Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering at Magic Kingdom is costlier than ever earlier than, with tickets costing as much as $199 every and promoting out yearly. We’re right here that will help you resolve whether or not Walt Disney World’s fall seasonal occasion is “value it” for you–plus commentary on whether or not MNSSHP affords adequate worth for cash to us. (Up to date October 2, 2024.)
One of many difficulties in assessing whether or not Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering justifies the excessive value is that there are not any simple comparisons. Shopping for a single-day ticket to Magic Kingdom isn’t an apples to apples equal, nor are there any “Enchanting Additional” upcharges (at the moment) which might be viable alternate options to MNSSHP.
As such, figuring out whether or not Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering is definitely worth the cash requires a have a look at alternate options to the onerous ticket occasion, its core elements, previous precedent, and extra. It’s a patchwork method, however that’s sorta the character of the beast in the case of these “is it value it?” questions and all issues Walt Disney World.
Largely, it is because there’s at all times an inarticulable x-factor in the case of Disney. An emotional or nostalgic pull that causes many individuals to miss goal on-paper comparisons. We justify a lot on the idea of perceived benefits or substance. If we’re being sincere with ourselves, the fact is that it often boils all the way down to one thing way more emotional, nebulous, or intangible.
That is true not simply with Walt Disney World diehards. A big swath of the general public is keen to pay premium pricing for Disney’s product and that’s as a result of there’s the notion that there’s no “substitute good.” Certain, there are different Halloween occasions–in all probability a half-dozen of them simply in Central Florida–however none of them have the identical basic enchantment to the goal demo as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering.
(We are saying this as individuals who love Halloween Horror Nights, however are cognizant of the truth that we’re outliers. The 2 occasions are hardly direct opponents, which is patently apparent to anybody who attends each and easily appears round.)
Subjectively, it’s troublesome to argue that numerous what Disney affords is value the associated fee on paper. Whether or not that be upcharge choices, rack charges for Deluxe Resorts, or a mess of different issues. Comparable “actual world” counterparts nearly at all times supply higher worth for cash. Similar goes for previous incarnations of Walt Disney World’s personal choices–you pay extra and get much less in 2024 than you probably did in 2014.
Objectively, it’s a very totally different story. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering has offered out fully for each of the final two years, and there’s no signal of demand slowing in 2025 or past. Within the clearest and most easy sense, the market has already spoken and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering is value it.
Whereas followers like us would possibly complain about ever-increasing costs, speak is affordable. We proceed to vote with our wallets and reaffirm that not solely is MNSSHP nonetheless value it, however that it’s underpriced–as evidenced by the occasion promoting out sooner and extra incessantly than ever earlier than. Walt Disney World has but to search out the ceiling on what company are keen to pay earlier than balking at MNSSHP. Actually, we’re sort of scared about what that quantity may be.
Mainly, this preface is our cop out. A roundabout approach of claiming that the whole lot at Walt Disney World is value it, and nothing is. Admitting that that is an train in futility, as emotion and nostalgia are large drivers for Walt Disney World and worth for these issues may be very a lot within the eye of the beholder.
Nonetheless, it’s an train we’ll undertake simply the identical, attempting to find out if the ever-increasing ticket costs for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering may be justified in any approach.
Costs are in all probability a superb place to begin an evaluation of value, so let’s start there. Tickets for the 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering ranged in value from $119 to $199. That is up very barely over the course of the final couple years.
Regardless that it hasn’t gone up a lot in the previous few years, these are large value will increase as in comparison with 2019. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary tickets price between $79 and $135 again then. That’s an unbelievable distinction. (On condition that tickets have offered so properly for the previous few years, we worry a giant improve is coming in 2025.)
On the upside, we’ve noticed decrease ‘looks like’ crowds at each MNSSHP and MVMCP within the final two years as contrasted with 2019. After a optimistic response and better visitor satisfaction for the Halloween After Hours occasion a number of years again, we strongly suspect Walt Disney World decreased the capability cap by round 20% (give or take). That’s not sufficient to offset the value improve in proportion phrases, however it’s noteworthy.
