I love fall, I like some Halloween movies, and I'm always down to go pumpkin picking. But the actual Halloween holiday is just...not my thing. Honestly, my favorite thing about Halloween is when the last trick or treaters go home, and I can let my little Christmas loving heart start to deck the halls. Every year, I watch Christmas movies while I wait to give out candy. You get the idea.

So then why did I go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party this year - especially in August? Truthfully, those parties are actually SO fun! Between the parade, the fireworks, the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, it's a lot of seasonal magic that gets you in the spirit.  I went to my first two last year, and even though I came down with really bad colds after each of them, I felt the urge to go again this year. 

What was even more appealing this year was the fact that the only party happening during our trip was the first one. While we knew the park would be extremely crowded (it sold out), something about seeing the first party of the year was pretty exciting. My Halloween-loathing heart wound up having a great time, and - knock on wood - I did not catch a cold. 

I've rounded up some of my favorites things from the night, as well some advice for anyone attending a party this year!

1.  Dress up! 

Of course, be sure to follow Disney's guidelines for costumes to avoid any trouble during the party. Don and I were going to dress up as David and Nani, but accidentally left the clothes for our costumes at home. And if you don't want to full on wear a costume, you can't go wrong with wearing black, orange, or any other ~spooky~ sort of attire. Since our costumes were quite literally 1,000 miles away, we wore Halloween inspired tees from Pretty Little Monograms and The Lost Bros. 

2. Get there early, and pick up a party program. 

While the party doesn't officially start until 7:00, you don't have to wait until then to arrive! Just remember that the Halloween parties are special ticketed events, so you can only get there ~so~ early, if you don't have regular park admission that day. If you have a MagicBand, just like park tickets, your party ticket is automatically loaded there, so there's no need to bring a physical copy with you.

There are several upsides of getting there before 7:00, including beating the start time rush, getting pictures in before the sun goes down, and riding anything that won't be open during the party.

I'm 100% team "maps are for tourists" when I get to the parks, but the party maps are a little different. They list the locations for where you can get your complimentary candy bag* filled, where to meet special characters, where to find festive meals and treats, as well as which attractions are open during the party - and which ones have fun Halloween enhancements!

*there are teal bags available for trick-or-treaters with allergies, and allergy-friendly locations are marked

3. Try the party-exclusive food. 

Not all of the fall treats at the party are exclusive. If you want to try a wider variety of what's actually being offered, and are returning to Magic Kingdom again, then stick to eating things like the Hades Nachos from Pecos Bill, or the Pumpkin Cheesecake from Main Street Bakery. Things like the Candy Corn Milkshake, or the Maleficent soft serve, are available regularly throughout the season.  

On that note - the Candy Corn Milkshake from Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies got a very mixed review from me. While I liked the actual ice cream, it was simply too sweet for me to stomach. If you're willing to share it with someone or have a major sweet tooth, then it's worth it - but even when I split it with Don, we could barely get through half of it. It's very cute, but it's just extremely sweet. The candy corn soft serve, in a cup, is a lot more manageable for one person - especially since it isn't topped with cotton candy and a marshmallow. Contrarily, the pumpkin cheesecake was really tasty - if you like pumpkin pie, since it's pretty much just pumpkin pie filling.

The party exclusive Hades nachos, on the other hand, were great. We comfortably split an order between the two of us. It was a decent amount for the $12.79 price tag (no Passholder discount is accepted). We didn't get any toppings, so we could judge them at face value, but we would definitely get them again - with toppings, this time. They're black bean tortilla chips, topped with buffalo chicken and cheese. They claim to be spicy, which I'm sure to some they are, but neither of us got the kick we were expecting. So if you like spicy, add some hot sauce. 

4. If you want to lock down a good spot for the parade, castle show, and fireworks - make a plan! 

Happy HalloWishes has one showing - at 10:15. Boo-to-You has two showtimes (9:15 and 11:15), and Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular has three (8:30, 10:45, and midnight). If you don't mind sitting for a bit, and aren't in any real rush to go meet characters or ride anything - find a good spot, watch the 9:15 parade, stay put for the fireworks at 10:15, and then watch the Spelltacular at 10:45. Crowds are usually a little lower for the second parade, and even if you didn't get a prime spot for the parade, the crowd thins out even further when it ends, and you can most likely relocate to get a better view of the fireworks and the Spelltacular. Or if you're really a night owl, start with HalloWishes, then the 10:45 Spelltacular, and end the night with the midnight parade.

Have you been to a party yet this year? Or have plans to go? Let me know!