We attended the first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) of 2023, and here are our thoughts and some tips!
First things first, though, about what MNSSHP is and when it occurs. MNSSHP occurs at the Magic Kingdom on select nights from 7 pm–midnight. This is a ticketed event that you purchase separately from a regular park ticket. One advantage of this is you get to enter Magic Kingdom (MK) at 4 pm with your MNSSHP ticket, which can be an excellent hack for saving money on a more extended trip during this time of year. Instead of wasting a full day on an MK, you can sub out that day with an MNSSHP ticket and enter at 4 pm to enjoy some attractions before the party starts at 7 pm.
Tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party are currently on sale and may be purchased online or by calling 407-939-4240, ranging from $119 and up. There are discounts for APs and DVCs, so be sure to look into those when purchasing.
The event dates are: (bold dates denote sold out dates as of 08/13/23)
- 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
Opening Night 08/11/23
Walking towards the TTC, few people were arriving at this point for MNSSHP. Here is a tip: go to MK on party night as early as possible if you are attending. You are allowed in at 4 PM. You will get on a lot of attractions before the actual party begins. Also, if you aren’t attending MNSSHP, Magic Kingdom closes at 6 pm!
Strolling through the MK gates at around 5:15 pm, our mission was to quickly loop around the central hub to snag a picture of the Pumpkin brochachos pictured below. Unlike last year we decided against waiting in line for the Pumpkin King himself, Jack, and Sally. I don’t know if you have taken pictures with Jack and Sally before, but if you have, skip this and do something better with your time. We were still scarred from our three-hour line last year!
Our agenda for any parties we attend is to enjoy the special events and food offered. While we love attractions, it is not our main priority for the events since we are local and can ride attractions anytime. Speaking of attractions, if you want to get on TRON /Lightcycle Run during the events, you must be in the park before 6 pm to join the virtual queue. We aren’t sure why they can’t just open up the line for MNSSHP, but they didn’t—more on how to ride TRON here.
In the spirit of offering exceptional food during these parties, Disney also released a new popcorn bucket that commanded a considerable line. This popcorn bucket is themed after the mayor’s car of Halloweentown and lights up! This bucket retails for 28 dollars. We would not be surprised to see this one sell out. Also, we tried out the skull brownie, and while it looks fantastic, the taste left something to be desired!
After trying out the brownie, we headed towards the Pirates of the Caribbean area to check out Jack Sparrow’s line and the Pirate band on the stage where Jack used to meet and greet. The pirate band is a great addition and adds a sense of atmospheric presence in this corner of the park. They sing pirate shanty’s to boot, which is excellent.
After we roamed around for a bit, we decided to grab a spot for the first Mickey’s Boo to You Parade! This parade is a must-see during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. They show this parade two times during the event, 9:15 pm and 11:15 pm. We watch both of them every time. It is that good! We will upload a video of the parade shortly to our YouTube channel.
The parade has been plussed up this year quite a bit from last year. Clarabelle Cow, Minnie Mouse, and Daisy have decided to dress up as the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus, which is fantastic to see! Also, Ursula and Cruella Deville are in the parade this year. There are even other little tweaks here and there that we noticed. As mentioned earlier, make every effort to view the parade. It is awesome!
After the parade, we decided to check out some Halloween merchandise at Star Traders. Most items are the usual suspects of spirit jerseys, shirts, Mickey ears, etc. While there browsing, we ran into Paging Mr. Morrow. It is always fun catching up with him when we see him! Check out a couple of pictures below of the merchandise and Paging Mr. Morrow.
Let’s talk about the overlays on the attractions. Space Mountain, Mad Tea Party, and The Haunted Mansion. You could throw in Monsters Inc Laugh Floor as well. However, it is also a trick-or-treating stop. We don’t prioritize attractions during the parties, but we do like to let guests know the lines are primarily short during the party, especially around the fireworks and parade times.
Conclusion on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
As the night drew to a close, we headed out in front of the castle to catch the midnight show of Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. We enjoy this show at midnight and then stroll out of the Magic Kingdom long after everyone else has left. Now if you have not seen this stage show, it is fantastic. They manage to capture the essence of the Sanderson Sisters perfectly and mix in a dash of Disney villains as well. Next to the Boo To You parade, this is our second favorite activity of the night. Be sure to plan on seeing one of the showings!
As a recap, we tried some of Mickey’s Not So Scary treats, trick or treating, watched Mickey’s Boo To You Parade twice, and caught the last showing of Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. It was a jam-packed evening and fantastic.
As for what to do at MNSSHP, you have a lot of choices presented to you and many ways to accomplish them. We do suggest watching Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade both times. You will not regret this decision, and you should watch the first one from Main Street so you are set up for the fireworks already. Also, the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular is a must-see. We suggest the midnight showing, allowing you to hang out while everyone exits the park afterward.
As for Character meet and greets, there are a ton of them. Not only are Jack and Sally who are rare, but the Seven Dwarfs are also out in the Storybook Circus area. Also, back there are many other Mickey and friends, all dressed up for Halloween!
Let’s talk about food, for which there are many options. If you want to try any of these items, we suggest doing them right at 7 pm as you will get distracted by all of the headliner events that start hitting you around 9.
On the attractions front, we wouldn’t waste a lot of time doing those, but the Haunted Mansion can always be fun as it fits the night’s theme, and we even argue that Pirates is an excellent attraction for the spooky season!
Last but not least. Is the party worth it? In our opinion, it is a resounding yes! We had so much fun at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and regret none of it. So boo to you, and let us know your thoughts!