We were able to attend the first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party of the season. We last went in October of 2014 with a 4 month old. This time we left our youngest with her grandmother for the night so that we could enjoy the party.
Hurricane Hermine hit Florida early in the morning on party day. We kept a close eye on the weather and had our fingers crossed. I packed dollar store ponchos just in case we needed them. Luckily the weather cleared out before we got to the Magic Kingdom.
They begin allowing party guests into the park just before 4 PM. We had printed our tickets at home, so we had to have a Cast Member scan us into the parks. Once in, we had to enter a second line to have a writstband placed on our right wrist. This band keeps non-party guests from being able to enter attractions, character lines or visit areas of the park. No band, no admittance.
We took our time going up Main Street looking at all the Halloween decorations. We were just at the Magic Kingdom 4 days prior and they hadn’t started decorating. It’s always interesting to see how quickly they can transform the park.
We were able to book Fastpasses between 4 PM – 7 PM with our party tickets. We headed to Adventureland first to use our Magic Carpets of Aladdin Fastpass. Along the way, we stopped for popcorn for the kids. The card machine was down and we didn’t have cash, but the sweet Cast Member gave them to us ‘on the mouse.’
There wasn’t really a point in using the Fastpass+ on the carpets. There was no Cast Member standing there to usher us into the queue. Plus the queue was not even crowded. We were able to get on the attraction within 4 minutes of the time we entered the queue. Nice crowd levels!
Next we headed to Pirates of the Caribbean to use our Fastpass+ for it. That was necessary. It’s queue was every bit of 15 minutes. Of course I got soaked on the ride during the cannonball scene. Don’t sit on the end of the row on the right side if you don’t want to get wet!
After this we decided to walk around and scope out the party. We found the queue for Jack Skellington and Sally behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe where Tiana used to meet. At 5 pm the line was already a 1 hr and 15 min wait. The characters did come out and start meeting guests at 5 pm, so at least it wasn’t already this long and the characters weren’t coming out until 7.
We then headed to Fantasyland to scope out the party and the wait times. It was a 70 minute wait for Peter Pan and 80 minutes for 7 Dwarfs Mine Train. So much for short wait times! We did catch The Fairy Godmother as she began greeting guests and only had to wait 5 minutes to see her.
Jason took Jacob on the Mad Tea Party while Emily and I sat and watched. I am not a big fan of all the spinning on that attraction. They only waited 3 minutes to have their turn. While we were waiting, my friend Allison messaged that she had arrived with her 2 kids. We agreed to meet up at Pecos Bill.
Pecos Bill is our favorite restaurant in the park. We love their new menu. Jason got the taco burger and I got the fajita nachos. They have a toppings bar with unlimited guacamole, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and salsa. You can trim out the entree however you wish. While we were eating, the skies opened up. Luckily we missed the majority of the rain. When we left, it was just down to a drizzle.
By now it was 6:30 PM. We headed to Fantasyland to find out where the 7 Dwarfs were meeting. The cast members directed us to Storybook Circus. When we first arrived to the land there was a long line going into Big Top Souvenirs. I asked the Cast Member and it turns out that it was to buy a special MNSSHP pin. 45 minutes to buy a pin! I couldn’t believe it.
We located the 7 Dwarfs in the back of Storybook Circus. They began greeting guests at 6:30 and their line was 2 hours long when they started. 2 hours! By this time I quickly realized the main draws of the party. 7 Dwarfs, Jack Skellington and pins.
The kids wanted to ride Barnstormer because it’s queue was really short. They managed to go on it 4 times with Jason while Allison and I scoped out the party. The queue to meet Daisy, Donald and Minnie in their Halloween costume was really short. We decided to wait in that so we could at least meet a character during the party. It’s frustrating because the kids are getting ‘too big’ for meeting characters and Molly Kate still isn’t interested yet. I love meeting characters!
Daisy, Donald and Minnie looked adorable in their costumes. They were not signing autographs though. By the time we left their line, it was easily a 45 minute wait.
Cruella De Vil was out greeting her fans near the train station. Jason had attempted to wait in line to meet her for us, but it was easily a 30 minute wait to meet her from the point he was out. So I told him to hop out of the line and we would go head to Tomorrowland.
The wait time for Tomorrowland Speedway was less than 10 minutes and the kids wanted to ride together. Jason took them on that while Allison and I went to the Monsters Inc Dance Party. Those monsters can really get down! It was so cute to see Boo out too. She’s adorable!
Next it was on to Space Mountain with a 10 minute wait. Jacob and I waited in the store while everyone else rode. The Cast Members were so friendly and very willing to engage in conversations with us. It’s so interesting to speak with them. I talked to a girl from South Korea who has never experienced Halloween. She told me that Americans really know how to have fun.
