Jump through this guide
August 7–October 31, 2026
Party dates
August
September
October
Highlighted dates show the schedule, not ticket availability. Check official tickets and dates.
7 p.m.–midnight · party nights only
Ride wait times
Start here to decide which rides deserve a spot in your night.
| Ride | Party avg. | Current party wait |
|---|---|---|
| TRON Lightcycle / Run | 35 min | — |
| Seven Dwarfs Mine Train | 25 min | — |
| Space Mountain | 15 min | — |
| Haunted Mansion | 15 min | — |
| Tiana’s Bayou Adventure | 10 min | — |
| Peter Pan’s Flight | 20 min | — |
| Big Thunder Mountain Railroad | 15 min | — |
Current party waits appear during party hours. Party averages through September 15.
About the wait averages
These are posted standby waits while rides are operating, not measured time spent in line. Only completed 2026 party dates and the party hours above are included. Closed periods and missing waits are left out; genuine zero-minute waits count. The comparison gives each comparable ride equal weight. Averages are rounded to five minutes. Past waits cannot guarantee your wait tonight.
How we’d spend the night
Use the early-entry hours for an optional ride and dinner, then save the evening for party entertainment and two ride priorities. Confirm your night’s showtimes before following this order.
- 4 p.m.
Enter and collect your party wristband
Allow time for entry, photos, and the walk to Liberty Square. Check tonight’s showtimes before choosing your route.
- 4:30 p.m.Optional · before the party
Try Haunted Mansion before dinner
Visit the ghosts in Liberty Square while the park is still open to daytime guests. Join if the posted wait is 30 minutes or less, allowing about an hour including the ride and exit. Otherwise, save your time for photos and a relaxed meal.
- 5:30 p.m.
Sit down for dinner
Allow 45–60 minutes for a quick-service meal, water, and restrooms. Then walk toward Tomorrowland. If a party-exclusive main dish is your priority, eat at 7 p.m. instead of taking the next ride slot.
- 7 p.m.Ride stop
Ride the party version of Space Mountain
Start with the Halloween soundtrack and pitch-black ride. Join with a posted wait of 20 minutes or less, and allow about 40 minutes including the ride. If it is longer, choose treats or Stitch’s dance party and head to the parade early.
- 7:50 p.m.
Settle along the hub end of the parade route
Watch the first Boo-To-You, scheduled to start at 8:15 p.m. It will take time to reach your viewing area. Stay around the hub and Main Street afterward instead of crossing the park for another ride.
- After the parade
Get a treat and take a breather
Use this gap for a nearby snack, water, or restrooms. Do not start a long character line. If Hocus Pocus has a performance that fits, it can replace this break.
- 9:20 p.m.
Choose your fireworks view
Give yourself time to find a spot for the 10 p.m. Not-So-Spooky Spectacular, with a view of the castle projections. Afterward, let the crowd clear before walking toward your final ride.
- 11 p.m.Ride stop
Choose TRON or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Both have had their lowest party waits in the last hour. Pick one and give it the remainder of the night. A late Hocus Pocus performance or priority character meeting is an alternative, not an extra stop to squeeze in afterward.
Pick your priorities
When to ride
01 / Tomorrowland
TRON Lightcycle / Run
Board a Lightcycle for a fast launch beneath the glowing canopy, then race into the Grid. TRON is a substantial time commitment when its queue builds, so give it a dedicated slot after the fireworks.
48-inch minimum · Launched coaster
Average wait by party hour
Minutes · hour beginning
Loading chart
Average wait by party night
Minutes · completed party dates
Loading chart
02 / Fantasyland
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Sway through the diamond mine and around the hills of Fantasyland. This is the regular ride experience, without a party overlay. Choose it if it is a must-do for your group, but leave space for entertainment you cannot see on a normal park day.
38-inch minimum · Family coaster
Average wait by party hour
Minutes · hour beginning
Loading chart
Average wait by party night
Minutes · completed party dates
Loading chart
03 / Tomorrowland
Space Mountain
During the party, Space Mountain runs in pitch-black darkness with a Halloween soundtrack. The drops and turns are already hidden on a normal night; the party treatment makes this a distinctly different ride.
44-inch minimum · Indoor coaster
Average wait by party hour
Minutes · hour beginning
Loading chart
Average wait by party night
Minutes · completed party dates
Loading chart
04 / Liberty Square
Haunted Mansion
The Doom Buggies wind through ghost-filled rooms, a ballroom, and a graveyard. This is Florida’s original Haunted Mansion, not Disneyland’s Nightmare Before Christmas overlay. It is an easy thematic fit for a Halloween night.
Any height · Dark ride
Average wait by party hour
Minutes · hour beginning
Loading chart
Average wait by party night
Minutes · completed party dates
Loading chart
The reason to buy a party ticket
Parade, fireworks & shows
Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade
Haunted Mansion ghosts, costumed Disney friends, and villains take over the parade route. Our plan uses the first performance so your late-night ride window stays open.
