While at #NicheParent14 last week, I took some time away from the group to visit The Magic Kingdom with Norrin. It was our first time at Walt Disney World during Halloween and there was no way I was going to miss out on Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party! And I am so happy we did.
I've been to Walt Disney World in the summer, visited for Star Wars Weekend. I've been to Disneyland in November (for Viva Navidad!). But The Magic Kingdom at Halloween is simply spectacular! Typically I'm not a fan of Halloween but like everything else, Disney makes it special. If you've never been to Walt Disney World in October, can I just say the weather is perfect. The afternoons are warm (you can easily take a dip in a hotel pool) and the evenings are cool and comfortable. Traveling to Walt Disney World when your child has autism requires planning and preparation. As an autism mom, what I loved about #MNSSHP is that tickets are limited. Once they sell out, that's it. This means, the Magic Kingdom isn't overwhelmingly crowded. We were able to easily navigate the park and the lines weren't outrageous. We didn't even need the Disability Access Service Card. With the exception of The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train*, none of the ride wait times exceeded 20 minutes. Our average wait time was about 10 minutes. *We waited an hour for The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, got in a car. And then Norrin changed his mind. Maybe next time... Two seconds before getting on the Mad Tea Party ride, I check my email. Back in September I applied for the Disney Mom Panel Search. As it was mid October, I assumed I hadn't been selected to move on. Well wouldn't you know, while in Fantasyland I got an email saying I moved on to Round 2 of the #DisneyMP Search! Our first trip to Disney in 2011 was carefully planned. And it was such an important part of our life, I want to help other special needs parents with their Disney experience. I know, not really related to #MNSSHP, but I just had to share.
The Magic Kingdom was decked out Disney Halloween decorations and almost everyone was dressed up - guests and characters. We weren't but that was fine too. There were Trick or Treat stations throughout the park and Norrin got some candy (which I later ate). We visited The Magic Kingdom in June and it was great to see Norrin's progress since our last visit. He was interested in getting on rides. And he was quite vocal about what rides he wanted to go on next. This time, Norrin loved the fireworks. I went prepared with his headphones and he was in awe of all the colors.
A photo posted by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez (@laliquin) on
Norrin was open to posing with character favorites - like Winnie the Pooh, Tinker Bell and Mickey Mouse - something he's usually hesitant about. We've seen Mickey at Epcot but never at the Magic Kingdom. As we were exiting the park, we decided to see if there was a long line to meet Mickey at the Town Square Theater. There wasn't a line at all! (Probably since it was late in the evening and the parade was about to start. So keep this in mind when you go.) At first Norrin was hesitant, he didn't want to go in. The cast members were really nice and patient with Norrin. And then Mickey reached out his hand and spoke! He said, "Hi there! Come on in." Norrin approached Mickey with caution. When Mickey spoke again, Norrin had the biggest smile on his face! After meeting Mickey, we decided to meet Tinkerbell. Tink is my childhood favorite. She's really my first connection to Walt Disney World since it's the very first costume I remember wearing for Halloween. When the cast member asked us if we brought Faith, Trust and a little bit of Pixie Dust, I gasped when the room lit up with Pixie Dust. We even got to see the parade - a Disney first for us! While everyone was crowded on Main Street U.S.A, we had a prime viewing spot in front of City Hall. I found myself dancing and singing along. And all week long, I've been humming Boo To You to myself. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party was the perfect way to celebrate Halloween. The only thing missing was Joseph. I wish he was with us because I know he would have loved it. But that's okay, I have a feeling we'll be back real soon!
What you NEED to know about Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party:
You NEED a separate ticket to get in. If you want to buy a ticket, you better hurry! There are limited tickets available for Oct. 23, 24 & 26. The Party officially begins at 7pm (until close). However, if you arrive after 4pm, you may be granted entry if the park isn't at full capacity. Not all the attractions are open. For more details click HERE. And here's my #MNSSH video mash up. I combined my Flipagram & Instagram videos together.
