Disney recently made an announcement that I know people were waiting on… at least, I know I was. This year, on select nights from August 10 through October 31, Disney will be bringing back an after-hours Halloween party! Those that have attended Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in the past are familiar with Disney’s Boo To You parade and the amazing fireworks. Everyone waited to hear after the announcement of this year’s celebration, Boo Bash, what would and would not be a part of the event. After all, a different name must indicate a difference experience, right?
Never fear! More information has been released. During these mildly spooky and extremely fun nights, here is what guests can expect to see:
- Special cavalcades! “Mickey’s Happy Halloween Cavalcade” will have Mickey and friends dressed in their favorite costumes; “Disney Villains Halloween Cavalcade” will include your favorite villains; “Jack’s Nightmare Cavalcade” will showcase (who else?) Jack Skellington, Sally and Oogie Boogie; and last but definitely one of my favorites – Maleficent in the form of a fire-breathing dragon.
- Unique character meets such as Miss Carolotta at the Haunted Mansion and Chip ‘n’ Dale in their Halloween best.
- The Cadaver Dans are back!
- Complimentary snacks such as ice cream and popcorn, as well as free select beverages.
- Shorter wait times.
- Specialty food and beverage for purchase.
- Magical PhotoPass opportunities.
- Early access at 7pm to Magic Kingdom for Boo Bash ticket holders.
As you may have noticed, there was not mention of stage shows and fireworks. However, my personal belief is that you can’t rule that out, and here is why: Disney is notorious for springing surprises and making last minute announcements. It’s a known fact that Disney has been testing fireworks again in the middle of the night at their parks. While there hasn’t been any start dates for these nighttime displays again, I am still holding on to hope that Disney is working towards this again for Fall and the 50th Anniversary.
Now that we know some of what we can expect for Disney’s Boo Bash events, let me tell you why I personally love the Halloween after-hours parties.
- Halloween decorations – when Disney decorates, they don’t do it halfway. I enjoy the Halloween decor at Magic Kingdom especially, because just like Christmas at Disney, it puts me in the spirit of the holiday. When I walk in and see the Mickey pumpkins all along Main Street, it makes me smile. Every time.
- Ride overlays – Disney likes to take a few of their rides to the next level during Halloween, and its definitely fun to ride something you’ve done a hundred times and enjoy a few new experiences. In previous years, Disney has turned off the lights and turned on the spooky music on Space Mountain, put live actors in Pirates of the Caribbean, and included special effects on Mad Tea Party. Despite the fact that they haven’t officially announced doing this again, I would be surprised if they didn’t. It’s a simple thing for Disney to incorporate during the Halloween events.
- Cadaver Dans! – During a typical Disney day, I love listening to the singing quartet Dapper Dans on Main Street USA. This is one of my favorite Disney streetmosphere shows. The Cadaver Dans are better. When they start singing the spooky Halloween tunes in harmony, I always stop and listen. So amazingly done!
- Candy, candy and more candy – What is Halloween without candy? Disney’s MNSSHP was great for their candy trails, and Disney has officially announced that this will be a part of Boo Bash as well. We’re not talking about the cheap, generic candy either. Skittles, M&Ms, Milky Way, Snickers… my candy jar at home is happy for many months, because Disney is very generous handing them out. Bring a pillow case and go through the lines twice!
- Costumes – Disney has very strict policies on adults and costumes inside their parks. Basically, during most times of the year, they are not allowed. However, Halloween is the exception. With some ground rules, adults can get into the Halloween spirit and dress up for the party. It’s very fun to see the imagination of some of the guests at the party.
I deliberately didn’t include the fireworks or stage shows in this list, although they are some of the best parts about the after-hours Halloween parties. Since Disney hasn’t announced a comeback of these yet, I’m not going to jinx it. I am, however, going to keep my fingers crossed!
The Halloween party tickets officially go on sale June 15th. Anyone with a resort reservation can purchase them on June 8th – a full week in advance. I will be calling in to get mine for the week in October that I will be there, because it’s not Halloween at Disney unless you attend! Ticket prices range from $129-$139+tax for August/September and $159-$169+tax for October, with the exception of Halloween night at $199+tax. Do I feel that it’s worth that price? For a couple of Disney-loving adults, YES – for all the reasons listed above and more. I fully expect with Disney’s 50th Anniversary, there will definitely be special touches incorporated into Halloween as well and I can’t wait to see it! Make sure to follow me on social media at Melanie Nelson at Creating Magic Vacations (Facebook) and disneydreams_lanie (Instagram) to see not only this trip, but all of my trips and stories!
