‘Sup? Tad here. Today, I'm talking all about tweens and teens at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Call me a Festive Frog, but spending time with family, helping Mommy Frog decorate, opening presents and eating all the tasty treats are toadally my jam! But when Daddy Frog announced that we’d be attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party last year, I wasn’t exactly so hoppy about it.
Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE Disney! I just wasn’t sure if the holiday party would be a good fit for a tween frog like me. These days, you’ll typically find me hanging out at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or bounty hunting in Galaxy’s Edge over at Hollywood Studios.
Oh boy, was I ever wrong! I had so much fun at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and I cannot wait to go again this year! If you’ve got tween or teenage frogs in your fam, let me be the first to fill ya in — this party will rock their Christmas socks! Here are my top tips for tweens and teens attending Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!
Top Tips for Tweens and Teens at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Score FREE Cookies and Cocoa (Plus Eggnog and Cider)
As a growing frog, I’m always hungry. I was so excited when l found out that I could snag complimentary cookies and cocoa during the party. I mean, what are the holidays without cookies and hot cocoa? I made sure to hit up the five different treat stations around Magic Kingdom. Each station features a different flavor of cookie and beverage. YUM! You can find these locations marked on the map or by looking out for the giant peppermint inflatables outside each location. The cookies are individually wrapped, so they are perfect for grabbing and going. The best perk is that there is no limit to the number of times you can go through the lines to grab these scrumptious treats!
- Tortuga Tavern — sugar cookies and eggnog (green buttercream frosted and topped with pearl white nonpareils)
- The Lunching Pad — sugar cookies and apple cider (red frosted cookies with sprinkles)
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe — Snickerdoodle cookies and hot cocoa
If allergies are a concern, this is the stop where you can pick up allergy-friendly cookies. The allergy-friendly option is the double chocolate chip mini cookies by Homefree.
- Pinocchio Village Haus — frosted gingerbread cookies and hot cocoa (vanilla buttercream frosting)
More allergy-friendly treats can be found here, aka Werther’s Original Sugar-Free candy.
- Columbia Harbour House — chocolate chip cookies and hot cocoa
My absolute favorite of the whole night was the Snickerdoodle cookie! The cinnamon and sugar combo is always frogtastic!
Nosh on Specialty Treats
If the complimentary cookies and cocoa don’t fill you up, you'll find a sleigh load of other holiday treats to feast on throughout the park. A few of the holiday treat offerings are available in Magic Kingdom all day long during the season, while others are exclusive and can only be purchased during the Christmas Party.
We always like to arrive early (can enter as early as 4 p.m. even though the party doesn’t officially begin until 7 p.m.!) and grab a tasty dinner before we indulge in the sugary treats. Casey’s Corner is a Frog Family favorite. Last year, the Holiday Dog satisfied my adventurous palette (an all-beef hotdog topped with cranberry mustard, funnel cake stuffing and cheese curds). Trust me here — it just works! My sister Lily opted for the Corn Dog Nuggets and Christmas Tree Cake.
A few more of our top favorite goodies were the Gingerbread Mickey Mousse from the Main Street Bakery and the Once Upon a Christmastime Tart from Sunshine Tree Terrace.
Take an ‘Elfie Photo with Toadally Rad Characters
When I think about Magic Kingdom, Disney princesses always come to mind. That’s cool for my sister, Lily. SHE LOVES meeting those characters, but they aren’t my thing. Although, I do have to admit that having the addition of the princes alongside the princess during the party is pretty awesome! Prince Naveen is always a cool frog to hang out with. ;)
But what got me really excited was when I found out that there were rare Disney characters I could only meet at the party, such as Sandy Claws, aka Jack Skellington (and Sally) in the Town Square Theatre, Scrooge McDuck at Storybook Circus, and Genie and Aladdin in Adventureland. Who doesn’t love a good selfie?
The wait times for these character meets can get a little lengthy, so here’s my plan of attack — get to the party early and hop in line for Sandy Claws and Sally right away, or wait to visit them during the first parade when most people are out along the parade route. The same goes for the other characters. Since there are two parade times and multiple times for the stage show (Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration is at 7:40, 9:25, 10:35 and 11:55 p.m.), plan to get in line to meet characters during those times. Wait times tend to dwindle as Disney guests will be out doing those things.
Be sure to check out our guide on where to find all the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party characters.
View Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
This fireworks display is a new show that replaced Holiday Wishes. The host is, of course, Minnie Mouse! Celebrating the magic of Christmas, the major highlight is the variety of beloved Christmas carols that play throughout. In my opinion, you’re never too old for a few Christmas carols, even though signing in public can be a teeny bit embarrassing. If you hoppen to see a frog belting out, “Wonderful Christmastime,” just look away!
