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 in 2023! (Last year, this annual party made its return after nearly three years — so cool!)
If you’re unfamiliar, 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. 11 through Nov. 1, 2023. 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! If you're a tween or teen headed to Disney World's Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, let me be the first to tell you that you’re in for a real treat!
This party is a special ticketed event, which means you'll need to purchase a separate ticket to attend the party. Get excited, as tickets are now available — be sure to check out our hoppin' deals!
Honestly, it’s one of my favorite Disney events, and I love hooking up my froggy friends with all the tips and tricks to help you make the most of your party time. So let’s dive in!
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 a frogtastic opportunity, 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 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,” and 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.
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 here before the party begins at 7 p.m. The Pain and Panic Hot Dog was a frightful challenge. Talk about spicy! I loved it, but Lily decided on a regular hot dog instead. I don’t blame her! I made sure to wash that spicy ‘dog down with Winifred’s Elixir of Youth slushy. Yummy!
Next, I head straight for Haunted Mansion — it's one of the most popular attractions during the party, and with good reason! I mean, what’s a Halloween party without some haunts? By knocking this attraction off my list right away, I’ll have more time to enjoy the specific event entertainment once the party officially kicks off.
Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies in Tomorrowland offered a new dessert last season — Sweet Candy Corn Soft Serve Swirl Cone. This treat scored major bonus points! One, because it’s also available before the party’s official start, and two, because it’s toadally delicious!
3. Trick or Treat the Night Away
One of the highlights of the party is trick-or-treating, even for tweens, teens and adults! 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. Now that’s frogtastic! By the night’s end, I usually have so much candy I even share some with my sister, Lily.
To get the most out of your trick-or-treating experience, 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 as you’re making your way around the park. 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 snag 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 chillin’ in the parks so you know that I’m super excited to share that four attractions receive a Halloween overlay during this event. Pirates of the Caribbean, Mad Tea Party, Space Mountain and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor have a few bewitching twists. My favorite part was testing my limits on Space Mountain! This spooky version of Space Mountain is sure to give you a thrill — or at least it did for me! 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! I love dancing the night away and practicing my latest dance moves. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has lots of different dance parties:
- Disney Junior Jam at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is perfect for little tadpoles like my sister, Lily. Vamperina and more Disney Junior characters make an appearance here. Lily loves rocking it out with them.
- My favorite dance party last year was the Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball. The DJ and latest musical hits had everyone on their feet — including my favorite monsters, Mike Wazowski and Sulley. Mike and Sully really know how to groove!
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 let’s be honest ... what’s a trip to Disney without indulging in as many delicious treats as you can stomach? Well, that’s exactly how I feel when partying the night away at Micky’s Not-
So-Scary Halloween Party. It’s one of those special nights to indulge. Not to mention that all that dancing really works up an appetite!
You can find spooktacular treats on just about every corner throughout the Magic Kingdom. My top favorites last year were the Grave Digger Milk Shake from Sleepy Hollow, Spellbinding Fried Pie from the Golden Oak Outpost, and of course, that Almond Sweet Corn Cake from Sleepy Hollow. The Sweet Cake was drizzled with icing and sprinkled with Candy Corn — this was my favorite treat throughout the entire night!
7. Hang With Your Favorite Disney Pals
It’s exciting to meet rare characters throughout the party. So naturally, you’ll want to hit up the character meet and greets. This is a great opportunity to fist bump and snap some selfies with your favorite characters. Check our Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween character guide to know where they’ll appear.
8. Shop 'Til You Drop
Before going on any of our Disney World trips, I always ask to do a few more chores around the house to earn an extra allowance, especially before attending a special event like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. That’s because there’s always really cool merchandise and souvenirs that I just can’t wait to take home. I already know I’m going to do a lot of shopping there and I like to come prepared.
From cool swag, collectibles, popcorn buckets and sippers, it’s exciting to shop around and find a unique souvenir to help commemorate the trip. There’s a ton of specialty merchandise to choose from, especially at the Emporium on Main Street. I ended up deciding on this Mummy Mickey Popcorn Bucket. Don’t you think he’s the perfect addition to my Disney popcorn bucket collection?! You can find him at select popcorn carts throughout the park.
9. Don’t Miss Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular
I’m a huge Jack Skellington fan, so I make sure I never miss the spectacular fireworks. With only one showtime at 10:15 p.m., you'll want to prepare for Disney's Not So Spooky Spectacular. I think it's best to view it in front of Cinderella Castle to see the frogtastic projections and the oh-so-amazing Jack Skellinton! However, if you don't want to mess with the crowds in the hub, watching the fireworks in Fantasyland is cool, too. I like to stake out a good spot around 30 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 spooky parade is filled with colorful characters, pirates, ghosts and ahhh-amazing choreography and effects! This is my favorite part of the entire Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. I love seeing the frogtabulous floats and my favorite Disney characters such as Wreck-it Ralph & Vanellope Von Schweetz make their way down Main Street! There are two showings, 9:15 and 11:15 p.m. Because I don’t have an early bedtime like my sister Lily, 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 stake out a sweet location, especially if you’re hoping to get a good view of the famous Headless Horseman. I recommend viewing from Frontierland, at the hub of Cinderella Castle or near the Firehouse in Town Square.
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 you 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!
