When the spooky season arrives, there’s nothing better than walking down Main Street, U.S.A., at Walt Disney World. Mickey pumpkins line the street, the smell of pumpkin spice lattes wafts in the air, and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is in full swing. For many Disney fans, the kickoff to Halloween isn’t complete until this annual festival gets underway.
The separately ticketed Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place at Magic Kingdom every year from mid-August through Halloween. No matter which party date you choose, you’ll encounter Disney characters in their Halloween costumes, ride attractions with spooky overlays, and take in a ton of Halloween-themed entertainment. This is one of my favorite events of the year, and I always make a point to get a ticket when they go on sale.
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If you’re planning to go to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year, here’s everything you need to know about the event, including how to get the most out of your party time.
What are the dates of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in 2025?
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is an annual event that runs from mid-August through Halloween. This year, you can attend on select nights from August 15 through October 31. Tickets start at $119 and go up to $229 per adult ticket ($109 to $219 per child), depending on the date of the party. There’s a $10 discount on tickets for annual pass holders and Disney Vacation Club members on select nights.
What time does Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party start?
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party starts at 7:00 p.m. and goes on until midnight each night. Even though the party starts later in the evening, families with a ticket to this Halloween-themed event can get into Magic Kingdom beginning at 4:00 p.m.
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If you plan to go to the park during this early entry time, you do not need a theme park reservation or a separate day ticket to get in. Your separately ticketed admission for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will get you into Magic Kingdom any time after 4:00 p.m. Just know that during this “mix-in” time, the park can be very busy, especially Main Street. I typically use this time to have dinner and check out the party map to make a plan for the evening.
What’s included at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?
There’s a lot to do during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Most of the attractions at Magic Kingdom are open throughout the party, including fan favorites like Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain. Some attractions, like Space Mountain, Mad Tea Party, and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, even have Halloween-themed overlays.
Shows and dance parties
Throughout the night, you’ll find a plethora of Halloween-themed entertainment, including the iconic Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade at 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m., the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular on the castle stage multiple times each night, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks at 10:00 p.m., and other pop-up entertainment and dance parties around the park. New this year, ZOM-BEATZ BASH is a high-energy dance party themed to ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland. And if you have younger kids, Disney Junior Jam at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is the spot to be to dance wth beloved characters from shows like Fancy Nancy and Vampirina.
Characters and trick-or-treating
Of course, no Halloween party is complete without seeing Disney characters in their Halloween costumes. Around the park, you may encounter Mickey Mouse, Pooh and his Hundred Acre Wood pals, and even Jack Skellington. Most characters start meeting right around 7:00 p.m., but Jack Skellington and Sally start meeting at the Main Street Theater at 4:00 p.m. The line for the duo gets long quickly and rarely dies down through the night. If you really want to see them, get in line as soon as you get into Magic Kingdom at 4:00.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse are also meeting together at Town Square Theater. The Main Mouse and his best gal have proved to be popular, but they don’t start meeting until closer to 7:00 p.m. If you want to see them together, but with a shorter wait, I suggest going during one of the parade times or just before the party ends.
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You’ll also find trick-or-treating stations set up around Magic Kingdom. These spots are mainly located inside restaurants or shows that are not operating during the party, such as Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, Country Bear Jamboree, and Columbia Harbor House.
Costume rules for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom
You can dress up in full costume at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party as long as you abide by a few rules. Anyone 13 or younger can wear a mask as long as there’s unobstructed peripheral vision and Cast Members can see your eyes. Those 14 or older can wear a costume on part nights, but masks are not allowed.
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Costumes have to be family-friendly and not drag on the ground. According to Disney, accessories that resemble a weapon are not allowed, but some acceptable accessories can include transparent wings, plastic light sabers, and toy swords. The full list of Disney’s costume guidelines can be found here.
I do recommend wearing a group costume to make the night feel more festive and fun. Just be careful about what you wear—not only because of the costume guidelines, but also because Orlando can be quite hot during the party season. If you’re attending parties in August or September, consider wearing a lightweight costume. October parties can be cooler, which means that you can dress in heavier outfits that may not be suitable for earlier dates.
How to get the most out of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom
1. Arrive at the right time
Since you can get into Magic Kingdom with your Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ticket starting at 4:00 p.m., I strongly suggest you do just that. The gates to the party open right at 4:00 p.m., and your family will walk through the Main Street bypass near Tony’s Town Square Restaurant.
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In the bypass, you can take photos with cute character statues, dance with a DJ spinning tunes, spot a Villain or two, and you’ll get your party wristband. There are new treat bag pick-up spots, but the closest one to the Main Street bypass is at Tomorrowland Terrace. Use these extra three hours in the park to grab dinner at a quick-service restaurant and plan out what you want to do during the Halloween party.
