Ultimate Guide to the Disney World BOO Bash Halloween Event

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a much-awaited event at Walt Disney World Resort in the fall every year. However, it stands canceled for 2021. But the Walt Disney Company has planned a new event that’s got everyone, including me, excited. The brand new Disney After Hours BOO Bash Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom park is one of this year’s most anticipated after hours events.

So, what can you expect at Disney’s After Hours BOO Bash event this Halloween? Bring your spooky spirit and come along with me to see for yourself. My ultimate guide to the Walt Disney World After Hours BOO Bash Halloween Party covers everything you need to know before you go.

From After Hours BOO Bash tickets, hours, and dates, to heaps of information about decorations, food, merchandise, entertainment, and attractions. I’ve got it all covered, so you can get the most out of your Disney experience.

Keep reading to find out what to expect, how to plan, and what you absolutely should not miss!

Disney After Hours BOO Bash Dates and Hours

Disney’s After Hours BOO Bash Halloween event is taking place in the Magic Kingdom park on select nights from August 10 through October 31, 2021. The event runs for three hours from 9 p.m. to midnight or 9:30 pm to 12:30 am (check the Disney site for the timings). 

The BOO Bash event does not start until 9 pm or 9:30 pm, but ticket holders can enter the park as early as 7 pm on event night and go around the park. This means you can enjoy park favorites including fireworks before Disney’s special Halloween event starts.

The Disney website lists BOO Bash dates throughout August, September, and October. Keep in mind though that tickets start selling out early for Disney special events.

When I checked, many dates for the BOO Bash were already sold out.

So, if you haven’t bought your BOO Bash tickets yet, I suggest you hurry up! If tickets are sold out online, it’s worth checking when you visit. Sometimes, Disney does sell last-minute tickets for the event, so look out for them.

Tickets for Disney After Hours BOO Bash 

Disney’s BOO Bash is a separately ticketed event. This means your regular park tickets will not get you in. You will need to purchase separate tickets to attend the event.

The BOO Bash special offerings and festivities are only for ticket holders to this event and not for regular visitors to Magic Kingdom.

However, you do NOT need a Magic Kingdom ticket or Disney park ticket to attend. Meaning, if you’re only going for the BOO Bash Halloween event, you will save on the cost of a day ticket for regular admission.

Also, you don’t need a Disney Park Pass Reservation (theme park reservation) to attend the BOO Bash.

Ticket prices are between $129 and $199 per person, depending on the date and ticket types. Expect to pay more on Halloween night, but again, you won’t be paying for a theme park ticket. It is a limited hours event, however.

Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members were offered a $10 discount in August and September.

Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Remember that these are dated tickets so you have to go on the event date listed on your ticket.

Arrival at Disney After Hours BOO Bash

When you get to Magic Kingdom for the After Hours BOO Bash Halloween event, check in at the Main Entrance (this starts at 7 pm). 

If you have park admission and are already inside Magic Kingdom before 7 pm, you can check in to BOO Bash near Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. 

At check-in, there is a wristband distribution. These wristbands identify you as a guest for the event.

After Magic Kingdom closes to regular guests, the After Hours BOO Bash will officially begin. At this time, all attractions will be open only for those with a Disney After Hours BOO Bash ticket.

And to make the most of the Disney After Hours BOO Bash, I highly recommend picking up an event map. This guide map has lots of useful information about themed cavalcades, trick-or-treat locations, specialty food and beverage carts, and exclusive entertainment that will take place during the event.

Plus, I think the map makes a great souvenir. Something for the scrapbook!

Entertainment at Disney After Hours Halloween Party

If you were disappointed to hear that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is canceled in 2021, worry not. The Walt Disney Company has planned some spookily spectacular entertainment and festive additions for guests at the BOO Bash Halloween Event. 

From the Cadaver Dans Barbershop Quartet making a special comeback from the dead to a DJ Dance Party and Halloween cavalcades, there’s tons of fun to be had at the Disney After Hours BOO Bash. 

Here’s a quick roundup of what’s happening at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World this Halloween:

Cadaver Dans 

Head over to Frontierland to catch the quartet of Dapper Dans in special costumes on event nights. Be sure to check showtimes on your map.

DJ Dance Party 

The whole family is invited to groove to dance tunes with fun floor projections over in Tomorrowland. Runs throughout the night during event hours.

Fireworks

There are no special fireworks at the Disney After Hours event. However, if you get to Magic Kingdom by 7 pm, you will be able to catch the Happily Ever After fireworks show at its regular time on August and September dates. Or the new Disney Enchantment fireworks show on October dates. 

Halloween Cavalcades

Guests who are regulars at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party look forward to the Halloween musical procession and special entertainment.

At the Disney After Hours BOO Bash, you get to watch several different Halloween cavalcades. The cavalcades happen at set times on specific event dates, so be sure to check your map. Stake out a good spot to catch this exclusive BOO Bash experience.

1. Mickey’s Happy Halloween Cavalcade

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and the gang come all dressed up in their Halloween best to celebrate.

2. Disney Villain Halloween Cavalcade

Say hello to some of the best-known Disney baddies. Villains unleashed include Jafar, Queen of Hearts, Miss Carlotta, Miss Renatta, and Dr. Facilier.

Watch the Disney Villains Halloween Cavalcade and find out why it’s good to be bad this sinister season.

3. Jack’s Nightmare Cavalcade

Fans of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas won’t want to miss Jack Skellington the Pumpkin King himself, Sally, and Oogie Boogie spreading some frightful fun and performing some chilling tricks.

