I just returned from a great visit to Walt Disney World for a Travel Agent retreat (tough job, someone has to do it though!). I attended Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party while I was there. This has become an annual tradition for me and each year the party seems to get better.  There are thousands of tips and strategies for maximizing your party experience out here and I’d like to share a few of my best tips.

1. Dress up! Even as adults dressing up in costume is a great way to get into the party spirit. Characters love it, cast members comment on your outfits and you will love your pictures when the night is over. Just keep in mind that in September and even October it is still very warm out, get a light weight costume and remember you will be standing most of the night in your costume shoes so plan accordingly.

2.  Have a strategy. Are you attending the party to meet your favorite character? How about see the special parade and fireworks? or are you there to take advantage of lower lines for your favorite attractions. Take a look over the events offered and make a to do list, prioritizing your must do items first.

3. Pack your patience cap. Lines can be long for popular characters. Jack Skellington, the Seven Dwarfs, and Jack Sparrow all regularly draw in waits of over 2 hours. Get to the party early and get in line for any of these no later than 6pm so you are doing most of your waiting pre party.

4. Plan for parades. The second parade has fewer viewers and great spots can be snagged even up 15 minutes or less before the parade in Frontierland. Plan to stake out a spot about half an hour before the second parade, an hour before the first parade.  It is harder to get a good spot for the parade than for Hallowishes the fireworks display. If you are seeing the first parade from the central hub area in front of Cinderella’s Castle stay put for the fireworks there. If now for Hallowishes you can walk up to open spots in the street in the HUB and on Main street and have a good view of Hallowishes half an hour pre show. Don’t forget to plan seeing the Celebrate the Magic on the Castle about 15 minutes prior to the start of Hallowishes.

5. Trick or Treat.  Load up on candy for the trip home or to even hand out at home. Disney gives out some top notch name brand candy. Be sure to  check the guide map for treat locations. If you plan on staying for the party all night wait until after the second parade to start trick or treating. 30 minutes will get you a good bagful of candy at that point in the night. Don’t be shy trick or treat the same lines till your heart is content and your bag is full.

I will be sharing my candy score in a post later in the week with tips for specific stops and a strategy to maximize candy collection.