Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2026 Dates & Details Announced by Disney World
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party returns to Magic Kingdom in late Summer 2026. Here’s everything you need to know: dates & details about entertainment, characters & more. Plus predicted pricing and our commentary about the popularity of MNSSHP after every single night selling out for the last few years.
On select nights starting this August, the sun sets over Cinderella Castle as Magic Kingdom transforms into the center for all things spooky and fun. Twinkling songs give way to eerie music, shadows lengthen, and the Haunted Mansion hums with main character energy.
Mickey’s No-So-Scary Halloween Party is a separate ticketed event that happens each year at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Offerings include exclusive entertainment, Halloween-themed food and beverages, photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise and character greetings. The party runs only on specific weekend or weekday nights, so be sure to consult the calendar of dates to plan your trip.
Guests can expect a party that offers fun-for-families: Show off your most creative Disney-themed costume and see the Headless Horseman stalk the streets. Gather candy around every corner, see your favorite rides get a little spookier —and you maybe even run into a witch or three.
Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party may be purchased online or by calling 407-939-4240. Event tickets go on sale for guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green starting May 5, 2026. Tickets will be available to all guests starting May 12, 2026.
If you want to take advantage of that early booking window for on-site guests (and having them buy the ticket on your behalf so you don’t have to hassle with it when sales go live), consider working with a travel agent. As always, we’d recommend requesting a FREE no obligation quote from Be Our Guest Vacations, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and having them book for you. Just be sure to do that ASAP, as opposed to waiting until May 4th or 5th.
Here’s a full list of 2026 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party dates…
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2026 Dates:
- August 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
- September 1, 4, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29
- October 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31
Planning Tip: To help conjure your fiendish pursuits, note that in August, MNSSHP dates occur on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. This is also true for September with the addition of one Thursday date on September 24, 2026. In October, ghouls can descend upon Magic Kingdom every Thursday; most Fridays, Sundays, most Tuesdays; and Saturday on Halloween.
As always, the 2026 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will take place from 7:00 pm until midnight. Ticket holders will be admitted to Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 pm on the valid date of their ticket–giving them even more time to enjoy park favorites before the event begins! These date-specific event tickets do not require an additional day theme park ticket or theme park reservation.
For reference, dates last year were August 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29; September 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30; and October 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31.
Two years ago, dates were: August 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30; September 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29; and October 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31.
Note that the first MNSSHP was a full week later than normal last year, which we believe was a one-off due to the delayed debut of Starlight and operations wanting that parade to have a longer runway of nightly performances.
The 2026 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is returning to its 2023-2024 “normal” start date, which is Friday of the first full week of August. That’s an earlier date than ever, but it’s more a result of how the calendar falls and less of Disney deliberately moving forward the date.
As you can see, there were two parties in 2024 before the first party in 2025. There were 38 parties each of the last two years. Walt Disney World accomplished that despite the later start by adding two Sunday night parties last August.
If my math is correct, there are once again 38 nights of the 2026 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. This is absolutely shocking to me.
While I correctly predicted the earlier-than-ever August 7th start date, I expected that Disney would otherwise follow the same scheduling approach as last year, which would’ve allowed for an extra 2-3 parties, and breaking the 40 nights barrier for the first time.
Instead, they’ve reverted to the same concentration of dates as the previous two years, meaning another 38 parties for the third consecutive year. This is a really interesting move given the (lack of) crowds in August coupled with high demand for MNSSHP.
The 2026 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ticket prices vary by date, and are almost always more expensive on weekends and as the event gets deeper into Halloween season (on average, September is more expensive than August and October is more expensive than September).
Walt Disney World has confirmed that 2026 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets will range from $119 to $229 per ticket, plus tax (prices vary by event date). This is the exact same price range as last year. Walt Disney World has not yet released per date pricing, but our expectation is that the average prices will once again shift slightly towards the higher end of that range.
