Home Disney World Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party planning outline

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party planning outline

By
kennythepirate
-
41

NOTE:  Outdated info!  See my Christmas Party guide above.

NOTE:  The Castle Dream Lighting show takes place every night from November 9 through New Year.

I’ve placed the shows in the order of the times they appear to make it easier for you to make your schedule. We usually visit Animal Kingdom during the day, leave about 1:00 pm and take a nap. We arrive at the Magic Kingdom around 6:00 pm to avoid the crowds and stake out our first character meets. I find the second parade much easier to find a good spot, but it’s also quite late for some children who haven’t taken that nap I mentioned. The best location to view the parade is either near the Hall of Presidents or in the Castle Hub. It’s because the floats make a big turn in those locations, causing them to slow down.  I prefer to watch fireworks on Main St very near the tip board by Casey’s Corner.

If meeting the 7 Dwarves (photo only, no autographs), Jack Sparrow or Rapunzel  is important to your family, be sure to get in line early. People begin lining up at 6:00 pm and characters don’t begin meets until 7:00 pm. The line for the Dwarves, Jack Sparrow and Rapunzel with Flynn were all quite long in 2011. Jack’s line did let up some by 11:00 pm, but the Dwarves and Rapunzel didn’t. Santa meets at the Flag Pole next to City Hall and attracts quite a crowd of families posing for their Christmas card photos.  There is a backdrop with Santa, so you don’t get a photo of the castle behind him.

There are usually no lines for attractions on the night I visited and you can just walk up to any serving location to receive free cookies, apple slices, hot cocoa or apple juice.   Feel free to eat as many cookies as you like, they are quite expensive :)

Don’t be late for the Castle Lighting.  It’s a short show, but quite impressive to watch the castle go from dark to brightly lit with more than 250,000 twinkling ligths.  The parade is fun as it includes dancing reindeer, gingerbread and a visit from Santa!  The firework show is festive Disney Christmas at its best.  People tend to leave the Christmas parties even earlier then the Halloween Parties and lines for many characters lessen after the fireworks.

Purchase your tickets here.

DATES:

Show Schedule
Castle Dream Lights6:15
Celebrate the Season Show7:45
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show7:45
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade8:15
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show8:45
Holiday Wishes9:30
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show9:55
Celebrate the Season Show10:05
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade10:30
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show10:50
Celebrate the Season Show11:20
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show11:45
Cosmic Ray’s Dance Party7:00-12:00
Woody’s Happy Harvest Roundup Dance Party7:00-12:00
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Character List (Click links to view photos)
7 DwarvesSplash Mountain Exit
Aladdin & AbuAdventureland – Agrabah Bazaar
ArielAriel’s Grotto
Aurora & Prince PhillipTown Square Theater
BelleEnchanted Tales with Belle *Not regular meet
Big Al and LiverlipsFrontierland – Near Country Bears
Bullseye, Jessie & WoodyDiamond Horseshoe Dance Party
Chip n Dale, Goofy, PlutoCosmic Ray’s Dance Party *NO autographs
Cinderella & Prince Charming with Tremaine FamilyFantasyland – New Fantasyland Wall
The Astounding Donaldo & Great GoofiniPete’s Silly Sideshow
Daisy Fortuna & Minnie MagnifiquePete’s Silly Sideshow
DuffyLiberty Square Riverboat Landing
Eyeore, Piglet, Tigger and Winnie the PoohFantasyland – Next to Pooh Ride
Jack SparrowAdventureland – near Pirates
Jasmine & GenieAdventureland – Agrabah Bazaar
MeridaFairytale Gardens
Mickey & MinnieTown Square Theater
Peter Pan & WendyFantasyland – Prince Charming Carousel
Phineas & FerbTomorrowland – next to Buzz ride
Rapunzel & FlynnTown Square Theater
Santa ClausMain Street – next to City Hall
Scrooge McDuckFantasyland – across from Storybook Treats
Snow White & PrinceTown Square Theater
Tiana & NaveenLiberty Square – Glade
Tinker Bell & PeriwinkleAdventureland – Tinker Bell’s Nook
 
presented by: kennythepirate.com 
Open Attractions:
Astro Orbiter
Barnstormer Goofy
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Haunted Mansion
it’s a small world
Journey of the Little Mermaid
Mad Tea Party
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Mickey’s Philharmagic
Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor Comedy Club
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Prince Charming Regal Carousel
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Stitch’s Great Escape
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Tomorrowland Speedway
TTA Peoplemover

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41 COMMENTS

  1. Hi Kenny! I read in your MVMCP character list that Tinker Bell will be with Periwinkle and Tinker Bell’s Nook in Adventureland. Does the line to meet these characters tend to be very long? When would be the best time to meet them? We’re going to the party on Dec.6.
    Many thanks, Jenn

  4. Is a Fast Pass still offered for the Princesses and Mickey/Minnie at Town Square during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? Thank you!!!

  6. Trying to decide between lining up first for Rapunzel/Flynn or Cinderella/crew. We plan to do each of these characters (one by lining up at 6PM and the other by visiting during the first parade). Which order do you recommend? We’re going on Dec 20, so pretty sure it’ll be a sold-out night.

    TIA!

  10. I hope I am not overlooking info you already have posted but when do the character meets start for the MVMCP? Do they all start at the same time and continue through the entire party? We will be there 12/4 and plan to enter the park at 4pm. Should we scout lines then or wait a bit? Thanks for the awesome info.
    Jenn B

  11. I saw on the MVMCP character list that there were two areas noted for Scrooge McDuck- in the Castle Courtyard and in Fantasyland near Storybook Treats. Where’s he most likely to be?

  12. I am also curious about your reccomendation for meeting Merida. Do you think it would be easier at MVMCP on 12/21 or first thing on 12/22 or 12/24? Thanks!

  14. Awesome info & website! Thanks a million. Do you know if all characters sign autographs during the Christmas party besides the 7 dwarfs? Specifically I’m curious about Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine and the sisters.

  15. We are attending MK on Wed 11/14. Crowd levels are expected to be quite high that day. The park opens at 8AM. My daughter wants to meet Merida. I see that her Meet & Great begins at 9:15AM. To minimize my overall wait times, when should we begin to get in line to see Merida? I remember sprinting (or walking very fast) to meet Rapunzel and Flynn as soon as the park opened, but I have heard that Merida is not in as much demand. My thoughts are to knock off Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear first then make our way to Fairytale Garden and get in line around 8:45 – 9:00 AM. Is that too late? We are going to the Christmas Party on Monday 11/12? Would it be better to see her then?

  16. Kenny, I am sure I am over planning but will have a 4&5 year old at the MVMCP on 12/11..Do you think there will be long mines? We are hoping not

  17. Thank you so much for this! It is very helpful :) If we want to meet the drawfs and line up right away we would end up missing the castle lighting right? Such a tough choice!

  19. Thanks for the planning information. One question, does the castle lighting show take place on non MVMCP nights? We have a reservation at O’hana for 5 and I dont think we are going to make it in time to go to the show, and I know it is was a true “magical” disney moment from my last trip and I dont want to miss it!

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