Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Guide (2024)

“We’re simply having a wonderful Christmastime!” I can’t help but smile as I reminisce about the many Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties I’ve attended. Those cherished memories include snow-like suds falling on Main Street, laughter among old friends, and meeting new friends while waiting in line to meet rare characters. Other than family, my nearest and dearest friends were all met, one way or another, through Disney.

Each year, when the Christmas party is announced, I begin to look forward to the holidays. Now that the 4th of July is out of the way and we’ve prepared for the Halloween festivities (that begin next month), it’s time to form a plan for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. As always, I’m not preparing this guide to sell you on attending the party. I believe that most of the extra events sell themselves. We love most of them. They have become traditions we cherish, like how you might put up your Christmas tree on the day after Thanksgiving or whenever you do it.

However, there is a caveat. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is expensive, and we cannot ignore that factor. This year’s prices range between $169.00 to $219.00 per person! If you’re a family of four, that’s a minimum of $676.00 plus tax. That’s a significant amount of money to spend for one evening. So, if you’re already feeling the pinch on your vacation budget, we would never recommend exceeding it to attend a special party or event. You can still have a wonderful holiday experience at Walt Disney World. Don’t let laboring over whether or not you should buy tickets become a negative factor in your planning process.

Now that we’ve addressed the expense, let’s discuss what you can expect from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2024. We’ll review dates and times, entertainment, character meet-and-greets, attractions, and dining. We’ll also discuss how to prioritize your interests to help maximize your time at the event. Like most special offerings, it’s important to know that you cannot expect to do everything available. So, it’s essential to select what’s most important to you and your party and then form a plan to tackle those items.

It’s also of utmost importance to consider how you’ll spend the day of the party. We do not recommend trying to do anything extra on a party day. If you were to tire early, you might not be 100% for the party, and that would be a shame.

This guide was last updated on August 3, 2024.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party begins at 7:00 p.m. and lasts until midnight. However, Disney allows ticketed party guests to enter the park at 4:00 p.m. Therefore, with the party admission, you can spend up to eight hours at Magic Kingdom.

As far as timing goes, you know yourself best. I have found that after many years of attending the Christmas Party, I do better when I arrive at approximately 6:00 p.m., with plans to stay until after the party. The last stage show is offered at the end of the evening. So, I like to linger around the park and leave afterward when it works out that way. With those thoughts in mind, I think it’s important to have all major dining (read: dinner) wrapped up by 6:30 p.m. at the latest. This will free your evening to focus on what’s important to you.

We used to spend the majority of our time riding attractions during the Christmas Party—so much so that we never focused on the unique offerings exclusive to party guests. As someone who’s lived both the life of a parent who took their child to Disney regularly and now a writer who documents what to expect, I realized the “parent” me missed out on a lot. The entertainment options at these events are top-notch. So, I wouldn’t count them out over a few rides you can do regularly. But if rides are a priority, that’s okay, too. Just know that as your children get older, you might want to incorporate other offerings into your plans. It’s a whole new world.

Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is a classic and favorite entertainment offering. It is held twice nightly during the Christmas Party at 8:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Depending on the weather, we usually prefer to watch the first parade of the evening and see the second one (again) if our schedule allows. The first parade is almost always more crowded than the second. But if there’s a possibility of rain or inclement weather, we think it’s best to see the first parade, just in case something happens and you don’t make it to the second performance. We would not want to miss it!

The parade steps off in Frontierland next to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. This is a good place if you would like to see the parade with the least effort possible. You won’t have to wait as long for the parade to reach your area. We recommend getting a spot at this location about an hour before the parade begins. You’ll want to be on the front row if possible, especially if you have younger children who want to see everything up close. (It’s worth the wait.)

For the most magical experience, you’ll need to secure a spot on Main Street, U.S.A., about an hour to an hour and a half before the parade. You’ll get stunning parade views with Cinderella Castle in the background. Snow will fall while you wait, and you’ll be treated to a pre-parade. The downside is that the parade takes about 20 minutes to reach this area after it steps off in Frontierland. However, the pre-parade and entertainment help keep the crowd in good spirits leading up to the first float.

Learn More>> Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration

This castle stage show is offered four times each night of the party. It’s exclusive to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and features many characters, popular Christmas tunes, and dazzling performers. This year’s stage show is scheduled at 7:40 p.m., 9:25 p.m., 10:35 p.m., and 11:55 p.m.

