It’s that time of year again at Walt Disney World, where all things spooky and delightful come alive during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP). This magical event offers unlimited candy, rare character meet and greets, and more for a spooktacular time! Whether you’re young or young at heart, MNSSHP 2024 promises a bewitching experience the whole family will cherish. We love attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney World at least once a year. As a result, we have a wealth of tips and tricks to share with you for 2024!
We hope you find this post helpful, and if you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next vacation. This includes helping you find the best time to buy Disney World tickets as well as book amazing Walt Disney World vacation packages!
For our complete guide to the 2024, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, read on!
SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Walt Disney World be sure to check out our Disney World crowd calendar!
Our team at The Park Prodigy has been attending the MNSSHP since 2011 and it’s one of our favorite events at The Magic Kingdom! It’s important to note that this is a special event which means you will need a separate ticket to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2024, which we will cover in this post!
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party is a Disney World special event that celebrates the Halloween holiday with your favorite Disney World rides, unique parades, fireworks, shows, and some amazing Halloween character meet and greets! Disney chefs also work hard every single year for brand-new Mickey Not So Scary Halloween Party food, which we love.
One of our personal favorite and one of the things that we look forward to about visiting this event every year is the free candy! That’s right everyone who attends the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party will enjoy unlimited free candy!
SPECIAL PROMOTION: As a way to help out our clients as much as possible and a thank you for being a part of our Disney community we are running a special on 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets. For a limited time, anyone who joins our newsletter will receive $5 off their MNSSHP tickets in 2023. That’s $5.00 per ticket!
Simply email Mike@theparkprodigy.com or fill out our contact form above! This will allow you to be notified as soon as the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party tickets go on sale!
Disney has not yet officially released the official 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party dates. But we can safely assume the 2024 dates based on the 2023 MNSSHP dates! In 2023 the party began on August 11th and ran through November 1st, 2023! Historically, MNSSHP starts the second week of August and goes to Halloween! That’s why we can assume the 2024 party dates will be August 9th – November 1st, 2024. The beginning dates of the party can have some of the lowest crowds and be some of the cheapest Disney World tickets!
When is the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party?
What are the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party dates for 2024?
Once the official 2024 dates are released you can find the exact dates here!
As you can see there are plenty of MNSSHP dates for guests to choose from with the cheaper dates being earlier in the year.
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To celebrate Halfway to Halloween, Disney World has announced the dates for 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! There are still a few questions you can start to ask when planning your Disney trip! Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party will begin August 9th and go all the way to Halloween! This means you have two and a half full months to plan your trip to visit MNSSHP in 2024!
We always suggest you ask yourself these two questions when visiting:
We also suggest taking a look at our Disney crowd calendar when planning your trip! The reason is you might want to visit Disney in October but you would be surprised at just how spookishly enjoyable Disney is in August and September.
It’s important to note that one quick tip that can save you a ton of time and also help save you a ton of money is to compare Disney ticket prices. Why you might ask? Well just like Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World theme park tickets now fluctuate based on the time of year you visit. So one of the easiest ways to pick the best time to visit Disney World for Halloween is to compare the cheapest Disney World ticket prices. The cheaper the tickets the more likely it is that the parks won’t be as crowded during that time of year.
Another reason it’s important to pay attention to the crowds when planning your 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party trip is how it will impact non-event nights at the Magic Kingdom. As you can guess if the Magic Kingdom is closed to a select number of guests throughout the Halloween season, the crowds at the park on non-event nights tend to be higher. For this reason, we always recommend planning to visit Magic Kingdom during the week as it tends to have lower crowds during the holiday season.
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Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Party hours are back to the original 5 hours of frightful fun, which we were happy to see. Mickey’s Not So Scary Party 2024 will be going until midnight with entertainment happening periodically throughout the night. Guests are allowed into the park a few hours before the official start at 7 PM but must have a ticket for Magic Kingdom separately if they plan on being there all day.
The 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party hours are from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM. This special event ticket also allows guests to enter the Magic Kingdom Park at 4:00 PM.
(Special Note: Disney vacation club members can enter the park as early as 2:00 PM)
This early entry is one of the reasons why we love Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party so much. It’s a great addition for any family looking to get a lot done in a short amount of time. Guests can enter the park early and hop on a few rides, or make dinner reservations before the special event starts.
The Not So Scary Halloween Party starts at 7 PM on the night of the ticketed events. Guests can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4 PM the night of the event to enjoy a few extra hours of fun. As for the actual start date, MNSSHP 2024 dates begin on August 9th.
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Being that this is a special ticket event in Disney, we’d like to first call out that a general admission ticket to the Magic Kingdom will NOT grant you access to the Halloween celebration. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets will vary by date and all guests must have purchased their own MNSSHP ticket. We will say that regardless of the price we always recommend for all guests attending to purchase their Mickey Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets in advance. The MNSSHP has become extremely popular in recent years and Disney only sells a certain amount of tickets to each event.
Disney does offer discounted Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets to annual pass holders and Disney Vacation Club members. Unfortunately, we have not seen Disney offer discounts to regular park guests in recent years.
