Magical Information to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Social gathering

Spooky season begins early in Orlando. Disney World and Common Orlando kick their Halloween festivities off earlier than Labor Day, so company have greater than two full months of limited-time occasions, seasonal eats, and fall-themed enjoyable to get pleasure from.

Disney’s fan-favorite Halloween occasion, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Social gathering, began at Magic Kingdom on Aug. 9, and I used to be there on opening evening. This particular occasion requires its personal ticket and isn’t included in commonplace day by day park admission, however I feel it’s price the additional value; in the course of the five-hour celebration, we went on eight points of interest with minimal waits, hit a number of trick-or-treat stops, snagged among the specialty celebration meals, and noticed the parade, fireworks, and stage present. 

Right here’s the whole lot you have to know — from can’t-miss leisure to the perfect snacks — to plan the proper evening at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Social gathering.

Leisure

At solely 5 hours lengthy, it’s inconceivable to see and do the whole lot at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Social gathering in a single evening, however you’ll be able to test many of the must-dos off your listing — if you happen to go in with a recreation plan.

Pause the trick-or-treating, character greetings, and rides for one factor: Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade. The parade begins with an look from the mysterious Headless Horseman, galloping his approach from Frontierland to Principal Avenue, and options iconic traditional Disney characters of their Halloween finest, alongside distinctive cavalcades of spooky characters — just like the hitchhiking ghosts from Haunted Mansion. The gorgeous floats, particular character appearances, and catchy theme music make this my favourite Disney World parade, and I extremely advocate making it a precedence as you propose your evening on the celebration. 

The parade occurs twice an evening at 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. and travels from Frontierland (beginning close to Tiana’s Bayou Journey) as much as Liberty Sq. after which across the hub in entrance of Cinderella’s Fortress, earlier than heading down Principal Avenue, U.S.A. We discovered a spot round 7:45 p.m. in Frontierland, however the first present Is usually busier, and folks had been ready nicely earlier than that for prime viewing spots. 

Creepy emcee Jack Skellington hosts Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular at Cinderella’s Fortress at 10 p.m. Fireworks, projections, and music from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas” can have you singing “This Is Halloween,” even in August. 

The “Hocus Pocus” Villain Spectacular contains a mashup of infamous Disney villains who come to assist the Sanderson Sisters from “Hocus Pocus.” The present takes place as much as 4 occasions nightly (relying on the date), so you have got loads of probabilities to test it out — I like to recommend catching the midnight exhibiting on the best way out of the park. There are additionally dance events in Tomorrowland, singing pirates in Adventureland, and the Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet in Frontierland. 

Rides and Points of interest

Rides are open in the course of the celebration, so company can anticipate brief wait occasions for a lot of of Magic Kingdom’s high points of interest. Each Tiana’s Bayou Journey and Tron Lightcycle/Run supply standby traces in the course of the celebration — one thing you received’t see throughout typical park hours if you want a digital queue or paid Lightning Lane to entry them — so this can be a nice time to journey these sought-after points of interest to your coronary heart’s content material. 

A couple of rides supply particular theming for the occasion: You possibly can journey Area Mountain in full darkness (with eerie tunes to up the fun issue), spin across the Mad Tea Social gathering with a festive ambiance, or hearken to some Halloween-inspired jokes at Monsters, Inc. Giggle Flooring. If Area Mountain is simply too intense for you, hop on the PeopleMover for an aerial view of the celebration and a peek inside Area Mountain, the place you’ll be able to see and listen to the overlay with out so many twists and turns. 

Though it may be an extended wait in the course of the celebration, undoubtedly make time to journey the Haunted Mansion. A duo of pleasant ghosts entertain company within the cemetery portion of the queue, and I discovered the ghosts’ interactions with the company to be humorous and intelligent, making for one among our favourite components of the night. 

Social gathering Meals and Drinks

Together with event-exclusive merchandise, there are bites and sips you could solely snag throughout Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Social gathering.

You could find them at quick-service areas all through the park, and it is sensible to examine each obtainable choice on the Disney web site beforehand so you’ll be able to plot out your snack plans. At Aloha Isle, the Dole Whip Mango and Chamoy Float (additionally obtainable throughout common park hours this season) was a private favourite; it combines refreshing mango-flavored Dole Whip with pineapple juice, chamoy, and tangy chili lime salt. The Spicy Meatball Arrabbiata Flatbread at Pinocchio Village Haus was a tasty and satisfying choice for a fast dinner between rides. The Friar’s Nook has a number of party-exclusive eats, together with the ominous-sounding Bowl of Bones and the Buffalo Hen Hand Pie; we tried and loved each, however the hand pie was my favourite right here. There are dozens extra distinctive meals and beverage choices obtainable, so make an inventory of your must-try treats and test them off as you’re employed your approach across the park. (Don’t overlook that many areas supply cell ordering through the Disney app.)

