Everything You Need To Know About Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Disney || Tags: Disney ||We’re fresh off our latest trip to Disney World in Florida, and we finally got to experience Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party aka MNSSHP for the first time! It is one of the most fun things we’ve done at Disney. With the special shows, short ride lines and all the candy you can eat, it’s definitely worth the ticket price!
What Is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?
On certain nights, usually late August through Halloween Magic Kingdom transforms into one giant Halloween party. It is a special ticket event, meaning you pay to be there, and anyone who doesn’t have a party ticket must leave the park. Most people dress in costumes to trick-or-treat around Magic Kingdom, and there are lots of party exclusive entertainment, food and merchandise.
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Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets
For 2022 the dates are Aug. 12 through Oct. 31, 2022. We bought our tickets directly on the Disney website before our trip. If you get there and decide you want to go, you can buy tickets at the gate, but keep in mind there is a possibility they will sell out before then.
The ticket prices increase as you get closer to Halloween, ranging from $109-$179 for adults, with Halloween night being $199 per adult. Tickets are available online starting May 18th 2022
Know Before You Go
There’s a lot going on at the party, you’ll have to decide what things you and your family will love, as there just isn’t enough time to do it all! The main things to do are:
- Meet Characters
- Fireworks
- Parade
- Villain Show
- Dance Party
- Trick Or Treating
- Rides
- Party Exclusive Merchandise and Food
The most important things to us were the fireworks, parade, villain show, rides and trick or treating. Of course this will be different for every family. I’ll describe each thing below so you can make the best decision for you.
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Party Start Time
When you buy your tickets to MNSSHP it enables you to enter Magic Kingdom at 4:00, even though the party doesn’t kick off until 7:00. Guests without tickets to the Halloween party will have to leave at 6.
When you enter the Magic Kingdom, after you go through bag check, head to the turnstiles that are marked “Special Event”. You’ll scan your Magic Band or ticket card, and a Cast Member will give you a special bracelet, and you’ll move toward the right of Main Street USA. A Cast Member will give you a trick or treating bag and you’ll be let loose! Make sure to grab a special park map so you’ll know where to find everything.
Costumes at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
The best part about the Halloween Party is that adults get to dress up in costume, unlike a regular day at the parks! My husband and I opted for Mary Poppins and Bert! If you don’t dress up you’ll be in the minority. There are a few rules to be aware of, these are direct from the Disney website:
GENERAL
- Disney reserves the right to deny admission to or remove any person wearing attire that is considered inappropriate or could detract from the experience of other Guests.
- All Guests may dress as their favorite character, but may not pose for pictures or sign autographs for other Guests.
- Costumes must be family-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive, objectionable or violent.
- Costumes may not contain any weapons that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.
- Costumes may not contain sharp objects, pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike another Guest.
- Guests who do not adhere to these guidelines may be refused entry into, and/or removed from, the park unless his or her costume can be modified to meet the above standards.
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.
Trick Or Treating at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Trick or Treating in the Magic Kingdom is an awesome experience. Locations are marked on the map by a little pumpkin. The stations can get really long lines, but we waited until about 11:45, the lines were gone and they filled our bags at one station! I wouldn’t do the trick or treating first as that seems to be when the lines are the longest.
Food Allergies at MNSSHP
As usual, Disney amazed us with the thoughtfulness around people with food allergies. If you have allergies to ingredients commonly found in Halloween candy, when you walk in to Magic Kingdom make sure to get your teal bag instead of the regular candy bags. When you go to the trick or treat stations around Magic Kingdom, you’ll get a teal token instead of candy.
Read More: The Best Gluten Free Snacks at Disney
Throughout the night you can head to the Town Square Theatre on Main Street, USA (where Mickey meets) or the Liberty Square ticket office to trade in your tokens. When you go in they will ask you what your allergies are and then give you the options that are safe for you. There will be a board there with the options to choose from and they will fill a bag for you. When we went they used Enjoy Life chocolates, Surf Sweets and Yumearth Organic Candy, which are free of the top 8 allergens.
Read more: Food Allergies at Disney World
Rides
One of the most appealing things about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is waiting minutes for a ride that could normally be an hour wait. We walked on Splash Mountain, and rides like Haunted Mansion, 7 Dwarfs Mine Train and Space Mountain had significantly shorter lines than usual.
Some rides even add enhancements to change things up for the Halloween party. Pirates of the Caribbean added a few live actors to the queue and the ride, the Mad Tea Party added some Halloween lights, and Space Mountain was in the complete dark with heavy metal music added. In 2019 they added an interactive trick or treating experience at Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor.
Note that not all rides are open during the party. FastPass+ is not available during party hours but you can make FastPass+ reservations from 4 until 7.
