Life & Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

A Magical (and Rain-Free!) Night at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 🎄✨

For years, our trips to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party have been filled with festive lights, holiday magic, and…rain. 🌧️ But not this time! This year, we were graced with the perfect Florida evening—cool, breezy, and absolutely delightful. My daughter and I soaked in every drop of that rare Orlando winter weather as we dove headfirst into the merriest event of the season.

🎁 A Map to Merriment

First stop: snagging our event map and entering through the special entrance. The excitement was palpable as we planned out our evening. Disney is just so darn jolly. A quick detour through the stores revealed adorable holiday merch and bakery treats that had us drooling. (Seriously, Disney, you know how to make us want everything.)

🎉 Dancing with Chip, Dale, and a Dash of Zootopia

Next, we headed toward the character meet-and-greets. Our first stop? The dance party near Space Mountain! Chip and Dale were showing off their best moves alongside Nick and Judy from Zootopia. Now, Dale’s handler? Let’s just say someone needs a little Christmas spirit injection. But the characters themselves made up for it, and we got some fantastic photos. My daughter and I are huge Zootopia fans, so this was a highlight for us. Nick Wilde’s swagger? Iconic. Judy Hopps’ energy? Unmatched.

📸 Holiday Magic with Our Favorite Disney Friends

The photo ops were next-level festive! Over in the circus area near Dumbo, we met Donald, Daisy, Minnie, and even Scrooge McDuck in their adorable Christmas outfits. Bonus: Santa was there too, along with a fun station to color ornaments and mail a postcard to the North Pole. These little touches made it feel like we’d stepped into Santa’s workshop.

🍪 Cookies, Cocoa, and Christmas Cheer

This year, we made it our mission to try every single cookie offered at the party. Challenge accepted—and accomplished! Each cookie station paired the treats with festive drinks like apple cider, hot cocoa, and eggnog. (Full disclosure: we stuck with water because cocoa aside, we’re not big on the other options.)

Here’s our cookie breakdown:

• Chocolate Pretzel Cookie: Sweet, salty, and a solid 8/10.
• Iced Gingerbread Cookie: Cream cheese frosting and gingerbread perfection—my personal favorite at 10/10!
• Frosted Sugar Cookies (two variations): Classic buttercream deliciousness. Both earned a solid 8/10.

Sadly, we ran out of time to try Joffrey’s winter lattes and Holly Jolly Hot Cocoa, but they’re already on the list for next year.

🎢 A Holiday Spin on Disney Favorites

No trip to Mickey’s Very Merry is complete without a few rides! We hopped aboard the holiday-themed Jungle Cruise (always a must!) and rode Thunder Mountain Railroad one last time before its upcoming closure. The cool night air on the coasters? Chef’s kiss.

🎅 A Night to Remember

As the evening wrapped up, my daughter and I walked through the shimmering lights on Main Street, snow falling around us (aka Disney’s magical “snoap”). It was the perfect end to a night that checked every holiday box: cookies, characters, festive fun, and—best of all—no rain!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is truly a magical experience, and this year’s weather made it extra special. If you’re considering going, our advice? Do it. Even if it rains (again). But here’s hoping you get a breezy, festive night just like we did. Happy holidays, everyone! 🎄✨