2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide
Our guide to the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party offers tips & info for Magic Kingdom’s fall special event at Walt Disney World. This includes available & sold out dates, ticket prices & discounts, schedule & strategy for seeing the parade, fireworks, and characters, plus our review of MNSSHP and whether it’s worth your time & money.
For those unfamiliar with it, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is a special event that occurs after Magic Kingdom closes for the day. It is separately ticketed, meaning you have to pay extra for the party if you’re already in the park as a day guest and want to stay through MNSSHP.
If you’re already wanting to plan ahead for the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, the bad news is that Walt Disney World has yet to release dates, tickets, or other details. On a positive note, we do know that MNSSHP will return, with more info coming soon. If you want to be notified when dates & tickets for the 2024 party are released,, subscribe to our FREE email newsletter. For now, here’s everything you need to know about the event…
One of the most common questions we hear from readers is when will Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party dates be announced and tickets go on sale? Our expectation is sometime between now and May 2024. It could occur within the coming weeks or not for several more months. Historical precedent supports both.
Looking back, last year’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party was announced in late April during “Halfway to Halloween” in each of the last two years. The three parties before that were announced in mid-February, mid-January, and mid-March, respectively. That’s quite the scattering of months, and it’s honestly difficult to say what’ll happen in 2024.
Walt Disney World has been seeing an exhaustion of pent-up demand, and concerns of that dying down further mean tickets go on sale earlier so there’s more time for them to sell out. Then again, every single date did sell out last year, and that was even as the parks were otherwise slowing down. There’s really no reason to believe MNSSHP tickets will sell slower in 2024, so there shouldn’t be a sense of urgency.
With all of that in mind, we’ll just make the very broad prediction that an announcement will come no later than April 20, 2024. Beyond that, it honestly wouldn’t surprise us if they went on sale as early as mid-January; even if there is no urgency, capturing that revenue as soon as possible and locking people into travel plans is win-win for the company.
As for the event itself, our prediction is that the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party will start on or around August 9, 2024 and continue several nights per week until November 1, 2024. Last year, dates were August 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29; September 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29; October 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31; and November 1.
Ticket prices for the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party will likely range from $125 to $225 depending upon the date. Costs have skyrocketed in the last several years, and it doesn’t help that all dates sold out last year. That alone was unprecedented, but the fact that it happened despite huge price increases could mean even more expensive tickets for the 2024 MNSSHP.
With that in mind, what follows is background and planning info for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, based on last year’s event. It’s unlikely that much will change for 2024…
Our tips and tricks for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) are based on our experiences attending the party over 30 times since 2007. You can read about our experience the first night last year in our Review & Photos: Mickey’s Scary HOT Halloween Party Report.
If you’ve already purchased MNSSHP tickets and want something that synthesizes all of the basic info about the event into a step-by-step plan, see our Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Itinerary. That’s more concise, leaving out a lot of background and crowd info.
We also have a look at all of the food items in the Halloween Snack & Dessert Food Guide to Magic Kingdom. Finally, if you’re interested in ‘collecting’ all of the exclusive images during the event, see our Guide to ALL PhotoPass Magic Shots at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.
Now, let’s turn to a brief summary of what’s new at the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party season, just in case you don’t read our MNSSHP report above…
There have been a handful of recent additions to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. First, the Sanderson Sisters as Disney characters. This version of the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus appear in Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade. They are NOT meet & greet characters–so you’ll be able to see them, but not get your photos with them. There have also been other changes to the Boo To You Parade that repeat visitors will appreciate.
Additionally, Max Goof and his Powerline party pack will appear at new pop-up parties throughout Magic Kingdom before this popular crew dances onto Main Street U.S.A. ahead of Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade. This is a nice addition, and is a good way to see Powerline up close outside of the parade.
There’s also what’s essentially a “pirate takeover” of Adventureland, with the Rusty Cutlass singing sea shanties while their shipmates roam the land sharing tales of their explorations at sea. This adds atmospheric entertainment to Adventureland, similar to what’s already in Frontierland thanks to the Cadaver Dans and Country Bears.
The big character news is that the Seven Dwarfs have returned to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, appearing in their former meet & greet location back in Storybook Circus. See How to Waste the Least Time Meeting the Seven Dwarfs at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party if you plan on attending to do this meet & greet. It’s insanely popular and will take a ton of party time if you don’t plan properly.
