Our Detailed Guide For Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2024

By James | Last updated May 29, 2024

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Walt Disney World Halloween celebration themes tend to change every couple of years. Disney has their family-orientated Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, and it runs on select nights over a more extended period than all the other Florida theme park Halloween events.

In recent years, the Disney World Halloween party has started earlier and earlier in the year, and the number of nights has increased.

Unlike SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and Legoland Florida, which include family-friendly daytime Halloween events in their normal admission tickets, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a separately ticketed “after-hours” evening event.

Note that both SeaWorld and Busch Gardens also run a separately ticketed adult Halloween event in the evenings

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 Disney World Halloween nights, the park closes at 6 p.m. and officially reopens from 7 p.m. until midnight. Halloween Party guests can usually gain admittance to the Magic Kingdom from 4 p.m. onwards. All guests are given a colored wristband; anyone without a valid ticket will be asked to leave by 7 p.m. You can get your wristband at the gate or at several park locations.

Magic Kingdom Halloween Pumpkin Decorations
Magic Kingdom Halloween Pumpkin Decorations @ by jonathan_wdw

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

Costumes are allowed, and the entertainment includes two of Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween parades, including Disney Characters and the stars of the Haunted Mansion attraction. The parade starts with a spooktacular ride by the Headless Horseman, a Haunted Mansion unit with a spectral bride, and a Tomorrowland unit featuring The Incredibles, Edna Mode, and Buzz Lightyear.

What Days are Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?

In 2024, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom takes place on the following dates:

  • August: 9th, 13th, 16th, 20th, 23rd, 27th and 30th
  • September: 2nd, 6th, 8th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 26th, 27th and 29th
  • October: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 20th, 21st, 24th, 25th, 27th, 29th and 31th

The event takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight each night. The dates are spaced out to allow for the fireworks show evenings and for those who do not wish to attend Magic Kingdom during the Halloween evenings.

Disney World Halloween Party Shows

The “Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular” stage show occurs on the Castle Forecourt Stage in front of Cinderella Castle. It features the three mischievous Sanderson sisters from the hit Disney film “Hocus Pocus.” The show runs three to four times per night.

Showtimes
9th of August through to 28th of September 28, 2024:

  • 9:05 PM
  • 10:40 PM
  • 12:00 AM

29th of September to 31st of October 31, 2024:

  • 7:40 PM
  • 9:05 PM
  • 10:40 PM
  • 12:00 AM

Disney Junior Jam at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café: Join the fun at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café for the Disney Junior Jam featuring characters from Disney Junior shows. Perfect for kids who love to dance!

DescenDANCE Party at Rockettower Plaza Stage: Check out the DescenDANCE Party at Rockettower Plaza Stage, inspired by Descendants: The Rise of Red. Dance along to cool tunes!

The Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet in Frontierland: Head to Frontierland to enjoy the hilarious songs and humor of The Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet. They’ll have you laughing!

Rusty Cutlass in Adventureland: Listen for sea shanties from the Rusty Cutlass pirate band as they roam Adventureland. Keep an ear out for their spirited performances!

Our top tip for saving big on Disney Ticket Prices

If tickets are still available, you can compare two sites for the best prices. Our partner site is Undercover Tourist (tickets would be listed at the bottom of the page) and the Official Disney site.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Trick-or-Treat Locations

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

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

There is also a host of specially created treats to purchase. Some are available all day from the first to the last Halloween party dates, such as the Halloween Mickey Cupcake and Mickey Mouse Halloween Cinnamon Roll, which you will find at the Main Street Bakery.

Others, like the Mickey Pumpkin Cheesecake Dome, Haunted Mansion Portrait Tarts, and Pumpkin Mickey Mouse Waffle Sundae, are only available during the party evenings.

Magic Kingdom Halloween Entrance
Magic Kingdom Halloween Entrance @ by jonathan_wdw

Here are some of the already-named trick-or-treat locations for 2024.

  • Market Street Welcome Trick-or-Treating (up to 8:00 pm)
  • Tortuga Tavern
  • Tom Sawyer Island Dock
  • Gaston’s Tavern
  • Near TRON Lightcycle / Run
  • Princess Fairytale Hall

Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Fireworks and Laser Show

Be sure to head over to the front of the castle for the 10 pm Not-So-Spooky Spectactular Fireworks and Laser show. This is lively Halloween themed show that illuminates the castle and the skys.

