My Tips to Enjoy Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2013 at Walt Disney World

Hi everyone!

I’ve posted over 150 photos from the first Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for 2013, and I wanted to share some tips for enjoying this year’s Party. This is our 7th year covering it, and many things tend to stay the same from year to year – but not everything!

Our Mousesteps Weekly show at the end of the article is mostly about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

This article was written after our first visit to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, but we are about to attend our third tonight! I’ve added in a few videos since I first wrote the article this past week, but not too much extra information was needed.

Here are my tips!

– Purchase tickets ahead of time. There are often advance purchase discounts, and Parties can sell out.

– Arrive early. As in previous years, your Party ticket will get you into the Magic Kingdom park at 4:00 p.m. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party does not start until 7:00 p.m., but that gives several hours to enjoy rides and attractions before the Party starts! We actually passed through the gates just before 4. Rest up at your hotel ahead of time, and arrive for an 8 hour night! There are trick-or-treat bags available when you arrive, but if you are there early, wait to pick one up. Treat bags are available at each candy station.

– Plan out what you’d like to see ahead of time. There are many great character opportunities, but also Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade; Happy HalloWishes fireworks; shows; dance parties (including the new Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball in Tomorrowland) and so much more! Most attractions are also available. You will not be able to do everything in one night.

– Trick-or-Treating is for everyone! From young children to adults, all are able to pick up goodies at the various treat stations.

– Costumes are welcome. Both young and old alike can dress up – and each year, I see more and more costumes during the first Party! Costumes tend to get more elaborate as the season progresses.

– Pick up your Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom souvenir card early. Last year, the card was handed out during Party hours only – this year, we picked ours up at 6:00 p.m. at the Main Street Fire Station. We were told that there were limited quantities at each Party. You will need your Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ticket to pick one up.

– I don’t recommend lining up for Jack Skellington and Sally too early. We arrived to the line at 6:30 p.m., and Jack and Sally started greeting at 7:30 p.m. We waited an additional hour after that. In contrast, I walked past Jack and Sally’s line just before the first parade ended, and the wait was maybe 15 minutes. Surprisingly, the line was pretty long at the end of the night, so definitely find a time that is very busy elsewhere (like the first parade) and save yourself some time. * We were told that the 4th Party line for Jack and Sally never went under 1 1/2 hours – so if Jack and Sally are extremely important, early might be better in that case. During the first 3 Parties, we found lines not as long during certain times. We hope to check the Party out once more in the next week or two!

– Keep your eye open in Town Square for characters! Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella; Lots-o-Huggin’ Bear; Jafar, along with Jack and Sally can be found here. There may be others we didn’t see as well. Other characters are scattered about the park, and there was only a 5 minute wait to meet Mickey and Minnie in their Halloween finery inside Town Square Theater at 10:00 p.m.

– View the second parade. Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade is one of my favorites at any Disney park, and if you are only planning on seeing it once, view the second parade. We often watch it at Town Square, but I actually prefer Frontierland – the parade passes there first, giving me more time to have fun! If you are on Main Street, it will take 15 or so minutes to arrive.

– Dance parties are less crowded later in the evening. A lot of families leave the Party early, and the dance parties never seem too busy after 11:00 p.m. On the flip side, the Villains Mix & Mingle is always popular, even the last one at 11:15 p.m.

– Stay late. The first major guest exit is after Happy Hallowishes, by 10:00 p.m.! Once the clock strikes 11:00 p.m., it feels like we have the Magic Kingdom to ourselves.

Dates for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party are:

September: 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 & 29, 2013
October: 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29 & 31, 2013
November: 1, 2013

– And Have fun!

Here is our Mousesteps Weekly Episode #69 where we talk about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2013!