Are wait times lower at Magic Kingdom on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party days?
Guests and podcast listeners frequently ask whether visiting Magic Kingdom during the day before at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is worth it, or should strategically be a priority.
If you’re looking to maximize your time and avoid long lines, you need to know the insider tricks, and this is definitely one of them. One of the best times to enjoy lower wait times at Magic Kingdom is on the days when Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is scheduled. While most guests are focused on the special party events later in the evening, the real secret is what happens before the party even begins.
On Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party days, wait times for rides are generally much lower than usual, especially during the morning and early afternoon. With fewer guests in the park, you can pack more attractions into your day. And for those who aren't attending the party, it's a perfect opportunity to enjoy popular rides with shorter lines before the park closes early for regular guests.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how wait times change on party days, how they compare to non-party days, and why arriving early on an Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party day could be your key to a stress-free day at Magic Kingdom. Let’s dive in!
What Happens at Magic Kingdom on Party Days?
Before we dive into the wait time magic of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party days, let’s quickly cover what makes these days a bit different from a regular park day at Magic Kingdom.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is a special ticketed event that takes place on select nights from mid-August through October. The party officially kicks off at 7 PM and runs until midnight, transforming Magic Kingdom into a spooky (but not too scary) Halloween wonderland. Think trick-or-treating stations, special Halloween-themed parades, rare character meet-and-greets, and even exclusive overlays for some rides.
But here’s the catch: on these party days, Magic Kingdom closes early—typically at 6 PM—to guests who don’t have a party ticket. This means non-party visitors need to wrap up their day a bit earlier than usual, making it a unique day to visit.
So, how does this affect crowds?
Well, for one, a lot of guests choose not to visit Magic Kingdom on party days because of the shorter hours, thinking they won’t get as much park time. Plus, guests with MNSSHP tickets often don’t enter the park until the afternoon since they can enjoy the party from 7 PM onward. These two factors combined mean that the park is much less crowded during the day—especially before the party-goers start arriving around 4 PM.
In short, party days bring a sweet spot for non-party guests, where you can enjoy shorter wait times for most attractions, even though the park closes earlier than usual. It’s like having a semi-private park experience for much of the day!
Lower Wait Times: Comparing Magic Kingdom Wait Time Data Party Day vs. Non-Party Day
As a seasoned Disney-goer and someone who’s closely tracked wait times at Magic Kingdom for years, I can tell you one thing with certainty: visiting on a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party day is one of the best-kept secrets for low wait times—especially before the party starts. Let’s take a look at a real-world example from August 9, 2024 (a party day) compared to August 10, 2024 (a regular day) to see just how big the difference can be.
August 9, 2024 Party Day Wait Times at Magic Kingdom
Morning Wait Times: Early Birds Get the Shorter Lines
On August 9, the party day, wait times start out lower than normal and stay comfortably low throughout the morning and into the early afternoon. By the time the park opens at 9 AM, wait times hover around 10-15 minutes for most attractions. That’s really low for Magic Kingdom, especially for popular rides. In fact, you could easily fit in two or three big-name rides before lunchtime without feeling like you're racing against the clock.
You can see from the “typical wait” that wait times were close to half of what they are during a normal park day.
Compare this to a non-party day, where the crowds start building earlier. On that day, wait times steadily climb as the morning progresses, reaching around 30-35 minutes by 11 AM for the same attractions. And by lunchtime? You’re looking at around 40 minutes or more for some of the headliner rides. It’s not the worst wait you’ll experience at Magic Kingdom, but it’s definitely longer than what we see on a party day like August 9.
If we look at the actual wait times in comparison to the typical wait times (dashed line in the graphs), we can really see how much easier it is to move through the park on a party day. On August 9, wait times consistently stay below the typical line, which means you're enjoying a quieter park and shorter lines than what’s normally expected for that time of year.
Why Do Wait Times Stay So Low on Party Days?
There are a couple of reasons for this. First, fewer guests overall choose to visit the park on a party day because they know the park closes early for non-party guests. Many people prefer a full day at the park, so they pick non-party days like August 10 to get the most bang for their buck. This leaves the park less crowded in the morning and early afternoon on party days.
Plus, even the guests who do visit the park on MNSSHP days tend to leave early. They either want to beat the party crowds or they plan to head to another park with park hopper, knowing they won’t be able to stay late at Magic Kingdom. As a result, the lines stay short until about mid-afternoon, giving those who are in the park a huge advantage.
Further, the guests who are spending money for the party (more than a typical park ticket) usually rest at their resort in the morning, knowing they will stay out late for the party.