If you’re visiting Walt Disney World and are hoping to purchase last-minute tickets to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on sold out dates, you might be able to do so outside the park at the Guest Relations window or inside City Hall on Main Street.
On occasion, there are same-day tickets available as a result of cancellations or other circumstances. If so, instead of the ‘sorry folks, tonight’s event is sold out’ sign pictured above, you’ll likely see one advising that a limited number of tickets are available for purchase. For what it’s worth, we are not aware of any same-day MNSSHP tickets being sold recently. The most likely scenario for this to occur is when there are hurricane or other weather scares causing people to cancel their trips or plans. In other words, it’s a longshot–but worth trying, nevertheless!
Spanning portions of 4 different months, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party “season” is the longest special event at Walt Disney World. Last year, the event was held on 38 select nights August 11 through November 1. The 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is likely to start a couple of nights earlier, and have 1 more night over the course of party season. If that prediction is accurate, it’ll once again set another new record for duration and number of parties.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place from 7 pm until midnight on evenings when it’s held. On MNSSHP dates, Magic Kingdom is open to regular guests from 8 am until 6 pm. (Despite the significantly shorter hours, these are good days to visit Magic Kingdom if you’re not attending the party. We explain why here.)
Ticket holders are admitted to Magic Kingdom as early as 4 pm on the valid date of their ticket–giving you 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.
Also during the party, you may have the opportunity to experience some of your favorite attractions, including the newly opened TRON Lightcycle Run. Here’s the list of attractions that will be open during the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party:
Adventureland
- Jungle Cruise
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Swiss Family Treehouse
Frontierland
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Liberty Square
- Haunted Mansion
Fantasyland
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
- “It’s a small world”
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mad Tea Party
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Storybook Circus
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- The Barnstormer
Tomorrowland
- Astro Orbiter
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Space Mountain
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover
- TRON Lightcycle / Run
TRON Lightcycle Run will use a virtual queue during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, allowing guests to enjoy all the festivities while they wait to enter the Grid.
Not only have ticket prices skyrocketed, but crowd levels at the events have also gone up dramatically. With every single night of the event sold out, attendance levels absolutely exploded, and crowds were very bad at times. We would strongly recommend “Is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Too Crowded?” for a look at what we mean.
At this point, it’s impossible to say whether the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party will follow that pattern. It could, but it’s also possible that Walt Disney World lowered the attendance cap after complaints and price increases. Our anecdotal perception is that MNSSHP has been less overcrowded the last 2 years than it was in October 2019, but it’s still busier than years (or even the two months that year) prior to that.
We also believe that Disney typically increases the capacity cap in October each year when the earlier sunset allows extra entertainment to be added to the schedule. So it’s entirely possible that crowds will feel worse during the October parties than they d0 during the August and September ones. (On the plus side, the heat shouldn’t be nearly as bad!)
If you have questions about what the event does and does not include, crowds, and much more, see our Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party FAQ. We wrote that in response to the most common questions in the comments to this post. If you have a question, there’s a strong probability that FAQ answers it.
As for entertainment, here’s the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party schedule:
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
- August & September: 8:35 pm, 10:45 pm, 12 am
- October: 7:40 pm, 8:35 pm, 10:45 pm, 12 am
Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular
- 10:15 pm
Mickey’s Boo to You Halloween Parade
- 9:15 pm and 11:15 pm
Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet
- 7 pm, 7:45 pm, 8:30 pm, 9:50 pm, 10:30 pm
Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam
- 7 pm until midnight
Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Dance Ball
- 7 pm until midnight
Rusty Cutlass Pirate Band in Adventureland
- 7:15 pm, 8:15 pm, 9:15 pm, 10:30 pm, 11:20 pm
Max Goof’s Powerline Party Pack
- Unscheduled Appearances
The map does not list specific meet & greet locations, but we have you covered:
Main Street USA
- Sally & Jack Skellington – Town Square Theater (most popular meet & greet, line forms at 4 pm)
- Mickey Mouse – Town Square Theater
Fantasyland
- Ariel and Prince Eric – Prince Eric’s Village Market
- Belle and Gaston – Maurice’s Cottage
- Tigger, Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore – The Thotful Spot near the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Drizella and Anastasia – Fantasyland (roaming)
- Seven Dwarfs – Storybook Circus (second-most popular meet & greet; line forms at 4 pm)
- Timon – Storybook Circus
- Vamprinia – Storybook Circus
- Doc McStuffins – Storybook Circus
- Fancy Nancy – Storybook Circus
- Witch Minnie, Princess Daisy & Pumpkin Donald – Dumbo
- Pirate Goofy – Barnstormer
Adventureland
- Abu and Aladdin – Agrabah
- Genie – Agrabah
- Jafar – Near Agrabah
- Jack Sparrow – Near Pirates of the Caribbean
Frontierland
- Country Bears – Country Bear Theater (roaming)
Tommorrowland
- Elvis Stitch – Buzz Lightyear’s Star Command
As for the enhancements to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party from the past few years, the first is a replacement for Happy HalloWishes: the new “Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular.” These fireworks feature projections, pyro, and Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas as host.
