Is Disney’s Christmas Party Worth it?

Whether this is your first time at Disney World, or you are a WDW veteran, you might be wondering is the Disney Christmas party worth it? With its spectacular parade and fireworks display, holiday shows, special characters, limited-time food and drink options, and snow on Main Street, this is a no-brainer for some. On the flip side, your vacation days might be limited and the extra cost or late-night hours may not work with your family’s budget or schedule.

Many Disney blogs will tell you that you “can’t miss this special event!” but we’re here to tell you in some situations you can (and probably) should skip it. We’ll explore some scenarios where you might want to wait on going to the Disney Christmas Party or perhaps not even go at all. While the answer to this is ultimately a personal decision (that only you can answer), we will explore a few factors that can help you decide.

Before we jump into is the Disney Christmas party worth it, let’s do a quick review of what you can expect during the Christmas season at Walt Disney World. Throughout the post, I will include some snippets from our trip and whether or not I would do things differently.

When we visited Disney World last year, we were actually on a trip to Florida to visit Legoland. But we’re Disney people so it’s hard to be that close to Orlando and not drop by one of the parks, at least for an evening. Having always wanted to see Disney World during the Christmas season, getting tickets to the party seemed like our best bet!

We stayed one night at the Disney World Swan and had that day to do some exploring before the party began. We love the Swan Hotel for many reasons, but the main reason is definitely the convenient location.

Located within the Epcot loop of resorts, it’s a short stroll to the Boardwalk Hotel, Beach Club, Yacht Club, and sister-hotel the Dolphin. If you’re planning to go to the other Disney parks as well, you can walk to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios or take the complimentary boat (which is our preferred way to travel). There is also a bus service that will take you to all the parks.

On our day of arrival, we checked in early, but our room wasn’t ready. We dropped off our bags with the attendant and headed to Disney’s Beach Club to see the gingerbread carousel. If you are only visiting for a day and looking for something to do before the party starts, resort hopping is a great way to get the Disney-feel for free. This is also a good use of time on a break day.

We had already dropped by the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds on the way down, but we had never seen the giant gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian so we knew we wanted to work that in before the party as well.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – A holiday tour of the resorts is not complete without a visit to the Grand Floridian Resort. While there’s no doubt that the centerpiece is the extravagant gingerbread house in the middle of the lobby, we were lucky to catch a peek at Cinderella’s glass slipper on display for all to see. If you are planning to go to the Christmas party, this is also the last stop on the monorail before the park so it’s a convenient spot to drop by before the party is open to guests.

If you have ever visited Florida before in the “winter” than you know that the weather can be unpredictable. It’s not unheard of to have all four seasons in the same week. Usually, unless the weather looks like it will definitely swing one way or another, dressing in layers is going to be your best bet.

During our Christmas party (which was in mid-November), the lows were in the 50s and it was pretty chilly once the sun set.

What if it rains during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?

Let’s face it, rain does happen, but not typically. Unless the weather conditions are extreme, the party will go on, but the parade and fireworks could be postponed or cancelled.

Is the Disney Christmas party worth it if there’s bad weather?

Probably not. If it’s raining heavily, there’s a high probability that the parade, fireworks, and outdoor shows will be canceled. Disney will do it’s best to reschedule it later in the evening, but there are no guarantees. Unfortunately, you will need to purchase your tickets well in advance so there is no way of knowing what the weather will be like during the night of your party.

At 4:00pm, guests who are not already in the park can begin to enter Magic Kingdom. Depending where you are coming from, you’ll probably want to give yourself at least an additional 30 minutes for parking or travel.

On our party day, we had the Swan bus take us to the Magic Kingdom about an hour before party time. Then we hopped on the resort monorail to the Grand Floridian to check out the gingerbread house. This is a busy time of year in general and seeing this magnificent gingerbread creation is a popular event so plan on squeezing onto the monorail and possibly having to fold up your stroller.

After arriving at the Grand Floridian, we were pleasantly surprised to see Cinderella’s glass slipper on display! Then it was on to the gingerbread house. This massive structure is truly a work of art. If you have some time in your schedule, I would definitely check it out.

Around 3:45pm, we hopped back on the monorail to go to the party. Once it was time to enter, we were directed to the touchpoints and given wristbands. I’d highly recommend grabbing a party map. The map will show you everything you need to know regarding where things are set up and what times everything will take place.

We were ushered to the right where we received a beautiful 50th anniversary ornament and picture commemorating the event. I’m not sure if they do this every year, but I thought it was a nice souvenir.

A wristband is required to attend the Christmas party and we were checked several times, specifically earlier in the evening. If you are already in the park, you can grab your wristband from stations across the park.

Is the Disney Christmas party worth it if we’re staying off-site?

Absolutely! One of the great things about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is that it’s fair game for everyone. The only benefit to staying on-site is access to Disney’s transportation. If you are staying off-site, plan to park in the parking lot and all of the other party benefits are the same.

If the Christmas party doesn’t start until 7:00pm, should you arrive at 4:00pm?

Even though the official party stuff hasn’t started, arriving early allows you to get a head start on rides or an early dinner. I am always of the mind to get the most out of an event so if your ticket includes 3 bonus hours, then I would take it. The exception to this is if you are bringing a baby or small child to the party and you want them to make it to the fireworks. In that case, if they are napping, I’d let them rest. If baby is happy, everyone is happy!

Something to note – the party is going to be busy, but the crowds from 4:00pm – 6:00pm will likely feel extra busy as party guests arrive and that day’s Magic Kingdom crowd start to wrap up.

Is the Disney Christmas party worth it if we can’t come until later in the evening?

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, and many of the character meet and greets won’t start until the official party time. So, if you arrive after the early entrance time, you will not be missing any of the party exclusive stuff. With that said, you will also not be getting some of the hours in the park that are included with your ticket making this a toss up.

One factor that a lot of people use to decide is the Disney Christmas Party worth it are the meet and greets. Not only are there characters that can only be found during the party season, but even the regular characters are specially dressed in their holiday attire, making it extra special.

Quick Tip – Once the party begins, you can pull up the My Disney Experience App and it will show you the locations for each character.

Mickey Mouse – Is a visit to the Magic Kingdom even possible without a picture with the host himself? Guests can find Mickey Mouse in his usual spot at the Town Square Theater once the party starts at 7:00pm. The wait time to see Mickey is usually not bad (less than 30 minutes), but if you’re willing to wait until after the fireworks and the crowd has cleared out, it’s usually even less than that.

Jack Skellington and Sally – From the “Nightmare Before Christmas” this popular Duo has especially long waits throughout the entire party. Usually, you can check in to see them sometime after 4:00pm with a wristband, but there really isn’t a “good” time to go. Even late into the night, the wait will likely be an hour or longer. If this is a must-do for you, I’d go ahead and get in line early to get it out of the way.

Santa Claus – You can’t go to a Christmas party without meeting with Santa. Head over to Liberty Square for a meet and greet with the jolly ol’ fellow. The line for meeting Santa varies throughout the night, but watch the time because he will not available during the parades (since he is in the parade).

Santa Goofy – One of our favorite meet-and-greets was with Santa Goofy. Found outside of The Barnstormer, Goofy looked adorable in his Santa getup and the wait was minimal compared to Minnie and the gang.

Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore – The 100 Acre Wood foursome can be found near The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride. Perhaps it’s because you can only catch all four together during party times, but this popular meet and greet will likely set you back at least an hour.

Princesses and Princes – The Disney Christmas party is one of the only times during the year that you will be able to take pictures with the princesses AND princes! You can find Cinderella and Prince Charming, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, Tiana and Naveen, and Elena at the Princess Fairytale Hall. While Aurora and Prince Phillip, Princess Ariel and Prince Eric, Snow White and Prince Florian, and Belle can be found throughout the park.

Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, and Scrooge McDuck – The Storybook Circus pals don their seasonal best during the Christmas party. Rather than meeting each one separately, during our party, Minnie and Daisy were together and Donald and Scrooge were together. Maybe because it was so cold the night of our visit, but this specific meet and greet took a really long time (somewhere between 70 – 90 minutes) and that was after the fireworks.

