Mickey's Not-So-Scary Starts August 7. Here's Your Game Plan

Halloween season at Disney World starts early, and I love that about this place. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party kicks off August 7, so if you have an August or September trip booked, you get to add a Halloween night to your summer vacation.

What the party actually is

Not-So-Scary is a separate-ticket event on select nights. The park closes early to day guests, and party guests get Magic Kingdom from 7pm to midnight. That includes the Boo-to-You parade (the Headless Horseman rides down Main Street first, and it's worth planning around), Halloween fireworks, trick-or-treat trails with real candy, characters you rarely see the rest of the year, and short ride lines all night. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at 11pm is usually a walk-on, which never happens during the day.

A simple plan for a great night

• Your party ticket lets you into the park at 4pm, three hours before the party starts. Use that time for the big rides.
• Watch the first parade from Frontierland instead of Main Street. Same parade, half the crowd.
• The trick-or-treat trails stay open all night, so save them for during the fireworks when everyone else is parked in front of the castle.
• Parties do sell out. The August dates are usually the cheapest and least crowded of the whole run.

What I'm wearing

The party is one of the only times adults can wear real costumes at Disney World. There are a few rules (no masks for anyone over 14, no full face paint), but there's a lot of room to have fun with it. I'm going with a Minnie witch look this year: black skirt, polka dot top, witch hat ears. If you want ideas, my outfit boards have a whole Halloween section going right now.

One honest tip: August in Florida is hot, even at night. Pick a costume you can sweat in and you'll have a much better time.