Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2022 – Our Real Life Family Plan With Four Little Kids
Heading into Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in 2022 felt like a milestone for our family. It was the first year the party officially returned in its classic form since the pandemic, and our family could not wait. The kids were deep in their Disney Junior and Disney Channel era and this felt like the most magical way to make fall memories together. At the time we had a two-year-old, twin seven-year-olds, and a ten-year-old. Anyone who has ever done a late-night Disney event with little ones knows you need a very clear plan. You also need to be realistic about what a child can handle at night, how far he or she walks, and the level of excitement these specialty parties bring. This is how we planned 2022 for success and exactly what we did at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Hopefully breaking down our family plan helps your family create one that works for your crew too.
Our Party Planning Philosophy
We always start with simple expectations and very honest conversations around the following questions:
What are the absolute “must-dos” for each kid and for our family as a whole?
What experiences are unique to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party that we cannot see at any other time of year?
What does our schedule look like during the day so our kids do not burn out before the party even starts?
Rather than trying to do it all, we pick the most important things and build our night around them, knowing anything else we get to do is simply a bonus.
Letting Each Kid Choose One Priority
Our first step is to involve the kids. Each child picks one “must-do.” In 2022 our list looked like this:
Zom-Beatz Bash was the choice for all three of our big kids thanks to Disney Channel’s Zombies movies, which were on nonstop in our home. They were absolutely determined to dance with the Zombie cheerleaders.
Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam was selected by the twins and the toddler. We live with Disney Junior on repeat, and the chance to dance with Doc McStuffins, Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, and Timon was the dream.
Mickey’s Boo-To-You Parade was a family-wide priority. The Grave Diggers scraping their shovels, the Haunted Mansion float, and the catchy Boo-To-You theme song are what trick-or-treating at Disney is all about.
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular was equally important to us. It felt iconic to be back in front of Cinderella Castle watching the Sanderson Sisters stir up Halloween chaos.
Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular fireworks were a non-negotiable for us. These fireworks only happen during the party nights and include projections with Jack-O-Lanterns, Zero flying through the sky, and classic Disney Villains.
Meet Donald, Daisy, and Minnie Mouse was another major hit on the list. Our older kids specifically wanted to meet them in their Halloween costumes because they are different every year.
Once those were locked in, I built out the rest of the night around them — making sure we protected nap time and food earlier in the day. Because energy management is everything in a night that goes until midnight.
Daytime Strategy So Kids Can Make It To Midnight
Our party admission ticket allowed us to enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4 pm, but the party did not officially begin until 7 pm. For many families showing up at 4 pm sounds ideal, but I knew my kids could not do eight straight hours in Halloween costumes in Florida humidity. They simply would not make it until fireworks.
Here is what we did with our day leading up to the party:
Slow morning with no alarm clock
Pool time back at the resort to get extra wiggles out
Showers and naps in the air-conditioning (all four kids took forced naps regardless of age so they could physically last at the party)
Large early dinner at 4 pm so we were done with meals by party time and could snack instead of stopping for a full dinner once inside the park
Packing tip: we brought refillable water bottles and packed Halloween pajamas in our stroller in case the toddler and twins wanted to change later in the night. That one decision saved us from several meltdowns.
Our Exact 2022 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Plan
The official entertainment ran from 7 pm to midnight, but we arrived about 5 pm to beat traffic and crowds, get party wristbands, and situate our stroller.
5:00 PM – Enter Magic Kingdom, Pick Up Wristbands
Upon entry, we skipped photos on Main Street and immediately walked to Fantasyland. We knew our first priority of the night was meeting Donald, Daisy, and Minnie Mouse in their Halloween costumes, and we also knew those lines swell quickly.
6:30 PM – Be In Line For Donald, Daisy, and Minnie
The goal was to be completely finished meeting characters before the party officially began. We got in line at 6:30 pm because even though the party start was posted at 7 pm, characters often start greeting a little early once earlier guests leave. Our kids were over the moon to hug Minnie Mouse in her Halloween dress, Daisy in her pastel-Halloween twist, and Donald in costume. These photos ended up being some of our favorites of the entire night.
Disney Junior Jam in Storybook Circus
With characters done by a little after 7 pm, we moved to Storybook Circus where balloons, colored spotlights, and nonstop Disney Junior soundtracks were pumping. This was the sweet spot for parents of younger kids. The twins and toddler danced with Doc McStuffins and Fancy Nancy for ages. This gave our ten-year-old a chance to get his sugar rush at the very first trick-or-treat location which was stationed right nearby. Cast Members hand out mini handfuls at each station. We brought a reusable bag in the stroller where we dumped candy from the kids’ smaller themed buckets once they filled up.
We quickly checked the wait time posted at Goofy’s greeting spot. The posted wait was over 40 minutes, so we decided to skip him and stay on track.
7:45 PM – Tomorrowland For Zom-Beatz Bash
The Zombies dance party was over in Tomorrowland at Rockettower Plaza Stage. It was bright, loud, and energetic. The actors and dancers wear glow accessories and hype up the crowd with music from Zombies, Zombies 2, and Zombies 3. Our bigger kids were completely in their element, while the two-year-old somehow danced and trick-or-treated at the same time. We hit both candy trails in Tomorrowland on our way out. The party-exclusive snack stands were also open in Tomorrowland but beware that lines stack quickly after parade times. In 2022 we went for the Candy Corn soft serve swirl, which was Instagrammable and nostalgic all at once.