4. Maleficent’s Fiery Prowl

Seeing a fire-breathing dragon really sets the mood for Halloween. But while the Mistress of Evil makes an appearance at Disney After Hours BOO Bash, she doesn’t breathe any actual fire.

Characters at Disney After Hours BOO Bash

The Halloween special event at Walt Disney World is a great opportunity to see many Disney characters dressed in Halloween costumes…. Goofy dressed as a pirate is something you can only see at this time of year. 

Head over to the Pinocchio Village Haus, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Frontierland Balcony, and Crystal Palace for the best chances of character sightings. 

And look out for other surprise characters and special character appearances that are only seen on Halloween!

Music, Lighting, and Decor

Disney puts up Halloween-themed festive decorations every year. So, party guests at the BOO Bash can enjoy special themed lighting, decor, and music.

There are a number of light projections and special effects throughout the park to help set the tone and add to all the fun. 

Head over to Tomorrowland for fun light projections at the DJ Dance Party.

And don’t forget to keep an eye on Cinderella Castle as it takes on a spooky look. All with a perfect backdrop of Halloween-themed music.

Magic Shots With Disney Villains

There is a chance to capture some amazing Disney PhotoPass photos called Magic Shots. These boo-tiful surprises will be available exclusively during the BOO Bash After Hours event!

Find some Disney villains, strike a pose at a Magic Shot location, and let the PhotoPass photographers do the rest!

Specialty Food at Disney After Hours BOO Bash

You’re probably wondering – what about the food?

One of the most anticipated things guests look forward to at a Christmas event, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, or the BOO Bash is the specialty food and beverages on offer. 

Your event admission includes some complimentary snacks. It really makes After Hours BOO Bash worth it! Other specialty items are not included with your BOO Bash tickets but can be purchased separately at the Halloween party. 

Included Food and Drinks

Mars Wrigley has sponsored Halloween candy for the event. Grab the complimentary treat bags and go trick-or-treating throughout the park.

Trick-or-treat spots include Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, Pete’s Silly Sideshow, and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, among others.

There is an allergy-friendly center in Liberty Square, so head over there for allergy-free items. You can also pick up a token at select trick-or-treating locations that can be redeemed for allergy-free options.

Besides the candy, guests at the Halloween party also get complimentary ice cream novelties, popcorn, and complimentary bottled beverages from snack carts stationed throughout Magic Kingdom.

I don’t know about you, but I like to get my fill of Mickey-shaped treats like Mickey bars and premium ice cream bars!

Specialty Beverages and Foods

While some snacks are included in your ticket price, select beverages and foods are available for purchase. The specialty menus are on offer at locations throughout Magic Kingdom.

If you want to indulge your sweet tooth, here are some I loved:

• Apple Ginger Dale Frozen Drink

This is a frozen apple cider mixed with ginger ale, topped with whipped cream, completed with Twix candy bars.

• Foolish Mortal Funnel Cake

Topped with ice cream, green drizzle icing, Oreo crumbles, M&Ms, and other goodies. What’s not to love?

• Maleficent Churro

It’s a churro drizzled with chocolate cookie crumbles, purple icing, and colorful sprinkles.

Disney Halloween Merchandise

If you are hoping to pick up some hauntingly happy Halloween keepsakes during Disney After Hours BOO Bash, you might be a little disappointed.

There are some spooktacular souvenirs available but I didn’t see any event-exclusive or event-themed merchandise. There are, however, several really nice Halloween Disney items (these are available to day guests as well).

Crowds and Wait Times at Disney After Hours BOO Bash

One of the best things about Halloween parties like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and the BOO Bash Halloween Event is that capacity is limited. This means you can get on your favorite attractions with shorter wait times than usual. 

And if you get there at 7 pm when check-in for the BOO Bash starts, that’s even more time to have fun before the event begins. By the time you’re getting to the end of the party, many popular rides have wait times of 5 minutes!

Talking of crowds, they can get pretty big on select nights. Event nights like Halloween are obviously the most popular. But that’s only when regular guests are still in the park. 

Once the day guests leave Magic Kingdom, crowds start to thin out around 9 p.m. 

There can be crowding in specific areas. People gather in places with character appearances or character sightings in Halloween costumes.

But given the health and safety measures during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, I felt like the crowds were more manageable.

The best thing is on busy nights, Disney adds more characters to spread the fun around. 

Disney After Hours BOO Bash Tips & Tricks

I can’t sign off without giving you some tips and tricks on making the most of BOO Bash. 

1. Get there early!

Remember that BOO Bash guests are allowed early entry at 7 pm. Get there early and go to as many attractions as your heart desires. Remember, some rides may not be open during the party. Also, special offerings like DJ music and candies will be available only after the Halloween party starts at 9 p.m. or 9:30 p.m.

2. Keep an eye on wait times at rides.

You will get shorter waits after the day guests leave.

3. Plan ahead.

Plan ahead to catch all the Halloween cavalcades. Check your map for showtimes.

4. Wait towards the end of the event for candies.

If you want to stock up on Halloween candy, wait until the end of the night. You might find a cast member wanting to get rid of their candy, so you can pick up a big haul in one location.

5. Find some hidden treat stations.

Don’t want to wait in long lines at trick or treating locations? Find the somewhat hidden treat stations like the one at Pete’s Silly Sideshow instead of sticking to the central ones on Main Street U.S.A.!

Final Thoughts

So, that’s my ultimate guide to the Disney After Hours BOO Bash. Have a spooktacular good time and stay tuned for new posts!