Disney ParksMagic KingdomPlanningTips
Must Know Information for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
We are thrilled and excited that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is back in magical glory at Magic Kingdom. This special ticketed event runs on select nights in November and December at Magic Kingdom. If you travel during this time, you will want to be aware of party nights. On evenings that the party takes place, Magic Kingdom closes at 6:00 pm to regular, nonparty Guests. If you only have one day planned for the Magic Kingdom, you might not want to do so on a party night since your time is cut shorter.
As Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party has been celebrated a few times at Magic Kingdom, we wanted to pass along some tips to help you have a truly magical time during this party celebration. Grab your hot chocolate and blanket, and prepare for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Arrival
Guests purchasing a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ticket can enter Magic Kingdom at 4:00 pm. If you do not have a regular Park ticket and want to be in the Magic Kingdom as early as possible, we highly recommend arriving to line up at the touchpoints between 3:00 and 3:30 pm.
Entrance lines get incredibly long, so you will want to be there early to get in front of the crowd. This is where you will get your wristband and be directed into the Magic Kingdom starting at 4:00 pm. Don’t forget to grab your complimentary ornament as well.
If you have a regular Magic Kingdom ticket and plan to be in the Park earlier, you do not need to head back to the front of the Park if you don’t want to get your wristband. Multiple places throughout Magic Kingdom will have those for you.
Jack and Sally
The next major decision that you need to make when it comes to MVMCP is if you want to meet Jack and Sally. This is the most popular meet and greet, and the wait time can be up to two hours during the party.
This should be your first night stop if this is super important to you. Guests can start standing in line at 4:00 pm, and they often begin meeting Guests before the actual party time. This is an excellent way to use the hours before the official party time.
Eat
Another essential thing to do before the party starts at 7:00 pm is to eat something. Although complimentary cookies and drinks are offered throughout the party, most quick-service locations are not open. This means there will be limited food options from 6:00 pm until midnight.
Because of this, we highly recommend that you either have a table service meal booked (before 5:30) or mobile order before 6:00 pm to make sure you get some food. Try out some of the holiday snacks that are available throughout the Park as well.
No matter what your dining preference is for the evening, don’t forget to get some food before the party’s official start. Once the party starts, there are limited options, and you don’t want to spend party time sitting and eating.
Before Party Starting Time
If you are entering Magic Kingdom right at four, there are some things throughout the Magic Kingdom that you can experience before the party begins. We already mentioned meeting Jack and Sally at Town Square Theatre, but there are other characters that you can line up for as well. Back in Storybook Circus, Santa Goofy will meet Guests, and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger are in Fantasyland. Although these meet and greets won’t start early, you can prepare for them ahead of time if they are essential to you.
Jingle Cruise over in Adventureland is another ride you can experience before the party starts. If you have Genie+ for this day, we recommend using it to book Jingle Cruise. Jungle Cruise has been super famous, and the transition to Jingle Cruise this holiday season has made wait times even longer.
Party Rides
Once the party begins, we recommend a few rides as they are unique to the Christmas party. Over in Tomorrowland, there are numerous rides that you will want to hit up. First, Space Mountain gets a holiday overlay. New lights and music are added to make this blast through space more festive.
Tomorrowland Speedway, although not our favorite, usually gets a fun holiday addition. Throughout the track, there are holiday lights added. These are so much fun as they add a holiday cherry to this ride.
Hop on Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover so you can enjoy the lights and magic from high above Tomorrowland. This excellent view of the castle from high up, the Tomorrowland Speedway lights, and the Space Mountain overlay.
Fireworks, Parade, and Castle Show
The holiday party’s main draw is the special fireworks, parade, and castle show. These are three must-do experiences during the Christmas party. Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show happens once a night at around 10:00 pm. You will want to grab a spot before that to see both the castle projections and the fireworks.
Next, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade happens two times each evening. We highly recommend seeing the last parade at 11:00 pm if you can stick around. This parade is typically less busy. We highly recommend experiencing the parade on Main Street USA, where you will experience the magical snow falling.
Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration occurs on the castle stage show throughout the evening. Once again, if you can stay and catch the last show, that is the best option. Not only is it less busy, but you will also make the most of the party time by doing so.
Other Entertainment
There are lots of other dance parties and celebrations that take place throughout the party. Our favorite is the one that happens in Tomorrowland. A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas features beloved characters such as Buzz Lightyear, Mike from Monster’s Inc, and Stitch, all dancing and grooving to holiday jams.
You can find other dance parties in Cosmic Rays, Storybook Circus, and Frontierland. Take time to enjoy those as you come across them throughout the night.
Those tips for visiting Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this holiday season. We hope that you have a magical time.