Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is one of our favorite parades at Magic Kingdom. From the toy soldiers to Santa Claus, there is so much to see during this parade. However, usually you can only see the parade if you purchase tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. 

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

Good news, though! Each year, for a limited time, you can catch this festive holiday parade during regular park hours. That’s right, no special ticket needed for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Just a ticket into Magic Kingdom will get you the option to see this special parade.

From December 22nd until December 31st, you can watch Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade WITHOUT needing a ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The parade will run twice each day, at 12 PM and 3 PM. Keep in mind, this is a super busy time at Disney World, so if you want prime parade viewing, you will need to snag a spot early.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

We stopped by Magic Kingdom today to check out the parade, and we are happy to report it is just as fun as ever! It was definitely popular, and people were piled into Main Street, U.S.A. to catch the parade. Don’t forget that there are two performances each day, so choose the one that best fits into your day. Or the one where you can get the best spot!

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

You can only catch this parade during regular park hours from December 22nd through December 31st, so plan accordingly. It follows the same route as the Festival of Fantasy parade: the parade starts in Frontierland and exits the park on Main Street, U.S.A. We love Main Street, U.S.A. to see the parade with the castle in the background, but there really isn’t a bad spot along the route to watch!

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

If you are looking for more holiday fun, also make sure to check out Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration (at 7:50 PM, 9 PM, and 10:35 PM) and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks (at 8:30 PM). Check the My Disney Experience app for the most up-to-date showtimes. These are also usually Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party exclusives, but can be seen during the day for a limited time!

Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration

PLUS, you can also see Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, Magic Kingdom’s nighttime parade. This parade features shimmering lights and your favorite Disney characters. It does run in reverse — starting on Main Street, U.S.A. and finishing in Frontierland.

Encanto float in Disney Starlight

We are in the parks every single day to make sure you always have the most up-to-date information for your Disney World trip. Stay tuned to DFB for plenty of Disney World tips, tricks, and news!

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Are you headed to Disney World for Christmas this year? Let us know in the comments!