Be sure to take note that there’s only one showing for the fireworks and that’s at 10 p.m. While there are holiday projections on the castle, you don’t have to be right in front of the castle to enjoy this spectacular. You won’t see the projections, but you can still get a great view of the fireworks behind the castle, by the bridge in Liberty Square, in Fantasyland, in Tomorrowland and in Storybook Circus. You also won’t have to worry about stuffy crowds as much in these areas.
Catch Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade (8:30 p.m. & 11 p.m.)
If this parade doesn’t get your teen or tween in the holiday spirit, I don’t know what will! From dazzling floats, adorable characters in their holiday attire, dancing elves and prancing reindeer, this parade is a sight to behold. Of course, Santa landing on Main Street is the pinnacle of this parade and it is nothing short of magical.
Because I don’t have an early bedtime, I prefer to watch the 11 p.m. parade. Bonus — the wait times are shorter for the second showing since people don't stake out a spot as early as the first parade! The best viewing spots are anywhere along Main Street because this is where you’ll see it snow. Yes, snow in Florida! Disney creates artificial snow which creates the perfect backdrop to the parade as it's making its way down Main Street, U.S.A.! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Rock Around the Holiday Dance Parties
A party just isn’t a party without some killer music and a place to bust a move! I love cutting a rug out on the dance floor. My little sister, Lily, enjoys shaking her little groove thing, too. Let’s just say we shake it like a North Pole-oriod picture! We made sure to drop in on all of the dance parties around Magic Kingdom. Would you believe there are three different dance parties complete with a DJ and special character appearances? Here's where you can find 'em:
- A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas (7:45, 8:35, 9:25, 10:45, 11:35 p.m.)
- Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jingle Jam (7 p.m. until midnight)
- Club Tinsel in Tomorrowland (7 p.m. until midnight)
Treat Yo’ Elf to Amazing Christmas Shopping Opportunities
Giving and receiving gifts is a tradition in our frog family. So obviously, planning and shopping for gifts is something I look forward to every year. What better place to shop for that perfect gift than at Walt Disney World? Now that’s a fun way to prepare for our family gift exchange! I made sure to save up my allowance and then had a blast shopping. I picked up a special gift for Daddy, Mommy and Lily Frog! As a family, we also purchased a new Disney Christmas tree ornament. It’s a great way to commemorate our holiday trip to Disney.
Oh, and what a fun surprise! We also received a complimentary 50th-anniversary-themed ornament just for attending the party last year. Isn’t that so cool?
Sleigh the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Ride Overlays
You guys already know I’m a thrill seeker! If there’s a roller coaster — I’m on it! What’s really unique is that a few of my favorite attractions get a holiday upgrade (or overlay, as Daddy Frog likes to correct me.) Last year, there were four holiday ride overlays.
- Tomorrowland Speedway — As a frog practically hoping to get my driver’s license soon, this one is a top favorite ... vroom! Here you’ll drive your car through the track that is toadally lit up with sparkling trees, decorations and glowing lights. It is a real treat!
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor — You and your teen will be laughing all the way with this holiday version.
- Space Mountain — Blast off into space with colorful holiday-colored lights and energetic Christmas tunes.
- Mad Tea Party — You’ll be as twisted as a candy cane once you step off this attraction, complete with holiday lighting and festive music.
Meet Jolly ‘Ol St. Nick
Naughty or nice, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without having a little chat with the big man — SANTA! I made sure to bring my Christmas wish list and have Santa give it a good once over. I may be growing up, but I’m never too old to meet Santa. You can find him at the Liberty Square gazebo.
More Tips for Tweens & Teens at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Here are a few more tips to help make this year's Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party one for the books!
- It wouldn’t be Christmas without a set of cozy Christmas jammies! In the spirit of waiting for Santa, you’ll see kids from 1 to 92 don their Christmas pajamas (or other festive holiday attire) for the party. You better believe I take full advantage of this! If you decide to wear your matching slippers, just make sure to bring along a set of sneakers in case your feet start to tire as you trek your way around Magic Kingdom.
- In terms of value, older kiddos certainly allow you to get more “bang for your buck” simply because they can stay up later and party up until midnight. Wait times for attractions also continue to drop as the night goes on. This is a great way for those thrill-seekers to pack in all the fun.
- If you are doing some holiday shopping, it's a good idea to bring a backpack so you can easily tote your goodies around the park. You might also consider renting a locker. The last thing you’ll want to worry about is how to juggle all your packages while trying to hold and eat your cookies and cocoa.
- Stay hydrated! Even though this party hoppens in the evening, you’ll still be doing a ton of walking. Bring that refillable water bottle and remember to drink water between the holiday goodies.
There you have it — my top tips for tweens & teens at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! Are you planning on attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year? Do you have tweens or teens? Let us know if you have more questions about the party. We are always hoppy to help!
Related: Your Guide to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Merry Christmas & Hoppy Holidays!