The host of the show is Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s nightmare before Christmas. He tells a few not-so-scary tales from Disney’s Halloween collection.

Disney World Halloween Characters at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Throughout the park, you can find your favorite Disney Characters and Disney Villains in unique Disney World Halloween costumes, and areas of the park are transformed into happy haunted hollows with special lighting, music, and theming effects.

Check the unique Halloween map for locations. Wait times for the most popular characters can run into several hours.

Halloween is an excellent opportunity to see some rarely seen Disney characters throughout the park or in the parades, including:

  • Aladdin and Abu (or Princess Jasmine and Jafar) plus the Genie from Aladdin
  • Alice and the Mad Hatter, Tweedle-Dee, Tweedle-Dum and the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland
  • Anastasia and Drizella from Cinderella
  • Ariel and Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid
  • Belle and Gaston from Beauty and the Beast
  • Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Donald and Daisy Duck in Halloween costumes
  • Goofy in a Halloween costume
  • Jack Skellington and Sally Finklestein from The Nightmare Before Christmas
  • Mickey and Minnie Mouse in Halloween costumes
  • Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet from Winnie the Pooh in Halloween costumes
  • Stitch in an Elvis costume

Don’t forget that you can also meet the usual Disney Princesses at the Princess Fairytale Hall:

  • Princess Elena from Elena of Avalor
  • Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog
  • Princess Rapunzel from Tangled
  • Princess Cinderella

Disney World Halloween Attractions

There are no Genie+ reservations available during the party. The number of guests for each evening is strictly limited, so wait times are generally short.

Nearly all of the main attractions in Magic Kingdom are open during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, including:

  • “it’s a small world”
  • Astro Orbiter
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Space Mountain
  • Splash Mountain
  • Swiss Family Treehouse
  • The Barnstormer
  • The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Tomorrowland Speedway
  • Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover
  • Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

Several rides get a Halloween makeover, including The Mad Tea Party, Space Mountain, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, and Pirates of the Caribbean with new lighting and special effects.

Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade

Characters ascend from the Haunted Mansion to perform in the Boo-To-You Halloween Parade. This parade runs twice every night, first at 8.15 pm and then at 11.15 pm.

You’ll see some of the iconic characters and the majority of villains as they float around the parade in Magic Kingdom.

See if you can spot one of these characters in the parade:

  • Minnie Mouse,
  • Clarabelle Cow
  • Daisy Duck dressed as the sinister Sanderson Sisters
  • Hitchhiking Ghosts
  • Spectral Bride
  • A wicked assortment of Disney villains

Costumes at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Adults aged 14 and above can wear costumes. 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. Guests cannot wear capes below the waist or any mask. Weapons or simulated weapons are forbidden.

Children under 14 can wear masks if they do not cover their entire face and their eyes are visible.

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

More details of costume requirements can be found on the official Disney Halloween site.

Magic Kingdom Pumpkin Parade
Magic Kingdom Pumpkin & Parade @ by jonathan_wdw

Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party

There are two versions of Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party. The main difference is the reserved viewing location for the laser and fireworks show.

Both the dessert parties are held in the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant and include a range of Halloween-inspired treats, including chocolate-dipped strawberries, ghost meringues, candy corn panna cotta, peanut butter chocolate pretzel “witch fingers,” spiced pumpkin cheesecake brownies, peanut butter “spider” whoopee pies, seasonal fruits, cheeses, and cupcakes. Beverages include sparkling cider, lemonade, hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Guests also receive a skull mug filled with candy as a trick-or-treat takeaway.

After the party, you are escorted to your premium viewing location to watch the new Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular laser and fireworks show from the Tomorrowland Terrace or the standing Plaza Garden Viewing area.

These prices include tax and gratuities, as well as the separate Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ticket.

Note that the dessert parties run even if inclement weather causes the fireworks to be canceled. Disney Dining Plans cannot be used.

The new Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Parties replace the Happy HalloWishes Dessert Premium Package, which was introduced in 2015.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets

This is a separately-ticketed event. Friday night and weekend tickets tend to sell out first, so it pays to purchase your tickets in advance. Try not to risk just trying to turn up at the gate, particularly if you are planning on going on a Friday or Sunday night. If you are already inside the park, then you might be able to pick up a ticket at City Hall.

If tickets are still available, you can compare ticket prices at our partner site and Disney’s official site.