Note that the price of the final two parties shot up from $199 to $229 last year, but that increase only applied to those two dates. Every other night was $199 or below. Expect something similar for 2026. Fewer dates at the $119 or $129 price points, and more that cost $189 to $229.
Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 per ticket to the 2026 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party—valid only for event nights for event nights from August 7 to October 2, 2026. Cast Members can also save on select nights. More details can be found on Cast Life Web or My Disney Today.
Throughout the evening during the 2026 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, you can:
- Set your sights on the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular! Watch 3 sinister sisters bewitch and bedazzle the residents of Magic Kingdom park.
- Witness Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular—a wickedly wild fireworks display featuring some of your favorite Disney Characters and hosted by Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
- Boogie down at the Disney Junior Jam at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café—featuring some favorite friends from Disney Junior shows. It’s perfect for young partygoers!
- See beloved Disney Characters during Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade.
- Collect a bag full of candy as you roam the trick-or-treat trails in search of some of your favorite sweets.
- Revel in the extraordinarily enchanting atmosphere of Magic Kingdom park during this limited-capacity event.
Now that you’ve got the dates of the the 2026 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, here are a few sneak peeks at new and returning entertainment all around Magic Kingdom.
New this year, Stitch is hosting an ever-changing dance party at the Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland with the help of his friends Lilo and Angel. After getting his paws on Lilo’s Costume Trunk, every accessory he tries on will spark a theme swap and keep the party playfully unpredictable all night long.
Another tease is that guests can expect even more fun than ever before when trick-or-treating, with some familiar (and fiendish) faces surprising guests along the treat trails.
For even more creepy character fun, keep your eyes peeled because you may see new and returning Disney Villains appear as you creep by through the streets.
In not-new-news, the Cadaver Dans will be back again this year to sing in soulful harmony.
Similarly, guests can meet Sally and Jack Skellington at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at one of the many character stops that feature exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities. At Town Square Theater, Mickey and Minnie will greet guests together in their Halloween costumes. Pooh will be in his bumblebee costume, and you may spot festive royal couples ready to say hello, like Ariel and Eric and Aladdin and Jasmine.
Once again, a few fan-favorite rides will get grim overlays. Expect spellbinding transformations with special lighting and music. Check back to see which attractions are getting the Halloween treatment.
Exclusive party merch will also be available for purchase at Magic Kingdom to commemorate your not-so-scary night of macabre memories. There will also be savory snacks, sweet treats, and more that are exclusive to the 2026 MNSSHP.
Stay tuned for even more details and shriek peeks of the 2026 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party entertainment, merchandise, and photo opportunities as they materialize. Disney has teased more changes, additions, and news to be revealed closer to the event dates starting later this summer!
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a great trick-or-treat destination, with over a dozen treat trail stops marked on your party map. For the 2026 MNSSHP, guests can expect even more fun than ever before with some familiar (and fiendish) faces surprising guests along the trails (as teased above).
At each stop, cast members in their famously adorable Halloween costumes give out handfuls of Mars Wrigley favorites like M&Ms, Snickers and Starburst. And no worries if you forgot your pumpkin bucket at home: Each guest will receive complimentary treat bags for candy collection (that includes adults).
Guests with food allergies can also join in the fun at every stop. Grab a teal bag from a Cast Member and collect teal tokens along the trail to redeem your fill of allergy-free candy at Allergy-Friendly Centers. Trick-or-treaters do not have to be in costume to collect candy. Guests are encouraged to dress up in creative Halloween costumes.
Most notably, there’s what we consider the ‘holy trinity’ of must-see Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party entertainment. The first is Mickey’s Boo to You Parade, which is presented twice during the party. In 2026, the Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade will again step off for its first performance at 8:15 PM to allow plenty of time for little ones to enjoy the celebration.
