5 Tips for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019

We spontaneously attended our first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party of the season on August 20th and unlike previous years…I had nothing planned! For MNSSHP, I usually like to review the available characters and make a list of the ones I want to meet while leaving room for the entertainment/treats. Since this was such a different experience, we actually had some mishaps and I want to share what I learned from them.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a special event at the Magic Kingdom. It is currently running until November 1st from 7pm-12am on select nights (although special event guests can enter at 4 pm). It requires its own ticket and is not included with an annual pass. The prices ranges from $79 – $115 depending on the month and day of the week. There are also some savings for tickets purchased ahead of time and for DVC/Annual Passholders.

Disney had just released details about a Party Pass for $299 which gives unlimited visits to the party except for Halloween night (10/31). We jumped at this opportunity because I had already been wanting to go a few times with the family and different set of friends but was worried about the cost. With this pass, it eliminates the pressure of having to squeeze everything into one night!

1. Buy tickets ahead of time!

Since we literally decided to attend the MNSSHP hours before going, I had not had a chance to purchase the party pass ahead of time. I was planning on getting to the party around 5:30 pm and was hoping to purchase the tickets at the ticket window. That was my first mistake because the ticket line was very long. While you can purchase a single night MNSSHP ticket on your app or online, the party pass can only be purchased over the phone or in person. I immediately got on the phone with the special events line and was able to purchase my tickets while waiting in the physical line. I recommend calling or purchasing (for single-day tickets) online prior to setting foot in Magic Kingdom. Don’t waste your precious party time waiting in the ticket line.

2. Eat dinner before the party

We started looking for some dinner locations around 6 pm and discovered that most dining locations such as Friar’s Nook and Pinocchio had already closed. After referring to the map, we noticed that there are only 3 quick-service restaurant locations (Cosmic Rays, Peco’s Bill and Columbia Harbour House) open during the party.

• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is open until park close
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is open until 11 pm
• Columbia Harbour House is open until 8 pm

We decided on Cosmic Ray’s and arrived around 6:30 pm. We found it to be very crowded and it took us roughly 20 minutes to get our food with mobile ordering. I would definitely recommend eating at your hotel or at home prior to going to the party or waiting a little later after 8 pm for fewer crowds.

If you are heading to the Magic Kingdom early (special event guests can enter at 4 pm), use that time to eat and ride rides with your fast pass so you can maximize your time after 7 pm for the party events.

3. Arrive at parades and shows early

We decided to stay for the Boo to You parade at the last minute. By the time I realized the parade was about to start, there was no more front or second-row space. Definitely plan accordingly and allow ~30 minutes prior to secure a good viewing location. The second parade at 11:15 pm is usually less crowded. Last year we were still able to find a good spot 15 minutes after the parade start time on Main Street since the parade travels from Frontierland and ends on Main Street.

• Hocus Pocus William Spelltacular: 8:30 pm, 10:45 pm, 12:00 am
• Mickey’s “Boo-to-you” Halloween Parade: 9:15 pm, 11:15 pm
• Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular: 10:15 pm

4. Plan ahead for the characters you want to meet

My favorite part of MNSSHP is the characters in their Halloween costumes and rare characters you can’t meet elsewhere! Because these are rare appearances by several of the characters, the lines can be quite long. Jack Skeleton with Sally is rumored to usually be around a 2 hour wait time!

I recommend picking your top must meet characters and plan on getting in line around 6 pm. You can also wait until the end of the night for shorter wait lines but keep in mind that some of the lines close earlier than midnight. Characters and their meeting spots can be found on the My Disney Experience app. However, I have noticed a few characters such as Jack Skeleton with Sally, Jafar and the seven dwarves not listed on the app. Check out my character list post with all the characters and their meeting locations!

5. Save Trick and Treat for last

Treat lines can get fairly long at the beginning of the party. Wait until the end of the night or during the parades/shows and the lines will usually have no waits. I’ve also noticed larger handfuls of candy given towards the end of the party.

Final thoughts

I love everything about the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party from the guest costumes to the character meet and greets and the amazing parade. I’m so happy that Disney offered the Halloween Party Pass so we are able to enjoy everything without feeling rushed to complete it all in one night. We have been to 4 Halloween parties already and still have so much we want to do!