Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2026: dates, tickets and why party days are quiet
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party runs 25 nights at Magic Kingdom, Nov. 8 to Dec. 22, and most of them had sold out by Nov. 3. No ticket? The party still works for you. Magic Kingdom closes to day guests at 6 p.m. on party days, and those are its quietest days of the season.
The short version
Dates and hours
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2026 dates and hours
Every party runs 7 p.m. to midnight. What changes is the daytime: the park opens at 8 a.m. on four November party days and at 9 a.m. on the rest, and it closes to day guests at 6 p.m. either way.
| Party nights | Magic Kingdom hours |
|---|---|
| Nov. 8, 9, 13 and 15 | Day guests 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Party 7 p.m. to midnight. |
| Nov. 12, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 27 and 29 | Day guests 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Party 7 p.m. to midnight. |
| Dec. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20 and 22 | Day guests 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Party 7 p.m. to midnight. |
| Showtimes, every party night | Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration at 7:40, 9:25, 10:35 and 11:55 p.m. Parade at 8:30 and 11 p.m. Fireworks at 10 p.m. |
Early Entry for Disney resort guests starts 30 minutes before the public open. Hours and showtimes are what Disney's calendar showed on Nov. 1.
What's there
What's at the party
Here's what Disney lists for the 2026 party:
- Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, twice a night, with Santa at the end
- Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks at 10 p.m.
- Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration, a stage show at Cinderella Castle
- Frozen Holiday Surprise with Elsa, Anna, Olaf and Kristoff at the castle
- Santa's Christmas Carnival in Storybook Circus, with Santa
- Club Tinsel, a dance party at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland
- Snow on Main Street, U.S.A. and characters in holiday outfits
- Cookies and hot and cold drinks at set spots around the park, included with your ticket
Rides
Rides during the party
Disney says rides run during the party, and five get a holiday makeover: Space Mountain gets holiday music and lights, Tomorrowland Speedway becomes Race Through the Holidays, Mad Tea Party gets holiday lights and music, Jungle Cruise becomes Jingle Cruise, and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor runs a holiday show. Disney also names these:
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Haunted Mansion
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Tiana's Bayou Adventure is closed for refurbishment through Dec. 17, so it misses every party night but the last three. Disney says a party ticket doesn't guarantee any ride.
Tickets and costs
Tickets and what's left
It's a separate ticket for one night, and you don't need a park ticket or park reservation on top of it. Disney lists $189 to $229 plus tax depending on the night, $10 less for ages 3 to 9. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members save $10 on select nights, Nov. 8 to 20 and Nov. 29 to Dec. 3. Here's what Disney's ticket calendar showed for ages 10 and up on Nov. 3:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Sun., Nov. 29 | $214 |
| Tue., Dec. 8 and Thu., Dec. 10 | $219 |
| Fri., Dec. 11, Sun., Dec. 13 and Tue., Dec. 15 | $224 |
| Thu., Dec. 17 | $229 |
| The other 18 nights (Nov. 8 to 27, Dec. 1, 3, 4, 6, 18, 20 and 22) | Sold out |
Disney says tickets are limited and nonrefundable. The two fireworks dessert parties and dinner at Be Our Guest, Cinderella's Royal Table and The Plaza Restaurant cost extra and need a party ticket for the same night.
Plan your visit
Party days are Magic Kingdom's quietest days
- Here's the pattern from this fall. Magic Kingdom's 33 Halloween party days measured an average crowd level of 1.9 and never went above 4. The other 39 days from Aug. 7 to Oct. 31 averaged 5.3.
- It held at Christmas last year too. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the headliners' posted waits averaged about 33 minutes on party days and about 54 on the other days of the party season. Party days have come in lower every Christmas season since 2022.
- The catch is the 6 p.m. close. You give up the evening, so what I'd do is start at the open, work through the headliners while lines are short, and save the regular fireworks for a non-party night.
- Thanksgiving week has three party days: Tuesday, Nov. 24, Wednesday, Nov. 25 and Black Friday, Nov. 27.
- The last two party days, Dec. 20 and 22, run into the Christmas rush, and the crowd calendar forecasts them busier than the November ones.
- Got a party ticket? You can walk in at 4 p.m., which gives you three hours of rides before the party starts at 7.
Waits on party days
Ride Ready shows Magic Kingdom's posted waits live, free, and pings you when a line drops, so you can line up the headliners before the 6 p.m. close.
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Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2026 FAQ
When is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in 2026?
On 25 nights from Sunday, Nov. 8 to Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2026: Nov. 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 27 and 29, and Dec. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20 and 22.
What time does Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party start?
The party runs 7 p.m. to midnight, and a party ticket lets you into Magic Kingdom from 4 p.m. that day.
How much are Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tickets?
Disney lists $189 to $229 plus tax, depending on the night, with $10 off for ages 3 to 9. On Nov. 3 the nights still on sale were $214 to $229 for ages 10 and up.
Is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party sold out?
Most of it. On Nov. 3, Disney's ticket calendar showed 18 of the 25 nights sold out. Nov. 29 and Dec. 8, 10, 11, 13, 15 and 17 still had tickets.
What time does Magic Kingdom close on party days?
6 p.m. for anyone without a party ticket. It opens at 8 a.m. on Nov. 8, 9, 13 and 15 and at 9 a.m. on the other party days.
Is Magic Kingdom less crowded on Christmas party days?
Yes, during the day. Last Christmas season the headliners' posted waits averaged about 33 minutes on party days between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., against about 54 on the other days, and this fall's Halloween party days measured an average crowd level of 1.9 against 5.3 on the rest. You trade the evening for it, since the park closes to day guests at 6 p.m.
Do I need a park ticket for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party?
No. The party ticket is its own admission for that date and doesn't need a park reservation.
Sources
- Walt Disney World: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
- Walt Disney World: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tickets
- Walt Disney World: park hours calendar
Checked against Magic Kingdom's official pages on Nov. 3, 2026. Parks change hours and details during the season, so check their calendar the week you go.