In about 15 days, Magic Kingdom will being hosting its annual Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, which means fall is officially at the happiest place on earth. If you plan on attending for the first time, or even if this isn’t your first haunted happening, stick around, I’ve rounded up some of the best tips and tricks to make the most of your party experience, and this is only Part One. You’ll want to come back next week before the parties officially kick off for more ghoulishly good info.
Let’s slow the roll for a moment, and explain what this glorious event is. If you have never heard of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, or MNSSHP for short, you are in for a real treat, in more ways than one. This party is a separate ticketed event that takes place on select nights inside of the Magic Kingdom. Prices for tickets start at $74.00 with opportunities for annual Passholders and Florida Residents to take advantage of discount pricing. But beware, the closer to Halloween you get, the more expensive the tickets become, and if you don’t purchase quickly, you may risk not scoring a ticket at all.
I know that sounds crazy, but when you look at the dates available for MNSSHP, you will notice that there are no Saturday’s listed, and that has been the trend for a few years with the exception of 2015 when Halloween was actually on a Saturday. First tip; plan accordingly if you wish to attend on a weekend, as your only weekend day option is a Sunday, and a Friday night if you count Friday’s as the start of your weekend. Also important to note, this year MNSSHP has four additional dates compared to the amount of parties hosted in 2016, a whopping 32 party dates, including a very special Friday the 13th in October.
Tip number two and speaking of Friday the 13th, keep your eyes peeled, Disney typically releases limited merchandise featuring the Friday the 13th theme/date during the day and at the party. The merchandise can be anything from t-shirts, buttons, pins, or even Sorcerers of Magic Kingdom cards. Very lucrative, and very limited. I myself will possibly take the monorail over from the Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom in all of my wedding day hair and make-up preparations to scout out some of the limited release items. A teensy memento of my wedding day before the crowds scoop it all up. However, because this is such a popular date, it sells out fast. If you are interested in picking up the limited swag, make sure to purchase your tickets before they sell out completely.
With crowds in mind, here’s another helpful tip: when you purchase a MNSSHP ticket, you are able to enter the Magic Kingdom at 4 pm, even though the party doesn’t officially kick off until 7 pm. Keep in mind that during MNSSHP you are unable to use fastpasses, but if you make the most of planning, you can select fastpasses from 4 PM to 7 PM and ride your favorite attractions before the park is only available for the MNSSHP crowd. If you hang out at the park before 7 PM, you will need to make sure that you find a cast member to receive a wristband for the party. They will be strategically scattered throughout the park scanning tickets and providing assistance.
A quick tip; pack an extra candy bag. I said earlier that MNSSHP was a treat, and I meant that quite literally. During MNSSHP, there are multiple trick or treating locations on Main Street, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. As part of your ticket, you receive a plastic bag to collect candy in, but I have found that when you hit up more than a couple locations rife with sweet treats, you run out of room in your bag quickly. Disney will always provide you with more than one if you ask nicely, but why collect bags on bags when you can bring just one and consolidate your treasures? If you have food allergies, Disney also has you covered, there are teal bags specifically for individuals with special allergies. You can ask a cast member to provide you with one, and this will indicate to other cast members passing out candies that they need to provide you with allergen-free options.
Final tip for today, you may also want to pack your second stomach and a little extra cash as these parties are notorious for rolling out specialty foods and drinks that you won’t be able to savor at any other event. In years past there have been themed cupcakes, sandwiches, and ice cream selections. A foodie’s paradise that’s to die for.
Don’t forget to check back next week when I round out more tips to navigate MNSSHP and make the most of the night.
Erika is excited to be on the TMSM team and where Disney Parks are concerned, you won’t catch her dead on It’s a Small World. If she asks to ride that, this is a clear indication that she is in danger and you must send help. You will, however, catch her performing Random Acts of Disney (R.A.D’s), park hopping with her amazing group of impressively talented and kind friends (usually in some themed attire), hanging out by The Haunted Mansion, and ugly crying during fireworks… then begging for a Mickey Premium Bar to eat her feelings…this is a judgment-free bio.
Otherwise, Erika works for the State of Florida and is actively involved in her community. Erika believes in empowering others and spreading kindness to people from all walks of life. Erika also makes custom designed Disney inspired ears, etched glass, gifts, and accessories. You can check out, like or follow her work on FB, which also links to my shop’s Instagram: www.facebook.com/imagineering.emporium. She looks forward to getting to know everyone and sharing the magic of Disney!
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