Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party go on sale this week for resort guests and next week for everyone, but with another increase in ticket pricing you may be wondering– Is it worth it? There’s a lot to unpack here to determine whether or not spending close to or over $200 makes the most sense for your fall Disney trip….
This event is one of my favorite experiences at Walt Disney World, and in years past it’s one of the only special ticketed events that I’ve returned to frequently. That being said, with ticket prices ranging from $119-229 (depending on the party date), so it totally makes sense that you may be stuck on whether or not it’s worth going. With insights stemming from my past experiences and love of this event, plus several logistical and objective facts about it, I’m hoping this post will equip you to make the best decision before your next Disney trip.
Fall at Walt Disney World
First, I feel like we should address the elephant in the room which to me is that there is no longer a slow season at Walt Disney World. It was going that way before the pandemic, and while that slowed things down a little bit there really is no true slow season now like there was before say, 2012.
This may seem obvious, but I wanted to point it out in case you haven’t been to the parks in a long time and therefore wouldn’t have even thought to look into the crowd levels. Of course, fall is generally slower than some other times of the year, especially week days in late August through September, but it’s not slow by any means.
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is longer than ever and it continues to draw crowds throughout the season. This year’s festival runs August 28-November 22. And while most kids are back in school by the end of August, more people have been planning trips in early fall to counteract the crowd, thus resulting in the decline of the fall slow season.
Still, fall is actually my favorite time to visit, so I don’t say any of this to deter you, but just to be realistic on what you might experience. I also love Food & Wine Festival, and fall flavors in general that are added to restaurants and snack carts across the resort this time of year (give me all the apple and pumpkin, please!) Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) continues to be a draw for me as well, and it’s worth pointing out that for many guests, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights will inform when they book their Orlando trips so they can experience Halloween at multiple parks.
The one exception for when I think you definitely will experience a quiet day at a Disney park is during the day in the Magic Kingdom on dates when there is a MNSSHP that night. On those days, the park closes at 6 for guests who do not have a ticket to the party, which means that most people who are purchasing a regular ticket to Magic Kingdom will choose not to go to the park that day.
If you have an Annual Pass, a park hopper, or are otherwise okay with ending your Magic Kingdom day at 6 pm, the park is significantly less crowded before the parties, so it could be a good opportunity to get in some rides without worrying about Lightning Lanes.
What’s Included at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (August 15-October 31) is a separately ticketed after-hours event, but it’s important to view it as more of a specialized experience than your typical after hours night in the park.
Can you go on rides during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? Of course! But there is so much going on at the event that unless the ride has an overlay you can only experience at the party, I wouldn’t prioritize rides. While not really an overlay, I would also still ride the Haunted Mansion. The exterior is often done up with extra dog and lighting effects and the cast members are really into it. Plus, Madame Carlotta, one of the Mansion’s ghosts, can often be seen outside during the event talking to guests.
The biggest draws to me for MNSSHP are the character meet and greets, parade, stage show, and fireworks. There are other things to do, like trick-or-treating and specialty foods to try, but the main features I can’t miss are really the shows and characters.
Like many other separately ticketed events, the characters you can meet during Not-So-Scary are often not otherwise seen in the theme parks. Character offerings change over the years, but in the past the most popular ones have been the Seven Dwarfs, the villains, classic Disney characters in their Halloween costumes, and Jack and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), (Jack -finally- has a new look this year, and it is such an improvement!)
The full list of characters aside from Sally and Jack Skellington hasn’t been announced yet for this year, but Disney did share that for the first time guests will be able to meet Mickey and Minnie at the same time in their Halloween costumes, and that is exciting for sure!
Moving on to entertainment, I truly believe Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has some of the best shows, parades, and fireworks. (Yes, I did prefer the old HalloWishes to the current Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular, but the latter does make great use of the projection mapping on Cinderella Castle, and it has a really incredible Jack Skellington puppet as part of the show.)
The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular is a must-see in my opinion for anyone who loves Halloween, villains, or Hocus Pocus (1993). Outside of merchandise, you really don’t see much from Hocus Pocus at Walt Disney World, so if you are a fan of the film you wouldn’t want to miss one of your only chances to see the Sanderson Sisters. The show also features Hades, Cruella De Vil, Jafar, Dr. Facilier and The Evil Queen, according to Disney’s latest blog post, but if it runs as it has in years past, I would say Oogie Boogie is a highlight in it as well.
Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, in my opinion, is one of the best parades Disney has ever done and is a major factor in whether or not I think this event is worth it honestly. It kicks off with the Headless Horseman riding the parade route, and includes everything from villains to classic characters dressed up for Halloween, and several iconic characters from the parks like pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean, and gravediggers and ballroom dancers from The Haunted Mansion.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party also includes specialty eats available only during the event, however to be totally honest, this isn’t as much of a draw to me. The party ticket is already expensive, and if I’m going to spend more on top of the ticket, it is probably going to be on merchandise over food (there will also be party exclusive merch available).
