Summer vacay might be over, but Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party has only just begun! Halloween season at Magic Kingdom is finally here, and we kicked it off by attending the very first party of the year. Starting earlier than ever on Aug. 16, 2019, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party will continue on select nights until Nov. 1, 2019. Two-and-a-half months of Halloween?! We're all for it!

We’ve loved all of the classic, family fun that the event has offered us over the years … but there is so much to do. With only five hours of party time to meet rare characters, trick-or-treat and catch spell-bounding entertainment, a game plan is essential. Keep in mind that "Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular" is debuting for the 2019 event. Lucky for you, the Frog Family is here with our best time-saving advice to help you get the most out of your favorite Halloween Party. Let's boo this!

Our Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween 2019 Guide is quite thorough, so we've added some helpful links to take you to key topics ... or you can just keep reading!

Dates, Tickets & Pricing | Crowds & Best Days to Attend | Costume Policy | Entrance Procedures | Map | Entertainment, Rides & FastPass+ | Trick-or-Treating | Tips | Comments

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019 Dates, Tickets & Best Days to Attend

Disney Halloween parties typically start in mid-August and run through early November. The parties are held at Magic Kingdom after the park closes from 7 p.m. to midnight. The park closes at 6 p.m. for daytime guests without a party ticket. Disney has added two additional nights this year, extending the spooktacular fun. You can purchase Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2019 tickets from your favorite frogs!

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2019 Dates:

• August 16, 20, 23, 27, 30
• September 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29
• October 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31
• November 1

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets start at $74 for children ages 3 to 9 ($78.81 with tax) or $79 for those over 10 years old ($84.14 with tax).

Best Dates to Attend Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019

The biggest question we get for this event, as well as for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, is what the best days to attend are. These Disney Halloween parties can and do sell out, especially closer to Halloween, so we recommend purchasing tickets as soon as you know you want to attend.

Oct. 31 is historically one of the most popular dates to attend the Disney Halloween parties, along with Fridays in October, when more locals attend. Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, especially those in August and early September, are typically less popular.

Disney does not publicly release its party capacity, but we estimate that a sold-out party is around a crowd level 7 using our Crowd Calendar.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Costume Policy

A revised costume policy went into effect for the Disney Halloween party in recent years that is more restrictive for adults.

General Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Costume Guidelines:

• Disney may deny admission to anyone or remove anyone who is wearing attire that is considered inappropriate or could detract from other guests' experiences.
• Guests may dress as their favorite characters, but cannot pose for pictures or sign autographs.
• Costumes must be family-friendly and not obstructive, offensive, violent or objectionable.
• Costumes must not contain weapons that resemble or could be mistaken for real weapons.
• Costumes may not contain sharp or pointed objects, or materials that might accidentally strike another guest.
• Guests who do not abide by the guidelines may be refused entry or removed unless their costumes can be modified to acceptable standards.

For guests ages 14 and up:

• Layered costumes or costume props that surround the entire body are strongly discouraged and subject to additional security screening.
• Costumes may not reach or drag the ground.
• Capes should not go below the waist.
• Themed T-shirts, shirts, sweatshirts and hats are acceptable.
• Transparent wings, plastic light sabers, toy swords and tutus are OK. Headwear must not cover the face.
• Masks are not allowed.

For guests ages 13 and under:

• Costumes and some masks may be worn. Masks cannot cover the entire face, and eyes must be visible.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Entering Procedures

The party officially begins at 7 p.m. inside Magic Kingdom. Disney Halloween party guests are allowed to enter the park starting at 4 p.m., which we recommend taking advantage of. A popular question that comes up is how Disney handles the transition between park close and the start of the party. The park closes for regular guests at 6 p.m., which allows cast members more time to filter out those regular day guests who are not staying for the party.

Once you arrive at the entrance, cast members direct you toward specific touch points for entry. Party wristbands are then given to party guests after going through the touch points. If you've entered before 4 p.m. with regular park admission, you don't have to go all the way to the entrance! Wristbands are also distributed to those who present a valid party ticket at select locations inside the park. We saw a few of those wristband distribution areas near Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Mickey's PhilharMagic and Pirates of the Caribbean. Beginning at 6 p.m., cast members are stationed at critical points throughout the park to direct the wristband-less toward the exit.

For party guests arriving just in time for the spooky festivities, expect to be directed toward Market Street. (That's the name of the back alley between La Chapeau and Tony's Town Square Restaurant!) This path is where you'll find adorable Halloween character statues, fun photo-ops AND your first treat station. Select Halloween merchandise can be purchased here, as well. What a grand entrance to the party!

