Walt Disney World has really embraced the idea of the hard ticket event as of late. One of the first forays into this type of special event was Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
This event is a fun Halloween party for the whole family that embraces the lighter side of the holiday. You will find special parades, fireworks, candy, snacks, and merchandise all meant to embrace the whimsical side of Halloween. As a first tip, don’t skip the Haunted Mansion on this visit – it is definitely even a little more spooky than normal during this event.
This year the event runs on select dates from August 25 – November 1 and the times for each night are 7 pm – midnight.
Image courtesy Disney Photopass
Pricing: Ages 10+: Starting at $74.00 per ticket Ages 3-9: Starting at $69.00 per ticket
So what does this really mean? Well these events essentially close the park to general admission guests at 7 pm and allow for only those with a special ticket (purchased separately from park admission) to enjoy the evening’s festivities. You don’t need both general admission and special tickets to attend the event, just the special event ticket.
To check specific dates and prices (as prices closer to Halloween are more expensive) check out the Official Site.
The first tip with any hard ticket event is to pick up a special park guide as you enter the park. Times for the parades, shows, and locations for trick or treating are all in there.
Pro Tip: These events change regularly, so please take 5 minutes to look at the information in the park guide prior to starting your night. A good plan is your best friend to having a great time.
This will ensure that you have a plan to enjoy the festivities and validate that, for example, there are 2 parades that night or what time the fireworks will be launched. Be sure to pick up a few copies – one to use during the event and one to keep in mint condition for a souvenir.
So why is it worth the price of admission to this event? Here are 6 reasons (plus a bonus tip):
Smaller Crowds: These ticketed events are popular but to some extent Disney does keep the attendance in check. This really is a great opportunity to ride attractions with a shorter than normal wait. The Cast Members do a great job of moving those who don’t have a special ticket out of the park starting at 7:00 to thin out the heard a bit. Certainly the shops and popular attractions will remain busy for a bit after 7, as Disney won’t ever kick anyone out of a gift shop and if you are already in line, you can stay past closing until you have ridden the attraction. But by 8:00 or so you will feel a real difference even in the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train queue.
Boo To You Halloween Parade: Usually twice during a special event there will be a unique parade that follows essentially the same route as the 3:00 parade. It is specially themed with your favorite characters decked out in the their spookiest finery. You will also often see more villains than normal in the parade – as well as a special visit from the Headless Horseman. Normally there will be one early in the night before 9 or so and one a little closer to the end of the event.
Bonus Tip: Skip the first parade and ride attractions. Many small children may run out of steam by the second parade and that may allow for smaller crowds and better viewing for the later version. However there is still a need to get there 30 minutes early for really amazing viewing locations.
Characters You Don’t Often See: When you are walking around the park you will see queues for characters that aren’t often available in the parks. You may run across the 7 Dwarfs, Jack Skellington and Sally, Maleficent, or the Evil Queen. Keep your eyes out and plan time accordingly – these lines can get very long. When making your decision, remember that Space Mountain will always be there, but when is the next time you’ll get a chance for a photo like this?
Hocus Pocus Villian Spectacular and Happy Hallo-wishes Fireworks: There are many special events going on throughout the evening. On the castle stage normally you will find a musical dance show featuring a villain heavy cast that takes place several times during the night (check park guide for details) and also a very fun fireworks show that takes place around the mid-point of the event in the 10:00 hour.
Image courtesy Disney Photopass
Trick or Treating: Cast members will set up special trick-or-treat locations throughout the park where you can get candy and treats during the event. This is particularly fun for children and they tend to love the adventure of following the park map to find the locations. As a parent, you may lament that this is a terrible use of time since the candy is nothing all that special. But use a little restraint here and give them an hour to explore and lead the adventure. It can be a lot of fun to put them in charge of the map for a bit and let them enjoy being the group leader. There are also allergy friendly solutions, too – check with a cast member for details.
Special Merchandise and Food: Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop once the party has started to check out the special swag for the event. There are normally great t-shirts and pins that are fairly collectible and can run out by the end of the event run. This is one reason why attending an event early in the schedule is important if you want the best choice of merch. Also keep an eye out for the specialty food items – it could be special ice cream or cupcake flavor, but they are normally pretty delicious and lots of fun. They are normally listed in the event guide along with where they are being served.
So that’s the list.
There is one last pro-tip to share, but take this one with a grain of salt. The reason is that while experientially and anecdotally it has worked in the past, there is no confirmation anywhere that it will continue. When you purchase a hard ticket event admission, it clearly says 7pm start time. That said, I personally have always been able to get in at 4pm. So, keep that in mind but remember that you could get there and be told that admission doesn’t start until 7.
These events are a great way to have a magical “I was there” moment when it comes to a Walt Disney World vacation. They are whimsical, fun, and something just a little different for those who are seasonaed WDW Vactation-eers.
So as summer creeps toward fall, remember that this event is starting now and that Mickey’s Christmas Party is just around the corner.
Have a magical day!
Tony – LETS GO TO DISNEY –
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