“When will Walt Disney World launch 2024 dates for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering?” and “will tickets for MNSSHP go on sale quickly?” are frequent reader questions. We’ll attempt to reply based mostly on what we all know based mostly on historic announcement dates, previous demand, and extra.
As with all of those speculative posts, we’ll begin by underscoring the truth that Madame Leota will not be employed by this weblog, which is to say that we don’t have a crystal ball. Nobody may give you a definitive reply about when Walt Disney World will announce 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering dates or tickets. The identical holds true for just about something that hasn’t been formally introduced, launched internally, or leaked.
So when you’re the form of one that, previously, has complained that such a prognostication publish is a “waste of time,” then there’s nothing for you right here. Contemplate as a substitute subscribing to our free e-mail e-newsletter for fast alerts, which is able to present you an replace when 2024 MNSSHP dates are formally introduced by Walt Disney World. This publish is most actually not that, however relatively, our long-winded try to supply perception in response the above reader questions…
With that out of the best way, now we have some excellent news: what’s previous is prologue.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering is hardly a brand new occasion, and there’s a ton of precedent concerning announcement and ticket gross sales dates over time. In reality, one among large motivators for this publish is compiling historic information. I all the time find yourself digging by means of previous press releases to reply these questions, so relatively than repeating that course of time and again, it is smart to compile the final a number of years right here.
In 2017, ticket gross sales for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering began on Could 10. That yr, costs began at $74 for adults and $69 for kids. The occasion began sooner than ever (on the time) in 2017, with events operating on August 25 & 29; September 1, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26 & 29; October 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29 & 31; and November 1.
That moved ahead in 2018, with March 19 being the date that Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering tickets went on sale. MNSSHP ticket costs began at $75. The 2018 occasion was held for a then-record 34 nights, with dates on August 17, 24, 28, 31; September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30; and October 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31.
Each of these years, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering tickets additionally went on sale the identical day that MNSSHP tickets have been launched. This was a reasonably customary observe for some time.
The next yr was even earlier, with tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering being launched on January 15, 2019. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering tickets began at $79 in 2019. That yr set one other file, with 36 nights and an earlier begin and later finish. Right here have been the MNSSHP dates for 2019: August 16, 20, 23, 27, 30; September 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29; October 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31; and November 1.
For what it’s value, 2019 was virtually actually an anomaly. That was the opening yr of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and there was a lull in bookings earlier than that, inflicting Disney to scramble and attempt to get folks to e book journeys earlier than the opening date announcement occurred. Again in 2019, Walt Disney World additionally provided the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering Go–an Annual or Seasonal Go for the Halloween Social gathering. We don’t count on to ever see that once more–actually not in 2024!
Extra anomalies occurred the subsequent two years. Particular occasions have been cancelled in 2020 and once they resumed in 2021, Disney After Hours Boo Bash was introduced as a alternative for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering. That new occasion was unveiled as a part of the “Midway to Halloween” festivities on Could 7, 2021. Tickets went on sale starting June 8 for on-site resort company and June 15 for most people.
Disney After Hours Boo Bash was held on 23 choose nights, beginning August 10 and persevering with by means of October 31 from 9 p.m. to midnight most nights (9:30 pm to 12:30 am on different evenings). This capacity-constrained occasion was essentially completely different from MNSSHP, and costs mirrored that. Tickets ranged from $129 to $199–many dates have been practically double the value that they had price in 2019.
A method that 2021 was not an anomaly was with the debut of the Midway to Halloween hype-cycle occasion. In 2022, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering made its triumphant return, which was once more introduced throughout Walt Disney World’s Midway to Halloween. Apparently, the midway level moved ahead to April 28. Tickets went on sale starting Could 12 for on-site resort company and Could 18 for most people.
Going down on 37 choose nights, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering set a brand new file for earliest begin date and most occasion nights. It additionally returned to its customary schedule of hours from 7 p.m. to midnight, and was now not capacity-constrained in the identical was as After Hours Boo Bash.