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019 Map

Interested in how exactly things work at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party? This 2019 map highlights some of the activities and entertainment, trick-or-treat locations, allergy-friendly options and more in store at the party.

Entertainment & Rides at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019

FastPass+ at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019

FastPass+ is not available during the party. Luckily, there is generally less need for FastPass+ as most people are enjoying the party activities and spending less time on rides.

Show Times for Key Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019 Entertainment:

• Mickey's "Boo-To-You" Halloween Parade - 9:15 p.m., 11:15 p.m.
• Disney's Not So Spooky Spectacular - 10:15 p.m.
• Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular - 8:30 p.m., 10:45 p.m., 12 a.m.
• Dance parties - all night long!

If inclement weather may be on the horizon during your visit, be sure to catch the early stage show and parade in case the later ones get cancelled.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019 Characters and Locations:

One of the biggest highlights of the night is meeting characters, especially those who don't greet guests at other times of year or often. Some of the most popular characters, like Moana or Jack Skellington and Sally, draw big lines but may start meeting guests before the official party time. (We passed by Moana at around 5 p.m. She hadn't started greeting just yet, but when we walked by again around 6:30 p.m., the line was moving.) Below, you'll find this year's characters and their greeting spots. With waits as long as three hours for some characters, you need a strategy! Hop down to tips to see our best strategies for meeting them.

Main Street, U.S.A.

• Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater
• Jack Skellington and Sally at Town Square Theater

Fantasyland

• Anastasia and Drizella
• Seven Dwarfs
• Rapunzel
• Queen of Hearts, Alice, Tweedle-Dee, Tweedle-Dum, Mad Hatter
• Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger (dressed in Halloween costumes)
• Ariel and Eric
• Belle and Gaston
• Minnie Mouse (dressed in Halloween costume)
• Daisy Duck (dressed in Halloween costume)
• Goofy (dressed in Halloween costume)
• Donald Duck (dressed in Halloween costume)
• Cinderella
• Cruella DeVil
• Princess Tiana
• Princess Elena

Tomorrowland

• Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear a.k.a. Lotso
• Stitch (dressed in Elvis costume)

Adventureland

• Tarzan, Jane and Terk
• Moana
• Captain Jack Sparrow
• Aladdin & Abu alternate with Genie & Jasmine
• Jafar

Attractions Open During Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019

One of the major perks of ticketed events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is the shorter lines for some of your favorite attractions. This year, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train line had a maximum 35-minute wait!

Rides are subject to closure at any time. For a list of refurbishments during your specific dates, please see our full list of Disney World ride closures:

• Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Swiss Family Treehouse
• A Pirate's Adventure ~ Treasures of the Seven Seas
• Country Bear Jamboree
• Splash Mountain
• Haunted Mansion
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
• “It’s a small world”
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Mad Tea Party
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• The Barnstormer
• Astro Orbiter
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Space Mountain
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Some attractions receive spooktacular, party-exclusive overlays and enhancements, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Mad Tea Party, Space Mountain and new this year, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. A crew of live pirates takes over your journey on Pirates of the Caribbean. Meanwhile, Mad Tea Party gets special lighting and music, while Space Mountain goes completely dark. Over at the Laugh Floor in the Monster World, the comedic monsters learn more about the Human World holiday called Halloween.

New and Returning Party-Exclusive Experiences for 2019

Aside from rides and character meet-and-greets, experience the special event's dance parties, "Boo-to-You" parade, Hocus Pocus Villains Spectacular and an all-new fireworks show.

Disney's Not So Spooky Spectacular — NEW!

A new fireworks show with projection effects, lasers, lights and fireworks is debuting this year! Hosted by Jack Skellington from "The Nightmare Before Christmas," Disney's Not So Spooky Spectacular features Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy on a trick-or-treating adventure, as they are drawn to a mysterious haunted house. The show also showcased appearances from dancing skeletons and ghosts, along with some troublemaking Disney villains, during their journey inside the house. We LOVED the stunning castle projections (they're super fun and colorful) and as usual, Disney didn't disappoint with its booming fireworks. It was the only time of the night we weren't saying "boo," but instead "ooh and aah."

As an extra way to celebrate the new show, the park is hosting fireworks dessert parties with treats such as chocolate-dipped strawberries, cupcakes, ice cream, seasonal fruits, cheeses and special drinks.

Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam

Calling all tadpoles! Storybook Circus is once again hosting the Disney Junior Jam, featuring some of Lily's Disney Channel faves like Vampirina and Fancy Nancy (who's joining this year). We even spotted Timon jumping in on the fun. Lily LOVES this dance party!

Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball

Over in Tomorrowland at the Rockettower Plaza Stage, join Mike Wazowski and Sulley who are hosting the Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball all night long! Show off your best monstrous dance moves.

Disney DescenDANCE Party — NEW!

As the third and brand-new Halloween dance party, the Disney DescenDANCE Party has taken over the stage at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe. Inspired by the Descendants movie franchise, dance the night away, as your favorite Villain Kids appear in dance videos from Isle of the Lost.

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular

The infamous Sanderson Sisters from "Hocus Pocus" are back for another year at the 2019 Disney Halloween party! Watch out — they may put a spell on you as they conjure up the "Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular" show at the Castle Forecourt Stage. The show is held exclusively during the party and features the Sanderson Sisters, Winifred, Mary and Sarah, along with other Disney villains such as Dr. Facilier, Ooogie Boogie and Maleficent. "Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular" replaced the Villains Mix 'n' Mingle. There are typically no picture-taking opportunities with the Sanderson Sisters or the villains. The show is still a wicked good time, especially for fans of the film!

Mickey's "Boo-To-You" Halloween Parade

Catch your favorite Disney characters in Mickey's "Boo-To-You" Halloween Parade! About 15 minutes before it begins, the Headless Horseman trots over the Liberty Square, continues in front of Cinderella Castle (but does not go all the way around the hub) and down Main Street.

Mickey and Minnie lead the parade along with their friends, including Goofy, Pluto, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Aladdin, Jasmine and others. Tinker Bell and Captain Jack Sparrow follow along on their floats. The Gravediggers precede Constance Hatchaway, better known as The Black Widow Bride from The Haunted Mansion. She is new to the parade this year and glides down the street alongside dancing ghoulish couples. The Tomorrowland floats are also new, featuring The Incredibles, Edna Mode and Buzz Lightyear with a crew of aliens.

Cruella's Halloween Hide-a-Way — NEW!

Mingle with Cruella de Vil at Tony's Town Square Restaurant during this brand-new, special dining experience. The event starts at 9:30 p.m. and continues through the night until 12:30 a.m. during Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party nights. You can pop in and out during the event to enjoy savory hors d’oeuvres, samplers and sweets. It also includes access to a reserved viewing section for the 11:15 p.m. parade. Cruella's Halloween Hide-a-Way is a separately ticketed experience ($99 per guest) and requires Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party admission, which is not included in this price.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Trick-or-Treating, Specialty Food & Merchandise

One of the big "treats" of the Disney Halloween Party is trick-or-treating around the park. You can haul in quite a lot of candy if that's the goal, but we prefer to enjoy the entertainment and hit a trick-or-treat trail or two as we hop around.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019 Treat Locations:

Main Street, U.S.A.

• Town Square Theater (Allergy-Friendly Center)
• Market Street (party entrance; open until 8 p.m.)

Adventureland

• Tortuga Tavern
• Jungle Cruise

Frontierland

• Splash Mountain
• Miner's Cove (by Big Thunder Mountain)
• Country Bear Jamboree

Liberty Square

• Liberty Square Ticket Office (Allergy-Friendly Center)
• The Diamond Horseshoe

Fantasyland

• Pinocchio Village Haus
• Mickey's PhilharMagic
• Walt Disney World Railroad Station
• Ariel's Grotto

Tomorrowland

• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
• Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café
• Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress

If the free candy doesn't quite satisfy your sweet tooth, enjoy spooktacular offerings created especially for the season. We tried the Amuck, Amuck, Amuck Cupcake, which can be found at Main Street Bakery. The cupcake itself was perfectly fluffy and moist, but fair warning, there is a lot of sweet frosting packed on top. Watch out for that black frosting — you may want to wait until after you take all your photos before your teeth turn colors ;)

It's important to note that some of these special, event-exclusive treats for purchase have long lines and can sell out later in the night. However, we noticed they started selling before the official party time. So, if you've got your eye (and stomach) set on a specific treat, we'd recommend hopping to it the earlier, the better!

Speaking of sweets — while we, of course, advise you to save some room for treats throughout the party, we recommend grabbing a meal ahead of time. Sitting down for dinner with your tadpoles can eat up anywhere between thirty minutes to over an hour of the five-hour party time, so it's much better to enjoy a nice meal before you start partying.

