Halloween at Walt Disney World isn’t just a single day, it’s become a season that stretches from mid-August to early November. The Halloween decorations at Magic Kingdom go up long before most of us are in the fall mood, but it certainly makes for a very festive atmosphere. Keep reading to find out what to expect when you visit Disney World during Halloween (really, anytime during the fall!)

​If you are visiting during this time, no doubt you have wondered whether you should attend the highly publicized Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. It’s an after hours, extra charge event, and it isn’t cheap. I’ll go over what to expect at the party so you can decide whether or not it’s worth it for you.

What to expect at the Halloween Party

While you can enjoy the Halloween decorations anytime you visit Magic Kingdom during the late summer / early fall season, there are quite a few experiences that are unique to the party. And speaking of decorations, I’ve been asked if they are scary. The answer is definitely no. Scarecrows and pumpkin Mickeys. Definitely preschool appropriate.

During the party, the rides and shows operate like normal, but there is quite a bit of extra entertainment going on. Special maps are available that list all the shows, character meet and greets and trick or treat locations.

Adults and kids alike are given treat bags and encouraged to go through the trick or treat lines. The lines are located in multiple areas throughout the park. The castmembers keep the lines moving quickly. You could come away with several pounds of candy if you put your mind to it.

This year for the first time, some attractions have been given a special twist for the party. Space Mountain is operating with a different soundtrack and is COMPLETELY dark. You thought it was dark before? Now you can’t even see your hand in front of your face. It is a totally different experience and lots of fun (if you like being jerked and jolted around like I do).

Over at Pirates of the Caribbean, live actors have been added to the queue and to the ride itself. I won’t give any details so I don’t ruin the novelty of the experience, but I’ll say that they do interact with the guests, and it’s a lot of fun.

The Teacups have added special lighting and music for the event.

The Haunted Mansion is already spooky, but they have some additional “ghostly” entertainment going on in the courtyard (this isn’t new this year, but its really cool!).

The highlight of the Halloween party, and what really makes it worthwhile in my opinion, is the live entertainment. There are dance parties going on in Tomorrowland and Storybook Circus, where you can boogie with the Monster’s Inc & Disney Junior characters respectively.

The Castle Forecourt stage features the Hocus Pocus Villains Spelltacular, a highly entertaining musical number featuring the Sanderson Sisters from the movie Hocus Pocus, as well as some other spooky characters like the Oogie Boogie Man. This one is entertaining for all ages.

Instead of Happily Ever After, you’ll get to see Hallowishes, a special villain themed firework spectacular at 10:15. This is a really impressive show, with a great soundtrack, pyrotechnics and castle projections.

I think the most impressive experience at of the Halloween Party is the Boo to You Parade. Now that the Main Street Electrical Parade’s run has ended with no replacement, the Halloween and Christmas parties are the only time you’ll see nighttime parades at Magic Kingdom. And this is a highly entertaining parade.

It’s kicked off by the Headless Horseman, who rides his black horse from Frontierland through the hub and down Mainstreet – quite the spooky site to those of us who remember the tale of Ichabod Crane from our childhoods.

Halloween themed floats and performers follow accompanied by theme music that will be stuck in your head for days. The dancing ghosts from the haunted mansion are eerily beautiful, and the grave diggers whose shovels spark as they hit and drag them on the pavement are the hit of the show.

Besides the stage shows and parades, you also have live entertainment in the form of character meet & greets. These are very popular not only because the characters appear in Halloween costumes, which is very cute, but also because there are many more characters than usual at Magic Kingdom, and some of them can only be seen at the party. These include the Seven Dwarfs, Tarzan & Jane, Moana, Jack & Sally, Br’er Fox & Br’er Rabbit, Cruella Deville and Lotso.

The crowds at the party vary depending on the day of the week, how many parties are happening that week, and how close it is to Halloween. Weekend-night parties tend to be busier than weeknight parties. The last couple parties before Halloween (and Halloween night itself) tend to be pretty crowded. But for the most part, the crowds have been very manageable. The wait for rides is typically very short (walk-on in many cases) because people are taking in the entertainment and other experiences that aren’t available at other times. Where you will experience the most crowds are the lines for characters, which can be very long.

