Hiya Evann,
Welcome to planDisney! October will be here before you know it, so I love that you are already planning ahead.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is one of my favorite events, so I always start planning early to finalize all of our family costume details.
As you mentioned, Magic Kingdom closes to guests without valid tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, typically around 6 pm ET before the party officially kicks off at 7 pm ET. In my experience (and in previous years), Guests without an event ticket can have a reservation for dining up until the park closes for non-party Guests. So that does mean you could technically make a reservation for 5:55 or 6 pm EST. As a reminder, Cast Members start ushering Guests without party tickets out at 6 pm, so as soon as you finish eating, you will be escorted to the exit. To be safe, Evann, I recommend making your dining reservation before 6 pm so you can enjoy your meal without feeling rushed.
I hope this was helpful, Evann. Before I let you go, I would love to make a suggestion for dining during your trip since Magic Kingdom will close early due to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which will cut down on the time you can enjoy riding attractions. Rather than make a dining reservation at Magic Kingdom (potentially cutting into your time on the rides), I suggest reserving one of the dining places at the resorts on the monorail, such as
Citricos. You will take full advantage of the shortened park day and enjoy a meal nearby. There are so many yummy choices to eat, but definitely consider
California Grill. The food is fantastic, and as an added plus, when you dine, you can view the Halloween fireworks show at Magic Kingdom from the special observation deck!
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.