Tad here! Calling all fellow tweens and teens! Are you counting down the days until Halloween? Do you love hanging out at an awesome party with your friends and family? Then I can’t wait to tell you all about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party hoppening at Walt Disney World!
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a special event that occurs after Magic Kingdom closes for the day on select nights from Aug. 9 through Oct. 31, 2024. The party runs from 7 p.m. until midnight, and guests are encouraged to arrive in costumes. There are special character meet and greets, Halloween-themed fireworks, a parade, trick or treating and more. Let me be the first to tell you that you’re in for a real treat! (No tricks!) :)
This party is a special ticketed event, which means you'll need to purchase a separate ticket to attend the party. Tickets are on sale now and several dates have already sold out! Dates for 2023 sold out by October, so be sure to check out our hoppin' deals and book early if you plan on attending!
This festive party is one of my all-time favorite Disney events. Not to mention, I love hooking my froggy friends up with all the tips and tricks to help make the most of your party time. Letz gooooo!
Our Top 10 Tips for Tweens and Teens at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
1. Arrive in Style
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the perfect place to get into the Halloween spirit! And if you’re anything like me, I like to make sure I arrive at any party in style. One of the best parts of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is dressing up in costumes. If you’re into Disney bounding, cosplay or have ever wanted to dress up like your favorite Disney character, this is the time, especially for frogs 14 and older who normally can't dress up in costumes during normal park hours.
Dressing in costume is optional, so you can be as creative or low-key as you’d like. Remember that even though many of the party nights technically happen in the fall, it is still Florida after all. The weather is typically hot and muggy throughout the Halloween season. I personally like to wear a ‘fit that I call the T-shirt costume. I can jazz up a pair of shorts with a T-shirt with my favorite Disney character, throw on a coordinating hat or a few accessories, and I’ve got a fun and comfortable costume that keeps me cool even in the heat.
Before you go, don’t froget to check out Disney’s official policies regarding costumes.
2. Early Bird Gets the Worm Treats
I’m not what Mommy Frog considers an early riser. I like to take my time and go with the flow, ya know? But when it comes time to take advantage of all that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party has to offer, ya better believe this frog becomes an “early bird.” I arrive as soon as I can! Ticket holders are allowed to enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4 p.m. on the valid date of their event, so coming early gives you more time to enjoy park favorites even before the event begins.
Once I'm in the park, I like to grab an early dinner at Casey’s Corner and fill up on some protein before indulging in all the sugary treats. Oh, and take note! You can grab some specialty food and beverages at several locations throughout the park before the party officially begins at 7 p.m. Hop over to our 2024 Halloween Foodie Guide to get an idea of what to expect this year.
Next, to maximize my time, I ride as many Magic Kingdom attractions before the party events begin at 7 p.m. Of course, I head straight for Haunted Mansion — it's one of the most popular attractions during the party, and with good reason! What’s a Halloween party without some haunts?
3. Trick or Treat the Night Away
One of the highlights of the party is trick-or-treating! Guests of all ages can trick-or-treat throughout the park, collecting candy from more than a dozen trick-or-treat stations. The stations are well-marked with a glowing inflatable and are easy to find. Cast members are always hoppy to give out extra candy. They are super generous here — giving out a handful or two at each station. By the night’s end, I usually have so much candy I can even share with my sister, Lily. (But only if I have to!)
And here's a little tip! I’d wait to trick-or-treat toward the end of the night when the lines begin to shorten or if you just so happen to see a station with a short line. Treat bags are provided to each guest as you enter the event. Keep in mind that the bags are on the smaller side, so if your goal is to score as much candy as possible, you’ll want to bring your own treat bag or purchase a souvenir bag at the Emporium.
4. Check Out the Attractions With a Spooky Twist
I’m all about catching the thrills while in the parks. During the party, three attractions receive a Halloween overlay. Mad Tea Party, Space Mountain and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor receive bewitching makeovers, complete festive lights and music. I loved testing my limits on Space Mountain. You’ll ride in complete darkness while creepy music is played throughout. Do you dare to ride?!
5. Dance, Dance, Dance!
If there’s a DJ and a dance floor, you better believe you can find me cutting a rug! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has several different dance parties:
- Disney Junior Jam at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is perfect for little tadpoles like my sister, Lily. Vamperina, Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffins and Timon make an appearance here. Lily loves rocking it out with them.
