If you want to add some extra enchantment to your visit to Disney World during the holiday season, you should consider attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party as part of your vacation. While Disney World always goes all out for this time of year, Magic Kingdom’s premium Christmas party is the most merry and deluxe experience the resort offers for the holidays.
With special fireworks, a holiday parade, ride overlays, and unique eats, this event is sure to create holiday memories.
But is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party worth the steep ticket price? And if you are attending, what should you do?
Here’s everything you need to know about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party for 2023.
Update 06-19-2023 – We’ve updated this guide with 2023 party dates, as well a few other updates. Most of this guide will reflect the information from the 2022 party. As we get closer to this year’s party, we will be updating our guide with new information.
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ToggleWhat is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a hard-ticketed event at Magic Kingdom. Hard-ticketed means that this event requires a separate ticket from regular park admission. Regular park admission is not required for the party — you purchase a separate ticket for a specific night of the party.
For five hours, party guests can enjoy premium holiday entertainment, like Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. Guests can also go on certain attractions with holiday overlays exclusive to the party, see rare character meet and greets, and enjoy enhanced holiday decor like “snow” on Main Street.
Did I mention that the party has unlimited holiday treats, like hot cocoa and cookies?
Should I go to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? Is it worth it?
While we slightly prefer Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, our feelings about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are very similar. Magic Kingdom is made even more magical, and having a full night of holiday cheer and entertainment at Disney World is one of the most pleasant experiences someone can have.
Here are the pros for going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party:
- The Christmas parade and fireworks are two of Disney World’s best entertainment offerings.
- Lines for rides are shorter than regular park hours (Note: Guide2WDW reader JeffW commented that “It felt WAY more crowded during the party than it did earlier that day” and that lines were long on a party night when it rained. So mileage may vary with crowd sizes and lines for the rides.)
- Can literally eat and drink your weight in Christmas treats.
- Very likely to induce the warm fuzzy feelings of holiday cheer, even for Grinches and humbugs.
Here are a few reasons you should skip Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
- It’s very expensive. At $149 – $199 per person, it’s much more expensive than adding an extra day to your Disney World ticket.
- While treats like cookies and cocoa are free, many of the party exclusive treats are for extra purchase.
- Despite limited capacity, the park can still feel crowded, especially when you’re trying to get a spot for the first parade or for the fireworks.
- Lines for the rarer character meet and greets (like the Seven Dwarfs) can get extremely long.
- Disney World features tons of free seasonal offerings, such as EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays and Candlelight Processional.
- Magic Kingdom offers the Christmas parade and fireworks on the week of December 22-30 for regular day guests. It’s much more crowded those days versus the party, but that is a way to see those offerings outside the party.
For us, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a holiday splurge, but not quite a holiday tradition. It’s an excellent experience, and it feels quite magical.
However, going to Disney World during the holiday season already feels pretty darn magical. With the rising prices of everything at WDW, it becomes harder to justify purchasing the extra ticket.
If you’re looking for a way to make some holiday memories at Disney World and it’s within your budget, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is definitely worth considering. Especially if every member of your family can stay up until midnight.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2023 Dates, Time, and Location
Magic Kingdom’s holiday party runs this year from November 9 through December 22 on the following evenings.
- 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
The party hours are 7 PM – 12 AM.
Guests with party tickets will be allowed into Magic Kingdom starting at 4 pm, and guests without tickets will have to leave the park by 7 pm.
How much do tickets cost?
Tickets range from $159 – $199 per adult or $149-$189 per child (ages 3-9), depending on which night you choose.
When do MVMCP tickets go on sale?
Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Shades of Green, and the Swan and Dolphin hotels can start purchasing their tickets as early as June 29, 2023.
All other Guests may purchase tickets beginning on July 6, 2023.
What to do at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Note that these details are mostly from 2022’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Stay tuned for 2023 details!
Festive Entertainment
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade – 8:30 PM, 11 PM
Parade Route: Frontierland to Main Street
All of your favorite Disney characters are out to celebrate the holiday! From toy soldiers to dancing reindeer to Santa himself, this parade is chock full of Christmassy cheer. See Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and more in this must-watch parade as “snow” descends on Magic Kingdom.