The kids busted a move with the monsters. They even joined in a conga line! Cast Members were on hand to pass out suckers. So much free candy!
Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin was also a walk on attraction. Next to the exit, you could meet Buzz Lightyear or Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear. We opted not to meet them, but I would estimate that they had a 20 minute wait.
The kids went back on the Tomorrowland Speedway while Allison and I scoped out more party stuff by the Mad Tea Party. The line to meet The Queen of Hearts and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum was easily an hour long at 8:30 PM. The line to meet Alice and the Mad Hatter was about 20 minutes. Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit and Piglet were dressed in their Halloween costumes and were greeting guests next to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. It easily had a 30 minute line. They weren’t autographing but they were passing out honey pot shaped postcards with autographs on them. We did not meet any of these characters, just scoped out the lines.
Belle and Gaston were greeting guests back by Gaston’s Tavern. I wonder what the Beast thought about that! Their line was a good 40 minutes when we checked on it.
Next we all headed to Haunted Mansion. After nightfall, the maids and butlers dress up for the party. There was also an opera singing ghost interacting with Guests in front of the gates. The line to visit Haunted Mansion was about 15 minutes, but a separate line to get a Magic Shot was about 30 minutes! We watched the opera singing ghost for a few minutes before heading on.
The kids were ready to Trick or Treat. They have treat stations set up all throughout the park. You can easily spot these by large orange light up balloons. Each treat station has something different. Our first location had peeps. The second one had M&Ms.
Splash Mountain had a 10 minute wait so Jason took a couple of the kids on it. The rest of us hit up a few more treat stations and headed to Main Street to see Celebrate the Magic at 10 PM. We were able to grab a great spot in front of The Plaza Restaurant.
Jason and the kids made it just before the show started. Celebrate the Magic is a projection show that uses Cinderella’s Castle as a backdrop. During the show, the castle transforms to show different scenes and characters from popular Disney movies. There was not much, if any, Halloween overlay to the show. If there was, it didn’t stand out to me!
About 5 minutes after it ended, HalloWishes started. This show is INCREDIBLE. I think it is definitely better than your regular Wishes. You feel more immersed in the fireworks. The soundtrack is incredible. Everyone applauded at the end of the show because it was so good.
After HalloWishes the kids wanted a treat from Starbucks. Why they think Starbucks is a must have in the parks, I don’t know! But I did get a really nice sized glass of water which made me happy.
Jason decided to take the kids to ride 7 Dwarfs while Allison and I saw the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. I’ve always been a big fan of the movie. They did a great job turning it into a stage show and involving other villains.
After the show ended we had just enough time to run over to Liberty Square to see the Boo To You Parade. We were able to grab a great spot in front of Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe. The Headless horseman road first. That is always a breathtaking sight.
The kids caught up with us right before the parade started. Boo to You features a huge variety of characters both old and new. This is my favorite parade that I have seen at the Disney Parks. And the second showing is always less crowded than the first.
After the parade finished, we started hitting more trick or treat locations. We made our way from Liberty Square to Fantasyland. I noticed the line to purchase the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Pins was only about 7 minutes long. So I jumped in it to buy some pins. Yay for perfect timing!
We stayed until midnight and closed down the park. It was such a great party! The kids are stoked with how much candy they ended up with.
Overall, I think the party was worth the extra money to attend. I was disappointed that it was not possible to do every single special event the party had to offer even if we had tried. I did learn a lot that I will be passing on to you all so that you can attempt to see how much you can get done.
The kids had fun and that is what matters. I am bummed they aren’t more into characters, but then again the weather was so hot and muggy that I didn’t really feel like waiting in the long lines to meet them.
Thanks so much for the play by play. I found it very helpful. I am disappointed in the wait times. Years ago they only sold so many tickets and that was a perk because less wait times. I spoke to someone who said they were at the park already and they asked if they could by tix to MNSSHP and the CM said of course, u can almost always buy them at the gate now. That kinda irritates me because it implies they don’t sell a set amount anymore just as long as it doesn’t hit capacity. :(
Loved seeing your review! I haven’t been to the party since 2008 and am dying to go back. We have to wait til next year though! I thought I had read the Celebrate the Magic show was going to have Ursula and her cauldron conjuring up other villains but maybe I read wrong. Can’t wait to see your tips!
Do we have to bring our own bags to collect all the candy!?
I can’t believe how much your kids have grown!
How did you use your FPP with print at home tickets? Trying to plan :-)
Kristin – thanks for the play by play!! We have tickets for 10/4 – cant wait! Question… you said you coukd book FastPass especially for the 4 to 7 time slot. Was that because you have annual passes – or the MNSSHP ticket? Did you do that before you left home or in the park? Thanks!