- Mar 13, 2024
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Don’t finalize your Disney World park plans just yet!
Magic Kingdom at night during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Even though it might not feel like the typical cool, crisp fall weather in Florida, believe it or not, Halloween season officially begins in August in Disney World. The start of spooky season also means the kickoff of one of Disney World’s most popular special events, which could have a major impact on how you plan your park days for the next few months!
The popular seasonal event, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will return to Magic Kingdom on select nights from August 7th through October 31st, 2026. The party is a separately ticketed event with lots of holiday fun like trick-or-treating, exclusive entertainment, character meet-and-greets, and more!
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
On the nights it takes place, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party officially begins at 7 PM, and since it’s not included with a regular park ticket, Magic Kingdom will close at 6 PM for non-party guests on those evenings.
Mad Tea Party at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Since Magic Kingdom is often open until around 10 PM or 11 PM (park hours vary by date), that means regular day guests will have several hours LESS time to spend in the park on days when a party is scheduled!
Again, keep in mind that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party doesn’t happen every day, but there are a few parties each week beginning with the first one on August 7th, so it’s definitely important to check the list of party dates before making your plans.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Since the park closes early on party dates, you might want to avoid Magic Kingdom on those days if you have single park tickets.
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor Halloween Overlay
On the other hand, in previous years, we’ve noticed that Magic Kingdom tends to be less crowded on Halloween party days, with lots of people planning to visit other parks because of the reduced hours, so it can actually be a good hack to visit Magic Kingdom on those days, especially if you have park hopper tickets!
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s go over the different strategies you might want to use, depending on what type of ticket you have and how you prefer to spend your days. For guests with single park tickets, you might want to choose a different park on party dates, since you’ll have way less time with Magic Kingdom closing several hours earlier. This is especially true if you’re more of a night owl and don’t typically get to the park until late morning or early afternoon.
The Mummy Treat from Not So Scary in 2025
On the other hand, guests with single park tickets might still want to visit Magic Kingdom on party days in the hopes of experiencing the light crowds that we often see ahead of the party. Even though your day at the park will end on the earlier side, you could still spend the evening exploring Disney Springs, enjoying the amenities at your hotel, or just make it an early night to catch up on some rest!
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!
Now, for guests with park hopper tickets, you might actually want to plan on starting your day at Magic Kingdom if there’s a party scheduled that night, so you can take advantage of the typically lighter crowds. They aren’t guaranteed, of course, but if you have a park hopper ticket anyway, it could be worth a shot!
Mother Gothel
After Magic Kingdom closes (or you’ve just had your fill for the day), you could park hop to EPCOT fairly easily on the Monorail and still have a few more hours of park time for the night. Or, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is another solid choice to hop to after Magic Kingdom, since both it and EPCOT tend to stay open a bit later than Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Boo To You! parade in 2025
As long as you’re prepared for the upcoming shift in Magic Kingdom park hours, there are no “wrong” choices — it’s just about planning accordingly and making the right decisions based on your priorities! We’ll be keeping an eye on all the seasonal updates as Halloween gets closer, so stick with us at Magical Guides for the latest news!
Are you visiting during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year? Let us know which planning strategy you’ll be using!
Magic Kingdom at night during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Even though it might not feel like the typical cool, crisp fall weather in Florida, believe it or not, Halloween season officially begins in August in Disney World. The start of spooky season also means the kickoff of one of Disney World’s most popular special events, which could have a major impact on how you plan your park days for the next few months!
Be Prepared for Shorter Magic Kingdom Park Hours!
The popular seasonal event, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will return to Magic Kingdom on select nights from August 7th through October 31st, 2026. The party is a separately ticketed event with lots of holiday fun like trick-or-treating, exclusive entertainment, character meet-and-greets, and more!
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
On the nights it takes place, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party officially begins at 7 PM, and since it’s not included with a regular park ticket, Magic Kingdom will close at 6 PM for non-party guests on those evenings.
Mad Tea Party at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Since Magic Kingdom is often open until around 10 PM or 11 PM (park hours vary by date), that means regular day guests will have several hours LESS time to spend in the park on days when a party is scheduled!
Prepare for the Change in Hours Accordingly
Again, keep in mind that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party doesn’t happen every day, but there are a few parties each week beginning with the first one on August 7th, so it’s definitely important to check the list of party dates before making your plans.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Since the park closes early on party dates, you might want to avoid Magic Kingdom on those days if you have single park tickets.
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor Halloween Overlay
On the other hand, in previous years, we’ve noticed that Magic Kingdom tends to be less crowded on Halloween party days, with lots of people planning to visit other parks because of the reduced hours, so it can actually be a good hack to visit Magic Kingdom on those days, especially if you have park hopper tickets!
How Should Your Evening Plans Change?
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s go over the different strategies you might want to use, depending on what type of ticket you have and how you prefer to spend your days. For guests with single park tickets, you might want to choose a different park on party dates, since you’ll have way less time with Magic Kingdom closing several hours earlier. This is especially true if you’re more of a night owl and don’t typically get to the park until late morning or early afternoon.
The Mummy Treat from Not So Scary in 2025
On the other hand, guests with single park tickets might still want to visit Magic Kingdom on party days in the hopes of experiencing the light crowds that we often see ahead of the party. Even though your day at the park will end on the earlier side, you could still spend the evening exploring Disney Springs, enjoying the amenities at your hotel, or just make it an early night to catch up on some rest!
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!
Now, for guests with park hopper tickets, you might actually want to plan on starting your day at Magic Kingdom if there’s a party scheduled that night, so you can take advantage of the typically lighter crowds. They aren’t guaranteed, of course, but if you have a park hopper ticket anyway, it could be worth a shot!
Mother Gothel
After Magic Kingdom closes (or you’ve just had your fill for the day), you could park hop to EPCOT fairly easily on the Monorail and still have a few more hours of park time for the night. Or, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is another solid choice to hop to after Magic Kingdom, since both it and EPCOT tend to stay open a bit later than Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Boo To You! parade in 2025
As long as you’re prepared for the upcoming shift in Magic Kingdom park hours, there are no “wrong” choices — it’s just about planning accordingly and making the right decisions based on your priorities! We’ll be keeping an eye on all the seasonal updates as Halloween gets closer, so stick with us at Magical Guides for the latest news!
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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
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Are you visiting during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year? Let us know which planning strategy you’ll be using!
