Our 2025 Experience at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
We kicked off the holiday season in the most magical way possible — by attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2025 at Magic Kingdom! This was our second time experiencing the party with kids, and wow… what a difference two years makes. The last time we attended, our children were ages 1 and 3, and although it was still magical, we learned a lot about what works (and what really doesn’t) when navigating the party with little ones.
This year, with our kids now 3 and 5, we finally felt like we hit our rhythm — and we truly had the best night. Here’s everything we did, what we loved, what we skipped, and all the tips I wish someone had told me ahead of time.
⭐️ What We Learned From Our First Visit
Our biggest takeaway from our 2023 visit?
Do NOT do character dining during the party.
It eats up so much time and pulls you away from everything that makes the event special. The party is short — save table-service meals for a regular park day and maximize party hours for rides, parades, characters, and treats.
⭐️ Tips for Doing Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party With Young Kids
If you’re attending with toddlers or preschoolers, these made our night so much smoother:
- Get a long nap in earlier in the day — non-negotiable.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Bring extra water or grab complimentary cups from quick-service locations.
- Do absolutely nothing else earlier that day. No parks, no reservations, no running errands. Rest is your best friend.
- Bring pajamas or comfy clothes for later in the night — the kids will thank you around 11 p.m.
🎄 Rides We Did During the Party
One of the biggest perks of the party is the low wait times. Here’s a recap of what we rode and what the waits looked like:
- Jingle Cruise (Holiday Overlay of Jungle Cruise)
Longest wait of the night at around 30 minutes — still very manageable! - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
A bit of a wait, but expected for this ride. - Haunted Mansion — walk-on
- it’s a small world — walk-on
- Tomorrowland Speedway — quick wait
- PeopleMover — always a favorite
- Mad Tea Party (Holiday Overlay) — super cute and festive
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Shockingly a walk-on around 8:30 PM. This was perfect timing for us.
Honestly, the crowds felt incredibly reasonable and we got so much done.
🎅 Characters We Met
This year’s character experiences were a highlight for the kids — and for us! We met:
- Ariel & Eric
- Mickey & Minnie (our very last stop of the night!)
- Belle
- Genie & Jasmine
But the REAL winner?
The Tinsel Party in Tomorrowland.
This is a must-do with little ones.
Located on a huge stage at the back of Tomorrowland, it features:
- Zootopia characters
- Chip & Dale
- Goofy in his Santa costume
- Tons of space to dance
- A genuinely fun party vibe
They even played K-Pop Demon Hunter songs, which my kids went absolutely wild for. It was so fun watching them dance with Disney characters under all the Christmas lights.
🎶 Disney Junior Jingle Jam Dance Part
This one is located inside Cosmic Ray’s — which made it the perfect spot for a dinner break.
While the kids danced with Vampirina and Doc McStuffins, we grabbed:
- Kids’ chicken fingers & fries
- A delicious pork sandwich with cheese for us
Nothing fancy — but exactly what we needed to keep the night going.
🍪 Cookie Stops
We hit all of them. Every single one.
Lines were extremely short and moved quickly, and we ended up with so many cookies that we even had leftovers. The kids loved collecting them, and it’s such a cute little bonus included in your ticket.
🎆 Fireworks & Parade
We chose to watch both from Frontierland, right by Tiana’s.
Fireworks
Great view, not overly crowded, and the kids could actually see without being on our shoulders.
11 PM Parade
This was one of our favorite moments of the night.
We positioned ourselves right where the parade begins, so we saw every float the moment it came out. Absolutely magical.
🛍️ Shopping + Memory Maker
Before leaving, we did some quick shopping on Main Street around 11:50 PM. The vibes were perfect — snow falling, lights glowing, Christmas music playing.
We also purchased Memory Maker, which we always do. I will say:
This year, I noticed fewer photographers around the park (especially outside of Main Street). That was a little disappointing, but the shots we did get were great.
🎭 What We Skipped
We didn’t watch any of the castle stage shows.
Not because they aren’t good — they’re wonderful! — but because:
- My kids can’t see well over crowds
- I personally hate being packed in tightly
- We’d rather spend that time riding or meeting characters
But if castle shows are your thing, you can absolutely fit them in.
🎉 Final Thoughts
We left the park at 12:30 AM with two exhausted, cookie-covered, happy children and hearts full of holiday magic.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2025 was truly one of our favorite Disney nights yet. If you’re debating whether to go with younger kids — do it. Go in with a plan, keep expectations realistic, build in rest time, and you’ll have an unforgettable night.
Check out our other blog posts! The Most Convenient and Cost-Effective Disney Resort for Families, Our Stay at Disneys Grand Floridian, Top Items to Keep Kids Occupied During Disney Lines
