Thank you to Walt Disney World for providing my family with tickets to attend the 2018 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! All opinions are 100% my own.
Something my family tries to do every year is attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. It is truly something we look forward to. Because we have been so often, I was really excited to discover several changes for the 2018 party! Of course we took part in them, as well as some of our favorite things that we do each year. Here are my tips and tricks to get the most out of your 2018 MNSSHP experience.
Ride Overlays (NEW!)
In 2018 some of our favorite rides got a Halloween overlay! I was lucky enough to visit Disneyland during Halloween once and The Haunted Mansion became one of my favorite rides due to the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay. So when I heard that Walt Disney World’s Halloween Party was getting some overlays, I was thrilled! The three rides that changed for the Halloween party are Pirates of the Caribbean, Mad Tea Cups, and Space Mountain. The teacups received some cool lighting and a music change, Space Mountain had some spooky haunts inside, but Pirates of the Caribbean was the coolest change of all.
Not only were there some pirates hanging out in the queue, one of them was carrying around a wanted sign. She told us to keep an eye out for Gunpowder Pete and she would share her reward with us. My girls were thrilled to see him walking the bridge inside the ride. He yelled down to us asking him to say his name. When we did, he told us to forget it. But that didn’t scare my daughters. The second we walked off the ride they tattled on him and told the castmembers right where to find him! They played along and this really made our night more magical!
Disney Junior Jam (NEW!)
One of the funnest additions to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year was the Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam in Fantasyland. We spent a solid hour there dancing the night away and my girls had a BLAST! Doc McStuffins and Timon joined us as we did the ChaCha Slide, Fortnite dances, the YMCA, and more! The girls were happy to give up some trick or treating time to do this, and I must say, these memories will last a lot longer than the candy would have!
Magic Shots
Magic Shots are nothing new when it comes to Walt Disney World – but if you have not gotten magic shots at the Halloween Party, then you are truly missing out. They have some pretty amazing ones! Just ask a photopass photographer and they will be happy to let you know where they can all be found. They are even on the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party map! My personal favorite this year was the hitchhiking ghosts!
Parade, Show, Fireworks
If you have never been to a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party before, then the parade, show, and fireworks are a must see! The show right now is Hocus Pocus themed and it is amazing. And the parade? It is probably my most favorite parade ever! I do suggest catching the later parade and show so that you can get in line early for some of your must see meet and greets (like Jack & Sally!). If you have been before, remember you can see the fireworks from almost anywhere in the park. My favorite viewing area is Splash Mountain! So there is no need to fight the crowds for that one.
Trick or Treating
My daughters absolutely love trick or treating at MNSSHP! Keep in mind, each treat station will give you TONS of candy, so there is no need to hit them all. Especially if you are flying home soon (we flew with candy once, it was not a good idea!). The stations are all marked on the map, so be sure to pick one up when you enter. Don’t forget to bring your own trick or treat bag, like this DIY Oogie Boogie one, since the ones they give you are pretty small.
Exclusive Party Merchandise
If you are anything like me, you love exclusives! Well there are plenty to pick up at the 2018 MNSSHP. Disney knows how to do exclusives right. They have some for the party, and some for annual passholders attending the party. My husband got a T-shirt and the girls and I got pins – all of the pins! We just could not choose. This year there were also mugs and ornaments (which I REALLY regret not picking up!).
Special Desserts
One of the best things about parties at Disney World? The special desserts! Disney knows just how popular these are because they even list them in the MNSSHP map. My seven year old’s favorite was the Jack Skellington dessert push pop. She really wanted one last year but they were sold out when we went to pick them up (around 11 p.m.) – so there is another tip for you. If you want a special dessert, they start selling them at 7 p.m. Get one as close to that time as possible.
Rare Meet and Greets
I already shared my ultimate guide to the 2018 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party meet and greets, so be sure to check that out. However, I will repeat myself in saying if you want to meet Jack and Sally, get in line as soon as possible. They are VERY popular and I have personally waited in line over four hours to meet them before (which is actually totally worth it). Other popular meet and greets include Moana and the Seven Dwarfs. This is because they are rare meet and greets and can only be found during parties. You don’t want to miss them!
TIP: If you are a Disney Vacation Club member like me, you can enter the park even earlier! Get in to Magic Kingdom as early at 2 p.m! Simply present your valid Disney Vacation Club Membership Card and your event ticket at the main entrance touch points to take advantage of this benefit.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.
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