Holidays at Disney are a magical time of year. One of the most exciting events is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This special event happens just a few times a week in November and December each year. Adults and kids can have a great time if they plan wisely and know what to expect. These are our best tips for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Tips for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
In the spirit of the season, we’ve gathered all the tips you’ll ever need to make the most out of your visit to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. It’s one of our favorite special events at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The Christmas trees, the lights, the music, and even the smells signal that the holidays are upon us. Keep this post handy when planning your trip; your party time will be a great success!
Purchase a Ticket
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a special or “hard ticket” event. This simply means that regular park passes or annual passholder guests will not automatically receive entry with their ticket. However, if you do happen to visit the Magic Kingdom on your party day, you do not have to leave the park and return again at party time.
Sarah’s Tip: Party guests can stay in the Magic Kingdom all day if they have regular tickets and a Christmas party ticket. Just make sure to visit a Cast Member close to party time to receive your party wristband, or you risk being kindly escorted from the park when the party starts.
This year’s party dates are:
- November: 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 30
- December: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22
Ticket prices range from $159 to $199 for adults, and children ages 3-9 are $5 less. Passholders and DVC members can save $10 on the ticket cost, and if you purchase your tickets in advance, you can also save some cash.
Save Park Passes for Another Day
Next, make wise use of other tickets. Contrary to the last paragraph, we don’t think guests should visit the Magic Kingdom before their party. Park hopping tickets should be taken advantage of, but use them in other parks like Animal Kingdom or Epcot. With a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ticket, guests can enter the Magic Kingdom as early as 4 p.m. With the party lasting until midnight, that’s 8 hours of park time!
Don’t Make Genie+ Reservations
Don’t bother with Genie+ reservations. Fast Passes end on party day at 5 p.m., so there is really no need to make them anyway. Guests without a party ticket will begin leaving when the park closes at 6 p.m. The party begins at 7 p.m., and guests without a party wristband will not be allowed on rides. This significantly reduces the wait time on rides throughout the evening.
Ride Rides
Since party tickets are limited, wait times all over the park will be reduced. Popular rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, and Peter Pan’s Flight had as little as a 15-minute wait on our party night.
Sarah’s Tip: Stay as late as you can at the party. Between 11 pm and midnight, rides will have almost no wait!
Watch the Shows
There are several unique shows during the Christmas party, but only one has multiple viewings. The stage show, “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration,” plays several times throughout the night on the Castle Forecourt Stage. The last two viewings of the show will be the least crowded. Sarah’s Tip: Don’t miss “A Frozen Holiday Wish.” Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff light up the castle in spectacular fashion, and it only happens once during the evening.
“Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks” happen each party night around the same time. New castle projections, fireworks, and music are sure to grab every guest’s attention at this show. Don’t miss the fireworks as they also only happen once per party!
Enjoy Main Street U.S.A.
We typically avoid the Main Street area during visits to the Magic Kingdom, but not during the party. It “snows” during the party, which is an incredible sight to see in Florida! There is also exclusive party merchandise to be bought.
Sarah’s Tip: Don’t wait to buy merchandise you like! It may be sold out before the end of the party, and once the party is over, your chance to purchase said items will be gone too!
There’s also nothing like watching “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” from Main Street. Everyone is feeling the holiday spirit in the air, and the lighting is best for photos on Main Street.
Sarah’s Tip: Stay late for the second viewing of the parade. It will be much less crowded and easier to see Mickey, Santa, and all your favorites marching down Main Street.
Meet Special Characters
Another special party tip is to take time to meet characters. Just like the Halloween party, certain characters make an appearance only on party days. Take advantage of their special appearances! This will be the longest wait of the night. Be sure to grab a party map and times guide upon entering the party to find out when and where everyone meets.
Here’s a list of who and where you can meet, but note that all characters are subject to change:
- Adventureland: Moana, Aladdin, Abu, Jasmine, Genie, Captain Jack Sparrow and Peter Pan
- Frontierland: The Country Bears
- Liberty Square: Mary Poppins, Bert
- Fantasyland: All the princesses and their princes (Ariel, Eric, Cinderella, Charming, etc.), Elena of Avalor, Tigger, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet
- Storybook Circus: Donald, Scrooge McDuck, Seven Dwarfs, Daisy, Minnie, Vampirina, Timon, Santa Goofy
- Tomorrowland: Nick Wilde, Judy Hopps, Reindeer, Polar Bears
- Main Street/Town Square Theater: Santa Claus, Mickey, Jack Skellington (as “Sandy Claws”) and Sally
Eat Party Treats
In addition to special characters, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party also has special treats! Complimentary cookies and milk (or hot chocolate or eggnog) are handed out at various stations throughout the park. There are also treats for purchase that are only available during party time.
Sarah’s Tip: Make use of that guide map! It shows where character meet and greets are, where the free treat stations are located, and the restaurants serving limited edition party food available for purchase.
Extra Tips
Bonus tips! These are extra, random tips we wished we had known before the party:
- Bring a zip-top bag for all the free goodies! You can get as many cookies and treats as you like at each station.
- Purchase Memory Maker BEFORE your party. So many great photo opportunities during party night!
- Eat dinner, if you need to, during the first parade viewing. Dining locations are much less crowded during that time.
- Dance parties in Tomorrowland are fun, even if you just stop by for a little bit! Club Tinsel inside Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe has lots of character interaction opportunities (just don’t expect autographs as they don’t sign any).
