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Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom
A favorite event of travelers and locals alike, this annual fall event runs 18 nights between September 15 and October 31, 2006. Tickets for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party carry a base price of $42.95 plus tax (ages 10 and up) and $35.95 plus tax (ages 3-9), though some discounts are available.
The Haunted Mansion sports eerie lighting during the Halloween Party. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Here's a rundown on what's going on during Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in 2006:
Schedule | Pricing and Discounts | General information | Trick-or-Treating | Happy HalloWishes | Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween Parade | Special shows and character appearances | Other Stuff | More information
Schedule
The 2006 event takes place on September 15, 22, 29, October 2, 5, 6, 10, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30 and 31. The first two dates are earlier than ever before. The Party begins at 7:00 p.m., the same time as park closing, and runs until midnight. Resort transportation runs until well after the event ends in order to get everybody safely back to their hotel rooms.
With the parade starting not all that long after the party starts and the park closes, it will be tough to get the changeover done. Each land will be "swept" of those without wristbands before a final sweep down Main Street by guest control cast members walking down the street in a line clearing out everyone who should not be there. The work appeared to go fairly smoothly the first night of the party, with all non-party guests being swept out of the park by 7:45, leaving 30 minutes before the first parade to get the ropes and other crowd-control measures in place.
If you plan to attend the party, make sure that your wristband is visible and that you retain your park ticket. That will make it easier for you and quicker for the cast members.
Pricing and Discounts
Discounted advance purchase pricing is $39.36 for adults and $31.90 for children. Advance purchase discounts are not available for October 27, 30 and 31. For those three nights, as well as all tickets bought the day of the event (if available), the pricing will be $45.75 per adult and $38.29 per child. Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members can get an additional 10 percent discount on September 15 and 22, and October 16, 17, 23 and 24. You must pick up those additional discounts at will-call and show valid passholder or DVC member identification.
All prices listed above include tax. Child ticket prices are for ages 3-9, adult prices for ages 10 and up. Tickets went on sale on Monday, May 1. For more ticket information, call 407-W-DISNEY (407-9347693) or go to the event's page on the Walt Disney World web site (link).
A smiling luminaria greets guests as they enter Magic Kingdom's Town Square. Photo by Mike Scopa.
General information
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is a very popular event, with attendance capped at 25,000 people per night. Many guests (not just children) wear costumes to the party, and the most entertaining are usually the entire families that are costumed with a consistent theme, such as the family of five that we saw one night that were all dressed as Peter Pan characters. Look for pirates to be a popular theme this year. Weekend dates are usually the most crowded, as locals bring their children to those events. A similar effect is seen with Halloween and the prior night.
Trick-or-Treating
One of the most popular events at the party is trick-or-treating. Those entering the park for the party receive a wristband and a trick-or-treat bag.There are numerous trick-or-treat locations throughout the park, with two themed trick-or-treat "trails": One is located along the walkway from Mickey's Toontown Fair to Tomorrowland, and the other is located all around Adventureland. The candy, which is identical at each location, is promoted as Goofy's Candy Co., but actually is a wide assortment of Nestle candies and chocolates.
Trick or treat locations are easy to find by looking for these lit, oversized balloons. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Happy HalloWishes
The Happy HalloWishes Grim Grinning Ghosts Come Out To Socialize fireworks show, introduced last year, returns to the Party this year. The show runs once nightly at 9:30 p.m. The highlight of the show is arguably the 360-degree bursts, where fireworks launch from sites surrounding the Magic Kingdom. You can see the show from anywhere in the park, but the best views are from the end of Main Street up to the Central Plaza hub area, where you can see the projection effects on the front of Cinderella Castle.
Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween Parade
The Halloween Parade runs twice nightly, at 8:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Last year, it went from Frontierland to Main Street, U.S.A. In other years, it has run in the opposite direction. For a much easier chance to see the parade, watch the second running. Make sure you are there by parade start, even if you're far down the route, as the parade's big moment is actually just before the parade, when the Headless Horseman races the length of the entire parade route at a gallop. New this year is a float dedicated to Goofy's Candy Co.
Dale carries a candelabra while wearing his ghost costume in Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween Parade in 2003. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Special shows and character appearances
Along with the fireworks and parade, there is other special entertainment, such as Halloween dance parties, (Stitch's Cosmic Dance Party at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe and Get Up and Boo-gie Dance Party at Ariel's Grotto). There are also special Disney character meet-and-greets, including a villain's mix and mingle in front of Cinderella Castle at 7:45, 9:00, 10:15 and 11:15 p.m. Most of the non-villain characters are wearing special Halloween costumes. There is usually special entertainment on the Liberty Belle Riverboat, such as a band, barbershop quartet or storyteller.
Other stuff
While some go to the party for the smaller crowds, and hence the ability to ride attractions with a shorter wait (most, but not all attractions are open during the party), the real attraction is the special Halloween decor and events. The entire park is decorated with special Halloween theming, including luminaria, Jack o'Lanterns, special lighting and so forth.
Make sure to get the special Party guide map as you enter the park, as it will tell you the location of the various trick-or-treat stops, entertainment, meet-and-greets and so forth, as well as confirm the time of all events.
A familiar-looking bat glides along the facades of Main Street. Click the image to see the bat and a witch in motion in four-second video (375K). Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
More information
For more information on Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party check out Mark Goldhaber's article on the event from 2003 (link) and Mike Scopa's articles from 2005 (link) and 2006 (link).