Weather can affect the Headless Horseman and parade operations. Confirm your date’s showtimes.
Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular
Jack Skellington hosts a show with castle projections, lasers, and fireworks. Choose a view of the castle façade, rather than watching only the fireworks from another land.
We would protect this time even on a ride-focused night. It has a fixed start; your next coaster can wait.
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
The Sanderson Sisters recruit Disney villains for a stage show with dancers and projections. Check the app for the performances on your party date.
If you want a later performance, swap it for the final coaster in our plan. See show details.
Characters, music, and dancing
Stitch, Lilo, and Angel
Head to Rockettower Plaza in Tomorrowland for the new costume-trunk dance party. It is an easy stop while moving between the nearby rides.
The Cadaver Dans
Leave time to listen in Frontierland. This roaming barbershop-style entertainment is a different pace from the castle shows.
Pick one priority character
Jack and Sally, costumed Mickey and Minnie, and other Disney characters can draw long lines. Decide which meeting would genuinely make your night.
A character-first alternative
If photos matter more than coasters, replace the first or final ride slot with your chosen meet. Do not stack a long character queue directly before the fireworks.
Trick-or-treating, including allergy requests
Candy stops are included for kids and adults. Pick up a treat bag and work the stops into your route between rides. For allergy requests, ask for a teal bag; participating treat stops and designated candy centers offer alternatives. Ask a Cast Member to help check ingredients.
More party photos
Beyond the candy bag
Food & drinks
Our plan puts dinner around 5:30 p.m., with time to sit before the party. If you want a party-exclusive main dish instead, use the 7 p.m. ride window for dinner. The selections below give you a reason to stop in different lands without crossing the park just for a snack.
Loaded street-corn fries are a savory party-only stop on Main Street. Photo: Disney
A garlic-butter burger is one of the party-only dinner options. Photo: Disney
The party’s spicy chicken dumplings are a convenient stop in Liberty Square. Photo: Disney
A pumpkin tart makes a sweet stop before or after the parade. Photo: Disney
Pumpkin-flavored churros come with a cheesecake dip during the party. Photo: Disney
Party-only beignets with a cookies-and-cream topping. Photo: Disney
Check the pickup window
Mobile ordering can help, but availability varies by restaurant and item. Check the app before joining a ride queue so your food is not ready while you are stuck in line.
Do not assume every kitchen stays open
Restaurant hours can end before the party does. Order your must-have food earlier, and ask about dietary needs before purchasing.
Browse more Halloween menu photos
Includes seasonal daytime food and separately booked dining, as well as party-only items. Check each item’s location and availability in Disney’s menu.
The party collection
Merchandise
The 2026 collection includes event tees, a crewneck, glow-in-the-dark ears with a detachable bat, and a Headless Horseman Loungefly bag with a vampire Mickey coin purse. These items are for party guests, while supplies last.
Smaller souvenirs include a Mickey plush keychain, mug, castle ornament, and photo-frame magnet. Check sizes and stock early if one item matters to you; leave casual browsing until it fits your route.
See the rest of the collection
Tickets & arrival
A separate party ticket
Regular Magic Kingdom admission does not include the party. Choose the correct dated event ticket and check official availability and pricing before booking the rest of your trip.
4 p.m. entry. 7 p.m. party.
The party ticket allows entry at 4 p.m. Use those three hours for dinner, photos, and collecting your wristband so you are ready when the event begins.
Allow time to reach the gate
If you are parking at the Transportation and Ticket Center, allow for the trip to Magic Kingdom as well as security. Your arrival at the parking lot is not your arrival inside the park.
Choose a comfortable costume
Wear shoes you can walk in for hours and plan for heat or rain. Read Disney’s costume rules before packing masks, props, or full-length outfits.
Before you go
Is the party worth it for shorter ride waits?
Shorter waits can be a useful bonus, but do not buy the ticket expecting every ride to be a walk-on. Use the averages above to choose a few priorities, and leave the rest of your time for the entertainment and character experiences that require the party ticket.
Can adults wear costumes?
Yes, within the event’s costume rules. Avoid realistic weapons and costumes that drag on the ground or block movement. Read the official restrictions for your age group before choosing masks or props.
What happens if a ride closes or the weather changes?
Check the app and posted waits before walking across the park. If a ride is down, move to a nearby indoor attraction, treat stop, or shop. Keep your must-see outdoor entertainment in the plan, but be prepared for delays or cancellations.
What should I bring?
A charged phone, comfortable shoes, a compact rain layer, and room for candy. Bring any necessary medication and a small battery pack. A bulky costume, heavy shopping bag, and full candy bag can make the last hour much less comfortable.
Can I see Disney Starlight during the party?
Disney Starlight is not the party parade. Boo-To-You is the Halloween parade on party nights; plan a different Magic Kingdom evening if Starlight is also on your list.
More for your trip
Updated September 17, 2026.