Tip: The later parade has much lighter crowds, so we’d recommend prioritizing other entertainment and meet and greets during the first parade, while most people will be lining up for the first parade. Or you could choose to watch both parades — it’s that good.
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks – 10 PM
Location: Best views are on Main Street and in the hub, due to projections on Cinderella Castle and along Main Street. Fireworks viewable from everywhere in the park.
Disney World goes all out for the Magic Kingdom holiday fireworks. It’s really a toss-up whether this or the Halloween fireworks are the best fireworks at Disney World each year, but with panoramic pyrotechnics shooting from seemingly every corner of the sky, these fireworks are sure to wow you.
Like Happily Ever After and Disney Enchantment, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks feature elaborate projections on Cinderella Castle. This makes the end of Main Street right before the hub both the best spot to watch the fireworks — and the most coveted spot by other guests.
If you want a less competitive spot, consider Liberty Square. You won’t see the castle projections, but you’ll have an amazing view of the fireworks without having to deal with massive crowds.
Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration – 7:40 PM, 9:25 PM, 10:35 PM, 11:55 PM
Location: Cinderella Castle stage
Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, Chip, Dale, and more in a live stage show full of holiday songs. This show is sure to be a hit with smaller guests, but you might want to get a spot close to the castle stage for the best view of Mickey and friends.
Frozen Holiday Surprise (New for 2023) – Cinderella Castle will light up with a brand new experience inspired by Frozen, brand new for 2023. Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and the Snowgies will illuminate Magic Kingdom’s iconic castle in this show. This will take place at the party, as well as during regular park hours.
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas
Location: Rockettower Plaza Stage
Head to Rockettower Plaza Stage and join Tomorrowland characters like Buzz Lightyear, Stitch, and Mike Wazowski for an “out of this world” Christmas party. This show is approximately 18 minutes, and will play multiple times a night.
Reindeer Wranglers – 7:15 PM, 8:05 PM, 9:30 PM, 11:40 PM
It’s a holiday hoe-down! Sing-along show with the Dapper Dans in Frontierland, by the Country Bear Jamboree.
Oh What Fun It Is to Ride – Holiday Overlays on Rides
Many attractions will be open during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, including Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Big Thunder Mountain. Guests at the party will enjoy shorter wait times for all rides, especially later in the night.
However, five attractions at Magic Kingdom will actually feature holiday overlays, four of which are exclusive to the party. These are unique experiences for the holiday party, and a fun way to get into the spirit of the season.
- Jingle Cruise (Also available during regular park hours)
- Space Mountain – Holiday Run
- Monsters Inc Laugh Floor Holiday Show
- Tomorrowland Speedway Race Through the Holidays
- Mad Tea Party with Holiday Theming
How to ride Tron during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2023
Magic Kingdom’s newest roller coaster will be available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, but only through a Virtual Queue. Here’s how you can join:
- The Virtual Queue opens at 6 PM on days with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
- You will join the Virtual Queue via the My Disney Experience app. Make sure that all of your party tickets are properly linked prior to the party day.
- You can find the Virtual Queue section in the app by hitting Menu (≡) and then tapping Virtual Queues.
- You can only join the Virtual Queue for Tron once per party. If you joined the Virtual Queue at Magic Kingdom earlier in the day, that will not affect your ability to join the Virtual Queue at the party.
For more, check out our Disney World Virtual Queue Guide with instructions on how to join as fast as possible, or watch this video from the Guide2WDW YouTube Channel.
Get Your Jingle On at Dance Parties
These dance parties are a way to boogie to upbeat holiday music with several characters. Great for kids who want to wiggle the night away, both dance parties take place continually throughout the night.
- Club Tinsel – The denizens of the North Pole drop by Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland for a dance party.
- Disney Junior Jingle Jam – Head to Storybook Circus to dance with Disney Jr stars.
What to eat at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Note that these food details are from 2022’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Stay tuned for 2023 details!
It wouldn’t be the holidays without seasonal snacks! One of the big draws of this event are the free treats, as well as the limited time dishes available for purchase.
Free Holiday Treats
Some of the best perks of the Magic Kingdom holiday party are the complimentary holiday treats. These treats include cookies, pretzels, hot cocoa, eggnog, and apple cider.
