Nights at Magic Kingdom Are About to Get COMPLICATED

We’ve got a word of warning if you’re heading to Magic Kingdom soon!

When choosing which parks to visit, you might be planning based on things like dining reservations you snagged, Lightning Lane availability, or your and your fellow travelers’ favorite parks. But there’s one SUPER important detail that might change the days you want to visit Magic Kingdom for the next few months!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is Here!

Even though many people (and the weather…) are still in summer mode, the Halloween season officially kicks off in Disney World in August! And with the start of spooky season comes the beginning of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom.

This is a separately ticketed event that offers tons of exclusive entertainment, like Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade, trick-or-treating throughout the park, character meet-and-greets (including characters in their Halloween costumes), and Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show.

The first Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party of the year took place on August 7th, and it will continue to run on select nights through October 31st. The event officially begins at 7:00 PM, and to ensure regular day guests have time to filter out, Magic Kingdom will close at 6:00 PM to non-party guests on evenings when a party is scheduled.

Magic Kingdom often closes at 10:00 or 11:00 PM on non-party dates throughout the season (hours vary by date). That means the 6:00 PM closing time on party dates could leave you with four or five FEWER hours to spend in Magic Kingdom if you choose to visit on a day when Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is taking place!

Before you start panicking about your fall vacation plans, we’ve got some good news to share — there are a few different strategies for working around the Halloween party schedule, and you might even end up with an unexpected silver lining that makes things even better than anticipated!

How Should You Plan Around Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?

As we already covered, the first thing to keep in mind is that Magic Kingdom closes at 6:00 PM to regular day guests on party nights. The full list of event dates is already available, so be sure to plan accordingly to avoid getting caught off guard by an early closing time!

Considering the shortened hours, if your tickets only allow you to visit one park per day, you might want to skip Magic Kingdom on dates when Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is happening. That’s especially the case if you’ll only get to visit Magic Kingdom on one day during your vacation, or if you’re a late riser and don’t normally get to the park until late morning or early afternoon.

Now, let’s talk about the upside. We’ve noticed that the crowds at Magic Kingdom are often lighter on days when a Halloween party is scheduled, with lots of guests choosing to head to a different park with longer hours. With that in mind, you might want to start your day in Magic Kingdom if you have a Park Hopper ticket, with the hope of taking advantage of some lighter crowds and shorter wait times. It’s not a guarantee, of course, but it’s worth giving it a shot if you have the option to hop to another park anyway!

If you’ve got single park tickets but you REALLY want to try to cash in on the potentially lighter crowds, you could still have a solid day in Magic Kingdom — just try to get to the park as early as possible to maximize your shortened time! After Magic Kingdom closes, you could spend your evening in Disney Springs, exploring the amenities and activities around your hotel, or make it an early evening to rest up for the remainder of your trip.

The best strategy comes down to what makes the most sense based on your own priorities and preferences. As long as you plan ahead, you can even make the shortened hours work in your favor!

We’re in the parks every day testing the best planning tips to help you prepare for your next vacation, so stick with AllEars for the latest updates!

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Will you be in Disney World this Halloween season?  Let us know how you’re strategizing your Magic Kingdom visits in the comments!