Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party - 2023 Guide and Tips

Boo to you! Halloween is a wonderful time to visit Walt Disney World, with ghoulish decorations and frightful festivities found throughout the entire resort. However, if you’re looking to have the Halloweeniest time at Disney World, look no further than Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

This after hours event takes place on certain nights at Magic Kingdom, where the whole park is transformed into a spooky celebration. Fun for all ages, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is by far the best Halloween event at Disney World.

But is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party worth the extra money? Should you make it part of your Disney World plans? And if you’re going to go to Magic Kingdom’s Halloween party, how can you make the most of it?

Whether you’re curious about the party or if you already bought your tickets, our guide will give you the spooky scoop on everything to do at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Find out tips on how to get the most out of your time at the Halloween Party, where to find the unique character meet and greets, which parade is easier to get viewing for, and more!

Update 08-08-2023 – We’ve updated this guide with information about new entertainment at this year’s party, the character locations, the trick or treat trails, as well as showtimes for the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular and Cadaver Dans. 

What is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a hard ticketed event held in the Magic Kingdom on select nights from August through October each year. Hard ticketed means that it requires a separate ticket than regular Magic Kingdom admission.

With Halloween-themed entertainment, fireworks, and trick or treating appropriate for all ages, this party is a stark contrast from horror nights at most other theme parks. No one will be jumping out and trying to scare the living daylights out of you. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party invites guests of all ages to dress up in costume and enjoy activities that are much more spooky than scary.

From the spectacular Boo-To-You Parade to special character meet and greets to the fan favorite Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, this Halloween bash is a great way for the whole family to celebrate the spookiest holiday together.

Should I go to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? Is it worth it?

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is our favorite Disney World seasonal party — which isn’t saying too much, as Disney World only has two holiday parties. However, going to Magic Kingdom during the Halloween party feels like a distinctly different experience than visiting the park during regular hours.

If you have a family with kids who love Halloween and are old enough to stay up until midnight, we would definitely recommend considering going to this event. The biggest downside is the price, as it costs significantly more to buy Halloween party tickets than adding an extra day to a multi-day Disney World ticket.

Here are the pros and cons of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Pros

• The only way to see one of Disney World’s best parades
• Candy and treats included
• Enhanced Halloween decorations
• Kid-friendly – no scare actors or anyone jumping out at you
• Unique characters
• All ages get to dress up in costumes, which is a ton of fun.
• Shorter than average lines for Magic Kingdom attractions

Cons

• Very pricey
• The party only runs for 5 hours
• Much of the entertainment is after 9 pm and may be too late for little kids
• Party-specific food, beverages, and merchandise are extra charges.
• Some character meet and greets can have long lines
• Despite limited capacity, the park can still feel crowded at times

Who should skip Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween?

If you love an experience like Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, this won’t scratch that itch.

Also, if your kids struggle staying up late, you might not feel like you got your money’s worth if you leave by 9 or 10 pm.

What’s new at the 2023 Mickey’s Not So Scary Party?

• Mickey’s Boo To You Parade will be expanded with new ghoulish characters, such as Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle as the Sanderson Sisters in the finale.
• The Seven Dwarves are returning to the party for a rare character meet and greet.
• You can catch a Pirate Crew singing sea shanties in Adventureland.
• All new specialty food items and merchandise will be available at the 2023 party.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2023 Dates, Time, and Location

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party takes place at the Magic Kingdom from 7 pm to midnight on the following evenings in 2023:

• 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

Guests with party tickets will be allowed into Magic Kingdom starting at 4 pm, and guests without tickets will have to leave the park by 7 pm.

How much do tickets cost?

Wondering how much it costs to go to MNSSHP? Check out the ticket prices for this year’s event:

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Discounts

On select event nights, Disney World Annual Passholders and DVC members can save $10 per ticket.

When do Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets go on sale in 2023?

Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can start purchasing their tickets as early as April 27, 2023.

All other Guests may purchase tickets beginning on May 2, 2023.

Tips for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

For more Disney World videos, subscribe to Guide2WDW on YouTube.

