I know it’s not even summer yet, but if you’re planning on visiting Disney World this fall, you may want to think about attending a special party at night in the Magic Kingdom. Starting in September on select nights, you can attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. If you’re visiting after Halloween through December 19th, you can go to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, also in the Magic Kingdom. Both parties are a great way to see characters you don’t always see in the parks, as well as special shows, parades, and fireworks–even snow on Main Street at the Christmas party! They’re also, if you go on the right night, an excellent way to avoid crowds.
Parties are held several times a week, usually on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, as well as on alternate Fridays or Saturdays. Check the official Disney Website for exact dates. Regular tickets start at around $59.95 for adults and $53.95 for kids; premium prices on Halloween run a few dollars more. You can purchase your tickets from Disney or from your travel agent, but you can’t buy them at a Disney store. You can also buy them the day of the event if they’re still available. You’ll notice a sign as you go into the Magic Kingdom telling you if there are tickets left. You can also ask at your resort.
We’ve gone to MVMCP several years in a row and have always encountered low crowds, walking on just about every ride, but I’ve also heard horror stories about crowds. There’s not really a formula for picking slower nights, but in general you’ll find that weeknights are less crowded than weekends, when local visitors bump up attendance levels. The days before and after Thanksgiving will be very crowded as will any night that discounted tickets are available for visiting groups, such as Pop Warner* kids and their families. Parties are more crowded the closer they are to Halloween or Christmas. Generally the last night of both parties is very crowded.
You’ll notice that Disney offers small discounts on certain nights for those who buy their tickets ahead of time or for annual passholders. These incentives usually mean that these dates have been historically less crowded, so these nights are a good bet if you want to avoid big crowds. Last year, as the dates for the parties grew nearer, Disney offered more and more discounts to cast members and passholders, which probably indicates that these parties weren’t selling out. With the economy the way it’s been, it’s not surprising that people are forgoing buying special event tickets, but if you can swing it, it’s a really great night.
Officially, these parties begin at 7:00 p.m. and run until midnight, but Disney will allow you to enter the park at 4:00. Many guests don’t visit the parks that day since you can get in early, opting instead to save a day on their park passes and relax at their resort pool or plan other activities. I would advise against entering at 7:00, when the park closes, as you’ll run into a bit of a traffic jam trying to get into the park. You’ll be given a wristband to wear and you can enjoy all the attractions at that time. Since the parks close earlier during these months, attending one of these events is a good option for non-Disney resort guests who want to visit the parks late but won’t be able to take advantage of extra magic evening hours.
Because you may encounter crowds and because not every attraction is open, don’t make this your only visit to the Magic Kingdom on your trip. If you’re going on a crowded night or you’d just like to organize your time better so that you can see all the shows, Touring Plans (the people behind the Unofficial Guide) has a plan for these events.
I love the Magic Kingdom at night and the energy of these parties. Whether it’s the thrill of seeing your favorite villians and trick-or-treating at the Halloween party or walking down Main Street with a hot cocoa as it “snows” with the incredible Christmas lights in the foreground, these parties are two of my favorite special events at Walt Disney World.
*Pop Warner is a sporting event teenagers that’s held yearly at WDW, usually a week or so after Thanksgiving. It generally doesn’t affect crowds in the parks during regular hours except the first and last day of the event. This year it appears that the discounted night for Pop Warner kids and their families is December 7th, although we don’t have confirmation from Disney on that yet.
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