I went on my 2019 Girls Trip specifically to visit Mickey’s-Not-so-Scary-Halloween Party. MNSSHP, as it is called by those in the know, is beloved by the Disney community. That I was a card carrying Disney fanatic who had never attended MNSSHP was not to be believed.
So in 2019, I grabbed my best gal and headed down to Florida for a weekend of exclusive party treats, exclusive party characters, exclusive party ride overlays. Boo to me, indeed.
Did I know, as I gobbled Hades Nachos, as I looked on spellbound at the Headless Horseman, that this would be the last season of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party? Of course not. None of us could have seen Spring 2020 ahead. But 2020 just kept coming. Vacations were the furthest thing from a lot of people’s minds. By summer of 2020, I wasn’t shocked to hear there were be no Halloween Parties at Disney, not-so-scary or otherwise. With so many things up in the air, guidelines constantly fluctuating, Disney was having to keep up with a lot. Rumors swirled that things previously announced would be have to be delayed, have to be canceled. As park capacities inched up but guest favorites like the Dining Plan and FastPass+ didn’t return, speculation went into overdrive. Would Disney use the closing, and the cautious re-opening, to reset, make some big changes? Had I gone to the last Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party?
Short answer: Naaaaah.
Because a year later, things are changing again. But this time, in the right direction. Decreases in cases and more widespread ability of the vaccine mean that more entertainment venues are opening, more people are traveling for vacations. Just this week, Walt Disney World announced The International Food & Wine Festival dates for 2021. The dates for that festival usually align with MNSSHP, and it’s got the Disney Internet abuzz. Will an announcement of Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party be far behind?
The parties are extremely popular, and thus extremely profitable for Disney. People like me plan trips specifically to attend, and many locals consider them a tradition. In a year where many of Disney’s promised, new and improved entertainments have been postponed because of the rumpus, I have a hard time believing they wouldn’t bring back a popular offering that that’s already well established and doesn’t require an additional financial commitment. Because things are changing moment to moment, it may be that the party is off the table for this year, but not forever. We may not get a 2021 round of trick or treating with our favorite favorite Fantasyland characters, but 2022 seems like a same bet.
So do I think I went to the last ever Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party? No. But I do think I went to the last version of the Party that existed previous to 2020.
Even a MNSSHP novice such as myself has heard the rumblings the last few years. The party wasn’t what it used to be. They were selling too many tickets, it was too crowded. Lines to meet characters started before the Party did, with people committing hours of their limited time for one autograph, one photo. The party exclusive treats were regularly selling out, negating one of the big perks of being there. Disney has probably heard those complaints, too. It wouldn’t be crazy to think that might use this clean slate to make some adjustments and restore some of that old party magic.
I loved my time at MNSSHP. It was everything I had hoped it would be. But it was also a little bit of everything the naysayers said. When I think of the hour we spent in line to meet the Queen of Hearts…packed so closely together that the family in front of us apologized multiple times for their Baymax repeatedly stepping on my foot… I don’t know that, in a post 2020 world, I would pay an extra $100 dollars for that experience.
My face in this picture is a whole mood.
But for every “The Bride Cake” that was sold out, for every longer than expected line, there were moments of pure joy. Like when we were on Splash Mountain with only one other party at the peak of the fireworks. Or when the PhotoPass photographer instantly got our Disney Bound and started humming “Sing Sweet Nightingale.”
Maybe Disney uses this opportunity to lower the capacity for the parties. Maybe they create more protocols for viewing the the wildly popular Boo to You parade. Maybe they add more characters to help balance the wait times. Maybe they move to a Park Pass system for the parties, allowing a certain amount of tickets for locals, Disney resort guests, AP holders… Maybe they do none of these things. I don’t know. Unlike Madame Leota, I can’t see the future.
But I would bet my best cauldron that we haven’t seen the last of the Sanderson sisters, Jack and Sally, or any of our favorite villains. It’s just a matter of what tricks Disney has up its sleeve.
Do you love the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? When was the last one you went to? What changes would you like to see? Let’s get ooky- not-so-spooky in the comments!
Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey three years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!