My Mickey's Not-So-Scary Game Plan: How I Do a Party Night Right

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is back at Magic Kingdom, and honestly, the August dates are my favorite ones of the whole season. They're usually the cheapest, the crowds are lighter than October, and there's something genuinely fun about eating candy in a Halloween costume while it's still 88 degrees out. 🎃

I've done a lot of these parties over the years, and I have a routine now that gets me a full night without the frantic feeling. Here it is.

Get in at 4pm, not 7pm

Your party ticket lets you into the park at 4pm even though the party officially starts at 7pm. That three hour window is the single best thing about the ticket and so many people skip it.

What I do with those hours:

• Ride the big stuff while day guests are still there but Lightning Lanes are thinning out. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan's Flight, and Jungle Cruise are my pre-party picks because they get long lines during the party too.
• Do my character meets that have long lines at 8pm. Some of the party-exclusive meets don't open until 7, but the regular ones are much calmer at 5pm.
• Eat actual dinner. I mobile order around 5:15, usually Pecos Bill or Columbia Harbour House, and I eat sitting down like a person. Candy is not dinner, although I have tried.

By 7pm I'm fed, I've knocked out two or three headliners, and I'm ready to just enjoy the party instead of chasing it.

My party night order of operations

The party runs 7pm to midnight, and five hours sounds like a lot until you're standing in a 50 minute line for a photo. My general order:

7 to 8:30: Party-exclusive character meets first, because these have the longest lines all night and the lines only grow. If there's one meet you truly care about, do it right at 7.

8:30 to 9:15: Treat trails. They're marked on the My Disney Experience map and there are stations all over the park. I bring a reusable tote instead of relying on the little bags they hand out, and I hit the trails in Frontierland and Storybook Circus because they tend to move fastest. There are allergy-friendly stations too, and they'll swap you a wrapped teal-bag treat if you ask.

9:15 onward: Shows and rides. There's a stage show at Cinderella Castle and the fireworks, plus the Boo To You parade runs twice. Here's my one big tip: skip the first parade and watch the second one. The first showing pulls a huge crowd. During that first parade, ride whatever you want, because waits drop dramatically. Then catch the second parade with room to actually see it.

11 to midnight: This is the golden hour. I have walked onto Space Mountain, Big Thunder, and Haunted Mansion after 11pm at these parties. If you only remember one thing from this post, let it be that the last hour is worth staying awake for.

What I wear

Adults can wear costumes to the party, which is the whole reason I love it. The rules that matter: no masks if you're 14 or older, nothing that drags on the ground, no weapons or sharp props, and nothing that could be mistaken for a Disney cast member costume.

My formula for a hot August party night:

• A Disneybound style outfit instead of a full costume. Villain colors, a themed skirt or romper, and my regular walking sandals. Full velvet costumes and Florida humidity are not friends.
• Halloween ears. I have a candy corn pair and a Haunted Mansion wallpaper pair, and both photograph beautifully against the castle at night. More on how I choose over on my ears page.
• Something that glows or reflects so my group can find me in the dark. Light up bracelets, a glow necklace, anything.
• A light layer in my bag for the walk out, because you will be damp from either sweat or a passing storm.

One planning note

Party tickets are date-specific and the popular October dates sell out, so if you're eyeing late September or Halloween night itself, book sooner than feels necessary. If you're flexible, the August and early September dates give you the same party for less money and fewer people.

And if you're building a full trip around it, I always give the party night its own day in my itinerary instead of stacking it after a full park day. You'll want the energy for that last hour. 🕸️