Skip to main content

5 Tips to Get the Most out of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party




A very popular add on to trips from August to October is Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This special, hard ticketed event at the Magic Kingdom takes place during the fall season.  For more details and an overview of the event, click here. If you've decided this is a great event to attend and secured tickets with your Kingdom Konsultant agent, here is your next stop to maximize your time to get the most out of the event!

 1) Enter Magic Kingdom before the official party start time.

The park will close to day guests at 6pm and the party officially starts at 7pm, but with your MNSSHP ticket, you can enter the park at 4pm.  Arrive between 4-6pm to get into the park, secure your wristband and pick up your candy bag.  Grab an early dinner and some photos on Main Street or by the Castle in your party outfits and make a plan for when things kick off at 7.  This way you won't be wasting the valuable party time on these essentials. 
2) Prioritize which characters you want to meet.

These will be some of the longest lines of the party, with Jack and Sally, the Seven Dwarves, and the Winnie the Pooh characters averaging about 2 hours.  You can get in these lines before the party starts, but if you want to do all three that would be just about all of your party time.  We saw some of the lowest waits for Jack and Sally just after 7, dropping from 120 minutes before the party started, to 35 minutes just before 7:30pm.  If meet and greets are important, hop into one of the big lines before the party starts.  It will be a bit of a wait, but it won't be during valuable park hours.  Get another one just after the party starts, and then try to knock out a few during the first parade.  Character lines will be cut off before the party ends, so this is one thing you don't want to save for last.
3) Pick a plan for the parade, stage show and fireworks.

There are two main strategies here, pick which one fits your party and goals best.  
  • Option One - Prime viewing locations or finishing your night earlier: Get to the Hub area around 8-8:30pm and secure a spot where you can see the first parade and the castle stage.  Hang out here and watch the stage show, the first parade, and then hang around for the fireworks.
  • Option Two - Maximize party accomplishments and time: Skip the first parade and enjoy shorter wait times. Watch the fireworks more towards the sides of the castle or down Main Street (closest to what you want to do next) and then immediately get into your next line for rides or characters.  Watch the second parade from Frontierland where you can get a good spot without waiting around, and then watch the 12am stage show to maximize your party time.  
4) Save Trick-or-Treating until about the last hour or so of the party.  

We were actually able to fill up our bags with just about the last 30 minutes of the night.  Lines will be much shorter and we find the scoops are a bit bigger!

While the thought of noshing on candy all night can be exciting, the lines fill up fast as the party starts and can start to suck into your time.  You'll get a full size candy when you pick up your trick or treat bag, so snack on that and wait until later if you can!
5) Consider the weather and activities when picking your costume or outfit. 

I'm the first person to get excited when I see a guest in an elaborate outfit, but if you plan to ride rides, make sure your costume will actually fit on them.  It is typically still hot in Orlando for the party season, so I recommend dressing lightly or in layers, you don't want to be miserable sweating all night.

Even with all these tips to maximize your time, you won't be able to do it all.  There is more to do than the time really allows, so make sure you know what is important to you and have a great time! 


Maci Schau
Maci is an avid foodie and loves trying out new restaurants and seasonal food offerings in the parks.  You can email Maci at maci@kingdomkonsultant.com.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian: Studios of Big Pine Key

I didn't think Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa could get any grander, but then I stayed in one of their Resort Studio rooms. These are the newest rooms at The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The Resort Studio rooms are located in the Big Pine Key building which is very close to the main building. The location makes it very convenient to get to the dining options and transportation. Not only is the building close to the main building but it's also across from the Courtyard Pool and Courtyard Pool Bar. Resort Studio rooms are located in the Big Pine Key building When you enter Big Pine Key, you're greeted with a simply lovely lobby. The furniture is super cute and gives off a very cozy, chic vibe. There's lots of pastel colors with floral prints and touches of nature. Lobby seating area in the Big Pine Key building The chic, nature inspired vibe continues down the hallways and into the Resort Studio rooms. I couldn't love these r...
Post a Comment
Read more

Universal's Volcano Bay Private Cabana Review

On a recent training in Universal Orlando Resort, the agents rented a private cabana for the day at Universal's Volcano Bay. There are multiple locations around the park along with the option to have an upper or lower level, all of which reflect in various pricing. We received an email the day before informing her of where to check-in the next morning. While we were personally escorted to the cabana shortly after check in, the line at the check in location is the same as those getting towels, meaning it was not short. As expressed by an additional guest checking into a different cabana, we would have greatly appreciated a separate line, since this caused our group about a half hour wait. We're all adults and made great use of our time getting some fun pictures before the park was filled with guests, but this is important to be aware of if you are traveling with children.  We had an upper level Cabana which came with a splendid view! We arrived to a welcome basket of various fr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cruising with a Baby: A Complete Guide

You took a baby on a cruise!? Yep, and I'd do it again knowing what I know now. So, say goodbye to months of research - Everything you need to know is here!! One of the biggest challenges of traveling with a baby is planning what you need to bring. I wanted to share what worked for us, and hopefully help others who are planning their cruise! Remember, babies can only cruise after their 6-month birthday on sailings from the U.S. If you are going transatlantic, or have more than three days out at sea, they must be 12 months old by the first day of your cruise. Pre-Cruise   We flew to the cruise port, and I couldn’t bring all the food and snacks I needed, so I placed an Instacart order for pick up near the port. I chose Publix in Cocoa Beach which is a few miles from Port Canaveral. I placed the order a few days before we left home, and set the pickup time to 11:00 a.m. I ordered formula, a box of diapers, swim diapers, bottle brush, dish soap, baby food, and baby snacks. I also broug...
Post a Comment
Read more