There are a lot of things I love at Walt Disney World.
But if you asked me to choose my absolute favorite Disney World experience, I wouldn’t have to think very hard.
It’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
I’ve now done the party twice with my children at very different ages. The first time, in November 2024, Sissy was four, Coco was two, and Bubs was only three months old.
Three kids four and under. A breastfeeding mom. A newborn at Disney World. A Christmas party that ends at midnight.
On paper, perhaps not the most obvious recipe for a relaxing evening.
And yet, it was so magical that we came back and did essentially the same thing again in December 2025, this time bringing my parents too.
Because for me, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party isn’t just a less crowded night at Magic Kingdom with some Christmas entertainment thrown in.
It’s dancing with my babies while “snow” falls around Cinderella Castle. Watching Sissy and Coco wave at characters in the parade and seeing their faces when those characters wave back. Walking down an almost empty Main Street after midnight when the music is still playing and nobody is quite ready for the night to be over.
So yes, I’m going to tell you right now that I think Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is worth it.
But there’s a strategy behind why our nights have worked so well, especially with very young kids.
What Is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, often shortened to MVMCP, is a separately ticketed Christmas event held at Magic Kingdom on select nights in November and December.
The party officially runs from 7 PM to midnight, but party ticket holders can enter Magic Kingdom beginning at 4 PM without purchasing regular park admission for that day.
The party includes exclusive Christmas entertainment, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, special character appearances, character dance parties, complimentary cookies and festive beverages, holiday attraction overlays, snowfall on Main Street, and more.
But I don’t think you can decide whether the Christmas party is worth the money by making a checklist of everything included.
For me, it’s the way Magic Kingdom feels that night.
It feels like Christmas morning and Disney magic somehow got rolled into one.
Our First Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party With Three Kids Under Five
The first time we brought our kids was November 2024.
Sissy was four, Coco was two, and Bubs was three months old. My husband and sister came with us, and we stayed at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Bringing a three month old to Walt Disney World was admittedly adventurous.
But we went into that trip knowing exactly what it needed to be: slow.
I was breastfeeding. We had three very young children. There was absolutely no version of this trip where we were going to race around trying to maximize every minute.
The morning of the party, we did essentially nothing.
We relaxed. We slept. Everyone took a nap.
Then we headed to Magic Kingdom and arrived around 4:40 PM.
Travel Advisor Tip: Protect the Day Before the Party
Do not plan a marathon park day and then expect your young kids to happily party until midnight.
If I’m spending this much money on a five hour special event, I want my family rested enough to actually enjoy those five hours.
The quiet morning wasn’t wasted Disney time.
It was part of the party strategy.
Take Advantage of the Time Before 7 PM
Once we arrived, we got our party wristbands and ornament keepsakes, took our traditional family pictures, and started soaking in the Christmas atmosphere.
We saw the snow angels and gingerbread men, and around 5:30 PM we got some of my favorite Cinderella Castle pictures.
This is one of my favorite little windows of the night.
Day guests are beginning to leave. Party guests are arriving, but many immediately head toward attractions and other experiences.
Meanwhile, we were taking castle pictures with hardly anyone around us.
Then we headed toward our first real priority of the night.
Why We Waited an Hour for Anna and Elsa
If you’ve ever watched Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, you may understand this one.
That little story is special in our house.
Sissy and Coco watch it at home, and underneath all the Christmas music and Frozen fun is this really simple message: when we’re together, we already have everything we need.
There’s something about that reminder that hits differently around the holidays.
So when we knew Anna and Elsa would be appearing in their Christmas outfits, meeting them mattered to us. They aren’t normally available to meet at Magic Kingdom, so we knew this would be popular.
At 6 PM, I got in line.
Was I willing to wait an hour?
For this, yes.
But here’s the important part: my kids didn’t have to.
My husband and sister took Sissy and Coco on the carousel. They ate snacks at a nearby table, danced around, and did a few rounds on the carousel while I held our spot.
Then, right around 7 PM as the party officially began, they joined me.
Anna and Elsa became our first official party experience.
Immediately afterward, we met Cinderella and Prince Charming, then Rapunzel and Flynn Rider.
Six characters in about an hour.
Travel Advisor Tip: The Princes Are Part of the Appeal
This is one of my favorite things about Disney’s special ticketed parties.
The princes come out.
Character pairings that are difficult or impossible to find during a normal Magic Kingdom day become part of the experience.
If characters matter to your family, identify your highest priority meets before the party instead of deciding once you arrive.
We later met Ariel and Prince Eric too.
And there is one character experience that has been on my list both times that we still haven’t managed to do: Mickey and Minnie in their Christmas outfits.
Somehow, after two parties, we still don’t have that Christmas picture.
Do I want it?
Absolutely.
But that’s also a good reminder that even as a travel advisor, I don’t expect to accomplish everything.
Maybe next time.
The Moment That Makes Me Cry Every Time
After meeting the characters, we headed toward Cinderella Castle for Frozen Holiday Surprise.
And this is probably where I lose all objectivity about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
It’s the music.
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.
It’s Sissy and Coco dancing beside me to music we listen to at home when we’re missing Disney.
And then the “snow” starts falling.
Technically, it’s snoap. Soap snow.
Emotionally? Absolutely snow.
I stood there dancing with my babies while it fell around us, and yes, I cried.
Having my own sister standing there with me while I watched Sissy and Coco together somehow made it even more sentimental.
There are Disney experiences I love because they’re impressive.
This one I love because of how it makes me feel.
Yes, There Are Free Cookies
From there, we started visiting the treat stations around Magic Kingdom.
Complimentary cookies and festive hot and cold beverages are included with your party ticket and distributed at designated locations throughout the park.
Obviously, a cookie is not going to justify the price of your party ticket.
But wandering around Magic Kingdom at Christmas with your kids, stopping for cookies and something festive to drink while Christmas music plays everywhere?
Yes.
Very different calculation.
Let the Night Be What Your Kids Want It to Be
I am usually very strategic about Disney.
But I also didn’t want to spend the night dragging my kids from one carefully planned activity to the next just because it was on my itinerary.
At one point, they wanted to ride Dumbo.
So we did.
There was literally no line.
Not a short line.
No line.
We were the only ones getting on, and Sissy and Coco had their pick of whatever color elephant they wanted.
It’s such a small thing, but if you’ve ever been to Magic Kingdom with young kids, you know how unusual that feels.
Could I have used that time to squeeze in another party exclusive character or experience?
Probably.
Would that have made the night better? No.
Sometimes good Disney planning means knowing when to stop following the plan.
Why We Always Wait for the Second Parade
We always plan for the second parade.
The first parade is typically more crowded because everyone at the party can make it. Not everyone stays for the full night, especially families with young kids. Some people watch the 10 PM fireworks and start making their way out afterward.
We are not those people.
If I bought a ticket to a party that ends at midnight, I am staying until midnight.
Or, apparently, 1:15 AM.
So while other guests were getting spots for the first parade, we kept enjoying the party.
We met Jasmine and Genie, then Aladdin and Abu before heading over for the fireworks.
At 10 PM, we watched Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.
Most party guests are still in the park at that point. But even with everyone watching the same fireworks, it feels completely different from a regular Magic Kingdom night.
There is room.
My kids can actually see. They can move around. They can dance.
Watching Sissy and Coco dance during the fireworks instead of being packed into a shoulder to shoulder crowd is one of those little things that makes the party feel worth it to me.
After the fireworks, some families start calling it a night.
We get ready for the second parade.
And we are a parade family.
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is one of those Disney experiences we actually watch at home when we’re missing the parks and need a little Disney magic.
The toy soldiers are incredible. The music. The characters. Even the smells being piped out along the parade route.
But my favorite part is watching Sissy and Coco wave to the characters and completely light up when someone waves back.
To them, that character didn’t just wave toward a crowd.
They waved at them. That’s the magic when they’re little. And by choosing the later parade, we get to experience all of that after some of the party crowd has already headed home. Always the second parade for us.
Don’t Skip the Character Dance Parties With Little Kids
After the parade, we went to the dance party.
This is another experience I think families overlook.
Your kids aren’t standing in a traditional character line. They’re actually on the dance floor with the characters.
Sissy and Coco danced with Max and Goofy, including Santa Goofy, plus Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.
They danced their hearts out.
That’s the kind of character interaction I especially love for young children. There isn’t pressure to pose for the perfect picture or say the right thing before moving along.
They just get to play.
Meanwhile, Bubs did exactly what a three month old should be doing.
Sometimes he slept in the stroller or baby carrier. When he was awake, he was smiling and staring at the lights, music, characters, and movement around him.
We moved at a pace that worked for him too.
Our Party Doesn’t End at Midnight
The official party ends at midnight.
Ours doesn’t.
Right before midnight, we mobile order food from Casey’s Corner.
Then, while everyone else is pouring out of Magic Kingdom, we sit down and eat.
No rush. No fighting the mass exodus.
And when we’re finished, Main Street is nearly empty.
That’s when we take more pictures. The kids dance. We slowly walk toward the exit.
And there is this feeling I don’t really know how to explain without sounding overly sentimental.
It’s that Disney feeling where you get chills and you just know, while it’s happening, I’m going to remember this forever.
We finally left Magic Kingdom after 1 AM.
This Is Why Your Disney Resort Matters
Here’s where one of my travel advisor opinions becomes very practical.
Where you stay matters.
Especially on nights like this.
Before leaving the park, we wipe down the kids’ faces, hands, and feet and put them into pajamas. I know they’re going to fall asleep, and I want to be able to put them directly into bed when we get back.
We walked out of Magic Kingdom around 1:15 AM.
We walked into Bay Lake Tower around 1:30 AM.
My kids were in bed by 1:50 AM.
And I have the timestamps to prove it.
That is exactly why I talk so much about choosing a Disney resort based on the trip you’re actually planning, not simply which hotel looks prettiest online.
On a Magic Kingdom heavy trip with young children, being able to walk home after midnight can be worth an enormous amount.
And Then We Did It Again
In December 2025, we came back.
Same general strategy. Same group.
But this time, my mom and dad came too.
And somehow, that made an experience I already loved even better.
My parents were the ones who took my sister and me to Disney when we were kids.
Now we were adults, standing in Magic Kingdom at Christmas, watching them experience Disney as grandparents.
I got to watch my parents watch Sissy, Coco, and Bubs.
And suddenly I understood something I couldn’t possibly have understood when I was little.
This must have been what it felt like for them.
All those trips when my sister and I thought Disney was entirely for us, they were getting to watch us experience it.
Now I was standing on the other side of it.
Watching my own kids dance.
Seeing their grandparents watch them.
Watching another generation fall in love with the same place.
That’s the kind of thing no list of party inclusions can really put a dollar amount on.
Our Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Itinerary With Young Kids
Our exact night won’t be the perfect itinerary for every family, and entertainment times and character offerings can change. But this gives you an idea of what our night looked like without spending the entire party rushing.
4:40 PM: Arrive at Magic Kingdom, get our wristbands and keepsakes, take family photos
5:30 PM: Cinderella Castle pictures
6:00 PM: I get in line for Anna and Elsa while Sissy and Coco ride the carousel and have a snack
7:00 PM: Meet Anna and Elsa
After 7:00 PM: Cinderella and Prince Charming, then Rapunzel and Flynn Rider
Later: Ariel and Prince Eric
8:10 PM: Frozen Holiday Surprise
Around 9:00 PM: Dumbo completely by ourselves
Also Around 9:00 PM: Jasmine and Genie
Around 9:30 PM: Aladdin and Abu
10:00 PM: Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
11:00 PM: Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
After the parade: Character dance party
Just before midnight: Mobile order Casey’s Corner
After midnight: Eat while the crowds leave, then enjoy an almost empty Main Street
Around 1:15 AM: Leave Magic Kingdom
Around 1:30 AM: Walk into Bay Lake Tower
1:50 AM: Kids in bed
My 5 Best Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tips With Young Kids
- Protect the day and prioritize naps. A quiet morning can make the difference between kids enjoying the party until late at night and everyone melting down before the fireworks.
- Arrive before 7 PM. Your party ticket allows you to enter before the official event begins, so use that time. We were already taking pictures and getting into our highest priority character line before 7 PM.
- Choose your character priorities before you go. Some of the special character pairings are a huge part of the party, but you probably won’t meet everyone. Decide which ones would actually matter to your family.
- Watch the second parade if your kids can make it. We use the earlier parade time for other party experiences, watch the fireworks at 10 PM, and then catch the later parade after some families have started heading home.
- Bring pajamas and think about how you’re getting back to your resort. At midnight with young kids, transportation suddenly matters a lot. Being able to put our kids in pajamas and walk back to Bay Lake Tower was one of the best decisions we made.
Is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Worth It With a Baby or Toddler?
For us, absolutely.
We did it with a three month old, a two year old, and a four year old. Bubs slept when he needed to sleep and happily took everything in when he was awake. Sissy and Coco were still dancing at the end of the night.
Every child is different, and you know whether yours can handle a late night. But I wouldn’t automatically skip Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party simply because your children are young.
Sometimes being little is part of what makes it so magical.
So, Is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Worth the Money?
For me? Absolutely.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is my favorite Walt Disney World experience.
But I wouldn’t tell every family to buy tickets simply because I love it.
If Christmas isn’t a big deal to your family, your children cannot comfortably handle a late night, or buying party tickets means sacrificing something more important to your vacation, then the answer may be different for you.
For our family, though, the value isn’t measured in how many attractions we ride.
It’s Anna and Elsa in their Christmas outfits.
Princes standing beside princesses.
Cookies and Christmas music.
It’s having an entire Dumbo ride to ourselves.
Sissy and Coco having enough room to dance during the fireworks.
Toy soldiers marching down Main Street.
It’s characters waving back at my girls.
Bubs staring wide eyed at all the lights when he was only three months old.
It’s “snow” falling while I dance with my babies.
And now it’s my parents standing beside me while I finally understand a little bit of what Disney must have felt like for them when my sister and I were small.
That’s why we went back.
And that’s why we’ll go again.
And maybe next time, I’ll finally get that picture with Mickey and Minnie.
Ready to Plan Your Own Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?
If you’ve been eyeing Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party but aren’t sure whether it’s worth the extra ticket cost, whether your kids can handle the late night, or how to actually make the most of those five hours, I’d love to talk it through.
I’ve done the party myself with a baby, toddlers, and young children, and I know firsthand how much the right strategy can change the experience. I can help you figure out whether the party makes sense for your family, where it fits into your trip, and how to plan a night that feels magical instead of like another Disney checklist.
Everyday Magic Travel With Catherine Savvides
Hi, I’m Catherine! I’m a mom, Disney expert, and travel advisor behind Everyday Magic Travel. With 100+ Disney trips under my belt, I know how magical these vacations can be and how overwhelming planning one can feel!
I help families spend less time stressing over the details and more time making memories together. Whether you’re dreaming of a Walt Disney World vacation, setting sail with Disney Cruise Line, or planning your next family adventure, I’m here to make the process a whole lot easier.
Ready to make some magic? I’d love to help you plan a vacation your family will be talking about for years to come!
Contact Me – Let’s Plan Your Trip
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party vs. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
If you love Disney’s special ticketed events, you might be wondering how Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party compares to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! We’ve experienced both, and while Christmas has my heart, Halloween brings its own kind of magic.
We even attended Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party with our 2-year-old! Read: Is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Worth It With a 2-Year-Old?
