The Ultimate Guide to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

No one celebrates the holidays quite like Walt Disney World, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is no different. Disney World goes all out to celebrate Christmas during this party, complete with exclusive characters, special holiday treats, and even the big man himself – Santa!

But how do you know whether this party is right for you and your family? And if you do go, what’s the best way to attack this massive party and all the entertainment options there? Follow along with us, that’s how!

Christmas In Disney is one of the most magical times of the year, you really are in for a special experience.

We will give you the lowdown on all the treats, the best use of your time, and which entertainment to skip and which are a “don’t miss” in our book!

What is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) is a hard ticket event that happens at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. It takes place on select nights, and runs from November to December.

Just like other hard ticket events at Disney World, like Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party and Disney Villains After Hours , your part ticket alone will not get you entrance into the party. You will have to buy a separate ticket that grants you access to the exclusive party.

The Christmas party includes special entertainment, holiday treats, and exclusive character meet-and-greets. You can also ride attractions and enjoy the Magic Kingdom with lower crowd levels and little-to-no wait times.

The party starts at 7pm on party nights, but with your ticket you will be able to enter as early as 4pm to start having fun!

What are the 2020 Dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?

Unfortunately, Disney had announced these dates earlier this year, but has since retracted them due to everything going on. Once they re-release the dates, we will update this post with them!

For the most part, we can go off of last year’s dates for a guideline of how many nights the party will take place. Last year the party started on November 8th, and the final party was December 22nd. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party took place on 23 nights between those dates:

November 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, & 24
December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, & 22

What are the Prices for the Disney Christmas Party?

The prices for the Mickey’s Christmas Party vary based off what night you choose to go on, and how close to Christmas day you choose to go. The prices start at $100 for children (ages 3-9) and $105 for adults (10 and up). The closer you get to Christmas, these prices can go up to $150/children and $155/adults.

Annual Passholders can receive a discount on their purchase of MVMCP tickets.

So grab your Disney Christmas Shirts and buy your tickets!

Very Merry Christmas Party Dates that Often Sell Out

Last year, and historically, the first night and last night of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party often sell out. Fridays and Sundays are also more likely to sell out – especially those in December. Last year 47% of the nights sold out, and only two of those were in November.

The dates with sell out party nights last year were: 11/8, 11/24, 12/1, 12/3, 12/5, 12/6, 12/8, 12/10, 12/13, 12/15, and 12/22.

If you want to make sure you get tickets for a party, or you don’t want to be there on a busy sell out night, try to buy your tickets as early as possible and pick any earlier date in November to attend. A Tuesday in November would most likely be your best bet!

Getting Your Wristband

For this party, you will have to have a wristband that grants you the ability to attend. A cast member will scan your MagicBand or a physical card in order to pull you up in the system, and to give you your wristband.

The easiest way to obtain your wristband is to get it upon entering the park when you show up for the party – there will be a separate line for this. If you are already in the park before the party starts, you will be able to pick up your wristband at a couple of locations, starting at 4pm. These locations are:

Chamber of Commerce on Main Street
near Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
outside Mickey’s Philharmagic
Guest Relations Window in Liberty Square
near Tortuga Tavern

Special Entertainment at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

One of the highlights of Mickey’s Christmas Party is definitely the holiday themed entertainment. There are several shows exclusive to the party, as well as a fireworks show and a parade that are a don’t miss!

A Frozen Holiday Wish

This fun stage show features our favorite ice queen, Elsa, and her sister, Anna. Together they celebrate the time of year, and Elsa lights the castle, making it look like a frozen fantasy! The Castle Dream Lights are stunning, and the castle lighting is something you don’t want to miss on party nights.

This takes place on the stage in front of the Cinderella Castle, and the lighting happens 2 times a night during the party. Try to catch the second lighting, and don’t feel like you have to be right up on the stage. Snag a spot closer to the hub, or even further down Main Street – the castle is the star of this show.

Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

This fun seasonal parade features Mickey and friends plus some Disney favorites in their holiday best, and on holiday-themed floats. This is a can’t miss item on our list, since the toy soldiers in the parade are iconic Disney figures, dating back to the 1960’s! The parade is also a great place to get a glimpse of Santa Claus.

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show

This fireworks display was new in 2019, and is exclusive to the party. The fireworks are set to a medley of holiday tunes, and the projections are holiday themed. Minnie Mouse is, of course, the host of this show.