Jack’s ghost dog, Zero, flies off to start this trick-or-treating adventure, where four friends — Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy — find themselves drawn into a mysterious haunted house. The journey takes them from one room of the house to another, encountering dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts, and a series of troublemaking Disney villains.
There are also several attractions across the park receive special enhancements just for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party…
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor – When you follow the treat trail into the Monster World at Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, you’ll interact in spooky ways with the comic cast of monsters, as they learn about the curious Human World holiday we call Halloween.
Mad Tea Party – The teacups take you for a colorful ride with added lighting and effects providing a different nighttime atmosphere.
Space Mountain – Rocket ships hurtle through deep space as a special soundtrack and effects transform the adventure.
So you can prepare for the Halloween Party now, here is our analysis based upon the last several years to help you determine whether this expensive hard ticket event is worth it to you, and if so, what your “Plan of Attack” should be to efficiently conquer the various offerings. Between this party and Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival, plus improving weather, the fall months at Walt Disney World are one of our favorite times of year to visit!
Also note that this guide covers Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, not Mickey’s Halloween Party (now Oogie Boogie Bash) at Disneyland Resort. For info about the latter, read our comprehensive Guide to Halloween Time at Disneyland!
Should You Attend?
Given the high cost of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, you might be trying to determine, “is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party worth the money?”
Our opinion on this question has changed over the years. It used to be an unequivocal yes. Then, as prices for the event nearly doubled, it became “yes if you want to splurge.” Now, with prices up and Walt Disney World having raised the attendance cap, it’s harder and harder to justify.
We still love the event. We don’t love the crowds or prices, but we go anyway. Probably in part because of nostalgia and in part because we have a good time enjoying the experience at a more relaxed pace. We don’t follow our own itinerary in this post since we’ve seen/done 75% of these things in previous years, so the stakes aren’t as high for us, so to speak. It’s simply a fun, albeit overpriced event.
If you can approach it from the perspective of not having to accomplish it all and being willing to overpay a bit for a truly fun and spooky evening in Magic Kingdom, we say go for it. Just don’t expect to leave thinking, “that was really worth the money.” At this point, it’s hard to come to that conclusion.
Another question we often receive is whether we prefer the Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. We are total suckers for Christmas, so we can’t answer that without bias. With that said, we prefer the Christmas Party, but probably two-thirds of people we know prefer the Halloween Party. Your mileage may vary.
Aside from the higher price, the biggest difference between the two parties is that the Halloween Party offers more special entertainment and character meet & greets. Personally, I enjoy the Christmas Party more, but I think it’s undeniable that there’s more to do at the Halloween Party.
There’s a lot of special entertainment including one of Disney’s best parades and a great fireworks show, a great ambiance to the party including special decorations and lighting, lots of unique character meet & greets, and even seeing other guests in Halloween costumes makes for a fun experience.
If you do decide to do the Halloween Party, make sure to buy your tickets in advance, and use any available discounts (Disney Vacation Club member, Annual Passholder, etc.). Tickets are more expensive on the day of the party, and several nights each year sell out completely. It’s wise to purchase party tickets early if you know you’re going. It would stink to wait until the last minute and have your dates sell out.
As for what you should do during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, here’s our guide to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party…
General Tips
The first important tip is to pick the best day on your trip for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Some nights are busier than others, and that post covers our tips for choosing the least-crowded dates. Disney prices these parties based on historical demand, so going on the cheapest party night you can is generally the best idea from both the perspective of saving money and avoiding crowds. Win-win!
In recent years, MNSSHP attendance has been, generally speaking, dramatically higher than previously. The last few years, every single night has sold out. Prior to that, it was common for only the first couple of nights plus most of October to sell out. It’ll be interesting to see whether this trend continues with the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. We’d bet that it will.
