The Disney World Halloween Party: Spellbinding or Disenchanting?

William Vangroll Avatar

Disney World Halloween - Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks above Cinderella Castle during 2023 Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks above Cinderella Castle during 2023 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Photo credit: William Vangroll

Walt Disney World Halloween, featuring the annual Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP), is a costly after-hours ticketed event that takes place on select nights in the Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando. What do you get for the spine-chilling ticket price? Are there any hair-raising new items this year? Here’s everything you need to know about the big Disney World Halloween Party in 2023.

SheBuysTravel Tip: You can arrive at the Magic Kingdom Park as early as 4pm to get in the park. You will receive a party wristband and a take-home trick-or-treat bag. Cast Members will be checking for wristbands starting at 7pm and will politely ask you to apparate out of the park if you haven’t paid to attend the party!

What is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?

This is an after-hours, family-friendly event, running from 7pm-midnight on select nights between Aug. 11 and Nov. 1, 2023, at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom theme park. Ticket prices vary by date, ranging from $99 to $189 for kids ages 3-9 and $109-$199 for anyone ages 10 and up (prices are before tax). Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 per party ticket.

Purchase MNSSHP tickets in advance to ensure you get to attend the party. Not-So-Scary Halloween party tickets are limited and may not be available for purchase on the day of the event. Several party dates have already sold out. Halloween night, Oct. 31, is sold out already too.

Disney World Halloween - MNSSHP Welcome sign.
MNSSHP Welcome sign. Photo credit: William Vangroll

There are many activities to do at the party, including:

  • Trick-or-treating around the Magic Kingdom
  • Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show
  • Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade
  • Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show
  • Meet and greet your favorite characters in Halloween costumes
  • Purchase event merchandise
  • Enjoy specialty spooky food and drinks (some items are only available during the party) 

Guests are also encouraged to wear costumes to the party while following the Walt Disney Company guidelines.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Decide what your priority is before you enter the park. Do you want to ride rides with virtually no wait? Do you want to meet the Disney characters dressed up in their Halloween costumes? Or do you want to trick-or-treat for all-you-can-eat candy and boogie down with characters at restaurants turned house party? Knowing your priorities will be important, so you ensure you check them off your list!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party takes place in Orlando, Florida, at the Walt Disney World Resort. Disneyland in California offers the Oogie Boogie Bash during the Halloween season.

Disney World Halloween must haves: 2023 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party map and Trick-Or-Treat Bag.
Must haves: 2023 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party map and Trick-Or-Treat Bag. Photo credit: William Vangroll

What can you do at the 2023 Halloween Party?

Disney’s annual fall bash is a full night of enchanting fun with many ghostly favorites, familiar Halloween decorations, and fun new goodies. 

If you attend the party frequently, you will notice not much has changed. There is already so much to do and see; there isn’t much Disney can do to make it feel ‘new’.

For those that are new to the event or have not been in a few years, you will feel like you have to go back. There is too much to see and do in one night. However, some party nights have ghoulish ticket prices, so choose your nights wisely.

Let’s take a closer look at the offerings and events for 2023:

Join our Private Disney FB Group for more tips! JOIN HERE
  • Hat Box Ghost at Haunted Mansion. An unexpected addition this year. Disney Imagineers worked hard to add this special effect to the famous attraction in Liberty Square.
  • 30 Specialty Treats. EPCOT may have the International Food and Wine Festival, but the Magic Kingdom gets almost a whole new menu of spooky and savory drinks and eats this Fall. Items such as Apple Fritter Milkshakes and the MMMummy Treat are sure to satisfy the most stubborn skeleton in your party. Check out the Disney Parks Blog Not-So-Scary Foodie guide before your party for all the new Halloween treats. The party map only highlights three items.
  • Rusty Cutlass. Spend quality time in Adventureland during the party. The line for Pirates of the Caribbean is short; you can meet Jack Sparrow, and there usually is a short line at the Trick-or-Treat station. However, the biggest grins come from the roaming pirate characters and live band on the stage in front of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. These swashbuckling adventurers are fun to banter with, chat up, or just watch from afar.
  • Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade is a must-see, party-exclusive parade kicked off by Sleepy Hollow’s most famous resident: the Headless Horseman. The cavalcade continues with Disney characters in Halloween-themed costumes. New this year is the addition of Disney Villains like Cruella De Vil, Ursula, The Evil Queen, and many more.
  • Reusable Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party treat bag to use for trick-or-treating throughout all lands in the park. For allergy-friendly treats, ask a Cast Member for a teal-colored bag. The candy is sponsored by the Mars company. You can expect items like M&Ms, Snickers, etc.
  • Interactive Photopass locations are scattered around the park. Check the park map for locations. There are two kinds of photo spots this year: Step-Into scene backdrops from Disney movies and Magic Shots. Magic Shots are digital effects added to your photos by Photopass Cast Members. Some items are grinning ghosts, balloons, and other Halloween season surprises
Disney World Halloween - Headless Horseman Step-Into Photopass location.
Headless Horseman Step-Into Photopass location. Photo credit: William Vangroll
  • Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show starring the Sanderson Sisters. The show is a fan favorite, performed 3+ times a night on the Cinderella Castle forecourt stage. It includes well-known Disney Villains such as Oogie Boogie, Dr. Facilier, and others
  • Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show hosted by Jack Skellington and Zero from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Disney characters Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, and Goofy
  • The Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet perform throughout the night, entertaining guests with their bone-chilling songs and humor in Frontierland
  • Disney Characters in Halloween costumes can be found all around the park, from Town Square to Adventureland, and are extremely popular. Characters like Jack Skellington and Seven Dwarfs can have wait times of 90 minutes but can only be met at this annual fall bash. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Goofy have wait times of around 15-20 minutes.
  • Ride overlays and special effects: Rides throughout the park, like Space Mountain and the Haunted Mansion, have enhanced effects on their exterior to get you in the Halloween mood

SheBuysTravel Tip: The event is rain or shine. Remember to bring your ponchos along with your costume in case of a spontaneous Florida rainstorm.

Disney World Halloween - Disney Villains in the parade.
Disney Villains in the parade. Photo credit: William Vangroll

Halloween Merchandise and Food

As mentioned above, there are a spooktacular number of new foods and items this year that are only sold during the special event (not during the pre-party time).

Some of the items are for the more adventurous eaters, such as the Zombie Fingers, which are almond cookie fingers, Key lime pie white chocolate ganache, salted caramel crisp pearls, and sugar eyes. It watches you while you eat it!

Disney World Halloween - New food items only offered at the party include gummy worms in a cup with cookie crumbs and a cookie RIP sign.
New food items only offered at the party. Photo credit: William Vangroll

There’s also more standard park fare, like specialty The Nightmare Before Christmas popcorn bucket and Minnie-shaped pumpkin cheesecake sold at Main Street Bakery. Check your park map for descriptions and locations around the theme park.

One item noticeably missing from this year is the cupcakes. Last year, while celebrating Magic Kingdom’s 50th anniversary, cupcakes were everywhere. Disney seems to have recognized the sugar-dosing guests experienced last year and has limited the number of cupcakes this year.

There are also two dessert parties you can reserve only during the party:

  • Mickey’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing for an additional $99 (including tax and gratuity) for guests ages 10 and older; $59 (including tax and gratuity) for guests ages 3 to 9.
  • Mickey’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace for an additional $114 (including tax and gratuity) for guests ages 10 and older; $69 (including tax and gratuity) for guests ages 3 to 9.

Both dessert parties offer reserved viewing spots of Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show, special desserts and beverages. The main difference between the two is the fireworks viewing location. The Tomorrowland Terrace viewing location is elevated, and the Plaza Garden viewing area is on ground level next to the Main Street hub. Advanced reservations are highly recommended.

Disney World Halloween - Hocus Pocus Halloween merchandise offering at Magic Kingdom.
Hocus Pocus Halloween merchandise offering at Magic Kingdom. Photo credit: William Vangroll

The Merch

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party-specific merchandise can be found along Main Street U.S.A in the Emporium and Star Traders in Tomorrowland. Selections include sweatshirts, jackets, spirit jerseys, pins, and more. The items are limited and do sell out. If you get bewitched by an item, buy it. It may not be there when you return.

Disney World Halloween Party Tips

What should you know before you go to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? These helpful tips will help you navigate this event, especially if you’ve been to one of the Halloween parties before.

