WDW: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

When it comes to Halloween, the USA is obviously the champion of it, which is probably why Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party begins in September! Whilst it's not on every night throughout September and October, and you do need to buy a separate ticket to to attend (ours cost $76.68 each, though the price increases the closer to Halloween you get), it really is super fun. I'd recommend going if you can.

The event starts at 7pm - guests without a Halloween wristband are asked to leave the park - though you can get into the Magic Kingdom, where the party takes place, around 4pm. We'd been in the park that day, anyway, though we did briefly pop over to Disney Springs, Disney's shopping and entertainment area. We arrived back around 6pm, but I'd recommend getting into the park as soon as they let you - there's a lot to fit in!

Since Olly's favourite Disney character is Jack Skellington (The Nightmare Before Christmas), we got in the queue before the party officially started at 7pm to meet Jack and Sally... it took us just over two hours to get to the front. (Our longest queue, by far!) This is why you need to be in the park as soon as you can though, admittedly, Jack and Sally *are* very popular - queues for other characters were a lot shorter. They both took great curiosity in Olly's t-shirt, which Sally said wasn't her work, and they wanted to know if I was its seamstress. Super cute!

The thing *I* was most excited about at MNSSHP was the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. Yep, the Sanderson sisters are back, and if you're a fan of Hocus Pocus, like I am, then you're going to LOVE the show. However, we didn't actually end up seeing it when we thought we would...

We had planned on seeing the show and the Boo-To-You Halloween Parade after the Happy HalloWishes Firework Show (there's an early parade and a late parade, with Hocus Pocus showing around four times between 8pm and midnight). Rumbles in the distance meant that the fireworks were postponed due to the inclement weather - "inclement weather" became my most hated phrase of the holiday!

(I usually take better pictures, I know, but these are probably the best pics we snapped. Because the show takes place on the main stage in front of Cinderella's Castle, which is quite low, you end up viewing a lot of heads if you're not right at the front. Thank goodness for the zoom function! I also found I was less snap happy this holiday, especially when we got to Key West and Miami.)

Anyway, after standing around for about 45 minutes with nothing happening, we decided to go trick or treating, grab some food, and brave the Haunted Mansion. The whole area around Adventureland and Frontierland is wonderfully spooky and atmospheric, and the cast members at the Haunted Mansion really get into the "spirit" of things... Groan!

With the fireworks still not happening, we headed to Fantasyland and went on the Under the Sea: Journey of a Little Mermaid ride, which we'd missed earlier in the day. Whilst we were on it though those rumbles turned into a torrential downpour of rain and an epic storm. Uh-oh! We knew there was zero chance that the fireworks, Hocus Pocus and parade would happen. (Absolute must-buy in the parks is a Disney poncho. They may not be stylish, but you will feel better wearing one in the rain!)

     

If relentless rain does happen when you're at MNSSHP, don't despair! Before you leave the Magic Kingdom, head to Guest Relations (there's one in City Hall, right at the beginning of Main Street), and you should be able to sort out a free ticket for another evening. But, if the same thing happens on your return, we were warned, you have to buy a new ticket... at least you get another shot at the party though!

     

On our second evening at MNSSHP, the Hocus Pocus show was at the top of our to-do list - I'm so happy that we got to see it! (And I made Olly watch Hocus Pocus when we got home.) Afterwards we stayed in position to watch the parade, then headed off for more trick or treating. There are trick or treating stops all over the Magic Kingdom, and after filling up our bags full of candy - I'm now a big fan of Peeps - we headed back to Main Street to watch the Halloween edition of Celebrate the Magic, followed by the fireworks. (Finally!)

Even though the park stays open until midnight, including most of the rides, we did some shopping after the fireworks, then headed back to the hotel. If our first night hadn't been rained off though we would have stuck around until the pumpkin hour. There's a palpable excitement in the air, and I'm so glad that we could go back and have the proper Halloween experience.

To make the most of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, these are some of my tips and tricks, plus what to watch out for whilst you're in the Magic Kingdom:

1) Get into the spirit of things and wear a costume. We didn't, but we wished we had when we saw everyone's fabulous efforts. It's the only time that adults are allowed to wear a costume in the park.

2) Yes, this is the actual Sulley! He was out on the dance floor with Mike at the Monstrous Scream O Ween Ball in Tomorrowland. Have a quick dance with them!

3) Tick off all the main rides another time at the Magic Kingdom so you can concentrate on the special parades, character meets, shows and trick or treating.

4) Saying that though, *do* go on the Haunted Mansion for maximum spookiness. Oh, and if you can't get a FastPass+ slot for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, ride it at MNSSHP. The queue at the moment is, typically, between an hour and two hours long - you can walk on most rides during MNSSHP.

5) Book the first Halloween night available if you're in Orlando for a limited time. That way, if it does get rained out, at least you're still around and have the opportunity to go again!

What do you think to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party? x

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Magic Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

On selected dates in September and October. More info here.