Our team loves this event so much that we have made it our goal to make it more affordable for guests! For a limited time all guests who join our newsletter will receive $5 off when you purchase your Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets from The Park Prodigy!
Simply email Mike@theparkprodigy.com & them him you would like to be notified when next year’s Halloween party tickets go on sale! Guests can also shop for other discount theme park tickets on our Walt Disney World tickets page!
If there’s one thing you can always expect when visiting Walt Disney World, it’s the crowds. But fear not! The best days for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party will typically fall on weekdays and as far in advance of October 31st as possible. However, if your timing just so happens to fall on a weekend close to Halloween, all you can do is go in with a plan for the top few things you really want to do or see.
We have seen the MNSSHP event grow in popularity over the past few years. This has resulted in more and more special event nights selling out. If you’re trying to avoid the crowds be sure to check out our Mickey’s Not So Scary Crowd Calendar. We break down projected crowd levels, park hours, and the average temperature for those dates. Another great way to figure out which Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties will be the most crowded is by the price of tickets. Ticket prices will become more expensive on the nights when Disney expects the Halloween party to sell out. We find that this is one of the easiest ways to avoid the crowds when planning to purchase Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party tickets!
When in the park we always recommend seeing the last Boo To You Parade and Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. Since these are the last showings of the night they will generally have the lowest crowds.
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The Magic Kingdom Park closes at 6:00 PM to regular guests during all Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party nights. We are often asked how Disney handles the transition to allow for MNSSHP guests to stay. This is handled in two ways:
Park guests who enter The Magic Kingdom after 4:00 PM will be guided by cast members to specific entrances. Once you enter the turnstile a cast member will give you a bracelet allowing you to remain in the park after 6:00 PM.
If you purchased your Disney World tickets from The Park Prodigy and spent the day at the park you will not have to walk to the entrance of the park for a wristband. Simply ask a cast member for the nearest wristband station throughout the park.
We typically find wristband stations in:
All park guests without wristbands will be filtered out throughout the park in an organized fashion.
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Equally important to unlimited trick-or-treating is knowing the rides open during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.
What we love most about this (not-so) spooky party, is that certain rides are slightly modified to enhance the Halloween magic. For example, Space Mountain will be completely dark with a rock and roll soundtrack playing, and real-life pirates will walk around surprising riders on Pirates of the Caribbean.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Live pirates will invade the attraction interacting with guests as you sail through this classic ride!
Space Mountain: Enjoy complete darkness and an upgraded soundtrack on your journey through deep space!
Mad Tea Party: The classic teacups will have an upgraded color scheme and special effects.
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There are also special Halloween-themed attractions and shows you will not want to miss throughout the night!
On top of unforgettable entertainment, Disney World character greetings are exceptionally special during this celebration. This is because most of these characters won’t typically walk around the parks, and some characters will be wearing exclusive Halloween outfits.
All in all, there are about 20 characters to see with (usually) less than ten-minute waits. For super popular characters like Jack and Sally, definitely plan to arrive at least an hour in advance. When you arrive at the event start time, simply ask a Cast Member if there is a line you can get in immediately and when the character is expected to start their meet and greets.
Although we do not know for sure, these are the characters we can expect to return to the 2024 MNSSHP:
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PSA for our foodie friends out there: this section is for you. From tasty sweets to mouthwatering savories, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party menu is full of frightfully delicious delights.
Starting with the sweet stuff, here’s a quick glance at a few items that made last year’s lineup of exclusive treats and drinks:
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Be sure to scare up an appetite! Last year’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party popcorn bucket was themed as a giant Mickey pumpkin balloon, and the Oogie Boogie popcorn bucket was Oogie himself. As for drinks, one of our favorite signature cups has always been the Jack Skellington sipper. While we’re not sure what this year’s popcorn buckets and signature cups will be, we recommend you grab yours as soon as you find them. All are available only while supplies last!
Check out the list below to see which ghoulishly good quick service and table service restaurants will remain open:
Unfortunately, the only food that is included in a 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ticket is the free candy. However, it’s important to note that Disney does have reservations available at select restaurants such as Be Our Guest and Cinderella’s Royal Table, although they are not Halloween-themed.
For this reason, we always recommend having a meal plan going into Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The reason is you only have a short amount of time to enjoy the event and you won’t want to waste it deciding where to eat. One of our favorite tricks is to take advantage of the early admission at 4:00 PM and grab an early dinner before the event starts!
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Repeat after us: unlimited candy. Yup, you read that right. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party trick or treating is 100% what you make of it. If you can’t resist free candy, you have the opportunity to run up and down Main Street trick-or-treating as often as you want. (All ages allowed!) Cast members are very generous about giving out candy by the handful. Beyond candy handouts, Disney also offers allergy-friendly tokens at candy-giving locations that you can redeem at the Liberty Square Ticket Office for select treats.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party merchandise is bound to cast a spell on your heart. Last year’s merchandise inspiration was heavily inspired by the beloved Sanderson Sisters from Disney’s Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus.
