Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is back at Magic Kingdom — and this year it starts earlier than ever. The separate-ticket, after-hours Halloween event runs 38 select nights from August 7 through October 31, 2026, kicking off a full week earlier than last season. Here's everything we know to help you plan a night.
When It Runs
The party happens on select nights only — not every evening — spread across all three months. The rhythm:
- August: Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, opening with Friday, August 7.
- September: the same Tuesday / Friday / Sunday pattern, plus one Thursday (September 24).
- October: most nights of the week, running right through Halloween itself on Saturday, October 31.
That's 38 nights in all. Because the dates are specific, check the calendar before you build a trip around one.
Hours & Early Entry
Party hours are 7:00 PM to midnight — but here's the value most people miss: your party ticket gets you into Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 PM. That's up to eight hours in the park on a party ticket, three of them before the event officially begins, when you can ride and settle in ahead of the trick-or-treating.
Tickets & Prices
It's a separate-ticket event, so the party ticket is all you need that evening — no regular theme-park ticket or park reservation required on top of it. Prices run $119 to $229 per ticket plus tax and vary by date: the cheapest nights fall in mid-August, opening night (August 7) is $159, and the priciest are October weekends and Halloween itself at the $229 top. As a rule, the later in the season and the closer to a weekend, the more you'll pay.
Annual Passholders and eligible Disney Vacation Club members save $10 per ticket on event nights from August 7 through October 2. For the exact price on a given night — and to check whether it's still available — pull up Disney's official party calendar, since nights do sell out.
What's Included
Your ticket unlocks the full Halloween lineup:
- Mickey's "Boo-To-You" Halloween Parade — led down Main Street by the Headless Horseman.
- Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular — the party fireworks, in which Mickey and friends are swept into a haunted house of dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts, and gathering Disney villains.
- Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular — a stage show hosted by the Sanderson Sisters.
- Trick-or-treating at candy stations across the park.
- Character meet-and-greets, many in their Halloween best.
- Spooky ride overlays, with select attractions getting new lighting and music.
- Exclusive merchandise plus themed food and drink.
New for 2026
The headline addition this year: Stitch takes over the Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland for an ever-changing dance party, with Lilo and Angel along for the mischief. Most of the rest of the lineup is the same beloved slate, so if you've been before, the Stitch masquerade is the fresh reason to go back. (As always, entertainment is subject to change.)
What This Means for Your Trip
The early-August start is the real story for value hunters. Opening-week nights are the cheapest of the whole season and fall during lighter summer crowds — you get the same parade, the same fireworks, and the same trick-or-treating as an October night for as much as $110 less per ticket. If you can handle Florida-August heat (the party runs into the cooler evening, which helps), an August night is the smartest way to do Not-So-Scary.
The cheapest, least-crowded way to do the party is an August night — the same show, up to $110 less than Halloween.
The Tip: Book Early
If there's one thing to take away, it's this: book early. October nights, weekend nights, and Halloween itself sell out first — and several 2026 dates, including some of the cheapest ones and the final night, have already sold out. If you have a specific date in mind, don't wait, and keep a backup night ready.
A Taste of What's New
This year's foodie lineup leans hard into new party-exclusive treats. A few worth hunting down:
- Headless Horseman Treat (Casey's Corner) — a pumpkin pie tart stacked with whipped cheesecake, spiced caramel panna cotta, candied pecans, and marshmallow buttercream "flames." The season's most photogenic new dessert.
- Doom Buggy Dumplings (Sleepy Hollow) — chicken dumplings with red miso gochujang sauce, furikake, and chili threads.
- Hatbox Ghost Pop (Sleepy Hollow) — chocolate crumbs layered with chocolate mousse and dulce de leche, finished with blue crispy pearls.
- Oogie Boogie Slushy — frozen apple cider with cinnamon whipped cream and sour gummy candy; non-alcoholic and family-friendly.
That's just a taste — we broke down the complete lineup of savory bites, sweet treats, and themed sips in our 2026 MNSSHP food guide. And for a night-of game plan, grab our free MNSSHP game-plan printable and party checklist before you go.