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My daughter and I attended Disney After Hours Boo Bash at Magic Kingdom last weekend. It was an impulse decision I made a few months ago to buy tickets for the night after our cruise. We had a blast at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party back in 2019, so I wanted to experience the Halloween version of the party.
We had a great time! However, the event is officially only three hours long. There’s a lot to do and see in that time. With that in mind, here are some tips to maximize your time at Boo Bash.
Arrive by 6:45 p.m.
While the official start time is 9:00 p.m. (9:30 p.m. on some nights), Disney allows Boo Bash ticket holders to enter the park at 7:00 p.m. Getting there at 6:45 allows enough time to get through security and hit the ground running as soon as the gates open to party goers.
Eat Dinner Before Arriving
Even with the extra two hour head start, time is limited. I recommend eating dinner before entering the park. While the party has free snacks after 9 p.m., those snacks are all carbs. Eat some protein before arriving. I wouldn’t waste precious park time waiting on dinner.
Save Popular Rides for After 8 p.m.
While Boo Bash party goers can enter the park at 7 p.m., non-party guests are still in the park for two hours along with the Boo Bash crowd. Lines for popular rides like Space Mountain and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will be long. But, if you wait until after the fireworks start at 8, lines for those popular rides diminish greatly. After the day guests leave at 9, the lines are even shorter. So while you wait for that time, jump on rides that usually have shorter waits, like the PeopleMover, Teacups, etc.
Hit the Free Food Line After 10 p.m.
Disney gives Boo Bash guests free (or included) snacks after the party starts at 9 p.m. The food options are the same at each station and include unlimited Mickey ice cream sandwiches, Mickey ice cream bars, fruit bars, popcorn, sodas and water. When the food stands open at 9, the lines are long. But if you wait until closer to 10, lines are minimal.
Skip Long Trick-or-Treat Lines and Repeat Short Stations
Trick-or-treat stations are spread out around the park. Each station has the same candy. Some lines are longer than others. We found the line by Splash Mountain to be the shortest since it’s the farthest away. To save time, we skipped the stations with long lines and repeated the stations with shorter lines. The cast members did not mind us looping around for seconds, along with other guests who had the same idea.
Time really flew by during the Boo Bash. Somehow, we managed to ride 8 rides, watch three character cavalcades, eat snacks, trick-or-treat and snap some character photos. In the blink of an eye, it was already midnight. I’m glad we squeezed this party into our itinerary.
Have you attended Boo Bash this year, or do you plan to attend? What are your tips for party goers?
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Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
Hi Nancy. I just returned from two weeks in Spain, Italy and France and wanted to share my experiences with your readers regarding travelling to Europe in hopes that they may be useful for others. Is that possible and how would I do that? Thanks.
Hi Chris! I will email you.