6 NEW Unspoken Rules for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney World

Can you believe it? Spooky season in Disney World is almost here!

If you’re planning on attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom, there are so many fun things to do and try, and there’s only so much time! We don’t want you to waste a single second, so we’ve gone ahead and rounded up a list of 6 unspoken rules that will help you crush your time at the party!

Grab Your Parade Spot in Advance

Picture this: The iconic Boo-to-You Halloween Parade is about to start, and you’re stuck in the back, craning your neck to catch a glimpse of your favorite characters. Don’t let this be you!

This year, we’d recommend lining up earlier than ever (at least 20-30 minutes beforehand), especially if you’re going to be there for the first parade of the night. Families flock to the parade, making it pretty tough to secure a prime viewing spot.

And speaking of the parade, did you know that it runs twice during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary — and this year, the first showing is being pushed back? It is happenining at 8:15PM (used to be 9:15PM), and then again at 11:15PM each night of the party.

You may want to consider skipping the first parade and opting for the second. It’s a pretty surefire way to dodge a majority of the crowds and enjoy a front-row seat.

Go In With A Plan

Spontaneity is fun and all, but a little planning goes a long way at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Make sure you craft your plan of attack by checking the entertainment schedule for the party beforehand using the My Disney Experience app.

This will help you avoid scheduling conflicts and ensure you catch all the events you’re hoping to see, like the Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, the fireworks, and the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show.

Again, if you take the time to plan it all out beforehand, you’ll always be in the right place at the right time.

Don’t Wait In Line Too Long for Characters

Look, meeting characters at Disney is basically a rite of passage, and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party offers unique opportunities to meet your favorite characters who only show up for the party.

However, these meet-and-greets can get VERY popular. For example, we’ve seen the line for Jack Skellington and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas reach two or three hours in the past.

Decide if meeting a specific character is worth sacrificing other party experiences. You could also try rope-dropping a meet-and-greet at the very beginning of the party or visiting towards closing when crowds might be thinner — just keep in mind that some of the meet-and-greets will end earlier than the party.

Arrive at 4PM (Not 7PM)

In case you didn’t know, with your Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ticket, you’re entitled to enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4PM. That’s three whole hours before the official party starts at 7PM!

2023 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Don’t waste precious party hours waiting until 7PM. Get there early, grab your party guide and wristband, and conquer some rides before the festivities begin! This is also the perfect time to grab a meal before the limited restaurant options kick in for the party.

Don’t Forget To Eat Real Food Too

Speaking of food, sure the sight of endless amounts of candy might be tempting, but don’t underestimate the power of a proper meal during the Halloween Party.

There are a number of restaurants that are closed during the party to become trick-or-treat stops. You’ll want to plan ahead by checking what restaurants will be open for a meal before 6 PM.

Make Time for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (If it’s open)

Make sure to keep an asterisk on this “rule.” There’s no guarantee that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is going to be open for the party (it’ll likely be open), but if it is open, man will it be popular!

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom

You’ll need to factor this into your plan so that you can avoid long lines later in the night. If you want to ride it work your strategy to ride it during times when the crowds are lower and save your precious party time instead of waiting in line.

And keep following AllEars for more info on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure during the Halloween Party — it’s possible there might be a virtual queue you will need to join to ride. We’ll let you know as soon as Disney announces what they’ll be doing with this ride!

Those are the unspoken rules we wanted to warn you about! If you’re going to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year, stay tuned to AllEars for more news about the Halloween season in Disney World and at other Disney destinations around the world!