Each performance lasts approximately 20 minutes and features a variety of classic characters mixed with a few rare ones. The opening act includes Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck. Other performances include Clarabelle Cow, who rocks Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You better than anyone else except for Mariah Carey. That act is followed by a few Country music tunes featuring Woody and Jessie from Toy Story. Then, Panchito Pistoles and Jose Carioca spice things up with a few Latin-inspired tunes and dance numbers. By the finale, a number of characters have joined the stage in their holiday best.

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show is my favorite entertainment offering of the evening. It is offered once per night at 10:00 p.m. Each performance includes the popular Christmas songs Deck the Halls and We Wish You a Merry Christmas and projections on Cinderella Castle. It’s a touching fireworks spectacular that most will consider sentimental. We wouldn’t miss it.

Frozen Holiday Surprise (Special Showing)

A Frozen Holiday Surprise is a short castle projection show offered nightly at Magic Kingdom. This show debuted last year and is not exclusive to the Christmas Party. Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf join the stage for this special performance each night around 6:15 p.m. However, on nights of the Christmas Party, the performance will be offered a second time at 8:15 p.m. This second showing should be relatively easy to see.

Club Tinsel

Club Tinsel is a DJ dance party that allows guests to dance the night away in front of the Rocketeer Plaza Stage. Last year, a couple of characters came out intermittently throughout the evening: Nick Wilde, Judy Hopps, Chip, and Dale.

This is where the former Totally Tomorrowland Christmas stage show was held. It did not return last year, which greatly disappointed fans.

Disney Junior Jingle Jam

Little ones can join in on the dance floor inside Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. The Disney Junior Jingle Jam allows guests to dance with their favorite Disney Junior characters. Typically, characters like Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, and Timon make appearances.

Snowfall On Main Street

Each evening, you can enjoy a snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A., during the Christmas Party. Snoap (soap that looks like snow) is blown from the rooftops. It’s truly magical, even when it’s hotter than blue blazes.

Specialty Food and Drink + Dining

Per Disney, sweet treats and beverages will be available at designated locations around the park—at no additional charge. Usually, four to five locations throughout the park have cookies and hot chocolate. Each location typically has a unique cookie. We were impressed with some of the cookies we tried at last year’s party. They were a step above what’s usually available. (An allergy-friendly location is usually designed on the party map.)

The following quick-service restaurants will be open during the party:

• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
• Casey’s Corner
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn Cafe
• The Friar’s Nook
• Sleepy Hollow
• Main Street Bakery

Reservations for the following table service restaurants are recommended:

• Be Our Guest Restaurant
• Cinderella’s Royal Table
• The Plaza Restaurant

*It’s important to note that these will be your only dining options during the party. Again, we highly recommend having a full meal by 6:30 p.m. or earlier. You can always pick up a snack or something at one of the quick service locations if needed.

Fireworks dessert parties will also be available for the party. They can be reserved up to 60 days in advance. Here are two options with links to more information on Disney’s site.

• Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing
• Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace

Photo Opportunities

Special photograph opportunities and magic shots will be available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Guests can purchase a one-day Memory Maker option to use at the party or purchase the Memory Maker for the entirety of their vacation. PhotoPass photographers will be available throughout the park and at many of the character meet-and-greets.

Final Thoughts

We hope you found this guide helpful in planning your time at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. We’ve been attending the party for well over ten years and thoroughly enjoy it. Our only complaint is the pricing. I usually attend two parties each year, one to cover the characters and the other for all the extras. We pay out-of-pocket to attend these events and share our experiences with our readers. With these prices, I doubt we’ll attend more than one event this year.

As someone who loves the party, I hate to end on that note. But with no new major offerings announced, it’s something you’ll want to consider. Those extra funds could be used for many other things, like a longer vacation or a starter fund to save toward your next vacation. Again, I’m not knocking on the party; it’s just the cost of it. If you’re curious about the real cost of a Disney vacation, check out our budgeting tools. We have a line item on our spreadsheets that includes the seasonal parties.

For more seasonal guides, you may also enjoy:

• Jollywood Nights Character Lineup for 2024
• 9 Things to Do at Disney World This Christmas Season
• Meeting Characters at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

In the Comments

Have you ever attended Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? Let us know your thoughts, opinions, or anything you’re still considering below in the comments.