Best & Worst Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dates
This post rates the best & worst Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party dates based on which are likely to be the least and most crowded. November and December can have roller coaster crowds at Walt Disney World, so this is worth considering before buying tickets if your dates are flexible.
In addition to offering tips for choosing the best days of the week to attend, we highlight the dates that should be the least-crowded Christmas Parties. As we share in our Guide to the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, not every Christmas Party (MVMCP) is equally crowded. Some are so packed for the first parade that they feel like a busy day in Magic Kingdom. Other nights, there is a ton of room on Main Street for Fireworks, and every attraction is a virtual walk-on by 10 p.m.
With that said, we should note that last year, MVMCP was abnormally busy across the entire calendar. We mention this to prepare you for the reality that the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is likely to have heavy crowds. If you’ve done the party before but not since ~2018, you’re likely to experience a busier event than in the past, irrespective of which date you choose. “Least-crowded” here is a relative term.
Last year, every single MVMCP sold out. There’s a reasonable probability that the same will occur with the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Given that, you might think that this post is pointless. After all, sold out is sold out, right?
Maybe. For one thing, there’s no guarantee that every date of the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will sell out. Although last year’s MVMCP sold out every single date, that was also during a period of pent-up demand–both for travel in general and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, specifically, as it had not occured in the prior 2 years.
With that said, it’s likely that Walt Disney World will increase prices significantly for the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party given how quickly last year’s event sold out. Higher prices mean a smaller pool of consumers will be willing/able to buy tickets. That pool still might be larger than the number of tickets available on some or all dates–but we don’t know that yet.
Beyond that, we’ve noticed in prior years that “sold out is sold out” is not entirely accurate when it comes to the Halloween and Christmas Parties.
Sold out dates closer to holiday weeks (e.g. Thanksgiving and Christmas) had significantly higher feels like crowds than those mid-week party nights in early November or December. We have no way of proving this, but a similar phenomenon has occurred with Disney Park Pass reservations. “Fully booked” doesn’t always have the same crowd levels or wait times.
Since there are a lot of 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party dates, most of you planning week-long vacations to Walt Disney World probably have 2-3 options. If you only have 1 choice, well…this post won’t do you much good. On the plus side, that means you don’t have to deal with 6 p.m. Magic Kingdom closings on other nights of your trip. There are two rules of thumb that almost always apply when determining which party nights will be the least busy.
First, the cheaper nights are the less busy ones. We often say that Walt Disney World doesn’t offer discounts out of corporate benevolence–it’s in order to incentivize bookings. That same philosophy holds true with party ticket pricing (or even regular ticket pricing and hotel rooms).
There are several price tiers, so ranking the nights is a bit easier. In general, the cheaper dates are in November and early-December, and the more expensive dates are the week of Thanksgiving and throughout the month of December.
The idea behind the price tiers is to encourage guests who have the option of considering multiple dates to choose the cheaper one. It works, but only to an extent. Plenty of people will pay a few dollars more on an already expensive ticket for a date that works better with their schedule.
Let’s start with the limitations. First, most locals planning on attending non-school night parties aren’t going to change those plans to save $5 or so. Second, tourists who travel during school breaks are essentially stuck traveling during those breaks, so they aren’t going to do a mid-December party as opposed to the December 21 one.
The second rule is that school nights are the least busy nights, while Fridays and holiday breaks are the most busy times. A corollary to this rule is that Tuesday and Thursday nights are historically the least crowded nights of the week.
We’ve been attending the parties every year since 2007, and that rule has proven true in our experience, in what we’ve observed, and what we’ve heard from readers who have attended other evenings.
Putting these two rules together, it should be easy to spot the four best dates. Last year, those ideal Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party nights were:
- November 10 (Thursday)
- November 14 (Monday)
- November 15 (Tuesday)
- November 17 (Thursday)
While dates have not yet been released for the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, expect them to follow a similar pattern, within a day or two of the above dates.
If you are a local and can go whenever you want, I think these parties will be the least busy Christmas Parties of the year. In particular, I really like the November 14 and 15 party nights. These are after the initial rush of people (and bloggers!) wanting to be first to attend, but before most people really get into the festive spirit.
The November 9 night does have me a little nervous because that’s one day before Veterans Day, which is always a busy long weekend at Walt Disney World. That holiday always seems to catch people by surprise–including Disney’s internal crowd forecasters. It’s still likely to be a good party to attend since it’s a Thursday so early in the season, but it could surprise on the high side.
All bets are off the following week. Thanksgiving is typically one of the busiest weeks of the year at Walt Disney World, and there are fewer parties that week as a result of the crushing crowds (Disney doesn’t schedule MVMCP when regular crowds will be too high to allow for closing Magic Kingdom at 6 pm).