Since the fireworks show only happens once a night, we suggest snagging a good spot in the plaza garden or hub, with no obstructions, so you don’t miss out on anything. This is a must that you have to fit into your night.

A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas

This Christmas party-style stage show takes place back in Tomorrowland during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. It happens on the stage near Carousel of Progress, and takes place 5 times a night on party nights. Each show only runs about 20 minutes.

Buzz Lightyear, Stitch, and Mike Wazowski are joined by dancers and a singing host in order to celebrate the holidays. This is a fun show, but it isn’t very busy. You will be able to get a good view of the show during any of the performance times.

Club Tinsel

If you’ve ever wanted to party with polar bears and reindeer, then Club Tinsel is the party for you! This is a continuously occurring dance party that takes place on party nights inside of Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café.

This is a fun escape during Mickey’s Christmas Party, and can be especially fun for kids. Who wouldn’t want to dance with reindeer?

Disney Junior Jingle Jam

If you are going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party with littles, some of it may be too overwhelming for them, or they may not be able to ride some of the rides that are open. The Disney Junior Jungle Jam is the perfect place to take them to have some age appropriate fun.

This is a continuous dance party back in Storybook Circus, where little ones can dance with Vampirina, Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffins, and Timon.

Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration

This stage show happens 4 times a night on party nights, and takes place on the stage in front of Cinderella Castle. The show runs about 25 minutes, and the last show will most likely be the least crowded.

Mickey invites his friends over for a fun holiday celebration, including dancing and original songs (“Text Me Merry Christmas” anyone?).

You should get to the castle a little early to watch this show, as the action takes place completely on the stage. You definitely want to be able to see the characters, especially if you are short or have small children with you.

Edge Effect

This Orlando-based a cappella group performs on the Tomorrowland stage in between the performances of A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas. They are very talented, but this is not a huge draw during the party. Don’t feel like you have to schedule time to see them, but if you catch them, enjoy!

Dining Options for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Unlike After Hours events and Early Morning Magic, there isn’t a lot of food included in your ticket price for Mickey’s Christmas Party. Most of the food will be an extra cost. There are some complimentary treats though, and they are one of the main reasons to go to this party!

Included Food Options

One of the highlights of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party has to be the cookies! There are complimentary, party exclusive cookies scattered at kiosks and restaurants around the park. You definitely want to try and get each kind of cookie, and since they are individually packaged, feel free to get a few of your favorites and save them for later!

Just like trick-or-treating during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, there isn’t a limit on how many time you can go through the cookie trails. And along with cookies, some of the locations have complimentary special, holiday drinks.

The cookie trail locations may change this year, but they’ve historically been in these spots:

Market Street – where you enter, and you will receive your “welcome cookie”
Storybook Snacks Cart – snowman pretzel
Miner’s Cove – peppermint cookie
Friar’s Nook – chocolate chip cookie
Lunching Pad – ginger molasses cookie, apple cider
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café – peppermint cookie, hot chocolate, apple cider
Pinocchio Village Haus – snickerdoodle cookie, hot chocolate, fanta
Jungle Cruise – ginger molasses cookie
Tortuga Tavern – snowman pretzel, fanta
Golden Oak Outpost – snickerdoodle cookie
Diamond Horseshoe – chocolate chip cookie, fanta, eggnog

Just a note: alternative snack options are available upon request, like healthy and gluten-free. Also, if it’s a hot night in Orlando, skip the hot drinks! Don’t make yourself sick when you’ve paid so much money to enjoy yourself.

Seasonal Snacks for Purchase

There are always fun seasonal snacks at Disney World for the holidays, and of course Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party isn’t left out from this. Some of the snacks at the party are exclusive to party nights while others are available all day. If you want to get the most bang for your buck, focus on the exclusive treats on party nights.

In the past, the seasonal snacks have been available at:

Main Street Bakery (seasonal cinnamon roll!)
Casey’s Corner
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
Aloha Isle
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café (a great place for those savory snack lovers!)
Sunshine Tree Terrace
Sleepy Hollow (give us all the waffles!)
Storybook Treats
Gaston’s Tavern
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café (holiday turkey sandwich!)
Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
Cool Ship

Magic Kingdom Restaurants that Remain Open

Only a few table service restaurants are open during the party, and those are: Be Our Guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Crystal Palace, and The Plaza Restaurant. We suggest skipping these during the party though. These will take up a lot of your time, and the party only lasts 5 hours. Eat before the party starts, or focus on quicker restaurants.