Complimentary holiday treats are available at the following locations. Healthy treats are available upon request.
Note: we will update this list after the first 2022 party. Here are where the treats were available at previously.
- Adventureland
- Tortuga Tavern
- Liberty Square
- Columbia Harbour House
- Fantasyland
- Pinocchio Village Haus
- Tomorrowland
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
- The Lunching Pad
Specialty Holiday Food for Purchase
Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
- Lock, Shock, and Barrel Sundae: Festive vanilla cake, vanilla ice cream, strawberry topping, whipped cream, and Christmas sprinkles with a Lock, Shock, and Barrel chocolate piece (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 31 during regular park hours and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party)
- Sugar Plum Shake: Spiced sugar plum soft-serve topped with cherry syrup, whipped cream, and sprinkles (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 22 during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
Casey’s Corner
- Holiday Dinner Dog: All-beef hot dog with cranberry mustard, savory stuffing funnel cake, and cheese curds (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 31 during regular park hours and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party)
- Christmas Tree Cake: Red velvet brownie cheesecake with eggnog buttercream and spiced caramel topped with mini sugar Christmas lights (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 22 during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
Cool Ship
- Polar Bear Claw: Chocolate hazelnut pastry with white and dark chocolate (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 22 during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
The Friar’s Nook
- Curry Brat Tots: Tots topped with chopped bratwurst, curry ketchup, and apple slaw (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 22 during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
- Tinker Bell Cream Puff: Cream puff and compressed carrot cake topped with spiced cream cheese icing, spiced walnuts, and chocolate wings (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 22 during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
Golden Oak Outpost
- Fried Pork Tamale served “Christmas Style” with red and green chile sauces and queso fresco (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 31 during regular park hours and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party)
- Chai Caramel Freeze: Salted caramel freeze with chai spiced whipped cream (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 31 during regular park hours and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party)
Main Street Bakery
- Cinnamon Roll: Mickey Mouse-shaped cinnamon roll with white icing (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 31 during regular park hours and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party)
- Mickey Mousse Ornament Treat: Gingerbread mousse with crispy center and a spiced almond cake with brownie crumble (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 22 during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café
- Texas-sized Sweet Potato Pie: Baked sweet potato pie with marshmallow meringue and candied pecans (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 31 during regular park hours and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party)
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
- Peppermint Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae: Peppermint ice cream, hot fudge, and candy cane pieces served on a brownie (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 31 during the holiday party only)
- Candy Cane Hot Cocoa: Hot chocolate with peppermint ice cream, whipped cream, and candy cane pieces (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 22 during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
Sleepy Hollow Refreshments
- Funnel Cake Sundae: Peppermint ice cream, M&M’S chocolate candies, and hot fudge served on funnel cake (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 22) (Available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
- Sandy Claws Peppermint Mousse Treat: White chocolate peppermint mousse with a chocolate fudge center, chocolate Santa hat, and Jack Skellington face (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 22 during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
- Apple Cider Float: Apple cider topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sprinkled with cinnamon (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 22 during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
Sunshine Tree Terrace
- Once Upon a Christmastime Tart: Chocolate and cranberry tart with chocolate Mickey ears (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 22 during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party only)
Main Street U.S.A. Carts
- Christmas Cookie Churro: Churro served with marshmallow cream, cookie crumbles, and Christmas sprinkles (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 31 during regular park hours and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party)
- Christmas Wreath Doughnut: Red velvet doughnut with green buttercream and Holiday sprinkle decorations (New) (Available Nov. 8 through Dec. 31 during regular park hours and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party) (Decorations will vary)
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Character Guide
Note that these character locations are from 2022’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Stay tuned for 2023 details!
Here are all the Holiday-clad characters you can meet during the Christmas party at Magic Kingdom. Note that some of the rarer characters can get very long lines, so we’d recommend meeting them either at the very beginning or at the very end of the party.
