Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2025

[MisterPenguin]

You create FOMO by "selling out" a few dates early on. Then, due to "popular demand," you can MAGICALLY find some more "tickets" for those sold out dates.

What do you mean 'create'?

What do you mean by scare quoting 'selling out'?

Let's say what we mean plainly.

 

[Disstevefan1]

If we can trust Disney IT to be working properly-

Looks like Aug. 24th and Aug 26th are still available at the low price of 129. The 5 other dates in August are sold out.

Only one date in Sept. sold out as of today at what seems to be the 139 price.

Only Halloween , the highest price, sold out in October as of today.

 

[larryz]

What do you mean 'create'?

Disney sets an arbitrary limit on how many admissions they allow for each party based on some unknown standard of service they intend to provide. They CREATE the market for the party by limiting attendance. Keeping the number low means parties "sell out" fairly quickly, generating FOMO among the faithful devotees who wouldn't miss MNSSHP unless forced to by a hurricane, MK-swallowing sinkhole, or Cuban missile attack. Hypothetical example: Some suit determines that a "quality MNSSHP experience" requires limiting attendance to 20% of MK capacity. But to provide flexibility for weather and other circumstances beyond Disney's control, they decide to use a 15% capacity figure, giving them (a) an earlier "sell out" and (b) the ability to run the figure up to 20% as they get closer to the date, taking into account predictions on weather and historic and current data on resort reservations, MK reservations, outstanding annual passes, the phase of the moon, and cast member availability. Even the 20% hard ceiling gives them a couple of percent flex over that, since 10% don't show, leave early, etc.

What do you mean by scare quoting 'selling out'?

The only REAL hard ceiling on attendance is whatever the Fire Marshal determines is the maximum safe capacity of the park. If they set the limit lower than that, it's arbitrary and not a REAL sell out -- again with the flexibility aspect of deciding where to set the limit for a "quality" experience.

Let's say what we mean plainly.

I thought I was pretty plain the first time.

 

[peter11435]

Disney sets an arbitrary limit on how many admissions they allow for each party based on some unknown standard of service they intend to provide. They CREATE the market for the party by limiting attendance. Keeping the number low means parties "sell out" fairly quickly, generating FOMO among the faithful devotees who wouldn't miss MNSSHP unless forced to by a hurricane, MK-swallowing sinkhole, or Cuban missile attack. Hypothetical example: Some suit determines that a "quality MNSSHP experience" requires limiting attendance to 20% of MK capacity. But to provide flexibility for weather and other circumstances beyond Disney's control, they decide to use a 15% capacity figure, giving them (a) an earlier "sell out" and (b) the ability to run the figure up to 20% as they get closer to the date, taking into account predictions on weather and historic and current data on resort reservations, MK reservations, outstanding annual passes, the phase of the moon, and cast member availability. Even the 20% hard ceiling gives them a couple of percent flex over that, since 10% don't show, leave early, etc.

The only REAL hard ceiling on attendance is whatever the Fire Marshal determines is the maximum safe capacity of the park. If they set the limit lower than that, it's arbitrary and not a REAL sell out -- again with the flexibility aspect of deciding where to set the limit for a "quality" experience.

I thought I was pretty plain the first time.

A sold out party isn’t really that low anymore. The cap has doubled over the last 10 or so years.

 

[Ayla]

Duh, it's not ACTUALLY selling out. Disney just picked an arbitrary date and/or an arbitrary number of tickets and declared it "sold out."

(Am I doing this right? )

That is LITERALLY what they do.

 

[Chi84]

Disney sets an arbitrary limit on how many admissions they allow for each party based on some unknown standard of service they intend to provide. They CREATE the market for the party by limiting attendance. Keeping the number low means parties "sell out" fairly quickly, generating FOMO among the faithful devotees who wouldn't miss MNSSHP unless forced to by a hurricane, MK-swallowing sinkhole, or Cuban missile attack. Hypothetical example: Some suit determines that a "quality MNSSHP experience" requires limiting attendance to 20% of MK capacity. But to provide flexibility for weather and other circumstances beyond Disney's control, they decide to use a 15% capacity figure, giving them (a) an earlier "sell out" and (b) the ability to run the figure up to 20% as they get closer to the date, taking into account predictions on weather and historic and current data on resort reservations, MK reservations, outstanding annual passes, the phase of the moon, and cast member availability. Even the 20% hard ceiling gives them a couple of percent flex over that, since 10% don't show, leave early, etc.

The only REAL hard ceiling on attendance is whatever the Fire Marshal determines is the maximum safe capacity of the park. If they set the limit lower than that, it's arbitrary and not a REAL sell out -- again with the flexibility aspect of deciding where to set the limit for a "quality" experience.

I thought I was pretty plain the first time.

Or they limit attendance to give guests a better experience. People want that so they can get on the rides without waits.

We’ve gone to both the Halloween and Christmas parties and thoroughly enjoyed them. That’s what causes the FOMO.

 

[Touchdown]

A sold out party isn’t really that low anymore. The cap has doubled over the last 10 or so years.

No they significantly cut back after 2019.

 

[monothingie]

No they significantly cut back after 2019.

There were parties in 2017-2019 where it was absolutely unpleasant to be in the MK due to crowds. It has not been like that post Covid restart.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Disney sets an arbitrary limit on how many admissions they allow for each party based on some unknown standard of service they intend to provide. They CREATE the market for the party by limiting attendance. Keeping the number low means parties "sell out" fairly quickly, generating FOMO among the faithful devotees who wouldn't miss MNSSHP unless forced to by a hurricane, MK-swallowing sinkhole, or Cuban missile attack. Hypothetical example: Some suit determines that a "quality MNSSHP experience" requires limiting attendance to 20% of MK capacity. But to provide flexibility for weather and other circumstances beyond Disney's control, they decide to use a 15% capacity figure, giving them (a) an earlier "sell out" and (b) the ability to run the figure up to 20% as they get closer to the date, taking into account predictions on weather and historic and current data on resort reservations, MK reservations, outstanding annual passes, the phase of the moon, and cast member availability. Even the 20% hard ceiling gives them a couple of percent flex over that, since 10% don't show, leave early, etc.

