Disney After Hours Boo Bash Halloween Party 2021

Following the cancellation of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in 2020 due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Disney replaced the party by a shorter event in 2021 called “Disney’s After Hours Boo Bash”.

In 2022 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party returned. The rest of this page is purely for historical interest.

Like SeaWorld’s Spooktacular and LEGOLAND Florida’s Brick or Treat, Disney’s After Hours Boo Bash was a family-friendly Halloween event but whilst the other two events are daytime events included in the regular admission, as its name suggests the After Hours Boo Bash was a separately ticketed evening event which ran after normal park closing.

Disney’s After Hours Boo Bash was a one time event in 2021 and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party returned in 2022

In 2021 the event ran on 28 (originally 23) select nights at Disney’s Magic Kingdom:

• August 10, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31
• September 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24
• October 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29, 31

In recent years, Disney’s Halloween event has started earlier and earlier in the year and ran for longer but this year it started out running for 23 nights as opposed to 36 nights of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in 2019. It was then extended to 28 nights but with a one week gap leading up to the October 1st Walt Disney World anniversary.

Disney After Hours Boo Bash Halloween Party dates for 2021

Children and adults alike are encouraged to dress up and they can trick-or-treat for candies and goodies from the Disney characters. Note that Disney has tightened up the rules for guest costumes in recent years (see section below).

On most Halloween nights, Magic Kingdom closes at 8:30 p.m. and officially re-opens at 9 p.m. For three hours until midnight (closes at 9:00 p.m., re-opens at 9:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. on some nights).

Halloween Boo Bash guests can gain admittance to the Magic Kingdom from 7 p.m. onwards. All guests are given a coloured wristband and anyone without a valid ticket will be asked to leave come closing time. You can get your wristband at the gate or at a number of locations in the park.

Don’t forget to collect your trick-or-treat bag when you enter or you can bring your own.

Like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, there are opportunities to trick-or-treat but things like the “Mickey’s Boo to You Halloween Parade”, stage shows and fireworks are all missing.

There are similarities with other “after hours” events with free ice cream novelties, popcorn and some beverages.

Trick-or-Treat at Disney After Hours Boo Bash

There are around 16 trick-or-treat locations throughout the Magic Kingdom where anyone can get some chocolate or candy treats as well as apple slices, carrots and dried fruit. Disney supply small treat bags or you can purchase larger souvenir bags or simply bring your own.

If you suffer from allergies, you can pick up a teal coloured treat bag from the street behind Tony’s Town Square Restaurant and then collect tokens at the trick-or-treat stations which can then be redeemed for allergy-friendly treats.

As well as free ice cream novelties like Mickey Premium Bars and popcorn there are a host of specially created Halloween themed treats to purchase like the Foolish Mortal Funnel Cake and Apple Ginger Dale which is a frozen apple cider and ginger ale concoction topped with whipped cream.

Some like the Foolish Mortal Funnel Cake are available all day from October 1st to November 1st whilst others are only available during the Boo Bash hours.

Disney After Hours Boo Bash Attractions and Rides

Because of the limited number of guests, wait times should be low on the 20 or so attractions and rides open during the Boo Bash event, such as Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Peter Pan’s Flight.

As in previous Disney Halloween celebrations, Magic Kingdom is decorated for the occasion. However as this is Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary in October as part of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration”, Halloween merges with Cinderella when special Cinderella pumpkin coach decorations are added.

Instead of a parade, there are special Halloween themed musical cavalcades including:

• “Mickey’s Happy Halloween Cavalcade” featuring Mickey Mouse and friends
• “Disney Villains Halloween Cavalcade”
• “Jack’s Nightmare Cavalcade” featuring Jack Skellington, Sally and Oogie Boogie
• plus Maleficent as the fire-breathing dragon from the Festival of Fantasy Parade

Look out for surprise Disney characters like Miss Carlotta at the Haunted Mansion.

As in past years the Dapper Dans cappella group morph into the Cadaver Dans and can be found performing on Main Street, U.S.A.

Costumes at Disney After Hours Boo Bash

Adults aged 14 and above can wear costumes but they are discouraged from wearing any that are layered or use props that cover the entire body. The costume must not touch or drag along the ground and guests cannot wear capes below the waist or any kind of costume mask. However approved face coverings are required.

Weapons or simulated weapons are forbidden.

Children under the age of 14 can wear masks as long as they do not cover the entire face and the eyes are clearly visible.

All guests may be subject to additional security screening on admission.

More details of costume requirements can be found on the official Disney parks dress code page.

Disney After Hours Boo Bash 2021 Ticket Prices

This is a separately ticketed event and capacity is limited so tickets sell out fast.

Friday and Sunday night tickets tend to sell out first particularly in October so it pays to purchase your tickets in advance rather than just turn up at the gate. If you are already inside the park then you might be able to pick up a ticket at City Hall.

The most expensive days to go are Fridays and Halloween itself (October 31). Pricing is tiered and is generally more expensive the nearer you get to Halloween. Cheapest days are dates in August and September.

Annual passholders and Disney Vacation Club members can get a $10 discount on single night tickets on dates in August and September.

The Disney After Hours Boo Bash is not a direct replacement for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and prices are significantly higher.

As the name suggests, the After Hours Boo Bash is more like other after hours events; i.e. a short mini-party with some complimentary snacks and beverages.

Ticket prices for the cancelled 2020 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party were due to start at $85 for adults and $80 for children whereas the cheapest ticket for the Disney After Hours Boo Bash is $129 for adults or children. In fact all tickets are the same price for adults and children and are roughly $50 more than the 2020 event.

In August and September they range between $129 and $139 plus tax whilst in October they rise to between $159 and $169 plus tax and then $199 plus tax for the actual night of Halloween.

The new After Hours Boo Bash event is also shorter in duration at three hours plus two hours early admission instead of the five hours plus three hours early admission for the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Having said that tickets still sell out fast.

Halloween at Walt Disney World’s Other Parks & Resorts

Though Disney’s After Hours Boo Bash only takes place at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, there are Halloween themed food offerings at other places throughout Walt Disney World.

All four parks and Disney Springs offer the Mickey Mummy Popcorn Bucket.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Minnie’s Halloween Dine returns at the Hollywood & Vine between August 10 and November 3 where Disney characters appear in seasonal costumes.

All the Disney Resort hotels are selling their own special exclusive Halloween themed drinks and deserts like themed cupcakes.