Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2018 Media Event
Once again, I was trusted to represent The Disney Nerds Podcast at this fun event. What an event it was. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party has to be one of my favorite separate ticketed events of year. Admission for this event is $105-$130 per person depending on the day for anyone above 2 years of age. This event will run on 34 select nights in August, September, and October. Now, on with the show.
My helper this evening was my daughter, Kelsey. She was in charge of taking pictures of the photo ops with the Disney Ambassadors, some members of the culinary team and so on. When we first arrived, we were late due to a delayed flight from Dallas. Needless to say I was super upset. At any rate, someone was waiting for us at the TTC and escorted us to Magic Kingdom and caught us up with the rest of the media so that we could get our time in with the media opportunities. We were broken out into teams. We walked with our team leader until the end. We felt like a tour group. First we got to take a picture with Goofy all dressed up and ready for Halloween and a Disney Ambassador. Goofy was also bustin a move to Thriller. We noticed that he had a blue cast member tag (most name tags are white). When asked why, he said that the blue tag is the Legacy Tag and it’s the highest honor bestowed upon the Ambassadors. It means that he was voted to be a prime example of someone upholding Walt’s legacy to the highest standard. Then we were ushered over to another the merchandise table where Steve (it was so loud I couldn’t catch his last name) was showcasing all of the seasonal merchandise. This year’s inspiration was the Sanderson Sisters and the fact that this year Hocus Pocus turns 25. There was a spirit shirt that had “A muck, a muck, a muck,” on the back of it. Kelsey went nuts over this and had to have it. The cost of the spirit was $59.99. There are also shirts to represent each sister. There were also cauldron coffee mugs, headwear, and a whole assortment of other merchandise. We asked if there would be any new merch added as the season progresses, and this will be it for the season. After that we were escorted over to the culinary table where they were showcasing their seasonal cupcakes. The cupcake we got was made with apple spiced cake and a layer of pralines and mounds and mounds of icing. I don’t normally eat sweets, but this was so decadent. There is no way one person can eat a whole one without going into a sugar coma! But one just doesn’t want to share either. It’s complicated.
Once we were done there we were escorted over to a few of the rides that had Halloween overlays. First up was the Mad Tea Party. Take out the normal music and queue in the Halloween music, and crazy lighting. See the video on our Facebook page or over on The Disney Nerds Podcast page. Then we walked over to Pirates of the Caribbean. We were escorted in by our team leader through the fast pass entrance, where there were live cast dressed as pirates in the show. This was a great addition to this attraction. After we rode we got a presentation and photo opportunity with an Imagineer, a pirate was on hand for the photots. We told him that the addition of live pirates was great to the attraction and asked if this would be considered on a more permanent basis. He said not as of right now, but you never know what’s going to happen. Seriously guys, we loved the live pirates. They were so interactive and, in my opinion, spiced up the attraction a bit.
The Spas were set up in Tortuga Tavern and we were brought over there to see what’s new at the Spas! You can now make an appointment for a Disney inspired hair and makeup treatment at one of the Spas of Disney (located at the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, and Yacht Club, and Disney’s Coronado Springs. The cost of this service runs from $50.00-$125. Unlike the Bippity Bobbity Botique, this is for all ages. Apparently they are pretty booked, because they suggested reservations at least 6 months in advance. After that we were ushered over to Space Mountain where the overlay here was riding this attraction in total darkness. Now, I know you think it’s dark normally, but I’m here to tell you that when they said dark you couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face. Normally, this ride scares the you-know-what out of me, but I’m here to tell ya that riding in complete darkness…WHOA! Kelsey loved it! It scared me even more. I love the ride, don’t get me wrong. It just scares me. This was the end of our team leader, Bob who did such a wonderful job making sure we had every opportunity available tonight.
Now, we were left on our own to catch the parades and the stage shows. There was one parade at 9:15 and the next was 11:15 with the stage show featuring the Sanderson Sisters following at midnight. We didn’t do a lot of trick or treating, but the little bit of candy we did get, Kelsey ate while we waited at the different attractions. Poor baby was hungry. The obvious attraction that we HAD to go on was the Haunted Mansion, I mean it is Halloween right! There was only a 20 minute wait so we got in line. Usually there is a ghost in the yard that interacts with the guests while they are in line. She must have been on a break when we went through, but we got a glimpse of her when we exited the ride.
We finally got something to eat and waited for the parade. Little hint, if you stand by the fire station where the parade ends, there is plenty of room and great photo ops. We stood right in front of the barber shop where we had a ton of room and were able to enjoy the parade without everyone pushing and getting in front of you. I had not seen the stage show with the Sanderson Sisters before, so this was a treat for Kelsey and me.
If you get the opportunity to attend this event, you must do it. It is totally worth the cost of the admission. If you’ve never done it, once you do you will make it a yearly tradition. Who knows, maybe a hitch hiking ghost will follow you home.