Looking for the best Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tips? Here’s How to Make the Most of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. This post is sponsored by Walt Disney World. All magical opinions are my own.
How to Make the Most of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2018
How do I get the most out of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? It’s a question I get asked quite a bit as an Orlando local.
Mickey’s Not So Scary is one of the most popular Walt Disney World parties and one of the most sought after Disney events. But with only a few nighttime hours to cover it all, how do you stretch that ticket further with your family – to get the most out of these Halloween themed memories? Today I’m sharing How to Make the Most of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2018 – from prized photo ops to tips to maximize your time to what’s new at this year’s party. You won’t want to miss the fun!
Plan Accordingly | Rain or Shine
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2018 planning begins at home, before the party starts. Being prepared especially when bringing kids can help the night go much much MUCH smoother. Be sure to grab my exclusive list on what to bring (and not to bring) for the party. The unpredictable Florida weather can affect party plans as well. Grab my full guide to what to expect when it rains at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party for more tips to make your wet night more magical!
Go All Out
Dressing up is half of the fun! Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is one of the rare occasions when adults can wear costumes to the park too – and a great time to get those Halloween costumes done early! Not a costume fan, especially in 90 degree heat? Totally understand! Pull out those festive fall tees and fun Halloween accessories (Mickey ears, anyone?) to get into the Halloween spirit! Spirit…get it? My DIY Wreck-It Ralph Family Costume Ideas post is coming soon too 🙂
Maximize Your Time
I get asked all of the time on how to make the most of your visit at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Here’s how to maximize the most of your time:
- Go early! While the ticket says that the party starts at 7 pm, party guests can get in as early as 4 pm – with 3 extra hours of play time! If you have an annual pass, now is a great time to pre-plan a FastPass between 4-6 pm (before FastPasses are done for the day).
- See Party Exclusives! There are definitely party exclusive experiences your family needs to make time for. I definitely recommend planning to see the Boo to You Parade (one of my favorite parades), Hallowishes fireworks show and the Hocus Pocus castle stage show (the movie is celebrating 25 years this year!) while you’re there.
- Trick-or-Treat sparingly! While those candy lines are tempting, there are definitely times when lines are longer than others. Instead of planning around candy routes, plan your night according to rides, shows and experiences you want to see, hopping in to grab candy when lines are shorter. Don’t worry, there is plenty of candy to be had (by the handfuls)! And don’t forget these allergy-friendly candy tips.
- Rides, rides, rides! Mickey’s Not So Scary is a great time to plan on Magic Kingdom rides with very little wait times (some as low as 0-5 minutes)! With no FastPasses during the party, make time to ride some of the best attractions. But note that the most popular rides will still experience longer wait times (upwards of 45-50 minutes). To get on these rides with less wait, try to plan around the parade or shows, or get on during the last 30 minutes of the night.
- Eat Spooky Treats! Got your eye on a fun Disney exclusive treat? Definitely make sure to plan for a stop for treats you can only get during the party nights including: gluten-friendly Pumpkin Cheesecake from the Main Street Bakery, Hades Nachos at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café, Apple Cider and Warm Caramel-Stuffed Pretzel from Cider House, Jack Skellington Cake Push Pop from Sleepy Hollow, Madame Leota Dessert from Liberty Square Market, Hitchhiking Ghost Dessert from Aloha Isle, Oogie Boogie Meringue from Gaston’s Tavern, Muenster Smash Burger from Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, exclusive 2018 popcorn buckets and more. See the full Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Foodie Guide for more fun treats and where to find them!
Make Time for 5 All-New Experiences in 2018
It’s been awhile since we had some new updates to Mickey’s Not So Scary! But new for 2018, are 5 new experiences, like the all-new 2018 Mickey’s Not So Scary Mad Tea Party ride in my video above. Be sure to take the time to check out these newest experiences for big and little kids alike only during party nights:
- Look for live pirates on Pirates of the Caribbean ride & hunt down Gunpowder Pete
- Junior Jam Dance Party with kid-favorite Disney characters like Doc McStuffins, Timon & more!
- Take a spin on a new Mad Tea Party ride – with new lighting & special effects just for the party
- Go into a new kind of darkness on Space Mountain, all with a new rock n’ roll soundtrack!
- Meet Cactus-Flower Cate in Frontierland for a fun costume promenade!
Stake Out Exclusive Photo Opportunities
When the lines for photos are longer than the lines for rides, you know that it’s a Not So Scary night! Exclusive Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2018 photos are a must, from fun CGI videos to exclusive characters to enhanced Photo Pass moments! Here’s where to find some of the best Mickey’s Not So Scary Photo Ops:
- Entrance of Magic Kingdom – Headless Horseman
- Main Street U.S.A. – Dancing ghosts, cauldron, flaming pumpkin, handheld props
- Haunted Mansion – More ghosts (like the hitchhikers), Haunted Mansion sign
- Halloween costume characters – there are tons throughout the park but here are some of my favorites: Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger (all in costume) outside of the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride; Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Alice and the Mad Hatter outside of Mad Tea Party; Jack Skellington and Sally on the gazebo at Liberty Square; Princess Daisy, Pumpkin Donald, and Witch Minnie at Casey Jr. Splash n’ Soak Station, Captain Jack Sparrow across from Pirates of the Caribbean; Lotso near Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Look on the map for the “Mickey head” logo to find other great photo ops with costumed characters – some only exclusive to these nights!
Go Again
It’s the first year where I’ve had my kids’ Halloween costumes done months in advance! With dates extended into August this year, there are plenty of dates for you and your family to experience Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2018 again…and again! Prices starting as low as $74 per night for adults and $69 for kids 3-9, be sure to snag Not So Scary tickets early for the lowest prices, (they tend to sell out) so you can experience your favorite Halloween themed Disney moments (and not miss any)! Here are the dates for 2018:
- August 17, 24, 28, 31
- September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
- October 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31
Be sure to follow the fun with hashtag #NotSoScary this year. Hope to see y’all at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2018!
How are you planning on making the most of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2018? Have you ever been before?
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Andrew says
Woohoo awesome! We’re going in October! Thanks for sharing all of your fantastic tips and tricks for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, it’s so helpful to know what to expect and how to maximize our time! 🙂
christie says
Can’t wait to hear what you think! Have FUN