5 Expert Tips for Viewing Mickey’s Boo to You Halloween Parade with Kids – Schedule, Route, and More
One of the best parades performed at Walt Disney World is Mickey’s Boo to You Parade. Offered exclusively during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this special spooky and fun parade is a favorite among longtime Disney fans. And for many families it is one of the main reasons for attending this special Halloween event at Magic Kingdom.
But to get the most for your money, you’ll want to plan ahead. Stick with me, I’ve witnessed this parade, and the many past versions, more times than I can count. And I am treating you to five tips for Mickey’s Boo to You Parade, no tricks!
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Tips for Watching Mickey’s Boo to You Parade
- Showtimes are 8:15 PM and 11:15 PM
- Watch in Frontierland
- Bring a towel or blanket
- Send someone to trick or treat or mobile order food while you wait
- Know the characters
Showtimes are 8:15 PM and 11:15 PM
Great news! This year marks a big change in the parade time. Mickey’s Boo to You Parade has two performances, the first at 8:15 PM which is much earlier than in years past. The earlier performance is better for kids, but the later performance is much less crowded.
The parade itself lasts about 15 minutes.
Watch in Frontierland
If you’re going to see the first performance at 8:15 PM then head to Frontierand. Mickey’s Boo to You Parade route starts in Frontierland, winds through Liberty Square, in front of Cinderella Castle, and finally up Main Street U.S.A.
So if you watch from Cinderella Castle or Main Street you’ll be at the end of the parade and therefore the parade won’t get to you until about 8:25 PM. Minutes matter!
By watching in Frontierland you’ll see the parade right when it starts AND when it’s over you’ll be closer to many of the attractions like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Big Thunder Mountain, The Jungle Cruise, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Bring a towel or blanket
You’re going to be sitting on the hot pavement for a long while as you wait for Mickey’s Boo To You Parade to start. So bring a towel or other soft material to place on the ground and make it more comfortable.
Plus, the first two months of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party have pretty hot and humid weather. Last year the candy we had gathered before the first parade took place and while we sat watching the parade, our chocolate candy melted! That’s how hot it was!
Send someone to trick or treat or mobile order food while you wait
One of my favorite Disney World tips to share with someone is to mobile order your food! Practically every quick-service restaurant at Magic Kingdom has mobile ordering. So while you wait for the parade, pull up the Disney app and order some food. Then send someone from your party to pick it up and bring it back to your parade viewing spot.
If you decide to watch Mickey’s Boo To You Parade from Frontierland the closest mobile order spot is Pecos Bill Tall Tale Cafe.
If you need some sugary fuel then send someone to visit some nearby trick-or-treating spots and bring some goodies back.
Know the characters
Perhaps you don’t want the parade to be spoiled, which I totally understand. But if someone in your party is willing to know which characters appear in Mickey’s Boo To You Parade, it can help keep the kids excited and entertained while you wait.
Of course, elements of the parade are subject to change, but such an occurrence is rare. Here are the main characters to expect, in order of appearance.
Note: a few minutes before the parade steps off a spooky and impressive Headless Horseman gallops through Magic Kingdom along the parade route. The horse is remarkable, but some littles may be a little frightened. Try to lighten the mood by focusing on the horse, rather than the horseman – pointing out how it clip-clops through the street.
Mickey’s Boo To You Halloween Parade Floats and Characters
- Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, with Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle dressed as the Sanderson Sisters
- Disney pals like Aladdin, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Winnie the Pooh and Friends
- Peter Pan, Wendy, and the Lost Boys, plus Tinkerbell
- Barbosa and Captain Jack Sparrow of The Pirates of the Caribbean movies
- The Haunted Mansion with Grave Diggers and Ballroom Dancers
- Goofy, Clara Cluck, Country Bears, and barnyard friends
- Vanellope von Schweetz from Wreck-It Ralph
- Disney Villains with Ursula, Cruella DeVille, Queen of Hearts, Oogie Boogie, Gaston, Dr. Facilier, Maleficent, Jafar, Evil Stepmother and Stepsisters, and Evil Queen
After watching Mickey’s Boo To You Parade enjoy some of the special character opportunities, attractions, or snatch up some more candy.
If you watch the 8:15 PM parade from Frontierland, you’ll be done around 8:30 PM. This gives you about an hour before you need to worry about getting a viewing spot for Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Halloween Fireworks at 10:00 PM.
One thing is for sure, there is a LOT to do at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and it’s really difficult to do it all. So pick your top three or four must-dos and focus on those. Everything else will just be an extra fun-sized candy in your treat bag.