The second most important tip is to arrive early to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. The Party officially starts at 7 p.m., which is when all of the entertainment actually begins, but guests can enter with their Halloween Party tickets as early as 4 p.m. This is not something Walt Disney World advertises, but it absolutely is true, and you will see plenty of other guests arriving at 4 p.m., and Cast Members in their Halloween outfits at the turnstiles.
This earlier entry offers you potential savings to offset the cost of your tickets. Before we were Annual Passholders, we’d plan on doing Disney Springs or a water park the morning we went to the Halloween Party, which allowed us to purchase 1-day less on our park tickets. We highly recommend that you do the same! In other words, if you normally would buy a 5-day ticket for your trip, buy a 4-day ticket and do something besides one of the 4 theme parks before 4 p.m.
The additional day you’re not purchasing would have only added on ~$30 in cost to your total package, so we’re not talking a substantial amount here, but it makes the Halloween Party more economical. To save even more money on multi-day Walt Disney World tickets, we recommend buying from an authorized ticket broker selling cheaper tickets than you can buy directly from Disney.
Read our Tips for Buying Discount Walt Disney World Tickets Guide for more information about saving money on park tickets. You can’t buy Halloween Party tickets from these authorized ticket sellers, but the amount you save on your regular park tickets plus the savings on that extra day you’re not purchasing will help offset the added cost of the party tickets.
The next biggest tip is to wear a costume! Although Disney has had some tweaks to its security policy over the last few years, costumes are allowed for all guests.
Here’s Disney’s official word on costumes: “while costumed attire may be worn, guests ages 14 and older are strongly discouraged from wearing layered costumes or costume props that surround the entire body as they may be subject to additional security screening. Additionally, costumes may not contain any weapons that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.”
At least half of the Guests who attend the party wear costumes, and it’s a lot more fun if you do. You’re spending a fair chunk of change to attend one of these parties, make sure you get as much value for your money as possible by wearing a costume.
You don’t need to buy some expensive costume from the store–make one at home from items you buy at a thrift shop. Sarah and I attended Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party as the following: astronauts; an elf and princess; and “Cute Minnie” and a Toy Story Alien, among other things. Most of the time, our costumes are pretty lame as compared to other guests, but we still have a lot of fun!
For costumes, go inexpensive, simple, and most importantly…LIGHTWEIGHT. We have a Guide to Halloween Costumes for the Disney Parks that covers the nuts and bolts. Suffice to say, we have worn heavier costumes, and let me tell you what a mistake that was. It may be cooler at nighttime in the fall, but it’s still Florida, and it’s still humid and hot.
A final tip is to pass on the Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace. This is comparable to the regular fireworks dessert party, except with Halloween-decorated desserts. (Read more in Dining & Dessert Parties During Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.)
Beyond being a waste of money, the dessert party is a waste of time. There are just too many other great things to do at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (it’s unlikely you can do all of the regular entertainment in a single night) to justify attending a dessert party. It’s just not worth taking the time from the regular awesome entertainment of the Halloween party to do this. Plus, the idea of another upcharge event within an upcharge event just makes us cringe.
With that said, let’s start to get into the details of arriving at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party with a plan for how you should approach the evening entertainment and characters. We have a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Itinerary on Page 2.
Arrive at 4 p.m., grab an event map for a refresher as to what is located where and entertainment showtimes, eat an early dinner, do an attraction or two, and knock out a couple of daytime PhotoPass Magic Shots for Halloween. Once 6 pm hits, it’s time to get ready to party, and time to initiate your Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party attack-plan to do and see as much as you can.
If at all possible, find a way to avoid trick or treating or save it until the end of the night. It is a major time drain, and you could buy a bag of candy yourself for like $3. It may be difficult to convince kids not to trick or treat, but if you can, find a way. There is so much entertainment during the Halloween Party that you won’t get everything done even if you don’t trick or treat and don’t do any attractions.
Should we bring the kids autograph books during the halloween party? (or do the characters only take a photo) Also, if you have the purchased memory maker, are the photos included? Thank you!
Hey guys !
Great post !
Do you have any news on the dates for the Halloween party on 2017 at Disney World? 🙂
I read somewhere that the dates for the 2016 party were released May 5 2016, so I’m guessing it’ll be another month or so. I could be completely wrong, though. 🙂
If you get tickets to the MNSSHP, do you have to use them on a day when you have a MK ticket, or can you go with only the Halloween party ticket?
