The One Night You DON'T Want To Go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in Disney World

We’re already planning for the most magical time of the year in Disney World!

That’s right, Disney recently announced some of the offerings for the holiday season and we are HYPED. But perhaps the thing that we’re most excited about is the return of the beloved Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! And if you’re planning on going this year, we’re here to issue you a WARNING.

This year, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off on November 8th and runs on select nights each week through December 20th. Tickets are available currently and prices range from $169 to $219 per ticket, depending on the date.

Magic Kingdom during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

The party comes with all kinds of special offerings, from Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show to Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade to Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. Plus, you can get complimentary cookies and beverages throughout the night and meet rare characters around the park. It’s a blast!

2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

There are 25 nights of the party throughout November and December, but there’s one night that we recommend you DON’T attend — the first one! Why not? Well, we’ve got a few reasons.

Crowds

The biggest reason why you might want to avoid the first night of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is that the crowds will be heavy. The first night typically sells out completely, so all the major entertainment offerings will be crowded throughout the night.

On the first night, you’ll likely have to fight harder for that front-row spot to watch the parade or the ideal angle for the fireworks show. It’ll be one of the busiest parties of the season.

Weather

Even though it’s November, it may still be warm in the Central Florida area. During the daytime, it’s often in the 70s (even sometimes the upper 70s), meaning that it might be a bit too warm for you to wear your winter Christmas-themed clothes.

Also, in Florida, the rainy season starts in the late spring and often lasts through October. That sometimes stretches into the first week of November, and we’ve had some very rainy first nights of the Christmas Party in the past.

Cinderella Castle during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Typically, it doesn’t storm enough for the party to be full-out canceled, but we have seen stage shows and parades canceled or delayed due to weather in those cases. In the case that multiple entertainment offerings get canceled, Disney sometimes offers compensation for those tickets.

Problems

The third and final reason why you may not want to go to the opening night of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is because that’s the night when Disney works out all the kinks and problems.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2023

Anything that’s brand-new each year has to be tested out on the first night of the party. And sometimes that means that things can be a little bit messy! By the middle of the party season, those kinks are thoroughly worked out.

So that’s why you may not want to go to the first night of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year! As always, you should make the decision that works best for you and your vacation, but if you get the chance to go to a different party night, you may have a smoother time.