Our 2026 Walt Disney World vacation continues with Part 3 as we head to Magic Kingdom for the 30th anniversary of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

After a relaxing morning at Art of Animation, we head to Magic Kingdom for lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern before spending the rest of the day and night inside the park. We talk about whether using a regular park ticket before MNSSHP made sense for our trip and what Magic Kingdom crowds and wait times were like on a Halloween party day.

Once the party begins, we take on Space Mountain in complete darkness, check out the new Grave Digger photo experience, meet rarely seen Disney characters, trick-or-treat around Magic Kingdom, catch Powerline Max, ride Haunted Mansion late at night, and watch Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular.

We also break down our strategy for Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, including where we watched in Frontierland, how early we arrived, and where we’d go if our favorite spot wasn’t available.

Along the way, we share what felt new for 2026, what we thought of the party’s entertainment and character experiences, and one of our biggest takeaways from MNSSHP: you cannot do everything in one night. We explain why choosing the rides, characters, food, trick-or-treating, and entertainment that matter most to your family can make for a much better night.

And after spending the evening collecting candy around Magic Kingdom, we finally reveal just how much made it home with us

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Whether you’re dreaming of a Disney World vacation, Universal thrills, or need help with dining plans, we’ve got the tools and tips to make your trip stress-free and unforgettable.

Our long-awaited 2026 Walt Disney World vacation recap is finally here! In Part 1, we cover our arrival day, our first impressions of the Finding Nemo Family Suites at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and a chaotic dinner that wasn’t exactly the magical start we had envisioned.

The next morning, we rope drop Magic Kingdom and put a popular Disney planning theory to the test: Is Magic Kingdom really less crowded on a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party day? We share our actual wait times, how we used Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and our thoughts on the reopened Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and updated Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

Despite a torrential downpour, we make it through most of Magic Kingdom before park hopping to Hollywood Studios for more attractions, character dining at Hollywood & Vine, and Fantasmic! By the end of the day, we had completed 17 rides and shows—but the weather had already set something in motion that would affect the rest of our trip.

Planning your next magical getaway? Connect with Family Travel Planner for expert tips, booking help, and all things Disney and Universal.

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Whether you’re dreaming of a Disney World vacation, Universal thrills, or need help with dining plans, we’ve got the tools and tips to make your trip stress-free and unforgettable. 00:00 Welcome to the Disney Hour Express 00:55 Our 2026 Walt Disney World trip report begins 03:02 Why we visited during the final week of August 06:00 Arriving at Art of Animation Resort 10:58 Our honest family-suite review and chaotic first dinner 21:54 Magic Kingdom rope drop without Abbie 26:42 Early Entry strategy, Mine Train and Peter Pan 35:18 Testing Magic Kingdom crowds on a party day 36:43 Jungle Cruise, Pirates and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure 43:09 Big Thunder Mountain and Lightning Lane timing 49:04 Fantasyland attractions and a break at Gaston’s Tavern 58:10 A major storm hits Tomorrowland 01:01:04 Space Mountain, TRON and racing through the rain 01:06:33 Lunch and park hopping to Hollywood Studios 01:09:10 Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Toy Story Mania 01:12:23 Exploring an unusually empty Galaxy’s Edge 01:16:32 Fantasmic Dining Package and Hollywood & Vine 01:24:14 Rise of the Resistance and The Little Mermaid 01:29:12 Ending the night with Fantasmic! 01:32:55 How we completed 17 attractions and shows

Our 2026 Walt Disney World vacation recap continues! In Part 2, we head to EPCOT for a full family day—but this time, we intentionally skip rope drop and try to experience the park at a slower pace.

After taking the Disney Skyliner from Art of Animation, we meet Stitch near the International Gateway and quickly discover a problem with our Lightning Lane plans. We share our actual wait times and honest reactions to Soarin’ Across America, Test Track 3.0 and the updated version of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. We also discuss the upcoming changes to Spaceship Earth and Journey Into Imagination with Figment.

Along the way, we try Sunshine Seasons for the first time, explore some frequently overlooked EPCOT attractions and enjoy a relaxed walk around World Showcase before dinner at San Angel Inn. The evening ends with a missing hat, a second ride on Soarin’ Across America and a last-minute dash to Remy’s just before EPCOT closes. Did skipping rope drop finally give our family the slower EPCOT day we wanted—or did Lightning Lane planning add another kind of stress?

Planning your next magical getaway? Connect with Family Travel Planner for expert tips, booking help, and all things Disney and Universal.

🌐 Website: www.familytravelplanner.com 📸 Instagram: @disneyfamilytravelplanner 🎥 TikTok: @familytravelplanner ▶️ YouTube: Family Travel Planner Channel 👍 Facebook: Disney Family Travel Planner

Whether you’re dreaming of a Disney World vacation, Universal thrills, or need help with dining plans, we’ve got the tools and tips to make your trip stress-free and unforgettable.