No matter how many hours we have at a Disney park, it never feels like enough — especially at a hard-ticketed event like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. If you’re planning on attending any of the remaining 2024 party dates, or planning ahead for 2025, here are a few tips to maximize your time at MVMCP.
Arrive Early!
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party starts at 7pm, and ends at 12am, but you can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4pm with your party ticket!
Utilize this time to take in the park’s holiday decor, take photos in your festive looks, or knock out some of your favorite attractions before the party even begins. And, if they’re important to you, consider saving the more popular rides for when the party starts (hint: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and TRON Lightcycle / Run). That said, save some of your party time to experience Space Mountain with a “Holiday Twist”. You don’t want to miss the chaotic holiday music and flashing Christmas lights illuminating the coaster’s tracks!
Take a Nap & Eat a Big Meal Before Arriving
Rather than rope-dropping and going all day, plan on sleeping in or enjoy a relaxing day by the pool filled with nap times to maximize your energy for the late-night party. Everyone in the family will be happier, too!
As we know, there are SO MANY limited-time eats and treats to try at MVMCP. But to save precious party time, you could eat a larger early dinner before arriving to Magic Kingdom so you’re not spending too much time at a table or quick-service restaurant. Quick may be in the name, but stopping by Cosmic Ray’s or Pinocchio’s Village Haus could easily soak up an hour or more of the night. Prioritize limited-time offerings from snack carts or walk-up counters like Sleepy Hollow, or maybe mobile order from Casey’s Corner! Psst… don’t miss that limited-time Holiday Dinner Hot Dog!
Entertainment & Parade Priorities
There’s so much to see and do at this event, and the schedule can get tight. Review the party’s offerings and prepare a list of your travel party’s priorities before arriving.
Above all entertainment offerings at MVMCP, we highly recommend Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. It steps off twice nightly at 8:30pm and 11pm.
During our party, we watched this holiday staple from Frontierland instead of Main Street. We even caught Big Al and Wendell dressed in their Christmas scarves dancing and greeting guests along the parade route before the start. Frontierland is a much more relaxed viewing environment versus the Main Street/Castle Hub areas. We recommend catching the first parade so you can spend more time collecting cookies, eggnog, and enjoying those holiday-overlayed attractions late into the night without interruption.
Stay Until the End!
This is where those aforementioned naps come into play… Sure, MVMCP party offerings end right at midnight, but you can meander out of Magic Kingdom after taking a few late-night castle or Christmas tree photos in your festive looks, or shop party-exclusive merch at the Emporium on the way out!
It often “snows” on Main Street U.S.A. leading up to the midnight hour, and there’s nothing quite like the sight of an illuminated & decorated Main Street to cap off your night of holiday festivities.
Of course, these tips are all dependent on YOUR way of holiday-partying. Plan ahead and prioritize what’s important to you and your group. Character meet and greets? Enter the lines early. Want to skip the fireworks and ride some more rides with even lower waits? Have at it! There’s no wrong way to have fun at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, but I hope these time-saving tips are helpful for you! Happy Holidays!
For even more tips, watch our 2024 MVMCP review!
Theme Park Correspondent for The DIS | Chloé loves kitschy dark rides, roller coasters, a good background area music loop, hot Butterbeer, and all things Halloween. You’ll mostly find her wandering around Orlando’s biggest theme parks snapping pics and sharing tips… or probably talking about The Great Movie Ride.
