One of the most highly anticipated character meet-and-greets at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is none other than Jack Skellington and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas. This year, the fan-favorite duo received a major visual upgrade, with some makeup improvements for Sally, and Jack’s complete makeover stealing the spotlight; drawing even more guests to the Town Square Theater queue.
The enhancement is impressive. Jack now features a more expressive and film-accurate face. But while the look is a major step forward, the operational logistics behind this meet-and-greet left much to be desired on opening night.
The standby queue for Jack and Sally opens promptly at 4:00 PM for MNSSHP wristband holders. We entered the line at 4:30 PM and found the posted standby wait to be 130 minutes (just over two hours). Given the lack of party-specific entertainment early on, and the brutal Florida heat, our group was happy to wait indoors. Blocking off 2-2.5 hours aligned with our opening night priorities to cover the parade, fireworks, and stage show.
Unfortunately, what unfolded was anything but smooth. From the moment we entered the outdoor section of the queue, the line would consistently move ahead 10-20 people at a time. However, upon reaching the indoor portion, something started to feel a little off. The line would stop for long stretches, between 20 to 30 minutes at a time, without any communication.
Look, we get it; things happen. Perhaps there was a performer delay, a costume malfunction, or even illness. But those delays added over 80 extra minutes to our wait, bringing the total to well over 3.5 hours. With zero communication from Cast Members, confusion, frustration, and meltdowns began spreading fast. Applause and cheers erupted each time the line began moving again, and we saw multiple families eventually exit the queue after hours of waiting with no explanation.
While upper-management Cast Members at the entrance stood by, they weren’t offering updates or assistance to visibly upset guests questioning frontline Cast Members monitoring the queue or entry points. This lack of communication is uncharacteristic of Disney, where typically even minor operational hiccups are met with proactive guest service. A simple overhead announcement such as “Jack and Sally are experiencing a brief delay” would have gone a long way to set expectations.
Funnily enough, the sign posted on Town Square Theater’s outdoor column was stuck at 10 minutes throughout the evening.
We eventually made it through – over 3.5 hours later – and shared our concerns with Guest Relations. And while we were disappointed in how Town Square was being managed, once we stepped into Halloween Town, it was hard to stay frustrated.
Stepping Into Halloween Town
The moment we crossed into Jack and Sally’s actual meet-and-greet space (formerly Tinker Bell’s Pixie Hollow meet-and-greet area) everything changed. The space has been transformed into Halloween Town, with oversized gnarled roots, spooky trees, glowing lights, and thematic ambiance. The environment alone immediately set the tone, and we felt most of our earlier frustration melt away.
And then came Jack.
Jack Skellington looks incredible in person. He moves with fluidity, speaks with clarity, and holds completely personalized conversations with each guest. There are no button-triggered phrases or stock responses, this is a full-on live character interaction.
I honestly felt like a little kid meeting a character for the first time. I was in awe, maybe even slightly intimidated, but completely immersed in the moment. Sally, graceful and warm, made the experience even more special.
Is It Worth the Wait?
For me, absolutely. With better communication and smoother operations, I’d gladly wait another two hours to do it all again. This is a truly immersive meet and greet experience. But Disney has a responsibility to manage this offering with care and respect for guests’ time and expectations, especially when considering this experience is exclusive to the premium-priced ticketed event.
A Needed Fix for the Future
Disney should strongly consider adding a second meet-and-greet room with another set of performers. Yes, it’s a logistical and financial commitment, but with ~$150 party tickets and record-breaking park profits quarter after quarter, this kind of reinvestment in guest experience is overdue. The current setup can’t support the demand, especially with disability access Lightning Lane returns funneling into the same system.
Disney needs to address this meet-and-greet’s logistics if it’s going to remain one of MNSSHP’s most popular attractions, especially with the buzz around Jack’s new look.
— You receive an autograph card at the end of the experience.
In the meantime, here’s a tip: consider visiting Jack & Sally during parade times, at 8:15 and 11:15 PM. Cast Members told us this is when lines dip, as most families focus on parades, fireworks, or leave the park. It might not save you from a delay entirely, but it can reduce your overall wait significantly.
Jack’s makeover is absolutely worth seeing and interacting with, but Disney must enhance the infrastructure supporting this meet-and-greet. Party guests deserve better communication and more efficient options for such a high-demand experience.
Watch more from our 2025 opening night of MNSSHP here!