The MNSSHP requires an additional park admission so you’ll need your park admission AND the party admission
Actually, you can purchase JUST the ticket for MNSSHP and gain entry- however, you will not be able to enter until 4PM. This is laid out in detail within Tom’s article.
I happened upon this info via Pinterest. We are going to the Not So Scary Party this year and didn’t know a lot about it. I just wanted to say this information has been SUPER helpful for us. We didn’t even think tomaybe have a slower day than normal the night we’d be going to the party. But it makes perfect sense! We have 3 and they’re all 5 & under so we need a different pace than a family with older children. Just wanted to say thanks for posting all of this info- it’s been very helpful!
My hubby and I went last year and loved it – just so you know there were a lot of really cute family costumes. Also, the trick or treating lines were not that long (and if you trick or treat, hit the Tikki Room – they had multiple candy stands in there).
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We are going for the party I really want to see the headless horseman and the parade can’t wait
Is face make up allowed?
Like a clowns?
for guests 14yrs+
I went Sep 18 in full Darth Maul face paint (horns included). No problems at all. The bus driver commented “so that’s how you get around the no mask policy”. I was also stopped initially by the CM while approaching Space Mountain and he started to say “No masks allowed” but then realized it was all face paint and said go ahead.
So, go for it… Took me 4 hours to get it all done right but was well worth the effort. Where else can a grown man dress up as his alter ego and “fit right in”?
Hello! Going to MNSSHP on 10/17–so excited! Do you know what jack and Sally’s exact hours are? Thanks for all your great tips and advice!
My son and I attended the MNSSHP several years ago and enjoyed ourselves very much. We attended on a date in September (way before Halloween), and I remember being on Splash Mountain (which is awesome in the dark!!) and being asked by cast member at the unloading zone if we wanted to ride again. We didn’t even have to exit our log. When we again returned to the unloading zone, he let us ride again!! I am sure we could have ridden for longer (no line-up for the ride and no one else in our log) but we knew the rest of our party would be wondering where we were.
We are hoping to attend WDW in September 2017, and we will definitely spend one night at the MNSSHP since we had such a great time the last time.
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Does anyone know if I can change the day of my tickets. I would prefer to go on October 30th instead of the 31st
Hi,
I have just changed my dates from the 27th to the 28th. I called the reservation team, they were helpful and apart from a slight uplift due to different ticket prices it was not bother at all. BUT only if there are tickets available…!
Daniel
Hi! Love your site and all your AMAZING photos! I was wondering if the parade starts off in Frontierland, but we want to grab a spot on Main St, should we still arrive 30 minutes ahead of the parade start time? It stated in your article, the parade arrives much later on Main St… but I want to be sure and get a great spot.
Thanks for all your excellent tips!
Hello,
we are planing a trip to WDW late october (30th and 31rst). Halloween being sold out i was thinking of going to the Not so scary party on the 30th. Can the children trick or treat on the 30th or is the trick or treating only on the 31rst? Also we will be with 2 young children (3 and 5), I know it’s Disney but is it fun and appropriate for children of that age? It means staying out late but I thought they could have an early afternoon sleep and we could go from 4pm onwards.
Thanks
Trick or Treating is everyday of MNSSHP! I would definitely suggest a nap before you go as it can be a LONG day for little ones. My 7 & 9 yr olds got tired by the 10pm fireworks show.
Trick or treating is available every party night! My son and I are attending on the 28th and the 30th because we love it so much !
Yep! We went last year on Nov 1st (the last night of the party) and were able to trick or treat. It was awesome! And the party wasn’t scary for our kids, but we stuck to trick or treating and rides, mostly. After reading this blog, I wish we hadn’t! GL! 🙂
I need a ticket for Sept 30th… Anyone have a spare ticket I could buy
Does anyone have any advice about parade watching spots? We’re going to MNSSHP on what is sure to be one of the busiest nights of the year, and we’re planning to do the 10:40 Spelltacular and the 11:15 Parade. I’d be grateful for tips about how to emerge from the throng after Spelltacular and, with not much lead time, land a good viewing spot for the Parade. Thank you!
Hi Tom, I am receiving conflicting info and I was hoping you could provide some clarification. A friend insists that if you purchase a ticket to MNSSHP and arrive at 4pm, you will be able to make fastpasses from 4-7, solely with your party ticket. I have not heard of such a thing. I’m thinking that those who are able to do so either have an AP, or they entered the park with their park tickets, rather than their party tickets. A quick google search leads me to forum threads where people claim that they can in fact book fastpasses with their MNSSHP tickets. Just as many claim the opposite. Would you please weigh in?
