Costume Ideas for Disney Halloween Parties

by Heather StraightAug 22, 2018

School may not even have started where you live, but it is already time to start thinking about the next big holiday – Halloween! The Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Ships really go all out – from the decorations on Main Street U.S.A.® to the special parties at both Walt Disney World® and Disneyland®, and pumpkin everything, it is a great time of year to visit!

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World® takes place on the following dates in 2018: August 17, 24, 28 and 31. September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28 and 30. October 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30 and 31 from 7 pm to midnight. Guests can enter the Magic Kingdom® park beginning at 4 pm with a valid party ticket. In addition to lots of candy to collect, and yummy treats to buy, here are the highlights of the party – there are some returning favorites, and some new additions as well!

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular – Enlisting the help of the Disney villains, the three Sanderson Sisters conjure up the ultimate Hocus Pocus Party Potion—and cast a spell on everyone in Magic Kingdom park!
Boo-to-You Halloween Parade – It’s really not so scary, just lots of fun!
Happy HalloWishes Fireworks Show – Sing along with your favorite Villians at this awesome display presented exclusively during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (weather permitting). There are great viewing spots throughout the park, but our favorite is right on Main Street, U.S.A. – especially for the finale!
Attractions with short lines – New in 2018, discover a fresh spin on the Mad Tea Party, featuring new lighting and effects. On Pirates of the Caribbean, join some rookie pirates in their search for “Gunpowder Pete.” And on Space Mountain, hurtle through deep space with a new soundtrack.
Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam – New in 2018, get your groove on with all of your favorite Disney Junior pals at the Storybook Circus.

Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland® Park takes place on the following dates in 2018: September 19, 21, 24, 26, 28. October 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 29, and 31. Weekday parties run from 6-11 pm, and Friday night parties run from 7pm to midnight. You can even visit both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park with your special event ticket during Mickey’s Halloween Party—entry to either park begins 3 hours before the event officially starts, which is after normal operating hours. Here are some highlights of the event:

Headless Horseman Rides Again – Keep your eyes peeled for this haunted rider as he leads the Frightfully Fun Parade down Main Street, U.S.A. – you can only see him during Mickey’s Halloween Party!
Halloween Screams Fireworks – Be sure to check out this supernatural display presented exclusively during Mickey’s Halloween Party (weather permitting). There are great viewing spots throughout the park, but our favorite is right on Main Street, U.S.A.
Trick-or-Treat Stations – Collect candy and healthy goodies at select locations throughout the park (guide maps available at park entrance).
Character Greetings – All of your favorite Disney Villains and Pals decked out in Halloween costumes – be sure to bring your camera!

If you are planning on attending one of these parties, part of the fun is dressing up and going trick-or-treating!! And it doesn’t matter if your 3 months or 90 years old…single, a mom or dad, baby, toddler, a tween, teen, or grandparent…size extra-small or extra-extra-large, Halloween at Disney is a time to dress up and “feel” like a kid again! So let your imagination run wild…and just think – you won’t see any of the other Guests again anyway!!

Now that you are getting excited, you need some costume ideas! Here are a few:

Disney Related Halloween Costume Ideas

Inside Out – there is something for everyone in your group!
The Incredibles – you can go classic with the actual costumes, or get creative. Elastagirl could be covered in rubber bands; Violet could be all in purple or covered in flowers, or you could all wear eye masks and the letter “i” on your shirts!
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse – With Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, Daisy, Clarabelle Cow, Pete, and Chip and Dale you have a lot of classic characters to choose from!
Peter Pan – This is a great one, especially with a large family with multiple generations. You have Peter Pan and Tinkerbell of course, but then you have Wendy, John and Michael Darling, their parents George and Mary Darling, Nana, the Lost Boys, Princess Tiger Lilly and the Indians, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, the pirates, and the mermaids too.
Pirates of the Caribbean, The Avengers®, and Star Wars® Characters – just be careful of the no weapons rule! If you don’t want to worry about packing a costume, you can always go shopping at Tatooine Traders (for Star Wars in Disney’s Hollywood Studios®) or make an early appointment at The Pirate League for a complete makeover!
King, Queen, Prince, and Princesses – you could go as a family of royals, like maybe the characters from Brave, or even the real British ones! Remember, if you are making an appointment at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, you should do so as soon as possible!
Other Disney Movie or TV Characters – The Tremaine Sisters, Toy Story, The Aristocats, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Cinderella, Alice and Wonderland, Lady and the Tramp, 101 Dalmatians, The Jungle Book, Monsters, Inc, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Nightmare Before Christmas, Meet the Robinsons, Bolt, Phineas and Ferb, Handy Manny, Gravity Falls, The Descendents…whichever is your favorite, a costume can be made representing it! Maybe do a theme from Best Picture winners or worst Villain – there are just so many options!
Epcot® Countries – each person in your party picks their favorite country and dresses like they are from there! Lederhosen anyone?
Rides and Attractions – admit it, you have always wanted to dress up as the grandmother from Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress! And what better way to honor by-gone rides then by dressing up as Ellen from Ellen’s Energy Adventure or one of the characters from The Great Movie Ride®? So many creative options!!
Food/Restaurants – dress up like your favorite Disney treat! You could be a Dole Whip or a Mickey Ice Cream Bar!! One year my family went as Chef Mickey’s, Minnie’s Bake Shop, and Goofy’s Candy Kitchen.

