NOTE: Outdated info!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 Lights | 6:15 |
| Celebrate the Season Show | 7:45 |
| A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show | 7:45 |
| Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade | 8:15 |
| A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show | 8:45 |
| Holiday Wishes | 9:30 |
| A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show | 9:55 |
| Celebrate the Season Show | 10:05 |
| Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade | 10:30 |
| A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show | 10:50 |
| Celebrate the Season Show | 11:20 |
| A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show | 11:45 |
| Cosmic Ray’s Dance Party | 7:00-12:00 |
| Woody’s Happy Harvest Roundup Dance Party | 7:00-12:00 |
| Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Character List | (Click links to view photos) |
| 7 Dwarves | Splash Mountain Exit |
| Aladdin & Abu | Adventureland – Agrabah Bazaar |
| Ariel | Ariel’s Grotto |
| Aurora & Prince Phillip | Town Square Theater |
| Belle | Enchanted Tales with Belle *Not regular meet |
| Big Al and Liverlips | Frontierland – Near Country Bears |
| Bullseye, Jessie & Woody | Diamond Horseshoe Dance Party |
| Chip n Dale, Goofy, Pluto | Cosmic Ray’s Dance Party *NO autographs |
| Cinderella & Prince Charming with Tremaine Family | Fantasyland – New Fantasyland Wall |
| The Astounding Donaldo & Great Goofini | Pete’s Silly Sideshow |
| Daisy Fortuna & Minnie Magnifique | Pete’s Silly Sideshow |
| Duffy | Liberty Square Riverboat Landing |
| Eyeore, Piglet, Tigger and Winnie the Pooh | Fantasyland – Next to Pooh Ride |
| Jack Sparrow | Adventureland – near Pirates |
| Jasmine & Genie | Adventureland – Agrabah Bazaar |
| Merida | Fairytale Gardens |
| Mickey & Minnie | Town Square Theater |
| Peter Pan & Wendy | Fantasyland – Prince Charming Carousel |
| Phineas & Ferb | Tomorrowland – next to Buzz ride |
| Rapunzel & Flynn | Town Square Theater |
| Santa Claus | Main Street – next to City Hall |
| Scrooge McDuck | Fantasyland – across from Storybook Treats |
| Snow White & Prince | Town Square Theater |
| Tiana & Naveen | Liberty Square – Glade |
| Tinker Bell & Periwinkle | Adventureland – 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 |
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
You are viewing information from 2012. Follow the link below for updated information for 2015.
http://www.kennythepirate.com/events/mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party/
Oh…my mistake. Thank you!
Not a problem! Glad to help.
Is a Fast Pass still offered for the Princesses and Mickey/Minnie at Town Square during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? Thank you!!!
Jessica, There are no Fastpasses of any type during the Parties. KtP
On Sun, May 5, 2013 at 2:26 PM, Kennythepirate's Disney Character
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!
I would go to Cinderella first
Hi Kenny!
Do you have a touring plan for the Christmas party in order to catch the rare characters?
Who are you hoping to see? Include any shows, parades, fireworks you wish to see too please.
No beauty and the beast this year? thanks.
I see that’s a ‘no’ for this year, found this on another of your pages. thanks for all the info!
Welcome.
Will the little mermaid ride be open?
Yes the Enchanted Forest is now open, I need to add them to the list now. Thanks
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
Typically 7:00 pm, but some might not begin until 7:30. Some cut off as early as 10:15 while others continue until midnight. CMs will be able to help you with exact times.
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?
He’s in Fantasyland across from Storybook Treats near the wall.
Thanks a heap Kenny! That’ll work out great with my BOG dinner right before the party starts!
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!
I would go there at park opening
Why no Scrooge?? It seems like such a logical place to find him.
Scrooge wasn’t out last year, but is appearing this year.
KtP
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.
Yes, all those do sign
KtP
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?
Brian, did you not receive my reply email?
KtP
No. I just double checked and I do not have any emails from you. Sorry for the mishap. But there are no emails in junk or marked as deleted either. Sorry again.
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2012 18:57:51 +0000 To: bkirin01@hotmail.com
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
Some characters always attract long lines like the Dwarves, Princes and Jack.
KtP
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!
Yes, you’d miss the Castle lighting, but you can see that any night at the Magic Kingdom
Thanks so much for this! Can’t wait for this year’s “hard” info update! I have my ticket for Nov 27 (56 days!)
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!
Yes, it takes place every night from Nov 9 through New Year
Castle Lights begin November 7th this year.
Great stuff. Thanks Kenny!