It’s almost the most Magical time of year in Walt Disney World. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party dates are just a couple of weeks away. We highly recommend experiencing this special ticketed event taking place at the Magic Kingdom select nights throughout the holiday season. You will encounter exclusive parades, fireworks, shows, character meet and greets and seasonal snacks and beverages. The offerings pack in some serious magic from 7pm until midnight. Read our blog post on the full slate of magical party offerings HERE. Kingdom and Cruise agents are experts at taking full advantage of the fun. Contact us today so we can customize your Disney vacation AND party evening. Here are 5 tips to make Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party even MERRIER!

Don’t forget to pick up the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party guide and your free gift as you enter the park.

5 Tips to Make Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Even Merrier

Disclaimer: These are general tips. The best way to make your night the merriest it can be is to use an agent at Kingdom and Cruise Travel!

1. Arrive Early

The party starts at 7pm, but you can enter at 4pm! That’s a lot of time to enjoy the park before the party’s offerings begin. What should you do with all of this time? Here are some suggestions:

a. Grab your party guide/map at the entrance and pass through the party lane off to the right of Town Square to get your free party gift.

b. Take photos by the Christmas Tree and Cinderella’s Castle. Use the professional Disney photographers and don’t forget to purchase Memory Maker! With Memory Maker, you will gain access to all the photos taken throughout the evening.

Don’t skip the party entrance lane off the the right of Town Square. There are always some merry characters like these toy soldiers waiting to greet you!

c. Head to a quick service restaurant like like Columbia Harbor House and study the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party map and guide. Your Kingdom and Cruise Travel Agent may have sent you a guide ahead of time and will have customized your game plan.

d. Choose some rides without long standby wait times. You will not have lightning lane access unless you have tickets for the Magic Kingdom that day prior to party time AND you purchased lightning lane multi-pass or single pass for that day.

Purchase Memory Maker for the day of your Christmas party if you did not already add it to your Disney vacation. You will get all photos from the photographers and the rides.

2. Ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure right before the party begins

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is the newest ride to open in the Magic Kingdom. It is the rethemed log-flume ride in Frontierland. If Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is on your list and you have had trouble getting a lightning lane for it, now is your chance to ride! A standby queue will be offered to party guests beginning around 6:00-6:15 pm. If you missed dinner, grab some beignets from the Golden Oak Outpost and hop in line. Your wait could be as little as 30 minutes.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will have a standby line starting around 6:00 – 6:15pm. This is a great ride to do right before the party begins.

3. Meet Special Characters Early in the Party

There are some special character meet and greets high on everyone’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party list, but wait times can be over an hour long throughout the evening until midnight. If the party is only 5 hours long, it is hard to justify waiting a significant portion of the party to grab a photo. We have a suggestion! Right after you ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, head over to Storybook Circus to Pete’s Silly Sideshow to meet the Seven Dwarves from Snow White. YES, ALL SEVEN! They will start meeting guests around 6:30 pm and will continue to do so throughout the evening.

This character meet and greet is a 7 for 1 deal. Line up early in the evening to grab your photo op with the Seven Dwarves!

4. Take Advantage of Included Holiday Snacks and Beverages

Your Very Merry Christmas Party guide and map will pinpoint where to find some tasty included treats! Last year’s party had wonderful offerings including gingerbread cookies, chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, eggnog, hot chocolate and apple cider. They are located at quick service restaurants and kiosks throughout the park. Don’t pass them by! They will even offer you Udi’s cookies if you need a gluten-free, dairy-free option. There are other exclusive seasonal meals, desserts and beverages that are not included, but why not make it a goal to try these free treats?!

Take advantage of the included snacks! There are seasonal treats spread throughout the Magic Kingdom at quick service locations.

5. Hang Out in front of Cinderella’s Castle for the Second Half of the Night

Second half of the night sounds excessive, but there is SO much going on by Cinderella’s Castle. If you’re up for some included entertainment, you might as well set up shop at the best seat in the house. Every party will have 2 scheduled Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parades. If you can hold out, watch the later parade! Grab your spot up up near the castle about 45 minutes before Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, which were scheduled for 10pm in 2023. Check the schedule for 2024! Have someone in your party grab some popcorn while you wait for the parade, shows and fireworks – maybe even get an exclusive Christmas party popcorn bucket to enjoy it in.

Popcorn tastes better when you eat it out of a toy soldier Mickey.

Check out the stage show, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration, happening on the Cinderella’s Castle stage. You can catch the one before the fireworks or in between the fireworks and the second parade. Consult your party schedule for exact times!

During the parade, watch as your favorite Disney characters go by, and wave to Santa on his sleigh!

After the second parade, there will still be some party time left! Use this time to take one last ride, like Tron. Or perhaps you never got a chance to purchase exclusive party merchandise like a spirit jersey!

Spirit Jersey or it didn’t happen is my Disney mantra! Pop into Main Street’s Emporium to take home a piece of the merry magic.

Do you have any ideas to add to these 5 tips for planning your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? Drop a comment and let us know! The best advice we have is to contact a Kingdom and Cruise Disney Travel Advisor. They can help plan the perfect vacation and map out your party plans that are perfect for your family’s needs and party must-dos. ChEARS to the most magical time of the year!

By Kingdom and Cruise Travel Advisor, Alli Matthews

5 Tips to Make “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” Even Merrier