Guide to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party begins in the Magic Kingdom on November 8, 2026! Below is our complete guide to this truly special event.

This post will cover: 

• Party Dates, Hours, Ticket Prices, & Discounts
• Wristbands & the Market Street Welcome
• Characters
• Ride Overlays & Attractions
• Cookie Stops
• Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
• Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show
• Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
• Party Exclusive Food & Special Dining Experiences

Party Dates, Hours, Ticket Prices, & Discounts

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party runs on select nights November 8 to December 22, 2026.

November: 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 27, and 29

December: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, and 22

Unavailable Dates:

• November 24 sold out September 29
• December 22 sold out October 2
• November 20 sold out October 4
• November 12 sold out on October 5
• November 17 sold out on October 9
• November 9 and December 1 sold out on October 10
• November 13 sold out October 16
• November 8 sold out October 17

Prices: Tickets range from $189 to $229 per ticket, plus tax. Prices vary by date.

Discounts: Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 per ticket on select nights from November 8 to November 20, and November 29 to December 3. Save $10 per ticket for children ages 3 to 9.

Hours: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a 5 hour event, from 7:00 PM to midnight, however, party guests are allowed into the park at 4:00pm. We’ve got lots of tips for that early entry, so keep reading!

Wristbands & the Market Street Welcome

Everyone attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) will need a party wristband and there are a few ways to secure them.

• Inside the park: If you have a daytime ticket and a MVMCP ticket, there are multiple locations to secure your wristband including Adventureland, Tomorrowland, and Fantasyland.
• The Main Gate: Guests with only MVMCP tickets should plan to be at the Magic Kingdom no later than 3:30pm on your party day. After scanning your party ticket, you’ll immediately be fitted with a party wristband.

No matter how you get your wristband, don’t skip the Market Street Welcome!

You’ll be directed toward Market Street as soon as you enter the park. Follow the arrows on the omnibus sign and you’ll find yourself backstage behind Main Street where the party starts. You’ll find snow and holiday music, and this is where you’ll get your party ornament! This is also an opportunity to meet your first characters! The 2025 party had some gingerbread pals and the stars of the Market Street Welcome in 2024 were the famous Toy Soldiers.

Show your party wristband to the waiting Cast Members along Market Street and you’ll receive your party keepsake ornament. In recent years, Disney has been handing out a little marshmallow treat when you secure your wristband and map. We’ll report back on the details after the first party on November 8, 2026.

Characters

Lines for characters during party nights can get very long! A few character lines will open very early, like the Town Square Theater Jack & Sally meet and greet.

Disney has not released a full list of characters that will be available at the 2026 parties, but we will be there and will report back. Since they typically have nearly three dozen characters around the park, it would be easy to spend the entire party just waiting in lines. Our recommendation is to pick one or two “must meet” pals and spend the rest of your time enjoying the other offerings.

We’re partial to the friends from the Hundred Acre Wood in Fantasyland, but Santa in Storybook Circus is always a big draw, too.

Ride Overlays & Attractions During MVMCP

There are a few rides that have holiday ride overlays: 

• Space Mountain has holiday music and lighting
• Tomorrowland Speedway has a “Race Through the Holidays”  along their track with themed lighting and decor.
• Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland has 4 combinations of holiday music & lights.
• Jungle Cruise becomes the Jingle Cruise early in November!
• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor will have a very silly seasonal show

Other attractions that will be available during party hours: 

• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Haunted Mansion
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• TRON

Cookie Stops

Cookies and holiday drinks are included with your MVMCP ticket. There were 6 treat stops last year and one of them, the Fantasyland Railroad stop, had warm snowman pretzels and punch! There are allergy-friendly options available at each stop and each is individually wrapped.

All party treat stops will have an inflatable sign, a sandwich board sign, and Cast Members outside directing lines. You can find treat stops on your party map and we will report back with the 2026 details after the first party.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

The only way to see this parade before December 23rd is to attend Mickey’s Very Merry! The parade runs twice each party and starts in Frontierland. You can experience the “snow” falling during this magical parade if you secure a spot on Main Street. Spots for the 11:00 PM parade are easier to grab since so many folks leave after the fireworks.

Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration

Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration is a holiday stage show that takes place several times through the night at Cinderella Castle. There is usually a final show minutes before the end of the party that is just as good as the early shows but way less crowded!

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks

There is only one fireworks show during MVMCP and it really is spectacular! Unless you’re committed to being on rides or stocking up on cookies for the flight home, this is worth the party time. You don’t need to be close to the castle to enjoy the effects and music. If you’re weepers, and we are, have a tissue at the ready.

Party Exclusive Food & Special Dining Experiences

Disney should release their MVMCP Foodie Guide any day now (we’ll post details here) but it’s safe to assume there will be lots of options around the park! A few things to know: 

• Mobile Order on the My Disney Experience app shuts down for a few hours prior to this party. All guests can still order in person until 5:59 PM. From 6:00 PM on, only guests with MVMCP wristbands will be able to order food in person.
• Most party exclusive food is available at 6:00 PM in person for party guests. If you’re determined to try some of the party dishes, like the Jalapeño Popper Tots, pictured below, but you don’t want to miss any of the party fun, we suggest being in line right at 6:00 PM.
• Mobile Order will reopen at 7:00 PM when the party starts and day guests have left.
• Many food and drink party exclusives can be redeemed for 1 Disney Dining Plan Snack Credit.

Have a scroll through Everything We Ate at the 2025 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. 

If you’re looking for special dining experiences during the party, there are a few available:

• Cinderella’s Royal Table will require reservations and quite a few dollars, but they’ll have a special holiday menu that can only be enjoyed by party guests. This is the only holiday themed character meal with a special menu.
• Be Our Guest Restaurant will have a special holiday menu available to party guests starting at 4:00 PM on MVMCP days. This is not a character meal.
• The Plaza Restaurant will have a holiday menu that is also typically offered during the day.
• Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace. This is similar to the regular Magic Kingdom Dessert Party but with holiday themed food and drinks and a seated view of the party fireworks.
  • $137.37 with tax and gratuity for Ages 10+ 
  • $78.81 with tax and gratuity for Ages 3-9 
• Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing. Guests at this dessert party will enjoy the same special treats and drinks, but will watch the party fireworks in the Plaza Garden viewing area rather than at tables in Tomorrowland Terrace.
  • $110.76 with tax and gratuity for Ages 10+ 
  • $62.84 with tax and gratuity for Ages 3-9 

Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to the start of Very Merry season November 8th!