Magical Information to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration

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 Celebration, 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 customary each day park admission, however I feel it’s value the additional price; through the five-hour get together, we went on eight sights with minimal waits, hit a number of trick-or-treat stops, snagged among the specialty get together meals, and noticed the parade, fireworks, and stage present. 

Right here’s the whole lot it is advisable know — from can’t-miss leisure to the most effective snacks — to plan the right evening at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration.

Leisure

At solely 5 hours lengthy, it’s not possible to see and do the whole lot at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration in a single evening, however you may test many of the must-dos off your record — in the event you go in with a sport 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 Essential 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 suggest making it a precedence as you intend your evening on the get together. 

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 Fort, earlier than heading down Essential Avenue, U.S.A. We discovered a spot round 7:45 p.m. in Frontierland, however the first present Is usually busier, and folks have been ready properly earlier than that for prime viewing spots. 

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

The “Hocus Pocus” Villain Spectacular includes a mashup of infamous Disney villains who come to assist the Sanderson Sisters from “Hocus Pocus.” The present takes place as much as 4 instances nightly (relying on the date), so you have got loads of probabilities to test it out — I like to recommend catching the midnight displaying 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 Sights

Rides are open through the get together, so company can anticipate brief wait instances for a lot of of Magic Kingdom’s high sights. Each Tiana’s Bayou Journey and Tron Lightcycle/Run provide standby traces through the get together — one thing you gained’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 sights to your coronary heart’s content material. 

Just a few rides provide particular theming for the occasion: You may journey Area Mountain in full darkness (with eerie tunes to up the fun issue), spin across the Mad Tea Celebration with a festive ambiance, or take heed to some Halloween-inspired jokes at Monsters, Inc. Snigger Flooring. If Area Mountain is simply too intense for you, hop on the PeopleMover for an aerial view of the get together and a peek inside Area Mountain, the place you may see and listen to the overlay with out so many twists and turns. 

Though it may be an extended wait through the get together, positively 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 in all our favourite components of the night. 

Celebration Meals and Drinks

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

Yow will discover them at quick-service areas all through the park, and it is sensible to examine each accessible choice on the Disney web site beforehand so you may plot out your snack plans. At Aloha Isle, the Dole Whip Mango and Chamoy Float (additionally accessible 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 accessible, so make a listing of your must-try treats and test them off as you’re employed your approach across the park. (Don’t neglect that many areas provide cellular ordering through the Disney app.)

For company searching 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 provide some party-exclusive eats. This get together 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 may make reservations for these table-service eating places forward of the get together in the event you’d like.

Dessert events are additionally accessible to e book (for an additional cost) in order for you 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 may take photographs with Mickey and buddies of their festive apparel, Sew in his lovable Elvis costume, and Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger of their almost-too-cute outfits — plus extra characters (together with some “uncommon” characters that you simply don’t normally see on the parks) of their typical apparel. 

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

Trick-or-Treating

Prepared for the most effective trick-or-treating ever? If you arrive at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration, you’re given a bag and your first deal with of the evening, a full-size bag of M&Ms. The occasion gives 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 have been youthful).

Every location is indicated on the map and by a trick-or-treat pylon. Strains could look lengthy, however they sometimes 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 value consists of all of the trick-or-treating, so there’s no extra price. 

And in the event you or your youngsters have allergic reactions, don’t fear — you may 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 will alternate for allergy-friendly treats on the Allergy-friendly Facilities in Liberty Sq. and Essential 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 might decide which they’d like. I’d anticipate the Essential Avenue location to get fairly busy towards the tip of the evening as individuals alternate their tokens earlier than leaving the park, so contemplate swapping some out midway by the evening or head to Liberty Sq. to keep away from the push (it was empty after we visited at round 9:30 p.m.).

Tickets and Dates

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

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

Suggestions for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration

Get there early. 

Although the get together doesn’t formally begin till 7 p.m., get together 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 get together entrance and knock out a couple of sights earlier than the get together begins — although event-specific experiences at sights gained’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 talked-about alternative) to allow them to be among the many first when the get together meet-and-greet begins. 

Put on a Disney-inspired costume. 

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration is without doubt one of the few instances company ages 14 and up can put on costumes contained in the park, however there are guidelines it is advisable find out about, particularly for company over 13. For company 14 and up, costumes should be family-friendly, costume masks aren’t allowed, and costumes can’t attain the bottom. For extra particulars about what can and may’t be worn, take a look at the official guidelines on the Disney World web site. Even in the event you don’t costume 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 e book in your Halloween getaway?  Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Up to date Resort are all situated on the monorail that goes to Magic Kingdom, making for a straightforward journey to and from the get together. Disney’s Up to date Resort is only a 10-minute stroll from the park, making it essentially the most handy choice for guests who don’t need to cope with the crowds leaving the park when the get together is over. 

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

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