Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: Opening Night

We made it to the first Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party of the year on August 15, 2025! The parties run on select nights from August 15 through October 31, and they do sell out quickly. At this point, opening night (Aug 15) is long gone, along with Aug 17, 19, 22, 29, Sept 12, Oct 7, Oct 10, and Halloween night itself. If you’re thinking about going, grab your tickets as soon as possible because they don’t last. Tickets start around $119 for slower nights in August/September and can go all the way up to $229 in October.

Getting There & Getting Started

We flew in that afternoon around 2pm, and sadly our room wasn’t ready yet. Once we finally got settled and into costumes, we made it to the gates right at 4:00 pm—and it was already packed. We got our party wristbands and ran straight to the two Lightning Lanes we had snagged earlier: Tron and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Both were checked off the list before the party even officially began.

Dinner Before the Madness

We had a 5:15 pm dinner reservation at Tony’s with friends, because there is no way I can live on candy alone for five hours. Last year I learned that the Halloween snacks don’t even start being served until 7:00 pm when the party officially begins. And those early lines? Forget it—everyone (especially the food bloggers) wants to be the first to try the themed food. Standing in a 30-minute food line is just not how I want to spend my night.

Candy, Candy, Candy

Around 6:45 pm we were heading toward Pirates and spotted a candy trail already open! That never happens, so we hopped right in. The lines definitely grew quickly but moved pretty fast. We didn’t even prioritize candy and still managed to hit every station at least once.

And here’s the fun surprise this year: characters inside some of the trick-or-treat lines! This was my favorite part of Oogie Boogie Bash, so I was thrilled to see it at Magic Kingdom. We ran into Evil Queen & Maleficent in the princess line, the Country Bears in their building, and I later saw that we totally missed Donald in his adorable Halloween look over at PhilharMagic. Not guaranteed, but such a cool bonus if you catch them.

Rides & Regrets

We didn’t ride a ton of rides, but I was peer-pressured into Space Mountain. Full disclosure: I hate pitch darkness. The climb up had me almost panicking, but once the ride started moving and there was airflow, I managed. Still—0/10, do not recommend if you’re claustrophobic. My sad ride photo says it all.

And just as I was writing this, did I realize we missed the teacups with their fog and lights, which makes me so sad. We did swing through the Monsters Inc. candy line for a little sit-down break while Buddy Boil roasted my costume (rude but hilarious).

Magic Shots

One of my top priorities this year was grabbing as many Magic Shots as possible. We did a pretty good job, though our friends definitely outdid us. We missed a couple at Haunted Mansion and the Oogie Boogie moon, but I finally got the Dancing Skeleton shot I’ve been wanting forever.

Fireworks & Parade

We always make time for the fireworks since there’s only one showing. They’re fun, Jack is great on stage, but honestly they’re short and not as emotional as the regular nighttime show. If you don’t care much about castle projections, you might choose to keep trick-or-treating instead.

Between fireworks at 10 and the parade at 11:15, we went hunting for snacks and characters. We got to meet Genie and Abu, which was adorable (Genie was new for me!), and grabbed the Haunted Beignets at Golden Oak. They were delicious but messy—powdered sugar everywhere—and the cookie dough dip was a little thick, but still worth trying.

We skipped most long character lines this time. Pooh and friends were as cute as ever, and Lady Tremaine was on my list but we ran out of time. Mickey and Minnie’s new outfits looked amazing, but a 2.5-hour wait during a 5-hour party? Not for me. Major kudos to the people who stood in the Jack & Sally line—it was even longer. We did catch Mother Gothel in the bag pick-up area and the Hitchhiking Ghosts, which felt like little wins.

We aimed for the second parade, thinking it might thin out. Usually it does, since it’s late for families with younger kids—but being opening night on a Friday meant lots of adults and older kids, so it was still pretty packed.

Merch Madness

We ended the night by braving the shops, which was… a mistake. Absolute chaos. But we still came out with some cute finds: Glow-in-the-Dark Stitch shirts for the kids, a tap-to-light pumpkin, a party bag (they’re such a good deal), and (not pictured) a Passholder party exclusive pin, and a box of mystery pins. I’m already kicking myself for not buying the max amount per person! And as you can see we got MORE than enough candy!

Wrapping It Up

I love this party, even though it always feels like a blur when it’s over. Luckily, I’m heading back later this season—this time with my girls—and I know we’ll have a totally different strategy. Also, being in actual October weather instead of sweating through August heat? That’ll help with the Halloween vibes.

Stay tuned for my next post about our super simple, not-hot costumes that we loved wearing for the party!