Consequently, the November 20 and 22 parties are both bad options. Ditto November 27. As the first party in several days, that’s going to be the only night many families can attend during their trips.
As far as December goes, basically Tuesdays are the best days, followed by Thursdays, followed by Sundays. Earlier in the month is better than later. Even though Pop Warner is now hosted at Universal, it remains a wildcard; there’s a decent chance they’ll do a group night at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
The final Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be the busiest of the year. With that said, there won’t be any material difference in crowds for any of the last 3 parties. They will all almost certainly sell out (even at those prices) and be busy. That is, unless there’s a freak blizzard that keeps crowds away–basically, something we couldn’t predict at this point.
Up until a few years ago, Walt Disney World didn’t do MVMCP that close to Christmas. In the past, they’ve avoided this because Christmas-week crowds make it impractical to close Magic Kingdom early.
There’s nothing unique about this year to make that not the case, so…good luck to anyone considering that party! I would recommend avoiding Magic Kingdom completely that day–and each of the last 3 party dates–transportation to get out of the park will be a nightmare.
Ultimately, you will have more considerations when planning your itinerary than just which Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is least crowded. Park hours will influence your decision. Weather might influence your decision. If you’re able to score an elusive ADR in a different park on a less-busy night, that might influence your decision.
We can’t stress enough that these predictions are exactly that. This is speculation, pure and simple. It’s informed by our experiences, not by any sort of insider information. We’re more than happy to offer a money-back guarantee (on our advice, not your tickets) should our predictions prove incorrect, though! 😉
We’ve updated our free Vacation Kingdom at Christmas eBook for the Christmas season! In order to receive your free copy, sign up for our (also free) newsletter if you haven’t already. You’ll receive a free download of that eBook, plus our Money-Saving Tips for Walt Disney World eBook as a thank you.
For comprehensive tips for planning your Christmas-time trip to Walt Disney World, check out our Ultimate Guide to Christmas at Walt Disney World. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Which days are your favorites for doing Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? Do you have any experiences that contradict or support our advice? When are you planning to go this year? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Thinking of November 17th. I know it’s a Friday, but does that Friday before Thanksgiving usually sell out. It is one of the more expensive.
Thanks for this information. I have one question. Would the Tuesday, November 12th party be more crowded since it is a Passholder discount night? Thanks!
Just got our tickets for Nov. 9, opening night of the Christmas party!
Do you recommend taking small children (if they can stay up that late) to this event? I have a 2 (a few days shy of 3) year old and a 1 year old.
I’m taking my 6 year old and 3 year old. They usually go to bed around 8:00 but I figure we will leave after the fireworks. The next day will be an off day for us so they can sleep in! It just depends on when they usually go to bed and if you think they can make it. Take a stroller just in case they do fall asleep! I have never been to the party but can’t wait to go!! Good luck!!
Do these usually sell out or can I wait until I get there to purchase tickets to the Christmas Party? We are going to be there for a week so we’d have opportunity at 4 different parties.
Hi Tom! Where did you find the park hours for the entire month of November? I can’t really pick a party date until I know all the park hours through Dec. 24th so I can plan my itinerary. Is Dec. already out somewhere? We’ll be there Dec.10-24, but I like to wait to buy party tickets so I can be flexible with dining res. I keep trying for places on different dates until I get what I want, then party ticks. Also, you mentioned you were in the market for a new point and shoot digital camera I think? So am I, just wondering if you had made any progress! Thanks!
Just bought our tickets for MVMCP for Nov 12. Will be our first time attending this event. Is there a specific location that you would recommend watching the parade from?
Hi Tom! Great site, lots of useful information! We will be in Disney for 6 Xmas parties (Dec 1,3,5,7,8,10), but plan on going to only 1 party. We know Pop Warner will be there 12/2-12/9. With so much to do & so little time, we are trying to figure out how to rank the parties we have available, so after making our ADRs we can pick the least crowded night. Any advice on what should be our top 3 and which to stay away from? Any advice would be very appreciated! Thank you!
Where is this 30% off room deal? I don’t see it on the offer page.
Hi! Hope someone can help me, I’d love to go to MVMCP on December 3rd, do you know if the tickets for this date sell out quickly? I want to make sure all the people in my party will be able to attend and I want to know how much time I have or if I have to purchase them right away. Because this tickets are non renfundable, right? There’s no way I can sell them o give it to someone else?
