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Disney lover? ✔ Halloween aficionado? ✔ You must be going to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) then!
The MNSSHP event is the perfect event for someone looking to celebrate in a safe, family-friendly environment with lots of not-so-spooky moments for everyone.
This will be my second year attending this event and I can’t speak highly enough about this event – it’s got everything that any family could ever want: clean, fun, and tires the kids out! The party runs from 7:00 PM to midnight so you and the kiddos will be out like a light once all is said and done.
Tickets range from $119 to $199 per ticket, plus tax, although if you’re an Annual Passholder there are savings of $10 per ticket, but the tickets are only valid in August or September. And additional events will cost you on top of that, too.
Looking for discounted MNHSSP tickets? You can check out Undercover Tourist!
Tickets are now available for purchase for everyone for the 2024 season.
The park is decorated to bring in that spooky Halloween vibe with many opportunities to meet your favorite Disney characters dressed up as their favorite movie characters (how cute is Clarabelle Cow as one of the three Sanderson sisters?)!
It’s also a prime opportunity to ride attractions that otherwise have long waits during the day like Space Mountain and of course, Haunted Mansion.
But notwithstanding all of these perks and limited events, there’s also the food. 🤤 And if you’re anything like me: you’re crazy about food.
There are returning favorites Bowl of Bones and Terrifyin’ Twice-Spiced Chicken Sandwich among so many others.
As more information is given to the public about the party, this post will be updated. Bookmark this page or sign up for the newsletter so you’re kept up to date.
When Does Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Run in 2024?
The party runs between August 9 and October 31, 2024 in Magic Kingdom.
New to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2024
Halloween isn’t Halloween without a bit of scare in the air and Disney is delivering with more villains prowling the streets of Magic Kingdom. So beware and keep your wits about you before Dr. Facilier turns you into a frog!
Bruno Madrigal will be making his first appearance at the party alongside his niece, Mirabel, from Disney’s Encanto. And while we don’t talk about Bruno, I’m sure he’ll be the talk of the town at this years party.
Cheapest Days to Attend the Party
Now that tickets are available to everyone, I wanted to roll out the cheapest days to attend the party.
At the $119 price point, in August those days are 13, 16, 20, 23, and 27.
However, at the $129 price point, August dates are solely the 30th, but September is flush with these dates: 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, and 15.
You can save $9 on tickets if you were to purchase them through Undercover Tourist though (they’re an incredibly trusted resource for theme park tickets, especially with Disney and Universal). I have bought from them on several occasions and I highly recommend their service and prices.
Things to Do at MNSSHP
Outside of the food, there’s a lot of entertainment at the party that you should definitely be part of to get the most out of your ticket.
Costumes
Probably the exciting thing is that you’re allowed to wear a costume (within reason) to Walt Disney World! It’s one of the only times during the year adults are allowed to actually dress up alongside their children that isn’t Disneybounding.
You can check out the costume policy here.
Character Meet and Greets
If you’ve been looking to meet Jack Skellington and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas, this event is your event. Some characters in the park are on a “timer” so to speak, so you’re only able to meet them during the party.
Characters in this category are: Elvis Stitch, The Seven Dwarfs, and Madame Carlotta (or Broome the Butler or Madame Renatta) from Haunted Mansion among others.
There are some characters you may not be able to take a picture with (this isn’t hard and fast), but you can take a picture of them, like The Sanderson Sisters, Queen of Hearts, Captain Hook, and Cruella de Vil.
Trick or Treat
It’s not Halloween without trick-or-treating. Bags are provided for all involved and if you need allergy-friendly candy, there are teal bags provided as well with designated locations for you to grab those treats.
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
One of the newer offerings in recent years, this stage show is all about the Sanderson sisters and one way or another they will put a spell on you. Other villains appear during this performance in the forms of Dr. Facilier, Oogie Boogie, and Maleficent (great lineup honestly).
Showtimes
Dates between August 9 to September 28, 2024
- 9:05 PM
- 10:40 PM
- 12:00 AM
Dates between September 29 to October 31, 2024
- 7:40 PM
- 9:05 PM
- 10:40 PM
- 12:00 AM
There are also three dates for those looking for American Sign Language (ASL) 🧏🏾♀️ interpretations. You’ll need to reach out to Disney two weeks ahead of your party date if you’d like another date added:
- Friday, August 23, 2024
- Thursday, September 26, 2024
- Thursday, August 24, 2024
DescenDANCE and other Entertainment
New this year is the DescenDANCE Party at Rockettower Plaza Stage (located in Tomorrowland by Astro Orbiter) inspired by new Disney+ movie, Descendants: The Rise of Red.
There’s also entertainment in the form of the barbershop quintet group in Frontierland (The Cadaver Dans), the pirate band The Rusty Cut Glass making their way around Adventureland, and a Disney Junior jam at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café.
Boo to You Halloween Parade
The ever popular Boo to You Halloween Parade is where you’ll see your favorite Disney characters and villains come to life. You’ll come across Hitchhiking Ghosts and other spirits along their journey as well.
They do two rotations through the parks, so you’re sure to catch at least one: 8:15 PM and 11:15 PM.
They also offer an American Sign Language interpretation here as well on the same dates above.
Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular
And last, but certainly not least, to round out the night, the fireworks show. Well, sort of … the show happens at 10:00 PM, so no matter what you’ll be able to see it if you’re ready to hit the hay early on.
Jack Skellington hosts this laser and firework show filled with stories of how amazing things can still happen on Halloween.
