The Ultimate Guide to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: Is It Worth It?

Sean Logan
Nov 8, 2025
5 min read

Our family loves Halloween and Disney, so combining the two was a dream come true! We recently attended Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, and we’re sharing everything we did, learned, loved, and didn’t love. Plus some helpful tips for planning your visit.

What Is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is a special, separately ticketed event held at the Magic Kingdom on select nights during the Halloween season. The event runs from 7:00 PM to midnight, but guests with party tickets can enter the park as early as 4:00 PM. Regular day guests must leave the park at 6:00 PM unless they also have a party ticket.

This Halloween event features exclusive entertainment, trick-or-treating, themed food, character meet-and-greets, and of course, open rides throughout the park. It’s one of the most popular Disney Halloween events for families!

Our Experience at MNSSHP

We arrived at the gates around 3:30 PM to scan our tickets and get our event wristbands. The line looked long but moved quickly. Once inside, we were directed to the special event entrance on the right side of Main Street, where we received our trick-or-treat bags and were greeted by fog effects and Disney villains—such a fun way to start the evening!

Since trick-or-treating didn’t begin until 7:00 PM, we decided to ride a few attractions. Our kids rode Dumbo, The Little Mermaid, Mad Tea Party, and the Carousel before we stopped at Pinocchio’s Village Haus for some gluten-free pizza. After dinner, we squeezed in a quick ride on the Tomorrowland Speedway before heading back to Main Street U.S.A. for the night’s entertainment.

Of course, we had to grab a light-up Halloween balloon for the girls before finding our spot for the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular and the Boo-To-You Parade. While one of us held our spot, the other took the kids to trick-or-treat—and wow, Disney doesn’t skimp on the candy! Each stop gave out generous scoops, and after visiting only five locations, our bags were completely full.

The Boo-To-You Parade

Once darkness fell, the Boo-To-You Parade began with the iconic Headless Horseman galloping down Main Street through fog and spooky lighting. The atmosphere was electric! The parade lasted about 25 minutes and featured classic Disney characters, villains, and Halloween favorites.

Our girls loved Donald Duck, Oogie Boogie (“the bogger monster,” as my daughter calls him), and Maleficent. Rapunzel and Peter Pan even interacted with us during the parade, which made the night extra magical. My wife’s favorite part was the Hitchhiking Ghosts, and I was all about the Skeleton Band.

Nighttime Rides and Magic Kingdom Highlights

After the parade, bedtime was fast approaching, but we managed another spin on the Tea Cups, which featured special lighting and fog effects for the event. We tried to ride the Haunted Mansion, but both kids fell asleep in line (which felt pretty on-brand for a long Disney day!).

If you can, ride Haunted Mansion at night—the queue is filled with fog and eerie lighting, plus live “Ghost Hosts” who interact with guests while you wait. It’s a must-do during MNSSHP!

Before heading out, I checked the My Disney Experience app and saw that TRON Lightcycle Run had only a 30-minute wait. After two years of missing out, I finally got to ride it and it was absolutely worth it!

What We Learned About Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

We absolutely loved MNSSHP and will definitely attend again in the future. Here are a few things we learned that might help you plan your visit:

Crowd levels: On party days, non-party guests must leave by 6:00 PM, which means the park is much less crowded during the day. Ride wait times were noticeably shorter all day long and this would be a good time to get a lot of rides done.
Arrive early; Take advantage of that early entry and arrive by 3:00 or 3:30 PM to be in the park by 4:00 PM. Most day guests will be on their way out during that time so wait times should be shorter.
Parade tips: Get a good viewing spot early. We staked out our spot over an hour before the parade, and it was well worth it.
Transportation: Even though we stayed at Port Orleans – French Quarter, one of Disney’s smaller resorts, the buses were packed both ways. A Minnie Van (Disney’s polka-dotted private ride service through the Lyft app) would have been a great alternative. Minnie Vans are driven by Disney Cast Members and include up to two complimentary car seats, perfect for families.
Allery friendly: If you or a family member has a food allergy (like the celiac disease in our family ), ask for a teal trick-or-treat bag. You will receive blue tokens at each candy stop that can be exchanged for special treats at an Allergy-Friendly Center.

What We Loved Most

There’s so much to love about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party—from the decorations and shorter wait times to the costumes, trick-or-treating, and exclusive entertainment.

Thanks to the lighter crowds, we rode five attractions within the first hour of entering the park! The trick-or-treating and stage shows were our top priorities, and both exceeded expectations. You could easily leave with enough candy to last you the next 6 months!

What We Didn’t Love

Our only real challenge was the late start time. With younger kids, 7:00 PM is already close to bedtime, and since the event doesn’t officially begin until then, it was hard to fit everything in. We tried planning a later nap, but time got away from us. If the event started at 6:00 PM, it would make things a lot easier for families with small children.

Final Thoughts on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Even though we didn’t get to experience everything at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, we had an incredible time and can’t wait to go back. Between the atmosphere, entertainment, and special Halloween magic, MNSSHP is absolutely worth it for families, Disney fans, and anyone who loves Halloween fun without the scary vibes.

If you’re planning a Disney Halloween trip, this event should be at the top of your list!

Ready to plan your magical (and not-so-scary) Disney Halloween trip for 2026? Contact Sean or your favorite Coasters & Castles Advisor to start planning your not-so-spooky experience!