An introvert’s guide to 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Introversion Insight:

Put an introvert in a new, busy, and extroverted environment. How do they fare? It’s natural for them to be quiet, introspective, intimidated, and maybe even a little self-conscious. But with some planning and knowing what to expect (and knowing they’re doing something they’ll enjoy), they can have a pleasant experience.

 

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) is a separately ticketed event at Magic Kingdom. Your ticket grants you eight hours inside the park (five hours of actual party time), with all kinds of seasonal offerings:

 

This introvert’s guide to 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will prepare you for the event so you’ll know what to expect, how to deal with the crowds, and ways to get the most out of the event.   

 

How it works

Pick your night

The event takes place on select nights from November 9 through December 22, 2023.

 

Note: At the time of this writing (11/11/23), 40 percent of the nights are sold out.

 

It’s hard to predict which nights will sell out (or in other words, be the most crowded), but for a potentially less crowded party, I’d suggest a Tuesday night in November.

 

Some guests like picking a night in December because the weather is cooler and it feels more like the holidays since it’s closer to the actual holidays.  

 

Buy your ticket

Prices range from $159 to $199 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $149 to $189 for children (ages 3 to 9), depending on the night. 

 

Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 per ticket on select nights.

 

Tickets can be purchased online and in the My Disney Experience app. They’ll link with your account so you can use your MagicBand or MagicMobile to get into the park. 

 

(If you don’t want to use a MagicBand or MagicMobile, you’ll need to go to a ticket window where they’ll issue a physical card to you. The purchase confirmation email with barcode can’t be used to get into the park.) 

 

On a related note, you don’t need to make a park pass reservation for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. 

 

Check in

Event hours go from 7 p.m. until midnight. But your ticket actually gets you into Magic Kingdom at 4 p.m., so you have eight hours in the park. 

Take it easy between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. You don’t want an introvert hangover before the party even starts!

Check-in takes place at the park’s main entrance on the right side. This area is typically roped off from the left side where guests with regular park tickets may enter until the party officially begins.

In my experience, guests start queuing up outside the park around 3 p.m. So that you can be at the front of this long line of people, I would be at the gate at this time. If you don’t get there early, I’d let the rush subside and be at the gate around 5 p.m.

A Cast Member will place a wristband on you. Throughout the night you may be asked to show your wristband to go on rides or enter lands. You can grab an event map, either from a Cast Member or at the map stand behind them. A complimentary ornament is also included with your ticket. Once you enter the park, stay to the right and go down Market Street. This is where you’ll receive your ornament.  

 

If you’re already in the park because you’re using a regular park ticket or Annual Pass, you can visit a wristband distribution location inside the park to check in:

  • Tortuga Tavern (Adventureland)
  • Mickey’s PhilharMagic (Fantasyland)
  • across from Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor (Tomorrowland)

 

Note: You don’t need to go back to the front of the park to receive your ornament or event map. They have these at all the distribution locations.

 

In my experience, these locations start distributing wristbands at 3:45 p.m. You’ll start to see lines form around 3:15 p.m.–3:30 p.m. 

Tip: If you're getting your wristband inside the park, wait to check in until at least 4:15 p.m. The line should dissipate by then, and you’ll be able to check in right away. 

Have a plan

Introverts are planners, so you’re probably already thinking (and overthinking) about what you want to do during the event. You definitely want to have a plan because five hours of party time is not enough time to do it all. We’ll go over all the party offerings so you can prioritize your list and know what’s best for you as a D•Introvert. 

 

You know your limits, but at the very least, I recommend you do these things:

  • Visit all five of the treat locations
  • Ride Space Mountain and Tomorrowland Speedway (special party versions)
  • Watch the fireworks
  • Watch the parade

 

This was our plan for the fireworks and parade:

  1. Around 9:15 p.m. we grabbed a Peppermint Brownie Sundae from the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor. 
  2. We took this sundae halfway down Main Street, U.S.A., and plopped down on the curb. We wanted more time on Main Street because that’s where it’s most festive.
  3. At 10 p.m. we stood up to watch the fireworks. The crowds back here are much lighter than in the hub area in front of Cinderella Castle. 
  4. We sat back down on the curb just in time for the “snow” to fall on Main Street. Lots of guests exit after the fireworks. (It’s pretty satisfying to watch the masses leave.) 
  5. We remained patient and hung out on the curb a while longer because we’ve secured a prime spot for the second parade at 11 p.m. It’s also a seated spot, which is perfect when you’ve been standing and walking around all night. Note: Although the second parade starts at 11 p.m., it’s closer to 11:20 p.m. by the time it reaches this point on Main Street. We then experienced more “snow” as part of the parade.

Be aware of the snowball dance party that occurs before the parade reaches you. Performers sing and dance as a way to pep up the crowd. They have large beach balls that look like snowballs, which they throw back and forth with the crowd. They encourage you to clap along with the music and do the wave. It’s cute and all, but know there is some mild audience participation.

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Crowds

Between 4 p.m and 6 p.m., you’ll find day guests and party guests in the park, so it may feel crowded. Crowds tend to thin out, though, the closer you get to 6 p.m. Although they limit the number of tickets sold, you’ll still experience a crowded park during MVMCP. You’ll find a reprieve, though, in the last hour from 11 p.m. until midnight.  

 

This is not to say that the whole park is crowded. Because most of the popular festive offerings take place on either Man Street, U.S.A. or in the hub area in front of Cinderella Castle, you’ll find other areas of the park much less crowded. 

 

Complimentary holiday treats

Complimentary cookies and festive drinks are available at various locations throughout the park. Offerings are subject to change, but I’ve seen gingerbread, snickerdoodle, red velvet, sugar, and chocolate chip cookies. For drinks, I’ve seen hot cocoa, eggnog, and apple cider. Locations are marked on your map with a candy cane icon. You can also find them in the My Disney Experience app. 

Tip: Within the app, just search for treat.

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Even without the map, you can easily stumble upon the locations by looking for the lit-up, inflatable candy cane markers (see below).

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These are the five holiday treat locations.

Adventureland

  • Tortuga Tavern

Liberty Square

  • Columbia Harbour House

Fantasyland

  • Pinocchio Village Haus

Tomorrowland

  • Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
  • The Lunching Pad

 

Note: All locations have an allergy-friendly cookie available upon request.

 

Entertainment

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Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show

  • skies above Cinderella Castle
  • 10 p.m.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

  • begins in Frontierland (see map for full route)
  • 8:30 p.m.
  • 11 p.m.

Opt for the later parade. The crowds will be lighter. The most crowded part of the parade route is along Main Street, U.S.A. But I think it’s worth it for the “snowfall.”

 

During the first parade, focus on other things like characters, rides, or food.

Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration
(stage show)

  • Castle Forecourt Stage
  • 7:40 p.m., 9:25 p.m., 10:35 p.m., and 11:55 p.m.

Frozen Holiday Surprise (stage show)

  • Castle Forecourt Stage
  • 6:15 p.m.   
  • 8:15 p.m.

The first Frozen Holiday Surprise show is technically before the party starts, but remember you can enter the park as early as 4 p.m. If this show is on your to-do list, I would watch it at 6:15 p.m. That way you have more time during the party. And if you’re an anxious D•Introvert like me, you’ll feel better knowing you have one less thing to worry about.

The Collective 5ive (live music) 

  • Rockettower Plaza Stage
  • 7 p.m.–midnight (intermittently)

Reindeer Wranglers (live music)

  • Frontierland – Country Bear Jamboree
  • 7:15 p.m., 8:05 p.m., 9:30 p.m., and 11:40 p.m.

Disney Junior Jingle Jam (dance party)

  • Tomorrowland – Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
  • 7 p.m.–midnight

Club Tinsel (dance party)

  • Tomorrowland – Rockettower Plaza Stage
  • 7 p.m.–midnight

The two dance parties may be intense for your introverted little ones. Disney Junior Jingle Jam is in more of a confined indoor space, whereas Club Tinsel is outside.

Characters

Most character encounters happen in traditional meet-and-greet locations where you seek them out, but a few characters are free roaming (noted below). Make note if you’re concerned about a potential surprise interaction. 

Main Street, U.S.A.

  • Sally & Jack Skellington (as Sandy Claws) – Town Square Theater

Note: These two are popular and start meeting guests around 4:30 p.m.

  • Mickey Mouse – Town Square Theater
  • Mary Poppins – Town Square Theater
  • Toy Soldiers – Market Street

Note: Market Street is only open until 8 p.m.

Adventureland

  • Stitch – Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
  • Captain Jack Sparrow – near Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Abu and Aladdin – Agrabah Bazaar
  • Genie and Jasmine – Agrabah Bazaar
  • Peter Pan (roaming)

Frontierland

  • Country Bears – near Country Bear Jamboree (roaming)

Liberty Square

  • Santa Claus – behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe

Note: Santa doesn’t meet guests during the two parade times.

  • Tiana and Naveen – near Liberty Square Riverboat Landing (dock)

Fantasyland

  • Ariel and Prince Eric – near Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
  • Belle – Enchanted Tales with Belle
  • Cinderella and Prince Charming – near Pinocchio Village Haus restrooms
  • Rapunzel and Flynn Rider – near Pinocchio Village Haus restrooms
  • Snow White and The Prince – near Pinocchio Village Haus restrooms
  • Aurora and Prince Phillip – near Pinocchio Village Haus restrooms
  • Tigger, Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore – near The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Note: Pooh and friends start meeting guests around 6:30 p.m.

  • Alice and The White Rabbit – near Mad Tea Party
  • Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum – near Mad Tea Party
  • Mirabel – Fairytale Garden

Storybook Circus

  • Seven Dwarfs – Pete’s Silly Sideshow

Note: They start meeting guests around 6:30 p.m.

  • Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck – Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Daisy Duck and Minnie Mouse – Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Goofy (as Santa Goofy) – Calliope Tent

Tomorrowland

  • Timon – Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café (dance party)
  • Vampirina – Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café (dance party)
  • Doc McStuffins – Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café (dance party)
  • Fancy Nancy – Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café (dance party)
  • Judy Hopps – Rockettower Plaza Stage (dance party)
  • Nick Wilde – Rockettower Plaza Stage (dance party)
  • Chip ‘n’ Dale – Rockettower Plaza Stage (dance party)

 

Attractions

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With everything else going on during the party, you’ll find attraction wait times to be lower than a regular park day. That also means the areas surrounding the attractions may be less crowded.   

 

Below are the attractions open during the event, including five that have a “holiday twist” (noted as special party version). 

 

Adventureland

  • Jingle Cruise (special party version)

Note: The holiday twist on Jungle Cruise is available the entire holiday season, not just during the event).

  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Swiss Family Treehouse
  • The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Frontierland

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Liberty Square

  • Haunted Mansion

Fantasyland

  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • “it’s a small world”
  • Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Mad Tea Party (special party version)
  • Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

Storybook Circus

  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • The Barnstormer

Tomorrowland

  • Space Mountain (special party version)

Space Mountain is a popular attraction during the event. For a lower wait time, here are two options:

  • Experience it in the last hour of the party (11 p.m.–midnight).
  • Head over between 6:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. You’ll queue up and wait for the day guests to clear out. Then you’ll be one of the first guests to experience the switchover to the holiday version.
  • Tomorrowland Speedway (special party version)

Wait to ride until it's dark.

  • Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Make sure to ride this once the party starts (and before since it’s the perfect D•Introvert attraction). PeopleMover offers a unique perspective of the special party version of Space Mountain.

  • Astro Orbiter
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor (special party version)
  • TRON Lightcycle / Run

 

TRON Lightcycle / Run

TRON Lightcycle / Run is only available through a virtual queue during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. You can request to join the queue at 6 p.m., and you do not need to be inside the park to join.

 

Even with the virtual queue, you may have to wait. In my experience, I’ve waited close to 20 minutes. Keep this in mind if it’s almost fireworks time.    

 

Specialty Food and Beverages

Don’t forget to try some themed food and beverages! Some items below are available throughout the season (November 11 through December 31), while others are only available during the party (noted as party exclusive). 

 

If you’re a foodie, I’d keep this in mind as you’re looking for snacks between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. (not party exclusive) and then again from 7 p.m. until midnight (party exclusive). 

Mobile order is available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. I highly recommend it, party or not. You don’t have the pressure of ordering your food with a Cast Member. You can put in your order on your own time and even select a future arrival window. You’ll also avoid long ordering lines. During MVMCP, three locations participate:

  • Casey’s Corner
  • Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
  • Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party 

For a separate price, you can attend a dessert party, which includes desserts, drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic), and a spot in a reserved fireworks viewing area.  

 

One offers fireworks viewing from the Plaza Garden area. The other is from a seated area at Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant. Prices range from $109 to $119 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $59 to $75 for children (ages 3 to 9). 

 

Although I might recommend a dessert party for a regular park day, during MVMCP I would skip it. It takes precious time out of your night. You’ll want as much time as you can to check out the seasonal, party-exclusive offerings. 

 

Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies 

  • Reindeer Chow Sundae (NEW): Chocolate soft-serve, pretzels, cereal, M&M’s chocolate candies, and hot fudge
  • Lump of Coal in Your Stocking (NEW): Cookies ‘n’ cream milkshake topped with whipped cream, cookies ‘n’ cream crumbles, and a chocolate doughnut hole (party exclusive)

Casey’s Corner

  • Candy Cane Tart (NEW): Chocolate tart filled with peppermint ganache and topped with festive meringue (party exclusive)

Cheshire Café

  • Peppermint Éclair (NEW): Éclair filled with white chocolate peppermint mousse and topped with peppermint mousse and chocolate pieces

Note: This restaurant closes at 3 p.m. on party nights. 

Columbia Harbour House

  • Maple-Mustard Glazed Salmon (NEW): Salmon served with green beans and rice

Cool Ship

  • Magic Holiday Tree (NEW): Coconut, pecans, and M&M’s chocolate candies on a graham cracker crust (party exclusive)

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café 

  • Holiday Pot Roast Melt (NEW): Slow-cooked beef on thick toast with cheddar and provolone cheese and beef gravy (party exclusive)
  • Holiday Turkey Burger (NEW): Turkey burger topped with traditional stuffing, provolone cheese, and cranberry chutney on a brioche bun (party exclusive)
  • Christmas Cookie Cake (NEW): Christmas cookie cake roll with buttercream and topped with holiday sprinkles (party exclusive)

The Friar’s Nook 

  • Holiday Ham-Fried Pie (NEW): Flaky pastry filled with baked ham, candied sweet potatoes, and spiced pecans and served with pineapple glaze (party exclusive)
  • Italian Beef Tots (NEW): Tots covered in slow-cooked beef, cheese curds, zesty giardiniera, and pot roast gravy (party exclusive)
  • Peppermint Snowman (NEW): Chocolate brownie topped with cookies ‘n’ cream peppermint mousse (party exclusive)
  • Winter Milkshake (NEW): Creamy coconut milk shake topped with whipped cream, toasted coconut, cinnamon, and crisp pearls (party exclusive)

Golden Oak Outpost

  • Orange Gingerbread Shake (NEW): Orange cream slushy layered with gingerbread cookie crumbles and topped with whipped cream and gingerbread spice (party exclusive) 
  • Gingerbread Cake (NEW): Cake layered with cream cheese frosting and dulce de leche ganache topped with a gingerbread man chocolate piece (party exclusive)

Main Street Bakery

  • Minnie-Shaped Cinnamon Roll: Cinnamon roll topped with red icing, holiday sprinkles, and a chocolate bow
  • Letter to Santa (NEW): Flourless chocolate cake, hot cocoa mousse, and marshmallows topped with chocolate pieces (party exclusive)

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café

  • Chicken Tamale: Tamale served “Christmas style” with mild red chile and green chile-pumpkin seed sauces, cilantro rice, pinto beans, and queso fresco (party exclusive)
  • Chocolate Eggnog Reindeer (NEW): Chocolate tart topped with eggnog mousse and chocolate antlers (party exclusive)
  • Orange-Cranberry Pineapple Punch (NEW): Punch with a hint of “smoke” from the fireplace (party exclusive)

Plaza Ice Cream Parlor

  • Peppermint Brownie Sundae: Peppermint ice cream, hot fudge, and candy cane sprinkles served on a brownie

Sleepy Hollow 

  • Holiday Waffle Sundae (NEW): House-made red velvet waffle topped with M&M’s chocolate candies, peppermint ice cream, and hot fudge (party exclusive)
  • Milk and Cookies for Santa (NEW): Brown sugar cookie cake topped with chocolate chip cookie dough mousse, milk mousse, and chocolate chip cookies (party exclusive)

Storybook Treats 

  • Sugar Plum Sundae (NEW): Sugar plum soft-serve atop sugar cookie crumbs and topped with whipped cream, crisp pearls, and cotton candy (party exclusive) 

Sunshine Tree Terrace

  • Santa’s Belt Buckle (NEW): Pistachio mousse with a dark chocolate truffle center and a chocolate buckle (party exclusive) 
  • Cranberry Citrus Float with Orange-Vanilla Soft-Serve Twist (NEW): Orange-vanilla soft-serve twist with Winter-Spiced Cranberry Sprite and fruity boba pearls

Outdoor vending locations near Cinderella Castle

  • Red Velvet Wreath: Doughnut topped with buttercream and holiday sprinkles
  • Hot Cocoa Churro (NEW): Churro rolled in hot cocoa powder and topped with marshmallows and peppermint candy pieces

Merchandise

You can purchase party-specific merchandise from Star Traders in Tomorrowland and Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A.

 

Photo opportunities

PhotoPass

You can get your picture taken by PhotoPass photographers with Magic Shots and holiday props (see map for locations). Be aware this may require you to make poses or hold props in front of the photographer. Awkward. 

 

Photo frames

You can take your picture inside interactive photo frames that recreate scenes from various Disney stories (see map for locations). 

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