🎃 MNSSHP 2025: What We’re Planning, Hoping, and Probably Forgetting

🧁 Intro

Our Halloween dream team is back at it—Josh, Aiden, and me. We’re the usual suspects, and Halloween is kind of our thing. I’ve loved it since I was a kid—the spooky vibes, the costumes, the candy, all of it. Now we get to bring that same magic to Aiden. And yes, we absolutely dress up. With just 2 days to go until Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2025, we’re in full planning mode—hoping to try a few things we missed last time, get better photos, and finally claim a prime spot for the parade. We’re going in with a plan, a backup plan, and enough snacks to survive the night. Let’s do this.

📚 What We Learned Last Year at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2025

🎭 Parade Strategy Tips
If you want a good view of the Boo-to-You Parade during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2025, you have to get there early. Everything I read before our trip talked about how the Halloween parties had “lower crowds”—I’m here to tell you, that’s a lie. The party was packed.
(See our full recap from last year’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2024 here »)

Last year was our first MNSSHP, and we weren’t prepared for just how crowded it would be. I had this whole plan in place, but Tiana’s Bayou Adventure had just opened, and I wanted to hit that first. Unfortunately, it was down—and that threw my whole strategy into chaos.

We ended up across from Liberty Tree Tavern when the parade started. It was shoulder-to-shoulder. We could barely see anything, and the lighting from that angle made my photos practically unusable. This time, we’re planning ahead. We’re going to pick our parade spot early, camp out if we have to, and make it count.

🎃 Costume Regrets (and Wins)
We actually nailed our costumes last year—they were fun, comfortable enough, and made the night even more magical. This year, we’re planning to step it up just a bit, but we’re still keeping one very important truth in mind: it’s going to be HOT, MUGGY, and sticky—with a decent chance of rain.

So, no long sleeves, no long pants, and definitely no heavy layers. I even built an umbrella into my costume this time, just in case Florida decides to Florida. Practical can still be festive.

💥 Overstimulation Moments to Prep For
This was probably my biggest personal fail last year. After a downpour (which thankfully only lasted about 30 minutes), many of the characters retreated—so we missed a few I had really hoped to catch. I pivoted and figured we’d watch Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular instead. We found our usual spot right in front of the castle, threw on our ponchos, and waited.

Big mistake.

Ponchos in September? Hot.
Sitting on them after a rainstorm? Damp.
Add in the post-storm humidity? Miserable.

And then came the crowds. They flooded in from every direction until we were completely surrounded—shoulder to shoulder, wall to wall. Between the heat, the sweat, the claustrophobia, and the noise, we were all overstimulated. I thought we’d make our escape right after the show… but when you’ve got a scooter in your party, you’re not weaving through crowds like that. We were stuck.

I was on the edge of my own meltdown—much less poor Aiden.

But then, right after the fireworks, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular began—and honestly, I’m glad we stayed. We ended the night on a high note, even though it was a rough stretch getting there.

This year? We’re prepping better for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2025. We know what to expect. We’ve got our sensory strategies, escape routes, and backup plans ready to go.

📅 Our 2025 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Plan

🕒 Arrival Time
Last year we arrived around noon—and ended up tapping out early. This time, we’re planning a later start. The goal is to roll in around 3 or 4 PM, depending on how the day unfolds, and stay until the end.

Some of the specialty snacks become available a little before the official 7 PM party start, so we’re hoping to get lucky and knock out a couple early. We’ll likely grab our wristbands over in Adventureland this year, but if that doesn’t work out, Mickey’s Philharmagic is our backup.

I’ve learned not to overplan. There’s a difference between being prepared and being rigid—and we’re sticking to flexible this time.

🎆 Must-Do Entertainment
This year, the Boo-to-You Parade is at the top of our list for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2025. We’ve seen the shows—and we might catch them again if timing works out—but this time, the main mission is to find a great spot and finally get some decent photos of the parade.

Beyond that, I’m shifting my focus toward characters and the other experiences we missed last year. If we catch some bonus entertainment along the way? Great. But the parade is the priority.

🍬 Top Treat Stops
We plan to hit as many Trick-or-Treat stations as we can squeeze in—literally. We probably won’t have time (or tummy space) for everything, but we’re definitely hunting down a few party-exclusive snacks that caught our eye:

• 🐷 Chipotle Barbecue Pork and Street Corn French Fries – Casey’s Corner
• 🧛‍♂️ Cajun Crawfish and Sausage BOOtine – Golden Oak Outpost
• 👻 Beignets from Beyond – Golden Oak Outpost
• 🌶️ Creepy Kimchi Corn Dog – Sleepy Hollow
• 🕯️ Madame Leota Séance Candle – Sleepy Hollow
• 🧪 Magic Potion Slushy – Liberty Square Market
• 🧄 Undead Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Strips – Pinocchio Village Haus
• 🧁 Captain Hook Treasure Whoopie Pie – Pinocchio Village Haus
• 👻 Scary Ghost Slushy – Pinocchio Village Haus
• 🌭 Jalapeño Popper Dog – The Lunching Pad
• 💀 Skull Cake – The Lunching Pad
• 🌀 Ghoulish Blue Raspberry Slushy – The Lunching Pad

So yeah… we may not survive the night sugar-sober or spice-free, but we’ll go down happy. And sticky. Definitely sticky.

