Is Mickey's Halloween party appropriate for a 4 year old?

[Disneyland1084]

I'm a DL veteran, but have never attended a Halloween party. I'm thinking about next year. My son will be 4 then. Is the Halloween party appropriate for small children?

 

[lalasmama]

How does he do staying up late? That's always my first concern-- or grands would *love* it but I'd be ticked to spend $$$ and have them tired and asking to go back to the hotel at 9pm (which is about as late as we've made it with them before they are tapping out).

And of course, what does he think of villains and bad guys?

 

[Disneyland1084]

How does he do staying up late? That's always my first concern-- or grands would *love* it but I'd be ticked to spend $$$ and have them tired and asking to go back to the hotel at 9pm (which is about as late as we've made it with them before they are tapping out).

And of course, what does he think of villains and bad guys?

Those are good questions. He's good at staying up late. At DL this summer, most nights we stayed until park closing. Villains and bad guys? He loved the Haunted Mansion. I have a lot to think about. I kind of want to go without my kids and feel a little guilty. My girls are 16 and 12, and would probably want to come if it didn't interfere with any of their motorcycle races. I just really miss my kid free trips there I did with my mom before I even had kids.

 

[Karin1984]

. I just really miss my kid free trips there I did with my mom before I even had kids.

Do a kidfree trip, doesnt have to be at Halloween. Consider it a form of selfcare. It helps you stay the person you are next to the mom you are.

 

[BrianL]

It absolutely has a kid-friendly atmosphere - spooky but fun, like the Haunted Mansion is. If he likes that, and if he can stay up through it, he'd probably love it.

 

[katyringo]

I just want to make sure you know that at Disneyland it's called Oogie boogie bash. Mickeys Halloween party is no more. Oogie boogie bash is at California adventure. At disneyWORLD it's mickeys not so scary Halloween party.

That being said, we just did Oogie boogie bash and I have a newly 6 year old and she loved it!

 

[lalasmama]

I kind of want to go without my kids and feel a little guilty. My girls are 16 and 12, and would probably want to come if it didn't interfere with any of their motorcycle races. I just really miss my kid free trips there I did with my mom before I even had kids.

I'm a HUGE believer in kid-free trips! Honestly, my first kid-free trip, I felt incredibly guilty and actually lied to my youngest (then-8yo) daughter about it initially. I told her I just needed some alone time to chill out (which she totally understood, as we're both major introverts). I told her I was going to the mountains and river for the weekend. It was a half-truth, right?? Splash Mtn, Space Mtn, Big Thunder Mtn, Grizzly Peak, Rivers of America... She said, "You should go to Disneyland instead. You really, really like Disneyland. You even like it more than I do!" I told her I'd think about it, and then a few days later, I told her I liked her idea, and thought I would do that instead of the mountains. She asked for me to bring her back something (I think it was a sweet treat she requested, haha). I still felt a little guilty, but then remembered something so, so, so, so, SO IMPORTANT:

Our kids need to SEE and KNOW that moms and dads work hard and that taking care of kids is so worth it, but *so* tough, and to be the best mommy/daddy we can be, we need to practice self-care, no matter what that looks like (mostly).

In my opinion, our current parenting generations wouldn't feel so much guilt about taking kid-free times if we had seen this modelled by our parents. I know my mom was 100% about caring for my brother and I and neglected what she needed to recharge. So my kids (even the grown-up ones) know that I go to Disneyland to recharge, and that it's a normal, healthy thing for parents to do. I have shared my initial guilt about it, but then also share how much my mental health depends on it. Okay, off my soapbox.

For those freaking out that I go to Disneyland without my kids-- you can see in my signature that they've been several times, so we aren't refusing to take them. In fact, our youngest daughter (referenced above) has asked that we take her only every few years so it seems "new" each time she goes; we do more adventurous, outdoorsy trips with her, which is totally her happy place. So, we're not depriving her of Disneyland.

 

[katyringo]

I'm a HUGE believer in kid-free trips! Honestly, my first kid-free trip, I felt incredibly guilty and actually lied to my youngest (then-8yo) daughter about it initially. I told her I just needed some alone time to chill out (which she totally understood, as we're both major introverts). I told her I was going to the mountains and river for the weekend. It was a half-truth, right?? Splash Mtn, Space Mtn, Big Thunder Mtn, Grizzly Peak, Rivers of America... She said, "You should go to Disneyland instead. You really, really like Disneyland. You even like it more than I do!" I told her I'd think about it, and then a few days later, I told her I liked her idea, and thought I would do that instead of the mountains. She asked for me to bring her back something (I think it was a sweet treat she requested, haha). I still felt a little guilty, but then remembered something so, so, so, so, SO IMPORTANT:

Our kids need to SEE and KNOW that moms and dads work hard and that taking care of kids is so worth it, but *so* tough, and to be the best mommy/daddy we can be, we need to practice self-care, no matter what that looks like (mostly).

In my opinion, our current parenting generations wouldn't feel so much guilt about taking kid-free times if we had seen this modelled by our parents. I know my mom was 100% about caring for my brother and I and neglected what she needed to recharge. So my kids (even the grown-up ones) know that I go to Disneyland to recharge, and that it's a normal, healthy thing for parents to do. I have shared my initial guilt about it, but then also share how much my mental health depends on it. Okay, off my soapbox.

For those freaking out that I go to Disneyland without my kids-- you can see in my signature that they've been several times, so we aren't refusing to take them. In fact, our youngest daughter (referenced above) has asked that we take her only every few years so it seems "new" each time she goes; we do more adventurous, outdoorsy trips with her, which is totally her happy place. So, we're not depriving her of Disneyland.

Hard agree. Just got back from a trip with this kids. But we have also done DLR and WDW kid free. I feel like doing it kid free helps me appreciate it more because with kids you have to take a lot of deep breaths because even at Disney kids can be turds.. lol .

 

[Astylla]

I'm not a parent however as someone who saw my late mom literally sacrifice everything for her kids and didn't start living her life until her last years , Take the trip ! It is 1000% okay and I have many friends who are parents who take adult only trips either solo or with their spouse/partner/friends and they all say they wish they did it sooner.

I wish my mom did for many reasons not limited to understanding taking time for her mental and physical well being was just as important as taking care of ours.

On a similar note I didn't stat going solo to Disney until 2018. I wish I did it years before. Due to a unique work schedule , it would be impossible to coordinate things. I find myself so much happier now that I allow myself to enjoy things on MY time.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I just want to make sure you know that at Disneyland it's called Oogie boogie bash. Mickeys Halloween party is no more. Oogie boogie bash is at California adventure. At disneyWORLD it's mickeys not so scary Halloween party.

That being said, we just did Oogie boogie bash and I have a newly 6 year old and she loved it!

Oh yes, I'm aware of that. Mickey's Halloween party just came to my mind first, lol