It’s never too early in the year to consider a trip to Walt Disney World during the holiday season. Being it is a popular time to travel to “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” your preferred resort, room, and view could reach capacity quicker than you may imagine! Beyond the incredible decorations that make the Parks and Resorts extra jolly, guests are usually invited to attend a separate ticketed after-hours party in Magic Kingdom with exclusive snacks, entertainment, rare characters, and all of the holiday cheer that can one can fit into five hours.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is scheduled for select nights in November and December running from 7:00pm-midnight at Magic Kingdom. With so many holiday offerings from food and dance parties to attraction overlays and rare character sightings, take into account these five lessons learned from attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2023 in order to make the most of this special event!
1. Lines for characters are very long.
From the moment you enter the park, lines for many characters will run you well over thirty minutes, some peaking at one hour or above. It may be helpful to choose one or two must-do character sightings in order to enjoy the rest of the party offerings! We found that Adventureland and Frontierland was less busy, and only waited 20 minutes to see Princess Jasmine and Genie. Aladdin and Abu were also at this location, rotating about every 15 minutes.
2. Plan to spend time on Main Street U.S.A.
With can’t-miss entertainment like a stage show at Cinderella’s Castle, special holiday-themed fireworks, and Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, you will inevitably spend a chuck of your evening on Main Street U.S.A. Strategize well and find a spot around Walt’s statue, so that you have a fantastic view of all three!
3. Pick and choose your favorite attractions to ride.
While five hours seems like a lot of time, the party goes by quickly! Go in with a plan to ride a few must-do attractions. Even though most wait times will be well under their average during normal park hours, it won’t be possible to experience every attraction that is open if you care to enjoy other party offerings! Wait times for popular attractions like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Jungle Cruise (transformed to “Jingle” Cruise for the party), do drop during the times of the parade, offered twice nightly, and during the fireworks. Also, many guests begin to head out of the park after the second parade ends, around 11:20. Stick around until midnight to squeeze in a few more of your favorites!
4. Get the free cookies, but also plan for other snacks.
Included in your ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are unlimited cookies, hot chocolate, apple cider, and egg nog! While the beverages tasted up to par, the cookies are prepackaged and just cannot compare to the other fresh baked goods found all around the park. We chose to save the free cookies as a take-home souvenir snack and enjoy other special offerings, including the delicious seasonal popcorn mix found in the back corner of the Confectionary.
5. Take advantage of PhotoPass opportunities.
One souvenir that will always pass the test of time is photo memories! There are so many PhotoPass opportunities during the holiday season at Walt Disney World and while you may be busy bouncing around to the park fitting in as much as you can, make sure to leave time to document this special evening during the party. From castle shots to lantern photos to Magic Shots to life-size picture frame photo opportunities, PhotoPass photographers will be out and about all over Magic Kingdom, including most locations where you can meet characters. PhotoPass photographers will also make their way along the parade route with props in tow!
Many ask if Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is worth the price, and my answer is a resounding “Yes!” Keep in mind the above lessons learned to help you plan a magical holiday evening for you and your travel party. If you have every attended Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, what is one thing that you learned from your experience? Share with us in the comments below!
Written by
Shelley Wehler
Contributing Writer
Shelley is a stay-at-home mother of two girls living outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Her love of all things Disney has grown even more as she sees the magic come alive through the lens of her young daughters. She spends her free time keeping up with the latest in Disney news and daydreaming of her next trip to the parks!