If shopping is your top priority, visit the Emporium and Big Top Souvenirs for apparel, ornaments, pins and more exclusive to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. You can also find tons of event pins and MagicBands at Frontier Trading Post. We're not overstating this — lines for exclusive merchandise can rival the lines for the characters. Items can sell out quickly if you wait until later in the night. Before you arrive at the party, decide how much time you're willing to spend to get that limited-edition pin. If you're lucky enough to be traveling with two "grown-up" frogs, we recommend one waiting for merch while the other takes the tadpoles on a ride or two nearby.

Tips for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019

As we've mentioned a time or two, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is one of the Frog Family's absolute favorite events! For those of you who love Halloween, it is definitely not to be missed.

Now, each of us Frog Family members has a different thing we love most about the party, so that just goes to show you there is a little something for everyone! For those of you wondering whether the party is worth the additional expense, for us, it's a resounding "Yes!" To make it the absolute best experience for your family, follow these tips:

1. Wear a costume

While it's not required that you wear a costume, it sure adds to my enjoyment because my favorite part of the night is taking in all of the elaborate costumes! And since this is the one event of the year where you are allowed to wear a costume at Magic Kingdom, I like to take advantage of it. And, in case you're wondering, you're never too old to enjoy Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. We saw so many creative costumes this year! Note: Masks are not allowed to be worn at the Magic Kingdom, so keep this in mind when choosing your costume.

2. Keep it light

While temperatures in Orlando are cooling down a bit, the average high is 91 in August, 90 in September and 85 in October. It can still be quite muggy, especially after those still-frequent afternoon rains, so parents should dress their children (and themselves) accordingly for the Disney Halloween party. Think twice before outfitting your little monster as Sulley, at least a head-to-toe furry Sulley. Consider bringing a change of clothes for younger children "just in case" and picking up rain ponchos at your nearest dollar store before you leave for the trip.

3. Bring your own trick-or-treat bags

Upon entry into the park, guests will receive treat bags. It's a cool perk, but they are on the smallish side. If your children are there for the loot, consider packing extra bags. You can also purchase souvenir bags that do the trick! Trick-or-treating is Lily's favorite part of the party, but she loves saying "trick-or-treat" as much as she loves the candy. You'll find candy stations throughout the park. Save time and skip the crowds by trick-or-treating later in the evening. If your treat line is long, don't wait. Visit a different one, or come back later. You'll find the same candy at each one!

For allergy-friendly offerings, a teal chip is handed out at the entrance of the party. Make your way to the street behind Tony's Town Square Restaurant to pick up your chip. You'll exchange this token for a teal treat bag and special candy at the allergy-friendly locations located at Town Square Theater and Liberty Square Ticket Office.

4. Get to the parks early

This is the single-most important tip for maximizing your fun and justifying the cost of this separately ticketed event. While the Disney Halloween party officially starts at 7 p.m., guests can begin entering the park as early as 4 p.m. (And yes, you can wear your costumes into the park at that time!) We highly recommend you get to the park early, so you can spend as much time in Magic Kingdom as possible.

When you arrive, Halloween Party attendees will be directed to a special entrance to receive wristbands. If you've already spent your day at the Magic Kingdom, you can secure your wristband from a cast member at specially designated locations throughout the park — don't worry, you can't miss the signs! Receiving your wristband is an absolute MUST-DO. Cast members are around every corner to usher non-party attendees out of the park.

5. Visit the most "in-demand" characters first or during the first parade

Leap's favorite part of the party is meeting all of the characters who greet guests in different locations. "Rare" characters are out for photo-ops, and your usual favorites are wearing their best Halloween garb. Lines can get very long for the most popular characters (up to three hours or more!), so be sure to prioritize. (If you want a costume idea, check out our DIY Jack and Sally T-shirt.)

Some of the more exclusive characters (Jack & Sally, the Seven Dwarfs and Moana) may be found meeting before the party even begins, but only for Halloween party guests with wristbands. If you arrive at Magic Kingdom when doors "open" for Halloween Party guests at 4 p.m., we recommend heading toward the characters' designated locations and asking cast members where and when to line up. That way, you can spend valuable party time doing other fun activities!

Can't make it early? Have no fear. Our best advice is to wait until just before parade times to hop in line for character meet-and-greets. Pick one of the two parade showings to attend, and then spend the other time snapping pics with your favorite characters. However, don't wait until the very end of the night! We tried getting in line to see the Seven Dwarfs and Stitch around 11:30 p.m. but cast members said they were finishing up for the night and weren't letting anyone else in line.