The Magic Kingdom also has lots of seasonal snacks available during regular park hours, so prioritizing snacks during MNSSHP just isn’t my go-to plan with everything else happening at the event. This might be a given at this point, but I would also not plan for a table-service meal during MNSSHP (or any specially ticketed event really), as it would take up party time.
The event includes some dance parties (this year’s will feature Zombies 4) as well as performances by the Cadaver Dans (the spookier version of the Dapper Dans, the barbershop quartet who perform on Main Street, U.S.A. during the day). Ride overlays will also be back this year, but Disney has not announced which rides yet.
There are also usually PhotoPass Magic Shots available that are exclusive to the party, but they have not been announced yet for this year.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Cost vs. Value
At $119-229 per ticket, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will certainly be an added splurge for most guests. Tickets vary by date, and the more affordable ones will be weekdays earlier in the season, where weekends and dates closer to Halloween will be more expensive.
The party kicks off on August 15 and runs through Halloween, and while August may not feel like fall (especially with Orlando’s heat and humidity), late August into early September are the best times to go in my opinion. (I would also avoid the first one or two party nights if you can because it will be crowded with everyone trying to be the first to go.)
In terms of cost, there are actually some pros to consider: First, your party ticket gets you into the park at 4 pm even though the event doesn’t start until 7 pm. I’m not saying that totally justifies the cost of the ticket, especially if you have an Annual Pass or make it to the Magic Kingdom often anyway, but it does make the ticket price hurt a tiny bit less. If you do opt to go into the park at 4 pm, that’s when I’d prioritize rides (without overlays that only run during the party at least).
If it’s important to you, there is also the fact that this is the only event where adults can dress in costumes at the park, and realistically, it’s probably one of the only times you can go trick-or-treating as an adult. I’m not saying you’ll make up $200 worth of candy to justify the ticket cost, but if you’re the nostalgic type, I’m sure those are draws for attending the party. (For me, I like dressing up but being comfortable is my first priority for sure!)
I do think the entertainment during MNSSHP is unmatched and between this, the characters, and the overall vibe of experiencing Halloween in the Magic Kingdom, the event ultimately provides enough value to be worth it. Whether or not it’s worth it year after year, I think is more subjective. Very little changes at the event from year to year (aside from the ticket price going up, of course!), and while Disney has hinted at some new features this year, I think the more challenging question to answer would be is it worth going every time you visit the resort in the fall?
If you’re comparing this to a regular Disney After Hours event, I think you’ll find it to be an excellent value. A regular After Hours ticket at the Magic Kingdom will run you $175-185, and only includes three hours in the park (from 10 pm to 1 am). While this does include complimentary snacks and soda, it’s still a steep price for an event that largely focuses on things you can do during regular park hours (rides), as you’re really just paying to have limited crowds. There is value to this type of event, too, especially if you’d prefer to pay for a lower-crowd event vs. fighting with Lightning Lanes altogether, but in terms of event length and experiences offered, MNSSHP doesn’t seem so crazy at $119-229 when compared to After Hours.
TLDR: Is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Worth It?
Yes, if:
- You love Halloween in a spooky, nostalgic way, you want to trick-or-treat or wear a costume as an adult.
- You’re a fan of Disney Parks entertainment and want to see some of the best parades, shows, and fireworks.
- You love meeting rare characters and would make this a priority during your Disney vacation.
- You’re able to attend on one of the lower cost nights (at $119-140ish, you’d be paying that for a Magic. Kingdom ticket anyway and MNSSHP would give you three hours of regular park time and five hours of party time).
- You’ve never been to MNSSHP before and it’s on your Disney bucket list. I think the more difficult question to is whether or not it’s worth it annually or every couple of years, but if it’s on your list and you haven’t been, you definitely should!
- Budget isn’t an issue.
No, if:
- If it’s not doable cost-wise. I LOVE MNSSHP, but it isn’t worth taking on debt for. Skip it and save until it’s doable if the cost is the only thing stopping you.
- You prefer scary to spooky when it comes to Halloween events. MNSSHP is very family-friendly, and while it is so much fun as an adult if you’re looking more for haunted houses, scare zones, alcoholic beverages, etc, this isn’t the event for you. (But Halloween Horror Nights at Universal probably is!)
- It’s your first time going to Magic Kingdom. Maybe this is just my opinion, but I think the Magic Kingdom is overwhelming for first-timers to begin with, I can’t imagine throwing a special event into the mix.
- You aren’t interested in entertainment or character meet and greets. These are what truly make the event unique. If your focus is rides, you’re better off with a regular ticket for a non-party night to have more time in the park, or a party night to make the best use of light crowds.
I hope this post helps you decide whether or not to grab tickets for this year’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! If you do decide to purchase, be sure to grab them asap because this event does tend to sell out early.
