Your Guide to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: A Plan to Control the Chaos

louisamalbanese
Apr 18, 2023
6 min read

Updated: Aug 8

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party—or MNSSHP—is a separately ticketed, after-hours event at Magic Kingdom. That means you’ll need a special party ticket even if you’ve been in the park all day.

The party is one of the most fun ways to see Magic Kingdom in a whole new way. Once the sun goes down, the park transforms with a completely different vibe—where the focus shifts from rides to exclusive entertainment, rare characters, and that extra bit of Halloween magic.

Costumes

Wearing a costume is one of my favorite parts of the event—just make sure it’s Florida-friendly unless you enjoy melting into a puddle by 6 p.m. Disney allows costumes for all ages, though there are a few rules: Guests 14 and up should avoid full-body, layered costumes or props that wrap all the way around (security may need extra time to check those), and absolutely no weapon-like props that could be mistaken for the real thing.

Many, many guests come in costume, and it really does make the night more fun. You’ve already spent a pretty penny on tickets—you might as well lean all the way in and make it a night to remember.

I also love people-watching and applauding those guests who go all out. Those are my people.

Event Dates

August – 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26 and 29
September – 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28 and 30
October – 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 31

Look, I’m not saying you need a plan for MNSSHP…but if you try to wing it, you could spend the night in a three-hour line for Jack & Sally and end up eating a fun-sized Snickers for dinner while the Headless Horseman rides by without you.

I’ve done this party enough times to know the truth: you cannot do it all. The trick is deciding what’s worth your precious (and expensive) five hours and what you can skip. Here’s how I handle it as a kind-of-extra Disney Halloween girlie.

The party itself doesn’t change much year to year, so you can trust this 2025 guide to be pretty accurate. I’ll update it after I attend the first party of the season.

Step 1: Arrive Like You Mean It

Your party ticket gets you into Magic Kingdom starting at 4 p.m., so aim to be in line by 3:30 p.m.

People start lining up as early as 2 p.m., but for me it’s more important to not start the event off with heatstroke than to be first inside.

MNSSHP officially runs 7 p.m.–midnight, but those bonus hours are perfect for eating, shopping, and lining up for characters before the sun goes down.

If you’re already in Magic Kingdom before 4 p.m. with regular park admission, skip the trek back to the front gates! Grab your party wristband inside the park—near Tortuga Tavern in Adventureland, by Mickey’s PhilharMagic in Fantasyland, or across from Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor in Tomorrowland. Starting at 6 p.m., Cast Members will be posted at key points to politely direct anyone without a wristband toward the exit.

Step 2: The Jack & Sally Dilemma

These two are the meet & greet of the night, which means the line is a whole crime. If you’re doing it, be in line by 4:05 p.m.—yes, really. Even then, expect to wait 1.5–2 hours (at least it’s air-conditioned). This is still the best strategy if they’re on your “must” list, unless you want to try your luck at the very end of the night.

(*I used to be a firm "skip it" on Jack and Sally simply because what-in-the-nightmare-fuel did they do to his head?! But this year Disney has reported they've revamped his look, so I will suspend my judgement until I see it in person)

This year is also the first time Mickey & Minnie will meet together in Town Square, so expect that line to run 45 minutes to an hour.

Alternatively, Mirabel & Bruno, the Seven Dwarfs, Elvis Stitch, and Pooh & Friends all begin meeting early.

Personally, I’m not a huge meet & greet person, but I do want to meet Jack and see his new 2025 look. I like to use pre-party time to grab a snack and soak up the transformation of Magic Kingdom. I LOVE just taking in the music, lighting, and fog as the event kicks off. This is also the best time for photos—because you will be sweating.

Here's where you can find all the characters throughout the night:

Main Street USA

Sally & Jack Skellington – Town Square Theater
Minnie & Mickey Mouse – Town Square Theater

Fantasyland

Ariel & Prince Eric – Prince Eric’s Village Market
Belle & Gaston – Maurice’s Cottage
Tigger, Pooh, Piglet & Eeyore – The Thotful Spot (near Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh)
Drizella & Anastasia – roaming
Pirate Goofy, Princess Daisy & Pumpkin Donald – Storybook Circus

Adventureland

Abu & Aladdin – Agrabah
Genie – Agrabah
Jafar – near Agrabah
Jack Sparrow – near Pirates of the Caribbean

Frontierland

Country Bears – roaming

Tomorrowland

Elvis Stitch – across from Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

Step 3: Ride the Big Guns Early (If at All)

TRON and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure are the rides that’ll still have a significant wait time during the party. Do them early or skip them altogether, because the real magic tonight is the entertainment.

If the line is simply too long or you don’t care about rides or characters, consider knocking out some of the PhotoPass Magic Shots in Fantasyland or Liberty Square. There are some really fun ones that are exclusive to the party!

Step 4: First Parade or First Characters?

I waited approximately 2 hours for this spot HAPPILY because I love taking photos and video with the castle. I've also done the party numerous times and don't mind trading party time for this.

The Boo to You Halloween Parade is a must. If you’re not into parades, save your money and try the Christmas party instead.

It runs twice a night (weather permitting) at 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. Get to your spot 30 minutes early, and remember the Headless Horseman trots through about 15–20 minutes before the parade starts.

If you’re watching both parades, pick a casual spot in Frontierland or Town Square for the first one. If you’re skipping the first parade, this is prime time for shorter character lines.

Step 5: Hocus Pocus + Fireworks = A Sprint

The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular happens three times a night through September and four times a night in October. The 9:05 p.m. show kicks off right after the first parade, so be ready to power-walk to the Castle hub.

The fireworks, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular, only happen once, so I like to get as close to the Castle as possible. For me, it’s all about that larger-than-life Jack Skellington puppet, more than the pyrotechnics.

The Jack Skellington Puppet is over 12 feet tall and just comes out to start and end the show.

Step 6: Check off Musts While Everyone’s Staring at the Sky

Right after fireworks, move quickly while the rest of the crowd lingers. This is a great time for:

Character meet & greets
Cadaver Dans
Pirate band
Hitchhiking Ghosts
Villains takeover at Princess Fairytale Hall

In 2024, Maleficent and the Evil Queen could be found on the Treat Trail inside Fairy Tale Hall.

Step 8: Haunted Mansion Glow-Up

The ride’s not worth the wait tonight, but pop into the queue to see Madame Carlotta or Lady Renata chatting in the grave yard just before the pre-show.

Step 9: Second Boo To You Parade

If you want spooky castle vibes in your photos, watch from Main Street this time since it will be less crowded. but still be prepared to wait at least 45 minutes for a prime spot.

Final Notes:

Trick-or-treating is best at the end of the night—shorter lines, bigger candy scoops. But remember, you’re paying around $30/hour for this party…so maybe just buy a bag at Costco.
Skip regular rides unless they have a special overlay:

Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor – Follow the treat trail into the Monster World and interact with the monsters as they learn about Halloween.

Mad Tea Party – Same spin, but with Halloween lighting and vibes Space Mountain – Pitch black ride with a Halloween soundtrack.