An Enchanting Guide to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration — What to Experience, Savor, and Enjoy

The spooky season kicks off early in Orlando. Disney World and Universal Orlando begin their Halloween celebrations before Labor Day, giving guests over two months of exclusive events, seasonal treats, and autumn-themed activities to enjoy.

Disney’s beloved Halloween event, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration, launched at Magic Kingdom on August 9, and I attended the opening night. This unique event requires a separate ticket and isn’t included in standard park admission, but it’s worth the extra expense; during the five-hour celebration, we enjoyed eight attractions with minimal wait times, visited several trick-or-treat locations, indulged in specialty foods, and experienced the parade, fireworks, and stage show. 

Here’s all you need to know — from unmissable entertainment to the finest snacks — to plan an unforgettable evening at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration.

Entertainment

With only five hours to spare, it's challenging to experience everything at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration in one night, but you can tick most of the essential items off your list if you come prepared with a strategy.

Take a break from trick-or-treating, character meet-and-greets, and rides for one highlight: Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade. The parade opens with the enigmatic Headless Horseman, making his way from Frontierland to Main Street, featuring beloved classic Disney characters dressed in Halloween attire, along with special appearances from spooky characters like the hitchhiking ghosts from the Haunted Mansion. The incredible floats, special character cameos, and catchy theme song make this my top parade at Disney World, and I highly suggest prioritizing it while planning your evening at the party. 

The parade takes place twice each night at 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m., starting from Frontierland (near Tiana’s Bayou Adventure), moving through Liberty Square, and then around the hub in front of Cinderella’s Castle before proceeding down Main Street, U.S.A. We secured a viewing spot around 7:45 p.m. in Frontierland, but the first show is generally more crowded, with guests arriving well in advance for the best spots. 

The spooky host Jack Skellington presents Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular at Cinderella’s Castle at 10 p.m. Expect dazzling fireworks, stunning projections, and music from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” that will have you humming “This Is Halloween,” even in August. 

The “Hocus Pocus” Villain Spectacular showcases a blend of infamous Disney villains who join forces with the Sanderson Sisters from “Hocus Pocus.” The show runs up to four times each night (depending on the date), offering plenty of opportunities to catch it — I suggest attending the midnight performance as you exit the park. Plus, enjoy dance parties in Tomorrowland, singing pirates in Adventureland, and the Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet in Frontierland. 

Attractions and Rides

Attractions remain open during the party, so guests can enjoy shorter wait times for many of Magic Kingdom’s top rides. Both Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Tron Lightcycle/Run have standby lines available during the event — a rarity during regular park hours, when a virtual queue or paid Lightning Lane is required. This makes it a perfect opportunity to experience these popular rides to your heart’s delight. 

Several rides feature special theming for the occasion: Experience Space Mountain in total darkness (with spooky music to enhance the thrill), spin around the Mad Tea Party in a festive setting, or enjoy Halloween-themed jokes at Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. If Space Mountain feels too intense, take a ride on the PeopleMover for a bird’s-eye view of the party and a glimpse inside Space Mountain, where you can hear and see the overlay without the wild twists and turns. 

Even though it can involve a lengthy wait during the party, make sure to ride the Haunted Mansion. A pair of charming ghosts entertain guests in the cemetery area of the queue, and their witty interactions with guests made for one of the highlights of our evening. 

Event Food and Beverages

In addition to event-exclusive merchandise, there are delicious treats and drinks that you can only enjoy during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

You can find these delicious options at various quick-service spots throughout the park. It’s a good idea to explore the Disney website beforehand to plan your snack itinerary. A highlight for me was the Dole Whip Mango and Chamoy Float at Aloha Isle, which pairs refreshing mango Dole Whip with pineapple juice, chamoy, and zesty chili lime salt. For a quick dinner between attractions, the Spicy Meatball Arrabbiata Flatbread at Pinocchio Village Haus was both tasty and satisfying. The Friar’s Nook offers several exclusive party dishes, including the intriguingly named Bowl of Bones and the Buffalo Chicken Hand Pie; I enjoyed both, but the hand pie was my favorite. With countless unique food and drink options, be sure to list your must-try items and tick them off as you explore the park. (Remember, many locations also provide mobile ordering through the Disney app.)

