Our First Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Experience
Arriving Early
We arrived right at 4:30 (the party officially runs from 7:00-midnight, but you can enter Magic Kingdom at 4:00PM). Security and ticketing went quickly, and Cast Members gave us our party wristbands. Following the “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary” signs, we were led through the bypass with a DJ pumping music, trick-or-treat bags handed out, and maps of the party.
Dressing Up
One of the most fun parts of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is that adults can dress up too — something you can’t usually do at Disney World! Normally, Disney only allows kids under 14 to wear costumes — but the Halloween party changes all of that! It was our chance to dress up and play again.
I dressed as Lilo, while my husband wore a Stitch shirt that read “I’d rather not” (which fit him perfectly). My adult kids went as Mabel and Dipper from Gravity Falls. My daughter glued gems to her face to recreate Mabel’s “bedazzled” look, and my son braved the Florida heat in Dipper’s vest and signature hat.
Even in August, we were surprised by how many guests went all out in costumes, Halloween shirts, and festive ears (always with a Disney twist, of course). Despite the Florida heat, we even saw guests in full costumes — sweaters, layered outfits, and even a giant inflatable chicken waddling through Magic Kingdom!
We chose to wear lightweight, moisture-wicking outfits that kept us comfortable in the Florida humidity. It made a big difference, especially since we were outside most of the night.
Party Highlights
We soaked up the Magic Kingdom vibes, rode a few rides, and had dinner at Pecos Bill’s before the official party began.
Haunted Mansion had spooky fog and live “ghosts” in the cemetery.
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The Cadaver Dans (Dapper Dans in Halloween style) sang hauntingly good tunes.
My family loved bumping into the roaming Country Bears in Adventureland.
Space Mountain was completely dark — thrilling but terrifying!
We watched the Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular stage show and the Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks.
Trick-or-treating was magical — they scooped handfuls of candy at every stop.
🎶 Boo To You Parade – The Highlight!
We sat on Main Street near the theater, excited for the Boo To You Parade. The crowd hushed when we heard the clack of hooves — the Headless Horseman galloped down the street, starting the parade.
We were thrilled to see Max Goof’s Powerline dance crew, who stopped right in front of us. Each dancer picked someone to join them, and my daughter was chosen! Her smile was priceless.
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The parade was fantastic — from the catchy “Boo To You” song (still stuck in my head) to the spooky grave diggers creating sparks with their shovels.
Adding to the magic, one of my favorite YouTubers (Molly from Mammoth Club) happened to be across from us, and we even spotted ourselves in her video!
Final Rides & Farewell
When the parade ended, we had just minutes left of the party. My daughter dashed to Space Mountain and rode it as a walk-on. She said next time she would choose Tron, which had only a 20-minute wait.
We left feeling like kids again — even with older children, it was such an unforgettable night.
Tips for Planning Your Visit
Parties run August 15–October 31.
We chose August to avoid missing school for me and my college students— it feels early for Halloween, but if it fits your schedule like us, it will be worth it. The tickets and hotel rooms are also less expensive in August, which is a plus. Dates later in the season sell out faster and cost more, but you’ll have more tips and recaps available to make the most of your time..
There are so many options at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party that it’s impossible to do everything in just five hours. That’s why we tried using the 3-2-1 Strategy: choose 3 entertainments, 2 rides, and 1 character to focus on. For us, the shows, fireworks, and the Boo-to-You Parade were must-dos — and they were absolutely worth the time since you only get them during the party. For rides, we chose Haunted Mansion (of course!) and Space Mountain, both of which had fun Halloween overlays.
We skipped characters this time, but if I had to do it again, I’d definitely recommend stopping to see Mickey & Minnie in their Halloween costumes or Pooh and friends in their festive outfits.
This strategy really helped us enjoy the night without feeling like we were missing out.
Write showtimes in your phone Notes app. Once it’s dark, it’s hard to read the party map. Having the times for fireworks, parades, and shows in your Notes means you can quickly glance without fumbling around and risk missing something.
I highly recommend Skipping the first parade and use that time for rides or character meet-and-greets. The second parade is less crowded, and you’ll have a better chance of a great spot.
If you want to catch Max Goof as Powerline, he only appears on Main Street . After the fireworks, we walked down Main Street and found a spot right away. Sitting on the curb to relax while the kids shopped was the perfect way to wait for the parade.
✨ Want to plan your own magical Halloween trip to Disney? I’d love to help make it happen!