Most of the quick service restaurants will be open during the party since they are offering the seasonal treats. You will still be able to get their regular menu items, and these are better options since they don’t take as much time as sit-down restaurants do.

Special Dining Events

Like most nights at the Magic Kingdom, and during special events, there are exclusive dining events that will take place during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party for an extra cost.

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace

This dessert party gives you priority seating during the fireworks show, as well as unlimited snacks and beverages. You can snack on ice cream, cheeses, fresh fruit, and holiday themed cupcakes and pastries. You also receive a guaranteed seated spot for the fireworks show at Tomorrowland Terrace.

The cost of this party is $84 for adults and $50 for children, and this is an extra cost. It’s not included in your admission to the party.

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing

This dessert party is almost identical to the other party, except that you will have all your snacks and drinks prior to the fireworks, and before they start, you’ll be escorted to a standing area in the Plaza Garden to watch the fireworks.

Since you aren’t guaranteed a seat at a table during the fireworks at this party, the tickets are a little less expensive. Adults are $69, and children are $41.

Tony’s Most Merriest Town Square Party

This dining event runs from 9:30pm to 12:30am on party nights, and takes place inside of Tony’s Town Square Restaurant. With you purchase, you get unlimited food and drinks, mostly appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, but beer and wine are also included.

You also get a guaranteed spot for parade viewing with this dining event, as well as getting to be in the restaurant past the time the party ends at midnight.

This costs $99 per person, and may only be worth it if you want to have alcohol and more savory options to eat.

Characters You Can Meet at the Christmas Party

If you love to meet characters in the parks, and you’re always on the hunt for hard-to-find ones, then Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party might be for you! There are lots of exclusive meet-and-greets, and some of these characters are very popular. We will notate which are exclusive and popular, and which to skip since they’re always available to meet.

Aladdin & Abu/Jasmine & Genie – meet at Agrabah Bazaar, in holiday attire
Mary Poppins and Bert – meet at gazebo behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, only time to get Bert with Mary
Santa Claus – meet near City Hall, exclusive, doesn’t meet during parades
Moana – meet at Enchanted Tiki Room, super exclusive, line up early!
Captain Jack Sparrow – meet near Pirates of the Caribbean, skip since he’s here all the time
Peter Pan – roams Adventureland, don’t worry about trying to find him since he’s always in the park
Donald & Scrooge McDuck/Daisy and Minnie – meet near Dumbo ride, in holiday attire, Scrooge is a good character to check off your list but the line won’t be crazy
Santa Goofy – near Barnstormer, dressed like Santa of course!
Seven Dwarfs – meet inside Pete’s Silly Sideshow, super exclusive, so line up early!
Ariel & Prince Eric – meet in Princess Fairytale Hall, exclusive
Cinderella & Prince Charming – meet in Princess Fairytale Hall, exclusive
Elena of Avalor – meet in Princess Fairytale Hall, skip since she’s always here
Tiana & Naveen – meet in Princess Fairytale Hall, exclusive
Rapunzel & Flynn Rider – meet in Princess Fairytale Hall, exclusive
Snow White & her prince – meet in Fantasyland near Pinocchio Village Haus
Aurora & Prince Phillip – meet in Fantasyland near Pinocchio Village Haus
Pooh and friends – meet near the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, in holiday attire
Jack Skellington as Sandy Claws & Sally – meet at Town Square Theater, MOST EXCLUSIVE, get in line super early, historically they’ve come out @ 4:30 and they let people line up at 2pm for them. This is usually the longest line for any character at the party.
Mickey Mouse – meet at Town Square Theater, in holiday attire
Nick Wilde & Judy Hopps – meet near Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, exclusive
Country Bears – meet near Country Bear Jamboree, skip because they are always in the park

PhotoPass Opportunities at the Event

If you have bought Memory Maker, or are an Annual Passholder, there a lot of great opportunities to use it at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Not only can you get your usual ride photos, but there are holiday props and PhotoPass photographers all around the park to take fun, holiday photos.

Sir Mickey’s PhotoPass studio is open during the party for photos with holiday props, as well as there is an exclusive Tinkerbell lantern picture in Fantasyland. Several of the PhotoPass photographers have special Magic Shots, and are able to insert candy canes and elves into your party photos!

