Halloween is coming to Magic Kingdom!

• Download free printable planner pages to help you plan your trip to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival

Explore more tips for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! 

• • Low Price Airfares in the Fall
  • What to Pack for the Party
  • Where to Stay for the Party
  • Food and Treats at the Party
  • Characters to Meet at the Party
  • Special Photo Ops at the Party
  • Sensory Breaks at the Party
  • Disney Springs Halloween
  • Halloween T-Shirts and Accessories

Coming soon!

• • Fort Wilderness Halloween
  • Low Key Carriage Rides
  • Halloween Movies Under the Stars
  • Trick or Treat Tips at the Party

You may have heard of the Halloween party that is offered at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World — Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.  Taking place from August 7 to October 31 on select nights, the popular event sells out every year.

This year, party-goers have their pick of 38 dates. Halloween night is always the first date to sell out. Here are the party dates (the ones in orange are expired or sold out). I will update this blog frequently with new updates!

• August Party Dates: 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
• September Party Dates: 1, 4, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29
• October Party Dates: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a Walt Disney World tradition that began three decades ago in 1995. The first party wa a one-time deal that took place on Halloween night, October 31. Admission was $17. The Headless Horseman rode for the first time that night. In In 1996, the party was offered again for one night only, but the next year, Disney added more dates. By 2005 there were 15 party dates.

Want to go? I recommend you purchase  your tickets from Undercover Tourist. You will get a small discount, but importantly, you can also get a refund for your tickets if your plans change (less a 5% processing fee). Walt Disney World does not provide refunds (I lost the funds I paid for a party ticket last year that way when my son could not go).

By the way, if you want tickets for a sold-out date, you can try calling Walt Disney World to see if any additional tickets have been released.

The party is known for six special features:

1. Trick or treating throughout Magic Kingdom. Taking home a good-sized haul of candy is very possible!
2. Exclusive Halloween-themed merchandise and food for sale only to Party guests.
3. Special character greets, including Jack and Sally from A Nightmare Before Christmas and Mickey and Minnie Mouse appearing together in Halloween-themed finery. Haunted Mansion ghost hostess Renata and grave diggers Doug and Phil (get it?) make special appearances at the entrance to the event.
4. The Boo to You Halloween Parade (twice a night), a fan favorite.
5. The Hocus Pocus Villains Spelltacular stage show (four times a night), my personal favorite!
6. The spectacular fireworks display, with projections and lasers.

And that’s not all. There is also special entertainment and the opportunity to dress in costume (a privilege not usually afforded to adults at Disney World).

You can preview all these offerings on YouTube, if you like. If a trip isn’t in the cards for you this year, enjoy YouTube videos of the shows, parade and fireworks. Many of these videos are excellent — almost better than being there! — with unblocked, clear views of all the action.

The first decision you have to make is when to go. Although the tickets are more expensive in late October, I recommend that period as the best time to make the trip.

September and the first half of October, while less expensive, are notoriously rainy and hot. Many of the rides and most of the feature activities (parades and shows) take place outdoors.  Those may be cancelled when it rains.

I discovered this when I went to the Party in September last year and  was disappointed when the characters at Haunted Mansion didn’t appear in th cemetery, the first parade was cancelled and the Headless Horseman did not ride (for safety reasons).  So rain can put a real damper on the party, in more ways than one!

But, as mentioned, the party tickets in August and September are less expensive. Another benefit, if you stay on property and check in before September 9, is that you can go to the waterpark of your choice for free.

While at Walt Disney World, you’ll likely want to make time to attend Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival and visit Disney Springs for spooky-themed treats. Seeing the Halloween-decorated campsites at Fort Wilderness is another fun activity. And if you go on October 1st, you’ll be at Magic Kingdom for its 55th Anniversary!

So, are you going this year? If so, I have many more tips to share, including ways to enjoy this party in a low key way, if that is even possible! Download the free Party Planner to help you plan your trip.