If you prefer a more leisurely dining experience in a table-service setting, Be Our Guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table, and The Plaza Restaurant are open, featuring some exclusive party dishes. During this party, I encountered the shortest wait of just 10 minutes to dine at Cinderella’s Royal Table without a reservation — although you can book these table-service restaurants in advance if you wish.

You can also reserve dessert parties (for an additional fee) if you want snacks and a designated area for the fireworks. 

Character Appearances 

Keep an eye out for characters dressed in their Halloween finest throughout the park. You can snap photos with Mickey and friends in their festive costumes, Stitch in his charming Elvis outfit, and Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger in their irresistibly cute attire — plus many more characters, including some rare faces not typically seen in the parks. 

Jack Skellington and Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” are fan favorites, and their lines frequently exceed an hour. 

Trick-or-Treating

Get ready for the ultimate trick-or-treating experience! Upon arriving at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you’ll receive a bag along with your first treat of the evening — a full-size bag of M&Ms. The event features over a dozen trick-or-treat stations scattered throughout the park, where cast members will fill your bag with a variety of Mars Wrigley candies (think Twix, Snickers, Starburst, Skittles, and more — all the popular candies you dreamed of scoring when you were a kid).

Every trick-or-treat location is marked on the map and by a pylon. While lines may appear long, they generally move quickly — just have your bag ready when you reach the front. We visited about half of the treat spots and ended up with a massive haul (around 70 pieces each), making it a delight for both kids and adults to fill their bags with as much candy as they desire. The ticket price covers all trick-or-treating, so there are no extra costs involved. 

If you or your children have allergies, there's no need to worry — trick-or-treating is still accessible. Guests with allergies are given a teal treat bag and receive tokens from cast members at each trick-or-treat station, which they can exchange for allergy-friendly treats at the Allergy-Friendly Centers located in Liberty Square and Main Street, U.S.A. Although we don’t have food allergies, we checked out how it worked, and the knowledgeable cast members provided information on which treats met different dietary needs. Expect the Main Street location to get busy toward the end of the night as guests exchange tokens, so consider swapping some out earlier in the evening or heading to Liberty Square, which was quiet when we visited around 9:30 p.m.

Tickets and Dates

Magic Kingdom will host nearly 40 nights of Halloween festivities this year. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party kicked off on Aug. 9 and runs until Oct. 31. (Afterward, the park will undergo a magical transformation from Halloween to holiday). This event requires a separate ticket, meaning you cannot access it with a standard Magic Kingdom day ticket. Ticket prices range from $119 to $199, with the highest prices around Oct. 31, but annual pass holders and Disney Vacation Club members can enjoy a $10 discount on party tickets during August and September.

The event operates from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., but party ticket holders can enter the park earlier — more details on that below. Tickets are still available for select nights in September and October on the Disney World website. 

Tips for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Arrive early. 

Although the party officially kicks off at 7 p.m., ticket holders can start entering the park as early as 4 p.m. Aim to arrive just before 4 p.m. to get in line for the party entrance and enjoy a few attractions beforehand — though specific event experiences won’t commence until 7 p.m. Some guests take advantage of this early entry to queue up for their favorite characters (Jack and Sally are particularly popular) to ensure they're among the first for the meet-and-greet when the party starts. 

Don a Disney-inspired costume. 

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is one of the rare occasions when guests aged 14 and up can wear costumes in the park, but there are specific guidelines to follow, especially for those over 13. Costumes must be family-friendly, masks are prohibited, and they shouldn’t touch the ground. For complete details on the dress code, refer to the official rules on the Disney World website. Even if you choose not to dress up, it's a delight to see other guests showcasing their Disney-themed attire. 

Choose a resort on the monorail. 

Planning which Disney World hotel to book for your Halloween getaway? Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney's Contemporary Resort are all conveniently located on the monorail line to Magic Kingdom, ensuring an easy journey to and from the party. Disney’s Contemporary Resort is just a 10-minute walk to the park, making it the most accessible choice for those who wish to avoid the crowds after the party ends. 

American Sign Language interpretation is offered at select shows on specific nights. 

American Sign Language interpretation will be offered at select shows on three specific dates: Aug. 23, Sept. 26, and Oct. 24. For more information regarding accessibility during the event, visit the Disney World website.