And of course, if you’re looking for American Sign Language interpretations, the same dates as above apply.
Recommended: Complete List of Theme Park Festivals in the USA
Snacks & Treats You’ll See at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
As of right now, all I know is that there are two returning favorites: Bowl of Bones and the Terrifyin’ Twice-Spiced Chicken Sandwich. Every year there are new offerings and last year the majority of the items available were new.
I’m hoping to see the return of others like Char Siu Chicken Wings, the Loaded Sweet Potato Fries, and the Queen of Hearts Slushy, but we’ll see.
Some current quick-service locations open during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are:
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
- Casey’s Corner
- Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
- The Friar’s Nook
- Pinocchio Village Haus
- Sleepy Hollow
July should be around the time that Disney announces their food lineup and I’ll be sure to report back. If there is anything that will help my allergy friends, I’ll also include that here as well.
In the meantime, take some joy in knowing that there’s the infamous trick or treat trail around the parks to fill up to your hearts desire.
![mickey's not so scary halloween party 2024 food guide](https://www.themeparkbites.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blackvelvetwhoopiepie_disney.webp)
MNSSHP Dining Reservations
While there are quick service restaurants open during the duration of the party, there are also dining reservations that may pique your interest as well.
Full-service restaurants open during the event are Cinderella’s Royal Table, Be Our Guest Restaurant, and The Plaza Restaurant.
Pro-tip: being an on-site guest at a Disney hotel gives you a clear advantage to gaining a dining reservation to any of these locations. Guests can book up to 60 days in advance whereas other guests are only given 30 days.
So, if you’re looking to get a spot at any of the restaurants mentioned (especially the first two), book your hotels on Disney property and I hope you score all the reservations.
And if you’re looking to go to Disney all day outside of the party (party guests are allowed in at 4:00 PM) – you can pick up tickets at Undercover Tourist at discounted rates.
Recommended: Exhaustive List of Mocktails at Walt Disney World Parks
Dessert Parties
There are also two dessert parties for the fireworks show. Depending on where you’d like to view the fireworks, there’s the option to be seated in the Tomorrowland Terrace or standing in the Plaza Garden.
Dessert parties go quickly so reserving the parties prior to your arrival is highly recommended. You can cancel 24 hours in advance if you no longer would like to attend, otherwise you’re charged full price if you don’t. And in the event of inclement weather, the party will still rage on with or without the fireworks.
Dessert Party – Tomorrowland Terrace
Confirmed treats are chocolate dipped strawberries, s’mores cups, a variety of cheese, and an assortment of beer and wine for guests over 21 years old with valid ID.
Price: $119, ages 10+ and $75 for 3-9 years old
Dessert Party – Plaza Garden
Confirmed treats are the same across both parties. The only difference between the parties is where you’ll be located once the fireworks show begins, in this case, if you choose the Plaza Garden you’ll be standing outside.
Price: $99 for those over 10, $59 for 3-9 years old
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Planning & Tips
There are several ways to do Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, so this will just be a list of things you can do and you can mix and match it to however you want it to be for you. MNSSHP can be an overwhelming party if you don’t have a plan.
The plan I have set up below is based on the entertainment going on through the party. Change it up how you’d like.
Pre-Step: Your budget is important. For a family of 4, tickets can be incredibly expensive even on the low end of the party dates ($119 x 4 = $476 vs $199 x 4 = $796) before tax. Figure out how much money you can feasibly spend and decide if this party is for you and what dates are best.
Step 1: Choose one thing that will be your focus. This can be the attractions, character meets, focusing on the entertainment, trick or treating, or eating your way through the party.
Of course, Theme Park Bites will be focusing on the food, but you do you. I suggest ranking categories by importance so you can accomplish as much as you can in the allotted party time.
Step 2: Prioritize what, inside of that focus, you want to complete more than anything. If you’re looking to do entertainment and really need to see The Sanderson Sisters during their Spelltacular performance, choose the earliest time.
I recommend doing your must-do early on so you don’t miss out on any other festivities you can attend in the category of your choice.
Step 3: Choose your second category and do something with that. If it’s food (hint, hint), head to a dining spot and try the new food offerings before running back into the Halloween fray. Plus it’s a nice break in the party.
Step 4: Head back to your main category and do a new activity, and if that activity is too far away time-wise, do your third category (let’s say attractions) until you’re ready to head over to your entertainment spot.
Step 5: Rinse, and repeat until the end of the night.
Aside from that, here are some tips to get you through the party with ease:
- Download the My Disney Experience (MDE) (Apple or Android).
- Utilize the app to move through the park with relative ease; the Genie is very helpful in this regard. To use it is free, to get on specific rides and skip the line, you’ll need to purchase a Lightning Lane or use Genie+. I believe that during the festival Lightning Lane is not something most people need to use because there are far less people in the park to wrestle with in line.
- Use the MDE to save time by mobile food ordering.
- Try out the new food offerings, especially if you’re always at an MNSSHP as Disney rolls out new offerings every year!
- Be flexible and adaptable in your plans.
- If you have a treat that you see on the list (once updated) make that a priority treat and avoid peak dining times, which in this case will be around the start of the party and around 10:00 PM.
Happy Halloween!
I’m enthused about this party and I’m excited to attend this year.
I’m sure that Disney will absolutely blow us out of the water with their offerings this year and I, of course, will be only but too happy to eat everything I can through it all. But I’ve gotta not salivate over it in May when the party doesn’t start until August, ha!
See ya real soon!
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