Hiya Larry,
Welcome back to planDisney and Boo to You! I am so excited that you are attending Mickey’s frightfully fun Halloween party next month. I’m also attending this year, and I am putting the last-minute finishing touches on my family’s Halloween costumes in anticipation.
Some people go to
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for the trick-or-treating (my Prince Charming and toddlers); some people for the
party-exclusive bites and entertainment (definitely me). Others seek out the characters, like you, Larry. I’ve set a similar goal in the past, Larry, and while it definitely takes strategy, it can be done; you just might not be able to prioritize attractions or trick-or-treating! Some character encounters are a part of a show like Stitch, Lilo and Angel over at A Masquerade with Stitch or Captain Jack Sparrow at the See Spirited Swashbucklers, while others are more traditional meet-and-greets. Currently, Walt Disney World Resort has not released the official list of every character who will be in attendance during the party (specific offerings are subject to change), but the first party was last Friday night, so you can start to come up with a game plan by looking at what has been shared online. One thing I do want you to know is that the guide map you receive when you enter the party and your
My Disney Mobile Experience app are going to be the greatest tool you can have to reach your goal of seeing all of the characters during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary.
Larry, my second best piece of advice is to take advantage of the early entry your party ticket grants you at 4 p.m. EST and try to get the most popular character meeting, Jack Skellington and Sally, done. As soon as you can, head towards
Town Square Theatre to get in line (I’ve heard the line can get very long, so if they are on your list, start there. If the line isn’t too long, then I would also get Mickey and Minnie Mouse checked off the meeting list as well! Next, I would check your My Disney Experience mobile app to see what times to expect the other characters to be out and about. This can help you tailor your plan more specifically. But in my experience, I’ve always found that starting in either Adventureland and heading counter-clockwise through Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland (which typically has the most character interactions), and ending in Tomorrowland, or the reverse, is a solid strategy. That will help to make sure you don’t miss anyone.
I hope this was helpful, Larry. I really do believe your goal can be met; it is just going to probably use up most (if not all) of your party time. I know I already mentioned this, but it bears repeating that typically most of the characters can be found in Fantasyland. Be prepared to spend a good chunk of your time over there! We found that if we grabbed a snack and then, once the line looked short enough, we hopped in, we were able to accomplish the most! If you need anything else, please come back and see us. There is always room for one more question here.
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.