Mickey’s Boo to You Parade is kicked off by a dance crew to hype up the crowd, followed by the Headless Horseman riding down the parade route. Following that, favorite Disney villains stride down Main Street alongside Disney heroes, the iconic Haunted Mansion graveyard diggers and other favorite characters.
Boo to You Parade has had a number of minor changes in the last couple of years, with the most notable last year being a logistical one, with the first performance stepping off an hour earlier. This was hugely positive for dispersing crowds, as Main Street and the Central Plaza around Cinderella Castle had become heavily congested in previous years due to back-to-back-t0-back entertainment offerings. Spacing those out alleviated some crowding. It also leveled-off crowds between the first and second parades.
Here’s hoping that Mickey’s Boo to You Parade receives enhancements for the 2026 MNSSHP. A new float or entire unit would be fantastic. Walt Disney World doesn’t need to fix what isn’t broken–Boo to You is excellent–but a refresh would be much appreciated.
The second entertainment highlight of MNSSHP is “Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular.”
This is the fireworks show hosted by the Pumpkin King, a.k.a. Jack Skellington. “Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular” features projections, special effects and lighting paired with fireworks, music and iconic Disney characters.
As always, we highly recommend watching from as close to Cinderella Castle (near Partners is great) as possible. Not only will you be immersed in the perimeter bursts of the fireworks, but you’ll have an up-close view of Jack Skellington, the unequivocal highlight of the show. Other Magic Kingdom fireworks shows are better enjoyed from a distance–not this one!
Finally, there’s the “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” stage show at Cinderella Castle that’s performed multiple times per night.
The Sanderson Sisters, stars of the iconic “Hocus Pocus” films, unite for an adventure and call on their comrades to summon the ultimate “Hocus Pocus” Party Potion during “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular.”
Like the movie itself, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular has a cult following among Walt Disney World diehards. Every performance of this show is packed, including the one that occurs when the clock strikes midnight (that’s our favorite one to watch, effectively extending the event). For good reason, as “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” is fantastic.
For plenty of purchasers, the main draw of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is access to attractions with lower than normal wait times.
Above is a photo of the rare 7 minute posted wait time for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which I snapped last year during one of the MNSSP nights that I attended. That should say it all, but one thing to note is that you shouldn’t expect walk-on waits for every attraction. Most have virtually no line, but headliners like SDMT and TRON Lightcycle Run often have waits of 20 minutes or more.
It’s also worth noting that August and September are the two slowest months of the year, and the daytime hours prior to MNSSHP starting usually feature 1/10 crowd levels. While they lack the atmosphere and cooler nights, you can enjoy similarly low waits just by targeting a date when Magic Kingdom closes to day guests at 6 pm.
One quiet, positive change Walt Disney World made to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party was lowering the attendance cap. This is not a new development; it occurred a few years ago. If you last experienced MNSSHP in October 2019 when this problem peaked, you should notice the difference.
This is no guarantee that Walt Disney World will stick with the lower attendance cap for the 2026 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. They could determine that, on balance, guest satisfaction is higher if the events don’t sell out as easily. Obviously, guest satisfaction is higher among attendees with a lower cap, but that doesn’t account for guests who get shut out and are disappointed.
So that’s one potential change for 2026–a higher attendance cap to reduce sold out dates. This strikes me as unlikely to happen. Walt Disney World has hit the goldilocks zone for crowds–not too light or too heavy. This doesn’t mean there’s zero congestion or lines and the entire park feels empty. You’ll encounter crowds and congestion, especially for rare characters and in front of Cinderella Castle between the parade and fireworks, but there’s no solving for that. You’ll also find areas deeper in the park that feel dead.
A common question we hear from readers is when will tickets to the 2026 MNSSHP sell out?
Unless you’re planning on attending October 30th or 31st, you probably do not need to worry about 2026 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets selling out…yet. If you’re reading this when the announcement is first being made during Halfway to Halloween, you have nothing to worry about, and that’s true whether you purchase tickets during the on-site window or when they’re available for the general public.