Consequently, ticket costs decreased on the low finish as in comparison with Boo Bash, however have been nonetheless a file excessive (by a large margin) relative to MNSSHP in earlier years. Ticket costs ranged from $109 to $199 in 2022, with Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering occasion dates August 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30; September: 2, 5, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30; and October: 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31.
Final yr, the weeklong Midway to Halloween occasion began on Monday, April 17 and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering dates and particulars have been introduced on Thursday, April 20.
Friends of all Walt Disney World resorts and different choose inns may buying tickets as early as April 27, 2023. Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Social gathering could possibly be purchased by most people starting Could 2, 2023.
Ticket costs as soon as once more ranged from $109 to $199, however there was a better distribution of dates on the larger finish of the spectrum–that means the common ticket worth elevated by practically $10. MNSSHP dates final yr have been August 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29; September 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29; October 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31; and November 1.
In case you take a look at the entire launch dates above, it seems that there’s little or no consistency to when Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering tickets go on sale annually. It has been as early as January and as late as Could within the final 5 years. Walt Disney World planners could bemoan this, because it makes planning troublesome.
Nonetheless, I feel that overstates the present actuality. For one factor, 2019 and 2021 have been each anomalies. We all know that 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering tickets gained’t be launched in January as a result of, properly, that month has already handed. However we’d’ve written this publish again in December if we thought there was even a slight likelihood of a January launch. We didn’t as a result of there wasn’t.
Could 2024 is extra believable, however we additionally view that as extremely unlikely. The one cause the discharge was pushed so late in 2021 was as a result of the surroundings was altering quickly, and it most likely wasn’t clear up till that time that Magic Kingdom could be able to host a Halloween occasion. So I feel we will safely rule out an announcement coming as late as Could.
Anticipated demand goes a good distance in explaining the discharge dates over time, with a few notable exceptions. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering begins in the course of the low season, often proper as colleges return into session and crowd ranges plummet. This has occurred persistently and predictably at Walt Disney World in mid-August and September, which is persistently the slowest stretch of the complete yr.
Consequently, Walt Disney World has typically had a troublesome time promoting tickets to the occasion in August and September. Traditionally, it has been uncommon for these social gathering nights to promote out. That is exactly why August and September all the time have considerably decrease costs on common than October. It thus made sense for Walt Disney World to launch tickets earlier, offering extra runway for slower dates throughout August and September to promote out.
All of that’s previous tense for a cause. Whereas sellouts have been rare earlier than 2019, that has ceased to be the case in the previous few years. Each 2022 and 2023 bought out the complete season, with about half of all Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering nights promoting out by the morning after the primary evening the occasion was held annually. Earlier than the tip of September, all dates of MNSSHP had bought out in each of the final two years.
With that stated, it’s value noting that dates have been slower to promote out final yr than in 2022. We predicted exactly this, albeit to a far better diploma. Our perception earlier than ticket gross sales even began was that pent-up demand was an enormous driver of ticket gross sales in 2021-2022, each for particular occasions and for Walt Disney World basically.
There was additionally stimulus cash, larger family financial savings, and a renewed emphasis on touring or making up for misplaced time. One other underappreciated issue is the shortage of latest Annual Go gross sales on the time, which implies some locals possible bought MNSSHP to get their Walt Disney World repair. (That’s an enormous contributor to Oogie Boogie Bash’s reputation at Disneyland Resort.)
In a nutshell, the absence of all of that led us to imagine that the 2023 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering would promote out slower and fewer typically than the 2022 occasion. In equity, we did additionally say that it will be “silly to forecast considerably decrease gross sales” since there are many elements driving the recognition of MNSSHP, and no less than a few of these would as soon as once more be current in 2023. (Truthfully, with all of that stated, I underestimated how properly MNSSHP tickets would promote final yr.)
