Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Last updated
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
MNSSPlogo.jpg
Magic Kingdom
StatusOperating
Opening date1995;29 years ago (1995)
Disneyland Paris
NameThe Not-So-Scary Party of Adventureland
French: La Fête Pas-Si-Trouille of Adventureland
Area Adventureland
StatusRemoved
Opening date2008;16 years ago (2008)
Ride statistics
Attraction typeSeasonal event
Theme Halloween, characters created by Disney
SeasonAugust–October
Owner Disney Parks
Website Official website
MNSSHP Projection.jpg

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is a separate-admission Halloween-themed event held annually during the months of August, September, October, and November at the Magic Kingdom theme park of the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando, and at Disneyland Paris Resort outside Paris, France. The party began as a response to the Halloween Horror Nights event at Universal Studios Florida. Disney's event caters to a traditional family atmosphere, whereas Universal's has more of a "fright-centered" event with their monsters.

Contents

The event encourages guests to dress up in Halloween costumes and celebrate the season with themed events throughout the park. Regular park rules prohibit guests over the age of fourteen years from dressing in costume, but this rule is waived for the Halloween event, although adults dressed as a Disney character are prohibited from signing autographs or posing for pictures with other guests.

The event begins at 7pm on select nights but guests with a ticket for the event can enter Magic Kingdom beginning at 4pm. [1]

In 2020, Disney cancelled all Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party celebrations due to delays and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. [2] A smaller-scale event, Disney After Hours Boo Bash, replaced it for 2021. [3]

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party returned to the Magic Kingdom on August 13, 2022, as part of Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary celebration, and once again from August 11 to November 1, 2023, as part of The Walt Disney Company's 100th Anniversary celebration.

Walt Disney World

Summary

The event regularly takes place at Magic Kingdom mid-August until October 31 or November 1. In 2019, the event was dedicated in memory of Russi Taylor, Disney Legend and long-time voice actress of Minnie Mouse, who died earlier that year.

Trick-or-treating

Unlike regular hours, the events include trick-or-treating throughout the Magic Kingdom with special treat locations being identified by large inflatable towers. Guests are provided small trick-or-treat bags when they arrive and Mars' Wrigley sponsors the candy that is handed out.

Stage shows, meet and greets, and parties

Finale of the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular finale.jpg
Finale of the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular.

Originally, a stage show and meet-and-greet with animated Disney Villains led by Dr. Facilier titled The Disney Villains Mix and Mingle, was held at the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage. After the show, the villains dispersed to different areas of the park for meet and greet opportunities. The show ended in 2014. The following year, a new stage show titled Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular debuted in the same venue with Winifred Sanderson, Sarah Sanderson and Mary Sanderson from Hocus Pocus, as well as appearances from other Disney Villains including Dr. Facilier, Oogie Boogie, and Maleficent. [4] [5] In 2022, Disney announced the modified version of Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, Burning Rain of Death, due to the rainy weather season and the fact that water is a witch's weakness.

Mickey's Boo To You Halloween Parade

As is the norm at Disney theme parks, a parade and a fireworks show are the centerpieces of the event. The holiday-themed parade, entitled "Mickey's Boo To You Halloween Parade", features a pre-parade ride by the Headless Horseman from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow . The parade features various Disney characters (Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and their friends) in Halloween costumes and a live-action version of the three hitchhiking ghosts from the Haunted Mansion attraction. The villains are also in the parade with a unit of their own. Besides the Haunted Mansion dancers, Hitchhiking Ghosts, the hoedown dancers, and the barn unit, the parade and soundtrack were changed in 2005.

In 2019, additional updates to the parade were made, including the addition of two new Tomorrowland-themed floats (one featuring Buzz Lightyear and alien explorers and the other with the Incredibles and Edna Mode) and a new spectral bride from the Haunted Mansion. [6]

During the second parade, Cruella's Halloween Hideaway is available for an additional charge. This "party within a party" comes with reserved parade viewing plus themed savory and sweet food items and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. [7]

Disney's Not So Spooky Spectacular!

The nighttime fireworks show, presented in lieu of the regular nightly show, Happily Ever After and the similarities of Disney Enchantment , is titled Disney's Not So Spooky Spectacular!, which debuted in August 2019. [8] The show features fireworks, projection mapping, lasers, and searchlights at Cinderella Castle, with the exception of Main Street, U.S.A., and stars Jack Skellington, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy. [9]

The current show serves as a replacement for Happy HalloWishes: A Grim Grinning Ghosts' Spooktacular in the Sky , which was based on the Haunted Mansion and featured dark music from the Disney library of animated films. Prior to that show's debut in 2005, a revival of the classic fireworks show, Fantasy in the Sky, was shown along with a three-minute holiday-themed finale featuring the Old Witch form Snow White and the seven dwarfs as the host of this Finale. The soundtrack for both the fireworks and parade are available on an in-park CD as of 2007 titled "Magic Kingdom Event Party Music", which also includes music from Mickey's Pirate and Princess Party.