By way of historic pricing, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering didn’t break the $100/evening barrier till 2016. We first began attending in 2007, and budgeted ~$50 for each the Halloween and Christmas Social gathering for the primary a number of years we went.
I don’t know the way a lot worth there’s in evaluating costs right now to again within the “good ole days” of the Nice Recession. The world is a really totally different place than it was in 2007-2009. Whereas we could favor pricing from again then, the financial system and actual wages are unquestionably higher. Consequently, demand is lots increased for MNSSHP than it was then.
Nonetheless, I additionally don’t suppose it fairly passes the odor take a look at to say “this occasion that’s considerably the identical because it was in 2007, besides extra crowded and costlier, is now higher than it was then.” Demand can clarify Disney’s underlying rationale for value will increase, however not reply questions of value. However maybe that’s a bit too within the weeds.
What’s in all probability extra helpful than eager for the previous is dollar-cost comparisons to the current. We are able to evaluate MNSSHP ticket costs to the price of a 1-day ticket to Magic Kingdom. Common day admission ranges from $134 to $179 through the months of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering.
Not so coincidentally, day ticket costs are literally similar to MNSSHP ticket costs on a date by date foundation for the remaining occasion nights. Some are about the identical; Friday nights in October being $20 costlier.
If we had to decide on between a full day in Magic Kingdom and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering this time of 12 months, we’d decide the latter instantly. It affords decrease crowds, higher ambiance, enjoyable leisure, and is at evening throughout a time of 12 months that’s typically scorching.
So long as MNSSHP continues to be comparably priced to single-day Magic Kingdom tickets within the fall, you possibly can anticipate it to proceed promoting out rapidly in 2025 and past–barring a recession or different main change. It’s because an growing variety of company are buying Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween as an alternative of day tickets.
That is taking part in out in a methods large and small, from vacationers shopping for shorter length tickets (3 days as an alternative of 4) to locals skipping out on Annual Passes and getting their “Disney repair” throughout Social gathering Season. The latter is a big issue, as Floridians are being priced out of APs or opting to take a 12 months off from them, however nonetheless need to do Walt Disney World now and again. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering is a option to scratch that itch, so to talk. That is positively taking place, as evidenced by the bigger mix-in crowds ready to enter at 4 pm.
Nevertheless, we are able to’t assist however suppose that it is a false selection–or that the dynamic would possibly revert in some unspecified time in the future within the not too distant future. That’s as a result of Walt Disney World has supplied ticket offers for every of the final two years for each Floridians and most of the people, providing multi-day admission ranging in value from $59 per day to $99 per day (the decrease finish of the spectrum was for Floridians).
It’s honest to say that followers searching for a single-day Disney repair aren’t going to need 2-day to 4-day tickets, however some are. And if it’s a selection between 4 days for $235 to $396 or Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering for $149, I’m selecting the multi-day possibility, even on the increased value. (With Epic Universe looming, it’s secure to say these ticket offers will return for Fall 2025–maybe even higher than ever!)
Nonetheless, there’s a query of the worth proposition of MNSSHP vs. common 1-day tickets for a lot of company.
We’ve been urging Walt Disney World trip planners to do Magic Kingdom on occasion days, which quantities to as many as 10 hours within the park (plus one other 30-60 minutes when you rely Early Entry). Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween begins at 7 pm and runs till 12 am, however as famous above, party-goers can really enter the park starting at 4 pm, for a grand whole of as much as 8 hours.
From a qualitative perspective, the argument could possibly be made that these 8 hours through the occasion are superior to the ten hours through the day. If that math is hard to sq., it means you haven’t visited Florida through the months of August via October. Level being, night hours are extra nice than the daytime.
That is really pretty much as good of a degree as any to handle crowds. Perceptions of crowds varies broadly based mostly on locations and priorities. As soon as the leisure begins, Major Road and the world in entrance of Cinderella Fortress may be congested at occasions. The entrance of Magic Kingdom sees a disproportionate quantity of crowds, so that you would possibly suppose MNSSHP may be very crowded–worse than a traditional day–when you hang around across the entrance of the park ready for leisure.
