Navigating Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party can be a hectic and overwhelming experience. However, with a few helpful, simple and practical tips, you can navigate the night and accomplish all of the magic for your family.
Today, I’m dishing the easiest tips to apply to your upcoming Christmas party experience. These tips resulted in a great experience for us and our little ones during our past trip.
1. Plan Just 3–4 Must-Do Experiences
Don’t try to do it all — pick a few priorities like Santa, the parade, or fireworks. The night goes fast, and trying to squeeze in too much can lead to disappointment. I definitely recommend joining this Facebook group for tips and tricks as well, as it definitely helped us determine what we wanted to do before the party.
MVMCP 2025 Party Dates:
❄️ November: 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 30
❄️ December: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21
Hello Travel Tip: Party attendees can enter Magic Kingdom at 4:00 PM providing three extra hours to ride several rides before all the fun begins at 7 PM!
Here are the maps from when we most recently went, which really helped guide us during our stay. These definitely change each year, but I wanted to provide it as an example of what to expect during the party specifically:
2. Parade Pro Tips for Toddlers
The parade is a highlight for little ones! A Main Street view is beautiful but requires scoping out a spot over an hour early. We opted for the end of the parade route near the entrance, which was just as magical — with a view of the giant Christmas tree and snow cascading from the rooftops. Highly recommend!
3. Eat Before You Go
Time flies at the party! Eat dinner beforehand so you don’t waste party hours on meals. Save the snacking for the fun holiday treats instead. Pack snacks for the little ones and don’t worry about doing a sit down meal during these hours, or you will miss out on all of the perks of the party window.
4. Character Meet-and-Greet Waits Are Long
Meeting Santa took us about an hour — but they offered coloring activities that helped entertain the kids and became a part of the experience. We even lined up right at the beginning of the evening. Expect lines for popular characters, and plan accordingly based on who you really want to see as a family. We decided to save the princesses and mickey & friends meet and greets for other days during our trip, so as not to overwhelm the kids. I chose to prioritize seeing Santa at the MVMCP above other characters.
5. No Lightning Lane Access
Lightning Lane isn’t available during the party. Fewer guests means lower ride wait times — but don’t expect Genie+ or LL access. We took advantage of the lower wait times and hopped on Peter Pan, the carousel, and the teacups ride. We also enjoyed walking around Fantasy land where Santa was stationed, and seeing special Christmas characters such as elves on stilts. This corner of Magic Kingdom is so magical during the party, and we truly enjoyed just lingering in the area with the faux snow for the littles.
6. Don’t Arrive Right at 2:30
While you can get in at 2:30, the entry lines are often crazy. We’ve done our fair amount of research, and it’s not worth it to arrive early just to wait forever to get in. We recommend arriving a bit later to avoid the rush and walk in smoothly, and then you don’t have to wait at all. There is definitely a sweet spot that exists there for entry.
7. Free Cookie & Treat Stations!
Yes, free treats! Grab a party map and scope out all the cookie and cocoa locations so you don’t miss any. Other freebies include a special MVMCP pin handed to you at the beginning of the party.
8. Let Them Be Little ❤️
Perhaps the most important tip we have of all is simply this; Don’t over-plan. Take time to enjoy the magic, play in the faux snow, and soak up the wonder. The memories are in the moments, not the schedule.
While we planned to do a few specific things during the party, taking time to let them pause and absorb the merry atmosphere was the most rewarding experience.
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