There’s something extra magical about the holidays at Walt Disney World—and for my family, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a tradition we never miss. We look forward to it every year, and honestly, walking down Main Street, U.S.A. with “snow” falling and Cinderella Castle glowing in holiday lights never gets old.

From festive ride overlays to exclusive character greetings and jaw-dropping entertainment, this event truly transforms Magic Kingdom into a winter wonderland. It’s one of only two events where you can meet Jack Skellington and Sally, and it’s the only place to catch Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade—complete with toy soldiers, gingerbread men, and Santa himself!

If you’re thinking about attending in 2025, here’s everything you need to know:

🎄 2025 Party Dates

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will take place on select nights from November 7 through December 21, 2025.

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

🎟️ Guests with a party ticket can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 PM, even though the party officially runs from 7:00 PM to midnight.

🎁 What’s Included with Your Ticket

• Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade – Toy soldiers, classic characters, and Santa himself


• Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks – Fireworks paired with castle projections and holiday music


• Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration – A high-energy stage show in front of Cinderella Castle


• Frozen Holiday Surprise – Watch Elsa transform the castle into a frozen masterpiece


• Dance Parties – Club Tinsel and Disney Junior Jingle Jam light up Tomorrowland


• Character Greetings – Meet Mickey & Minnie in festive outfits, Anna & Elsa, Santa Claus, and Jack & Sally


• Attractions with Holiday Overlays, including:
  
  
  
  • Jungle Cruise (becomes the Jingle Cruise)
  
  
  • Space Mountain – Holiday Run!
  
  
  • Mad Tea Party with festive lights
  
  
  • TRON Lightcycle / Run
  
  
  
  




• Complimentary cookies & cocoa


• Snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A.


• Exclusive holiday snacks and merchandise

• ✅ Now Available – Tickets are currently on sale for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests, including guests of the Swan, Dolphin, and Shades of Green.


• 🌐 July 22 – Tickets will go on sale for all other guests.

Walt Disney World Park Reservation Update: What You Really Need to Know (July 2025)

There has been a lot of confusion—and frankly, quite a bit of misinformation—circulating about changes to Walt Disney World’s park reservation system beginning July 20, 2025. As a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder and travel advisor who specializes specifically in Disney travel, I wanted to take a moment to clear things up based on my direct conversations with the Annual Passholder line and trusted Disney contacts.

Here’s the bottom line:

👉 If your vacation package or tickets do not currently require a park reservation, this change does not affect you at this time.

The upcoming update is specific to Annual Passholders. Starting July 20, passholders will need a reservation to enter any park—even after 2 PM. This policy change is being implemented ahead of the opening of the highly anticipated new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away.” 

It’s also important to note that while park hopping will remain available, it is always subject to capacity. Disney has indicated that due to expected crowds, Magic Kingdom may reach capacity, which could temporarily limit park hopping into that park.

✨ Disney is constantly evolving, and policies can shift quickly. If anything changes, I will provide updates right away to keep my clients informed and prepared.

One of the key benefits of booking your Walt Disney World vacation with a dedicated travel advisor like myself is that you will always be notified personally if a change could impact your travel plans. My job is to keep up with the fine print, so you do not have to.

Whether you are a seasoned Annual Passholder like me or planning your very first Disney trip, I am here to make sure your experience is magical, seamless, and stress-free.

Follow me on social media @ChaliPlansMagic for the latest Walt Disney World updates, planning tips, and important news that could impact your next Disney adventure.

If you are ready to plan, fill out the form below and let’s plan some magic together!

Hi! I’m Chali, a Travel Advisor specializing in all things Disney, and I’m currently at Walt Disney World to experience the exciting debut of The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, and all of the other exciting offerings launching today as part of Cool Kids Summer throughout the parks.

Originally listed as a Lightning Lane Multipass selection in the My Disney Experience app, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure was expected to be available for advance viewing selections.


However, guests waking up early this morning—Monday, May 27th—were disappointed to find that it is no longer listed as an eligible Multipass experience.

I was personally hoping to secure a Lightning Lane spot for the opening-day performance and was surprised to find that it now appears to be standby only.

If you are planning to catch this show during your upcoming vacation, be sure to allow extra time in your Hollywood Studios itinerary, as you will need to line up without the benefit of a reserved Lightning Lane time.

1. UPDATE: the marquee out front says “Lightning Lane coming soon”  so hopefully it is in the works to be available very soon!