Chances are, if you have planned a trip to Walt Disney World for the the Fall or Winter months you have considered buying a special party ticket for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party runs select nights at Magic Kingdom beginning mid-August through Halloween, then Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off after Halloween and runs through the Christmas season, also at Magic Kingdom park. The party tickets can be pricy. The cost is typically anywhere between $109-$199 per person. When added on to an already expensive Disney vacation, it can sometimes be difficult to justify this additional cost. The truth is, these parties can be a great way to pack a LOT of extra magic to your Walt Disney World Vacation, and adding on the party doesn't have to break the bank.
Below are a few of my dos and don'ts to save money and make the most of these special events!
Don't purchase a park ticket for the day of the party.
The party ticket allows you entry into Magic Kingdom as early as 4pm. Spend the morning sleeping in and enjoying resort activities. This will leave you and your family with more energy to enjoy the late night party. By eliminating a day of park tickets (and Genie +, which is not needed or even available for special events) you save money and the cost of the party ticket is often not that that much more than you had already planned to spend that day. Additionally, with the smaller crowds and shorter wait times you will get more in during the evening party than you would during the day at the park.
Do plan your outfits ahead of time.
Not everyone will dress up in theme, but it definitely makes the experience more fun. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a great opportunity for matching sweaters or Christmas pjs. You can use the Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party as an excuse to dress up as your favorite character or even ride like my family did this year!
Don't miss out on special ride overlays!
I'm not a fan of Space Mountain. In fact, that might be a little bit of an understatement. I don't enjoy being on a very fast roller coaster in complete darkness. The rest of my family likes the ride, so I always reluctantly end up riding. During Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party I was able to ride Space Mountain with the lights on and Christmas music playing. It was a completely different experience and I loved it! There are overlays for select rides during both parties. Check the party map or your My Disney Experience app for details!
Do bring your own glow!
There are plenty of opportunities to buy overpriced light up toys at the park. If you plan ahead and bring your own glow toys you can save a lot of money. I purchased light up necklaces from the local craft store for $2.50. These were very similar to the ones being sold at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party for $20.
Don't go to the first parade if you can make it to the second.
There are two parades, an early parade around 9:15 pm and a later parade around 11:15 pm. The early parade tends to draw a larger crowd. If you can make it to the second parade, skip the first parade and take advantage of the lighter crowds elsewhere. My family likes to use this time to go on our favorite rides! When it's time for the parade, you don't have to be directly in front of the castle for a great view. The parade starts in Frontierland and turns by the castle then travels down Main Street. There are some great viewing areas in Frontierland. You can also get a nice view by the bridge leaving Liberty Square heading towards the castle.
Do take advantage of the FREE extras!
There are many extras that are included with the price of your party ticket and you don't want to miss out! During Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party this past year each member of our group was able to pick up a beautiful ornament and commemorative print. There were also plenty of places to grab a cup of hot cocoa, cider and cookies. At Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you will receive a bag upon entry to stash all you candy. There's plenty of stations to grab candy as you move around the park. We left with a ton of candy, including many new flavors of our favorites we had not seen or tried yet, which was super fun!
Don't miss the fireworks!
Unlike the parades, the fireworks only run once a night. They are in-between the two parades, around 10:15 pm. Be sure to check the time and arrive early to get a viewing spot. I like to set a timer on my phone as a reminder. For the fireworks the best viewing areas are in front of or by castle. This will allow you to see projections on the castle. You won't want to miss the holiday themed show!
Do grab a map when you enter the party.
The map and your my Disney experience app will show you where you can find ride overlays, special party treats, dance parties, showtimes and more! Below are maps from Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. My family likes to have an early dinner reservation, around 4:30 pm so we can sit down, enjoy a meal, look through the map and discuss our plans for the evening.
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Do book your Walt Disney World Vacation with a travel agent.
Travel agents can save you money and time. Most travel agents will not charge you anything extra than you would pay if you were booking your trip on your own through Disney. Good agents will price monitor your trip and rebook it when offers become available that can lower the price of your trip. Agents can provide you will as little or a much assistance planning your vacation as you like.
Hi, I'm Irene! I'm a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! Request a no obligation quote here.
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