Don’t miss getting your family’s photo in front of Cinderella Castle while it’s lit up with the Castle Dream Lights!

Rides That Will Be Open During Mickey’s Christmas Party

If your visit to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is your only day at Magic Kingdom during your trip, don’t worry that you’ll miss out on your favorite rides and attractions! Many iconic rides will be available, but note that FastPass isn’t available during the party. The great news is that you won’t need it! There are relatively low wait times for most rides.

The rides available are:

Adventureland: Pirates of the Caribbean, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Swiss Family Treehouse, and Jungle Cruise
Frontierland: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Country Bear Jamboree
Liberty Square: Haunted Mansion
Fantasyland: Peter Pan’s Flight, Prince Charming Regal Carousel, it’s a small world, Dumbo, Mickey’s Philharmagic, the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Barnstormer, Mad Tea Party, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Journey of the Little Mermaid
Tomorrowland: Astro Orbiter, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Tomorrowland Speedway, Monster’s INC Laugh Floor

Special Ride Experiences

During the party, several of the attractions receive some special attention and have a special experience for guests exclusive to the event. These are some “don’t miss” attractions in our book!

Jungle Cruise transforms into “Jingle Cruise,” with holiday themed jokes, holiday lights, and even some Santa hats on the animals.

Mad Tea Party has sparkling Christmas lights and the teacups spin to a holiday soundtrack.

Space Mountain gets some special holiday lighting, and the music transforms into futuristic holiday tunes.

Monster’s INC Laugh Floor receives a holiday spin, and is a great place to go relax during the party.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Touring Strategy

If you decide to go to Mickey’s Christmas Party, you can tackle the night a couple of different ways.

First, get there as early as possible. If you only have party ticket, get there a little before 4pm so you can get in right at four and are able to get your wristband upon entry. If you’re an Annual Passholder or have the ability to be in the park earlier, try to get there before the party starts.

Upon getting your wristband, go straight through Market Street and get your welcome cookie and check out the party merchandise.

If characters are important to you, you need to get in line NOW. This is why we advise to get there early if you are able – the lines to meet the characters get long fast, and some come out way before the 7pm party start. Try to meet as many characters between 4 and 7 as possible so you don’t spend the party in lines.

If characters aren’t important, then we suggest spending the three hours before party start to get on rides and have a light dinner. Ride anything not open at the party, and don’t waste time with table service meals.

Once the party begins, prioritize the entertainment and activities. You can grab the complimentary cookies in between rides and entertainment, and some of the cookies are repeats! Don’t worry about trying to hit every single booth if the timing doesn’t work out for you.

We suggest going to the last A Frozen Holiday Wish, Mickey’s Merriest Celebration, and Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. These will be less busy! Go ride rides and meet characters during the early ones while everyone else is watching the entertainment.

There’s only one showing of Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show, so don’t miss this!

Don’t feel rushed to watch A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas – it takes place several times, and it’s never very busy so you will always get a great view.

Who Should Attend the Disney Christmas Party?

We think the Disney Christmas Party is great for families, especially those with little ones who still believe in Santa. They will love seeing him as well as their Disney favorites all dressed up for the holidays.

The party is great for locals too, because you could go a couple of times in the season and can be in the parks much earlier on party days if you have an Annual Pass.

If you love Christmas and winter, and can’t get enough of cookies and treats, then this party is for you! Who doesn’t love unlimited cookies?

Lastly, we think this special event is great for those who love to do meet-and-greets with characters. There are so many exclusive ones at the party, and it’s a great chance to check some hard-to-find characters off your list!

Who Should Skip the Disney Christmas Party?

Even though the Disney Christmas Party is an exciting, fun special event, it may not be for everyone. Those with older kids who may not really care about Santa anymore might not be impressed by it.

Also, the party isn’t great for those traveling to Disney World on a budget. The tickets for the party alone are very pricey, and considering the only included food are cookies, you might spend a fair amount on other treats and drinks. Things will add up very quickly for this event.

We hope that this helps you decide whether or not Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is right for your family. This is a fun event, and with a little bit of planning, your family can meet a lot of characters and experience a truly magical atmosphere at the park.

If this party is right for you, make sure you get all the cookies, don’t miss Elsa light the castle, and get your picture with Santa Claus! This is one holiday party you can’t miss!

The Ultimate Guide to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party