Insider Tips for Making the Most of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party with Little Ones

Disney’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a magical and festive event that brings holiday cheer to the iconic Magic Kingdom Park. For families with little ones, attending this special party can create cherished memories and unforgettable experiences. In this guide, I’ll provide valuable insights and tips to help you make the most of your visit to Disney’s Very Merry Christmas Party with young children. From planning strategies to must-see attractions and dining options, this comprehensive article aims to ensure a joyful and stress-free experience for families celebrating the holiday season at Disney World.

Choosing the Right Date and Time

Picking the perfect date and time for the party is key to a jolly good time. Consider your little one’s nap schedule, meal times, and bedtime routine to ensure they’re well-rested and ready to enjoy the festivities.

Theme Park Mom Pro Tip: Weekdays almost always have smaller crowds than weekends. If possible, I strongly recommend attending on a week night.

You absolutely must purchase your tickets in advance for the party, and dates sell out very fast. Remember, you do not need a park ticket on top of the party ticket. Having only the ticket for the party will grant you entry on the date of the Very Merry Christmas Party that you booked.

Checking In

Guests attending the party will need a wrist band. This is Disney’s way of making sure that guests who do not have a ticket to the party are not in the parks once it starts.

If you are already in the parks for the day, you can check-in starting at 4pm at one of the stations around the park. Typically these will be in Adventureland across from Pirates of the Caribbean or in Tomorrowland to the left across from Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor.

If you haven’t already made it into the park, check in will be outside of the Magic Kingdom gates. Look out for signs pointing you in the right direction and keep an eye out for the cast members in their festive costumes!

Once you check in, you’ll get a wristband and a party guide. It’s super important to hang on to that wristband because it’s your ticket to staying in the park after it closes for the party. This means you can enjoy all the fun activities and even ride the attractions.

Theme Park Mom Pro Tip: The wristbands are made of fabric and once they’re tightened, they won’t loosen up. Make sure to remind your kids not to fiddle with them too much or they might end up being too tight. It’s all about having a good time at the party, let’s make sure we keep those wristbands secure.

Special Treats

Special to this party is the ability to get complimentary cookies and hot cooca! And even better, it’s not just for kids. Trust me, I know from experience.

Theme Park Mom Pro Tip: I recommend bringing a small bag in case you don’t eat all of the cookies that you get. They are all pre-packaged, so can be a great souvenir to take home.

If you have allergies, no worries! There are even select stops that have allergy friendly cookies. (you can find info on where those are in your party guide). You can find the cookie stops at various locations around the parks. Locations are Columbia Harbour House, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, The Lunching Pad, Pinocchio Village Haus, and Tortuga Tavern. Keep that party guide handy, searching the park for tasty treats is when I use the guide the most.

Must-Do Characters & Dance Parties

One of the most magical things about this event is getting to meet all the characters. You can see Santa Goofy, Minnie, Mickey, and even the rare Jack Skellington all dressed up for the holidays. There are also dance parties that the entire party can participate in.

Frozen Holiday Surprise
Join Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and the snowgies at 8:15 PM as Cinderella Castle turns into a frozen wonderland.

Santa’s Christmas Carnival
Visit Storybook Circus as it is transformed into a must-visit holiday destination filled with joyful Christmas cheer, friends from the North Pole—and, of course, Santa Claus.

Club Tinsel
Bust a move during a mega fun dance party at Rockettower Plaza Stage. This is your chance to dance the night away with holiday friends all night long in Tomorrowland!

Disney Junior Jingle Jam
Young partygoers can get their groove on with Disney Junior Characters! At Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café, the Disney Junior Jingle Jam gives youngsters the chance to dance with Characters from popular Disney Junior shows Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins and The Lion Guard.

Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for the performance schedule.

Theme Park Mom Pro Tip: The lines for character meet and greets can get very long, very fast. I have found that the best time to get in line is around 6-7pm right before the party starts. Make sure to prioritize the characters you really want to meet, like Jack or Mickey and Minnie, because their lines tend to be the longest.

Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration

This awesome live stage show stars Mickey Mouse and his pals in a super fun holiday extravaganza! You can catch all the action right in front of Cinderella Castle, and the show happens multiple times each night.

Theme Park Mom Pro Tip: If you want to avoid the crowds, try catching one of the later shows. It’s been my experience that crowds filter out once the first round of shows/parades has gone on. Just remember to double check the weather forecast. If you’re staying for a later show and there’s rain or thunder/lightning in the forecast, it will likely be canceled.

