What’s New at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in 2023
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party started on August 11th, 2023, and I have been obsessed with every detail since the first party night. Halloween is my favorite holiday! However, I’m not a huge horror or scary movie fan, so it can be hard to find a not-so-spooky middle ground that isn’t totally for kids. I got to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in 2019 (on my birthday!) and have been hooked ever since. It was just the right amount of treats and frights for me while being in one of my favorite places, Magic Kingdom.
Team member Kristen and I attended the event this year, and I loved it! There were so many new things at the party since the last time I attended, and so many of my favorite things have returned.
The most significant change, in my opinion, to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year is the Boo To You Parade. This year, there are new faces and new costumes. The Headless Horseman and Max dressed as Powerline will kick off the pre-parade. Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle are sporting new costumes in the parade. They are dressed as the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus and on a new parade float that was repurposed from the “Move It, Shake It” parade. Goofy is now in Clarabelle’s spot, in his farmer’s costume, instead of walking with the other characters with their masks.
The Pixar portion with Buzz Lightyear, the Incredibles, and Wreck-It Ralph is no longer part of the parade. However, Vanelope and the Sugar Crash Baton dancers are still in it. Next, instead of jumping into the Deadman’s Band, there is now a portion of the parade focusing on more villains. Yes, these villains have been in the parade in the past, but instead of being clumped together in one big group, they are divided and given more individual time. Ursula is accompanied by Flotsam and Jetsam as she floats by. Cruella cruises along in her De Ville with Jasper and Horace at the wheel. The Queen of Hearts leads her army of Aces and Number Twos through the parade. Then comes the Deadman’s Band with Pain and Panic on the back of their float. There is still a group of villains following behind. However, there are some new faces like Gaston, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, Drisella, Honest John, and Gideon. To end off the parade, Maleficent, Jafar, and the Evil Queen grace us with their presence on their eerie float.
Other new arrivals to this year’s party are a lot of food offerings like the Loaded Sweet Potato Fries, Black Velvet Whoopie Pie, Bucket of Bones, Candy Corn Milkshake, Jack and Sally Pops, and Skull Brownie. These will be offered at different dining locations throughout the park, so be sure to check the party map for the most up-to-date information.
There are also a ton of PhotoPass Magic Shots available at the party, so be sure to stop by and snap a picture to see who also joined in. There will also be Step-In Photo Frames in different parts of the park paying homage to rides of Disney’s past like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and there is one for the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
In past years, character performers have been in the queue and on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. However, this year, all the pirates are out in Adventureland. The Rusty Cutlass Pirate Band performs in the Caribbean Plaza multiple times throughout the party. There are also more pirates roaming around, so make sure to keep an eye out and hold your treat back extra close.
Of course, there is also a ton of new merchandise, including a Nightmare Before Christmas Popcorn bucket. Party-specific merchandise can be found at the Emporium, Big Top Souvenirs, Frontier Trading Post, and Mickey’s Star Traders.
There are so many new things to experience at this year’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and I am so glad I was able to attend!
~Taycee