Guide to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Every fall Disney World allows Mickey and Minnie to celebrate Halloween with their annual Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP for short).  Between September 1 – October 31, 2014 Disney has set aside 26 nights for this spectacular Halloween event.  The party runs from 7 pm – 12  am.

Basic Information About Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Tickets to MNSSHP are considered a “hard ticket”.  This means you must have a ticket specifically for that event.  If you entered the Magic Kingdom during the day they will usher you out by 7 pm.  Only those with MNSSHP tickets are allowed in the park after 7 pm on Halloween party nights.  With your party wristband you can get into the park at 4 pm even though the actual party events do not start until 7 pm.  Its Disney folks, if you are in the park then ride the rides, enjoy the shows, eat, and have fun until the party starts.

Ticket prices will run you between $58 – $77 for 2014.  You usually save about $5 by buying your tickets in advance.  Buy in advance as they sell out.  Military personnel have a big discount available.  Disney has lots of travel and Disney Vacation Club discounts.  Look around and you might find cheaper prices.  Don’t forget the most popular tickets are 4 and 5 day passes.  You will still need to buy a MNSSHP ticket with these.

The MNSSHP dates for 2014 are September 1, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, and 28; October 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 31.

Event times can vary slightly but generally your ticket is good from 4 pm until 12 am.  The Happy HalloWishes Fireworks display happens at 9:30 pm.  There are two Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parades at 8:15 pm and 10:30 pm.  The “must see” popular Headless Horseman runs Main Street USA about 20 minutes before each parade.  The Villians’ Dance Mix and Mingle castle shows are at 7:45pm, 8:50pm, 10:05pm, and 11:15pm.

What Happens At Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?
Okay, imagine you and 20,000 of your closest friends are at the Magic Kingdom.  Half of you are dressed in Halloween costumes.  Disney brings out all their fully dressed characters to the party.  Main Street USA has special “spooky” lighting and the streets have bales of hay, cornstalks, balloons, and Jack-O-Lanterns everywhere.  There is an eerie feeling to the park and strange music plays from Disney movies such as Haunted Mansion, Frankenweenie, and The Night Before Christmas.

When you entered the park they gave you and your kids Disney trick-or-treat bags.  Disney hands out Halloween candy at many treating stations throughout the park.  Remember Florida is generally hot and chocolate candy does not do well in the heat.

Disney characters are out in force with many available for photo opportunities or autograph signings.  This is one of the most popular things to do so expect lines to meet the characters.  Usually you can find the following characters in the Magic Kingdom:  Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, Mickey, Minnie, Disney Princesses and Princes, Snow White, Rapunzel, Flynn, Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, Drizella, Lotso, Jafar, Gaston, Captain Hook, Maleficent, Dr. Faciller, Frollo, Cruella de Vil, Snow Queen, Evil Queen, Queen of Hearts, Buzz Lightyear, Aurora, Prince Phillip, Alice, Mad Hatter, Donald Duck, Daisy, the Seven Dwarfs, Captain Jack Sparrow, Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, Abu, TinkerBell, Timon, Tarzan, Jane, Tiana, and Naveen.

Disney Rides Are Open During MNSSHP
If you take my suggestion you will enter the Magic Kingdom right at 4 pm.  Then I suggest you first go directly to the Jungle Cruise or Country Bear Jamboree as these will not be open after 7 pm.  You also might also try to hit the Haunted Mansion before the lines get longer.  Otherwise go to the mansion during the first parade time.  Most Disney rides are open during MNSSHP.  My favorites are The Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and It’s a Small World.  If you have very young kids consider Peter Pan’s Flight, Winnie the Pooh, Mad Tea Party, Cinderella’s Golden Carousel, or Dumbo.  Make sure you venture into Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Tomorrowland, and Adventureland at some point during the night.

There are also a number of stages set up with shows or dance parties.  Tomorrowland has Stitch’s Cosmic Dance Party.  Fantasyland has Get Up and Boo-gie.  The Villian’s Mix and Mingle is at the castle forecourt stage.  Also see the Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball.  Popular is also the pre-parade warm-up which includes the popular gravediggers shovel band, cowboys, Haunted Mansion dancers and Creepa Crew.

The two Boo to You Halloween Parades are colorful and interesting.  They have something for everyone.  However, depending on your kids ages, adults may find them a little long.  I therefore recommend you continue with the rides and shows until the second parade at 10:30 pm.  The crowds are smaller.

The characters photo sessions and trick-or-treating are very popular and therefore have some of the longest wait times.  I recommend against waiting for characters or getting the candy.  The kids will disagree but you can have more fun and more pictures by using this time to enjoy all the Magic Kingdom offers.  After all, candy is cheap compared to the ticket price and trick-or-treating can be done on Halloween.  If you must do characters, there are Disney breakfast events with characters at various Disney restaurants.  Also if you are back at the park during the day, most characters are available with less lines then.  The party is what many call the best fast pass event to Disney rides you will find.

Best Tips For Having Fun at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Tip #1:  Bring lots of money.  Everything at the Magic Kingdom costs more than you would expect.

Tip #2:  Go when it is slow.  September is slower than October.  Big surprise that more people attend a Halloween party the closer we get to October 31st.  Try to avoid weekends and hit the park on weeknights.

Tip #3:  Bring a throw-away poncho.  It’s Florida folks.  It rains.  Disney goes on so stock up on some dollar store plastic ponchos before your trip.  I can not tell you how often we have saved the family vacation with those ponchos.

Tip #4:  Arrive at the park well before 4 pm.  MNSSHP officially does not start until 7 pm however you can enter the Magic Kingdom at 4 pm.  This means getting to Disney World in time to find parking, ride the tram, walk to the Monorail, and get your wristband.  I suggest getting onto Disney’s property by 3 pm.

Tip #4:  Buy your tickets in advance.  Disney limits the number of tickets sold on any one night.  Don’t get shut out.  There are several nights that are same “day of” purchase only days.  Take your chances on those days.  Otherwise be smart.  Look for discounts.  Plan ahead and make sure Disney has the park open the night you want to attend.

Tip #5:  Florida is hot so dress for the weather.  Disney allows and encourages costumes (without masks) for this event.  Florida has an average high daily temperature of 85 degrees in October.  Even nights can be hot and humid.  If you or your kids are in a hot costume it might not be much fun.  While MNSSHP is essentially a costume party, you will be fine if you just wear normal clothes.  Oh yeah, wear comfortable shoes as you will walk or stand a lot.

Tip #6:  Enter the Magic Kingdom at 4 pm and go directly to the Jungle Cruise or Country Bear Jamboree before they close.  If the lines are long try the Haunted Mansion.

Tip #7:  Do not go on Halloween night.  It is really crowded, the lines are way too long for everything and you will not enjoy all the money you spent on Disney World.  There is so much to do at Disney you want to be doing things rather than waiting in lines.  All the September and October party nights are essentially the same.

Popular Disney Blogs:
Disney Tourist Blog
Dad’s Guide to WDW
DIS – Walt Disney World

Also thanks to Kim Marko and her new blog “My Disney Addiction | A Practically Perfect Vacations Site“.  She posted an article today titled What is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?  I was going to add some of her updated information to one of my posts on MNSSHP.  However upon researching I found I had started 4 posts in the last year but never had finished any of them.  Thanks to her inspiration I finished my post.  Her blog is new.  She is a graduate of the Disney College of Knowledge and helps people plan Disney type excursions and vacations through her travel company, Practically Perfect Vacations.  Check her out and follow her blog.

 

credits:
Image courtesy of Tom Bricker at Disney Tourist Blog.  You Tube video from The Dis.