Walt Disney World Announces This Year's Halloween Party Dates

March 23, 2016, 3:14 PM · Halloween starts on Sept. 2 at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom this year, as Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will kick off that evening.

Disney's family-friendly Halloween event runs on 29 nights this late summer and fall, allowing fans of all ages to trick or treat for candy and goodies throughout the park. In addition to the trick-or-treat stations, the event once again features Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show, and the Happy HalloWishes fireworks.

The Halloween Party evenings have provided (*some of) the only times during the year when adults could wear costumes at the park without running afoul of Disney's rules. But with Disney tightening restrictions on costumes, many fans have been wondering whether costumes would be permitted at this year's Halloween event.

The good news for cosplay fans is that costumes will be permitted at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. However is Disney is saying that "guests ages 14 and older are strongly discouraged from wearing layered costumes or costume props that surround the entire body as they may be subject to additional security screening. Additionally, costumes may not contain any weapons that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon."

In other words,

No Blasters!

Here are the 29 nights of this year's event:

Tickets are not yet on sale, nor are prices announced. But they will be available via Disney's Halloween Party webpage when they are released.

Coverage of Last Year's Disney Halloween Parties:

Replies (8)

March 23, 2016 at 3:23 PM · We went this past October and we (the adults) all had costumes. Aladdin, Jasmine, Alice, Jack Sparrow, Minnie Mouse...all of us. We did leave the musket ball and sword home(however, we did see others with them) but we had no trouble at all. This is one of those events that our family schedules our trips to incorporate. It is a really fun night and the parade is not to be missed.
March 23, 2016 at 3:58 PM · I'm guessing all the work at DHS put the Villains Event on hold this year, but whatever happened to the 24 hour day Disney usually does?
March 23, 2016 at 4:48 PM · The 24-hour-day Disney usually does? Considering its only happened twice I don't think it should be coined as a regular event just yet.
March 23, 2016 at 8:47 PM · Sounds reasonable, except Disney's done it for the past *four* years, not two.
March 23, 2016 at 8:52 PM · i am booked to go oct 29 -nov 6 whats the chances getting the free dining plann?
March 24, 2016 at 8:01 AM · Halloween begins so early in September. Disneyland likely won't get it until the last two weekends in September. I will not go this year. It was just too crowded to enjoy, but the Paint The Night parade was pretty amazing.
March 24, 2016 at 8:12 AM · We have been going to the not so scary Halloween party for the past 6 or 7 years, and we have usually had a great time however our last visit has put us off going again, we went in October 2015 and I understand that some nights are sold out but you could not move in the park, the 3 young children in our party were almost crushed in the crowds, the queues for the sweets were all about 20 minutes long, we only got round 3 stops, in the end we just gave up and went home. Even on the way out when Disney used to top up your trick or treat bags if they weren't full this time we were given 3 or 4 sweets each at the exit. We found the whole evening very stressful and certainly not enjoyable which is a shame because it is an event that we have always enjoyed in the past, I don't know if Disney are now selling more tickets to raise more money but we certainly won't be paying for another night time event, and don't get me started on costumes because I had to explain to a 5 and 6 year old why Snow White was a man! I had to tell them somebody must have stolen Snow white's clothes of her washing line.
March 26, 2016 at 6:20 AM · We had the same problem a few years ago, Simonjohn. The Halloween party was so crowded that we only got to two trick-or-treat stations, and couldn't get on any rides except for the People Mover. It was wall-to-wall crowds, and it was such a bad night that we decided we'd never do any of the nighttime events again. It seemed like Disney capped the number of guests admitted years ago, because we had never seen a crowd like that before. The kids were very disappointed.

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