Nicely, the identical concept applies for 2024. If something, Walt Disney World is seeing a bounceback so far in 2024 after revenge journey burned out final yr. It’s solely attainable that this yr could possibly be busier as an entire at Walt Disney World. It’s additionally attainable that this can be a winter phenomenon as folks flock to extra favorable climate, which is able to in flip imply even decrease demand for August and September–particularly after the brutal climate final yr. It’s unattainable to say at this level.
The underside line is that Walt Disney World most likely gained’t really feel an enormous sense of urgency to launch 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering dates and tickets because of demand within the final two years. Even when inside attendance forecasts are comfortable for late this summer season and fall (and so they most likely are given discounting), the occasion ought to keep its reputation. Does it actually matter that a lot if all dates bought out in late September final yr versus mid-September within the year-prior? Until projections are actually dangerous, most likely not. Promoting out is promoting out.
On the plus facet, when you’re anxiously awaiting Walt Disney World to launch 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering dates and tickets since you’re apprehensive about it promoting out, don’t. Even with final two years setting the file for bought out dates, nothing has been gone till June 30 on the earliest. That’s when Halloween evening bought out in 2022. Final yr, Halloween evening bought out on July 3. In each of the final two years, no different dates bought out till the tip of July.
That’s a grand complete of two events annually promoting out earlier than the beginning of August. With that stated, there is often a “run” on dates promoting out between the start of August and the primary occasion. By then, as many as half of all nights have been promoting out. Final yr, the dates that bought quickest (apart from Halloween) have been the most cost effective nights.
In different phrases, the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering is not going to promote out inside days of tickets occurring sale. That applies to each the presale window and most people window. Whether or not 2024 tickets promote slower or quicker than final yr largely is dependent upon whether or not any new leisure is added. Even then, we’re dates promoting out in July and August, not instantly.
That’s, until Muppet Haunted Mansion or Massive Al’s Bloody Bear Jamboree overlays are introduced for the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering. By which case, tickets will promote out inside minutes and can surpass Taylor Swift live performance costs on the secondary market.
Finally, my expectation is that Walt Disney World does one other “Midway to Halloween” occasion and pronounces dates for the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering at the moment. In step with custom, I believe the “midway” level may as soon as once more moved ahead, as Disney needs to supply extra time to promote out tickets. I’d additionally count on the occasion itself to creep up, with the primary Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering being held August 9, 2024. (I’d additionally wager on a November 1, 2024 finish date.)
I’d most likely put the timing of Midway to Halloween as soon as once more within the month of April. That’s when it has occurred over the past two years, so it’s protected to foretell a repeat of that in 2024. It’s troublesome to get extra particular than that for the date, however one factor that’s value noting is that Midway to Halloween has occurred shortly after Easter previously. This is smart, as the tip of Easter is the height of Spring Break season and that concluding indicators an unofficial shift into shoulder season and Walt Disney World turning its focus to the second half of the yr. Nicely, Easter is a few weeks earlier this yr–touchdown on March 31, 2024 as a substitute of in April.
With that in thoughts, right here’s my particular prediction: Walt Disney World does Midway to Halloween the week of April 8, 2024 and pronounces dates, costs, and when tickets will go on sale for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering on April 11, 2024. The next week is about equally possible, particularly as Spring Break season continues (albeit to a lesser diploma) then. I’d be very stunned if Halloween to Halloween is far later than that, particularly as Walt Disney World might need issues about slowing ticket gross sales and demand.
Regardless of how or when the announcement is made, I’d additional predict that tickets will go on sale a pair weeks after the announcement and as soon as once more be staggered for on-site and off-site company to create a way of urgency and maybe demand for on-site lodging. That is all hardly a daring prognostication, because it’s kind of what has occurred within the final two years. That is all simply my guess, although–we’ll maintain you posted when one thing is really, formally introduced. Till then, see our Final Information to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering for every little thing else you may wish to know in regards to the occasion!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
When do you suppose 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering dates will likely be introduced? Did you attend MNSSHP at Walt Disney World final yr? Planning on attending once more this yr? What did you consider the ‘bought out’ crowds? Suppose it was well worth the excessive ticket worth? Agree or disagree with our predictions? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
