New information has emerged regarding an upcoming event at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom. Thousands of guests will be forced to exit the park historically early.
Two of Walt Disney World’s most sought-after hard-ticket events, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, both unfold at Magic Kingdom towards the end of the year.
On Monday, May 6, 2024, Walt Disney World Resort announced the dates for its upcoming Halloween celebration, which will commence earlier than ever before.
According to the official event page, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will run from August 9, 2024, through October 31, 2024. This marks the earliest start date in the event’s history, with previous years beginning on August 11, 2023, August 12, 2022, August 17, 2018, and August 25, 2017, as noted by WDW Magic.
While this extended timeline delights Halloween enthusiasts, it presents operational challenges for regular theme park visitors. On event nights, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party kicks off at 7 p.m. and continues until midnight. Party ticket holders can enter Magic Kingdom at 4 p.m., whereas regular-day guests must exit by 7 p.m. unless they have tickets for the Halloween event.
The Halloween season at Magic Kingdom features exclusive Disney characters, special experiences, and unique performances. However, it comes with a downside: the regular schedule, including the nightly Happily Ever After fireworks spectacular, is interrupted for 38 nights during the event.
Tickets for this special event range from $119 to $199, making it a pricey outing for five hours of entertainment, or eight if including the early entry at 4 p.m. However, guests with Halloween party tickets do not need a separate Magic Kingdom admission for entry after 4 p.m.
The extended Halloween event, known for its popularity and grandeur, can be seen as a drawback for regular guests unwilling to pay extra for an event that effectively shortens their park day.
For those eager to see Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and characters like Jack Skellington and Sally in their seasonal attire, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will take place on the following nights, as listed on the official Walt Disney World Resort website:
August – 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30
September – 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29
October – 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31
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Following an unprecedented update, the second date of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party sold out before the opening night. More dates are now completely unavailable for the event.
Historically, tickets for Halloween Night, October 31, sell out first, with the opening night following as the second. However, for 2024, the second night–August 13 this year–became unavailable before the August 9 opening date.
More dates, including the opening date, have sold out. The sold-out dates include August 9, August 13, August 16, August 20, and October 31.
During the event, guests can enjoy multiple shows such as Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade, Mickey’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular, and the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular at Cinderella Castle. Trick-or-treating opportunities are also available throughout the various lands of Magic Kingdom.
Exclusive character meet-and-greets, unique photo opportunities, and the Midnight Melodies dance party further enhance the festive atmosphere at the resort.
Forcing regular guests to exit the parks is not an uncommon occurrence at Walt Disney World Resort. But it isn’t always hard-ticketed events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party that require guests to leave early.
Private parties like the one at Disney’s Hollywood Studios earlier this year can force regular ticketed guests to leave early, as can cast member celebration events that take place throughout the year, usually at Magic Kingdom Park.
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With the dates shifting earlier and the overall Disney experience changing for thousands, the change for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party comes as the Central Florida resort transitions into a new era–and an era that isn’t going down all that well.
Disney theme parks have come under fire for their soaring ticket costs and difficulty to navigate operationally. Resorts worldwide, particularly Walt Disney World Resort, have made updates that many consider detrimental to the overall Disney experience.
The latest divisive change was the eradication of Disney Genie+, which debuted at the end of 2021, in favor of a new Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass offering. Essentially, the new tool is similar to the former–and free–FastPass+, where select guests can pre-book attractions up to seven days in advance but at an elevated cost.
Disney’s shrinking offering for regular admission and all the add-ons and updates are pricing guests out of the parks. How much longer will it continue?
Will the early start of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party affect your upcoming Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments down below!
