Halloween in Disney World 2023: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Has Arrived!
Halloween in Disney World is one of the best times to visit the parks. The weather is starting to cool from the summer months, and Disney villains are out in full force. Beginning in the middle of August and lasting through Halloween, this is definitely one of the longest-running seasons at Walt Disney World. The highlight is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which is a popular hard-ticketed event at Magic Kingdom.
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Planning a Disney World vacation in 2023? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year including the opening of TRON Lightcycle Run Roller Coaster, updated nighttime spectaculars, and more!
Important Dates
Halloween in Disney World began on August 11 and runs through November 1. The event will be hosted on select nights in Magic Kingdom and will take place from 7:00 PM to midnight. It is worth noting that ticket holders will be allowed to enter the park as early as 4:00 PM on the date of their event. Tickets go on sale on May 2, and guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, including Swan and Dolphin Hotels and Shades of Green, can begin purchasing tickets now. (*Important note: Tickets for this event will not require a day park ticket or Disney Park Pass theme park reservation. )
Ticket prices will range from $99 to $199 depending on the date. The event dates are:
- August: 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29
- September: 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29
- October: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31
- November: 1
*Walt Disney World Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members may purchase specially priced tickets (save $10 per ticket) for select dates.
Event Overview
The after-hours event will take place on select nights throughout August, September, and October.
- It will be held after normal park hours from 7:00 PM to midnight. Guests will be allowed to enter as early as 4:00 PM.
- Enjoy the musical stylings of The Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet.
- The popular Boo-To-You Halloween Parade is returning this season.
- The event will once again feature trick-or-treating. Guests will receive a complimentary treat bag.
- The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show will return this season.
- Meet your favorite Disney characters.
- Enjoy some of your favorite attractions throughout the park.
- Mad Tea Party, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, and Space Mountain will feature a Halloween twist.
- Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular, a “wickedly wild fireworks display,” hosted by Jack Skellington returns.
- Enjoy sweet and savory menu items.
- New for this year’s festivities — event-exclusive step-in photo opportunities.
- Dance the night away at the Disney Junior Jam at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe or Zom-Beatz Bash at Rockettower Plaza Stage.
Character Greetings
Main Street, U.S.A.
- Jack Skellington and Sally, Mickey Mouse – Town Square Theater
Adventureland
- Aladdin, Abu, Jasmine, Jafar, Genie – Agrabah Marketplace
- Captain Jack Sparrow – Caribbean Plaza
Frontierland
- Liver Lips McGrowl, Shaker, Wendell, Big Al – Roaming
Liberty Square
- Madam Carlotta, Miss Renatta, Broome the Butler – Haunted Mansion graveyard
Fantasyland
- Alice, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum – Mad Tea Party
- Anatasia and Drizella – Roaming
- Ariel and Eric – Near Under the Sea ~Journey of the Little Mermaid
- Belle – Enchanted Tales with Belle queue
- Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck – Dumbo the Flying Elephant queue
- Goofy – The Barnstormer
- Seven Dwarfs – Pete’s Silly Side Show
- Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet – Thotful Spot
Tomorrowland
- Stitch – Across from Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor
Specialty Food & Drinks
- Sally Pop (Popcorn Cart near City Hall) – Yellow Cake Pop with Raspberry Filling topped with a Sally Chocolate Piece
- Zombie Fingers (Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café) – Almond Cookie Fingers, Key Lime Pie, White Chocolate Ganache, Salted Caramel Crisp Pearls, and Sugar Eyes
- Char Siu Chicken Wings (Sleepy Hollow) – Whole Chicken Wings glazed in Char Siu and topped with Chili Threads and Garlic
- Buffalo Chicken Hand Pie (The Friar’s Nook) – Buffalo Chicken Hand Pie with Spicy Ranch Drizzle and Blue Cheese Powder
Entertainment
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
Join the lively festivities of this entertaining show, featuring the charming Sanderson Sisters from Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” and its sequel.
Location: Castle Forecourt Stage
- August & September dates: 8:35 PM, 10:45 PM, 12:00 AM
- October & November dates: 7:40 PM, 8:35 PM, 10:45 PM, 12:00 AM
Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade
This popular parade features costumed Disney Characters for a night of family-friendly thrills.
Location: Begins in Frontierland
- All dates: 9:15 PM & 11:15 PM
Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular
Experience a not-so-spooky nighttime show featuring fireworks, projections, and lasers.
Location: Skies above Cinderella Castle
- All dates: 10:15 PM
The Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet
The well-known quartet, inspired by the Dapper Dans, captivates with haunting melodies.
Location: Frontierland
- All dates: Intermittently 7:00 PM – 10:50 PM
Rusty Cutlass
Enjoy “swashbuckling” music from this live pirate band.
Location: Adventureland
- All dates: Intermittently 7:15 PM – 11:50 PM
Disney Junior Jam
Designed for younger Disney Junior fans, dance the night away with Vampirina and other favorite Disney Junior Characters.
Location: Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
- All dates: 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Zom-Beatz Bash
Based on the popular movie franchise, join your fellow Zombies, Cheerleaders, Werewolves, and Aliens for a dance party.
Location: Rockettower Plaza Stage
- All dates: 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Trick-or-Treat Locations
The event will once again feature trick-or-treating. Guests will receive a complimentary treat bag.
