As a parent, I know Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party can be overwhelming. Here are my top tips to keep the fun high and the meltdowns low.
As a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party photography veteran, I’m confident that I know the best way to move around the party when I’m there solo. After years of practice, I’ve mastered how to maximize my time, get my must-dos done, and still ensure I have a great time. Flying around alone is so easy! But now? I’m stepping out of my role as photographer and into dad mode as I plan a trip to Magic Kingdom’s premiere Halloween party for my family of three for the first time in over five years.
The last time I brought my family along, our daughter Riley wasn’t even one year old. Now? She’s a six-year-old Disney World pro with her own expectations and ideas of what we should do. So, what does that mean for my planning?
I’m sharing all of my tips and tricks for a smooth Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party experience with kids.
Put Your Kids in Charge (and Relax Your Expectations)
Photo by Laurie Sapp
As my family and I get ready to visit Magic Kingdom for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, we’re throwing out the firm plans – and the adults are taking a step back. We’re letting our daughter be in charge and drive our night.
As Disney parents, this is our golden rule of theme parks. Riley drives the pace and itinerary. If she’s tired, we give her a break. If she’s unsure what to do, we give her options.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party can be overwhelming for adults, so of course it can be a lot for your little one. Give them the time to get accustomed to the part atmosphere and then let them drive the pace, especially for their first party. If they want to dive into attractions, great! If they prefer to trick-or-treat? You can adjust accordingly. We want them to love these events and feel a draw to come back, right?
While this may mean you’re not able to do as much – or even much at all – throughout the event, a relaxed approach with lower expectations is best. The goal is to have fun with your kids, not check off every must-do as quickly as possible.
Ease Into the Villains
While Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is, as the name implies, not super scary, it can still be a bit spooky and frightening for young kids. Characters who may not make appearances year-round, such as Disney Villains and the Hitchhiking Ghosts, do come out for this event and lend some frightening flair. And with little ones in tow, you may wind up with a spooked kid if they aren’t quite ready for villains to make an appearance.
My daughter Riley has said she’s excited but nervous to see all the villains. However, instead of dropping her right on Main Street during Boo To You, we’re going to ease into the villains some.
For example, Maleficent and The Evil Queen both greet guests in the Princess Fairytale Hall trick-or-treat location. While it’s not a meet and greet location, guests do get a brief moment to interact with these two iconic villains. And I think it’ll be a great way to ease Riley into the evening’s potentially frightful festivities.
Make Trick-or-Treating a Priority
Photo by Laurie Sapp
Trick or Treating will be a priority when I head to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party with my six-year-old. After all, candy is king for kids. When I’m alone? I may grab a couple handfuls of sweets in my night, but with Riley in tow we fully expect trick-or-treating to be a bigger part of our party and are preparing for that.
It’s not the time for “We spent this money for candy?!” one liners. We only get to experience trick-or-treating with Riley inside the Magic Kingdom during the Halloween party, and it’s a unique experience, so we wholly plan to embrace it.
Dress Comfortably (Kid and Adults Alike!)
My daughter obviously wants to dress up for the party, and we fully intend to let her. But we’re also locals who know how hot it can be inside Magic Kingdom even after the sun goes down. So, we are thinking more Tinker Bell and less Elsa the ice queen from Frozen 2. We’ll be skipping long-sleeved full length gowns this time of year – and I recommend doing the same.
You want to keep your kids comfortable for Florida’s warm fall weather when attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. While it’s tempting to use a costume your kids will wear at home, the weather simply may be far too warm for actual fall costumes. And I recommend parents keep comfortable, too; otherwise, you might wind up with cranky kids and adults. It’s better to think strategically for comfort and style.
Do I think we have all the answers? Not at all! After all, parenting is nothing but surprises. But, with some planning and forward thinking we hope we have at least a few pointers to set us up for success. We will follow up with you all in a couple weeks to see how it all went!