2. Get in line for high-priority characters early
One of the biggest draws of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is that you can see some rare characters or characters dressed up in their Halloween costumes. The lines for characters can get long very quickly. If you entered the park at 4:00 p.m., plan to get in line for your top character meet-and-greet no later than 5:00 p.m.
Though it may seem like you’re wasting time by waiting for a character before they officially start meeting guests at 7:00 p.m., you will be toward the front of the line, which will allow you to be among the first to get photos and autographs. Then you can be on your way just after 7:00 p.m. and not waste valuable party time. In some instances, characters will start meeting guests a little bit early, so you may be done with the meet-and-greet before 7:00 p.m.
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High-priority characters often include Jack Skellington and Sally (who start meeting around 4:00 p.m. inside the Town Square Theater), and Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet, who meet next to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh starting at 7:00 p.m.
3. Don’t trick-or-treat until the last few minutes of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
During the party, you can collect candy by trick-or-treating at select locations around the park, but I suggest waiting to do this until after the fireworks go off. The trick-or-treat lines can be long during the first half of the party, especially for families who have younger children who may fall asleep early.
If you wait until the last half of the party, the lines are usually shorter, and you can hit more trick-or-treat spots in a shorter amount of time. You can find the candy spots on the party map or by locating the large blow-up columns that say “treats.”
4. Always watch the first parade
I love Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade and always suggest that families watch the first parade. The biggest reason is that if the parade isn’t performed during the first time slot, you’ll have another chance at the second. My favorite spot to watch the parade is on Main Street, U.S.A., looking down towards the castle. Another great location is just in front of the Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square.
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Try to pick your viewing location about 30 to 45 minutes before the parade starts because there are two “pre-shows.” The first is seeing the Headless Horseman go by. This spooky ride-by is a highlight for many partygoers, and it’s worth getting your parade spot early to see. The second is Max Goof dressed up like Powerline from A Goofy Movie. He hosts a dance party along portions of Main Street, U.S.A., where the crowd is encouraged to participate, too.
Times for the parade are 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. If you’re watching from Main Street, U.S.A., the parade gets to the Emporium around 8:35 p.m. and ends around 8:50 p.m.
5. After the parade, move up to the castle for the fireworks
If you’re watching the first parade from Main Street, U.S.A., I suggest moving as close as you can to Cinderella Castle after the parade passes. This will give you a decent spot for Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks show. The show starts at 10:15 p.m. and lasts 12 minutes.
The closer you are to the castle, the better view you will have of the life-sized Jack Skellington puppet. Jack acts as your host for the fireworks, so if you love The Nightmare Before Christmas, this is something you won’t want to miss.
6. Stay for the 12:00 a.m. showing of the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
While it might be tempting to watch one of the early showings of the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, I prefer to stay and catch the 12:00 a.m. show. This is the last big entertainment offering during the party. The midnight show is usually the least crowded. This will give you time between the fireworks and the show to ride an attraction, wait in line for a quick character meet-and-greet, or do some trick-or-treating.
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The show features the Sanderson Sisters from Disney’s hit movie Hocus Pocus, along with plenty of other Disney villains showing off their powers. This is one of Disney’s best castle stage shows, so do not miss it.
7. Only do rides with layovers or unique character interactions
You may be tempted to ride attractions at the party because they have low wait times. But to maximize your party experience, I suggest limiting your rides to those with Halloween layovers or unique in-queue character interactions during the party. These include Mad Tea Party, Space Mountain, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, and The Haunted Mansion.
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One thing you definitely should not miss is Madame Carlotta or Madame Renatta with their butler in the outdoor section of the Haunted Mansion queue. These two ghosts of the mansion don’t start meeting until dusk, but are worth hopping into the line for the attraction to hear jokes or stories about the residents of the Haunted Mansion.
8. Don’t try to sample all of the snacks
One of the highlights of any Disney party is the scrumptious snacks that you can try. Every year at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the Disney chefs come up with creative new sweet and savory options you can only purchase during the party. I suggest checking out Disney Eats: Foodie Guides to see the full list of options each year. Then make a short list of two or three things you want to try.
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Pro-tip: Mobile ordering is available at some locations during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Using Mobile Order is a huge time saver since you can select when you want to pick up your snacks, then walk up to the counter and get them.
9. Buy your Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party merchandise early during the party
If you want to buy party-specific merchandise and not just the general Disney Halloween merchandise, plan to buy it early during the party. Party merchandise can often be found in the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A., and other select locations around the park. It usually includes a T-shirt, trading pins, and a spirit jersey, among other unique items.