As a time-saver, try meeting characters who are joined by a friend. This may also make your tadpoles hoppier. Lily was dying to meet Jasmine, but Tad was all "whatever." Once he saw Genie join Jasmine, he hopped right in line with his sister.

The lines for characters have grown longer than in years' past. We recommend deciding as a family who your "top priority" characters are and making a game plan before you go. If a photo isn't a must, it's fun just to walk around and see the characters and their unique outfits. A majority of them meet outside, so it's easy to check them out in passing.

6. Stake out your parade location

Tad's favorite part of the party is watching Mickey's "Boo-To-You" Parade. He loves the Headless Horseman, all of the spooky floats and the characters in costume. You don't want to miss the Grandmaster's entrance — even if he is missing his head. Be sure to find a spot along the parade route at least 15 minutes in advance if you don't mind standing behind other people. If you want to be in the very front row, you should plan on staking out your spot — especially near Cinderella Castle and along Main Street U.S.A. — at least an hour ahead of time.

Don't want to spend so much time holding your ground? We recommend viewing it in Frontierland. You can get a great spot with a much shorter notice. We love the atmosphere of Main Street U.S.A. (and that's where you'll find us for the Christmas parade), but Halloween is a different story. We think Frontierland fits the spooky ambiance of "Boo-to-You." Since the parade starts in Frontierland, that also means it finishes sooner. So you can hop on more rides and character meet-and-greets while the rest of the audience waits for it to finish up.

The parade happens twice nightly and kicks off in Frontierland, follows the waterway until it reaches Liberty Square, crosses the Liberty Square bridge, circles Central Plaza in front of Cinderella Castle then heads down Main Street, U.S.A., where it ends next to Harmony Barbershop. If you don't mind the kids staying up late, go to the second parade. It's usually much less crowded.

7. Spot your favorite villains during the Hocus Pocus show

The Sanderson Sisters take over the stage again in the "Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular," also featuring Dr. Facilier, Ooogie Boogie and Maleficent. In the past, the villains would mix and mingle after their singing and dancing performance on the Castle Stage. Although these villains do not typically join the crowd for photo opportunities anymore, the performance is worth making time to see.

The lines for character meet-and-greets are typically a lot shorter just prior to and during parade performances, so plan to see some villains, such as Anastasia and Drizella or Cruella de Vil, during either the first or second Boo-to-You parade.

8. Get your boogie on

It just wouldn't be a Disney Halloween party without a dance. As we mentioned before, there are THREE opportunities to show off your moves. Mike and Sulley play host to their own Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball on the Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland. Join the Villain Kids at the new Disney DescenDANCE Party over in Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe for a groovin' good time. Or dance the night away with Disney Junior Pals at Storybook Circus.

9. Don't froget the fireworks show!

The centerpiece of the night in years past has been the villainous fireworks show, Happy HalloWishes. It was one of our very favorite displays ... however, the brand-new fireworks spectacular, Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular, exceeded our expectations! It's important to know that there is only one fireworks show, which begins at 10:15 p.m.

10. Don't spend too much time waiting for the ride overlays

While it's always neat to experience your favorite attraction with a twist, we didn't find any of the special Halloween party attraction experiences worth waiting too long for. The difference in the party-exclusive changes on Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain and Mad Tea Party are fairly minor, so don't get your hopes up on having a toadally different experience. (The rides close and undergo a short transition period before the party begins.) We wouldn't wait any longer than 20 to 30 minutes for any of these. If you can catch a short line (like our 15-minute wait for Pirates), you should check 'em out!

11. Knock out Hocus Pocus, the parade and fireworks all at once

If these three experiences fall at the top of your must-do list, we'd recommend finding a good viewing spot in front of Cinderella Castle and staying put through all three — starting with Hocus Pocus at 8:30 p.m. While the second parade has lower crowds, trying to get through the crowd that has already been in the hub from the first parade who stay for the fireworks is not easy. If you're just coming for the fireworks, Casey's Corner or Plaza Ice Cream Parlor would be great options for a quick escape, but you'd still need to arrive early.

Do you have questions about Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019? Share them in comments below! For more vacation planning tips, check out the When to Visit Orlando page inside our Orlando Planning Timeline!

Related: Schedule of Disney World Special Events

Hoppy Halloween!