This fall marked the return of the enchanting and infamous—spelltacular— Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This Disney-fan favorite brought everything back that I enjoy about an after-hours ticketed event at Walt Disney World®, and I am so thankful I experienced it more than once. If you enjoy dressing up in a non-spooky costume, have a sweet tooth for candy and treats, aren’t scared by Disney Villains, and look forward to seeing them out and about— Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the event for you.
When the pandemic hit the country, Walt Disney World® had to modify its entertainment offerings, and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was temporarily replaced with Boo Bash. Last year was so much fun at the smaller party, and while it was less than the standard five hours for an after-hours-themed event, it still packed that familiar Disney Halloween fun. The only thing missing this year for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party that I noticed was the unlimited cookies and popcorn, but hey, there was still sweetness around every corner.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a closed-ticketed event at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Theme Park. The moment you arrive and scan your Disney MagicBand, you are greeted by energetic Disney Cast Members, and you immediately feel included in the festive spirit of things. As a Disney Guest for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the cost of admission includes five hours (7 p.m. to midnight) of Halloween fun Disney-style. As a bonus, Mickey allows you entrance into the park three hours earlier without a Disney Park Pass Reservation. You can enter at 4 p.m. and enjoy the park until the festivities begin (thanks Mickey, you’re the best).
As a Disney Guest attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the following entertainment is available: the bewitching and bedazzling Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular featuring the wickedly fun Sanderson Sisters with their Disney Villain friends, the specially themed Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks display hosted by Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, the Disney Junior Jam at Storybook Circus for the little ones, the Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball with Mike Wazowski and friends, and more. New this year was the Zom-Beatz Bash in celebration of Zombies 3 with friendly zombies, cheerleaders, werewolves, and aliens. You’re also given a bag for unlimited candy grabbin’ for those semi-hidden trick-or-treat trails. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party without the infamous, extraordinarily enchanting Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade. I proudly admit that this event is my absolute favorite experience at Walt Disney World®, and I cannot wait for next year.
Speaking of treats, this year, Walt Disney World® offered five specialty food and beverage items exclusive to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The hauntingly delicious menu included the Grave Digger Milkshake, a Worms and Dirt Funnel Cake, a Spellbinding Fried Pie, the Pain and Panic Hot Dog, and in my opinion, the best one of all, the Almond Sweet Corn Cake.
As another bonus for Disney Guests attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you can also enjoy attractions with very-very little to no wait. Attendance during this event is limited, thus keeping attraction lines shortened. One night my wife, Kristen, and I, only waited five minutes for Thunder Mountain and ten minutes for Space Mountain. Speaking of Space Mountain, riding this attraction with no lights and sound for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was spooky but fun. It was one of four attractions with Halloween-decorated overlays. Even Pirates of the Caribbean featured live pirates and made you feel included in the swashbuckling voyage through a 17th-century seaside town. And for a bit of nostalgia, the Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet provided melodies with a haunting twist and a razor-sharp “deadpan” wit.
During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and with any Disney event, there is much to do, experience, see and enjoy, no matter your age. You might be wondering, is it worth purchasing a ticket for when you only have five hours? As a Walt Disney World® fan, I think so, at least once. And if I may encourage you, don’t allow yourself to miss out on the fun by watching Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party YouTube clips—there’s no magic there. Be present at this event, take it all in, and relive the feeling of a childlike Halloween. And to help with remembering special memories of this event, Disney PhotoPass® photographers were placed all around Disney’s Magic Kingdom to capture boo-tiful Memory Maker pictures that included digital Halloween frames and scenes.
What stands out to me for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and why I want to attend themed events yearly, is that they add to the magic of a Disney Vacation. Each Disney Character sighting, each parade and fireworks show, the costumes of the Guests, the intentional design of park decorations to fit Halloween (and Christmas in the winter), the Disney Cast Members, the attractions late at night, the themed treats—all this and more that is considered party-exclusive entertainment is an exciting break from the day-to-day routine. It is a Disney vacation, and for me, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of letting your childlike heart relive the ghoulish fun of Halloween. I did miss hearing the Ghostbusters theme during the Monsters dance party.
In closing, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is an event packed with villainous fun, ghoulishly playful entertainment, and meant to be enjoyed by everyone, no matter their age. After all, if Disney villains didn’t exist, we wouldn’t have our Disney heroes. If you couldn’t experience it this year, I have an optimistically eerie feeling it will be offered again soon. Or if you’ve never visited Walt Disney World® or maybe it’s been years, I encourage you to consider a future Disney Vacation booked with Minnie’s Travel Boutique. Our mission is to educate and provide travel planning services that help you feel confident—not scared—while visiting your vacation destination.
On behalf of Minnie’s Travel Boutique, we wish you a not-so-scary Halloween!
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Minnie’s Travel Boutique has over 20 travel agents located throughout the country. Our travel agency’s knowledge of Disney products has earned us the distinction of being named an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. We were given this special designation by Disney due to our agency’s ongoing focus and commitment to planning customized, magical trips to the Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line®, and other Disney vacation destinations worldwide. Images above captured by Chris Breedlove of Minnie’s Travel Boutique.