text: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is one of my favorites each year, an annual tradition to kick off the Halloween season. I’ve written about the event each year that Zannaland.com has been around, and enjoying all the party has to offer never gets old. In fact, it only gets harder to fit it all in. If you have a family with varying age ranges, it may be a “divide and conquer” night to make sure everyone sees and does all they want to do. Because of that, I thought I’d write up a Top 5 this year, of my personal favorites.
  1. Get there early. While the ticket for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (or MNSSHP for short) starts at 7pm, you can actually enter the park as early as 4pm, to get the most out of your night. The trick-or-treating and official events don’t begin till 7, but you can grab a bite and get on rides beforehand.
  2. Get your Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom card. If you are a sorcerer and enjoy the game, there is a special card just for the event. You can pick it up at the Main Street Fire Station or the Liberty Square sorcerer’s desk. You must have both your wristband for the event AND your event ticket to get the card, so make sure your whole party is together for this. There is a limited amount for each party, so this should be first on your list!
  3. Trick-or-Treat. This is what most people are here for. They dress up, yes, they see the parades and fireworks, ride on attractions with almost no wait, but this is FREE CANDY! And with over 40 different kinds this year, you are sure to get your fill. You can find all the treat locations on your MNSSHP map, or by looking for the giant light up treat location signs. Don’t forget the Treat Trails over by Splash Mountain’s queue and the walkway between Storybook Circus and Tomorrowland for the most treats per square inch. My favorite is always the Werther’s Caramel Apple candies over at Pinocchio’s Village Haus!
  4. Try the event-specific treats too. This year, the food and beverage team really went out of their way to create some delicious treats for MNSSHP. Caramel Apple Slush, Candy Corn ice cream, Pumpkin Waffle Sundae and MORE! These new Halloween treats are so yummy, I wrote a whole post on them. But after trying the Candy Corn ice cream and the Pumpkin Waffle Sundae (which I’ve heard is now available full time at Sleepy Hollow Treats) I was in love. I shared both of these with my family at midnight sitting on the new castle wall area. Perfect ending to a perfect Halloween party.
  5. Watch Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade and HalloWishes Fireworks Spectacular! The Boo-to-You parade is many people’s favorite parade at Walt Disney World, and I am no exception. It is hard to top the dramatic entrance by the Headless Horseman as he trots down the parade route while Flight of the Valkyries plays around you. The floats are top notch and the Haunted Mansion ballroom dancers and Gravediggers with their sparks are always a crowd favorite. There are two parades each party night, and the second always has less guests. And don’t forget HalloWishes! This is one of the most exciting fireworks displays of the season, with 360-degree perimeter fireworks around the park and your favorite villains and villainous songs.
  Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party runs on select nights in September through November 1st. A few nights are already sold out, so check with DisneyWorld.com to purchase your tickets in advance. Some nights are available at a discounted rate of $62 per adult.
  Disclaimer: I was provided with complimentary tickets for MNSSHP for my family and me, but my opinions are my own.