Cool.

Thought you might have been buying into the conspiracy theory that -- on top of having a self-imposed capacity limit for all nights -- they say that certain dates are sold out way below that capacity limit just so they can post on their board "some dates have sold out already!!!" in order to get people to rush and buy tickets.

Yes. Capacity is limited. That's one of the selling points.

And the dates sell out without manufacturing fake sold out dates.

 

[Figments Friend]

I suspect the two dates near the last weekend in September may sell out soon, as the Carolwood Society ( for us Disney Train nerds ) and the RetroMagic convention ( for us truly hardcore original WDW nerds ) are both happening then.
Might attract some extra ticket sales….

Just a heads up for anyone who might be thinking of doing one of the parties that weekend.
Y’all might want to buy your tickets soon….



-

 

[Yodasnuggs]

That is LITERALLY what they do.

I mean I was mostly joking, but do we have proof that this is actually what happens in large/substantial numbers?

 

[Chi84]

I mean I was mostly joking, but do we have proof that this is actually what happens in large/substantial numbers?

Proof?! As in some reason to believe Disney is actually doing this? I doubt it.

 

[Figments Friend]

It’s Bob.

He is buying up all the tickets to make sure certain nights are ‘sold out’.
Gives a good impression to the stock holders n’ all and keeps those tickets ‘in demand’ !



-

 

[larryz]

It’s Bob.

He is buying up all the tickets to make sure certain nights are ‘sold out’.
Gives a good impression to the stock holders n’ all and keeps those tickets ‘in demand’ !



-

Baseball teams do that all the time. My proof:
a) Bob was a weatherman in Ithaca, NY
b) NY has several baseball teams
c) Bob watched them boost attendance figures by "buying" their own seats and then giving them away
Therefore:
d) Bob is buying the tickets to create a shortage and make it seem like the tickets are a hot item.

 

[LittleBuford]

Baseball teams do that all the time. My proof:
a) Bob was a weatherman in Ithaca, NY
b) NY has several baseball teams
c) Bob watched them boost attendance figures by "buying" their own seats and then giving them away
Therefore:
d) Bob is buying the tickets to create a shortage and make it seem like the tickets are a hot item.

Why is it so hard to believe that the tickets are simply selling out?

 

[larryz]

Cool.

Thought you might have been buying into the conspiracy theory that -- on top of having a self-imposed capacity limit for all nights -- they say that certain dates are sold out way below that capacity limit just so they can post on their board "some dates have sold out already!!!" in order to get people to rush and buy tickets.

That's exactly what I was saying. Here's the math:

 

[MisterPenguin]

Disney Sales Rep: Our sales and sell-outs for the Halloween Party are slower this year.

Disney Exec: Quick! Change the status of the August 21st and August 28th dates as sold-out!!​

Disney Sales Rep: But we've only sold ten thousand of out the allotted twenty-five thousand spots for each of those nights.

Disney Exec: Just do it! It will show to everyone that tickets are running out. FOMO will have them buying up tickets in droves!!! <maniacal laugh>​

Disney Sales Rep: But people attending on the 21st and 28th on so-called sold-out dates will know that you randomly and capriciously marked them sold-out when there's less then half the usual guest attendance on those nights.

Disney Exec: They'll never figure it out!!!​

Disney Sales Rep: And the thousands of employees working sales and staffing operations will know. And it'll be tens of thousands of people over the course of years who will know we do this. And it will only take one loose-lipped or disgruntled employee to post about in on social media to give up the game. Are you sure you want to do this?

Disney Exec: Yeah, no one will know.​

Disney Sales Rep: And you'll lose out on four million dollars in sales for those two nights.

Disney Exec: Oh. . . . Nevermind. ​

 

[larryz]

Why is it so hard to believe that the tickets are simply selling out?

What's the maximum capacity of the MK? (Hint -- see post 358)

 

[larryz]

Disney Sales Rep: Our sales and sell-outs for the Halloween Party are slower this year.

Disney Exec: Quick! Change the status of the August 21st and August 28th dates as sold-out!!​

Disney Sales Rep: But we've only sold ten thousand of out the allotted twenty-five thousand spots for each of those nights.

Disney Exec: Just do it! It will show to everyone that tickets are running out. FOMO will have them buying up tickets in droves!!! <maniacal laugh>​

Disney Sales Rep: But people attending on the 21st and 28th on so-called sold-out dates will know that you randomly and capriciously marked them sold-out when there's less then half the usual guest attendance on those nights.

Disney Exec: They'll never figure it out!!!​

Disney Sales Rep: And the thousands of employees working sales and staffing operations will know. And it'll be tens of thousands of people over the course of years who will know we do this. And it will only take one loose-lipped or disgruntled employee to post about in on social media to give up the game. Are you sure you want to do this?

Disney Exec: Yeah, no one will know.​

Disney Sales Rep: And you'll lose out on four million dollars in sales for those two nights.

Disney Exec: Oh. . . . Nevermind. ​

Except it's not unusual for "sold out" nights to cough up additional "tickets"...

 

[LittleBuford]

What's the maximum capacity of the MK? (Hint -- see post 358)

This makes no sense. The parties are capped well below the park’s maximum capacity. Everybody knows that; indeed, it’s a major selling point.

You seem to be implying that something sneaky or untoward is happening, but it’s not at all clear to me what you’re actually accusing Disney of.