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Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tips and Strategy

There is nothing like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, It is our favorite event at Disney World!  Are you thinking about visiting Walt Disney World Soon?  Make sure to check out my Disney World Planning Guide to make the most out of your next magical trip.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide Map

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party has already begun for 2019, and it is Awesome! There is a lot of new things this year to enjoy on top of the trick or treat trails and the usual entertainment. If you are attending this particular after-hours party between now and November 2, here are a few Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tips to help you get the most fun when you arrive.

Kids Photo Op at Mickeys halloween Party at Disney

Study the Costume Policy

MNSSHP is a chance to wear costumes at Walt Disney World. Usually, Disney has a strict no costume policy when it comes to guests in the Disney parks. That’s how Disneybounding was born. However, if you are going to the Magic Kingdom for the Halloween event, you can wear a costume. That doesn’t mean there aren’t rules. Children under 14 have a different set of rules than adults do. Read up on what is acceptable and what will keep you from entering the park so you can avoid a bad night of disappointment.

According to the Walt Disney World Website, this is the costume policy during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party:

GUESTS AGES 13 AND UNDER

  • Costumes and some masks may be worn, as long as the mask does not cover the entire face and eyes are visible.

GUESTS AGES 14 AND OLDER

  • Layered costumes or costume props that surround the entire body are strongly discouraged and may be subject to additional security screening.
  • Costumes may not reach or drag on the ground. (e.g., full-length Princess dresses)
  • Capes may be worn if the length does not go below the waist.
  • Themed T-shirts, blouses, sweatshirts and hats are acceptable.
  • Acceptable accessories include: transparent wings, plastic light sabers, toy swords and tutus. Headwear may be worn as long as it does not cover the face.
  • Masks of any kind may not be worn.
Costumes for Mickeys Not So Scary halloween Party

 

Check out the Laugh Floor

Some rides in the Magic Kingdom have been given some cosmetic changes to fit with the theme of Halloween. Space Mountain, the Mad Tea Party, and Pirates of the Caribbean are the main ones. But the newest attraction to join their ranks is the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. Guests who wander into the theater will be treated to a running show where the monsters ask the audience questions about Halloween. There is no wait for this, and you can come and go as you like.  As huge fans of the Laugh Floor during our regular visits, this was a blast for us, we sat and laughed for quite a while.

Trick or Treat at Disney World
Laugh Floor for Mickeys Halloween Party

More Rides with Overlays at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Pirates of the Caribbean had some added humor with live pirates interacting with guests, the Mad Tea Party was another favorite with ride overlay with spooky music playing and fog machines creating a Halloween twist, check out the video below to see how much laughing was happening during this ride!  Space Mountain also has a spooktacular twist for those ready to get their adrenalin pumping.

Get to the Popular Characters Early

Some of the more popular characters, such as Jack Skellington and Sally, get long lines that take a lot of valuable time. It’s a good idea to be one of the first guests to show up before the line grows in length for the rest of the night. The best way to do that is to be ready before the party even starts. The party begins at 7:00 pm but you can get in as early as four. This gives you plenty of time to ride a few attractions with Fastpasses and get queued up for the character meet and greet you want the most.  

Moana at MNSSHP

Even getting in line early to popular characters can mean a couple of hours of waiting, we reached the line for the 7 Dwarfs at 5:30 and was told the line was at an approximate 45-minute wait once the characters started seeing guests. however spending the chunk of that wait time in line before the party starts is best if you have your heart set on meeting a specific character.  If you love meeting characters but don’t have a specific character on your must-see list, try jumping in line during one of the Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular Show Times or at the end of the evening after the fireworks show. 

My daughter LOVES Moana, but knowing that character lines can be long I didn’t mention to the kids that she would there, instead I kept an eye on the line and was shocked when we got to walk right up to my daughter’s favorite princess with no wait at around 11:30 at night.  

Disney NSSHP Photopass Props

Get the Disney Photopass

I always recommend getting the Disney Photopass, I love the memories that have been captured by the photopass photographers when my hands were too full to think about my camera and being able to get into the photos instead of always being behind the lens is important for my kids.  However, if you are attending an event like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, I think getting the Photopass is non-negotiable.  Not only are there characters that you rarely get meet, but they also have photo areas with fun props and even Event Exclusive Magic Shots.  These are priceless keepsakes!

Disney Event Exclusive Magic Shot

Get a Good Spot for the Fireworks and Parade

2019 is the year of a brand new Fireworks show at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. If you are not buying a pass to Cruella’s Hide-a-Way dessert party, stake out a perfect spot near the plaza. You can pay extra for a dessert party with reserved fireworks viewing because those desserts are incredibly delicious, but the reserved spots are not always the best places to view the fireworks. Instead, stand in the center of Main Street as it opens up to the Plaza. There is a slight hump near the end of Main Street that gives you the smallest advantage over those in front of you.

Another good place to watch from is the train station above Town Square, we discovered this spot last winter on a weekend trip and it is now one of our favorite viewing spots because we get an amazing view of not only the castle and fireworks but also of all of Main Street. 