• While the party starts at 7 pm, your Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ticket gets you into the park at 4 pm. No other Disney World admission is required. If that’s your only ticket for the day, maximize your time in the park by getting to Magic Kingdom at 4 pm.
• The lines for Trick or Treating will get shorter later in the night.
• The second Boo to You parade also sees much lighter crowds.
• Each Trick or Treat location offers the same candy mix, except for the Allergy Centers.
• Trick or Treat bags are handed out at the entry of the party. When you enter, grab a bag from a cast member, as well as a park map for the event.
• Have a food allergy? Talk to a cast member and they will give you a special teal bag. At non-allergy center treat spots, you’ll receive a teal token at each station that you can redeem for treats at the Allergy Centers in Main Street and Liberty Square. You can also just head to those centers to get your special treats.
• This is one of the rare occassions where adult guests are allowed to dress up in costume in the park. Normally, only guests ages 9 and under can enter the park in a costume, but during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, everyone is encouraged (but not required) to dress up in a costume. Be sure to consult Disney’s costume guidelines.
• Check out the Haunted Mansion. It’s specially lit for the night, and streetmosphere cast members tend to interact with guests in line here.
• Weeknight parties tend to be less crowded (and less expensive) than the weekend parties.
• Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance. For most nights, you will receive a $6-7 discount per ticket. However, the ticket prices for advance tickets and day-of tickets are the same on certain nights. Also, this event tends to sell out in advance anyway.
• Annual Passholders and DVC Members receive even better discounts for most nights, with a few exclusions.

For more, check out our in-depth Tips for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

What to Do at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Eerie Entertainment

Mickey’s Boo To You Parade – Parade runs from Frontierland to Main Street, U.S.A.

This spectacular parade features an array of Disney characters, including the stars of the Haunted Mansion attraction. It all kicks off with a ride from the Headless Horseman. Disney Tourist Blog calls Mickey’s Boo To You Parade “the best parade Disney does,” and says that might even want to catch both performances of the parade. I would definitely agree — this parade lives up to the hype.

Tip: Be sure to line up early for the Boo to You Parade. Not only is this extremely popular, but there is also some pre-parade entertainment. First, you can see the headless horseman ride through Magic Kingdom. Max from A Goofy Movie leads the “Powerline Party Time” pre-parade show.

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular – 8:35pm, 10:45pm, 12:00am –  Located in front of Cinderella Castle, the Sanderson Sisters are back and trying to conjure up the ultimate Hocus Pocus Party Potion in this unique stage show. Starring a wide array of Disney Villains such as Malificent, Cruella deVille, and Oogie Boogie, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular features music, dancers, and special effects.

Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular – A special Halloween version of Magic Kingdom’s fireworks and projections show hosted by Jack Skellington himself. With a deliciously villainous soundtrack, this is one of the best fireworks shows at Disney World all year long. Not to be missed.

The Cadaver Dans – 7:00pm, 7:45pm, 8:30pm, 9:45pm, 10:30pm – Magic Kingdom’s favorite barbershop quartet gets zombified as they perform around Frontierland.

Pirate Crew – Adventureland (New) – A spirited pirate band fills Adventureland with their sea shanties that tell eerie tales of their treacherous adventures at sea.

Trick or Treating

Trick or Treating can be found at the following locations throughout the Magic Kingdom. Trick or Treat Trails have multiple candy stops along a route at the location.

Main Street and Liberty Square also feature Allergy-Friendly treat locations.

Note: This guide has been updated with the 2023 locations.

• Main Street, USA
  • Event Welcome Area
• Adventureland
  • Tortuga Tavern
  • Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
• Frontierland
  • Dock to Tom Sawyer Island
  • Country Bear Jamboree
• Liberty Square
  • Columbia Harbour House
• Fantasyland
  • Mickey’s Philharmagic
  • Ariel’s Grotto
  • Pinocchio Village Haus
  • Gaston’s Tavern

• Tomorrowland
  • Carousel of Progress
  • Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor
  • Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
  • Near Tomorrowland Launch Depot

Magic Kingdom Attractions with a Halloween Twist

These attractions are enhanced with extra Halloween spirit during party hours.

• Space Mountain
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Mad Tea Party (after dark)
• Monsters Inc Laugh Floor

Tron Lightcycle Run Virtual Queue at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Guests at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party will have the chance to ride Magic Kingdom’s newest and fastest roller coaster. Disney confirmed that Tron Lightcycle Run will operate with a Virtual Queue during the Halloween Party. We do not know exactly what time the queue will open, but you can be prepared with our Disney World Virtual Queue guide, which includes the fastest method for getting a boarding group.

