I had every intention of jumping right on this and getting it posted as soon as we got back from our trip, but sometimes life has other plans! With unexpected news of our oldest leaving the nest and moving out of state, I needed a little time to process that big change. But let’s dive into the magic of our very first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!

Tips

First off, let me tell you—there is a LOT to do in a short period of time! My top recommendation? Pick a handful of things you want to experience. Whether it’s savoring some spooky snacks, enjoying thrilling rides, trick or treating, meeting Not So Spooky characters, or catching a couple of shows, pick a couple from each list. Having a loose plan will help you make the most out of your night. 

Reasonable Expectations are Key

Now, keep your expectations reasonable. Despite what you may have heard about lower crowds during the party, it can get crowded and busy! And yes, sometimes Mother Nature decides to rain on your parade—literally. If there’s something you’re really excited about, try to knock that out first, but be flexible! For instance, trying to ride Tiana’s Bayou during Halloween party night might not be the best idea since that ride tends to break down quite often. Remember: with only five hours technically for the party, prioritizing is key!

Arrive Early

Getting there early is another must-do if you can swing it! If you’re an Annual Passholder like us, aim for arrival before 4 PM—it was much less crowded before the festivities kicked off. Take some photos and explore while knocking out a ride or two before everything gets started. You might even find some of the delicious snacks available after 6pm!

The lines for party bags and bracelets can get long at first but trust me—they move quickly! We snagged ours at Mickey’s Philharmagic without any hassle. And if you have a child with sensory sensitivities, no worries; they can accommodate how that bracelet is worn in special cases.

Pace Yourself

When we attended, it was hot and humid—so hydrate and pace yourselves throughout the evening! 

Don’t forget to take your time just wandering around soaking in all those delightful sights and sounds. Guests also wear entertaining and fantastic costumes, so be sure to check them out too.!

Most importantly? Enjoy yourself!! 

Our Experience

Now let’s talk about our experiences and highlights for the party: We went with a plan, which now in hindsight was pretty overzealous. This was our plan: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2024 Plan

There is a pretty big learning curve when doing anything at Disney World for the first time. The excitement and anticipation couples with the challenges presented by the weather and crowds. You’ve got to be flexible.

Snacks!

We managed to sneak in two snack spots after 6pm! We indulged in the delightful Sweet and Spicy Beignets and the rich Chocolate Caramel Tart from Golden Outpost, both of which were delicious! Later, we grabbed a Cajun Burger and the refreshing Guava Lemonade Slushy at Pecos Bill’s. These ended up being the only food stops we made, but we enjoyed everything we tried! Everything was good, though oddly none of us found the beignets to be spicy at all!

Trick or Treat

After snacks we hit our first trick and treat spot at Pirates. Our original plan was to hit Tiana’s first, which seemed to be the plan for a lot of people because the line was backed up to Pecos Bill’s by 7pm. However, the ride was inoperable so we had to adjust. We did our next trick or treat at the dock to Tom’s Sawyers Island.

Special Sightings

Walking to Haunted Mansion we spotted The Cadaver Dan’s Barbershop Quartet by the Country Bears area which ended with an unexpected sighting of the Hitchhiking Ghosts.

The Haunted Mansion was especially captivating in its spooky spirit! There was fog and lights and spooky sounds. We even caught a glimpse of Carlotta the ghost. She was very entertaining.

Boo-To-You Parade

The Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade was absolutely fabulous with so many fantastic characters unique to Halloween! After the parade, we headed for Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular and sure enough, in typical Florida fashion, it rained heavily for a bit—but thankfully not for long! 

Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular

Once the rain ended and they cleared the stage the light show began. There was a small break before the stage show. The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular exceeded my expectations! It was incredibly entertaining with tons of iconic villains making appearances.

After the stage show we hit a couple more trick or treat spots. Eventually we made our way to Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor where we hung out for a bit before calling it a night. We went home with a LOT of candy, and we didn’t even hit all the spots.

To summarize, during party hours we hit several trick or treat spots, ate a few exclusive MNSSHP Halloween snacks, managed two rides along with watching both the parade and light show plus the amazing Hocus Pocus stage show. We didn’t get around to meeting any characters this time since we were short on moments due to rain delay—but hey—there’s always next year!

So grab your costumes and prepare for an unforgettable evening filled with laughter and magic at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party—it truly is an experience like no other!