Halloween 2013 at Walt Disney World
DISNEY WORLD’S SPECIAL HALLOWEEN PARTY
While Halloween itself is October 31st of course, Walt Disney World provides a special Halloween celebration at the Magic Kingdom many evenings in September, October, and even November 2013.
This celebration is called “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.”
At the party, many of the Magic Kingdom’s rides are open, and trick or treating, special events, and slightly different parades and fireworks are offered.
The official Disney World page for this event can be found here.
MORE ON MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY in 2013
This party occurs from 7p-12MN on certain evenings at the Magic Kingdom in September, October, and even early November.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will occur on the following dates in 2013:
- September 2013: 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, and 29
- October 2013: 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29 and 31
- November 1
You need to buy a special ticket for this party. This ticket is different from regular Walt Disney World park admission tickets.
- The special party ticket does not allow you to enjoy the rides and attractions of the Magic Kingdom before the Party starts–you need a regular ticket for that (but typically you can get in as early as 4p, even though the ticket will say 7p.)
- Regular tickets used to enter the park earlier the day of a Party do not give you access to the Party–you need to have the special Party ticket
The party tickets are expensive, so why would first-time visitors be interested? A couple of potential reasons
- Evening parades are rarer this time of year, so going to one of the parties is a way to guarantee you can see them
- Operating hours at the Magic Kingdom are shorter this time of year, so the Party allows you more time there within the same visit
- Walt Disney World sells only a limited number of tickets to each party, so the evening can be less crowded, particularly compared to whenever the Magic Kingdom is doing evening Extra Magic Hours that week
Many families go the first time for one of these reasons…and then going becomes a tradition!
On the other hand, families following one of the standard 8-night itineraries on this site will see the fireworks and evening parade, and have plenty of time at the Magic Kingdom.
For that reason, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is not designed into this site’s itineraries.
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35 comments
Hi Dave,
I recognize that you will not know the dates of the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for October but based on your prior experience would you recommend one day over another to expect there to be a lesser crowd? I would would think avoiding a Friday is almost a given.
Thanks,
Scott
Heya Scott. You know that the number of tix sold for each is limited, so that while some are more crowded than others, none is really bad in terms of wait lines.
Early October is better than late October; school nights for Orlando kids are less busy than weekend nights, and because of general WDW trends, Sat-Mon is worse than the rest of the week. So that suggests Tuesdays and Thursdays earlier in the month…assuming, like last year, that there aren’t many/any Wednesday shows
Hi Dave,
Thanks as always. Once the dates come out we will have to see what night will work out best for us.
Hi Dave,
Do you know much about the Pirate League and the age appropriateness, etc? I am wondering if this would be good for a seven year old.
Thanks as always.
Scott, I don’t know a whole lot about it. If you can imagine him/her loving pirate face-paint, then I’d say go for it!
Dave,
Thanks a lot. The wife and I will have to give it some thought.
Scott
Hi Dave,
We are planning to spend the day at Magic Kingdom on the same day we buy a ticket for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Do we have to exit the park at the park closing time and re-enter with our new event ticket? Or, are we able to stay the whole time? If so, how do they make sure you have a ticket?
Hi Jenn!
You can stay inside.
What happens may vary–but most of the time, you will see cast members checking tickets at various points in the park,s and giving people arm bands who have tickets for the party. The people without arm bands are the shooed out at 7p.
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Hi, Dave. We are planning a trip in October and had thought (based on last years dates) that we would do Not So Scary Halloween on Sunday, October 13th. I see that is the ONLY Sunday in October you do not have on your list. Understanding that your predictions are just that, do you think we should plan another night??
Jean, October 13 currently has MK open until 9p, with Wishes and the Evening Parade, and then 2 more hours of evening EMH. So that means no Halloween party that night, unless of course they change the calendar. So I’d plan on another night…
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Creepy haunted mansion
Hi. We are coming over from the uk and will be there when Mickey’s not so Scary Halloween Party is on. I’m just wondering how we get tickets for this. Will there be any available when we get there or should we get well in advance?
Thanks
Nicola
Nicola, some of the party sell out, especially those on Fridays and Sundays, and in later October. Once Disney formally announces the dates, you’ll be able to buy tix in advance from the “Tickets” link on this page https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/magic-kingdom/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party/ , and you probably should buy them in advance rather than take the risk of them not being available.
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Hi Dave. We are planning first trip 10/6-10/12 staying at Beach Club. I have all our character lunches/dinners planned and hope to go to Halloween Party on my daughter’s 5th bday (10/10). If predictions are correct it will work out quite nicely after bday dinner at Royal Castle. As I look for discounts on hotels, I am noticing that Beach/Yacht Clubs are almost entirely booked. Is that because people are anticipating free dining or is this not as good of a time as predicted? I know its Food/Wine Festival, but do both hotels sell out the entire week for this event??? I’m getting worried its going to be too croweded when we specifically planned to go when it wouldn’t be!!
Julie, those hotels are popular year-round, and especially so during Food and Wine. Them being booked is not an indication of crowds in the parks–just of their popularity!
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I know nothing has been posted yet, but typically, how much are the tickets?
Are the rides still open during the party?