*Those needing allergy-friendly treats can receive a teal-colored treat bag from a Cast Member. They will receive tokens at each trick-or-treat location to redeem at Allergy-Friendly Centers (located in Liberty Square and Main Street, U.S.A.) for special treats.
Main Street, U.S.A.
- Market Street Welcome Trick-or-Treating – Open until 8:00 PM
Adventureland
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
- Tortuga Tavern
Frontierland
- Tom Sawyer Island Dock
- Country Bear Jamboree
Liberty Square
- Columbia Harbour House
Fantasyland
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Pinocchio Village Haus
- Gaston’s Tavern
- Ariel’s Grotto
Tomorrowland
- Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
- Monster’s, Inc. Laugh Floor
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
- Near TRON Lightcyle / Run
Dining & Attractions
Main Street, U.S.A.
- Attractions: Town Square Theater
- Dining: Casey’s Corner, Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, Main Street Bakery
- Shopping: Emporium, Curtain Call Collectibles, Main Street Cinema, Uptown Jewelers, Main Street Confectionery
Adventureland
- Attractions: Swiss Family Treehouse, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean
- Dining: Sunshine Tree Terrace, Aloha Isle (open until 9:00 PM)
- Shopping: Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar
Frontierland
- Attractions: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Dining: Golden Oak Outpost, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe (open until 11:00 PM)
- Shopping: Frontier Trading Post
Liberty Square
- Attractions: Haunted Mansion
- Dining: Sleepy Hollow
- Shopping: Memento Mori
Fantasyland
- Attractions: Prince Charming Regal Carousel, Peter Pan’s Flight, “it’s a small world,” Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, The Barnstormer, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Mad Tea Party (featuring a Halloween twist), The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Princess Fairytale Hall
- Dining: Cinderella’s Royal Table, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Cheshire Café, Storybook Treats, The Friar’s Nook
- Shopping: Fantasy Faire, Hundred Acre Goods, Sir Mickey’s
Tomorrowland
- Attractions: Tomorrowland Speedway, TRON Lightcycle / Run, Space Mountain (featuring a Halloween twist), Astro Orbiter, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Dining: Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café, Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies, Cool Ship
- Shopping: Star Traders
Costume Guidelines
It wouldn’t be Halloween without costumes! And while Disney World doesn’t typically allow costumes for those 14 years or older, an exception will certainly be made for the Disney After Hours BOO BASH! There are some important rules, however.
- For those 13 years old and younger, costumes and some masks may be worn. Masks must provide “unobstructed peripheral vision” with “openings that allow the eyes to be fully seen.”
Rules for everyone else (14 years of age or older):
- You may dress as your favorite character, but you are not allowed to pose for pictures or sign autographs. (No, this isn’t your opportunity to be a Cast Member for the night!)
- Your costume must be family-friendly and must not be “obstructive, offensive, objectionable, or violent.” (In other words, there will be children present so please dress accordingly.)
- No fake weapons are allowed that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.
- No sharp or pointed objects or anything that could harm (even accidentally) another Guest.
- Layered costumes or props are strongly discouraged and may require you to undergo additional security screening.
- Your costume must not reach or drag on the ground. (Hem those Princess dresses, ladies!)
- Capes are allowed as long as they do not fall below the waist.
- Themed shirts and hats are completely acceptable.
- Disney will allow transparent wings, plastic light sabers, toy swords, tutus, and headwear (as long as the headwear does not cover your face.)
- No masks of any kind may be worn.
Party Tips & Tricks
- Do your research and have a plan! It may be tempting to head over to the party and just “wing it” when it comes to what you see and do throughout the night. But if you want to make sure you don’t miss your favorites, have a plan!
- Accept the fact that you won’t get to do everything the party has to offer. Pick your favorites and make sure those happen, and be okay with not doing everything. Disney simply offers enough to keep you busy for several nights’ worth of parties!
- Take advantage of the 4:00 PM entrance time. Use this time to have dinner or enjoy attractions that won’t be open during the party. After all, you don’t want to use your party time to do something that you could have done earlier before the party began.
- Speaking of that 4:00 PM entrance time, select characters will often arrive early making this window of time before the actual party begins an excellent time to meet them. Jack Skellington and Sally often start meeting around 4:30 PM, and Seven Dwarfs and Stitch often begin meeting around 6:30 PM.
- Take advantage of the second parade time if possible. Obviously, if there’s rain in the forecast or if you have little ones that need to get to bed, the first one is still great. But the second parade is almost always less crowded than the first. (Better yet, meet characters and enjoy attractions while everyone else is at the first parade!)
- Consider waiting to trick-or-treat. Let’s face it, candy is tempting. Just know that anything you collect, you have to carry with you for the rest of the party.
Halloween Throughout the Parks
Most of the Halloween festivities in Walt Disney World are confined to the Magic Kingdom, but there are a few festivities throughout the rest of the parks.
- Minnie’s Halloween Dine will be back this season at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
- Disney Springs takes part in the festivities by decorating for the season.
- Guests can purchase Halloween merchandise throughout the resort.
Excited about Halloween in Disney World this season? Be sure to visit my step-by-step guide to planning your next Walt Disney World vacation!