With the start of summer just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about…pumpkins?

Yep, pumpkins!

Disney World just released details about its Halloween plan for 2021: an After Hours BOO BASH!

Tickets for the event go on sale June 8th for Disney World Resort guests and June 15th for all other guests.

With the number of people who already have reservations to visit Disney in August – October, plus the many people who will surely be more inclined to book with the announcement of this new Halloween party, now is the perfect time to plan how to get the most out of your late summer/autumn vacation.

Boo Bash Details

This special ticketed event will take place on select nights, beginning August 10 and running through Halloween, October 31.

• Entrance officially begins at 7 pm and the party begins at 9 or 9:30 pm depending on the date selected.
• You won’t need a Day Ticket or Theme Park Reservation
• Guests of all ages are encouraged to dress in costume for the occasion.
• Tickets are limited

Boo Bash Party Dates

 Parties take place mostly Tuesdays and Fridays, with some Sundays added in October

9:30 pm to midnight:

• Tuesday, August 10, 2021
• Tuesday, August 17, 2021
• Friday, August 20, 2021
• Tuesday, August 24, 2021
• Friday, August 27, 2021
• Tuesday, August 31, 2021
• Friday, September 3, 2021

9 pm to midnight:

• Tuesday, September 7, 2021
• Friday, September 10, 2021
• Tuesday, September 14, 2021
• Friday, September 17, 2021
• Tuesday, September 21, 2021
• Friday, September 24, 2021
• Tuesday, October 5, 2021
• Friday, October 8, 2021
• Tuesday, October 12, 2021
• Friday, October 15, 2021
• Tuesday, October 19, 2021
• Friday, October 22, 2021
• Sunday, October 24, 2021
• Tuesday, October 26, 2021
• Friday, October 29, 2021
• Sunday, October 31, 2021

Ticket Prices

• $129 – $139 plus tax for August and September nights
• $159 – $169 plus tax for October nights
• $199 plus tax for Halloween night
• Annual Passholders and DVC members get $10 off per ticket in August and September
• We can assume the less priced ticket above is for weeknights and the higher price is for parties taking place on Fridays.

After Hours Boo Bash Entertainment

The BOO BASH will feature the Character Cavalcades we have come to know and love over the last year, but they will be aptly updated with a Halloween theme.

• Mickey’s Happy Halloween Cavalcade with Mickey Mouse and friends
• Disney Villians Halloween Cavalcade
• Jacks’ Nightmare Cavalcade with Jack Skellington, Sally, and Oogie Boogie taking the parade path to “This Is Halloween”
• Maleficent in the form of a fire-breathing dragon – a MUST see at night!
• Special performances by the Cadaver Dans.
• Lurking characters like Miss Carlotta near the Haunted Mansion, Googy and Chip ‘n’ Dale, and maybe even some additional character surprises too!

Included with Admission:

Just like any other After Hours Event, Disney has offered, this one will also include:

• Complimentary snacks like popcorn, ice cream novelties, and select beverages.
• More than 20 attractions including Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pans Flight, Space Mountain, and more.  And while Disney doesn’t say the rides are  “walk-on” – in my past After Hours Party experiences you never wait to ride anything!
• Trick or Treating around the park

Speciality Themed Treats

Sweet lovers will appreciate the plethora of goodies and treats, and specialty Halloween-themed food and beverages (which often look too fabulous to even eat, but are also too delicious not to!) will be available for purchase.

• Apple Ginger Dale Frozen Drink (frozen apple cider mixed with ginger ale and topped with whipped cream)
• Foolish Mortal Funnel Cake
• and more!

Photo Pass

• PhotoPass photographers will be available to take your picture and are sure to include magic and spooky shots throughout the park.

Of course, the seasonal atmosphere of (not-so) spookiness will be present in the decor, music, and lighting, and all guests will get to enjoy low wait times throughout the park with their special event ticket purchase.

These are the confirmed details of the event as of now, which may leave fans of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party a bit disappointed since 2021 will be the second year that the normal and highly anticipated seasonal event has been canceled, BUT, just as things were unpredictably taken away throughout 2020, things in 2021 have been unpredictably changed as well, and in much more positive ways (such as the recent easing of mask requirements).

So far, Disney has done an excellent job of adhering to the CDC guidelines, while determining which rules to continue to (kindly) enforce throughout the parks to keep guests healthy and feeling safe. As everyday life creeps back toward normalcy, Magical life in the Parks is sure to follow suit.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party vs After Hours BOO BASH

The few key differences between the traditional Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and the After Hours BOO BASH mostly have to do with preventing large crowds from gathering in the same area at the same time and maintaining social distancing throughout the parks.

