What Can You Actually Accomplish at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?

This year marked the return of the fan-favorite Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, or MNSSHP for short, you see why right? MNSSHP is an extra-ticketed event that is hosted at Magic Kingdom. Extra-ticketed means it is NOT included in standard, park-hopper or park-hopper-plus, or annual pass admission. You must purchase a ticket separately for this event. The return of this party brought a lot of excitement and hype as the last Halloween event, Boo Bash, did not seem as worth it for guests. So what exactly CAN you get done in just 5 hours of party time? I'm going to break down the party here for you and give you my advice for going to this event!

Before Party Time

There are a few things to make sure you are aware of before the party starts - some housekeeping things are:

• Make sure you have purchased the separate ticket to this event prior to your party day! At the time of writing this ALL parties have no officially sold out which means no more chances to buy them in advance, and you cannot buy them at the gate.

• Keep your schedule light that day. I do not advise planning a full park day on top of attending this event, we'll get into the logistics of that in just a minute.

• Have fun dressing up at the event but make sure you take a look at the official rules Disney has about wearing costumes to the park. This is the one event adults are allowed to attend in costume however there are safety and legal measures in place to make sure everyone can have a good time.

What you also need to know is that you are granted entrance to Magic Kingdom at 4:00PM. That is a full 3 hours before the party officially kicks off! This is an excellent time to take advantage of full access to the park and you might be treated to lower crowds as the official park closure to non-party guests is at 6:00PM.

PSA: This is NOT the day you want to have a Park Pass Reservation to Magic Kingdom. The park hours are cut short, and you do not get to enjoy ANY firework shows that evening. If that is a dealbreaker for you, move your park pass to another day and get your full ticket use at another park!

Before the party starts make sure you grab the following items:

1. A Party Map - this is a different version of the Magic Kingdom map that marks where characters, treat trails, food options, ride overlays will be and also informs you as to what time the fireworks, parade and stage show will be (they vary depending on the dates you attend).

2. You Wristband - this will happen automatically as you tap in for the party. CMs are standing by to distribute these so make sure you are in the line to receive them! This is the visual sign tat you are allowed to be in the park past that 6:00PM cut-off.

3. Trick-or-Treat Bag - Every guest gets a special bag to hold all their treats in! Around the park there are several locations where you will get handfuls of candy.

4. Pictures - This may not be such a big deal to you but I encourage getting all of your costume pictures out of the way before the party start due to the poor lighting that you will encounter throughout the night. My before-the-party pictures are much nicer than my end-of-the-night pictures (but not just because of the lighting haha).

The last thing to be aware of prior to the party is know IF you want to meet Jack and Sally. When we entered the park and go to Town Square right around 4:30 they were starting the queue for this meet and greet, it was ALREADY at a 3 1/2 hour wait. If meeting them is important to you, you might need to be one of the first people in the park at 4:00PM or you can check back later in the evening. The only downside is that their location is right at the exit of the park which isn't necessarily the easiest to get to during the party.

During the Event

Now it's party time! They will do a cute little announcement to kick-off including a word from some of our best pals, and the speakers will officially start playing a Halloween mix. Any characters that are scheduled to appear will start rolling out so if there is someone you are dying (pun intended) to see - check your party map for their approximate location and wait there. If the characters are doing a traditional meet and greet, there will most likely be a queue already forming prior to the party start time. There are some characters that will roam in that area, and others like Mike, Sully, and George will remain in Tomorrowland for the dance party. If you are wanting to check out one of the spookified ride overlays - find out which one you are most excited to ride and head there first. For me, that was Deep Space Mountain and we were actually allowed to get on that one at 6:30PM (30 minutes before the party starts). While you won't have to wait the 60+ minute wait times that you could encounter during a normal park day, an average of 45 minutes can really eat up your plans.

This is why I recommend getting to know that party map as early as possible to make your arrangements and hit the ground running when it is go time. Let's talk about some TIME SENSITIVE items and you'll understand why its important to have some form of a plan...

• Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular - this is the ONLY firework show that will run on party days (which is why all non party goers need to really think through if no fireworks on your Magic Kingdom day are worth it). There is only one showtime for this show. You can of course see fireworks from multiple locations - like normal but if you are wanting to get the full effect of the castle projections - or see Jack on stage, you'll want to snag a spot early. Check the party map for showtimes.