Even with the last few years setting the record for sold out dates, it’s very uncommon for most dates to sell out before June. The first date to sell out is always October 31st, and last year it sold out the morning that tickets went on sale to the general public, which was far and away the fastest it had ever sold out.
The next date to sell out was August 19th, which sold out on July 13th. This was one of the lowest-priced dates for MNSSHP, and those less expensive dates all sold out by early August. Opening night was next to sell out, which occurred on August 1st.
For reference, Halloween night almost always sells out first. We would expect a repeat of this in 2026, and potentially with both October 31st and October 30th. If the final night sells out quickly, that could result in a ‘run’ on the 30th as a next best alternative, especially with it being a Friday night. Despite the sky-high prices, we’d expect both dates to sell out quickly.
From there, usually cheaper dates and the first night sell out sometime in mid-July, with more dates selling out in early August. Once content from the first night of the event floods social media, there’s usually a “run” on tickets for subsequent events–and several more parties sell out around then.
With all of that said, I wouldn’t recommend risking it–and I won’t be, personally. I’ve already made my on-site resort reservation and will be buying my opening night ticket during the pre-sale window. This is not something I normally do, but procrastinating has burned me in the past, and I’m concerned demand will be elevated across the board in 2026.
My hope is that Walt Disney World has more additions up its sleeve for 2026. It has been a while since Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party had a major refresh, and it’d be nice to see that happen again. If you’ve been since 2019, you’ve more or less experienced the current event. About 95% of the offerings are unchanged, and you might not even notice what is different unless you have a keen eye.
There are a couple of impediments to major changes. First, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party has sold out every single event for the last 4 years. If you count Boo Bash, the last 5 years. After a slow start, the second half of the 2019 season also sold really well, too. Given that, there’s not much of an incentive for Walt Disney World to make changes. Guests are responding well to what’s already there.
The second reason is somewhat of an outgrowth of the first: don’t fix what isn’t broken. Guests respond well to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party because it’s really good. A lot of Walt Disney World-centric fans rave about Oogie Boogie Bash, but that’s a “grass is greener” thing–MNSSHP is the superior event. Boo to You is an all-time great Disney parade and Hocus Pocus Spelltacular is a modern classic. Both could receive refreshes, but replacements would be foolish.
Beyond enhancements to the tentpole entertainment, the top of my personal ‘wish list’ item is a modernized HalloWishes with the Jack Skellington figure and projections. So in other words, bringing back another longtime staple of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Although the Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show is newer and has its moments, it’s nothing special.
I’d also love to see the Immersive Treat Trails a la Oogie Boogie Bash. Those are truly next level, and are the highlight of the Halloween party at Disneyland. Magic Kingdom has tested a scaled-back version of these each of the last two years with villains inside the Princess Fairytale Hall treat trail, but has yet to go all-in on the concept.
Perhaps 2026 will be the year for that? It is teased in the announcement, but the same was also true last year and it ended up being more of the same. So we shall see.
Failing a villainous takeover of the treat trails, how about more new character meet & greets? Or at least, different ones. This is something Oogie Boogie Bash does well, and it would work at Walt Disney World.
We’ve been doing MNSSHP for over 15 years, and many of the meet & greets are the same today as when we started. There are also too few characters, and the lineup still hasn’t fully recovered from the loss of the Seven Dwarfs. Characters have essentially been cutback despite prices increasing, which feels like a tale as old as time with Walt Disney World.
If you’re on the fence about attending this year’s event but are wondering whether it’s worth the money, what each piece of entertainment is like, or anything else, check out our 2026 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Excited for the 2026 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? Will your family be buying or sitting this Halloween event out? Think MNSSHP is getting stale? What are your thoughts on ticket prices, demand, crowd levels, or the likelihood of the 2026 MNSSHP selling out to the same extent as last year? Do you agree or disagree with our perspective on this? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
