Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (also known as MVMCP) is arguably the biggest holiday event held in Orlando. It happens in the Magic Kingdom park on certain nights in November and December. Guests can expect to see exclusive holiday shows and parades, snow falling all around them on Main Street, and free, delicious treats – among other things. Here is your comprehensive guide full of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party tips to help you have success during your visit to Orlando.
The best time to book a ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Note that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is not included in regular admission to the Magic Kingdom and instead requires its own ticket. That said, you don’t also need a ticket to the Magic Kingdom – all you need is the ticket to MVMCP. The dates for 2017 are:
- November 9
- November 10
- November 12
- November 14
- November 16
- November 17
- November 26
- November 28
- December 1
- December 3
- December 5
- December 7
- December 8
- December 10
- December 12
- December 14
- December 15
- December 17
- December 19
- December 21
- December 22
The least crowded days tend to be in November rather than December. Tuesdays are generally the least crowded days. Prices vary based on the date you want to visit. Though some days may be more or less busy than others, this is a limited ticket event. As a result, even when it’s sold out, it’s not nearly as busy as a typical day at Magic Kingdom. We recommend planning your Disney vacation around your own schedule and then deciding which day to visit Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
The party starts at 7 pm but you can get there at 4 pm
The actual party starts at 7 PM but your ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party gets you access to the park at 4 PM. To make the most of your Disney World vacation package, we recommend getting there at 4 PM so you can check out all the rides you want to see before the party starts. Frozen fans also won’t want to miss Queen Elsa light up Cinderella Castle at 6:15 PM.
Make a plan in advance
Just like you’d carefully compare Disney World hotels before booking your Disney World vacation package, you want to carefully compare all the events at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party to decide what’s best for you. Have a plan going into the party so you can enjoy as much as possible. The events that are unique to this party include:
- Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
- Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show
- VoicePlay
- Holiday Wishes Fireworks
- Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration
- Various character dance parties, many of which happen in Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
- Meet and greets with Disney characters wearing holiday attire
- Snow on Main Street
- Free cookies and hot cocoa
Take advantage of short lines on your favorite rides
The lines for ride are going to be much shorter during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party than they are during other times of the year. That said, there are some tips that can keep your wait times even shorter. First, resist the urge to hop on the rides right at 7 PM. This is when a lot of people are getting to the parks and many of them are going to head to the rides.
Second, going later in the night is always going to be better. The park will be open to you until midnight but many of the guests are there with small children. As they start to leave the parks, lines will go down even further. Finally, if you don’t want to see the parade or fireworks, these are optimal times to hop on rides because there will be virtually no wait.
How to buy exclusive merchandise
There are some pretty cool pieces of merchandise that are only available during the party. So far, we know that the following will be available in 2017:
- T-shirts, pins, ornaments, and MagicBands at the Emporium on Main Street.
- T-shirts, pin, ornaments, and MagicBands at Big Top Souvenirs at Storybook Circus in Fantasyland.
- T-shirts, logo pins, and ornaments at Mickey’s Star Traders in Tomorrowland.
- Trading pins and MagicBands at Frontier Trading Post in Frontierland.
- T-shirts, logo pins, and ornaments at Fantasy Faire in Fantasyland.
The best places to get food
Many quick service and table service restaurants will remain open during the party but we recommend taking advantage of some of the free treats or exclusive treats found throughout the parks. Complimentary food can be found at:
- Snowman soft pretzel and Sno-Cone at Tortuga Tavern in Adventureland
- Santa Claus cookie and Sno-Cone at Aunty Gravity’s Galactic Goodies in Tomorrowland.
- Dove chocolate and sparkling apple cider at The Friar’s Nook in Fantasyland.
- Snickerdoodles and hot chocolate at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in Tomorrowland.
- Peppermint crunch cookie and Nestle Nesquik at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Fantasyland.
- Ginger Molasses cookie and eggnog at Liberty Square ticket office
If you’re planning a Disney vacation during November or December, then visiting this party could just be the best part of your vacation!
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