- New for 2024 is the DescenDANCE Party over in Tomorrowland at the Rockettower Plaza Stage. With music from the upcoming Disney Original Movie "Descendants: The Rise of Red," I can't wait to show off my favorite dance moves.
- Avast, me hearties! The pirate band, Rusty Cutlass, has commandeered Adventureland. You'll want to stay extra vigilant as these scallywags belt out their dark tales of the sea
- Be on the lookout for Goof Max as his Powerline crew makes appearances at pop-up parties throughout Magic Kingdom. These impromptu parties are a "Stand Out!"
6. Eat Your Heart Out! (Spooky Pun Toadally Intended)
I know I already raved about trick-or-treating and a few specialty treat items. But what’s a trip to Disney without indulging in as many delicious treats as you can stomach? Micky’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is one of those special nights to indulge. Not to mention that all that dancing really works up an appetite!
You can find ghoulish treats on just about every corner throughout the Magic Kingdom. The Hand-dipped Corn Dog with spicy violet mustard and the Madame Leota Séance Candle from Sleepy Hollow were a couple of treats that really tickled my tastebuds. What can I say? I like a good food mashup! Hop over to our frightfully fun Halloween foodie guide for more info!
7. Hang With Your Favorite Disney Pals
It’s exciting to meet rare characters throughout the party. You’ll want to hit up the character meet and greets to fist bump and snap selfies with your favorite characters. Check our 2024 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween character guide to know where they’ll appear. For this year, Disney has delivered a few exciting updates:
- More villain appearances (Say less!)
- Bruno now meets alongside Mirabel at their Casita in Fairytale Garden
- Mickey & Minnie Mouse are donning brand-new neon spiderweb outfits
8. Shop 'Til You Drop
Before any of our Disney World trips, I ask to do a few more chores around the house to earn allowance money. Since I already know I'll be doing a lot of shopping, I like to come prepared.
From cool swag, collectibles and popcorn buckets, it’s exciting to hop around and find a unique souvenir to help commemorate the trip. There’s a variety of specialty merchandise to choose from that can be found at the Emporium on Main Street and Star Traders in Tomorrowland. The exclusive Halloween Party merch can sell out quickly, so if there's something you know you want, be sure to snag it early in the night.
9. Don’t Miss Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular
I’m a huge Jack Skellington fan, so I never miss the spectacular fireworks. With only one showtime at 10:00 p.m., you'll want to plan ahead so you don't miss out. The best views are in front of Cinderella Castle to see the projections and the oh-so-amazing Jack Skellington puppet. However, if you don't want to mess with the crowds in the hub, watching the fireworks from Fantasyland or Tomorrowland is really cool too. I like to stake out a good viewing spot around 15 minutes before the show begins.
10. Catch the Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade
The Boo-To-You parade is not to be missed. This not-so-scary parade is filled with colorful characters, pirates, ghosts and spellbinding choreography. I love seeing the frogtabulous floats with my favorite characters such as Vanellope Von Schweetz make their way down Main Street.
In 2023, the parade got a little more villainous. Mmmhahaha! Ursula, Cruella de Vil, the Queen of Hearts, plus Minnie, Daisy Duck and Clarabell dressed as the Sanderson Sisters joined the procession. These sinister additions have returned for 2024! Additionally, the first parade time will start an hour earlier this year - 8:15 p.m. The second parade will continue to run at 11:15 p.m.
I don’t have an early bedtime like my sister Lily, so I like to stick it out and watch the second parade because there are typically fewer crowds during this time. You’ll still want to give yourself enough time to find a sweet location, especially if you’re hoping to get a good view of the famous Headless Horseman. I recommend watching from Frontierland, at the hub of Cinderella Castle or near the Firehouse in Town Square.
Want to know the best way to organize your night? Hop over to our Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party park plan!
If you're looking for a party that’s perfect for older kids like me, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the event for you. With special performances, character meets and greets, and trick-or-treating, I know for sure that fellow tweens and teens will have a blast! Let us know in the comments if you're headed to this spooktacular party!
Related: Boo to You! Our Guide to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Stay cool!
