Credit: DisneyHalloween starts this week at Walt Disney World, and that is not an exaggeration.
This Friday, August 7, Magic Kingdom holds the first night of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. If the idea of Halloween beginning in the first week of August still catches you off guard, join the club. It happens every year, and every year it arrives faster than it feels like it should.
Guests plan these nights very differently depending on what they are chasing. Some build the whole evening around trick-or-treating, mapping candy stops across the park like a strategy game. Others center everything on Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade, staking out a spot on Main Street, U.S.A. hours early. A growing group plans around the food, since the party menu has become a genuine draw in its own right.
And then there is the group that comes for the characters.
If that is you, this is your night of the year. The party is one of the only times you can meet certain characters at Walt Disney World at all, and the costumed versions of the regulars only exist during these hours. Planning matters because lines build fast, and the night moves quickly.
Walt Disney World has now shared the full list of special characters appearing at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year.
Main Street, U.S.A.
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in Halloween Attire at Town Square Theater.
Jack Skellington and Sally at Town Square Theater.
Adventureland
Aladdin, Abu, Princess Jasmine, and Genie at the Agrabah Marketplace.
Captain Jack Sparrow and Pirates at Captain Jack’s Buccaneer Bash on the Adventureland Stage. This one is new this year as an entertainment experience, though Captain Jack has met at previous parties.
Frontierland
Chip ‘n’ Dale near the exit of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. This is a brand new meet-and-greet for 2026.
Shaker, Wendell, Romeo McGrowl, and Big Al throughout Frontierland.
Liberty Square
Mirabel and Bruno at the Liberty Square Gazebo. Both are returning after appearing in 2024 and skipping last year’s event.
Haunted Mansion Residents at The Haunted Mansion.
Tomorrowland
Stitch, Angel, and Lilo at Stitch’s Masquerade Mashup on the Rockettower Plaza Stage. This is one of the headline new additions for 2026, and it is an entertainment experience rather than a standard meet-and-greet.
Fantasyland
Alice, Mad Hatter, and Queen of Hearts outside the Mad Tea Party.
Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drizella in Fantasyland.
Ariel and Prince Eric near Under the Sea, Journey of the Little Mermaid.
Gaston near Gaston’s Tavern.
Pluto at the entrance to Storybook Circus.
Donald Duck and Daisy Duck in Halloween Attire at Pete’s Silly Sideshow.
Pooh dressed as a Bumble Bee, Piglet dressed as a Butterfly, Eeyore dressed as a Clown, and Tigger dressed as a Pirate at The Thotful Spot.
What Changed From Last Year’s Halloween Party
A few notes for anyone comparing to 2025.
Chip ‘n’ Dale are the genuinely new meet and greet this year.
Donald did not meet in 2025, when Daisy was paired with Goofy instead. This year, Donald is back alongside Daisy, and Goofy is not listed for the event at all.
Mirabel and Bruno are back after sitting out last year.
Characters Not on the List for the Halloween Party
This is the part experienced party guests know to watch for.
Disney has teased other characters making unannounced appearances, including the Hitchhiking Ghosts. Last year, the Hitchhiking Ghosts appeared in Frontierland on the balcony between Frontier Trading Post and Country Bear Musical Jamboree, and also on the Diamond Horseshoe Stage.
Disney Villains also turned up, even though they weren’t on the official list. Mother Gothel and Cruella de Vil appeared on Main Street, U.S.A., while Maleficent and the Evil Queen were positioned in the candy trail queue at Princess Fairytale Hall.
None of that is guaranteed to repeat, but it is worth keeping your eyes open rather than treating the official list as complete.
Several Halloween Party Dates Have Already Sold Out
If you have not bought tickets yet, this part matters.
As of July 30, the following dates were sold out: Friday, August 7, which is opening night; Tuesday, August 11; Friday, August 14; Tuesday, August 18; Friday, September 4; Tuesday, October 13; Friday, October 9; and Saturday, October 31, which is Halloween itself.
Every September date was still available at that point, making September the safest bet for anyone still planning.
Remaining August dates include the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 28th, and 30th. September has availability throughout except September 4th. October still has a substantial number of open dates.
Pricing has shifted as availability shrinks. Tickets originally ranged from $119 to $229 for adults and $109 to $219 for children nine and under. The remaining dates run $139 to $224 for adults and $129 to $214 for children.
Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 on tickets on select nights through early October. Children two and under enter free with a paying adult.
How the Night Works
The party runs from 7 p.m. to midnight on select nights from August 7 through October 31, 2026. Ticketholders can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4 p.m., which gives you up to eight hours in the park.
Beyond character meets, the event includes trick-or-treating around Magic Kingdom, exclusive food and beverage items, themed merchandise, ride overlays, and entertainment, including the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade, and Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks over Cinderella Castle.
Planning Your Character Night
A few practical thoughts if characters are your priority.
The rarest meets draw the longest lines, and Jack Skellington and Sally have historically been the biggest of them. Getting in line early in the evening, right when the party begins, is generally smarter than waiting.
The entertainment experiences with Stitch and Captain Jack Sparrow operate differently from standard meets, so build those around their showtimes rather than expecting a queue you can join anytime.
And the roaming characters in Frontierland are worth simply walking through the area for, rather than planning around.
Party season begins Friday. Who are you hoping to meet?