Watch the Boo-To-You Parade, Not So Spooky Spectacular fireworks, and hocus pocus villain spectacular in one sitting

There is one fireworks show each night, 2 parade times, and 3 Hocus Pocus Showtimes.  I suggest seeing the Not So Spooky Spectacular Fireworks Show, Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular, and the Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade at once so that you don’t have to keep going back to Main Street and finding a viewing spot.  Grab a great spot on Main Street by the Plaza early, sat down on the sidewalk and ate our snacks about 45 minutes before the 9:15 Parade.  We then had a perfect view of the Headless Horseman and “Boo-To-You” Parade, then within 15 minutes, the 10:15 Fireworks Show Started, followed by the 10:45 Hocus Pocus Show.  With a large family, it was great to get a spot early and see everything at once, then we were able to take advantage of shorter lines during the other 2 Hocus Pocus Shows and the second parade.

Get your Fill of Spooky and Sweet Treats

There are a variety of delicious Halloween-themed treats that are definitely worth trying at the Halloween party.  We chose to eat dinner before the party started so that we wouldn’t waste any time sitting in a restaurant while the celebration was happening.  We opted for the Lots-O-Burger at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe’ and it was delicious, all 3 kids devoured it, even my pickiest eater.  

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe’ also hosts the New DesenDance Party during the MNSSHP!  Also, just outside of the restaurant on the Rockettower Plaza Stage is another great dancing opportunity with Mike and Sulley’s Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball.

Lots-o-burger at mickeys halloween party

After the Lots-O-Burgers, we headed over to Aunty Gravity’s Galactic Goodies to try the Pumpkin Spice Milkshake which was another major foodie win!  It was the perfect fall treat in the Florida heat.  The last specialty items we tried were the Jack and Sally Push Pops located at the Snack Carts near Cinderella’s Castle.  The Sally Push Pop is a Gluten-Friendly option with vanilla cake, buttercream, and strawberry crispies and the Jack Push Pop is a chocolate cake, vanilla buttercream, white and dark chocolate crisp pearls, and dark chocolate curls.  We were not huge fans of the Sally Push Pop, it felt too sweet with an excessive amount of buttercream, however, the Jack Push Pop was chocolate heaven!

Pumpkin Spice Milkshake at Disney
Pumpkin Spice Milkshake at Mickey's not so scary halloween party

Allergy-Friendly Trick or Treating

The special event food options are not the only way to satisfy your sweet tooth.  When you arrive at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, you receive a trick-or-treating bag so that you can collect candy throughout the park.  Trick or Treating at The Magic Kingdom is unlike any Halloween experience I have ever had, and I don’t think anything will ever compare.  Plus, Disney World makes trick or treating a fun and stress-free experience for families with food allergies!  This is an amazing perk, being able to let your child run around enjoying the trick-or-treating experience without worrying about what is in their treat bag is priceless.

MNSSHP Allergy Friendly Trick Or Treating

How Allergy Friendly Trick Or Treating at MNSSHP Works

When you are entering the Magic Kingdom, you receive your party wristband and trick or treating bag, instead of getting the regular treat bag you can ask for a teal allergy friendly bag.  Now continue on through each trick or treating stop, as usual, however, instead of candy, you will receive a teal “Allergy-Friendly” coin.  At the end of the night, or whenever you want to grab some of your sweet loot, head to one of the Allergy-Friendly Centers.  At the Allergy-Friendly Center, you can trade-in your coins for a variety of treats including sunbutter cups, apple sauce pouches, smarties, and more. 

Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party Allergy Friendly Bag

Grab Your Event Merchandise

The Emporium and Big Top Souvenirs have full event collection including cool apparel like the Hocus Pocus Spirit Jersey and The Frontier Trading post has the event Trading Pin collection and special Magic Bands.

Special Event Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Card

Do you play Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom?  My kids love this free card game and it is the perfect way to spend time at the parks when the ride lines are to long.  During special events like the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party you can get a spell card that is only given out during the party, so make sure you stop by the fire station and grab your complimentary event-exclusive card.

Sorcerers of the magic kingdom MNSSHP event Card

Buy Tickets in Advance

You can try buying MNSSHP tickets at the gate, but to ensure you get your tickets for the date you want, you have to purchase in advance. You can select a less crowded and less expensive party date further out or pick one of the more popular evenings, even Halloween night. Advance tickets are cheaper than tickets bought at the gate, and they are better for peace of mind.  Buy your advanced tickets here.

Mickey Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019 Dates

September: 19, 22, 24, 26, 29

October: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31

November: 1st

Mickey's Fall Decorations Halloween Party

Doesn’t the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party sound like a spooktacular time?  It is!  This is definitely the best family Halloween celebration I’ve ever experienced and can’t recommend it enough!  Grab your tickets and go see Mickey!

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Tips Dates and Details

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13 Comments

  1. I love the holiday season at Disney. They always do it up right. Halloween is my favorite followed closely by Christmas. There are some great tips here.

  2. Thanks for including video and I enjoyed the parade so much at night. It is truly a fantasy world to me too. I really envy you guys have the Halloween theme and so fun!

  3. Since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to go to Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party. I’m hoping we can make the trip this year.

  4. How cute is this?! Looks like you had such a great time! Halloween doesn’t have to be spooky…love this take on it and your costumes are great!

  5. Oh wow what a really detailed and thorough post. I can’t wait for Halloween! So many different ways to celebrate!

  6. I’ve lived in Florida my entire life and have never been to this! I think I’ll be taking my kids next year! It looks like such a fun time!

  7. I didn’t even know this was a thing! How fun! I’ve been thinking of taking my kids to disney earlier in the year, and this is a great excuse to do it!

  8. I’ve been in Disney once but never on a Halloween season. I am always wishing to visit Disney again and experience their Halloween celebration and doing all these fun activities with my kids.

  9. That Mickey is so cute! Love it! That looks really not so scary. Fun time with the kids!

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