During the fireworks, a special dessert party is available for an additional fee. [10] This dessert party provides guests with reserved viewing of the fireworks along with themed treats and desserts.

Disneyland Paris

For the first time ever, a Not-So-Scary Halloween Party took place outside the US in 2008. In October, Disneyland Paris hosted "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party" (translated in French in "La Fête Pas-Si-Trouille of Adventureland"); these evenings offered access to several attractions, different shows especially created (Merlin and the Witch Academy, The Halloween Magician), and a Disco Party. Streetmospheres and Meet'n'Greet with Disney Characters gave the Park a special and spooky atmosphere.

For the second year, Disneyland Paris hosted once again four of these family-centered events on October 9, 16, 23, and 27, 2009. The first rumors announced a wider area than the previous year (including Adventureland, Fantasyland and Frontierland), and a new Villain Show could take place on the Central Hub Stage.

The idea of these events remains to bring more families to the park during their annual Halloween events with a separate ticket like their annual "Soirée Halloween Disney" ("Disney's Halloween Party"), which has been run on All Hallow's Eve since 1997, and is darker in tone than those in the US and Tokyo Disneyland, but not as scary than the Hong Kong Disneyland events.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disneyland Park (Paris)</span> Theme park within Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France

Disneyland Park, originally Euro Disneyland Park, is a theme park found at Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France. The park opened on 12 April 1992 as the first of the two parks built at the resort. Designed and built by Walt Disney Imagineering, its layout is similar to Disneyland Park in California and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World in Florida. Spanning 56.656 ha —the second largest Disney park based on the original, after Shanghai Disneyland Park—it is dedicated to fairy tales and Disney characters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinderella Castle</span> Fairy tale castle at two Disney parks

Cinderella Castle is a fairy tale castle at the center of two Disney theme parks: the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and Tokyo Disneyland at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Based on Cinderella's fairy tale castle from Disney's 1950 animated feature film, both serve as the symbol and flagship attraction for their respective theme parks. Along with Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Castle is a main symbol of The Walt Disney Company.

<i>Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams</i> Defunct fireworks show at Magic Kingdom

Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams was a fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom theme park of Walt Disney World. The show debuted at the park on October 8, 2003, and was developed by Walt Disney Creative Entertainment, under the direction of VP Parades & Spectaculars, Steve Davison, who was assigned to create a replacement for the 32-year-old Fantasy in the Sky fireworks. Several variations of the show at Walt Disney World include Happy HalloWishes during "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party", Holiday Wishes during "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party", and Magic, Music and Mayhem during the 2007 event Disney's Pirate and Princess Party. The multimedia version at Disneyland Park in Disneyland Paris premiered on July 16, 2005, and had its final show on August 25, 2007. The show at the Magic Kingdom was sponsored by Pandora Jewelry. The show was presented for the last time on May 11, 2017, at the Magic Kingdom Park and was replaced by Happily Ever After in the following day.

<i>Hocus Pocus</i> (1993 film) 1993 film by Kenny Ortega

Hocus Pocus is a 1993 American fantasy comedy film directed by Kenny Ortega from a screenplay by Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert, and a story by David Kirschner and Garris. It follows a villainous comedic trio of witches who are inadvertently resurrected by a teenage boy in Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Live Entertainment</span> Theatrical and technical live entertainment production division of the Walt Disney Company

Disney Live Entertainment is the theatrical live entertainment production division of Walt Disney Imagineering, the design and development arm of Disney Experiences, a division and business segment of The Walt Disney Company.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a Walt Disney World event hosted at Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida on select evenings in November and December leading up to Christmas. It features holiday entertainment including a parade, dance parties, character meet-and-greets, and complimentary treat stations. The event runs from 7:00 pm to midnight, but party guests may enter beginning at 4:00 pm. The event requires purchasing a separate ticket from the general admission ticket counter.

Fantasy in the Sky was the first fireworks performance at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, beginning in 1958 and running until 1996. The show also appeared at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida from 1971 until 2003, at Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan from 1983 until 1988 and at Disneyland Paris from 1993 to 2005 in Marne-la-Vallee, France.

Magic, Music and Mayhem was the name of a fireworks display held as part of Mickey's Pirate and Princess Party hard ticket event at the Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom near Orlando, Florida. This fireworks show was shown in place of the regular Wishes display during the event.