• Boo To You Parade - this adorable parade has finally returned and will run twice during the night. A few things about the parade is that while you can see the parade step off from Frontierland - the Powerline Max pre-show will not be there. He starts on Main Street while the rest of the parade catches up. Decide if it is worth seeing (and dancing with) Powerline Max before you sit somewhere for the show. The parade will begin with the headless horseman, which is by far one of the coolest things you can ever see! If you are on Main Street, you'll see Powerline after the horseman, then the parade will begin. Another thing to remember about this parade (and all MK parades) is that the "start time" is the "step-off" time. This means at 11:15 the parade steps-off in Frontierland and will not reach Main Street until around 11:25-30 (hence the need for Powerline Max to be there).

• Hocus Pocus Villains Spelltacular - this is a castle stage show that will take place 3-4 times a night (depending on party date). This show is hosted by the Sanderson sisters as they cause all kinds of mayhem with our favorite Disney villains. It is a pretty short show so if you are wanting to see it you should have no trouble working it into your schedule, and as always if you are hoping for lower crowds stick around for the last showtime (midnight) before exiting the park.

Advice & Tips for New Party Goers

I was you once! I had no idea what I was getting into, no plan, and certainly no expectations going into the party. I did some research prior to my trip which I recommend for anyone and everyone attempting Disney for the first time, but there are some things you cannot research and they just have to be learned on the go! Here are a few pieces of advice that might help you have a successful evening and hopefully check off all the items on your must do list!

1. Arrive prior to 4:00PM and get in line - you can add an extra 3 hours to your evening just by doing that!

2. Avoid (if possible) scheduling a full park day on the day of the party. You are paying about the cost of an admission ticket to attend the party - if you then add another park day ticket on top you're paying DOUBLE for 5 hours at a party, and a condensed version of your park day. Even if you think you can do a full day at Magic Kingdom then stay for the party, you're not really getting the best bang for your buck here. The party will go on unchanged, but your typical Magic Kingdom day is cut short and you get no Enchantment fireworks.

3. Manage your expectations - you may not get every single thing done, eat every snack, see every character and still make it on time to all the shows. Come up with a manageable list of a few things, and anything else you do is just icing on the cake!

4. Read reviews! Find someone you trust that has reviewed some of the Halloween treats - they aren't necessarily all winners. Don't fool yourself into thinking if they are serving it at the party you HAVE to get it!

5. If you are meeting Jack and Sally - plan ahead! As mentioned earlier this line starts around 4:30 with a mutli-hour wait! If this is a must do for you - get into that park right at 4:00 to get in line, wait until later in the evening, or skip a showtime in hopes of seeing them.

6. See the shows! The entertainment being offered is 100% unique to the party! You will not see the Halloween fireworks, the castle show, or Boo To You anytime else! Make these a priority or you'll miss out forever!

7. Don't try and ride every ride that is open. Only 4 rides have a Halloween overlay (Mansion, Space Mountain, Pirates, and Mad Tea Party). These 4 are only going to be different during the party so you might as well take advantage! You can ride Mine Train, or "it's a small world" literally any other day in the park - or even during those extra 3 hours prior to the party! Do not waste precious party time getting in line for Splash Mountain or you might miss something unique.

8. Enjoy the ambiance. Magic Kingdom during this party is so cool! It has reduced lighting, the castle does some cool thing when it is dark, the Cadaver Dans are serenading you in Frontierland, the Haunted Mansion is beautifully lit (and even features some extra guests in the queue). Stop and enjoy some of the offerings when you're hopping from treat trail to show to ride, you won't be disappointed.

9. Ask CMs if you are concerned you might miss something, like Powerline Max. If he is important to you - verify where he will be and when so you can be prepared. A lot of people may line up for the parade in Frontierland or Liberty Square expecting him, and he will not show up! Also ask if any rides or characters are meeting early! Jack and Sally we know starts a queue early, and Deep Space Mountain starts around 6:30 - check with the CMs and they can advise you.

That wraps up my thoughts on MNSSHP! I had an absolutely wonderful time, and for me it was totally worth the cost of admission! At no point did I feel rushed or pressured to get everything done. It is a much more manageable environment compared to your traditional park day.

If you are looking to participate in an extra-ticketed event or any seasonal offerings, we are still booking for late 2022 and through 2023! That is Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line!

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