Once Upon a Christmas Parade

One of the most exciting parts of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is the Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade! This parade features all your favorite Disney characters, but with a festive holiday twist. My personal favorite part of the parade is the Toy Soldiers – there is something so nostalgic about them and it’s amazing to watch as they march down the street in perfect sync!

Theme Park Mom Pro Tip: There are usually two parades during the event, so I suggest catching the later one to avoid the crowds. The parade route starts in Frontierland, goes through Liberty Square, past the Castle, and down Main Street USA before finishing up. If you want to get back to the other activities quickly, watching the parade in Frontierland is a great option as you won’t have to wait as long.

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks

What is a party without fireworks? This is a fantastic show that features tons of your favorite characters, fireworks, and Pyrotechnics! Seriously, this show is one you don’t want to miss.

Theme Park Mom Pro Tip: A great way to ensure your family has a prime viewing location for Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks are the two dessert parties Disney offers during the show. They are located Tomorrowland Terrace and Plaza Restaurant.

For more info on the Dessert Parties, or to purchase tickets, click here.

Attractions

All Magic Kingdom attractions are open during the party. There are a handful that have extra special holiday over lays, specific to the party.

This year, Disney is featuring several attractions decked out with holiday-themed makeovers:

• Hold on tight as Space Mountain launches you on a journey through the cosmos with high-energy holiday tunes and festive interior lighting.
• Cruise a festive freeway filled with thousands of lights, stylized décor and a fun, futuristic holiday soundtrack as you get behind the wheel on the “Tomorrowland Speedway Race Through the Holidays.”
• Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland becomes a wild and wacky Christmas party––where you can spin your teacup to one of 4 holiday combos of lights and music.
• Get ready to laugh on Jingle Cruise—packed with holiday-themed puns. Jingle Cruise can be enjoyed during the party or all day long at Magic Kingdom park.
• Watch as the crew of Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor puts some “ha ha ha” in their “ho ho ho” with a seasonal show.

Theme Park Mom Pro Tip: If riding attractions is important to you during the party, I suggest doing party-specific activities first. Then, as the night goes on and the crowds thin out, you can hit up the attractions with shorter wait times. It’s a great way to make the most of your time at the party.

Memory Maker

Memory Maker is my top must-do/non negotiable when it comes to my family’s Disney vacations. Whether you are purchasing it for the party, or the duration of your vacation (I strongly suggest purchasing it for the duration), I can’t recommend it enough.

With Memory Maker, you will be able to download and share your Disney PhotoPass memories of this exciting event. BONUS- Mom, you’ll be in every single photo!!!

By purchasing Memory Maker, you get access to digital downloads of all your Disney PhotoPass photos and videos, including:

• Photos in iconic locations
• Select attraction photos and videos
• Character experiences
• Magic Shots
• Video memories comprised of your photos—which you can create, download and share.

Theme Park Moms Pro Tip: Be sure to ask Disney PhotoPass photographers about holiday-themed Magic Shots—which are special effects and surprises that they can add to your photos.

Stroller Strides

Having a comfortable stroller for your little one (or even not so little one) is a key factor in enjoying not just the Very Merry Christmas Party, but your entire family vacation. And while Disney Parks has strollers for rent, I highly recommend renting through Kingdom Strollers.

At Kingdom Strollers, inclusivity is key. They offer specialty strollers designed to provide comfort and support for children with disabilities, ensuring that every member of your family can join in on the fun without missing a beat. Kingdom Strollers not only offers practical advantages like convenience and affordability but also ensures a comfortable and safe experience for both parents and children during their theme park visit.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party runs until midnight, and to make sure you’re soaking in every bit of the magic as well as getting your money’s worth, I have found that if your little one is able to recline and have the option to fall asleep cozy in their stroller, you will have a much better time.

For more on my personal experience with Kingdom Strollers, check out my article on Theme Park Moms, “Navigating the Magic: Why Kingdom Strollers is my Go-To Stroller Rental Company at Walt Disney World.”

Now is the time to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with festive entertainment, a storybook holiday atmosphere, sweet treats and more! No matter what you end up doing, be sure to enjoy every little magical moment while at the Christmas party with your little ones.

CLICK HERE to purchase your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets!