It's Christmas in July! Here's Everything You Need To Know About Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
- Preethi Jacob
- Jul 26
- 5 min read
You know Magic Kingdom already feels magical. But during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, it’s like you’ve stepped into a holiday dream. Sugar white “snoap” drifts down Main Street. The castle shines red and green. Holiday tunes fill the air. This separately ticketed event runs select nights in November and December, and it’s Walt Disney World's winter highlight!
Early Entry Creates Extra Magic
Your ticket gets you in at 4 p.m., even though the event runs from 7 p.m. to midnight. That’s eight hours of park time, with three of those before regular guests leave. Arrive around 3:30 p.m. to enter Magic Kingdom and enjoy the park and some rides before the party begins.
Complimentary Holiday Treat Stations
Scattered across the park are cookie and drink stations offering unlimited hot cocoa, apple cider, eggnog, and festive cookies. The best part, these treats are included with your party ticket. There is no mobile ordering for these treats. Just walk up and get a drink and cookie. Lines tend to be longest early on. My suggestion? Start snacking after 9 p.m. when crowds ease.
Festive Ride Overlays
Several attractions get limited edition holiday makeovers during the party:
Jingle Cruise appears with cheerful jokes and decorations.
Space Mountain lights up in red and green alongside a holiday soundtrack.
Tomorrowland Speedway becomes a sparkling light path.
Mad Tea Party glows with festive lighting and music.
These unique twists add a fresh feel to familiar favorites.
Holiday Characters in Exclusive Costumes
This event is one of the rare chances to meet Santa Jack Skellington (Sandy Claws), the Seven Dwarfs, and of course classic characters dressed for Christmas . Sometimes lines open before 7 p.m. and often, these characters stop meeting 60-30 minutes before the end of the party. We can plan who to meet first to save time.
Shows & Entertainment You Can’t Miss
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade happens twice nightly with toy soldiers, gingerbread dancers, Disney characters, and a snowy finale. Watching it on Main Street is unforgettable .
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks fill the sky with holiday songs, projections, and festive flair hosted by Minnie herself.
Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration brings high-energy cheer on the castle stage where all the Disney friends celebrate together.
Other fun extras include a Frozen Holiday Surprise show and themed dance parties around the park.
My Family's Experience at the Party
Since we’d already visited Magic Kingdom earlier in our trip, we arrived closer to the official party start time. If this is your only Magic Kingdom day, I definitely recommend getting there earlier to take full advantage of the hours before the official party start time. When we entered, we picked up our party wristbands and were surprised with a festive keepsake, a free ornament!
We caught the tree lighting and watched the snoap fall. It was the perfect start to our evening. After soaking in the magic, we headed to our first character meet, Sandy Claws. My husband and kids then went to Cosmic Ray’s to dance with characters at the kids’ party, while I hopped in line to meet the Seven Dwarfs. It was a long wait, but worth it for me since they’re so rare to see all together.
Later, we met back up for dinner and then headed over to the Speedway to drive through the holiday lights and decorations. After that, the kids wanted to ride the teacups, which also had a fun holiday twist. While they did that, I grabbed some free cookies and a drink. I appreciated that they had an allergy-friendly cookie option for my kids. It’s a small thing that goes a long way.
We caught some of the stage shows, and before the parade, my husband took the kids on a couple more rides. I used that time to meet Ariel and Prince Eric, which ended up being one of my favorite character interactions of the night. It was my first time meeting Eric!
We found a great spot for the parade, and while we waited, my youngest fell asleep in the stroller. She woke up part way through the parade and, without hesitation, started waving to the characters as they passed by. That moment alone made the whole night feel extra magical. Party nights are long and late, and it's definitely something to consider when deciding if the holiday party is right for your family.
We ended the evening with the fireworks show and took our time exiting the park. Staying at Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary meant we could skip the long lines for transportation and just walk back. The kids were asleep in the stroller within minutes. I took a quiet stroll around the resort to snap a few photos, and by the time I got back to our room, everyone was already fast asleep, no doubt dreaming of snoap and all the holiday magic we just experienced.
2025 Party Dates
This year’s dates span November 7 to December 21, 2025 :
November: 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 30
December: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21
Gates open at 4 p.m., party runs 7 p.m.–midnight.
Things to Consider Before Buying That Ticket
Is it too late for the kids? The party doesn't end until midnight. The shows, parade, fireworks, all happen towards the latter half of the party.
Will it interest the kids? My kids weren't too interested in meeting the rare characters, but I was! They did love the rides with the holiday overlay and the kids dance party though.
Is the party the only time you will visit Magic Kingdom? That probably means you won't be able to ride all the rides and meet the usual characters. Are you ok with that?
Pro Tips to Maximize Your Night
Enjoy a leisurely morning, have a later lunch, and enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4pm to enjoy the park before the party begins. No need to purchase a park ticket for your party day, just the party ticket.
Prioritize key elements like the parade, fireworks, stage show, food and characters that are exclusive to the party. Pick one or two must haves/dos in each category: rides, food, entertainment, characters, because the lines can get long and you won't be able to do it all.
Snack later in the evening to skip busiest lines.
Dress festively. Matching holiday outfits make memories and photos pop.
Enjoy rides with overlays after parade/fireworks when lines drop.
Is It Worth the Ticket?
Well, for me and my family, the answer is, absolutely! You get eight hours in the park, exclusive shows, snoap, rare characters, and free treats. I always tell clients it’s an extra bit of holiday joy. Do you have to attend? Of course not. But is it worth attending if you have a vacation to Walt Disney World during this time? In my opinion, 100%, yes!
Want to see the party in action before deciding? I have some highlight videos up on YouTube: @TreasuresUntoldTravels . And when you’re ready to start planning, I’d love to help you craft an unforgettable holiday escape.
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