Hi Samantha, see this for last year’s prices: http://allears.net/tp/mk/mnssh.htm Click on it the link “2012 Party Map” and the second half will show what was open last year (this can take a bit to load…)
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Hi Dave, my daughter is turning 16 and about 28 family and friends will be going to Disney in October for the Not So Scary Halloween on the 31st. I am looking to have a lunch or dinner for all on Saturday, November 2. Do you know if there are any dining halls or rooms for a large family that I can create a menu for. With this many, ordering off the regular menu will be too much and we could not possibly fit in a regular venue. We are not staying on property, we are at the Hyatt Grand Cypress. Thanks for your help, Chris
Hi Christine what fun!
Off hand I can’t think of anything that’ll clearly suit either side of your question, though a fun buffet character meal might address the menu question–like Chef Mickey’s or the Crystal Palace.
On the 28 person room issue, it’s worth a call to Disney dining reservations 1-407 WDW DINE–as they may know something I’m not thinking of–like hooking you into one of the many convention centers attached to the WDW resort hotels for a catered meal in one of their meeting rooms…
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Hi Dave
I am taking my family to DW Oct 19 – 26 , I have a 2, 6 and an 8 year old. And I am planning on getting the Halloween part tickets. What day do you think is best to go to the party?
Hi Pat!
There won’t be a huge difference, but Tuesday the 22nd will likely be the least crowded among the party options during your dates.
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Thanks for the help Dave
Hi Dave!
Since this is my kids first visit to Disney and they will be missing Trick or Treat in our hometown, I really wanted to purchase tickets for the 31st. I understand there is a limit on how many people they allow in the park, but i had someone most recently warn me that on the 31st that its insanely packed for the Not So Scary Halloween Party. I didnt really thnk it would be much busier than lets say a Saturday, but from their experience, it wasn’t a very good one. Do you think its possible Disney bends the rules a little on Halloween day and allow more people in the park than normal that night? Should i stear clear of going on the 31st? Thank you!
Kim
Kim, anyone who says the party is “insanely packed” has never seen a real crowd at Disney World! All the dates near Halloween itself will be sold out, and all will be much less crowded than many equivalent evenings the rest of the year…so I don;t think it matters much…
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Hi Dave,
Following Kim’s last question regarding Oct 31st MNSSHP, could you give a “guesstimate” about crowd levels for that night’s party (i.e. touring plans.com projects a crowd level at MK earlier that day to be 1.1/10 – would it be about the same in terms of level or more? ) I am just trying to figure out if we should avoid it given that my husband hates large crowds (thus the reason we are traveling that week to the parks!) and I will have a 4 yr old, 3 yr old and 15 mth old!. Your help is greatly appreciated!!
Hi Jenn, no one knows for sure, but the guess is that Disney sells about 25,000 tickets per party.
What this means is that on any party night, the rides have short waits, but the character greets can be mobbed, and the streets and byways can be crowded (both because of the activities and because, since waits are short, people don’t feel compelled to get off the streets and into lines). Less popular nights have lower crowds in the streets, but the character greets are still high-wait, and the rides still low-wait.
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Hi Dave,
I just read that tickets go on sale tomorrow (May 1) for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Ditto for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Scott
Thanks Scott! Got it here: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/05/01/disney-world-halloween-and-christmas-party-dates-confirmed/
Hi Dave! We will be traveling to WDW and will be there for Halloween. We have been to the Mickey’s Halloween Party in the past and loved it but are on more of a budget this year. I was wondering if you knew of any other Halloween events/parties being held that night for families? I know sometimes they have different parties or events at the Resort’s and was hoping to find out where I can go to get that info. I read that Downtown Disney isn’t having their event this year and so I am hoping we can skip the cost of Mickey’s party but still do something fun as a family! Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!
Hi Kim, I’m not aware of anything other than an informal, guest-created Halloween showcase at Fort Wilderness, where the campers vie to present the best Halloween decorations. I’ve also always thought that Hollywood Studios is a fun place on Halloween, with the Tower of Terror and Fantasmic seeming to take on a different feel that night…
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Hi Dave,
We are going to WDW in early September, 8-14, with little kids 4&2. At those ages it does not seem worth it to pay for the Not So Scary Halloween but we read about making dinner reservations at Tony’s to see the parade. My wife currently has reservations at 7:15 on September 10th, we figure we will show up at 7 for the reservations. Do you have any thoughts or recommendations? Do they really allow patrons to eat at the restaurant without having the Halloween party wrist band?
Thanks!
Hi Robert!
Yup I’d skip the party at those ages.
You should be fine in the restaurant–but you may want to call 407-WDW dine just to make sure
And you can’t really see the parade from most of Tony’s–I didn’t go into this with Danell as I was trying to get her out of Tony’s anyway…but for the scoop on how to angle for a good seat see this: http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/04/19/best-restaurants-for-magic-kingdom-parade-viewing/
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We are visiting September 15-21. We were not planning on doing the MNNSHP. Should we avoid going to MK the days that they are planned, or is it typically less crowded on those days?? Or should we suck it up and get tickets?? We have 4 adults and 3 kids 5,7,11. Thanks! This site is great!
Amanda, the park has its lowest crowds on the days the party is on! See this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/04/30/crowds-and-walt-disney-world/
I don’t feel strongly one way or the other about this party, and it is pretty expensive…so if it were me, I’d skip it, so long as I had an evening to see the regular fireworks and parade…
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