Spooky season begins early in Orlando. Disney World and Common Orlando kick their Halloween festivities off earlier than Labor Day, so visitors have greater than two full months of limited-time occasions, seasonal eats, and fall-themed enjoyable to take pleasure in.

Disney’s fan-favorite Halloween occasion, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration, began at Magic Kingdom on Aug. 9, and I used to be there on opening night time. This particular occasion requires its personal ticket and isn’t included in customary each day park admission, however I believe it’s value the additional value; in the course of the five-hour occasion, we went on eight points of interest with minimal waits, hit a number of trick-or-treat stops, snagged among the specialty occasion meals, and noticed the parade, fireworks, and stage present. 

Right here’s every part it’s essential to know — from can’t-miss leisure to the very best snacks — to plan the proper night time at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration.

Leisure

At solely 5 hours lengthy, it’s inconceivable to see and do every part at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration in a single night time, however you may examine a lot of the must-dos off your record — if you happen to go in with a sport plan.

Pause the trick-or-treating, character greetings, and rides for one factor: Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade. The parade begins with an look from the mysterious Headless Horseman, galloping his manner from Frontierland to Principal Road, and options iconic basic Disney characters of their Halloween greatest, alongside distinctive cavalcades of spooky characters — just like the hitchhiking ghosts from Haunted Mansion. The gorgeous floats, particular character appearances, and catchy theme tune make this my favourite Disney World parade, and I extremely suggest making it a precedence as you propose your night time on the occasion. 

The parade occurs twice an evening at 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. and travels from Frontierland (beginning close to Tiana’s Bayou Journey) as much as Liberty Sq. after which across the hub in entrance of Cinderella’s Citadel, earlier than heading down Principal Road, U.S.A. We discovered a spot round 7:45 p.m. in Frontierland, however the first present Is usually busier, and other people have been ready properly earlier than that for prime viewing spots. 

Creepy emcee Jack Skellington hosts Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular at Cinderella’s Citadel at 10 p.m. Fireworks, projections, and music from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas” could have you singing “This Is Halloween,” even in August. 

The “Hocus Pocus” Villain Spectacular contains a mashup of infamous Disney villains who come to assist the Sanderson Sisters from “Hocus Pocus.” The present takes place as much as 4 instances nightly (relying on the date), so you may have loads of probabilities to test it out — I like to recommend catching the midnight exhibiting on the best way out of the park. There are additionally dance events in Tomorrowland, singing pirates in Adventureland, and the Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet in Frontierland. 

Rides and Points of interest

Rides are open in the course of the occasion, so visitors can count on quick wait instances for a lot of of Magic Kingdom’s high points of interest. Each Tiana’s Bayou Journey and Tron Lightcycle/Run provide standby traces in the course of the occasion — one thing you received’t see throughout typical park hours whenever you want a digital queue or paid Lightning Lane to entry them — so this can be a nice time to journey these sought-after points of interest to your coronary heart’s content material. 

A number of rides provide particular theming for the occasion: You’ll be able to journey Area Mountain in full darkness (with eerie tunes to up the fun issue), spin across the Mad Tea Celebration with a festive ambiance, or hearken to some Halloween-inspired jokes at Monsters, Inc. Giggle Ground. If Area Mountain is just too intense for you, hop on the PeopleMover for an aerial view of the occasion and a peek inside Area Mountain, the place you may see and listen to the overlay with out so many twists and turns. 

Though it may be an extended wait in the course of the occasion, positively make time to journey the Haunted Mansion. A duo of pleasant ghosts entertain visitors within the cemetery portion of the queue, and I discovered the ghosts’ interactions with the visitors to be humorous and intelligent, making for one in all our favourite components of the night. 

Celebration Meals and Drinks

Together with event-exclusive merchandise, there are bites and sips which you could solely snag throughout Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration.

You could find them at quick-service places all through the park, and it is clever to examine each accessible possibility on the Disney web site beforehand so you may plot out your snack plans. At Aloha Isle, the Dole Whip Mango and Chamoy Float (additionally accessible throughout common park hours this season) was a private favourite; it combines refreshing mango-flavored Dole Whip with pineapple juice, chamoy, and tangy chili lime salt. The Spicy Meatball Arrabbiata Flatbread at Pinocchio Village Haus was a tasty and satisfying possibility for a fast dinner between rides. The Friar’s Nook has a number of party-exclusive eats, together with the ominous-sounding Bowl of Bones and the Buffalo Hen Hand Pie; we tried and loved each, however the hand pie was my favourite right here. There are dozens extra distinctive meals and beverage choices accessible, so make an inventory of your must-try treats and examine them off as you’re employed your manner across the park. (Don’t neglect that many places provide cell ordering through the Disney app.)