Non-Disney Related Halloween Costume Ideas

Sports – soccer, baseball, football, basketball, Olympic athletes, cheerleaders, track and field, or any other sport you can think of! Just put on your favorite team’s jersey/t-shirt, maybe a ball cap or Olympic Gold Medal, shorts or sweats, and sneakers and you are good to go!
Pick a decade and run with it – 50’s: Roll up your jeans, un-tuck your button-down shirt, put on some penny loafers, grease back your hair and you are on your way. Double extra points for a poodle skirt! The 60’s: Dig out that old tie-dyed t-shirt, put on some beads and peace sign jewelry, jeans or a long skirt and sandals and you are good to go! You could even make your own Disney Logo t-shirt or get one on etsy.com! The 70’s: Bell-bottoms, wide collars and Farrah Fawcett hair! The 80’s: anything neon, mini-skirts, or a “Relax” t-shirt! The 90’s: one word: Grunge.
Animals – dress up like a mouse, or a cat or a dog. Paint your face, put on some ears and a tail and you are good to go! In college once, my girlfriends and I dressed up as the 3 Blind Mice – a mouse costume with some sunglasses and a cane was all that it took!
Other (non-Disney) Movie/TV/Book Characters – Harry Potter, Despicable Me, Minions, Megamind, Wizard of Oz, Mario Brothers, Shrek, DC Comics films, Lego Movies…there are just too many to mention. Again, whichever is your favorite, a costume can be made representing it! Maybe do a theme from Best Picture winners or worst Villain – there are just so many options! I go to an Oscars Party each year where you have to dress up to represent one of the nominated films – one year I went as a Kindle with all of the books made into movies on it! You can even do a mashup of ideas – like this Star Wars/Harry Potter duo!

Costume Guidelines

Disney has posted guidelines for those Guests choosing to dress up:

GENERAL

Disney reserves the right to deny admission to or remove any person wearing attire that is considered inappropriate or could detract from the experience of other Guests.
All Guests may dress as their favorite character, but may not pose for pictures or sign autographs for other Guests.
Costumes must be family-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive, objectionable or violent.
Costumes may not contain any weapons that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.
Costumes may not contain sharp objects, pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike another Guest.
Guests who do not adhere to these guidelines may be refused entry into, and/or removed from, the park unless his or her costume can be modified to meet the above standards.

GUESTS AGES 13 AND UNDER

Costumes and some masks may be worn, as long as the mask does not cover the entire face and eyes are visible.

GUESTS AGES 14 AND OLDER

Layered costumes or costume props that surround the entire body are strongly discouraged and may be subject to additional security screening.
Costumes may not reach or drag on the ground. (e.g., full-length Princess dresses)
Capes may be worn if the length does not go below the waist.
Themed T-shirts, blouses, sweatshirts and hats are acceptable.
Acceptable accessories include: transparent wings, plastic lightsabers, toy swords, and tutus. Headwear may be worn as long as it does not cover the face.
Masks of any kind may not be worn.

Please note: all rules and regulations are subject to change without notice.

Planning Tips

For your own safety, costumes should not interfere with your ability to get on and off attractions or transportation systems. Costumes should also be made of a lightweight material (it is still pretty warm in Florida and California in the fall, so the last thing you want is to have a heavy costume), comfortable, and easy to move around in. This goes for shoes as well – those cute “glass” slippers seem like a good idea until you have a crying little girl on your hands. Bring an extra pair of sneakers just in case! If you have ever seen the Modern Family episode where they go to Disneyland® you will know what I mean! Remember, if you are flying, you also need to be able to pack your costume in a suitcase, so simple is better. The most important tip – have a fun, and happy not-so-spooky Halloween!

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Originally posted September 17, 2017. Updated August 22, 2018.