8:00 PM – Staking Out Our Nighttime Entertainment Position
This is where our strategy becomes intentional. Instead of moving our four kids through three separate crowds, we decided to grab one good central location in the hub in front of Cinderella Castle and stay put for all three of the major entertainment offerings: the castle stage show, the parade coming down Main Street, and the fireworks.
Here was the timeline we worked off of in 2022:
8:35 PM – Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
9:15 PM – Mickey’s Boo-To-You Parade
10:15 PM – Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular fireworks
By grabbing a spot in the hub by 8:00 pm we were able to see the stage clearly. The castle stage show brought the Sanderson Sisters back to life with additional appearances by Maleficent, Oogie Boogie, and Doctor Facilier. Our children loved the live fire effects and the way the villains danced up so close to the audience. We came prepared with glow sticks, cotton candy, and popcorn which kept everyone entertained. Once the show ended, we stayed in our spots to watch the Boo-To-You Parade come straight through.
Mickey’s Boo-To-You Parade – Party Classic
The Boo-To-You Parade is one of our favorite pieces of Disney magic, and the 2022 version felt so exciting after missing it in previous years. We got chills watching the Headless Horseman trot down the parade route first. The villain float section was the clear highlight for our kids, especially watching the Grave Diggers perform with their shovels scraping sparks off the pavement. The Haunted Mansion ballroom dancers brought spooky elegance. Wreck-It Ralph, Vanellope, and Pirates of the Caribbean characters came later. A family tip: remind your kids ahead of time that cast members will dance extremely close to them and not to jump in front of the performers. Ours needed that reminder.
Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Fireworks
Right after the parade we took a family bathroom break then returned to our same spot in front of the castle. At 10:15 pm the fireworks layered over castle projections began for Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular. Jack Skellington narrated and Zero appeared flying above Cinderella Castle. There were lasers, fireworks, and scenes involving Mickey and friends trying to escape a haunted house. It was theatrical, loud, and well worth keeping the kids up.
10:45 PM – Check Energy Levels
At this point every family needs to make a decision. Do your kids want to ride rides, keep trick-or-treating, or start heading toward Main Street exit stations? Our older three still had energy but the toddler was fading. Instead of jumping into a ride line, we decided to head toward Adventureland which had three more trick-or-treat trails close together so we could keep collecting candy as we slowly made our way out.
Trick-or-Treating In Adventureland
Adventureland at night is atmospheric and less crowded than the center hub after fireworks. We took our time, letting the kids laugh at the Country Bears roaming the pathways in comical Halloween overlays. They are slightly silly and creepy at night which makes it even better. Collecting candy here was efficient because the trick-or-treat locations were close together. We were able to loop through these with our stroller and finish the night feeling like we took advantage of the entire party experience.
What We Skipped On Purpose
To make the above possible with a two-year-old and young children, we intentionally skipped the following:
No rides early in the evening. Attractions would have eaten up precious party time. Rides are available at any Disney day; shows and dance parties are not.
No Photopass Magic Shots unless the line was under five minutes. Cute? Yes. Worth swapping a child’s top pick? No.
No waiting in extremely long character lines like Jack and Sally, who were posting two hour waits. As much as I would have loved those photos, it simply did not fit our toddler-friendly strategy.
What Worked The Best In 2022
Letting kids pick their own “must-dos” meant they felt the night was for them. We experienced significantly less complaining because each child got “their thing.”
Reserving one central hub location for the three nighttime shows removed stress and chaos.
Daytime naps and an early heavy dinner saved us from purchasing big meals at the party.
We packed pajamas so the younger two could change and relax toward the end of the night.
We treated rides as “extras” only if we had time — which took all pressure off ride waits.
Final Thoughts From Our 2022 Party
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in 2022 was special, not just because it felt like the return of Disney magic after a long pause, but because it reminded us how much joy comes from planning thoughtfully around our own family’s needs. We left filled with candy, laughing over our favorite moments, and somehow still wide awake long after midnight. Our toddler managed to make it almost the entire night, the twins danced themselves into candy-induced happiness, and our ten-year-old declared that it was his favorite trip that year.
Every family is different, but I believe the key to thriving at after-hours events is not trying to “do it all,” but instead choosing the experiences that are most meaningful to your children. If you include them in the fun of planning and protect the energy they have during the day, the night becomes unforgettable.
If you are heading into Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party with young kids — I hope seeing how we approached 2022 brings peace, ideas, and reassurance that it is absolutely possible to make it magical without chaos. Prioritize joy, prep ahead, and let the party do the rest.
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As a therapist by trade and a mom of four, I use my expertise in understanding personalities to help you discover your "Disney Enneagram"—a fun way to tailor your Disney vacation planning to suit your family's needs or large group dynamics, ensuring everyone enjoys the magic in their own unique way. With my firsthand experience navigating Disney with babies and toddlers, I'll share all my best tips to make your trip smooth and fun for everyone. Plus, check out some of our family's favorite rides at Magic Kingdom—there's something for everyone to enjoy!
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