If you’ve never heard of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you’re missing out on one of the special after-hours parties that Disney World hosts in the Magic Kingdom. This is their Halloween party, which runs on select nights through September and October. Party guests are allowed to arrive to the park at 4:00pm; however, the party doesn’t officially start until 7:00pm. All park guests who don’t have a party ticket will be asked to leave at 6:00pm, officially clearing the park for the party!
Now, you may be wondering what makes this party so amazing. There are so many things: trick or treat locations, specialty food and drinks, special character meet and greets, even Halloween twists on some of your favorite Disney rides. It’s also a great excuse to come dressed as your favorite Disney character (this year we did “Beauty and the Beast” themed outfits).
Here are our (Mama and Poppy) approved rides, in no particular order:
1. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Head on over to Adventureland, where you can fly high on a magic carpet! With no height requirement, this ride is a must do if you have a toddler. There is even a camel that “spits” water at you, which was a nice added surprise on a hot evening.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean
Found in Adventureland, this is one of the special rides that has a Halloween twist! This boat ride takes you through scenes during a time where pirates ruled the seas. In addition to your favorite animatronic characters, you’ll see interactions with the live pirates on this ride with no height requirement. It’s just enough of a change from the normal ride to make it a must-see. Surprisingly enough, Poppy’s favorite part was the slight drop. Such a daredevil.
3. Haunted Mansion
Complete transparency, I was very up in the air as to whether or not to ride this one. I decided to try it out, and I’m so glad I did. Found in Liberty Square, this no-height-requirement ride takes you through a haunted estate, where ghosts are plentiful. Poppy really enjoyed the music, interactions with the ghosts, and didn’t seem to be scared at all! This really is the perfect ride for a Halloween party!
4. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Fantasyland is where we spent the majority of the night, since they have so many toddler friendly rides (re: no height requirement). This was our second time on a carousel (the first time was at a local park, and Poppy was not a fan). Since this is so quintessentially Disney, I thought we’d give it a try, completely prepared for it to backfire. While Poppy loved the beautiful horses, she did not like sitting on one by herself, so I had to climb up mid-ride, while holding a chunky toddler (not the easiest feat). If you decide to ride the carousel, I’d go ahead and mount up to start with. At least until your kiddo gets a little braver.
5. Mad Tea Party
Another Fantasyland ride with no height requirement and with a special Halloween twist! If you’ve ever seen these large teacups in action, then you know it’s a dizzying spin around the floor. While I’m not so good with the spinning, Poppy was having the time of her life, giggling and wanting more! The special Halloween overlay begins at nightfall and gives the teacups an eerie feel.
Other Favorites at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party:
1. Princess Fairytale Hall
Due to low wait times, we were able to meet four princesses in less than thirty minutes, and much of that time was spent talking to them. We met Tiana, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Elena (who is someone we didn’t know, but will now have to watch). When I tell you that everyone, adults, big kids, and toddlers, were in awe of these princesses, I mean it! They spoke like them, had their mannerisms down pat, and stayed in character the entire time. I’m not embarrassed to say that I was star struck by Cinderella. Poppy seemed to like Tiana and Cinderella the most.
2. Photo Opportunities
In addition to the usual photo opportunities you have during the day, there are some special magic shots that are only available at the party. Whether it’s hitch hiking with the ghosts from Haunted Mansion, taking pictures with the Headless Horseman, or seeing spirits from the other side, the photo opps aren’t something you can miss. Half the fun is not knowing what will be added into the pictures!
3. Trick-or-Treat Locations
We got so much candy! These treat trails are scattered throughout the park and are well marked. The lines moved very quickly, so we never had to wait. My favorite part was when the Cast Members would make a big deal out of our costumes. They would also make sure that Poppy got some candy. Poppy just liked holding the souvenir bag they gave her and repeatedly pulling her candy out and putting it back in. While Poppy didn’t have any allergies, we did have members of our group with them. If you ask for a special token, they’ll give one to you, and you can trade it in for allergy free treats.
4. Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
This stage show, in front of Cinderella’s castle, has it all! The Sanderson Sisters, from “Hocus Pocus,” lead this villain crew as they try to put a spell on park guests. It was amazing to see all of our favorite Disney villains together on stage, singing and dancing. The three different show times ensure that you can fit it into your schedule.
5. Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular
This is the firework show in the skies above Cinderella’s castle. The music, fireworks, lasers, and projections made it amazing to watch. Poppy wasn’t scared of the noises (although I had headphones ready just in case), and just kept staring at the show, completely entranced.
6. Souvenirs
Disney puts out special items in their stores that you can only buy during the party! My favorite was the souvenir poster they gave us on the way out, for free! This Halloween-themed 50th anniversary print will be put straight into the scrapbook.
What else can I do at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party with a toddler?
Unfortunately, it was just too crowded during the first run of Mickey’s “Boo-To-You” Halloween Parade and our crew was tired during the second run, so we didn’t get to see the parade. Having seen it in the past, I know how good it is and really wished we could’ve seen it. It’s a must do next time.
There are also a few dance parties, including Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam, Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball, and Zom-Beatz Bash. I heard some really good things from other toddler mamas; however, we didn’t get a chance to enjoy any of these.
While we did a few princess meet and greets, there were several Halloween specific ones that we missed. These include characters like Jack Skellington and Sally, and the Queen of Hearts, among others. For more specifics on park meet and greets, check out that blog post here.
There are also other rides that are open; however, we didn’t prioritize those as we had another Magic Kingdom day planned. The toddler friendly rides that are open, which aren’t Halloween party specific are: Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, “it’s a small world.” Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Tomorrowland Speedway (32” height requirement), Astro Orbiter, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. These are great rides to try to get on, because the wait time will be lower than on a normal Magic Kingdom day.
Would I do Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party again?
A big yes! This is one of the only times throughout the year where adults can wear costumes at Disney, and being able to dress up with Poppy is my literal dream! Seriously, I live for things like this. There were several experiences that we didn’t get a chance to do, especially since most of the party takes place after her bedtime, so we were already working on borrowed time. My plan is to wait until she’s a bit older to return for this after-hours bash. That way she can really enjoy how truly magical Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party is!
Thoughts About Genie+ and ILL
If you’ve never heard of Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lane, you should head on over and check out that post.
Unfortunately, Genie+ and ILL are not available during the party hours; however, you can use them during the 4:00pm-6:00pm time slot. Since this is the time that overlaps where party guests can get in, but day guests are still allowed in the park, it makes this a perfect time to ride some rides that aren’t available during the party. My suggestion would be to stack the rides during this time, making sure to avoid those with special Halloween twists, since those won’t start until 7:00pm. If you’d like to get a ticket to the party, click on this link.
Is there anything that you did with your toddler that I missed? Please share them in the comments.
Want to see what Poppy did on our Magic Kingdom day? Check it out here!
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