We’ve gone on the Sunday of that weekend in years past and I don’t ever remember seeing it sold out. It’s always been good for crowds for us (rides as a walk on by 9:30/10:00). We usually wait until the week before we leave to buy tickets so we can get a better feel for the weather report. I wouldn’t try to buy them day of (because I’m too scared to gamble) but you should be able to get away with waiting until a few days before.
Also, the official policy is that they’re non-refundable but we’ve asked in person once we were there (one member of our party didn’t go) and they refunded the ticket. Disney always wants happy guests and they’ve never let us down.
I have a question. I have tickets for the Christmas party on Sunday Dec. 3rd. How do they get people out of the park that do not have tickets. Does everyone leave and then come back in? Just wondering.
I have been at the park before a party and case members begin checking everyone for the party wrist band and those that do not have a wrist band are asked to make their way to the exit. I have heard about people being there w/o wrist bands but we have gone to MK on party days several times because it tends to be a low crowd day and they always start asking around 6:30 – 6:45. They seemed pretty diligent about making sure if you didn’t have a wrist band it was time to exit the park.
Tom, do you think that there’s anything to the 6pm closing time at Magic Kingdom on the party nights? Will they just end up changing that or is this new timing for the parties? Were looking at the November 12th party at the moment.
On the TA park hours page, it lists 7 p.m. park closings for MVMCP party nights: https://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/WDW_TAC_2017nov.pdf
Ahh, ok, thanks. I had only looked at the hours on the Disney page and thought it was weird.
I’m trying to decide between Sunday 12/17 (cheaper) and Tuesday 12/19. You say Tuesdays are less crowded, but you also say cheaper is less crowded too. I must have picked the two exceptions to the rule. Any advice is appreciated. We also have a 3 day park hopper for Animal Kingdom, Epcot/MK day, & HS/MK day. Thanks in Advance!
Those are the two dates I’m debating on, too. We are leaving the 20th so I thought ending our vaca with the party would be a nice send off but if it’s crazy busy I’m not sure if it’s worth it…
Both of those dates are likely to be moderately busy. Normally, I’d recommend the Tuesday, but that’s starting to get into Christmas-crowd territory (still shouldn’t be too bad), so I’m inclined to pick 12/17.
I don’t think the crowd difference will be significant no matter which you choose. The lower prices for 12/17 might offset the Christmas-crowds of 12/19.
Are you saying that Sunday, Nov 26th will be a high crowd party night, with lingering guests who are there during the Thanksgiving holiday – and to avoid that night? We’re intending to stay an extra night at DW, specifically to attend that party date.
There will still be lingering Thanksgiving guests then, but I wouldn’t go as far as to call it a high crowd night. It’ll be above average for November (or early December), but not as bad as the late December parties.
Any thoughts on whether Nov 28 or Dec 1 is the better choice? I thought Nov 28 as it is a Tuesday but looks like a lot of people are going with Dec 1 instead?
I’d definitely choose November 28.
THANK YOU!!
Doing MVMCP for the first time this year, and picked Tuesday 12th – hoping it’s not too crowded! (and that the weather stays dry – never been in December before!)
We just purchased tickets for this night as well…judging from the above article, it appears we made a great choice!! This will be our 3rd time in December – it is truly amazing!!
We took your advice and went to Mickey’s Christmas Party on 12/6. It was magical and worth it. we usually do Not so scarry Halloween which is not as crowded especially weekdays. If im remembering correctly more rides and celebrations are held during evening Christmas Party. We loved the new additions in fantasyland, Mermaid venue and Beauty and beast castle. Disney Springs is way Cool too.
Going December 9, enjoying your blog and hoping that it’s not to crazy busy that night!! Can u list a couple of your top 3 things not to be missed? What time do the festivities begin? Thanks
Jen
Hi Jen,
I hope you had a great vacation! We’re considering going the Thursday night of this week next year (if MVMCP nights stay the same) and am wondering how busy it actually was.
Thanks,
Kristi
We are going to be in Orlando Dec. 1st – Dec 8th? Do you think Sunday, December 4th will be the best night to go at this time to avoid the Pop Warner guest at the MVMCP? We picked Tuesday the second week of December last year and that day was one of the only early December dates to sell out.
Hi Jessica,
We are planning on doing the Tuesday the second week of December this year and I saw where you said last year it sold out. Was that because of Pop Warner guests? What was it like attending on a sold out night?
Thanks for the info!
Thanks for the blog! We are headed to universal the week of November 6th and are doing our 1st ever Mickey Christmas party and we picked the Nov 8th party which I am delighted to see you think will be the least crowded. We are taking a 6 and 2 year old so we can’t wait to see the magic in their eyes!