Disney offers these VERY popular after-hours parties throughout November and December on limited nights before the VERY busy two weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Eve. For 2024 the party nights are:
- November – 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27 and 29
- December – 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 20
Their price per person depends on the date and night of the week. The more likely the event will sell out, the higher the price. For 2024 they are $169 to $219 plus tax.
Planning Tip: I have bolded the dates that, relative to the dates around them, will be the busiest nights to attend these parties.
Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 per ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party—valid only for the following event nights.
- November – 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22
- December – 1, 3, and 5
Purchase Options
Tickets go on sale as of July 2, 2024 for guests of Disney’s own resort hotels, the Marriott operated Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve hotels, and the Shades of Green for active duty military. Tickets for everyone else are available as of July 10, 2024.
Tickets are available online on the official Disney web site, or you can call 407-939-4240. Guests of Michael’s Vacations don’t need to worry about anything — we will purchase these tickets for you on your behalf.
Any concerns? These tickets are non-refundable even if it’s due to inclement weather! I used to advise waiting until you were closer to your chosen party night to know the weather forecast, but in 2023 most nights were completely sold out by mid-November — many popular nights went earlier.
4PM Entrance Option
The official party hours are 7pm – Midnight. However, guests with party tickets are allowed to enter the park as early as 4pm. If you plan on visiting the park earlier in the day than 4pm, you will require regular park admission.
Beginning at 4pm, the entrance to the party will be through the turnstiles on the far right side as you face the park entrance. As soon as you pass through the gates be sure to secure your special party bracelet. When the park officially closes to day guests at 6pm, those without the party bracelets will be politely directed to the park exits.
Party Wristband Distribution: If you go against my advice and are already in the park at 4pm, you can also activate your party tickets and receive the party bracelets in Tomorrowland near Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, Fantasyland outside Mickeys PhilharMagic, and in Adventureland at the Tortuga Tavern across from Pirates.
Party Entertainment
Instead of listing every entertainment option, I am concentrating on the don’t-miss options. In addition to the rides that are open, these are the reasons why you purchase the extra-cost tickets to attend a party.
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade: 8:30pm & 11pm
This is a slightly scaled back version of the annual Christmas Day parade you see on ABC each year. It’s fantastic and very special! It features all your favorite Disney characters in their holiday garb, marching toy soldiers, reindeer, and gingerbread men.
The parade begins in Frontierland next to Tiana’s Bayou, turns right at Liberty Square, circles in front of the Castle, and then continues down Main Street, USA, circles around Town Square, and exits between the fire station and barber shop.
Which parade? The second parade at 11pm is 60 to 80% less crowded than the first one at 8:30pm.
Least crowded viewing area? If you must watch the first showing due to the ages of your young children, it’s worth the walk down Main Street, USA and grabbing a spot in Town Square. This area will not be nearly as crowded as elsewhere because by 8pm the vast majority of guests will be inside the park enjoying the party. It’s also a very pretty view of the floats as they arrive surrounded by the special snow effects.
If you are staying for the 2nd, much better as in much less crowded, parade, you can catch a view from virtually anywhere you wish along the route. You only need to arrive about 30 to 40 minutes early for front row seats on the pavement.
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks: 10pm
Another don’t-miss is the special Christmas-themed fireworks in front of and behind the Castle. There are also holiday projections that magically cover the entire Castle from top to bottom.
The entire area in front of the Castle should be avoided unless you’re willing to arrive for a spot immediately after the first parade ends and don’t mind literal shoulder to shoulder crowd levels. Thankfully there are better options!
As with all of the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks displays, you can view them beautifully from anywhere on Main Street, USA, and as pointed out for the best parade view, the entrance/exit of the park on Town Square provides an excellent view. Just be sure to be behind the giant Christmas Tree, on the Castle side, so that it doesn’t block your view. Plan on arriving here at least 40 minutes early for the best spots.
Viewing Strategy Tip: The first parade will reach Town Square at approximately 8:50pm and end around 9:20pm. Note that this is exactly 40 minutes before the fireworks begin. And when they end you can just turn around and exit, missing the mass exodus of exhausted guests that happens each party night after the fireworks.
Looking for the absolute least crowded viewing spot for the fireworks? Be in Fantasyland between the Carrousel and the Seven Dwarves Mine Train. Sure, you’ll miss the interactive Castle projections and lower level fireworks that explode around the front, but the large fireworks that explode very high in the sky are about a quarter of a mile BEHIND the Castle. You’ll enjoy a completely unobstructed view of all the showstoppers!
Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration: 7:40pm, 9:25pm, 10:30pm, and 11:55pm
Imagine all of the classic Disney characters in an elevated staged production in front of the Castle singing and dancing to Christmastime’s greatest hits. And here you go. It’s very good!
But note those show times, huh? Except for the last one at 11:55pm, the others are either right before or after the parade and fireworks. And where are the thickest holiday crowds? In front of the Castle … Guess which showtime I highly recommend?
Is this show worth watching in tightly packed, shoulder to shoulder crowds? Only you can answer that. Me? I only recommend the last showing at 11:55pm. It’s the perfect ending to a magical evening in the park!
Additional Nighttime Entertainment & Rides
There are several dance parties at various locations, a special 7-minute (!) Frozen show in front of the Castle (8:15pm), as well as special Christmas-themed characters throughout the entire park. All of this will be included with the special maps provided for the event.
In addition, MOST of the park’s attractions are open, although know that none of them will provide the Lightening Lane option. Disney doesn’t feel the need to staff these because there will be a finite, smaller number of guests in the park.
Are all of the lines short? No, not at all. You will see a lot of attractions with 30 and 40 minute waits. Disney considers these reasonable wait times. That’s why it’s important to have a touring strategy to avoid the longest wait times.
Christmas Overlay Attractions
The following attractions provide special Christmas theming, lighting, and even custom Christmas songs played as you experience them:
- Jungle Cruise: Changes to Jingle Cruise (that is also available during normal park hours)
- Mad Tea Party
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Space Mountain – Holiday Run! (special interior lighting and tunes)
- Monsters Inc Laugh Floor: Changes to Monsters Inc Laugh Floor Holiday Show
Itinerary Planning Advice
These Christmas parties require itinerary planning that considers the late hours. An early morning should never follow one of them, so I advise a planned late arrival at either the Animal Kingdom or EPCOT (depending on your rides wish list) for the day after.
Also, if your wise plan is to skip the first parade, use that time for the attractions, watch the fireworks and second parade, and hopefully end it with the 11:55pm Mickey show in front of the Castle, the day of your party night should be one for rest and relaxation.
My favorite plan is to take the day off from the parks on any night that includes a party. You can rest in, take in a Character Breakfast, swim in the hotel pool if warm enough, and just relax throughout the day until it’s time to depart your hotel around 5pm.
You can book a dining reservation for dinner inside the park, or at one of the Magic Kingdom Resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, and Grand Floridian), and when the festivities begin at 7pm you’re all set.
This also means that the night before this day off can be a late one as well! Consider the Fantasmic show at the Hollywood Studios or EPCOT’s Luminous. These are often too late for families who are maximizing their theme park mornings, per our advice, but on this ‘night before the party,’ it doesn’t matter because you get to rest in the morning after.
