There is something about walking into Disney’s Magic Kingdom anytime of the year, but when the park is decorated for Christmas – it is even more magical!
A few weeks ago, my family celebrated my son’s birthday with a trip to Walt Disney World. Luckily, they were just beginning the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party while we were there.
If you’ve never heard of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, it is a special event held at the Magic Kingdom park in Walt Disney World on selected nights during the holidays. To attend the event, you purchase tickets specifically for the party. The park is closed early to all but party attendees and Disney World rolls out the red carpet for the Christmas season – or I guess I should say they roll out the garland, twinkle lights, and fireworks!
The official time of the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is normally from 7:00 PM to midnight; however, you can be admitted earlier into the parks with your ticket. Just ask at guest services about early admittance times. You’ll definitely want to get there as soon as you can to not miss a second of the fun!
Many of our favorite rides are open during the party with lines so short you can just walk right on.
Here is a list of the rides that have been open the last few times we’ve visited for the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, of course you’ll want to check the schedule when you purchase your tickets for the event.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Attractions
Adventureland:
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Swiss Family Treehouse
Frontierland:
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Country Bear Jamboree
Liberty Square:
The Haunted Mansion
Tomorrowland:
Astro Orbiter
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Space Mountain
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Stitch’s Great Escape
Tomorrowland Speedway
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Fantasyland:
Peter Pan’s Flight
Prince Charming Regal Carousel
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Snow White’s Scary Adventures
It’s A Small World
All of the mountains – Space, Thunder, and Splash – are definite favorites where you do have to wait a little bit, but nothing like the normal lines for these rides.
We like to ride as many of the rides as soon as we get to the party, ride Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain as our last rides, and then grab a spot near Frontier Land by 8 o’clock for the first parade.
Then you’ll be ready to stroll between the cookie and hot cocoa stations meeting characters as you head back to Main Street for the fireworks at 9:30, to watch the parade for the second time at 10:30, and experience the snow!
We always leave the party with a spring in our step and a little extra Christmas cheer in our hearts!
Well, and I always have grand ideas for decorating, but we won’t go there.
Have you ever been? I’d love to hear about your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party experience. What was your favorite part?
I love that time of year at Disney World! I’ve been there a number of times for their Christmas decorations and parade. Love it!!
Went for the 2nd time a few weeks ago!!! Disney is always a class act but there is magic for this party like no other. It snows on mainstreet during the parade, there are characters EVERYWHERE!! Is worth the money for the ticket, hint– there is usually 2 parades- go to the back of the park and ride the rides, visit the characters- seek out the hot coco and cookies stations AWAY from mainstreet less crowded. Then after the fireworks- as everyone is moving toward the back- find a spot on mainstreet and sit on the curb! The second parade is exactly the same and you don’t have to fight with everyone for a spot!! Works out wonderfully!! ( IF you have little people who can stay up that late, 2nd parade is about 1030pm) Say hi to mickey for me!!