On Thursday, Walt Disney World announced substantial price increases for its seasonal hard-ticket events, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and a lot of complaining followed on Twitter and other social media channels. I have to say, though, that the higher prices and tiered ticket system really are not unexpected, given all the recent pricing decisions put in place at the resort. Plus, I still think the Halloween party in particular offers enough special entertainment and time in the Magic Kingdom — if you manage your night well — to make it a must-do event if you are vacationing during that time. Here’s what you need to know.
First, not all tickets are created equal. For the lowest ticket price and least-crowded nights for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, choose dates in September. Also, there are advance-purchase, Walt Disney World annual passholder and Disney Vacation Club discounts. The least expensive adult ticket is $67 plus tax for an advance-purchase, annual passholder or DVC ticket for many of the September party dates. The most expensive is $105 plus tax for a same-day-purchase ticket on Halloween. That’s a difference of $38 if you are eligible for annual pass or DVC discounts. If you’re not, you still can save $33 with an advance purchase for many September dates. (See the complete pricing structure on our AllEars.Net resource page.) So, it would make sense to attend one of the earlier parties, if possible, for substantial savings — especially for a family or large group.
Next, understand that your party ticket allows you to enter the Magic Kingdom at 4 p.m. — even though the party activities don’t begin until 7 p.m. The party ends at midnight, but Main Street, U.S.A., stays open another hour, so if you plan to use that time wisely, you could get nine hours in the park for the cost of your ticket. That’s a pretty good deal, especially for the party tickets that cost less than a one-day ticket for Magic Kingdom.
So, how do you maximize those nine hours of fun? I’ve written several blog posts with touring plans that my family and I have followed. We have been attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for more than a decade. Here is the latest.
New this year is the opportunity to have a table-service meal during the Halloween party. Walt Disney World has announced that Be Our Guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table and Crystal Palace restaurants will remain open for dinner. Reservations can be made now, but you must have purchased tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party to make a reservation during party hours.
For a couple years now, Be Our Guest quietly has taken same-day, walk-up reservations for a limited dining window on party nights. Because it still is one of the most difficult restaurants on Disney World property to book, I would recommend this tip to families who were willing to sacrifice party time for the opportunity to eat in Beast’s Castle. For my family and I, the tradeoff of losing time we could be participating in the Halloween activities has never been worth it. Still, I can understand how the new policy could benefit guests, especially if they can eat at the start of the party so they do not miss the exclusive (and incredible!) parade and fireworks.
The Happy HalloWishes Dessert Premium Package returns to the Halloween party, offering guests reserved (and less crowded) viewing of the Happy HalloWishes fireworks and Mickey’s Boo To You parade as well as a themed dessert party. At $69 plus tax per adult, you will be paying almost as much as you did to enter the park for these privileges. (That $69 is in addition to your admission ticket into the party.) There are too many other things my family and I could do at Walt Disney World with the $300 to make this experience worth it to us. Plus, although it would be nice to have the reserved seating, we don’t need more sweets on a night we already are trick-or-treating, which is included in our admission. If I wanted to do a dessert party at the Magic Kingdom, I’d save it for another night.
The higher prices and tiered ticket system have been implemented for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, too, and my advice about maximizing your party dollars and hours holds true for those events, too. However, the big difference between the two holiday parties is that much of the Christmas entertainment at the party will be performed in the Magic Kingdom with regular park admission during the week before Christmas and the week before New Year’s Day, and the Halloween entertainment can only be experienced at the party. That, in my opinion, makes Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party worth the admission price. As a local annual passholder, I’m a lot less inclined to pay for the Christmas party when I already have access to the Christmas entertainment with my pass. Still, visitors who are not visiting during the last two weeks in December can enjoy the holiday entertainment beginning in November if they attend a party.
What do YOU think? Does the new pricing still make the Halloween or Christmas Party “worth it”? Will you be buying tickets for the 2016 parties?
How anyone can consider $100 a person worthwhile is beyond me. True it’s less than a daily ticket but only if you are going for one day if you plan to stay for multiple days as most people do compared to the $30-$40 daily rate for a 7-10 pass it is no where near a good deal. As an out of state passholder I am even more angry because they have increased the days of the event to 32! Between Halloween, Christmas, and various other events that’s a 1/3rd of the year I don’t have access to the nighttime show at Magic Kingdom unless I pay extra! I have done the Halloween event in the past and unless you have no concern for your children’s health trying to justify the cost by advising people as some websites do to load up on pounds of sugary and fatty treats is just ridiculous. We normally attend every year to take advantage of the shorter wait times for rides but we opted to skip last year after the first price increase so this year there’s no way we’re going. But now it’s not as simple as ok we just don’t go; with the increase in dates now we have to ask ” if we don’t go to the event then when do we go??”
I have attended the Not so scary party on three different years, the most recent being last year.
The first two were great fun, the park wasn’t too crowded and the treats were plenty, including plenty of chocolate.
Last year in early September, however, the park was packed, the most I have ever seen in over 30 years, the queues were long for the rides and the ‘Goofy Candy’ treats were very skimpy again with long queues.
I won’t be doing the Halloween nights again & would not recommend it as good value.
We did the Halloween party 4-5 years ago, and would go back again if the kids had off school. Essentially, we do the party as the theme park visit for the day, because of the unlisted 4pm entry. (and do something else that day from morning until 4pm.)
When we attended a few years ago, we got on Peter pan, small world, the carousel, and pooh’s ride, and pictures with Donald duck, all within a hour. With two small kids and grandparents in tow.
It was an early October night, mid-week.
We’ve done both the Halloween and Christmas parties, and would recommend the former but not the latter.
This year we’ll be attending the first Halloween party on Sept 2nd with my three teenagers. My son loves the candy, my one daughter loves getting photos on the attractions with u wearing costumes, and my other daughter loves meeting the characters. We’ll be there until 1am for sure.