While we’re not sure which character(s) will inspire this year’s merchandise, we’re certain Disney won’t disappoint. From limited edition vests to Mickey ears and pins to magic bands, we believe these commemorative finds are worth the splurge. As soon as we get the details, we’ll share them here! Be sure to check back periodically for updates.
Disney has not officially released any merchandise designs yet, but we should see them start popping up in August!
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As you may or may not already know, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party costume guidelines are not taken lightly by cast members. Disney has the authority to deny admission to any guest who does not comply with the rules. “Costumes must be family-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive, objectionable or violent.” Also, unlike regular park days, adults are allowed to dress up as their favorite characters. However, posing for pictures with guests and/or signing autographs is not allowed.
A few more important details for MNSSHP costumes are that masks are not allowed for guests ages 14 and over, and realistic-looking weapons are strictly Recently prohibited. For any costumes with capes, keep them above the waist—capes below the waist are considered safety hazards and not acceptable. You can find additional information regarding Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party costume guidelines on the Walt Disney World website.
One of the most important things to know about Mickey’s Not So Scary 2024 is that it goes by SO fast! You will not be able to do everything, especially with some character waits being 2+ hours long. So, the most important tip for Mickey’s Not So Scary Party is to prioritize – pick what you want to do the most and get it done first!
Typically we choose between characters, candy, rides, or shows and decide what is most important to us to and filter in the other components throughout.
Dress to impress: One of my favorite parts about Halloween is dressing up. Disney World is the perfect place to go all-out on your costumes and get infatuated with what everyone’s wearing. Since there were only two of us, my cousin and I decided to dress up as Tweedledee and Tweedledum (and dare I say it was a hit)!
Trick-Or-Treating Tip: There are many trick-or-treating designated stops to grab tons of candy. You will most likely be taking some of it back home with you once your vacation is over. However, you’re not going to want to spend all of your time waiting in lines just to collect candy. You’re going to want to explore all of what Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party has to offer. It may be best to just pick a few lines around the park and get your bags filled.
Character Meet and Greets: What’s exciting about Halloween time in Disney World is that during the party, you will be able to see characters you don’t normally get to see during regular park hours. Many villains roam the park and await your photos. My cousin and I got to meet our doppelgangers- Tweedledee and Tweedledum, along with the Queen of Hearts. As always, the characters play their parts VERY well.
If you want to map out the trick-or-treat lines with the character meeting spots, you can get two things done in one section. This can be a very productive way to get the most fill at the party.
The Food: Disney World is known for its creative and outrageous foods. During the Halloween party, they have the most unique treats that are worth the splurge (because they do cost extra). Depending on what’s a part of your dining plan, some of these treats may be eligible for one of your snack credits. However, if you’re not part of a dining plan, I suggest picking your top few foods that are a “must try,” and splitting them with your group. That way you all get to try it, you won’t get as full so you can eat more, and you all split the cost.
Riding the Rides at Night: This is a must-try when you’re at the Halloween Party because Disney really plays on their theme. We obviously had to ride on the Haunted Mansion, and there were ghostly characters making a guest appearance. We also took a trip on Space Mountain, where they turned off ALL of the lights inside, so you had no idea of any twists or turns. Talk about a thrill!
Get a Spot for the Entertainment: The fireworks can mostly be seen from any distance of the castle, so you don’t always need to be front and center for that. My suggestion would be to get to a designated viewing spot for the Hocus Pocus live show and the Boo to You Halloween Parade. You will be up close to the characters of Hocus Pocus on stage for the show, and you’ll get to see all the details of the floats at the parade (and possibly be able to sit on the side for a relaxing break from running around the park). My favorite part was seeing the Headless Horseman run down Main Street.
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A: This special event starts at 7:00 PM on select nights at The Magic Kingdom. Guests who purchase a special event ticket can enter the park at 4:00 PM.
A: The party itself begins at 7 pm and lasts until midnight. However, entrance is allowed as early as 4 pm, and guests who stay for the final Villain Spelltacular parade can hang around a bit later than midnight. Speaking of dates, MNSSHP starts on August 9 and ends on November 1, 2023.
A: Yes, this special ticket event costs extra. Prices start at $79.00 for adults and $74.00 for kids plus tax.
A: Exclusive Halloween treats and drinks are not included, but unlimited candy is included.
A: Unfortunately, no. All special ticketed Disney events are non-refundable and non-transferable.
A: Yes, sometimes. If you’re more concerned about crowd levels, we’d recommend going as early as August since the party gets busier and busier as it gets closer to Halloween.
A: 12 am.
A: Yes, although Disney will give you a free trick-or-treat bag when you arrive one of the best ways to get as much candy as possible is to bring your own!
Our Disney Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.
Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a Disney World Travel Agent for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a Free Quote for all Disney World Vacation Packages. The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your Walt Disney World Tickets, and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets. If you’re brand new to Disney vacation planning we recommend our Walt Disney World Planning Page! Learn more about Disney hotels by reading our Walt Disney World Hotels Review page.
Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at Theme Park Today, as well!