It’s the premier party event of the holidays, and it takes place at the happiest place on earth. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party brings an extra dose of magic to the Christmas season, with magical rides, parades and special events, including a cookie stroll and free hot chocolate. If you’re thinking about joining the festivities, follow along as we cover Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2024 dates, happenings and more.
When Is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2024: Dates and Times
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party begins at Magic Kingdom park in November and wraps up just before Christmas. Below are the Mickey Very Merry Christmas Party 2024 dates:
- November – 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27 and 29
- December – 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 20
While the party officially kicks off at 7:00 pm each night, guests with a party ticket may enter the Magic Kingom park as early as 4:00 pm. No valid theme park ticket is needed for guests entering at this time or later as long as they hold a valid Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Ticket for that date.
What Are Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Prices?
Prices for tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party vary by date and day of the week, with weekends generally commanding higher pricing. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party pricing for 2024 is as follows:
Adults
$169 plus tax November 11, 12, 14
$179 plus tax November 17, 19, 21
$189 plus tax November 15, 22 and December 1, 3, 5
$199 plus tax November 24, 26, 27, 29 and December 6, 8, 10, 12
$209 plus tax December 13, 15, 17
$219 plus tax December 19, 20
Children aged 3-9
$159 plus tax November 11, 12, 14
$169 plus tax November 17, 19, 21
$179 plus tax November 15, 22 and December 1, 3, 5
$189 plus tax November 24, 26, 27, 29 and December 6, 8, 10, 12
$199 plus tax December 13, 15, 17
$209 plus tax December 19, 20
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What Happens at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2024?
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is filled with events for the entire family, from special character sightings to exclusive merchandise and snacks, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy. Plan on experiencing rides with little wait, enjoying a spectacular Christmas parade complete with Disney Characters, witnessing special castle lighting, dancing the night away with familiar friends from Disney movies, strolling for a unique collection of cookies, and more.
How Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Works
As previously mentioned, guests may arrive at the Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 pm to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2024. If you don’t hold a theme park ticket for the day, you’ll be admitted through a dedicated queue for partygoers.
Here, you’ll scan your MagicBand or ticket and then be directed to pick up your wristband from a cast member waiting just beyond the gate. At this time, you will also receive your special party favor, usually a collectable ornament, and guide to the party festivities.
Guests often begin lining up at the park gates as much as an hour or more before party opening time. However, this hardly seems necessary. The line is dispersed pretty quickly once 4:00 hits, so you really aren’t saving yourself that much time by standing in line for an hour or more to be one of the first ones let into the park. If you want to avoid waiting a few minutes for your wrist band, you’re better off arriving a little later, once the crowds have dispersed.
On the other hand, if you have a theme park ticket for the day and are already in the park, you’ll still need to pick up a wrist band before the party starts. You can do this at a number of places. Just look for the signs or cast members holding a sign. We usually pick up our wrist bands, party favor and guide at the entrance to Tomorrowland, right behind what used to be the Stitch’s Great Escape ride.
Once you have your wristband, fasten it on tight. After 7:00 pm, cast members will start asking to see it as you board rides or attempt to move away from the exit to the park. This is to ensure that only people who have purchased admission remain inside the Magic Kingdom once the party begins.
As the night wears on, cast members usually stop asking to see your band.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Schedule
You’ll find included in Mickey’s Verry Merry Christmas Party a strong lineup of events. These take place throughout the night, offering you non-stop activity even if you don’t ride a single ride.
Shows and Dance Parties
Shows and dance parties will take place at multiple locations and times. Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration is presented several times during the evening on the Cinderella Castle stage. You can catch Disney characters celebrating the holidays at 7:40, 9:25, 10:35 and 11:55 pm.
Show off your moves at the Club Tinsel, the ultimate holiday dance party on the Rockettower Plaza Stage! Join Disney friends in Tomorrowland for a night filled with festive beats and nonstop dancing.
Little ones can enjoy their own holiday dance session at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café. At the Disney Junior Jingle Jam, young guests get to groove with characters from Disney Junior favorites like Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, and The Lion Guard.
Frozen Holiday Surprise
At 8:15 PM, join Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and the snowgies as they transform Cinderella Castle into a magical, icy wonderland—a holiday spectacle you won’t want to miss!
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Character Greetings
Capture memories with your favorite Disney friends as they join the holiday cheer! Keep an eye out as you wander Magic Kingdom park—these Disney Characters will be dressed up in their seasonal finest, ready for festive photo ops.
Many characters will take up residence at a particular location to pose for photographs. When this happens, lines will usually form. It isn’t uncommon to stand in line for 15 to 20 minutes for photo ops with rarely seen characters.
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade
One of the biggest highlights to the night is Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade. This spectacular event is filled with imaginative parade floats featuring many of your favorite characters, including the mouse himself, decked out in their finest holiday garb. The parade takes place nightly at 8:30 pm and 11:00 pm, but may be canceled due to inclement weather, which most often means torrential rain.
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show
If you’ve ever seen a fireworks display at one of Disney’s ticketed events, you know how special the experience is. If you haven’t seen one yet, be sure to make time for this incredible presentation as the castle comes to life in moving beams of light and the sky above erupts with fireworks orchestrated to favorite carols.
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show begins each party night at 10:00 pm, but like the parade, may be canceled due to inclement weather. In this case, inclement weather may mean heavy wind or rain.
Cookie Stroll
Stroll through Magic Kingdom, collecting cookies and hot chocolate as you go. Cookies are distributed at various locations throughout the park, and each venue offers a different flavor. Similar to Trick or Treating in the Magic Kingdom during the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, you may visit each location as many times as you’d like.