🎢 Must-Ride Attractions
There are two absolute musts for us this year: Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion.

Pirates is one of my personal favorites any time of year—and it ties in perfectly with our costume theme this year (more on that later 😉). And Haunted Mansion? That’s my ultimate favorite during the Halloween party. The whole area gets decked out in spooky charm, and the vibe is unbeatable. It’s basically the heart of Halloween at Magic Kingdom.

If time allows—and that’s a big if—we might also hit up:

• 🎤 Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
• 🍵 Mad Tea Party
• 🚀 Space Mountain

…but honestly, those are bonus rounds. We’re keeping our focus on the classics this time.

📸 Character Meet & Greet Goals
Let’s be honest—I want to meet all the characters. Every last one of them. But since time (and lines) are a thing, we’re focusing on our top priorities this year:

• 🎃 Jack and Sally – a Halloween must
• 🐭 Mickey and Minnie in their Halloween best
• 🕺 Elvis Stitch – absolutely cannot miss!

If time allows, we’d love to also catch:

• 👑 The Evil Queen
• 🔥 Maleficent
• 👻 The Hitchhiking Ghosts
• ☕ Alice, Mad Hatter, and Queen of Hearts

We’re going in with a flexible mindset and a solid plan—and if we only meet a few, we’ll still call it a win.

🧊 Where We Plan to Cool Down or Take Breaks
When it’s hot—or pouring—rides with indoor queues are lifesavers. Not only do they give us a chance to rest in the A/C, but they’re also a great excuse to sneak in a little extra fun. Character meet-and-greets with indoor lines serve the same purpose: beat the heat, catch your breath, and still feel like you’re doing something magical.

Our usual haunts include:

• 🎶 Mickey’s Philharmagic
• 😂 Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

And of course, if the weather cooperates, we’ll also take snack breaks whenever and wherever we can. Nothing like sitting down with a ghoulish treat to regroup and recharge.

🧠 Sensory Prep for Aiden (and All of Us)
Let’s be real—sensory prep isn’t just for Aiden. It’s for all of us during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2025.

For Aiden, regulation usually looks like movement or snacks—either we keep him moving with short lines and familiar pacing, or we pause for something tasty and let him decompress. But the truth is, managing his sensory needs means I’m constantly monitoring everything—his body language, the crowds, the noise, the transitions. And that can be overstimulating for me.

Josh, with his combat-related PTSD, needs space and the ability to move freely. Getting trapped in tight crowds isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s a serious stressor. So we make a point to stick to the periphery when possible and use rest stops that are a little more under-the-radar.

All of that means: no rigid planning. Our “plan” has to be flexible, relaxed, and built around pacing ourselves—because keeping things magical requires all of us to feel safe and supported.

🧡 What We’re Most Excited About

Honestly? All of it. Dressing up. Seeing the park all decked out in spooky splendor. Meeting characters. Eating snacks. Experiencing Haunted Mansion in its Halloween glory.

Dressing up. Seeing the park all decked out in spooky splendor. Hopefully meeting a ton of characters. Indulging in way too many snacks. It’s hard to pick just one thing… but if I had to choose, my heart belongs to everything Haunted Mansion-related. The ride itself, the lighting and eerie theming, Madame Carlotta, the Hitchhiking Ghosts—every ghostly detail makes me giddy. I’m especially hoping for a better view of the Headless Horseman this year.

For Aiden, it’s all about the trick-or-treating—he lights up at every candy stop. And Josh? Let’s just say he’s got his eye on the food. 😅

We’re all excited for different reasons, and that’s part of what makes it so special.

😅 What Could Go Wrong (and We’re Okay With It)

The biggest wildcard? Rain. And not just a quick 30-minute downpour—we’re talking full-on storms that can delay or even cancel parts of the party altogether. That’s the kind of thing that makes all the planning feel pointless… but hey, we’ll still be at Disney. We’ll figure it out. Hopefully it won’t come to that.

Other things we’re prepared for:

• The heat and humidity (hello, September in Florida)
• Crowds, especially in tight spaces
• Possibly needing a backup costume if mine gets too hot or uncomfortable

The key is rolling with it. If things don’t go as planned, we’ll pivot, laugh, and make the best of it—because we’re still together, still in the magic, and that’s what matters.