If you’ve ever been to Disney World, you know how deceiving the line can look from the outside as it weaves in and out on the inside. Had we known it was going to take as long as it did, we probably would’ve skipped it. If you are debating hopping in line, ask a family towards the middle how fast the line is moving. Typically, other families are happy to give you a heads up.

Other characters at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – Other characters that can be found during the Christmas party include Moana, Jack Sparrow, Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, Aladdin, Jasmine, the Genie, and Abu.

Is the Disney Christmas Party worth it for the character meet-and-greets?

I would say yes. If meeting with the Disney characters makes the top of your list of things to do, the Christmas party is a fantastic way to see some rare appearances and your regular favorites in fun and festive attire.

Hands down, my favorite part of the Christmas party was Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade (closely followed by the fireworks show). Between the costumes and holiday floats, it is absolutely adorable. And not only does it feature Disney favorites, but you will also see some special guests including dancing reindeer, nutcrackers, and of course, Santa Claus.

Perhaps the best part though are the scents. Peppermint and gingerbread wafting through the air, make this parade a delight to the senses.

The Christmas parade has two showtimes, one at 8:30pm and the other at 11:00pm. The first parade is definitely going to be more packed than the second as families with small children will likely only attend the first one.

If you want prime seating for the parade, you are going to need to find spots at a minimum of an hour before the parade starts, maybe even longer if you want a front row seat.

Is the Disney Christmas Party worth it for the parade?

I loved Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade! The costumes, music, characters, and smells make it unique for the Christmas season. Would I go to the Christmas party just for the parade? Probably not, but the party is so much more than that and the parade is definitely one of the highlights.

If you don’t want to go to the party and are planning a Christmas trip to Disney World, you may still be able to catch the parade once the party season is over between Christmas and the end of the year.

We were able to get second row spots to the right of the castle on Main Street, about 50 minutes before showtime. This is usually fine for adults, but anything beyond the front row can really be a challenge for smaller children to see. Many times, the adults on the front row will make room for small children, but not always, so plan accordingly.

One of the bonuses of attending the party are the complimentary hot drinks (cocoa, cider, and eggnog) and cookies (varies at each location). To find these treat spots, look for the giant inflatable peppermint stick. These lines can get REALLY long, but they do move quickly.

The restaurants that are open during the Christmas party are limited so I would make sure to plan accordingly. In my opinion, a sit-down dinner is not the best use of time during the party. You are better off eating an early dinner and snacking on cookies and cocoa for dessert.

There will be plenty of Christmas themed and Christmas party merchandise available at the party. While I haven’t heard of anything limited for this year, during our visit last year, Disney had just released these adorable Disney Parks musical tin popcorn buckets. We had to visit 4 popcorn stands to snag one, but we just couldn’t resist. It now serves as our seasonal cookie jar!

Join Mickey and Minnie for a holiday show on the center stage in front of Cinderella’s castle. During the show, your favorite Disney pals will be out singing carols in their Christmas attire. This show has several showtimes throughout the evening. It’s convenient to catch a show before or after the parade, but these are also the busier ones.

Is the Disney Christmas Party worth it for the shows?

Are the shows entertaining? Sure, they’re cute. Would I buy a ticket for the Christmas party just for the shows? No. The shows are a fun addition to the party, but this is not like Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom (which is a must-see when visiting AK).

Regardless of when you go to Disney World, there’s no doubt that catching the fireworks at Magic Kingdom should be a bucket list item. It’s truly an experience unto itself and during the Christmas season, Disney really takes it up a notch.

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show is hosted by none other than Minnie herself. Once Tinkerbell takes flight, the show begins! The synchronizing of lights, fireworks, and music is truly magical.

Unlike the Christmas parade, the fireworks only take place at one time, 10:00pm. This can be challenging for families with young children or babies who do not usually stay up this late. However, if you can swing it, the show is definitely worth the wait!

Another tip for families, if you have small children in your group, don’t get too close to the castle. Yes, being in front of the castle or to the right or left of it is a great spot to be in, but if you start moving up too closely, little ones won’t be able to see the displays that are projected on the castle. Once you have your desired spot and the cast members start encouraging everyone to squeeze in and move up, it is best to stay where you are. Closer is not always better!

After the fireworks, many families call it a night. This can relieve some of the wait times throughout the park, but for the bigger rides, you can expect a steady wait for the entirety of the night. For reference, on our party night, at 11:30pm, the wait for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was still about 90 minutes.

Is the Disney Christmas Party worth it for the fireworks?

The fireworks show at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is amazing. For many, it is the highlight of their trip. Unfortunately, if you planned your Magic Kingdom Park day on a party night and you don’t have tickets to the party, there is not another opportunity to catch the fireworks. Yes, you could view them beachside at the Polynesian or sky view at the California Grill, but it’s not the same experience.

So, should you get tickets to the Christmas party just to see the fireworks show? If you can only go to Magic Kingdom on a party day and you will miss the fireworks otherwise, then you should probably get tickets to the party.

When the first parade was over, the family in front of us called it a night so we grabbed their spots and waited for the fireworks. We were able to watch Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration while we waited for the fireworks show to begin. The cast members tried several times to get the crowd to move up around us, but hardly anyone did because our spot was spectacular. I can’t emphasize this enough, don’t feel pressured to move up if you like your spot!

Here are our final thoughts on the Disney Christmas party experience.

Prior to this trip, we had never been to Disney during the holiday season. As Disney World veterans, going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was a must-do. The holiday parade and fireworks with the chance to see snow on Main Street was something that I had always wanted to experience, but it was a challenge for us.

For one thing, we are morning people and there’s a certain way that we like to do Disney World. When we visit Disney World on a normal park day, we definitely take advantage of rope dropping and Genie+. We are usually wrapping up our main stuff by early afternoon (which is usually 10+ rides and shows by that point) and without too much waiting in between.

The party felt like a lot of waiting, especially when it came to the parade and fireworks. Without Genie+ there was also way more waiting in lines for rides and character meetings than we are used to. Make no mistake, Disney’s Christmas party is wonderful, but it is busy (much busier than we expected).

Being morning people also means we are used to going to bed earlier. My daughter was 8 on this trip and had stayed up after 10:00pm plenty of times prior, but on this night, she was really struggling. This is something you will need to take into account before purchasing your tickets. Luckily, she did rally and we made it to the end, but around 9:30pm, I wasn’t even sure if we would get to see the fireworks.

So, would we go to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party again? Possibly. If we have an extra day to fill or just happen to be down there again during the holidays, we would probably give it another try, but it won’t be an annual tradition for us.

But this isn’t about us, it’s about you. While we answered is the Disney Christmas party worth it for individual party attractions, the truth is, it is party as a whole that creates the experience. Would we go just for the holiday ride overlays or shows? No, but in conjunction with the parade, fireworks, characters, free hot chocolate, and cookies, the experience was worth it for us. Here are some final points for you to consider while deciding is the Disney Christmas party worth it?

– Is this your first trip to Disney World?

If this is your first trip to Disney World and you only have one day at Magic Kingdom, I would go on a non-party day and skip the party. If you go on a party day, you might have lower crowds in the morning, but you won’t get to see the fireworks that night.

– Do you have a day to spare?

Unless you go to Disney World frequently, many families like to go to all four parks during their vacation. However, if you have an extra day to fill, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party is an excellent way to get more out of your trip. It’s a special experience that only happens seasonally so if you have the extra time (and money), I’d say go for it!

– Are shorter wait times or new experiences more important to you?

If zipping through the parks and knocking out as many rides and attractions as you can in one day is your speed, Disney’s Christmas party may not be for you. You will likely be better off purchasing Genie+ with the money saved and enjoying a full park day instead.

– Do you have babies or young children in your group?

To get the most out of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party you want to stay until at least the fireworks. That will give you 6+ hours in the park (if you arrived at 4:00pm) and the opportunity to watch the parade and check out a few attractions.

If you’re traveling with little ones who are not used to staying up that late, you have two options. One is to wait another year or two until they are older and will enjoy being up past bedtime. The other option is to have an exit plan if things go south. A little flexibility and a lot of patience is always a good thing to have at Disney, with or without kids.

Still can’t decide is the Disney Christmas party worth it for your next trip? Check out our Disney Christmas Party decision tree to help you decide.