Magical Information to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Occasion

Spooky season begins early in Orlando. Disney World and Common Orlando kick their Halloween festivities off earlier than Labor Day, so visitors have greater than two full months of limited-time occasions, seasonal eats, and fall-themed enjoyable to get pleasure from.

Disney’s fan-favorite Halloween occasion, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Occasion, began at Magic Kingdom on Aug. 9, and I used to be there on opening night time. This particular occasion requires its personal ticket and isn’t included in normal each day park admission, however I feel it’s price the additional price; throughout the five-hour social gathering, we went on eight points of interest with minimal waits, hit a number of trick-or-treat stops, snagged a number of the specialty social gathering meals, and noticed the parade, fireworks, and stage present. 

Right here’s all the things you might want to know — from can’t-miss leisure to the very best snacks — to plan the right night time at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Occasion.

Leisure

At solely 5 hours lengthy, it’s unimaginable to see and do all the things at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Occasion in a single night time, however you’ll be able to test a lot of the must-dos off your listing — should you go in with a recreation plan.

Pause the trick-or-treating, character greetings, and rides for one factor: Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade. The parade begins with an look from the mysterious Headless Horseman, galloping his means from Frontierland to Major Avenue, and options iconic basic Disney characters of their Halloween finest, alongside distinctive cavalcades of spooky characters — just like the hitchhiking ghosts from Haunted Mansion. The gorgeous floats, particular character appearances, and catchy theme music make this my favourite Disney World parade, and I extremely suggest making it a precedence as you intend your night time on the social gathering. 

The parade occurs twice an evening at 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. and travels from Frontierland (beginning close to Tiana’s Bayou Journey) as much as Liberty Sq. after which across the hub in entrance of Cinderella’s Fortress, earlier than heading down Major Avenue, U.S.A. We discovered a spot round 7:45 p.m. in Frontierland, however the first present Is often busier, and folks had been ready effectively earlier than that for prime viewing spots. 

Creepy emcee Jack Skellington hosts Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular at Cinderella’s Fortress at 10 p.m. Fireworks, projections, and music from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas” can have you singing “This Is Halloween,” even in August. 

The “Hocus Pocus” Villain Spectacular contains a mashup of infamous Disney villains who come to assist the Sanderson Sisters from “Hocus Pocus.” The present takes place as much as 4 instances nightly (relying on the date), so you could have loads of probabilities to test it out — I like to recommend catching the midnight exhibiting on the way in which out of the park. There are additionally dance events in Tomorrowland, singing pirates in Adventureland, and the Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet in Frontierland. 

Rides and Sights

Rides are open throughout the social gathering, so visitors can anticipate brief wait instances for a lot of of Magic Kingdom’s prime points of interest. Each Tiana’s Bayou Journey and Tron Lightcycle/Run provide standby strains throughout the social gathering — one thing you gained’t see throughout typical park hours once you want a digital queue or paid Lightning Lane to entry them — so this can be a nice time to experience these sought-after points of interest to your coronary heart’s content material. 

Just a few rides provide particular theming for the occasion: You possibly can experience House Mountain in full darkness (with eerie tunes to up the joys issue), spin across the Mad Tea Occasion with a festive ambiance, or hearken to some Halloween-inspired jokes at Monsters, Inc. Chuckle Flooring. If House Mountain is simply too intense for you, hop on the PeopleMover for an aerial view of the social gathering and a peek inside House Mountain, the place you’ll be able to see and listen to the overlay with out so many twists and turns. 

Though it may be a protracted wait throughout the social gathering, undoubtedly make time to experience the Haunted Mansion. A duo of pleasant ghosts entertain visitors within the cemetery portion of the queue, and I discovered the ghosts’ interactions with the visitors to be humorous and intelligent, making for one in every of our favourite components of the night. 

Occasion Meals and Drinks

Together with event-exclusive merchandise, there are bites and sips which you can solely snag throughout Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Occasion.

You could find them at quick-service places all through the park, and it is sensible to examine each accessible choice on the Disney web site beforehand so you’ll be able to plot out your snack plans. At Aloha Isle, the Dole Whip Mango and Chamoy Float (additionally accessible throughout common park hours this season) was a private favourite; it combines refreshing mango-flavored Dole Whip with pineapple juice, chamoy, and tangy chili lime salt. The Spicy Meatball Arrabbiata Flatbread at Pinocchio Village Haus was a tasty and satisfying choice for a fast dinner between rides. The Friar’s Nook has a number of party-exclusive eats, together with the ominous-sounding Bowl of Bones and the Buffalo Rooster Hand Pie; we tried and loved each, however the hand pie was my favourite right here. There are dozens extra distinctive meals and beverage choices accessible, so make an inventory of your must-try treats and test them off as you’re employed your means across the park. (Don’t neglect that many places provide cell ordering by way of the Disney app.)