Fridays and Halloween are the most expensive days to go (October 31). Typically, there are no advanced purchase savings on these dates. Pricing is tiered and is generally more expensive the nearer you get to Halloween. The cheapest days are the very early parties in August and the Sunday to Monday dates in September.

Walt Disney World Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members can get a $10 discount on single-night tickets on select dates.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Single Admission Ticket (advanced purchase)

Standard single evening admission to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (purchased in advance).

Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing

Reserved seating at the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant during Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party, followed by a reserved standing area in the Plaza Garden during the fireworks.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party admission ticket is also required for all dessert parties.

Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party with Tomorrowland Terrace Viewing

Reserved seating at the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant during Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party, followed by a reserved seating area in the Tomorrowland Terrace during the fireworks.

Similarities and Differences of Disney After Hours BOO BASH

The BOO BASH was an interim Halloween event, while COVID-19 restrictions made it difficult to hold an entire Disney event like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

The significant differences were that there were no stage shows, dance parties, dessert parties, meet-and-greets, or fireworks. Instead of parades, special Halloween-themed musical cavalcades were held at set times to reduce crowding.

As you would expect for Halloween, you could trick-or-treat and dress up in appropriate costumes. Both adults and children can ride the main attractions with little wait time.

It ran for 28 (originally 23) select nights at Disney’s Magic Kingdom but for fewer hours. BOO BASH ticket holders could gain admission from 7 pm, but the event did not start until 9:00 pm and closed at midnight (9:30 pm until 12:30 am on some nights).

At only 3 hours, this made it 2 hours shorter than the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. If you take into account early admission, it was 5 hours instead of 8 hours, but prices were actually higher. Despite the price increase, the event sold out quickly.

Disney World Halloween Past Party Events

Several Halloween-related events have recently ended and are included here for historical interest.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Pass

In 2019, Disney introduced a Party Pass that gave you access to every night of the Not So Scary Halloween Party except for Halloween (October 31). Ticket numbers were limited, and tickets could not be purchased online. Existing ticket holders could upgrade to a Party Pass while stocks last.

The Party Pass has not been offered again.

Cruella’s Halloween Hide a Way

A new dining experience, Cruella’s Halloween Hide-a-Way, was introduced in 2019 but has not been repeated in 2022.

It featured characters from 101 Dalmations, including Cruella de Vil, at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant and ran from 9:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.

It was a separately ticketed event (you also needed an admission ticket to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party) and cost $99 plus tax per guest.

You could come and go as you pleased and take your pick of savory hors d’oeuvres, samplers, and sweets like chocolate-dipped strawberries, mini cannolis, cheesecake, Kanine Krunchy Cake, and Mini De Vil brownies. You also got a reserved viewing of 11:15 pm Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade.

Return to Sleepy Hollow

In 2017 and 2018, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort put on the special “Return to Sleepy Hollow” event on select nights.

Due to the construction of the new Disney Vacation Club hotel, Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, Return to Sleepy Hollow was canceled for 2019 and has not returned.

In 2018, it took place on the nights of September 28–30, October 3–7, 17–21, and 24–31 at 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Ticket prices were $22 per person. For $38 per person, you could get premium seating, a Halloween treat bag, and a priority photo opportunity with the Headless Horseman.

You could also watch the 1949 classic film “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” inside the Tri-Circle-D Ranch stables, plus meet and greet with the Headless Horseman.

New for 2018 was a special dessert party at 9:00 p.m., available to guests attending either of the Return to Sleepy Hollow events. Ticket prices for the dessert party were $60 per person.

Villains’ Sinister Soiree: A Wicked Takeover Dessert Party

In 2014, Disney introduced a special Villains’ Sinister Soiree: A Wicked Takeover Dessert Party, where you met characters including Captain Hook, Cruella de Vil, Maleficent, and the Queen of Hearts.

This was a specially ticketed event that took place at Cinderella’s Royal Table inside the Cinderella Castle. Guests got a chance to dine on specialty desserts and non-alcoholic drinks, meet special Disney “villain” characters, and have preferred viewing for both the 8:15 p.m. Mickey’s “Boo-too-You” Halloween Parade and the Happy HalloWishes Fireworks Spectacular.

Also included in the price were a special autograph card and a collectible Maleficent Dragon cup.

Admission to the dessert party was $99 per person plus tax. This was in addition to the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ticket price.

This party has not been repeated in later years.