Spooky Season Begins

It’s Halfway to Halloween! You know how I know that? Because Disney just dropped loads of information about the 2024 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The returning hard ticket event—meaning you need a specific ticket to attend—is a fan favorite and for good, ghoulish reason. Let’s dive into the new experiences, returning shows and events, dates, and when you can buy a ticket. Here are the details about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2024: what’s new and what’s to expect.

About the Halloween Party

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party (MNSSHP) is a separate ticketed, after hours event that takes place at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World during late summer through Halloween (yes, that means Halloween starts in the heat of summer in Orlando). The event celebrates all things spooky, and features parades and shows, and even includes trick or treating. It takes place on select nights this year starting August 9 through Halloween. As mentioned, this event requires a separate, specific ticket for MNSSHP. And if you have an MNSSHP ticket, you do not need a regular day theme park ticket. Costumes are permitted so long as guests adhere to Disney’s costume guidelines.

What to Expect from MNSSHP This Year

New Experiences

Earlier Parade Start Time

Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade is the main event of MNSSHP, with ghastly villains and favorite characters in their Halloween best. This year, the parade’s first showtime will be an hour earlier than usual, starting at 8:15 PM. The second showtime remains at its usual time of 11:15 PM.

If you’ve followed along for a while now, you know that as much as I enjoy MNSSHP, I’ve had some qualms with the event. After my last visit, I blogged about my concerns, mainly the high crowds and chaotic energy. In fact, in my review of the event (see Should You Go to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party with Small Kids?), I said that I don’t think it is worth the money with littles ones in tow. I don’t pretend to think Disney is actually listening to me, but I do think this earlier parade time is a big step in the right direction for those of us visiting with our younger kids.

I plan on attending MNSSHP again this year, with three kids this time. Subscribe to my newsletter to be the first to get my updated review, and direct emails of all of my articles.

New Outfits

Mickey and Minnie will greet guests is brand new “neon spiderweb” attire. (Time will tell how long the lines are to meet characters this year.)

Villains Abound

Though we don’t know exactly who, Disney promises more villains around the park than ever. Stay tuned as we find out more.

Time to Talk About Bruno

Bruno Madrigal will join Mirabel in Fairytale Garden for his first appearance at MNSSHP. I don’t think he counts as a villain, but his spooky vibe certainly is on theme.

Descendants Dance Party

A new DescenDANCE Party at Rockettower Plaza Stage premieres this year.

Returning Events

In addition to the new experiences, the following events will be offered again this year:

• “Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular” fireworks show, hosted by Jack Skellington, at 10:00 PM. Additionally, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Dessert Party, which takes place at Plaza Garden or Tomorrowland Terrace, will be offered. This requires a reservation and requires an additional cost on top of your MNSSHP ticket. Reservations for this experience open on June 7. 
• “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” stage show. Showtimes vary slightly on event nights depending on the month, so double check the event website ahead of your party date.
• Trick-or-treating throughout the park, with the following confirmed stations:
  • Market Street Welcome Trick or Treating
  • Tortuga Tavern
  • Tom Sawyer Island Dock
  • Gaston’s Tavern
  • TRON Lightcycle / Run
  • Princess Fairytale Hall.
• Allergy-friendly treats can be found at Liberty Square Ticket Office (until midnight) and Chamber of Commerce (until 12:30 AM). When trick or treating, just select a teal coin and then take the coins to one of the allergy friendly stations for those treats.
• Halloween overlays on Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Space Mountain, and Mad Tea Party.
• Disney Junior Jam at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe.
• Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet (in Frontierland).
• Rusty Cut Glass, a pirate band that roams around Adventureland.

A Quick Note About Food

MNSSHP is known for the spookily themed treats, which have yet to be announced this year (I’ll update this guide as soon as the Disney Foodie Guide drops). But only a few dining options are actually open during the Halloween party, which may surprise guests looking for food after a long day. Here are the confirmed Quick-Service dining locations that will be open during MNSSHP:

• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
• Casey’s Corner
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
• The Friar’s Nook
• Pinocchio Village Haus
• Sleepy Hollow.

Note also that Be Our Guest Restaurant, Cinderella’s Royal Table, and the Plaza Restaurant will also be open. Remember that there is a lot to do in a small period; consider whether you want to spend a portion of your evening at a table-service restaurant.

2024 Event Dates and Ticket Prices

MNSSHP starts at 7 PM and lasts through midnight. Guests with MNSSHP tickets can enter the park at 4 PM, though the event offerings do not begin until 7 PM. This is a great way to ride a few rides before the Halloween party starts so you can focus on the party offerings that begin at 7PM. Tickets range in price from $119 to $199 per ticket, with prices being higher closer to Halloween (this is a slight increase in price over last year).

Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members can benefit from a $10 discount per ticket for event dates in August and September only. (You read that right—no discounts in October. Looks like Disney is incentivizing guests, particularly APs and DVC members, to visit earlier in the year.)

MNSSHP will take place on the following dates this year:

When You Can Buy A Ticket

Tickets go on sale for guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Swan and Dolphin hotels, Swan Reserve hotel, and Shades of Green hotel, beginning May 8, 2024. Tickets open for purchase for everyone else beginning May 15, 2024.

Preliminary Thoughts

I’m excited to see some new offerings this year, especially the earlier parade start time. I was on the fence about attending this year, and that honestly put me over the edge in deciding to give it another go, if only to see how the event can be improved from past years. My kids are getting a little older, too, and other than my newborn, should be able to enjoy some of the evening fun. Stay tuned for updates about the Halloween food and treats, to-be-announced villains, and more.

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