  • Do try and enter the Virtual Queue for the new Tron ride through the My Disney Experience app but don’t be surprised if you cannot get in. It has been known to open and close in seconds.
  • Don’t feel the need to bring a trick-or-treat bag. Trick-or-treating happens all around Magic Kingdom, but Cast Members will give you as many free bags as you like.
  • Do dress in costume! Yes, adults can dress in Halloween costumes too. Make sure to follow Disney Parks guidelines for costumes for those over 14, as they are pretty specific. Make sure to consider how hot Florida can be, even in the fall!
  • Don’t use a park ticket to visit Magic Kingdom on event day. Getting in as early as 4pm will give you plenty of time to accomplish everything you will want to do. Use the hours before the event to enjoy the other Parks or simply have a rest day at your hotel.
  • Do continue to use your Genie+ reservations during the party (if you already paid for them). Although the crowds are lower early in the season, the October parties can feel crowded. The Lightning Lanes are open!
  • Don’t forget to eat! Most of the park’s restaurants close before normal park closing. If you want to grab a meal before the party, check the restaurant’s hours before you go.
Disney World Halloween - A pirate band in Adventureland.
Who doesn’t love a pirate band in Adventureland? Photo credit: William Vangroll

Is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for Little Ones?

The Disney World Halloween event will probably be the least scary Halloween season event your little one could attend. Even the Disney Villains come across more friendly during these events. There are other after-hour parties in the area. Universal Studios offers Halloween Horror Nights, which is very scary. Legoland Florida offers a Brick-or-Treat party.

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and all of their friends will be dressed in their finest Halloween costumes, which typically have a more friendly look than those of the Disney villains.

Like most aspects of Walt Disney World Resort, this event is geared toward families. If you have concerns, like the Haunted Mansion looking scarier at night or the Headless Horseman frightening your child, just avoid those areas of the park when you can.

Disney World Halloween - Grim Grinning Ghosts in Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade.
Grim Grinning Ghosts in Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade. Photo credit: William Vangroll

The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular is a fun show that allows the characters from the Hocus Pocus movie to play with Disney villains from other movies. Oogie Boogie and Dr. Facilier sing songs from their movies, then other Disney villains come out and everyone dances.

Disney World Halloween - The Sanderson Sisters casting a spell during the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular.
The Sanderson Sisters casting a spell during the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. Photo credit: William Vangroll

How Much Are Disney World Halloween Tickets?

Ticket prices for this event vary based on date. Weekend prices are going to be more expensive than weekday prices. Also, August and September dates will be less than October dates. Ticket prices vary by date, ranging from $99 to $189 for kids ages 3-9 and $109-$199 for anyone ages 10 and up (prices are before tax).

Disney Vacation Club Members and Annual Passholders can receive a $10 discount on tickets in August and September.

This is the only Disney Halloween event at Walt Disney World. Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and the resort may have some fall decorations, but there are no other parties outside of the Magic Kingdom.

Disney World Halloween - Walt Disney World Train Station welcomes visitors to the MNSSHP.
Walt Disney World Train Station welcomes visitors to the MNSSHP. Photo credit: William Vangroll

2023 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Dates

The 2023 Disney World Halloween party dates are:

  • Friday, August 11, 2023
  • Tuesday, August 15, 2023
  • Friday, August 18, 2023
  • Tuesday, August 22, 2023
  • Friday, August 25, 2023
  • Tuesday, August 29, 2023
  • Friday, September 1, 2023
  • Monday, September 4, 2023
  • Friday, September 8, 2023
  • Sunday, September 10, 2023
  • Tuesday, September 12, 2023
  • Friday, September 15, 2023
  • Sunday, September 17, 2023
  • Tuesday, September 19, 2023
  • Friday, September 22, 2023
  • Sunday, September 24, 2023
  • Tuesday, September 26, 2023
  • Thursday, September 28, 2023
  • Friday, September 29, 2023
  • Sunday, October 1, 2023
  • Tuesday, October 3, 2023
  • Thursday, October 5, 2023
  • Friday, October 6, 2023
  • Monday, October 9, 2023
  • Tuesday, October 10, 2023
  • Thursday, October 12, 2023
  • Friday, October 13, 2023
  • Sunday, October 15, 2023
  • Tuesday, October 17, 2023
  • Thursday, October 19, 2023
  • Friday, October 20, 2023
  • Sunday, October 22, 2023
  • Tuesday, October 24, 2023
  • Thursday, October 26, 2023
  • Friday, October 27, 2023
  • Sunday, October 29, 2023
  • Tuesday, October 31, 2023
  • Wednesday, November 1, 2023

SheBuysTravel Tip: Though most tickets appear to be sold out online, there are still cancellations happening regularly. It is very possible that you might be able to purchase a ticket for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the gate. Of course, there is no guarantee, but it doesn’t hurt to see for yourself on your next trip to the Magic Kingdom!


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *