Walt Disney World Halloween Celebrations

Walt Disney World Halloween celebration themes tend to change every couple of year. Disney has their family orientated Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney’s Magic Kingdom and it runs on select nights over a longer time period than all the other Florida theme park Halloween events.

In recent years, the Disney World Halloween party seems to start earlier and earlier in the year and the number of nights increased.

Unlike SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Legoland Florida which include their family friendly daytime Halloween events in their normal admission tickets, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a separately ticketed “after hours” evening event.

Note that both SeaWorld and Busch Gardens also run a separately ticketed adult Halloween event in the evenings

Children and adults alike are encouraged to dress up and they can trick-or-treat for candies and goodies from the Disney characters. Note that Disney has tightened up the rules for guest costumes in recent years (see section below).

On Disney World Halloween nights, the park closes at 6 p.m. and officially re-opens at 7 p.m. until midnight. Halloween Party guests can usually gain admittance to the Magic Kingdom from 4 p.m. onwards. All guests are given a coloured wristband and anyone without a valid ticket will be asked to leave by 7 p.m. You can get your wristband at the gate or at a number of locations in the park.

Also don’t forget to collect your trick-or-treat bag when you enter or you can bring your own.

Costumes are allowed and the entertainment includes two Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parades. including Disney Characters and the stars of the Haunted Mansion attraction. The parade starts with a spooktacular ride by the Headless Horseman is a Haunted Mansion unit with a spectral bride and a Tomorrowland unit featuring The Incredibles, Edna Mode and Buzz Lightyear.

Disney World Halloween Party Shows

The “Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular” stage show that takes place on the Castle Forecourt Stage in front of Cinderella Castle and features the three mischievous Sanderson sisters from the hit Disney film “Hocus Pocus”. The show runs between three and four times per night.

If you fancy a dance, then there is always “The Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball Dance Party” with Mike and Sulley on the Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland throughout the evening. Also in Tomorrowland there is a new interactive treat trail at the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor.

Another show is the “Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam” dance party at Storybook Circus in Fantasyland featuring Disney Junior characters including Doc McStuffins, Fancy Nancy and Vamparina.

The “Happy HalloWishes” firework show was replaced by “Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular” hosted by Jack Skellington and featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy on a trick-or-treat adventure through a haunted mansion.

The twelve minute show takes place in front of Cinderella Castle with special projection effects onto the castle featuring dancing skeletons and ghosts, lasers, lights and spectacular fireworks.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Trick-or-Treat Locations

There are around 16 trick-or-treat locations throughout the Magic Kingdom where anyone can get some chocolate or candy treats as well as apple slices, carrots and dried fruit. Disney supply small treat bags or you can purchase larger souvenir bags or simply bring your own.

If you suffer from allergies, you can pick up a teal coloured treat bag from the street behind Tony’s Town Square Restaurant and then collect tokens at the trick-or-treat stations which can then be redeemed for allergy-friendly treats.

There also a host of specially created treats to purchase. Some are available all day from the first to the last Halloween party dates such as the Halloween Mickey Cupcake and Mickey Mouse Halloween Cinnamon Roll which you will find at the Main Street Bakery.

Others like the Mickey Pumpkin Cheesecake Dome, Haunted Mansion Portrait Tarts and Pumpkin Mickey Mouse Waffle Sundae are only available during the party evenings.

Disney World Halloween Characters at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Throughout the park you can find your favourite Disney Characters and Disney Villains in special Disney World Halloween costumes and areas of the park are transformed into happy haunted hollows with special lighting, music and theming effects.

Check the special Halloween map for locations. Note that wait times can run into several hours for the most popular characters.

Halloween is a great opportunity to see some rarely seen Disney characters throughout the park or in the parades including:

• Aladdin and Abu (or Princess Jasmine and Jafar) plus the Genie from Aladdin
• Alice and the Mad Hatter, Tweedle-Dee, Tweedle-Dum and the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland
• Anastasia and Drizella from Cinderella
• Ariel and Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid
• Belle and Gaston from Beauty and the Beast
• Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean
• Donald and Daisy Duck in Halloween costumes
• Goofy in Halloween costume
• Jack Skellington and Sally Finklestein from The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Mickey and Minnie Mouse in Halloween costumes
• Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet from Winnie the Pooh in Halloween costumes
• Stitch in an Elvis costume

Don’t forget that you can also meet the usual Disney Princesses at the Princess Fairytale Hall:

• Princess Elena from Elena of Avalor
• Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog
• Princess Rapunzel from Tangled
• Princess Cinderella

Disney World Halloween Attractions

There are no Genie+ reservations available during the party. The number of guests for each evening are strictly limited so wait times are generally short.

Nearly all of the main attractions in Magic Kingdom are open during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, including:

• “it’s a small world”
• Astro Orbiter
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Haunted Mansion
• Jungle Cruise
• Mad Tea Party
• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Swiss Family Treehouse
• The Barnstormer
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

Several rides get a Halloween makeover including The Mad Tea Party, Space Mountain, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and Pirates of the Caribbean with new lighting and special effects.

Costumes at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Adults aged 14 and above can wear costumes. They are discouraged from wearing any that are layered or use props that cover the entire body. The costume must not touch or drag along the ground. Guests cannot wear capes below the waist or any kind of mask. Weapons or simulated weapons are forbidden.

Children under the age of 14 can wear masks as long as they do not cover their entire face and their eyes are visible.

All guests may be subject to additional security screening on admission.

More details of costume requirements can be found on the official Disney Halloween site.

Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party

There are two versions of the Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party. The main difference being the reserved viewing location for Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular laser and fireworks show.

Both the dessert parties are held in the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant and include a range of Halloween inspired treats including chocolate-dipped strawberries, ghost meringues, candy corn panna cotta, peanut butter chocolate pretzel “witch fingers”, spiced pumpkin cheesecake brownies, peanut butter “spider” whoopee pies, seasonal fruits, cheeses and cupcakes. Beverages include sparkling cider, lemonade, hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Guests also receive a skull mug filled with candy as a trick-or-treat takeaway.

After the party you are escorted to your premium viewing location to watch the new Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular laser and fireworks show; either from the Tomorrowland Terrace or the standing Plaza Garden Viewing area.

These prices include tax and gratuities and are in addition to the separate Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ticket.

Note that the dessert parties run even if inclement weather causes the fireworks to be cancelled. Disney Dining Plans cannot be used.

The new Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Parties replace the Happy HalloWishes Dessert Premium Package that was first introduced in 2015.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Ticket Prices

This is a separately ticketed event. Friday night and weekend tickets tend to sell out first so it pays to purchase your tickets in advance. Try not to risk just trying to turn up at the gate particularly if you are planning on going on a Friday or Sunday night. If you are already inside the park then you might be able to pick up a ticket at City Hall.

If tickets are still available, you can compare prices for tickets at our partner site and Disney’s official site.

The most expensive days to go are Fridays and Halloween itself (October 31). Typically there are no advanced purchase savings on these dates. Pricing is tiered and is generally more expensive the nearer you get to Halloween. Cheapest days are the very early parties in August and the Sunday to Monday dates in September.

Walt Disney World Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members can get a $10 discount on single night tickets on select dates.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Single Admission Ticket (advanced purchase)

Standard single evening admission to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (purchased in advance).

Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing

Reserved seating at the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant during the Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party followed by a reserved standing area in the Plaza Garden during the fireworks.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party admission ticket also required for all dessert parties.

Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party with Tomorrowland Terrace Viewing

Reserved seating at the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant during the Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party followed by a reserved seating area in the Tomorrowland Terrace during the fireworks.

Similarities and Differences of Disney After Hours BOO BASH

The BOO BASH was an interim Halloween event whilst COVID-19 restrictions made it difficult to hold a full out Disney event like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

The big differences were no stage shows, dance parties, dessert parties, meet-and-greets or fireworks. Instead of parades, there were special Halloween themed musical cavalcades that were not at set times to reduce crowding.

As you would expect for Halloween you could trick-or-treat, dress up in appropriate costumes. Both adults and children and ride the main attractions with little wait time.

It ran for 28 (originally 23) select nights at Disney’s Magic Kingdom but for fewer hours. BOO BASH ticket holders could gain admission from 7 p.m. but the event did not start until 9:00 p.m. and closed at midnight (9:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. on some nights).

At only 3 hours, this made it 2 hours shorter than the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. If you take into account early admission it was 5 hours duration instead of 8 hours but prices were actually higher. Despite the price increase, the event sold out quickly.

Disney World Halloween Past Party Events

In recent times, several Halloween related events have come to a end and are included here for historical interest.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Pass

In 2019 Disney introduced a Party Pass that gave you access to every single Not So Scary Halloween Party night except for Halloween itself (October 31). Ticket numbers were limited and it could not be purchased online. Existing ticket holders could upgrade to a Party Pass whilst stocks last.

The Party Pass has not been offered again.

Cruella’s Halloween Hide a Way

A new dining experience called Cruella’s Halloween Hide-a-Way was introduced in 2019 but has not been repeated in 2022.

It took place with characters from 101 Dalmations including Cruella de Vil at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant and ran from 9:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.

It was a separately ticketed event (you also needed an admission ticket to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party) and costed $99 plus tax per guest.

You could come and go as you pleased and take your pick of savory hors d’oeuvres, samplers and sweets like chocolate-dipped strawberries, mini cannolis, cheesecake, Kanine Krunchy Cake and Mini De Vil brownies. You also got reserved viewing for the 11:15 p.m. Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade.

Return to Sleepy Hollow

In 2017 and 2018, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort put on the special “Return to Sleepy Hollow” event on select nights.

Due to construction of the new Disney Vacation Club hotel, Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, Return to Sleepy Hollow was cancelled for 2019 and has not returned.

In 2018 It took place on the nights of September 28–30, October 3–7, 17–21 and 24–31 at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Ticket prices were $22 per person. For $38 per person you could get premium seating, a Halloween treat bag and a priority photo opportunity with the Headless Horseman.

You could also watch the 1949 classic film “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” inside the Tri-Circle-D Ranch stables plus meet and greet with the Headless Horseman.

New for 2018 was a special dessert party which was held at 9:00 p.m. and which was available to guests attending either of the Return to Sleepy Hollow events. Ticket prices for the dessert party were $60 per person.

Villains’ Sinister Soiree: A Wicked Takeover Dessert Party

In 2014 Disney introduced a special Villains’ Sinister Soiree: A Wicked Takeover Dessert Party where you got to meet characters including Captain Hook, Cruella de Vil, Malificent and the Queen of Hearts.

This was a specially ticketed event and it took place at Cinderella’s Royal Table inside the Cinderella Castle. Guests got a chance to dine of specialty desserts and non-alcoholic drinks, meet special Disney “villain” characters and have preferred viewing for both the 8:15 pm Mickey’s “Boo-too-You” Halloween Parade and the Happy HalloWishes Fireworks Spectacular.

Also included in the price was a special autograph card and a collectable Malificent Dragon cup.

Admission to the dessert party was $99 per person plus tax. This was in addition to the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ticket price.

This party has not been repeated in later years.