In the meantime, over in Fantasyland, Adventureland, and Frontierland, there are sometimes vast open walkways throughout the very same events, at the very same occasions. Whereas not as quick as After Hours occasions, wait occasions for many sights with out overlays are below 10 minutes. Friends who use MNSSHP as a option to do rides with minimal waits and avoid Major Road would possibly understand crowds to be round 2/10 or so.
That’s about on par with a traditional day in Magic Kingdom throughout occasion season with a 6 pm closing. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween is rather less busy if we’re utilizing nothing however the goal measure of wait occasions. Conversely, the occasion can worse if we’re utilizing the extremely subjective measure of congestion.
Circling again to the subject of ticket price, a lot of that is irrelevant to most Walt Disney World trip planners. The overwhelming majority of attendees aren’t deciding between a 1-day ticket and MNSSHP, they’re deciding between MNSSHP and (probably) one fewer day on their multi-day tickets.
As such, the incremental price of including (or subtracting) a day to multi-day tickets is the important thing consideration. On this case, that’s an additional ~$10 to ~$30 as in comparison with $139 to $199. Immediately it’s a giant distinction. The qualitative benefit of night versus daytime in Magic Kingdom melts away.
When assessing worth, MNSSHP followers typically level to the “free” trick-or-treating. That is misguided. In the event you spent all the evening doing nothing however trick-or-treating, you’d find yourself with a sweet haul having a good market worth of $8.97 from Walmart or CVS. (Or ~$234 at Walt Disney World reward store costs.) As somebody who enjoys having enamel, I’ll additionally admit to being biased towards consuming copious quantities of sugar. However significantly, the precise worth of sweet shouldn’t be a profitable “argument” in the case of the price of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering.
Given all of that, we’re left with no higher choices for assessing worth than by ascribing worth to the core competencies of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering: Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, Mickey’s Boo to You Parade, and Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Fireworks. These three items of leisure are the cornerstones of the occasion.
Walt Disney World followers can quibble over whether or not HalloWishes is best than the present fireworks or if Boo to You is pretty much as good because the Christmas parade, every carry one thing totally different to the desk. They’re all properly value seeing and every supply one thing spectacular.
If we had been to faux the leisure at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering offered Lightning Lane entry, it’s seemingly that seeing every certainly one of these would price round $25. Assuming you don’t need to repeat any of them, that’s $75 of leisure plus a time price of about 3 hours of the occasion itself.
Add in one other $25 for atmospheric acts and ambiance, and also you’re at $100. Then there are character meet & greets, trick-or-treating, attraction overlays, and the time you’re in a position to entry Magic Kingdom. In principle, that will get you to the typical ticket value, assuming you worth all of these issues.
After all, you possibly can alter these numbers upwards and downwards based mostly in your occasion’s priorities and what you worth. It’s potential the additional time in Magic Kingdom or doing common sights with quick traces is value considerably extra to you, however the leisure is value considerably much less. Possibly the person elements had been barely value it for you 5 years in the past and now actually aren’t.
Maybe merely being there amongst different company carrying costumes for Halloween whereas your children are in a position to trick-or-treat in a enjoyable and secure setting is priceless. It’s additionally potential you’re wholly involved with having one of the best trip potential and are keen to spare no expense to attain that. (In that case, undecided why you even are studying this.) Once more, worth is within the eye of the beholder.
To that time, I figured it’s value sharing our perspective as attendees for the final decade-plus. We’re whole suckers for these events, and we completely love the ambiance on the occasions. That is equally true for each MNSSHP and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering.
From 11 pm till each time we depart is our favourite time at Magic Kingdom, and the events are immensely satisfying on a private degree based mostly on that end-of-night ambiance alone. Quite a bit in regards to the Walt Disney World expertise for diehards is revisiting fond recollections, and we have now a ton of them from late nights at MNSSHP and MVMCP.
