Halloween at Disney World

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is a separately ticketed event. What this means is that you have to buy a ticket to the party separately from you general entrance ticket to the Magic Kingdom.

These are the dates for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2010

September 14th
September 18th
September 21st
September 23rd
September 25th
September 28th
September 30th

October 1st
October 3rd
October 7th
October 8th
October 11th
October 12th
October 14th
October 17th
October 19th
October 21st
October 22nd
October 24th
October 26th
October 28th
October 29th
October 31st

Tickets are discounted if you buy in advance so it does pay to buy at least one day ahead of the event.

ADVANCE PURCHASE: Adults: $57.46; Children 3-9 $51.07 (not available Oct 29th and 31st)

DAY OF EVENT (IF AVAILABLE): Adults $63.85; Children 3-9 $57.46
EXCEPT October 29th and October 31st: Adults $68.16; Children 3-9 $61.77

PASSHOLDER and DVC DISCOUNTS: Adults $53.20; Children 3-9 $46.81

Call 407 934 7639 to order

October 31st sells out fast. Not surprisingly this date usually sells out as soon as the tickets are released for sale. So if you are planning on visiting October 31st 2010 you need to plan to get your tickets as soon as they are released in 2010.

Admission to Mickeys Halloween party needs a separate ticket. So even if you have visited the Magic Kingdom or any other Disney park on the day that you go to the Halloween party, you must have a separate ticket. When you enter the park with your Halloween Party ticket you are all given a wristband to identify you as a ticket holder.

Remember that the party runs from 7pm until midnight. So if you have young children you might want to make sure that they have a rest in the day time. It is going to be a late night for them! Also, if you have one, bring a stroller or consider renting one at Magic Kingdom. There is nothing worse than a toddler who simply can't walk another step they are so tired!

This is the only time that guests over 9 years old are allowed to dress up as a Disney character in a Disney park. So if you need to express your inner Disney Princess or handsome Prince then this is your chance!

Do most people dress up in costume at the MNNSSP? This varies from year to year but it seems that for the 2008 events there are a lot of people in Disney costume.

What time does Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party start? Officially the party starts at 7pm but you will be allowed into the park at 4pm so take advantage of the extra hours in the Magic Kingdom if you can. You will be given a wristband to identify your as a ticket holder for the special event.

If you want to eat in one of the Magic Kingdom park restaurants then make sure that you make Advance Dining Reservations by calling 407 WDW DINE ahead of time. Depending on the level of the crowds then it can be very difficult to get a walk in during the event.

Use this list to check that your favorite Magic Kingdom attraction will be open during the event - subject of course to that age old disclaimer "Rides may be closed without advance notice".

Pirates of the Caribbean
Swiss Family Treehouse
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The Haunted Mansion
Peter Pan's Flight
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Cinderella's Colden Carrousel
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Snow White's Scary Adventures
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mad Tea Party
It's a Small World"
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Space Mountain
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Stitch's Great Escape
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm

This special Halloween fireworks display takes place at 9.30pm and is a highlight of the Party.

The special fireworks display was created in 2005 and is one of my very favorites.

Where are the best viewing places? Well I tend to prefer viewing from Main Street. You are looking straight at Cinderella's Castle and you get a great view from most places along Main Street. Don't make the mistake of standing on the train platform as there isn't any audio for the show - it just isn't the same.

If Main Street looks too crowded then my second preference is the bridge towards Tomorrowland.

Another fun special Halloween event is this parade which you will only see at Mickey's Party. All the familiar characters are there including Mickey Mouse himself of course.

The Disney Villains are out in force. My favorites? Difficult to choose, but it would probably have to be Malificent.

Again, I like to watch the parade from Main Street. It is a good idea to pack warm clothing for everyone as it can get very cool at night. I have to confess that I have had to purchase more than one Mickey Mouse woollen hat when I was so cold I had to give way to any sense of fashion! Waiting for a parade to start with a child, or even a spouse complaining of being cold it not my idea of fun!

One of the major attractions of the party is the simple pleasure of Trick or Treating! There are stations around the park - but they can be a little difficult to find. Look for the light up balloons.

Sometimes the lines for the candy can be longer than the lines for the rides. If you want to save time then just visit a couple of stations.

What kind of candy is given out at Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween party? Well it varies quite a bit - from hard candy to the rather more healthy packets of raisins. You will get some brand names such as Nestlé. Mars' M&M's and Snickers brands has been a sponsor, and the candy assortment includes a mixture of those brands and others, including Goofy's Candy Company brand. Some people report they get bucket fulls - others that they get barely any! I guess it depends on your perspective. You usually get around a handful at each station.

You can also enjoy special dance parties throughout the evening:

Stitch's Cosmic Dance Party at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe

Ariel's Grotto Dance Party

Villain's Mix and Mingle shows at the Castle Stage

You get fireworks, parades, most of the Magic Kingdom attractions, and lots of chances to meet the characters. There are plenty of chances for some good old fashioned Trick or Treating. You get a map showing the location of the goodies and various treat stations are located around the park.

But is it all really worth it? Should you buy a ticket to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party? What you should know is that it is a very fun way to celebrate Halloween. The Parade is great and the Fireworks are, in my opinion, one of the best to ever have been staged at Disney World. I like the party as a chance to see something different at the parks as I know them so well.

There are mixed reviews though. In general the complaints seem to relate to the park still being crowded. Yes, it is a separate event and you have to pay for a ticket even if you have spent all day in the park already. But it can still get crowded, particularly on weekends.

Just go with a sense of fun, even wear a costume (perhaps you will discover your inner pirate)and have a great party with Mickey!

The photos here were reproduced under a Creative Commons Licence.

Photos By Kind Permission of Wyscan on Flickr