For visitors searching for a extra enjoyable meal in a table-service setting, Be Our Visitor, Cinderella’s Royal Desk, and The Plaza Restaurant are open and provide some party-exclusive eats. This social gathering was the one time I’ve ever seen a wait as brief as 10 minutes to eat at Cinderella’s Royal Desk and not using a reservation — although you may make reservations for these table-service eating places forward of the social gathering should you’d like.

Dessert events are additionally accessible to e-book (for an additional cost) if you’d like snacks and entry to a reserved space for the fireworks. 

Character Appearances 

Look ahead to characters decked out of their Halloween finest all through the park. You possibly can take pictures with Mickey and friends of their festive apparel, Sew in his cute Elvis costume, and Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger of their almost-too-cute outfits — plus extra characters (together with some “uncommon” characters that you just don’t normally see on the parks) of their typical apparel. 

Jack Skellington and Sally from “The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas” are highly regarded, and their strains typically exceed an hour. 

Trick-or-Treating

Prepared for the very best trick-or-treating ever? While you arrive at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Occasion, you’re given a bag and your first deal with of the night time, a full-size bag of M&Ms. The occasion affords greater than a dozen trick-or-treat places across the park, the place forged members load your bag up with Mars Wrigley candies (suppose Twix, Snickers, Starburst, Skittles, and extra — all of the name-brand candies you at all times hoped to attain when trick-or-treating round your neighborhood once you had been youthful).

Every location is indicated on the map and by a trick-or-treat pylon. Traces could look lengthy, however they sometimes transfer quick—simply have your bag open once you get to the entrance. We went to about half of the deal with places and ended up with a ton of sweet (I feel we counted about 70 items every), so youngsters and adults alike will love filling their luggage with all of the sweet they’d like. The ticket value consists of all of the trick-or-treating, so there’s no extra price. 

And should you or your youngsters have allergy symptoms, don’t fear — you’ll be able to nonetheless get pleasure from trick-or-treating. Visitors with allergy symptoms obtain a teal deal with bag and can get tokens from forged members at every trick-or-treat location that they’ll trade for allergy-friendly treats on the Allergy-friendly Facilities in Liberty Sq. and Major Avenue, U.S.A. Though we don’t have meals allergy symptoms, we poked our heads in to see the way it labored, and educated forged members defined which treats suited completely different wants so visitors may decide which they’d like. I’d anticipate the Major Avenue location to get fairly busy towards the tip of the night time as individuals trade their tokens earlier than leaving the park, so think about swapping some out midway by means of the night time or head to Liberty Sq. to keep away from the push (it was empty once we visited at round 9:30 p.m.).

Tickets and Dates

Magic Kingdom will host practically 40 nights of spooky enjoyable this yr. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Occasion began on Aug. 9 and runs by means of Oct. 31. (After that, the park will endure a magical transformation from Halloween to vacation). This can be a individually ticketed occasion, so that you gained’t be capable to entry the social gathering on a regular Magic Kingdom day ticket. Ticket costs range by date from $119 to $199, with the costliest tickets round Oct. 31, however annual cross holders and Disney Trip Membership members can rating a $10 low cost on social gathering tickets in August and September.

The occasion lasts from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., however visitors with social gathering tickets can get within the park earlier — extra on that beneath. Tickets are nonetheless accessible for some September and October nights on the Disney World web site. 

Suggestions for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Occasion

Get there early. 

Despite the fact that the social gathering doesn’t formally begin till 7 p.m., social gathering ticket holders can enter the park starting at 4 p.m. Plan to get there simply earlier than 4 p.m. to get in line for the social gathering entrance and knock out a number of points of interest earlier than the social gathering begins — although event-specific experiences at points of interest gained’t begin till 7 p.m. Some visitors take this early entry alternative to hop in line for his or her favourite characters (Jack and Sally are a highly regarded alternative) to allow them to be among the many first when the social gathering meet-and-greet begins. 

Put on a Disney-inspired costume. 

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Occasion is among the few instances visitors ages 14 and up can put on costumes contained in the park, however there are guidelines you might want to find out about, particularly for visitors over 13. For visitors 14 and up, costumes have to be family-friendly, costume masks aren’t allowed, and costumes can’t attain the bottom. For extra particulars about what can and may’t be worn, take a look at the official guidelines on the Disney World web site. Even should you don’t gown up, seeing different visitors of their finest Disney-inspired outfits is so enjoyable. 

Keep at a resort on the monorail. 

Questioning which Disney World lodge to e-book in your Halloween getaway?  Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Up to date Resort are all situated on the monorail that goes to Magic Kingdom, making for a simple experience to and from the social gathering. Disney’s Up to date Resort is only a 10-minute stroll from the park, making it probably the most handy choice for guests who don’t need to take care of the crowds leaving the park when the social gathering is over. 

American Signal Language interpretation is accessible at some reveals on choose nights. 

American Signal Language interpretation is accessible at choose reveals on three dates (Aug. 23, Sept. 26, and Oct. 24). Examine the Disney World web site for extra particulars about accessibility throughout the occasion.