Disney World Tips and Tricks - Halloween

Well, if you've been reading along with our series, you should already know the Basics, have an idea about What to Wear, and know to keep an eye out for Freebies.

If you are visiting Disney World from mid-September through the beginning of November, then you will also be fortunate to see it decorated for Halloween!

Halloween Decorations

Come with us and you will see,

This, our town of Halloween.

Disney does a wonderful job of decorating every area of the parks with Halloween decorations and provides EVEN MORE photo opportunities than you would have ordinarily had on your trip.

These are a few examples:

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Reminiscin', This-'n'-thattin'

Havin' such a good time
Oo-de-lally, Oo-de-lally
Golly, what a day

I must say, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is so much fun, it's guaranteed to make you say oo-de-lally (or some derivation thereof). Here's the lowdown:

Disney throws the Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom on certain nights mid-September through early November. You will need to purchase separate tickets for the event if you're interested in going, but it will be worth it. The party is "Not So Scary," so it is appropriate for children of all ages.

If you're going to attend, a costume is not mandatory, but even the Disney characters will be dressed in costume, so you might as well get in on the fun, right? Now as we all know, it is always 37,000 degrees in Florida, so we opted for costumes that wouldn't suffocate us: Minions.

Here's the Minion costume breakdown:

• Yellow T-shirts
• Jean shorts - Old Navy purchase
• Black suspenders
• Yellow construction hat
• Black Converse - online purchase for adults/Target purchase for kids
• Goggles

Note: for all of you long-time readers of the blog, I'm sure you think "Eureka! We've found out the super-secret Walkush Family Halloween costumes early!" Calm yourselves - these are not the costumes we will be wearing in a few weeks. ;-)

Magical Events and Schedule

Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.

Put 'em together and what have you got?

Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.

After you've gotten yourself dressed and hitched a ride on the nearest pumpkin carriage to the Magic Kingdom by 4:00, you'll receive a special wristband that identifies you as a Halloween Party guest. 

And unlike Cinderella, you'll be waiting for the clock to strike 7:00 because that's when the Halloween Magic begins.

The event runs from 7:00 pm – midnight with a special Halloween parade at 8:15 pm and 10:30 pm and fireworks at 9:30 pm. "So why did I need to flag down that pumpkin carriage for a 4:00 arrival?" you ask? With your Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Ticket, you will be granted access into the park as early as 4:00 pm that day. Well, that, and we know that at Disney, timing is everything.

In addition to the scheduled events, there are two dance parties hosted by Disney characters and a Disney Villains stage show. Most rides in the park will be running, so you will be able to ride them again and again with little to no wait (score!). The party also features character meet and greets with characters that are only rarely seen. For example, Jack Skellington and Sally, all Seven Dwarfs, and a pirate that needs no introduction, Captain Jack Sparrow. This is the photo that the boys got with Jack Sparrow at the party:

And with all of the other events at the party, did I mention the candy . . . . 

Disney ordered 220 TONS of candy this year to accommodate the trick or treating that will occur at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. So, while many people will tell you that this is not the best use of your time (what with all of the other super fun things that you will want to pack into this short time span), if you have kids in tow, you're probably going to come home with a few goodies.

Cast members will give every member of your party a trick-or-treat bag upon entry to the park, and special maps are available detailing where candy stations are located. 

We stopped at every candy station once, alternating left and right lines and we came home with 7.5 pounds of candy combined. Here's the loot separated into three categories: chocolate, not chocolate, and Peeps (which may or may not be candy - the jury is still out on that one).

Now, besides a few generic (bank teller) lollipops, Craisins???, and something called Peanut Chews (which I have never heard of before) - most of the candy looks like standard trick-or-treating fare . . . with the exception of those Peeps, of course.

Perhaps I should make a Halloween wreath out of them. ;-)

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