Taking Toddlers and Preschoolers to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is one of our favorite family traditions during spooky season at Walt Disney World. Held on select nights each fall at Magic Kingdom, the party includes trick-or-treating throughout the park, Halloween-themed snacks and drinks, exclusive merchandise, unique character meet-and-greets, and special entertainment.
My husband and I have been bringing our two kids, now ages 5 and 2 ½, to the party for the past several years. In this post, I’ll share what keeps bringing us back each year, the experiences we never miss, and a few tips that have helped us manage late party nights with toddlers and preschoolers.
If you’re looking for a more detailed guide to Halloween at Walt Disney World, including entertainment, food, resort recommendations and activities at the other parks, be sure to check out my complete Halloween guide here as well.
What Makes This Event So Family-Friendly
There’s something special about Magic Kingdom during Halloween season, and it’s one of the biggest reasons we make a point to attend the party each year. Seeing the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party signs as we arrive, always gets us excited for the night ahead.
Your Party ticket allows entry into Magic Kingdom at 4:00 PM, which is three hours before the event officially begins. We usually use that extra time to grab dinner, take some photos, look at the decorations, and come up with a game plan for the evening. Since the party runs late, it can be really helpful to check a few things off your list before the event officially starts.
And honestly, just being in Magic Kingdom during the party is a lot of fun. Between the decorations, spooky music, lighting effects, and seeing so many families dressed up in costumes, the whole park feels different than it does during a regular visit.
Once the party starts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Some families spend their time meeting characters, others focus on rides, and some are there mostly for the snacks and entertainment. We usually end up doing a little bit of everything. One thing I always recommend is grabbing a party map. It’s helpful for finding treat trails and entertainment, but we’ve also saved ours as souvenirs over the years.
One of our favorite spots during the party is Storybook Circus. My kids love seeing the Halloween decorations and lighting around the area, and it’s one place we make a point to visit every year. Several attractions around the park also get Halloween overlays, which helps make the event feel even more special.
The treat trails are probably the biggest reason this event works so well for young kids. Everyone receives a reusable treat bag at the beginning of the night, and you can visit the treat trail locations as many times as you’d like throughout the evening. By the end of the night, you’ll likely have quite a bit of candy in your bag. The lines can sometimes look long, but they usually move pretty quickly.
Unlike ride queues, little ones can stay in their strollers while going through the treat trails, which becomes very helpful later in the evening when they’re getting tired. Some of the treat trails have little extras too. In past years, the theater that normally hosts Mickey’s PhilharMagic has played Halloween cartoons instead of the regular show, and the Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor treat trail featured a special Halloween show that families can stop and enjoy for a few minutes before moving on.
The other thing we’ve noticed is that crowd levels are usually lower than a typical day at Magic Kingdom, which often means shorter waits for rides and attractions. I will say that when we attended the party the night before Halloween, it felt much busier than when we’ve gone in August or September. If shorter wait times are one of the reasons you’re considering the party, that’s something to keep in mind when choosing your party date. No matter how we end up spending the evening, we always leave with a few bags full of candy and a lot of fun memories!
Tips for Managing a Late Night at Magic Kingdom With Kids
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party begins at 7:00 PM and runs until midnight. My kids typically make it until about 9:30 PM, and by that point they’re usually asleep on the way back to our hotel. Between the Florida heat, all the walking, and the later bedtime, party nights can be a long day for little ones. Now that we’ve attended the party several times with our kids, there are a few things we always do to help the night go more smoothly.
Arrive at the Party at 4:00 PM
Take advantage of the early entry included with your party ticket. We use that extra time to grab dinner, take photos, look at the decorations and get a few things checked off our list before the party officially begins. Once 7:00 PM rolls around, we can focus on trick-or-treating, entertainment, and other special activities.
Bring Strollers With Fans
Florida is still very warm during spooky season, and you’ll spend a lot of time walking between treat trails, attractions, and entertainment. We bring a stroller for both of our kids, even my 5 year old. If they’re not riding in it, we’re usually using it to hold our bags and treats. By the end of the night, you’ll be glad to have a stroller when your little ones start slowing down or someone falls asleep on the way out of the park.
Another small thing that makes a big difference is having an easy place to hang your treat bags. One year we ended up stuffing ours underneath the stroller, and it became a hassle digging them back out at every treat trail, especially once they started filling up with candy. Now we bring a clip so we can hang the bags from the stroller and grab them quickly when we need them.
Choose Your Costumes Strategically
One thing that surprises a lot of first-time party guests is just how warm Florida can still be during the fall. It can be tempting to choose a costume based entirely on how it looks, but comfort is important when you’re spending several hours walking around Magic Kingdom.
We typically choose costumes that are lightweight and breathable, and comfortable shoes are a must. We’ve also been caught in a few evening rain showers during party nights, so I usually bring a backup pair of shoes that can get wet, like Crocs. Before finalizing your costumes, be sure to review Disney’s costume guideline since certain elements aren’t permitted. When in doubt, I always choose practical and comfortable over elaborate.
Consider Staying at a Monorail Resort
If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, consider one of the Monorail resorts. Being able to get back to your room quickly and without folding your stroller is a huge perk after a long party night. We’ve stayed at both the Contemporary and Polynesian during our Halloween trips and really appreciated how easy it was to get to and from Magic Kingdom.
Plan Ahead for Dinner
One thing that you may not know is that between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, when Magic Kingdom closes to day guests and the party hasn’t officially started yet, mobile food ordering is often unavailable. This can lead to much longer food lines as everyone has the same idea to grab dinner before the party begins.
We try to eat dinner a little earlier if possible so we’re not stuck waiting in line with hungry kids right before the party begins. We learned this lesson the hard way one year when I ended up waiting nearly an hour for food. Ever since then, we make an effort to have dinner out of the way before that rush begins.
People Start Saving Parade Spots Early
Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade is one of the most popular parts of the event, and guests often start saving spots along the parade route well before it begins. Our kids aren’t interested in sitting and waiting that long, so we usually use that time to visit treat trails or ride attractions with shorter waits. We still watch the parade, but we typically look for viewing areas outside of Main Street where it’s a little easier to find a spot.
Don’t Feel Like You Have to Stay Until Midnight
The party officially runs until midnight, but we’ve never felt like we had to stay that late to have a great time. Between the early entry, trick-or-treating, rides and entertainment, we’ve always felt like we got our money’s worth even when we headed back to the hotel before the party was officially over.
Final Thoughts
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is something our family looks forward to every year. There’s just something special about seeing Magic Kingdom decorated for Halloween, watching the excitement build as the sun goes down, and spending the evening together making memories.
One of the things I appreciate most about the party is that it works well for families with young kids. Whether your little ones are excited about the candy, dressing up in costumes or simply seeing Magic Kingdom transformed for the season, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the night without feeling like you have to do everything.
Years later, my kids may not remember everything we did at the party. But I hope they’ll remember picking out our family costumes, collecting candy around Magic Kingdom, and getting to stay up past their bedtime for a special family night together. That’s what keeps us coming back year after year.