Rides that are open include:
- Swiss Family Treehouse
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Splash Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Haunted Mansion
- “it’s a small world”
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
- Under The Sea – The Journey Of The Little Mermaid
- The Barnstormer
- Dumbo The Flying Elephant
- Mad Tea Party
- The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Space Mountain
- Astro Orbiter
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Character Meet and Greets at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Character Meet and Greets are a huge attraction during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Lines for Jack Skellington and Sally, and the 7 Dwarfs can get 3+ hours long. If you have your heart set on meeting either one of those groups, get in the “unofficial” line as soon as you can get into the party.
Here’s a list of the characters that were available this year:
Main Street USA:
- Mickey Mouse in his Halloween outfit
- Jack Skellington and Sally in Town Square Theatre
Tomorrowland:
- Elvis Stitch
- Lots-o Huggin’ Bear
Fantasyland:
- Cinderella
- Anastasia and Drizella
- Rapunzel
- Princess Elena
- Tiana
- Cruella DeVil
- Seven Dwarfs
- Alice and Mad Hatter
- Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, & Mad Hatter
- Belle and Gaston
- Ariel and Eric
- Daisy
- Donald
- Minnie Mouse
- Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet
Liberty Square:
- Grave Diggers (Haunted Mansion)
Frontierland:
- Brer Fox and Rabbit
Adventureland:
- Aladdin, Jasmine, Abu and Genie (Genie and Jasmine alternate)
- Tarzan, Jane and Terk
- Moana
- Captain Jack Sparrow
- Jafar
As you can see, you could spend your whole night meeting characters! You’ll have to prioritize your favorites, as you can’t do all of them!
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Entertainment
The party exclusive entertainment was the thing I was most looking forward to at the party. There are 3 “shows” and 2 dance parties to take part in. The dance parties are ongoing from 7pm to midnight, but the fireworks, parade and stage show have a schedule you can find on your park map. We camped out just to the left of the Partner’s Statue to see the 10:15 HalloWishes, the 10:45 Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular and the 11:15 Boo To You parade
*In 2019, HalloWishes was replaced with Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular (8:30, 10:45 and 12am)
Hosted by the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus, many other villains join them on stage to run amok and host a Halloween Party. You’ll want to be fairly close to the castle for the best views of this show.
Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade (9:15 and 11:15)
Once you hear the song, you’ll be singing it all night long. This is my favorite Disney parade ever! The parade starts with the Headless Horseman galloping along the parade route. Lots of characters, including the Haunted Mansion Grave Diggers, which were the highlight for me! It’s really not so scary fun.
Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular (10:15)
Now that HalloWishes is retired, they’ve added a whole new fireworks show. the Not So Spooky Spectacular has projections and fun halloween music! Jack Skellington plays the host, but familiar friends such as Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie and Pluto go on a Halloween adventure!
Cadaver Dans
A Halloween take on the Dapper Dans, these guys perform throughout the night in Frontierland. Singing such hits as Cruella DeVil, Grim Grinning Ghosts and Boo!
Food
Dining reservations are available for table service restaurants all throughout the party at Be Our Guest, Crystal Palace and Cinderella’s Royal Table, although I would not waste precious party time at a sit down restaurant. Some quick service options are available, and some have special Halloween themed items! Quick service locations that are open include:
- Main Street Bakery
- Plaza Ice-cream Parlor
- Casey’s Corner
- Aloha Isle
- Golden Oak Outpost
- Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café
- Sleepy Hollow
- Liberty Square Market
- Columbia Harbour House
- Gaston’s Tavern
- The Friar’s Nook
- Storybook Treats
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
- Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
- The Lunching Pad
We had the party exclusive Hades’ nachos at Pecos Bill for a snack during the party and of course a Dole Whip!
Want more snack inspiration? Check out The Best Snacks at Disney World.
Party Exclusive Merchandise
Of course there’s some party exclusive merchandise for you to bring home! Pins, home décor, shirts, ears, magic bands and much more. You can find the whole collection at the Emporium on Main Street USA.
Photo from Derek of Rope Drop Radio
Is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Worth It For Adults?
YES! Even though we are an adults only couple, we had a great time at MNSSHP! In fact it might have been the most fun night we’ve ever had at Disney. There are lots of adults only groups around in costume, so definitely dress up or you’ll be left out.
Want to hear me talk about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party more? I chat with Derek and Doug of Rope Drop Radio on their podcast. Doug shares his extensive experience and Derek and I chat about our first party.
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6 responses to “Everything You Need To Know About Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party”
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I just love Mickey’s Not So Scary! It went so fast when we were there. Too fast. I want to return!
I can’t wait to experience this. It sounds amazing!
Great overview of MNSSHP! We said we’re going to have to go to one just for the special characters one day!
While MVMCP is still my fav, MNSSHP is quickly growing on me.
I think that Halloween is one of the very best times to visit the Disney parks. I love Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.
We’ve never been to this party, only the Christmas one! But I want to some day!