For the BOO BASH,

• Cavalcades will take the place of the Boo To You Parade, popping up unannounced in order to avoid people claiming prime spots to watch.
• Character “Sightings” will take the place of Meet-and-Greets to keep both Cast Members and guests safely distanced.

In addition, live shows that draw the largest crowds, like the Hocus Pocus Villains Spectacular, will not be performed, and neither will Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular of Fireworks.

Currently, the Fireworks shows throughout Walt Disney World Parks are still suspended due to social distancing guidelines, and Parades have yet to return as well.

HOWEVER, with new guidelines being issued frequently, there is a chance these beloved events will return to the Parks, and when they do, there MAY also be a chance that a modified version of Parades/Fireworks/Shows COULD be added to the After Hours BOO BASH line-up.

With everything still so unpredictable, it should NOT be counted on or planned for, but more thought of as a POSSIBLE added bonus if you decide to purchase tickets for the BOO BASH.

Even if some of the more traditional events do not return, and the After Hours BOO BASH takes place exactly as it is currently advertised by Disney, tickets to the event could arguably be just as valuable, if not even more so, as tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Up Side to the After Hours BOO BASH

Critics of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party have argued that the event has become increasingly crowded, making wait times for rides almost as long as they are during regular daytime operating hours.

In addition, with the sheer amount of extras (Parades, Characters, Live Shows, etc.) during the traditional party, it’s often difficult to decide how to spend your after-hours time: experiencing all the extras, or trying to get in more ride time while the lines are supposed to be significantly lower.

Plus, now that Disney has added Halloween-themed differences to rides such as Haunted Mansion (obviously), Space Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean, fitting in every single ride, show and event may not even be realistic.

On the other hand, this year’s After Hours BOO BASH offers a slightly more laid-back approach. We are all used to cramming as much Magic into one day as possible whenever visiting the Parks, and while that certainly makes for an incredibly Magical experience, it doesn’t always equate to a relaxing one.

With the BOO BASH, though, the After Hours time you get to spend in the Park has the potential to be among the most Magical AND somewhat relaxing experiences you can get at Magic Kingdom.

Instead of spending time waiting in lines for Character Meet-and-Greets, and camped out for hours at your perfect Parade-watching spot, you can spend that time covering more of the Park, while at the same time catching passing Cavalcades and snapping socially distanced selfies during Character “Sightings.” Plus, it’s safe to say that with the decreased Park capacity and a limited amount of tickets to the event, wait times for rides will be significantly lower than normal, and you will get on many more attractions than you would without the After Hours ticket.

You may miss hugging your favorite Characters, but you may also get to ride your favorite coaster multiple times with no wait. In these unprecedented times when we’ve all had to deal with many differences in our daily lives, I would call that kind of trade-off a win.

Noteworthy

There are a few other things worth noting about the After Hours BOO BASH:

• Although the “after hours” time designation doesn’t officially begin until 7 pm, ticket holders of previous After Hours events have typically been let into the Park beginning around 4 pm, still without a Daily Park Pass.
• Depending on how busy you envision you After Hours BOO BASH time to be, it may be worth spending the day by the pool of your hotel, and then gearing up for action later in the afternoon if you don’t want to use up a Park Pass for that day.
• This kind of “early” admission is NOT guaranteed but has been reported by enough visitors in the past that it’s probably worth a try.

Costumes

Additionally, although Disney clearly states that costumes may be worn by all guests, there are a few dress code and costume guidelines that may be unexpected, and if any guidelines are not adhered to, it could result in denial of admission to the Park.

• All costumes need to be family-friendly in accordance with Disney’s values as a family theme park, but there are also a few specifics about costumes that some visitors may not realize.
• No one over 13 is allowed to wear a mask with their costume (children under 13 can, as long as their eyes are not obstructed).
• Costumes with lots of layers are discouraged, and if worn may be subject to search by security (plus they may not fit on every ride, and could prevent you from being allowed on).
• Capes are allowed, but only those down to the waist, and no longer (for safety, and according to Auntie Edna, should never be worn anyway).
• For anyone over 13 planning to wear a princess costume, there are NO full-length dresses allowed! So before you invest in that gorgeous get-up from Etsy, make sure it is not full-length, or you will not be allowed to attend the party you dressed up for!

Overall, this year’s After Hours BOO BASH seems like a perfect stepping stone on our collective way back to normal.

Those who have attended Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in the past may find themselves enjoying this relatively relaxed version for the time being, and those who have never been to the Parks during the Halloween season may find this to be the perfect introduction, sparking excitement about what’s to come (back) in future years.

Any way you look at it, Disney has once again given us something Magical to look forward to!

To learn more about past years Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party you can find that information here.

To plan your next Disney World (and beyond) vacation or purchase tickets please contact your Love of the Magic Vacations travel advisor or to find out more about Disney World resorts click here. 

We look forward to hearing from you!