuff going on at the party that you don’t want to miss.  Plus, WAY too pricey in my opinion.

So…the bottom line:

If money is not an object and you like a FUN Halloween Disney themed event….plan to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

If you can attend a party earlier in the season, and replace a regular park day with attending the Party, MNSSHP may be a reasonable value for you.

If you are a costume junkie (or LOVE seeing Characters and visitors in costumes), MNSSHP should definitely be on your wish list, if the pricing makes sense for you.

If you like to go to bed early, or prefer your Halloween to be truly terrifying, give MNSSHP a pass.

I’d love to hear your perspective on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.  Are you attending this year?  Planning for next year?  Let me know!

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke