2023 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom

There are several specially ticketed events offered throughout the year at Walt Disney World and 1 of those is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) where people get dressed up in costume and attend special Halloween themed activities that are only offered during the event.

Here’s everything you need to know about what takes place at the party, how much it costs, when it’s held, and thoughts on how to create a touring plan to use during the party.

What to expect in this guide

We first put this guide together years ago after struggling ourselves to find 1 resource that answered all of our questions about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Since then, we’ve attended multiple parties each year (including the first 2 parties of 2023) and have continued annually to update and add tips and info we think will be helpful.

(Plus, whenever we write additional resources about MNSSHP that we think are worth checking out, we’ve included those links in the text below, too.)

After you’ve mastered the basics of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party below, we recommend you head over and check out our MNSSHP Review and Strategy Guide. In that post, we have reviews of *everything* you can find at MNSSHP, plus a sample touring plan that will help you maximize your party time.

Let’s get started…

What is MNSSHP?

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a specially ticketed (costs extra) event that takes place in the fall at Magic Kingdom.

There’s a special parade, fireworks, characters, and even trick-or-treating.

More on all of that below.

Even though we grumble a bit about the price, we love it so much that we come back year after year. It’s a lot of fun, and a great way to kick off the spooky season.

When is Mickeyʼs Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?

Historically, at Walt Disney World, the Halloween season kicks off in mid-August and runs through the end of October.

2023 Party dates

There are 38 parties from mid-August through October 31:

• August: 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29
• September: 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29
• October: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31
• November: 1

Will more parties be added?

In the past, Disney had been known to add additional parties, however that is never guaranteed, and we haven’t seen them do that for several years now. In our opinion, with as many parties that are now scheduled each year, we don’t think it is likely we’ll see additional parties added for 2023.

Least crowded Halloween parties

People often ask about the least crowded parties and which days they should attend.

The fact is, the parties are way busier now than they were even just a few years ago.

It appears that Disney is selling more tickets, and people really, really love the Halloween party at Disney World.

That being said, aside from the first couple of parties, August and September are still better options than October.

One caveat is that we always expect the first party (and sometimes the first 2) and the parties right around Halloween to definitely sell out.

Video: Ultimate Guide to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2023

How much do Halloween party tickets cost?

Ticket prices range from $109-$199 (plus tax) for adults and $99-$189 (plus tax) for children.

Remember, this is a special ticket and separate from your regular park ticket.

A good indicator for how popular Disney thinks a party might be is found in the price structure: more popular (and busier) parties have a higher price point, as you can see in the chart below.

Are there discounts available?

Disney used to offer advance ticket sale discounts, but those don’t appear to be a thing in 2023.

Instead, the only way to save is with an Annual Pass or DVC Discount.

Annual Passholder and Disney Vacation Club discounts

On select nights, guests that are Annual Passholders or DVC (Disney Vacation Club) owners can save $10 on their tickets.

When do Halloween Party Tickets go on sale?

• April 27, 2023: onsite guests (including all onsite Disney Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green). Make sure you are logged into My Disney Experience before heading to the Special Events Tickets page on the Disney World website.
• May 2, 2023 – everyone else

Tickets are limited and may not be available for purchase on the day of the event (or earlier).

Ticket sales opened up at Midnight Eastern Standard Time on April 27 for online purchases. That is also how it worked in 2022.

Tickets are also available by calling 407-WDISNEY.

Tickets are non-refundable, even if there’s bad weather.

For this reason, we used to advise people to wait to get their party tickets until they got to Disney World, so they could see how the weather was going to be.

However, many party dates sold out in the last couple of years, so now we suggest buying them ahead of time if you’re pretty certain you want to attend.

Historical dates for MNSSHP ticket sales

• 2019 – January 19, 2019
• 2020 – February 25, 2020
• 2021 – (Boo Bash) – June 15, 2021
• 2022 – May 12 (onsite guests), May 18 (everyone else)
• 2023 – April 27 (onsite guests), May 2 (everyone else)

Do I need a Park Pass Reservation?

No Park Pass Reservation is needed if you intend to arrive at 4 pm or later.

If, however, you plan to arrive at Magic Kingdom before 4 pm, you will need a regular theme park ticket and Park Pass reservation.

Which MNSSHP dates have sold out?

You can definitely plan on some parties selling out, so if you really want to go, we recommend purchasing your tickets early.

In 2022, all the party dates *did* sell out, and we expect it to be similar for 2023.

ALL 2023 MNSSHP dates are now sold out:

• August 11 (sold out on August 7)
• August 15 (sold out on July 25)
• August 18 (sold out on August 1)
• August 22 (sold out on August 3)
• August 25 (sold out on August 3)
• August 29 (sold out August 10)
• September 1 (sold out on August 10)
• September 4 (sold out August 15)
• September 8 (sold out August 12)
• September 10 (sold out on August 17)
• September 12 (sold out on August 15)
• September 15 (sold out on August 6)
• September 17 (sold out on August 12)
• September 19 (sold out on September 6)
• September 22 (sold out on August 22)
• September 24 (sold out on August 28)
• September 26 (sold out on September 6)
• September 28 (sold out on September 30)
• September 29 (sold out on September 6)
• October 1 (sold out on September 6)
• October 3 (sold out on September 30)
• October 5 (sold out on September 14)
• October 6 (sold out on September 8)
• October 9 (sold out on September 4)
• October 10 (sold out on September 4)
• October 12 (sold out on September 4)
• October 13 (sold out on September 11)
• October 15 (sold out on September 8)
• October 17 (sold out on September 8)
• October 19 (sold out on September 30)
• October 20 (sold out on September 30)
• October 22 (sold out on September 30)
• October 24 (sold out on September 30)
• October 26 (sold out on September 30)
• October 27 (sold out on September 30)
• October 29 (sold out on September 30)
• October 31 (sold out on July 3)
• November 1 (sold out on September 30)

Here’s which 2022 MNSSHP dates that sold out and when:

• August 12 (sold out on Aug. 7)
• August 16 (sold out on July 28)
• August 19 (sold out on Aug. 8)
• August 23 (sold out on Aug. 8)
• August 26 (sold out on Aug. 11)
• August 30 (sold out on Aug. 17)
• September 2 (sold out on Aug. 6)
• September 5 (sold out on Aug. 17)
• September 9 (sold out on Aug. 30)
• September 11 (sold out on Aug. 26)
• September 13 (sold out on Aug. 30)
• September 16 (sold out on Aug. 17)
• September 18 (sold out on Aug. 23)
• September 20 (sold out on Aug. 17)
• September 23 (sold out on Aug. 26)
• September 25 (sold out on Aug. 30)
• September 27 (sold out on Aug. 30)
• September 29 (sold out on Sept. 2) — canceled due to Disney World’s temporarily closure on Sept. 28 and 29 impacted by Hurricane Ian
• September 30 (sold out on Aug. 23)
• October 2 (sold out on Aug. 30)
• October 4 (sold out on Sept. 2)
• October 6 (sold out on Sept. 2)
• October 7 (sold out on Sept. 2)
• October 10 (sold out on Sept. 2)
• October 11 (sold out on Aug. 30)
• October 13 (sold out on Sept. 2)
• October 14 (sold out on Sept. 10)
• October 16 (sold out on Sept. 9)
• October 18 (sold out on Aug. 30)
• October 20 (sold out on Sept. 9)
• October 21 (sold out on Sept. 11)
• October 23 (sold out on Sept. 9)
• October 25 (sold out on Sept. 9)
• October 27 (sold out on Sept. 9)
• October 28 (sold out on Sept. 9)
• October 30 (sold out on Aug. 15)
• October 31 (sold out on July 1)

In 2019 the dates that sold out were:

• September 22 (sold out on Sept. 22)
• September 27 (sold out on Sept. 24)
• September 29 (sold out on Sept. 25)
• October 1 (sold out on Oct. 1)
• October 8 (sold out on Oct. 7)
• October 10 (sold out on Oct. 8)
• October 11 (sold out on Oct. 8)
• October 14 (sold out on Oct. 13)
• October 17 (sold out on Oct. 17)
• October 24 (sold out on Oct. 19)
• October 25 (sold out on Oct. 24)
• October 31 (sold out on Oct. 8)
• November 1 (sold out on Oct. 30)

MNSSHP Start Time

The main party events begin at 7 p.m. and end at midnight, but people with event tickets can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4 p.m. to enjoy the park in its “regular” state before the party officially kicks off at 7.

That means you do not need a regular park ticket to visit Magic Kingdom on this day if you have a Halloween party ticket and arrive at 4:00 pm or later.

Additionally, if you intend to go to a park other than Magic Kingdom before the party, you do not need a Park Hopper ticket if you plan to arrive at 4:00 pm or later.

We highly recommend you take advantage of that perk, and we cover a little bit how to maximize those hours before the party starts down below.

Can Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Members get in early?

In the past, DVC Members and up to 7 guests (for a total of 8 people) could enter Magic Kingdom on just a party ticket beginning at 2 p.m. But, it has been several years since that happened.

DVC Members do receive a $10 discount on their tickets, though. To check on availability, log into your My Disney Experience account and navigate to Event Tickets.

2023 Halloween Party map (with characters labled)

Disney has special maps for the party which will show you lots of things, except which characters are where. So, we added those on the map below.

What takes place during a Halloween Party at Disney World?

Wristbands

Since the park is open only for party guests, those attending will need to get special wristbands.

Party wristbands can be picked up at:

• the front of the park (as you enter)
• near Tortuga Tavern
• by Fantasy Faire
• at Tomorrowland entrance across from Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

Wristband locations inside the park typically stop handing out bands around 7:00 p.m. After that point, you’ll need to go to the front of the park to get a band.

Trick-or-treating

Everybody is given a small bag when entering the party, but you can bring your own if you’d rather have something a bit bigger.

We recommend that you go later in the night to avoid lugging around heavy candy, to enjoy shorter lines, to benefit from Cast Members often generous portions later in the night, and to allow you to do more important things earlier.

Trick-or-treat spots are noted as orange suckers on the map. They include:

Main Street U.S.A.

• Market Street (open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; you can pick up your treat bag here and hit several candy stops along the way)

Fantasyland

• Pinocchio Village Haus
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• Gaston’s Tavern
• Storybook Circus WDW Railroad station (not indicated on the map, but they sometimes hand out KIND bars there)
• Ariel’s Grotto

Tomorrowland

• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
• Carousel of Progress
• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
• Near TRON Lightcycle / Run

Adventureland

• Enchanted Tiki Room
• Tortuga Tavern

Frontierland

• Tom Sawyer Island Dock
• Country Bear Jamboree

Liberty Square

• Columbia Harbour House

Allergy-friendly treats

People with food allergies: you can grab a teal bag from a Cast Member at any treat location and/or head to Chamber of Commerce (stays open past midnight) and Liberty Square Ticket Center (closes promptly at midnight) for an allergy-friendly selection.

You can collect teal tokens at the trick-or-treat stations, which can later be redeemed for allergy-friendly treats.

Tip: If you want to skip the treat stations, you do NOT need to collect tokens to receive the allergy-friendly treats. Cast Members hand out tokens so that those with allergies can still participate in the trick-or-treating if they choose. But, you can skip that and just go directly to the Allergy-Friendly stations if that works better for you.

The allergy-friendly centers are shown as teal Mickey heads on the party map.

Dressing in costumes

Disney used to allow everybody to wear costumes during the Halloween party, and while lots of people still dress up, the policy has changed a bit recently.

Basically, the changes mean that your costume cannot be violent or dangerous. 

That means your costume needs to be family-friendly, and you can’t include any weapons or things that might look like a weapon with it.

And, while younger kids can wear eye masks, anyone 13 or older can’t have masks of any kind.

For safety, adults can’t have long capes or have their costumes drag the ground. And, what you wear needs to be easily searched when going through the security checkpoints.

• Get the full list of rules and costume tips on our Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party costume FAQ.

Boo-To-You Parade 

Parade time: 9:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.

The Boo-To-You Halloween parade is held twice during the party (at 9:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.). For easiest viewing, go to Frontierland for the second parade. The parade begins in Frontierland and comes through Main Street about 15 minutes after the official parade start time, so keep that in mind when planning.

In true Disney fashion, the Halloween parade comes with a couple of fun “extras”:

1. NEW in 2023! – Daisy, Clarabelle, and Minnie appear in opening of the parade as the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus.
   
2. Max Goof (cosplaying as Powerline) and his awesome 90’s crew keep guests waiting on the arrival of the Boo-to-You Parade entertained. This is in place of the previous Zootopia Party Patrol which had kicked off the parade for the past several years.
   
   Usually, these little pre-parades are fun dance parties that allow the crowd to get up and dance around. They are a good way for kids to work out the kinks before the parade begins.
   
   It is important to note that Max Goof and friends can only be found on Main Street U.S.A. and in the Town Square areas.
   
3. In Frontierland, you can expect a little hoedown with the Country Bears around 25 minutes or so before the parade kicks off.
   
4. The highlight of the parade for many occurs before it even starts, with one of the signature moments of the entire evening: the appearance of the Headless Horseman.

• Get more tips on Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular | Castle stage

Showtimes:

• August and September: 8:35 p.m., 10:45 p.m., 12 a.m.
• October: 7:40 p.m., 8:35 p.m., 10:45 p.m., 12 a.m.

In Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, the mischievous Sanderson Sisters from Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” return to the mortal world for one night during the Halloween season.

With only a few hours to run amuck, the three sisters decide to use their magic to throw the best, most evil Halloween party this side of the graveyard!

Hocus Pocus takes place in August and September at 8:35 p.m., 10:45 p.m., and midnight. In October show times are 7:40 p.m., 8:35 p.m., 10:45 p.m., and midnight.

Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular (fireworks extravaganza)

Showtime: 10:15 p.m.

Replacing the much beloved HalloWishes (which made its final appearance in 2018), this new nighttime show debuted in 2019 and features Jack Skellington as host and includes projections, lasers, special lighting effects, and of course – lots and lots of fireworks.

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy join in on the adventure as Jack tells the story of “how anything can happen on Halloween Night.”

Because of the use of projections, much like Happily Ever After (the regular nighttime show), the best views will be close to the castle.

Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular (fireworks extravaganza) takes place at 10:15 p.m.

ZOM-BEATZ-BASH (new 2023 location) | Rockettower Plaza Stage

Dance party times: 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

For 2023, ZOM-BEATZ BASH can be found at the Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland. This dance party debuted in 2022 and features both Zombie and Cheerleaders and music inspired by the ZOMBIES original movies on Disney Channel.

Note: This replaces the Descendance Party that was last held in 2019 at MNSSHP.

Disney Junior Jam (new 2023 location) | Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café

Dance party times: 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Located in Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in 2023, this dance party features Disney Junior characters, including Vampirina, Fancy Nancy, Timon, and Doc McStuffins.

In past years, you could find the dance party in Storybook Circus.

The dance party takes place from 7 p.m. – midnight.

The Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet | Frontierland

Showtimes: 7:00 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9:50 p.m., and 10:30 p.m.

The Cadaver Dans perform their ghoulish medley of popular “tombs” for guests in Frontierland on the balcony by Country Bear Jamboree during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom.

Powerline “Stand Out” Pop-Up Party with Max Goof (NEW for 2023) | Tomorrowland

Showtimes: Intermittenly throughout the evening

Max Goof and his Powerline party pack appear at new pop-up parties throughout Magic Kingdom (Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in Tomorrowland, and the Adventureland stage) before they dance onto Main Street U.S.A. ahead of Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade.

Rusty Cutlass (Spirited pirate band) (NEW for 2023) | Adventureland

Showtimes: Intermittently between 7:15 and 11:50

Adventureland is taken over by a spirited pirate band and their crew. Be sure to listen for their sea shanties while their shipmates roam the land sharing tales of their explorations at sea.

• Here is a full list of entertainment at the 2023 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Meet and greet opportunities with Disney characters

There are always chances to meet lots of characters during the party.

You probably won’t be able to meet all the characters in 1 night, so keep that in mind when deciding which ones to prioritize.

• Read more about the characters at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

¹in special attire for the party

²exclusive characters or character combos

³at a dance party (doesn’t sign autographs)

Characters in CAPS – very popular! Plan to line up before the party begins, during parades/fireworks, or the last hour of the night.

Main Street, U.S.A.

• Mickey Mouse¹ – Town Square Theater
• JACK AND SALLY² – Town Square Theater

Adventureland

• Aladdin with Abu² – at the Agrabah Bazaar, this pair swaps sets with Jasmine and Genie
• Jasmine with Genie² – at the Agrabah Bazaar, this pair swaps sets with Aladdin and Abu
• Jafar² – near Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Captain Jack Sparrow – near Pirates of the Caribbean

Frontierland

• Country Bears – roaming

Fantasyland

• Anastasia and Drizella – roaming
• SEVEN DWARF² – Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Storybook Circus
• Donald & Daisy² – Storybook Circus in Dumbo queue
• Pirate Goofy¹ – Storybook Circus near exit of Goofy’s Barnstormer
• Minnie Mouse¹ – Storybook Circus in Dumbo queue
• Alice and Mad Hatter² – Mad Tea Party
• Belle¹ – Maurice’s Cottage (Enchanted Tales with Bell)
• Ariel and Eric² – Prince Eric’s Market (across from Ariel’s Grotto)
• POOH, TIGGER, EEYORE, PIGLET¹ – Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Queen of Hearts and Tweedles² – Mad Tea Party
• Princess Elena – Princess Fairytale Hall
• Princess Tiana – Princess Fairytale Hall
• Rapunzel – Princess Fairytale Hall
• Cinderella – Princess Fairytale Hall

Tomorrowland

• ELVIS STITCH² – In between Carousel of Progress and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Characters who did not return in 2023

Sadly, several fan favorites did not return for 2023. Those include:

• Gaston (Belle meets alone in her blue dress)
• Moana
• Tarzan, Jane, & Terk
• Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear

Many Magic Kingdom attractions will be open (including TRON Lightcycle / Run)

Not all the rides and shows will be open during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, but many will.

In the past, the lines for attractions were relatively short (when compared to a normal park day).

However, the increased crowds mean that the wait times on the most popular attractions (like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train) can still be around 30-45 minutes. 

What about TRON Lightcycle / Run?

TRON will be open during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, but it will only be accessible via the Virtual Queue.

.

Here’s what you need to know:

• A special 3rd virtual queue will open at 6:00 p.m. for all guests with a ticket to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The ticket must be linked to your account in My Disney Experience in order to request to join.
• Guests with MNSSHP tickets do NOT need to be in Magic Kingdom to request to join the queue.
• You can confirm your party before the queue opens
• There will be no standby line or Individual Lightning Lanes available.
• Each guest can only request to join the virtual queue once per event.

Attractions that are open:

• Adventureland – The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Swiss Family Treehouse
• Frontierland – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Liberty Square – The Haunted Mansion
• Fantasyland – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, 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, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and The Barnstormer
• Tomorrowland – Astro Orbiter, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, TRON Lightcycle / Run (via Virtual Queue only)

There are a few attractions that double as treat stops during the party. These attractions are open and make great spots to sit and cool off.

• Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor (Tomorrowland) – treat location (it used to have 2 stops, but looks like it will only have 1). Instead of the regular show, they do Halloween jokes here, and you can come and go. Great place to sit and relax for a bit or to cool off / get out of the rain.
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic (Fantasyland) – treat location (2 stops, one as you enter and one as you leave). No regular show but they are showing Halloween cartoons during the party. Great place to sit and relax for a bit or to cool off / get out of the rain.
• Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room (Adventureland) – treat location (2 stops, one as you enter and one as you leave). Great place to sit and relax for a bit or to cool off / get out of the rain.
• Country Bears Jamboree (Frontierland) – treat location

Not open: Carousel of Progress

Special ride experiences  

Disney has 4 attractions with a Halloween twist available during the party. Here are what those options look like:

• Mad Tea Party – special lighting and music takes this wild attraction up an even madder notch. Not a must-do, but it is kind of fun to ride with the upbeat Halloween music and the festive lights.

• Space Mountain (usually runs with the overlay starting at 7 p.m., but may begin before the party officially starts) – same ride, but in complete darkness and with Halloween music. Out of all the Halloween enhancements, this one is probably the best and a definite must-do for anybody who loves thrill rides.

• Monster’s Inc. – Basically, Disney has turned the Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor into a trick-or-treat station that you can walk through, all while a Halloween version of the audience interaction portion of the show is taking place. Guests can choose to grab a seat and watch (which is a fantastic option if you need a cool place to rest for a few minutes) or they can continue walking through the theater to grab more candy on the way out the door. 5 stars for prolific candy distribution, but sadly 2 stars for the rest of it. Do it for the candy, not for the show itself.

Special mention: Haunted Mansion. Though it’s not listed on the party map as “Halloween twist” like the attractions above, there is a lot going on there during the party, so it deserves a special mention here.

The attraction itself isn’t different, but several things are going on in front. Those include:

• Photo op holding the lantern near Haunted Mansion entrance
• Madame Carlotta, Madame Renatta, and Broome the Butler take turns appearing in the graveyard instead of in front of the attraction as it has in the past.

The photo op can be done without riding the ride, but if you want to see Madames Carlotta and Renatta and Broome, you must enter the queue to see them.

Halloween Party Genie+ and Lightning Lane Selections

There are no Genie+ or Lightning Lane Selections during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Theme park ticket guests can get Genie+ until 6:00 p.m., but people with party tickets alone won’t be able to make Lightning Lane selections.

Halloween party and DAS

The Disability Access Service is available during the party; however, you may have to request your return times in person (they may not be available in the app).

Magic Shots & Special Photo Opportunities

PhotoPass photographers will take special photos during the party and when you see the pics afterward, you’ll see something magically inserted into the photo.

Tip: to get several Magic Shots in 1 photo stop, be sure to let the PhotoPass photographers on Main Street know. They will be able to do a few at once.

Memory Maker

Because of the uniqueness of the photographs you can get during the party, we highly recommend you purchase Memory Maker or Memory Maker One Day.

We gathered all the PhotoPass and Magic Shot locations into one post, so if that is something you’re interested in, make sure you check out our Guide to Magic Shots at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Shopping for event merchandise

Disney always has exclusive merchandise available to purchase during their parties.

In 2023, the collection includes several items, including a selection of ears, spirit jerseys, mugs, and t-shirts.

Items can be purchased at The Emporium on Main Street and some will also be available at Star Traders in Tomorrowland.

Tip: Party merchandise is extremely popular, and there are often lines to check it out. We recommend shopping early (before the party starts) for the best selection and to keep from losing party time waiting in line.

Food options

Restaurants

Though you should probably be careful about spending too much of your party time eating, there are some Quick Service and Table Service restaurants available during the party.

Mobile Order is not available during the party, but you can find both full menus and party treats at Quick Service spots that are open.

Note: you must have a party ticket to dine at one of the available Table Service restaurants during MNSSHP.

Table Service restaurants that are available in 2023 include Be Our Guest and Cinderella’s Royal Table.

You can book those on the MNSSHP dining page.

Seasonal treats available for purchase

There are tons and tons (ok, maybe that is an exaggeration) of specialty seasonal treats that are available to purchase during the party. 

Important: Unfortunately, there aren’t any gluten-friendly or plant-based items available.

Because there are so many to list, we’ve broken them all out into their own post. Make sure you check that out if food is your thing. Spoiler – we usually don’t really like the party offerings, so spend your money with caution.

• Check out all the exclusive treats, dining options, dessert parties, and more available at the 2023 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Halloween Popcorn Buckets & Sippers

Nightmare Before Christmas Popcorn Bucket

Available only at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, limit of 2.

Glow in the Dark Donald Candy Corn Sipper

Available during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, as well as in other parks and locations during Halloween.

MNSSHP Fireworks Dessert Party

There are 2 styles of dessert parties that you can book during MNSSHP. They both include guaranteed viewing for the MNSSHP fireworks spectacular shown at 10:15 p.m. and the food and drinks are identical:

Desserts: Chocolate-dipped strawberries, cupcakes, seasonal fruits, cheeses, cookie decorating station, crêpes, etc.
Beverages: Sparkling beverages, signature lemonades, milk, water, coffee and tea; additionally, beer and wine will be available to guests 21 and over.

The difference between the 2 parties is the view you’ll have of the fireworks.

We have done the Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party and while it was a lot of fun, it is kind of expensive. Before you commit to it, make sure you check out the link below for details on why we don’t think it is a great idea for most guests.

Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace

• Price: $114 (including tax and gratuity) for guests ages 10 and older; $69 (including tax and gratuity) for guests ages 3 to 9
• View: Guaranteed firework viewing from a seating area on the restaurant’s terrace. This view is not “perfect” and you’ll be looking at the castle off on an angle, but, you will be able to sit during the show.
• Book online

Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing

• Price: $99 (including tax and gratuity) for guests ages 10 and older; $59 (including tax and gratuity) for guests ages 3 to 9
• View: Guaranteed firework viewing in the Plaza Garden. This view will put you nearly dead center on the castle, but although you can sit while you wait for the fireworks, during the show the Cast Members will require you to stand.
• Book online

Tips and a sample touring plan

Keep in mind that you will not be able to do everything, so you’ll have to prioritize what’s most important to you.

Before the party starts (4 p.m. – 7 p.m.)

Note: If you plan to get in line for Jack and Sally or the Seven Dwarfs, we recommend you arrive to the front of Magic Kingdom no later than 3:00 p.m. If those aren’t on your to-do list, you can arrive later.

• Pick up your party wristband.
• Line up to meet some of the most popular characters (Seven Dwarfs, Jack & Sally, Elvis Stitch, Belle, Minnie/Donald/Daisy, Pooh and friends)
• Purchase party-exclusive merchandise (lines here can get long, so unless you want something that is limited in quantity, we recommend waiting until later in the evening)
• Grab a quick meal
• Enjoy the park as it is (before the party officially kicks off)

After the party starts (7 p.m. until midnight)

• Watch the parade, but as long as the weather looks good, wait until the second one since it’s less busy, and you can do other things during the first one.
• See the fireworks
• Attend the shows – they are exclusive to this party and can’t be seen any other time of year
• Meet characters that are important to you
• Trick-or-treat
• Snag party-exclusive merchandise

Things you should not spend time doing:

• Eating – you can get treats at many locations and there are some restaurants open, but don’t spend too much time on that. Be sure to eat before the events begin, so you can spend your time doing other things.
• Doing things that are not exclusive to this party, which includes meeting some characters like those at Princess Fairytale Hall, and riding some rides. If you’re attending on a busy night, focus on the exclusive things as opposed to things you could ride during the day. 

Here’s a sample touring plan for the party:

• 4:00 – 7:00 – ride rides, eat dinner, or get in line to meet your highest priority character. If you want to meet Jack & Sally or the Seven Dwarfs, get in line right at 4 p.m. If you want to meet Pooh and friends, Minnie/Donald/Daisy, or Elvis Stitch, line up around 5:30 p.m.
• 7:00 – 9:00 – rides, characters, Magic Shots 
• 9:00 – 11:00 – fireworks, Hocus Pocus show
• 11:00 – midnight – Boo-to-You Parade at 11:15 p.m., trick-or-treat to get as much candy as you can, meet more characters with shorter lines

Is the Halloween Party worth it?

The party is worth it for groups that can stay up late, especially if you consider that you can think of your party ticket as your park ticket for the day, but with special entertainment and shorter waits for rides.

For instance, if you’ll be in Disney theme parks for 7 days, you could get 6 day park tickets and also purchase tickets to the party.

On the party day, you could use the first part of the day to rest or visit Disney Springs, and then go to Magic Kingdom at 4 p.m. to use your party ticket.

It’s also worth it for people who will really enjoy party-exclusive offerings – exclusive characters, Halloween-themed fireworks, stage shows, etc., but you must pick just a few things and realize you will not do it all.

Halloween parties are often crowded, so if you do decide to attend, keep expectations in check and enjoy the party!

Not happening for 2023

The most recent MNSSHP had a couple of items that did not return for 2023. But, just in case they do decide to bring them back sometime in the future, we’re leaving them here for reference.

Special Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom cards

In the past, guests attending MNSSHP could pick up an exclusive Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom card.

But, Disney has permanently shelved the old Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game, so there won’t be any cards in 2023 (or any years moving forward).

DescenDANCE Party

In the past, you could join your favorite Villain Kids for some wickedly good beats and fun photo ops at Cosmic Ray’s. This dance party was replaced by Zom-Beatz Bash, which now performs on the Rockettower Plaza Stage and the Disney Junior Jam happening inside Cosmic Ray’s.

Cruella’s Halloween Hide-a-Way

Located at Tony’s Town Square, this was an event that guests could pop in and out of as they wish.

During the event, guests could dine on sweet and savory treats, along with both unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (as well as a festive atmosphere that ran until 12:30 a.m., which is after MNSSHP had ended).

There was also a PhotoPass photographer at the party to snap some pics while you mingled.

And, the best part was that included with the price to this “party within a party” was access to a special reserved area to watch the 2nd Boo-to-You Parade.

Yes, this one was expensive, but found it to be a lot of fun. 

Is MNSSHP like Boo Bash ?

Yes and No.

Boo Bash drew a lot of its inspiration from both Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Disney Villains After Hours – 2 similar events with very different focuses.

After Hours events are typically centered on being able to ride lots of rides with little to no waits, while the draw for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is Halloween-specific entertainment offerings (like the Boo-to-You parade, fireworks, and a plethora of character meet opportunities).

In the past, After Hour events didn’t typically occur in the fall.

And then Boo Bash came along, and it had a giant scoop of an After Hours event with a dash of the Halloween Party tossed in for a little added spice.

So, although Boo Bash had some Halloween Party favorites like trick-or-treating, the fact is that Boo Bash was a lot more like an After Hours event than Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

If you’ve never attended Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party and you’re wondering how they compare, check out the chart below:

Boo Bash, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Villains After Hours Comparison Chart

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So, what do you think? Will you be attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? Or do you have questions that weren’t covered?

Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments.

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Shannon Albert

Shannon started this site in May of 2012 to help people plan Disney World trips. Since then, she's visited monthly and stayed in every resort several times. You can find her on social media as well as her weekly podcast, WDW Prep To Go. Email Shannon

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