How to Have the Ultimate Day at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

The Magic Kingdom doesn't completely transform into all of its merry magic until the party officially kicks off at 7 p.m. (when all guests without a party ticket are required to leave the park). But you can actually get into the park with your Very Merry ticket starting at 4 p.m.! This is the perfect time to ride any of the rides that might not be open during the actual event. When arriving for the party, guests are guided right through the back end of Main Street, where you can grab your first holiday-themed treat and stop for photo ops!

Since it's a special event, not every ride and restaurant is open. Take a quick scan of the rides you want to hit and either make a plan to have dinner before you arrive or be sure to grab something on the earlier end. Most quick service places closing up shop by 9 p.m. (Although there will be plenty of cookies, hot chocolate, and snacks available all night long!)

There are at least eight different shows, parades, and entertainment experiences throughout the night, which might get a little overwhelming in between riding Space Mountain four times and eating endless cookies. Be sure to catch "A Frozen Holiday Wish" at the Castle Forecourt Stage, where Elsa transforms Cinderella's Castle into a sparkling Frozen masterpiece.

While Disney World is truly the happiest place on Earth, there is one thing that can slightly hinder that experience: waiting in hour-long lines. While you might stumble upon a 90-minute wait for Space Mountain during normal park hours, thanks to the Very Merry Party's limited capacity, you can pretty much wait less than 20 minutes for every ride. During my recent trip, I never waited more than 10 minutes in line — even for Space Mountain! — which, IMO, is worth the party ticket all on its own.

There are seven holiday treat stations located throughout each of the park's lands, featuring everything from apple cider, hot chocolate, and snow cones, to cookies, soft pretzels, and chocolate — all complimentary and available until midnight. They even offer special allergy-friendly alternatives and other healthy options at each station if you ask, so everyone in your party can fully enjoy the experience.

While the park itself turns into a holiday wonderland during Very Merry, one ride also gets a festive makeover. The Jungle Cruise transforms into the Jingle Cruise, featuring endless amounts of holiday jokes and shenanigans to get you straight into the festive spirit.

One of the main attractions of the night is the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, which brings together all of your favorite Disney characters with a special holiday twist. Running twice a night, you can choose to see it earlier at 8:30 p.m., or during the second running at 11 p.m. Most people line up for the earlier showing of the parade, which means one very important thing: no lines throughout the park! If you don't mind staying up late until the event ends at midnight, then take the opportunity during the 8:30 p.m. parade to jump on all of your favorite rides and bypass any long treat lines!

Throughout the night, you can get up close and personal with your favorite Disney stars dressed in their best holiday attire, including a special appearance from Jack Skellington as Sandy Claws — who would, undoubtedly, be the perfect addition to your holiday card.

While most shows take place at the Castle Forecourt Stage throughout the night, you can also pop over to Tomorrowland to witness the Edge Effect's a cappella holiday concert or catch A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas, featuring some of your favorite Disney characters, like Stitch and Mike Wazowski. It's the perfect way to take a quick break in between scarfing down chocolate chip cookies and hot cocoa.

Walt Disney World finally made everyone's dreams come true with their new Character Couture makeovers, allowing guests to customize their hair, makeup, and nails to reflect their favorite Disney character or theme (like the Rapunzel inspiration I got done, pictured here!). But it's not just princesses or princes — stylists have worked their magic and turned guests into everything from toy soldiers to the sugar plum fairy, so you can truly get decked out in holiday spirit for your Very Merry Party. Just be sure to call and book far in advance!

Holiday-themed Main Street plus Cinderella's Castle in the distance plus falling snow flurries, all accompanied by your favorite holiday songs, equals one supermagical experience. If I could move into Main Street, U.S.A. (yes, even amidst all the giant crowds), I would.

While fireworks soaring above Cinderella's Castle are always magical, there's just something extra special about the Holiday Wishes Fireworks Spectacular that really wraps up an unforgettable night. Hosted by Jiminy Cricket, the incredible fireworks display features holiday-themed projections and lighting, all to the tune of your favorite Christmas classics, like "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "Jingle Bells." I've seen roughly 28 years worth of fireworks shows at Disney World, but let me tell you, this experience will truly make your jaw drop.