To answer my own question, and anyone else who may be wondering the same: it is possible. Link your party ticket to your MDE account and select fastpasses between 3:30-5:30. Looks like the cut-off time is 5:30.
Thanks for the info! This is great.
Thanks for all your awesome posts – I’m such a fan! Do you have any tips for a quick dinner during the party? We will have spent the day at MK, so we can’t eat before we go. And I know dining options can be limited (e.g. Lots of QS closed, no sandwiches at Sleepy Hollow). Any recommendations??
We just got back from our trip and had tickets to the Sept. 2nd Halloween party. Our sons are six and eight years old. Here are some of our comments:
– It’s a good deal! We don’t really understand why there is much consideration about the ticket cost. The Halloween party ticket is almost always less expensive than a regular one-day MK ticket, you have access to the Magic Kingdom for half the day at an “exclusive” party and much shorter wait times on rides so you get more done in the time you’re there. Since you don’t have to also buy the regular MK ticket, I’m not sure why many view the cost of the party ticket as an up-charge. It’s not in addition to, it’s instead of. Unless you’re there at rope drop and leave at closing, it seems like the cost is about a wash at worst. We probably wouldn’t be at the park much earlier than 4 pm, so we really view it as a value. Because of the number of rides you can efficiently hit without the pain and suffering that goes along with long waits, it might even make sense to purchase more than one ticket to the Halloween party in place of your MK days. Spend your morning at the pool, water parks, or D Springs instead.
– Trick or Treat lines were efficient and moved quickly, despite long lines. The only downside was limited variety. Except for the station by Splash Mountain with the awesome green Peeps, most had virtually the same mix. We ended up throwing out most of it so not sure it mattered anyway.
– Agreed that the parade is great (shovel guys are cool) and fireworks are good. We might like Wishes better but the change up is nice and a few of the individual fireworks are great (the spinning ones off the side of the castle were awesome).
– The Seven Dwarfs were at Storybook Circus instead of the Mine Train.
Our Two Party Tips:
So others can learn from our (or Disney’s?) misfires, these were a few of our disappointments. The theme to these (and our only real complaint) was there didn’t seem to be tremendous commitment to reasonably ensure guests experienced all that was offered, and paid for.
– Tip 1: Don’t wait too long to come back for something you want. The candy corn soft serve machine at Storybook Treats (the only place it was served) was broken at 7 pm, and was expected to be fixed within an hour. We came back after 10 pm and it was sold out. Not sure how you run out on the first night. This was the one treat we were hoping for, so a little disappointing.
– Tip 1a: Again, don’t wait too long to come back. The seven dwarfs exited their photoshoot at 11:45 pm even though there were many guests who wanted their photo. We went there initially at 6:15 but came back because of the long lines. It appeared they could have easily stayed until midnight (when they’re supposed to close) and made a lot of kids happy. We get that it was late, but it’s not like guests are going to have a shot at this another night, so you would think they’d make every effort to at least be there until they say the event is over. Another headscratcher.
– Tip 2: Hope that it doesn’t happen to you! Celebrate the Magic was the regular show, not the Halloween/Villain’s version. To cover themselves for this as though it’s not an unusual occurrence, they cleverly don’t commit to the villain’s version in the brochure. It’s not really clear why showing the Halloween version would ever be a problem though.
– More Tip 2. Again hope, or go to the second parade. No headless horseman to open the first parade. We didn’t try for the second.
Despite some disappointments, for us it was generally a fun event (and worth it). As mentioned, we consider it a value based on price, fun extras, and very-short ride times. We wouldn’t expect everything to run completely smoothly but there were more issues than there should have been. It sounds like from other reviews that this isn’t uncommon but we’re trying to think positively and chalk it up to the soft-serve truck being late that day and opening day snafu’s.
This “update” is still wildly inaccurate for this year. This year, Jack and Sally started meeting at 5 PM and the Dwarfs a bit after 6 PM. If someone followed this guide, they’d probably be waiting 2+ hours because the meet and lines had started a long time before they even lined up. There’s also no Villains party in Frontierland, and the Tweedles have their own formal M&G this year with lines of up to 90 minutes.
Oh, and there’s no “Witch” greet either this year.