Main Street
- Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater
- Jack Skellington and Sally – Town Square Theater
Liberty Square
- Santa Claus at Enchanted Glade Gazebo
Adventureland
- Aladdin, Abu, Jasmine, and Genie – Near Aladdin’s Magic Carpets
- Jack Sparrow – Near Pirates of the Caribbean
Frontierland
- The Country Bears – Near Country Bear Jamboree
Fantasyland
- Princesses and their Princes – Princess Fairytale Hall
- Belle – Maurice’s Cottage
- Prince Eric’s Market near Little Mermaid – Ariel and Prince Eric
- Dumbo Queue – Minnie, Daisy, Donald, and Scrooge McDuck
- Seven Dwarfs – Fantasyland Castle Wall (Near Princess Fairytale Hall and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train)
- Santa Goofy – Near The Barnstormer
- Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum – Near Mad Tea Party
- Winnie the Pooh & Friends – Near The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Tips for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
- This is a hard ticketed event, which means that regular park admission will not get you into the party. However, you can enter the park starting at 4 pm with the party ticket.
- Don’t try to do it all in one night. Even though you might feel tempted to “maximize your value” by running around the entire park to go on every ride and see every character, you’ll most likely end up frustrated. Instead, prioritize the parade and the fireworks, and then pick a couple of other must-dos. The five hours can go quickly, and focus on the activities that are most important to you.
- Pack for chilly weather. Even though Orlando is warmer than your typical town around Christmas, it can still get pretty cold once the sun goes down.
- Stay clean for your pictures! If you have the perfect holiday outfit planned for your family, get some PhotoPass pictures taken before enjoying the free snacks and hot cocoa.
- The second parade sees much lighter crowds. Take advantage of shorter ride lines during the first parade, then enjoy the second parade without having to brave the crowds.
- The same goes for Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration. Crowds will be much lighter for the later showings, as families younger guests will be heading out early.
- Weeknight parties tend to be less crowded (and less expensive) than the weekend parties.
- Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance. This used to be due to saving money on advance sales, but pretty much every party night sells out ahead of time.
To purchase tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade, check out Disney’s official website, or call 407-W-DISNEY.
Joy to the Disney World – Our Guide 2 the Holidays at WDW
Looking to have the merriest vacation ever? Check out our Disney World Holiday and Christmas Guide, which lets you know everything there is to do at WDW during the holiday season. Find out every limited time offering at each park, including EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays and Candelight Processional. Plus, we list every place you can see Santa at Disney World.
Let me know in the comments below: Do you have any questions or thoughts about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?
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James Grosch
James is a lifelong Disney Parks fan. While at the parks, he loves finding new details, learning more about Disney World history, and taking pictures. His favorite WDW attractions include Rise of the Resistance, Spaceship Earth, and Tower of Terror.
James is a filmmaker and writer based in Atlanta, GA.
My wife and I went to a MVMCP back in 2019. I remember asking guest relations why no FastPass for the party. She said the crowds were like night and day compared to regular park hours and they were not needed.
Well, we spent most of the day in the MK and stayed for the party. We quickly discovered that guest relations was wrong. It felt WAY more crowded during the party than it did earlier that day. It was as if Disney did not have a maximum quota for the party and anyone who wanted to pay the high price for one could get in.
On the night we went, it was raining off and on throughout the evening and who knows how much more crowded it would have been if the weather had been nicer. That, and due to the rain the parades were canceled. Crowds, long lines everywhere and rain. It just wasn’t worth it and it is something we will never do again.
The Christmas music and lights inside Space Mountain was refreshing as well as the way the Castle was lit up. However, that did not make up for the rest of the problems that night.
Hi JeffW! Thanks for sharing your experience with MVMCP. That definitely sounds like not a great time, and I’m sorry you had a rainy and overcrowded night. I bet the rain also drove more guests to get in line for the rides, especially when they announced the parades were cancelled.
With the ticket being so expensive, it’s really tough when unpredictable elements like the rain can knock out some of the biggest draws of the party. Not that it helps you now, but I would encourage other guests who have a similar experience to talk to Guest Relations. I’ve heard of guests being issued refunds or rain check tickets in the past — although I’m not sure what Disney’s policy would be these days.
Experiences like yours are why I hesitate to give a full fledged endorsement to go to this party. There are really great elements, and it can make for a great night. But with the cost so high and the time so limited, it’s too easy for something like rain derail the party.