6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Going to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party This Year

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the most popular Disney event of the fall season. It’s got special snacks. It’s got rare characters. It’s got the BEST (we are not accepting any arguments on the subject) nighttime parade. Must we go on?

Sure, it’s easy to list all the exclusive party perks, but does that mean the event is “worth it”? It’s the age-old question! You’re not paying for a full day’s worth of access to the park, after all, and not everything in Magic Kingdom is open during the party. If you’re on the fence about buying a party ticket this year, fear not! We’re here to help.

What You Get

Let’s start with the basics. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party runs on select nights from August 15th through October 31st. Prices start at $119 plus tax and rise to $199 plus tax. The price varies by date, increasing the closer the date is to Halloween. Discounts are available on select nights for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a hard ticket special event, which means that you need to purchase a Party ticket in order to attend. Your regular Magic Kingdom day ticket will not gain you admission to the Party.

While the Halloween Party runs from 7 PM to midnight, a Party ticket allows Party guests to enter Magic Kingdom at 4 PM on the day of their party.

Below is a complete list of dates:

• August 15th, 17th, 19th, 22nd, 24th, 26th, and 29th
• September 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, 25th, 26th, 28th, and 30th
• October 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, 26th, 28th, 30th, and 31st

Some of the party highlights include the Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular (a fireworks show), The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, and the chance to trick-or-treat around Magic Kingdom.

For a full list of party activities, check out our post below!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party – Magic Kingdom

Potential Problems

There are a few different ways to “do” Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. You can skip the rides altogether and focus solely on party-exclusive offerings, like character meet-and-greets, special snacks, shows, and the parade. Some people like to take advantage of the low wait times for popular attractions during the party. Some people spend their time trick-or-treating all over the park. There’s no right or wrong answer!

The problem a lot of people face, though, is wanting to do it allllll. That includes riding all the big-ticket rides, meeting all the characters, watching all the shows, trying the exclusive treats, and catching the parade. That’s a lot to do in just a few hours! If you go into the party with no game plan, there’s a good chance you could walk away disappointed.

Additionally, you may be caught off guard by the lines during the event. Believe it or not, sometimes the snack stands and popcorn carts can attract longer lines than the rides! Those party-exclusive souvenirs tend to be popular, and people are willing to wait in loooong lines to secure the goods.

Although Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a limited-ticket event, certain areas can still get pretty busy. Couple that with the brutal August heat (staying hydrated is VERY IMPORTANT!), itchy Halloween costumes, and a long list of must-dos, and people can get pretty cranky as the night progresses — especially if you’re visiting with little ones. Tickets are NOT cheap at $200 per person, and people tend to get a little overwhelmed when the party kicks off.

In fact, our reporters from this year’s event said they felt like this year was more crowded than they remembered in years past. Quincy usually has her tried-and-true spot for the second parade in Frontierland that no one really knows about, and yet there were people lined up in that spot for the second parade half an hour in advance!

However, we believe you can still accomplish your main priority items, but doing everything won’t be possible. Make sure you’ve got your list of top must-dos before you go!

This Disney Attraction Will Be CLOSED During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary for the First Time

What’s NEW for 2025?

There are some exciting new additions at the party this year, but be warned, they will take up a significant chunk of time during the event. First, the Jack Skellington and Sally meet-and-greet is updated for 2025.

This meet-and-greet experience is notoriously one of the most popular at the party. The wait time can exceed one hour, so if this is a priority, make sure to plan carefully.

Additionally, the NEW Pirates of the Caribbean-themed bar is opening this August, and party visitors can grab a drink at Beak and Barrel during the party!

This is HUGE news for those looking forward to visiting the new bar. Note that Beak and Barrel does not open in Magic Kingdom until August 29th.

CONFIRMED: Magic Kingdom’s NEW Pirate Lounge Will Be OPEN During Holiday Parties

We also spotted some more characters this year on the map, such as Gaston (yes! He’s meeting!), Mirabel and Bruno, and we got to see Mother Gothel in the parade for the very first time!

We also feel there were more pop-up events or additional entertainment available this year, which we loved! We felt like no matter where we walked, there was Halloween fun we stumbled on, and we adored it. It felt more immersive and like there were more offerings to make the high ticket price worth it.

Is It Worth It?

OK, time to decide. On one hand, $200 is a LOT of money for a party ticket. Like, more than a regular park ticket…

But ultimately, the Halloween spirit just can’t be beat. If you have NEVER attended Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, then yes, we feel like it’s worth experiencing at least once. When else can you see Mickey and his friends all dressed up in their adorable Halloween costumes? Where else can you hear the iconic “Boo To You” parade soundtrack? Soak it all in — it’s really a special experience.

We’re not done, though. From year to year, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is largely the same. It’s the same characters, the same fireworks, and the same shows. If you’re a longtime Disney fan, you might feel a little, well, underwhelmed by the party if you’ve visited several times before. Is it “worth it” for people who have attended the party multiple times? Probably not. But hey, it’s hard to put a value on an experience, and for a lot of people, the party is something to look forward to each season. Even though there are new things to experience this year, if you’ve been there a lot, you may not feel like the new additions are worth the cost of the ticket.

We feel the part of the park that got the biggest glow up is Storybook Circus, and it was MASSIVE! There’s so much to do and see back there now — new entertainment, a few new trick-or-treat spots, some new Dumbo pumpkin decorations, and more! If you’ve got younger kiddos, this gives you even more to do with them.

We also feel that the food this year, which is usually the big draw for many people, wasn’t as themed as normal. However, we were largely impressed by the majority of items we tried, which is impressive for an after-hours party!

Ultimately, it’s up to you! Weigh those pros and cons, and consider a shorter trip, fewer park days, or a less expensive hotel if you want to make the party work. If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

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Do you think Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is worth it? Let us know in the comments!

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