<i>HalloWishes</i> Defunct fireworks show at Magic Kingdom

HalloWishes was a fireworks show that took place during "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party" at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom theme park from 2005 to 2018. It was loosely based on the popular Haunted Mansion attraction and includes vocal appearances by Disney Villains. It was replaced by Disney's Not So Spooky Spectacular!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey's Halloween Party</span> Annual Halloween event at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure

Mickey's Halloween Party is an annual Halloween-themed separate admission at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. An earlier event with the original name had been held in 1995 and 1996 at the Disneyland Park, but was not revived until 2005 at Disney California Adventure. Mickey's Halloween Party was considered to be a more family-friendly response to the scare-centered events Halloween Horror Nights, Knott's Scary Farm, and Six Flags Fright Fest. The event ran at Disney California Adventure through 2009, and returned to the Disneyland park starting in 2010. In 2019, the Party was moved back to Disney California Adventure and retitled Oogie Boogie Bash. Its new features included a water show at Pixar Pier called "Villainous".

<i>World of Color</i> Nighttime show at Disney California Adventure

World of Color is a nighttime show at Disney California Adventure in the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Conceived by Vice President of Parades and Spectaculars Steve Davison, and designed by Disney Live Entertainment, the show has 1,200 water fountains and includes lights, fire, lasers, and fog, with high-definition projections on mist screens. The show is inspired by Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color anthology television series, as evidenced by the use of its eponymous theme song written by the Sherman Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disneyland</span> Amusement park in Anaheim, California

Disneyland is a theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney, and opened on July 17, 1955.

Mickey's Pirate and Princess Party was a hard-ticketed event held throughout the months of January through June at the Magic Kingdom theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida outside Orlando. A smaller version was also planned for Disneyland Paris Resort in 2011, but was cancelled. This event combined two of The Walt Disney Company's franchises, the Disney Princess line and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

<i>Halloween Screams</i> Fireworks spectacular at Disneyland

Halloween Screams: A Villainous Surprise in the Skies is a Halloween-themed fireworks show that is presented at Disneyland during the seasonal Mickey's Halloween Party event. Based on the similarly-themed, former fireworks show HalloWishes at Magic Kingdom, Halloween Screams is hosted by Jack Skellington and features appearances from Disney Villains and music from Disney animated features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Street, U.S.A.</span> Themed land at Disney theme parks

Main Street, U.S.A. is the first "themed land" inside the main entrance of the many theme parks operated or licensed by The Walt Disney Company around the world. Main Street, U.S.A. is themed to resemble American small towns during the early 20th Century. In Tokyo Disneyland, it is called World Bazaar and covered by a glass Victorian-style conservatory roof to shield guests from the weather there. At Shanghai Disneyland, it is called Mickey Avenue and is orientated to help introduce visitors to Disney characters.

Steve Davison is Lead Creative Executive of Parades and Spectaculars for Disney Live Entertainment, and is responsible for the overall creative direction of daytime parades, firework displays, and nighttime spectaculars at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide. He created such shows as Believe... There's Magic in the Stars, Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams, World of Color, and Disney Dreams!.

<i>Disneyland Forever</i> Nighttime spectacular at Disneyland

Disneyland Forever was a nighttime spectacular at Disneyland that premiered alongside the Paint the Night parade and World of Color—Celebrate! on May 21, 2015 as part of the park's 60th anniversary celebration. The show was produced by Disney Live Entertainment, under direction of Steve Davison. Disneyland Forever incorporates fireworks, projection mapping, fire, lasers, and searchlights to depict scenes from Disney films. The show's original run ended on September 5, 2016 upon conclusion of the Diamond Celebration. The shows exit song, "A Kiss Goodnight", would be later be released on CD with a book bearing the song's name.

<i>Hocus Pocus</i> (franchise) Disney media franchise

Hocus Pocus is an American media franchise consisting of two films, a sequel novelization, and other Disney media and merchandise. The series was created by David Kirschner and Mick Garris.

References

  1. "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party". Walt Disney World. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
  2. Bevil, Dewayne (June 18, 2020). "Disney World cancels Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Eat to the Beat concerts". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  3. "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party". disneyworld.disney.go.com. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  4. Snetiker, Marc (May 27, 2015). "'Hocus Pocus' stage show will haunt Disney World this Halloween". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  5. Bevil, Dewayne (September 10, 2015). "Don't miss: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  6. "Exciting Additions and Enhancements Coming to 'Mickey's Boo to You Halloween Parade' at Magic Kingdom Park". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
  7. "New at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: Cruella's Halloween Hide-a-Way!". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
  8. Bilbao, Richard (July 18, 2019). "Disney shares new additions to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party". Orlando Business Journal. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  9. Fickley-Baker, Jennifer (August 9, 2019). "What's This? A First Look at the Jack Skellington-Hosted 'Disney's Not So Spooky Spectacular' Fireworks!?". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  10. "Hallowishes Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace". Walt Disney World. Retrieved 2018-10-12.