For visitors on the lookout for a extra enjoyable meal in a table-service setting, Be Our Visitor, Cinderella’s Royal Desk, and The Plaza Restaurant are open and provide some party-exclusive eats. This occasion was the one time I’ve ever seen a wait as quick as 10 minutes to eat at Cinderella’s Royal Desk with out a reservation — although you may make reservations for these table-service eating places forward of the occasion if you happen to’d like.

Dessert events are additionally accessible to guide (for an additional cost) if you need snacks and entry to a reserved space for the fireworks. 

Character Appearances 

Look ahead to characters decked out of their Halloween greatest all through the park. You’ll be able to take photographs with Mickey and friends of their festive apparel, Sew in his lovable Elvis costume, and Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger of their almost-too-cute outfits — plus extra characters (together with some “uncommon” characters that you simply don’t normally see on the parks) of their typical apparel. 

Jack Skellington and Sally from “The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas” are very talked-about, and their traces typically exceed an hour. 

Trick-or-Treating

Prepared for the very best trick-or-treating ever? While you arrive at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration, you’re given a bag and your first deal with of the night time, a full-size bag of M&Ms. The occasion provides greater than a dozen trick-or-treat places across the park, the place solid members load your bag up with Mars Wrigley candies (suppose Twix, Snickers, Starburst, Skittles, and extra — all of the name-brand candies you all the time hoped to attain when trick-or-treating round your neighborhood whenever you have been youthful).

Every location is indicated on the map and by a trick-or-treat pylon. Strains could look lengthy, however they sometimes transfer quick—simply have your bag open whenever you get to the entrance. We went to about half of the deal with places and ended up with a ton of sweet (I believe we counted about 70 items every), so children and adults alike will love filling their luggage with all of the sweet they’d like. The ticket value consists of all of the trick-or-treating, so there’s no extra value. 

And if you happen to or your children have allergy symptoms, don’t fear — you may nonetheless take pleasure in trick-or-treating. Friends with allergy symptoms obtain a teal deal with bag and can get tokens from solid members at every trick-or-treat location that they will trade for allergy-friendly treats on the Allergy-friendly Facilities in Liberty Sq. and Principal Road, U.S.A. Though we don’t have meals allergy symptoms, we poked our heads in to see the way it labored, and educated solid members defined which treats suited totally different wants so visitors might decide which they’d like. I’d count on the Principal Road location to get fairly busy towards the top of the night time as folks trade their tokens earlier than leaving the park, so take into account swapping some out midway by the night time or head to Liberty Sq. to keep away from the push (it was empty once we visited at round 9:30 p.m.).

Tickets and Dates

Magic Kingdom will host practically 40 nights of spooky enjoyable this yr. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration began on Aug. 9 and runs by Oct. 31. (After that, the park will bear a magical transformation from Halloween to vacation). This can be a individually ticketed occasion, so that you received’t have the ability to entry the occasion on a typical Magic Kingdom day ticket. Ticket costs fluctuate by date from $119 to $199, with the most costly tickets round Oct. 31, however annual go holders and Disney Trip Membership members can rating a $10 low cost on occasion tickets in August and September.

The occasion lasts from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., however visitors with occasion tickets can get within the park earlier — extra on that under. Tickets are nonetheless accessible for some September and October nights on the Disney World web site. 

Suggestions for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration

Get there early. 

Despite the fact that the occasion doesn’t formally begin till 7 p.m., occasion ticket holders can enter the park starting at 4 p.m. Plan to get there simply earlier than 4 p.m. to get in line for the occasion entrance and knock out a number of points of interest earlier than the occasion begins — although event-specific experiences at points of interest received’t begin till 7 p.m. Some visitors take this early entry alternative to hop in line for his or her favourite characters (Jack and Sally are a very talked-about alternative) to allow them to be among the many first when the occasion meet-and-greet begins. 

Put on a Disney-inspired costume. 

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Celebration is likely one of the few instances visitors ages 14 and up can put on costumes contained in the park, however there are guidelines it’s essential to find out about, particularly for visitors over 13. For visitors 14 and up, costumes should be family-friendly, costume masks aren’t allowed, and costumes can’t attain the bottom. For extra particulars about what can and might’t be worn, try the official guidelines on the Disney World web site. Even if you happen to don’t costume up, seeing different visitors of their greatest Disney-inspired outfits is so enjoyable. 

Keep at a resort on the monorail. 

Questioning which Disney World resort to guide in your Halloween getaway?  Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Up to date Resort are all situated on the monorail that goes to Magic Kingdom, making for a straightforward journey to and from the occasion. Disney’s Up to date Resort is only a 10-minute stroll from the park, making it essentially the most handy possibility for guests who don’t need to take care of the crowds leaving the park when the occasion is over. 

American Signal Language interpretation is on the market at some exhibits on choose nights. 

American Signal Language interpretation is on the market at choose exhibits on three dates (Aug. 23, Sept. 26, and Oct. 24). Examine the Disney World web site for extra particulars about accessibility in the course of the occasion.