Holiday Ride Overlays
While these can be experienced at any time during party hours, it’s important to note that some rides will also be decked out for the holidays or feature special ride elements. These include Mad Tea Party, Tomorrowland Speedway, Space Mountain and Monsters, Inc. Jungle Cruise will become Jingle Cruise during the holidays, bringing an array of seasonal jokes, but this can be experienced during normal park hours.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party PhotoPass
PhotoPass photographers will be out in full force during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, to help you catch all of the Magic of the night in photographic memories. You may find added festive props and holiday-themed surprises show up in your shots. Special photo frames are also available around the park, so you can step into the shot.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Merchandise
If shopping is your vibe, you’ll find exclusive finds just for ticket holders to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. In fact, a number of surprises are likely in store. From unique holiday sippers and popcorn buckets to exclusive shirts and other apparel, we’ve seen it all.
Generally, merchandise features a specific holiday design for each year. For instance, in 2024, we saw this Mickey with a present graphic adorning a number of party-specific apparel and houseware as well as merchandise such as ornaments.
Some items, you may find at limited locations outside of the Christmas party, like our favorite from 2023, this Donald Tree Sipper.
While we won’t know what party merch is available until the start of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2024, we’ll be sure to report back with some pictures after our trip in early November.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Food and Dining
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party food choices include a bounty of treats and eats. From exclusive party snacks to all out special surprises, it’s sure to be a feast for all your senses.
Holiday Snacks and Specialties
Special snacks this year include the Letter to Santa flourless chocolate cake. Or, delight in hot cocoa mouse and marshmallows topped with chocolate pieces at Main Street Bakery.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dining
To make sure revelers stay fueled for the long night ahead, several quick service restaurants stay open during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2024. These include:
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
- Casey’s Corner
- Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn Cafe
- The Friar’s Nook
- Sleepy Hollow
If you’re willing to take more time away from your party-going adventures, 3 different table service restaurants will be offering dinner dining at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party. These include:
- Be Our Guest Restaurant
- Cinderella’s Royal Table
- The Plaza Restaurant
Special Dessert Parties
For a truly special addition to your Mickey’s party agenda, why not try a dessert party? You’ll sample a selection of yuletide delectables while watching Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, all from a prime viewing location.
Desserts are prepared by one of Disney’s pastry chefs and include classic Disney treats such as Candy Cane Tarts. Beverages, including beer and wine, are also available.
Dessert parties are categorized by the viewing location, either the East Plaza Garden viewing area or the Tomorrowland Terrace. Reservations are required. Dessert parties also incur a separate charge.
You can check ticket pricing for various dates of Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing here. Pricing and availability for Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace can be found here.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tips
Like any Disney activity, knowing some special Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tips can help you make the most of your trip. Based on our personal experience with this event, we recommend the following:
- If you plan to eat dinner at Magic Kingdom, dine early, preferably at 4:00 after you first arrive. We don’t advise that you wait until the party officially starts. Once party festivities begin, you only have a short time to enjoy them. There is so much to see and do, you’ll want to have time to take it all in.
- Be advised that Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass are not available during party hours. However, you really won’t need it. Lines tend to be far shorter than during regular park opening and get shorter as the night wears on. You may be able to use the virtual queue for Tron Lightcycle Run.
- If you’re looking to hit those really popular rides, Like 7 Dwarfs Mine Train, with little wait, be sure to ride during the first parade of the evening. Just make sure to make time at the end of your night to catch the last showing.
- Consider how badly you really want a picture with a character before jumping in line. These queues can be deceptively long and take up much of the time you could be spending on other party festivities. If you want to see popular characters, such as Jack Skellington, Pooh characters or the 7 Dwarfs, get in line when greeting locations first open. Consult the guide passed to you at entry for times and locations.
- Don’t skip the parade and fireworks. We tried to do this the first time we visited an after-hours event, but soon found ourselves being drawn in. Both the parade and fireworks at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party are worth the time.
- Stake out a viewing spot for the parade or fireworks at least 15 minutes before starting time. You’ll notice people beginning to grab ground as much as an hour before. However, unless you’re very particular about where you stand or sit, this isn’t necessary. For the fireworks, in particular, people will fill in around you, so there are very few private viewing spots.
- The best place to view the fireworks is the castle hub at the end of Main Street USA. However, anywhere you have a clear view of the castle will allow you to see most of the show.
- Party parades begin in Frontierland and end at the firehouse on Main Street USA. This means, if you watch the parade from Frontierland, the procession has passed you by while viewers on Main Street are still enthralled in the action. This gives you a few minutes to jump on a ride or into character greeting line or grab that coveted piece of merch before people start to rejoin the queues.
- The second parade of the evening will have fewer people in attendance, meaning an easier time to grab a more choice viewing spot. Many people with young children will leave right after the parade or fireworks.
- Purchase your ticket now. Seriously, don’t wait until you arrive to buy tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This is one of the most popular events of the year, and party dates do sell out.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Is It Worth It?
If you’re a fan of the Christmas holidays and/or Disney, you really need to be at this party. Where else can you combine seasonal festivities with the magic of Disney?
However, you don’t need to be a Christmas nut to enjoy this party. For one thing there are several exclusives, such as snow on Main Street USA, that can only be enjoyed during party hours. It’s also the only time to see the Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade and Minnie’s Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show.
For many, it’s a chance to experience all of the popular attractions with little to no wait, particularly as the night wears on. It’s also a time to be in the park after dark, with the Christmas lights twinkling and Cinderella’s Castle lit up in holiday illumination.
If you have the funds in your travel budget, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a great way to add some park time to your vacation, experience more of the Magic Kingdom rides and enjoy the holidays while doing so. If you’re worried about budget and planning to purchase Multi Pass on your regular Magic Kingdom day, you could consider foregoing the purchase. Doing so won’t cover all of your party ticket, but could take a bite out of the cost.
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