Review: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2015

MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (“MNSSHP”) is a special, separately ticketed party that happens on certain nights every September, October and some years even early November at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

At the party you will find un-crowded rides, a special parade (shown twice, at 8.35 and 11.15p), special fireworks at 10p, a Hocus Pocus show, trick-or-treating, a dance party…and a ton of guests in costumes!

I had a chance to see it again in mid-September 2015, and the scoop follows!

(See this for more on logistics–Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party dates, ticket prices, etc.)

WHAT’S NEW FOR 2015 AT MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

The most important change for 2015 is that the parades and fireworks are more spread out, and later.

Last year the first parade was at 8.15, the fireworks at 9.30, and the second parade at 10.30p. This year, the first parade is 20 minutes later at 8.35, the fireworks are half an hour later at 10p, and the second parade is 45 minutes later, at 11.15p.

So far as I could tell, though, this isn’t really thinning crowds in front of the Castle, mainly because the new Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular (photo above, and also at the top of the page), with its showtimes of 8p, 9.20p, 10.40p and midnight, is packing them in.

The best approach to the Party remains the same–see rides until the Fireworks and watch the second parade rather than the first–but, because of the 9.20 Hocus Pocus, it will be hard to get to the hub after riding rides to see the 9.45p Celebrate the Magic and 10p HalloWishes from there.

Frankly, much as it pains me to suggest this, the hub congestion is not worth seeing Celebrate the Magic. And while HalloWishes, like all Magic Kingdom fireworks shows, is best seen from between the Castle and the Main Street railroad station, it does work really well from elsewhere in the park, because of things that happen in the finale that I’m not gonna spoil here.

So do rides until a little before ten, watch the fireworks from wherever you are, then continue with rides (or see the characters and go trick or treating), see the 11.15p parade, and see the midnight Hocus Pocus show. A late night, but one that avoids the congestion around the Castle hub and Main Street.

Also new for 2015 is that the dance parties we used to see in Cosmic Ray’s and the Diamond Horseshoe are gone.  There’s still a dance party in Tomorrowland.

COSTUMES AT MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

Costumes are not required, and not everyone wear them.

The most common costumes I saw in my September 2015 visit to MNSSHP were, as usual, princess costumes and pirate costumes, and after that Star Wars costumes. Lots of Princess Leia hair!

And this group in Tomorrowland proved a Disney princess theme was not required!

THE PARADE, FIREWORKS, DANCE PARTIES AND TRICK-OR-TREATS AT MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

MNSSHP has a special set of Halloween-themed activities (see above–click it to enlarge it).

For example, the parade–Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade–is seen only at MNSSHP.

It starts with ducks and mice…

…but then shortly shifts to my favorite part, Haunted-Mansion themed dancing gravediggers and ghouls.

More ghouls.

These are followed by Disney villains, but the parade returns to “not-so-scary” at the end, with candy!

There’s two showings of the parade, at 8.35p and 11p, with spectacular Halloween-themed fireworks between at 10p.

While the fireworks are best seen from in front of the Castle with the Main Street train station behind you, this will lead you into a wildly crowded section of the park.

Because of their spectacular finale the fireworks can be seen from elsewhere in the park–you’ll miss a little but gain a lot of comfort from avoiding the mobs in front of the Castle.

This year I watched them from a new spot, near Big Thunder Mountain. As usual my photos don’t communicate it, but this was a cool spot, and I particularly liked the reflections on the water.

The Liberty Square and Cosmic Rays dance parties are gone, but there’s still an outdoor dance party at the thingy between Astro-Orbiter and Space Mountain.

Character meet-n-greets are all over the place–with both common and unusual characters–and there’s also a ton of trick or treat locations…both of which raise an issue.

STRATEGY AND RIDES AT MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

All the major rides are open, and many minor rides as well. Most have very short waits–e.g. 10 minutes for Space Mountain. In our visit, only Peter Pan and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had annoying waits.  Josh has wait times for the party here.

The trick-or-treat spots and character greetings, on the other hand, have pretty long lines.

So the best approach is to skip the character greetings and trick-or-treats–or delay them until after the fireworks–and spend the first part of the evening on rides.

Do rides until just before the 10p fireworks show and watch it.

Some families will be worn out by now.  If yours has energy left, keep going with with more rides, or trick-or-treating or character meets! Then see the second (11.15p) parade and the midnight Hocus Pocus show.

I struggle with whether or not this party is worth the money for first-time family visitors who may never return.

It’s quite expensive–more than $200, and even over $300 on some dates (prices vary by date and whether or not you buy in advance–see this) for a family of four.  And it’s just a five hour show (7p to midnight)–though Disney unofficially lets you in starting at 4p.

Yet the fireworks are the best Disney World offers, the parade is a hoot, the rides have short lines…and the costumes are fun!

My overall take is that for first-timers this time and money is better spent elsewhere, but that’s a really close call, and for sure I’d recommend it to returning visitors!

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