Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party returns to Magic Kingdom on August 7, with 38 nights, 4 p.m. entry, trick-or-treating, Halloween entertainment, ride overlays, costume rules, a new Tomorrowland masquerade with Stitch, Lilo, and Angel, and Captain Jack Sparrow in Adventureland.
The 2026 showtimes now give guests a clearer night plan. Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade starts at 8:15 p.m., and Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular is scheduled for 10 p.m. on opening night.
Dates and tickets
The party runs on select nights from August 7 through October 31. Annual Passholders and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 on August and September party dates, plus October 1 and October 2.
Six dates are sold out: August 7, August 11, August 14, August 18, October 13, and October 31. Tickets remain available for the other scheduled nights.
Halloween night is the hardest ticket again. Earlier dates usually give families lower prices and more breathing room, though August weather can be rough for heavy costumes.
Entertainment
Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade is the party's signature piece, with the Headless Horseman, grave diggers, pirates, villains, Haunted Mansion performers, and Halloween character floats. Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular brings Jack Skellington, castle projections, and fireworks to the hub at 10 p.m.
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular returns to the castle stage, the Cadaver Dans perform in Frontierland, and Captain Jack Sparrow leads Spirited Swashbucklers in Adventureland. Plan the major shows first if this is your first party. You can ride most Magic Kingdom headliners on other nights.
Characters and trick-or-treating
Opening-night character locations include Mickey and Minnie, Jack Skellington and Sally, and the Bride and Butler along Main Street, U.S.A. Frontierland has Chip 'n' Dale in new Halloween appearances, Country Bears Shaker, Wendell, and Big Al, the Hitchhiking Ghosts, Mirabel, and Bruno.
Fantasyland has rotating Alice in Wonderland characters, Anastasia, Drizella, Lady Tremaine, Goofy, Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Ariel, Prince Eric, Gaston, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet. Pluto meets near Storybook Circus. Stitch, Lilo, and Angel host the Tomorrowland masquerade, while Captain Jack Sparrow leads the Adventureland entertainment. The locations were confirmed during the first 2026 party by WDW News Today.
Trick-or-treat trails are included. Guests with allergies still receive teal bags, but the plastic tokens are gone for 2026. Cast Members in teal aprons hand out Smarties at each treat stop. Merchant of Venus and the Liberty Square Ticket Office serve as allergy-request locations, where guests can choose from labeled candy options without turning in tokens, according to first-night reporting from TouringPlans.
Rides, food, and costumes
The 2026 party lineup includes headliners such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, and TRON Lightcycle / Run. Mad Tea Party and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor add Halloween twists.
The 2026 party menu has 58 food and drink items at 19 Magic Kingdom locations. New choices include the Headless Horseman Treat at Casey's Corner, Skull Meatloaf at The Plaza Restaurant, Doom Buggy Dumplings at Liberty Square Market, and a Haunted Mansion-themed Madame Leota Seance Candle at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments. Most items are sold only during the party, while several are available during regular park hours from August 7 through October 31.
Costume rules still matter: adults should avoid full-face masks, long capes, sharp props, and anything that looks like a real weapon.
Dining reservations and PhotoPass
Fourteen quick-service locations are scheduled to operate during the party, including Casey's Corner, Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, Pinocchio Village Haus, Sleepy Hollow, Storybook Treats, Aloha Isle, and Main Street Bakery.
Party guests can reserve Be Our Guest Restaurant or Cinderella's Royal Table for party-exclusive menu items beginning at 4 p.m. The Plaza Restaurant serves selected Halloween items throughout the day and evening. Advance reservations are required for those table-service meals, and The Beak & Barrel is also available for drinks and snacks.
Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular dessert parties return with Tomorrowland Terrace seating or Plaza Garden viewing. Both are separate reservations for guests with valid party admission.
Disney PhotoPass photographers are scheduled at the park entrance, Main Street, Cinderella Castle, and Haunted Mansion. Ride photos are available at Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, and TRON Lightcycle / Run. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON also include ride video. Memory Maker One Day covers party-day photos, while the full Memory Maker package covers the wider vacation.
How to plan the night
Arrive close to 4 p.m. if possible. Eat, take daylight photos, handle wristbands, and ride one or two regular attractions before the event starts. After 7 p.m., let the party-only entertainment drive the plan.
The 8:15 p.m. parade and 10 p.m. fireworks create the basic spine of the night. Families with young kids should pick the must-do before arrival instead of trying to force every show, character, candy trail, and ride into five hours.
Image credit: Disney Parks Blog. Fireworks image: CrowdLevels.
Sources
- Walt Disney World: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
- Disney Parks Blog: party dates and teaser treats
- Disney Parks Blog: complete 2026 food guide
- Walt Disney World: Boo-to-You parade schedule
- Walt Disney World: Not-So-Spooky Spectacular schedule
- Walt Disney World: attire and costume guidelines
- TouringPlans: first-night allergy trick-or-treat process