The other party-unique experience is a little harder to quantify, and that is the atmosphere. So many people come dressed in costume (adults and children alike) and there is definitely an exciting, party-like vibe in the air. It doesn’t feel like a usual night at Magic Kingdom. The guests are more festive, the castmembers are more festive – it feels like a big party. Which it is!

How to Make the Most of the Halloween Party

If you decide not to go to the party, it’s important to know that the park closes to non-partygoers at 6pm. Without a wristband, you’ll will be made to leave, so make sure that you have another day scheduled for Magic Kingdom.

Should you choose to attend the party, I’ll go over my advice for how to make the most of it.

1. First of all, arrive early. The party officially goes from 7pm to midnight. However, you can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4pm on your party ticket. That’s right – without using one of your regular park entries. You should try to arrive as early as you can and pick up your wristband and treat bag. You can do some character meet and greets before the party starts.

3. Get a couple great character pictures. I don’t recommend spending all night in line for meet and greets (which you could easily do) – but pick a couple of unique characters that you won’t get to meet another time. I’d suggest you get in line for Jack & Sally at 4:30 (they start at 5). The 7 Dwarfs also pose before the party starts, so you could head over to their location after. Then check out the list on your map and choose one or two others to prioritize. The waits will be lowest at the end of the night.

4. Watch the stage show. Get as close as you can. I suggest the last show (usually midnight) as it is usually far less crowded and you can get close to the stage for a better view. If you know you’re not going to make it that late, try the very first show – most people are still walking around getting their bearings. It’s worth a watch – very entertaining.

5. Watch the parade from Frontierland. It’s less crowded and easier to get a good view without having to stake out a spot for an hour. Plus it’s darker over there – makes for a better experience in my opinion.

6. Eat before the party starts. You don’t want to take time out to sit down for a meal during the party. At the most recent party I attended in September, we had a 3:30 reservation for Liberty Tree Tavern. There are some fun, Halloween-themed snacks available, but you can also purchase these during regular operating hours. During the party, we stopped for ice cream, but because we’d had such a large late lunch / early dinner, we didn’t feel the need for another meal. Plus: candy.

7. Wear a costume! I’d say a good 50% or more of guests dress up for the party. Certainly most children, but many many adults as well. It definitely adds to the fun. Those who don’t dress up often wear a Halloween shirt or mouse ears. Sadly, I did not dress up for the last party I went to, and I wished that I had. Keep in mind that Disney does not allow fake (or real, natch) weapons as part of a costume. Check out my Ultimate Disney Halloween Costume Collection for ideas!

8. Yes, you should trick or treat! If you have children with you, this is a no-brainer. They aren’t going to let you pass up free candy. The lines might look long, but they go very fast. Just a few minutes and you’re through. Should adults trick or treat? Why not? You’re paying full price for the party, so you’ve certainly earned the right. While we’d never think of trick or treating on Halloween night at home, at the party they encourage adults to participate. Oh, and MCO is no longer checking all the candy in the security line like last year. So indulge!

Is it worth it?

Is it worth it? Should you go? This is an easy one for me. If it is in your budget, then yes, absolutely. It is a truly unique experience and the entertainment is top notch. But let’s look at a couple different scenarios.

Because you can use your party ticket to enter Magic Kingdom at 4pm, you could conceivably choose to cut a day off your ticket package and do something else that day before the party (sleep in, visit the pool, Disney Springs). Let’s say you are planning to go to the party on October 19th, when tickets are $99. So instead of a 5 day pass, maybe you buy a 4 day pass. This would save you $20, which will buy you a meal or a souvenir!

Alternately, if you were considering buying the Park Hopper add-on to your tickets, but weren’t sure you’d use it much – you could skip that and save the $80 and buy the $99 party ticket instead. You’d get a form of park hopping on the party day, as you can visit one park the first half of the day on your regular pass, then use your party ticket at Magic Kingdom that night.

Now if it isn’t in your budget, or you just won’t have time, don’t worry. You will have an amazing trip without the party, and if you’ve never been before then you honestly won’t feel like you’re missing anything. In fact, it isn’t something that I do every year myself, but every few years when I do go I’m reminded of how much fun it is.

Have you been to the Halloween party? Do you think it was worth it? Leave your comments below!

Have you attended the Halloween party? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Want to find out more about planning a Disney vacation? Fill out a request of information HERE or simply email me at rebecca@magicaltravel.com