Disney Will Be Very Merry Again This Holiday Season

I’ve got news that will bring joy to the world! Walt Disney World has just released tons of information about your favorite holiday party. Yes, Disney will be very merry again this holiday season. Here’s what you need to know.

The Very Merry Party Begins in November 

In 1983, Walt Disney World consisted of just two theme parks, Magic Kingdom and its year-old sibling, EPCOT. Park officials felt like celebrating the accomplishment of EPCOT by introducing a new holiday celebration. That was the first year for the now-iconic Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Yes, we’re now in our fifth decade (!) of merry magic at Magic Kingdom, and the fun may never end. In fact, Disney just announced details about the 2025 edition of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. For starters, here are this year’s dates:

• November 7th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 21st, 25th, 26th, 28th, 30th
• December 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 21st 

As usual, your party ticket gives you access to Magic Kingdom starting at 4 p.m.—three hours before the official event begins. Then at 7 p.m., the park becomes exclusive to Very Merry ticket holders, giving you five hours of festive fun at the most magical place on Earth.

Tickets for this year’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party start at $169 plus tax and go up to $229 plus tax, depending on the date you choose. December dates are typically the most expensive. If you’re an annual passholder or DVC member (which likely includes most of you reading this), you’ll receive a $10 discount per ticket.

Keep in mind: Every party sold out last year, many of them months in advance. If this is on your holiday bucket list, we recommend buying your tickets early to avoid missing out.

Tickets go on sale July 16th for guests with existing Walt Disney World hotel reservations. That means if you’re a DVC member with a confirmed booking, you can purchase as early as next Wednesday. If you don’t have a hotel reservation yet, you’ll need to wait until general sales open on July 22nd.

And here’s where it gets even better—starting July 22nd, you can save 10% on your party tickets when you buy through Unlocked Magic.  

One quick clarification: if you book a room for a November or December stay by July 16th, you’ll qualify for the early purchase window. You just need a valid hotel reservation for one of those dates to be eligible.

Here Are the Activities This Year – Rides and Characters Edition

Disney hasn’t listed all the character greetings yet for this year’s event. Here are the confirmed ones thus far:

Princess Fairytale Hall 

• Anna and Elsa in their Christmas attire 

Town Square Theater 

• Sally and Santa Jack 
• Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their finest holiday looks

I’m confident that there will be others, including Santa Claus. He will host Santa’s Christmas Carnival at Storybook Circus. Disney has also confirmed the rides operating during the event, including holiday overlays for Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Party, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, Space Mountain, and Tomorrowland Speedway. Here are the others:

Adventureland 

• Pirates of the Caribbean 
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin 

Frontierland 

• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure 

Liberty Square 

• Haunted Mansion 

Fantasyland 

• Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid 
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel 
• “it’s a small world” 
• Peter Pan’s Flight 
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh 
• Mad Tea Party 

Storybook Circus 

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant 
• The Barnstormer 

Tomorrowland 

• Astro Orbiter 
• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor 
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover 
• TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise

With Tron and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure open, you don’t need to stand in line during the regular part of your park visit. You can simply wait until the Very Merry party begins. 

Here Are the Activities This Year – Shows and Presentations Edition

The regular stuff returns for this year’s party, including the exclusive merchandise and the free holiday treats like cookies and hot cocoa. Other favorites like Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade are also back. Please understand that Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away won’t run during the party for obvious reasons. So, plan accordingly for other nights of your DVC vacation.

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party is also back, and Disney will host the dessert party again, too. Please remember that the dessert section requires an additional payment. 

Other returning favorites include Club Tinsel, Disney Junior Jingle Jam, Frozen Holiday Surprise, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration, and the “snowfall” on Main Street, U.S.A. 

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