Frightful Photo-Ops

You should take advantage of the special PhotoPass Magic Shots located throughout the park. You can pose with the Hitchhiking Ghosts, some spooky scary skeletons, and many other Halloween-themed PhotoPass shots. (Note: these are the 2022 locations)

PhotoPass

• Main Street
• Town Square
• Cinderella Castle
• The Hub Garden Lawns (East and West)
• Tomorrowland Entrance
• Haunted Mansion Carriage House
• Liberty Square, near Hall of Presidents
• Fantasyland – Behind the Carousel

Magic Kingdom also has some special step in photo frames for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.

Step In Photo Frames

• Near Tomorrowland Terrace entrance
• Former Queue for Stitch’s Great Escape in Tomorrowland
• Adventureland near Aladdin’s Flying Carpets
• Liberty Square near the Christmas Shop

Creeptastic Character Dance Parties

Dance it up with your favorite Disney characters from 7 pm – 12 am at the following locations:

• Powerline Pop-up Parties (Expanded for 2023) – “Stand Out” with Powerline Max and his crew for pop-up dance parties located throughout the park.
• Disney Junior Jam Dance Party – Move aside, Sonny Eclipse! Located in Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, this dance party features Vampirina and other Disney Jr. characters.
• Monstrous Scream-o-ween Ball – Tomorowland. A dance party so fun, it’s scary! Featuring Mike Wazowski and Sulley from Monsters, Inc.
• Zom-beatz Bash – Rocket Tower Plaza Stage. Join the Zombies, Werewolves, Cheerleaders, and Aliens from the Disney Channel movie “Zombies 3” in a new location this year: outside in Tomorrowland.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Character Guide

You can find unique characters at the following locations. Many of these characters are decked out in Halloween costumes, such as Pooh and friends. Some of these characters don’t regularly make appearances, so lines can get very long for these meet and greets.

For 2023, the big addition is the return of the Seven Dwarfs to the party. Seeing all Seven Dwarfs is an extremely rare meet and greet. When I’ve been to a party in past years with this photo-op, it had the longest lines of the entire party.

(Note: This guide has been updated with the 2023 locations)

Main Street

• Jack Skellington and Sally in Town Square Theater (Starts at 4 pm)
• Halloween Mickey Mouse in Town Square Theater

Fantasyland

• Princesses – Princess Fairytale Hall
• Alice & Mad Hatter – Near Mad Tea Party
• Queen of Hearts – Near Mad Tea Party
• Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, & Eeyore in Halloween Costumes – The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Ariel & Eric – Near Under the Sea
• Belle & Gaston – Near Maurice’s Cottage

Storybook Circus

• Seven Dwarfs (Returning for 2023) – Pete’s Silly Sideshow
• Pirate Goofy – Near Barnstormer
• Witch Minnie – Near Dumbo
• Pumpkin Donald – Near Dumbo
• Princess Daisy – Near Dumbo

Tomorrowland

• Elvis Stitch – Near Stitch’s Great Escape

Adventureland

• Aladdin & Abu – Adventureland Meet & Greet Location
• Genie & Jasmine – Adventureland Meet & Greet Location
• Jafar – Near Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Jack Sparrow – Near Pirates of the Caribbean

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Costume Guidelines

Guests of all ages are encouraged to dress up in costume, but Disney has tightened the costume guidelines in recent years. This includes no masks of any kind for guests over the age of 14. Here are the guidelines for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party according to Disney:

For Guests ages 13 and under:

• Costumes and some costume masks may be worn; masks must provide unobstructed peripheral vision at all times with openings that allow the eyes to be fully seen.

• All Guests may dress as their favorite character, but may not pose for pictures or sign autographs for other Guests.
• Costumes must be family-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive, objectionable or violent.
• Costumes may not contain any props or accessories that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.
• Costumes may not contain sharp objects, pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike another Guest.
• Layered costumes or costume props that surround the entire body are strongly discouraged and may be subject to additional security screening.
• Costumes may not reach or drag on the ground. (for example, full-length Princess dresses)
• Capes may be worn if the length does not go below the waist.
• Themed T-shirts, blouses, sweatshirts and hats are acceptable.
• Acceptable accessories include: transparent wings, plastic light sabers, toy swords and tutus. Costume headwear may be worn as long as it does not cover the face.
• Costume masks of any kind may not be worn.

To purchase tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, check out Disney’s official website, or call 407-W-DISNEY.

If you are attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year (or have in past years) and want to share your experience or any tips and tricks, let us know by submitting a tip in the comments below!