For company on the lookout for a extra stress-free meal in a table-service setting, Be Our Visitor, Cinderella’s Royal Desk, and The Plaza Restaurant are open and supply some party-exclusive eats. This celebration was the one time I’ve ever seen a wait as brief as 10 minutes to eat at Cinderella’s Royal Desk with no reservation — although you can also make reservations for these table-service eating places forward of the celebration if you happen to’d like.

Dessert events are additionally obtainable to ebook (for an additional cost) if you’d like snacks and entry to a reserved space for the fireworks. 

Character Appearances 

Look ahead to characters decked out of their Halloween finest all through the park. You possibly can take photographs with Mickey and friends of their festive apparel, Sew in his cute Elvis costume, and Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger of their almost-too-cute outfits — plus extra characters (together with some “uncommon” characters that you just don’t normally see on the parks) of their typical apparel. 

Jack Skellington and Sally from “The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas” are very fashionable, and their traces typically exceed an hour. 

Trick-or-Treating

Prepared for the perfect trick-or-treating ever? Whenever you arrive at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Social gathering, you’re given a bag and your first deal with of the evening, a full-size bag of M&Ms. The occasion affords greater than a dozen trick-or-treat areas across the park, the place forged members load your bag up with Mars Wrigley candies (assume Twix, Snickers, Starburst, Skittles, and extra — all of the name-brand candies you all the time hoped to attain when trick-or-treating round your neighborhood if you had been youthful).

Every location is indicated on the map and by a trick-or-treat pylon. Traces could look lengthy, however they usually transfer quick—simply have your bag open if you get to the entrance. We went to about half of the deal with areas and ended up with a ton of sweet (I feel we counted about 70 items every), so youngsters and adults alike will love filling their baggage with all of the sweet they’d like. The ticket worth contains all of the trick-or-treating, so there’s no extra value. 

And if you happen to or your youngsters have allergic reactions, don’t fear — you’ll be able to nonetheless get pleasure from trick-or-treating. Friends with allergic reactions obtain a teal deal with bag and can get tokens from forged members at every trick-or-treat location that they’ll alternate for allergy-friendly treats on the Allergy-friendly Facilities in Liberty Sq. and Principal Avenue, U.S.A. Though we don’t have meals allergic reactions, we poked our heads in to see the way it labored, and educated forged members defined which treats suited totally different wants so company may decide which they’d like. I’d anticipate the Principal Avenue location to get fairly busy towards the tip of the evening as folks alternate their tokens earlier than leaving the park, so take into account swapping some out midway by means of the evening or head to Liberty Sq. to keep away from the push (it was empty once we visited at round 9:30 p.m.).

Tickets and Dates

Magic Kingdom will host practically 40 nights of spooky enjoyable this 12 months. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Social gathering began on Aug. 9 and runs by means of Oct. 31. (After that, the park will bear a magical transformation from Halloween to vacation). It is a individually ticketed occasion, so that you received’t have the ability to entry the celebration on an ordinary Magic Kingdom day ticket. Ticket costs differ by date from $119 to $199, with the most costly tickets round Oct. 31, however annual cross holders and Disney Trip Membership members can rating a $10 low cost on celebration tickets in August and September.

The occasion lasts from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., however company with celebration tickets can get within the park earlier — extra on that under. Tickets are nonetheless obtainable for some September and October nights on the Disney World web site. 

Ideas for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Social gathering

Get there early. 

Although the celebration doesn’t formally begin till 7 p.m., celebration ticket holders can enter the park starting at 4 p.m. Plan to get there simply earlier than 4 p.m. to get in line for the celebration entrance and knock out a number of points of interest earlier than the celebration begins — although event-specific experiences at points of interest received’t begin till 7 p.m. Some company take this early entry alternative to hop in line for his or her favourite characters (Jack and Sally are a very fashionable alternative) to allow them to be among the many first when the celebration meet-and-greet begins. 

Put on a Disney-inspired costume. 

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Social gathering is without doubt one of the few occasions company ages 14 and up can put on costumes contained in the park, however there are guidelines you have to find out about, particularly for company over 13. For company 14 and up, costumes have to be family-friendly, costume masks aren’t allowed, and costumes can’t attain the bottom. For extra particulars about what can and might’t be worn, try the official guidelines on the Disney World web site. Even if you happen to don’t gown up, seeing different company of their finest Disney-inspired outfits is so enjoyable. 

Keep at a resort on the monorail. 

Questioning which Disney World resort to ebook in your Halloween getaway?  Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Modern Resort are all positioned on the monorail that goes to Magic Kingdom, making for a simple journey to and from the celebration. Disney’s Modern Resort is only a 10-minute stroll from the park, making it probably the most handy choice for guests who don’t need to take care of the crowds leaving the park when the celebration is over. 

American Signal Language interpretation is obtainable at some exhibits on choose nights. 

American Signal Language interpretation is obtainable at choose exhibits on three dates (Aug. 23, Sept. 26, and Oct. 24). Test the Disney World web site for extra particulars about accessibility in the course of the occasion.