The holidays at Walt Disney World are a magical time. Every inch of the parks and resorts are decked out with festive decor that truly makes you feel the holiday spirit.
This year was our first time attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and it was the BEST. While you pay a separate ticket admission, it was worth every penny. To help make your future party experience more magical, I’ve pulled together my top 5 tips…
5. Make a dining reservation (far) in advance
Only certain restaurants are open for the parties, so if you want to do a sit down, make sure you book your reservation as far out as possible. We went to Be Our Guest, and it was so magical! Make sure you look at the show, parade and fireworks times before you make your dining reservation.
4. Look at the schedule and make a plan before you go
It’s so easy to get caught up once you’re there and to miss all of the “extras” that are offered on party nights. Do your research in advance to find out what is going on so you can hit your “Must Dos!” With our flights, we knew we wouldn’t get to the party until 8pm, so it was important to have a game plan before we got to Magic Kingdom.
3. Take advantage of the short wait times
At the party, the park felt empty in comparison to the usual holiday masses. There are limited tickets, so they don’t overcrowd the park that night. With our limited time, we picked a few attractions we definitely wanted to hit (Jingle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain, and Buzz Lightyear). We watched the late parade (the parade runs twice) over by Big Thunder Mountain. As soon as it was over, we darted straight for the ride and were able to walk right on!
2. Stop and smell the…snoap?
The snow falling on Main Street looks beautiful (it’s actually soap!). Take a minute to just stand in the street to take it all in – the castle lights, the decorations, the Christmas music, everything – it’s absolute Christmas perfection.
1. Stay until the end of the party (or past the end!)
There’s something magical in the air when you’re one of the last ones left in the park. If you haven’t experienced this kind of a moment at Disney, I highly recommend it. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ended at midnight, but we stayed until 1am (I only stay up late in Disney).
The highlight of my night was walking down Main Street at 1am when the crowds had died down. We were heading towards the exit and I just remember turning back to get one last look at the castle and being rushed with a flood of emotions. The snow was falling amidst the beautiful Main Street decorations as Bing Crosby sang “White Christmas.” That was a moment of pure Disney magic for me.
If you want to see our Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party adventures, head to my Instagram Highlights and view “WDW Weekend!”