Mickey's Not-so-scary Halloween party tips and observations

My husband and I were at Walt Disney World during Mickey's Not-so-scary Halloween party. We were blown away by the intricate detail on the costumes. It was hard to tell guests from cast members sometimes. Everyone emulated their favorite Disney cast members. Pirates and princesses were well represented. One particular Cinderella and her Prince Charming could easily have been cast on a film set.

Cinderella Castle

Not everyone at Mickey's Not-so-scary Halloween party were fully decked out. Many of the kids were dressed in gift shop and Wal-Mart costumes and some adults were too. Masks weren't allowed but that didn't diminish the delight on the kids faces that we saw. Some of the kids were on such an adrenaline rush that parents were going to have an interesting time getting to bed.

Almost everyone seemed to be heading to the Mickey's Not-so-scary Halloween event. The bus lines from our resort were pretty long. Fortunately, Walt Disney World had the transportation cranked up to minimize the wait. Several bus loads of guests were whisked away to the Magic Kingdom before we were picked up for Epcot.

There are a few things that we observed that may help:

• Expect lines. They were long at the resort and we were told that they were long in the Magic Kingdom.
• Prepare for lots of loot. Over 215 tons of candy will be given out at Disney over the course of the entire party. 
• Great Disney staff. The next morning I spoke with a guest that we had seen in line the night before. She said that Disney staff did well to keep the kids entertained.
• Overstimulated kids. When we returned to the value resort, we saw parents with overstimulated kids. A few were cranky and some were still on an adrenaline rush. All were tired. Expect this and plan for it.
•  Expect to pay more. Mickey's Not-so-scary Halloween party is not included in the regular park admission.
• Stay hydrated. Water is free from any Disney stand that sells fountain drinks.
• Watch your kids. With dozens of children in the same costume (if not hundreds) it's easy to become separated. Keep an eye on your children. Set up a meeting spot with older kids.
• Go early. This lets you take advantage of daylight hours and can help you keep up with youngsters at Walt Disney World.

Mickey's Not-so-scary Halloween party seemed to be ideal for families with kids of any age and for couples. Even those who stood on the sidelines could see that it was a lot of fun. The party runs for several dates. Details on the dates and times are on the Walt Disney World website.

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