The top of the night throughout these events transports me again to 2007-2010, and I’d pay a silly sum of money only for that feeling. It’s not rational, however it’s what it’s. (In the event you’re an informal visitor or first-timer, it’s value understanding that lots of the Walt Disney World expertise boils all the way down to chasing nostalgia for diehards, whether or not they’re keen to confess it or not.)
With that stated, if the query is whether or not Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering is definitely worth the cash to us based mostly on the present occasion itself, the reply might be not.
For us, MNSSHP peaked in 2015 or 2016. Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular had debuted, the occasion was comparatively uncrowded, there have been extra meet & greets, HalloWishes was nonetheless round, and ticket costs had been considerably decrease. There have been adjustments since then through trip overlays and different adjustments, however none of that actually strikes the needle sufficient for me to offset the upper price.
Frankly, if I might select between the MNSSHP of 2016 or 2024 at similar costs, I’d nonetheless decide 2016. There have been numerous little cuts and different methods the standard of the expertise has been eroded. Throughout that very same timeframe, nearly nothing of worth has been added to justify the upper costs.
The underside line is that we splurge on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering as a result of we need to do it–with out regard for its worth proposition. It’s a kind of issues we all know isn’t fairly what it as soon as was, however since we don’t personal a time machine (but), we proceed attending. It’s a extremely enjoyable expertise and nonetheless “shut sufficient” on worth that we give it a go (for now).
At this level, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering is one thing we might do each different 12 months if it had been only a matter of non-public enjoyment. Writing in regards to the occasion is what ideas the scales for us, and makes it simpler to justify paying the ever-increasing costs to attend.
After all, all of that is extremely private. Regardless that it’s much more costly than MNSSHP, I can not think about lacking Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering. The necessity to write about it excuse additionally exists with MVMCP, however we’d completely attend yearly for private enjoyment. That comes all the way down to much more nostalgia, preferring Christmas, climate, and the spirit of the season. (Christmas in November is much more enjoyable for us than Halloween in August.)
In the end, the ambiance, fireworks, plus two showings of each the Boo to You parade and Hocus Pocus present present adequate worth for us to maintain returning, with the whole lot else being icing on the cake. We additionally get to revisit fond recollections and nostalgia for MNSSHP–however greater than something, that ought to underscore why it’s so troublesome to find out whether or not Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering is definitely worth the cash.
There’s additionally the truth that we ascribed numerous worth to the time after 11 pm, which may be downright laughable to these of you who’re dad and mom of babies. We didn’t even scratch the floor there–or of how costly this will get for bigger events. The purpose is that there’s no one-size-fits-all reply. The most effective we are able to supply is the rambling evaluation above, and the hope that it offers adequate “meals for thought” such which you can make a private dedication for your loved ones.
Ultimately, we at all times have a superb time at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering. Not as a lot as we did again within the day (particularly with the associated fee in thoughts), however nonetheless sufficient enjoyable to proceed going 12 months after 12 months. Whilst Annual Passholders who’ve completed the occasion dozens of occasions, we nonetheless look ahead to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering–the occasion is certainly not as “value it” to us because it was once, however we maintain going. As with different followers, the votes we could with our wallets in all probability say much more than these few thousand phrases.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? In the event you’re fascinated with studying extra about accommodations, our Walt Disney World Inns Opinions web page is an efficient place to begin. For the place to eat, check out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions web page. If you wish to lower your expenses on tickets or decide which sort you need to get, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel have a look at unconventional issues you need to take in your journey. When you arrive on the parks, our Walt Disney World “Journey Guides” are nice for figuring out what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of those matters and a lot extra, one of the best place to begin is our complete Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information to take advantage of your expertise!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever attended Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Social gathering at Walt Disney World within the final two years? What did you consider the crowds? Assume it was definitely worth the excessive ticket value? Ideas on the Boo to You Parade, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, fireworks, or another leisure? Every other ideas, likes or dislikes? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