If a party guest spends $170+ on a party ticket, it would be an additional $100+ for a park ticket to enter before the party, which they are essentially only using until 4PM.
A Golden Window of Low Waits
If you visit on a party day and get there early, you’re almost guaranteed a smoother, quicker experience. Between 9 AM and 4 PM, wait times stay well below typical levels, giving you the chance to hit the major attractions with ease. By noon, when lines at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train might normally be creeping toward 60 minutes, you’ll find waits closer to 30-40 minutes. And for rides like Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, you could walk right on with almost no wait at all.
Overall, the morning and early afternoon of a Mickey’s Not So Scary Party Day is the ideal time to experience Magic Kingdom with fewer crowds and shorter lines. You’ll definitely notice a difference if you compare it to a regular day, where the wait times follow the more predictable (and often frustrating) rise as the day goes on.
Wait Times After 4 PM: Impact of Mickey’s Not So Scary Guests Entering the Park
Now, let’s talk about what happens to the wait times once 4 PM hits—when guests with Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets can start entering Magic Kingdom. While the party itself doesn’t officially start until 7 PM, Disney allows party ticket holders to enter as early as 4 PM, which can have a noticeable effect on the park's atmosphere and wait times.
What Happens Around 4 PM?
At 4 PM, the party guests start streaming in, adding to the overall number of people in the park. However, the interesting thing is that, despite this increase in crowd size, wait times don’t spike as dramatically as you might expect.
Let’s take a look at the August 9, 2024 wait time data. You can clearly see from the graph that wait times begin to rise after 4 PM, but they still remain lower than the typical wait times for most attractions. Compare this to a non-party day, where wait times are already higher by this point in the afternoon and stay consistently elevated until the park closes.
So why don’t wait times skyrocket after 4 PM on party days? Well, it’s because many party guests are focused on getting pictures, meeting characters, checking in for the party, grabbing snacks, or staking out spots for special events like the parade and fireworks. Most people who come for the party aren’t rushing to hop on Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad right away—they’re gearing up for the Halloween-specific fun, which leaves the rides still relatively easy to access.
Wait Times: Party Day vs. Non-Party Day
Let’s compare the impact of party guests entering at 4 PM on August 9 versus the crowd patterns on a typical day. On the party day, wait times do tick up in the late afternoon but stay comfortably below 30 minutes for most attractions, even as more guests arrive. You’ll still see reasonable waits for big rides like Pirates of the Caribbean or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Contrast that with the non-party day on August 10, where wait times continue to rise and peak around mid-afternoon, with some attractions hitting 45 minutes or more. The park is much more crowded because there’s no early closure to push guests out, and everyone is trying to pack in as many rides as possible before the end of the day.
The Sweet Spot: 4 PM to 6 PM
For guests without party tickets, the hours between 4 PM and 6 PM still offer lower-than-average wait times for most rides. While the influx of MNSSHP ticket holders may slightly increase lines, it’s nothing compared to the wait times on a standard day. If you’re not attending the party, this is your last chance to enjoy Magic Kingdom attractions with shorter lines before the park closes to non-party guests at 6 PM.
In short, while the crowd does pick up after 4 PM on party days, the impact on ride wait times is relatively minimal. You can still enjoy a handful of attractions with reasonable waits even as party-goers filter in. By planning smartly, you can get a lot done before the party fully takes over the park.
Best Attractions to Enjoy Before MNSSHP Starts
To make the most of the low wait times on a party day, prioritize these rides:
Tron Lightcycle Run and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: Virtual Queue is less competitive because there are less people trying to enter!
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – Wait times stay below 40 minutes compared to the usual 60+ on a non-party day.
Peter Pan’s Flight – Easier to get on with shorter waits in the morning.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – A great ride to enjoy before party crowds increase.
Haunted Mansion – Perfect for a Halloween-themed day, with shorter lines in the morning.
Pirates of the Caribbean – Often a walk-on in the early part of the day.
Space Mountain – Typically 10-20 minutes shorter than usual.
These attractions tend to have much shorter lines on party days, making it easier to fit in more experiences before the park closes to non-party guests.
Is It Worth Visiting Magic Kingdom on a Party Day Without Attending the Party?
Yes! But I’d recommend it most if you have park hopper or an annual pass. This would allow you to continue your day at a different park once Magic Kingdom closes for the non-party guests! The shorter lines and less crowded atmosphere make for a more relaxed park day, especially if you’re a rope dropper. Adding park hopper will help you get the most for your money. Consider heading over to Hollywood Studios for Fantasmic! or EPCOT for Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind!
