The MOST magical time of the year has officially arrived at the Most Magical Place on Earth; that’s right, it’s Christmas time at Disney World.

Which also means that one of our favorite events of the year, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, has kicked off in Magic Kingdom. We’ve been covering ALL the news of the party so far this year, but today we are diving into EVERYTHING different about the party in 2026!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party just kicked off, and our team has already been to two party nights to capture everything we love about this event, but also to figure out all the new changes this year. Very Merry is an event that mostly stays the same each year in terms of the entertainment, character meet-and-greet, etc. However, this year we noticed eight differences from the 2025 party, and we will be diving into them all right now!

#1 Stitchmas!

This is an all-new holiday dance party that takes place at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café during the party this year. This experience includes music, activities, and of course, the opportunity to dance and party with Stitch, Angel, and Lilo all night long.

This experience replaced the Disney Jr. Jingle Jam dance party that used to take place in this space in past years. We really enjoyed this offering, and it is perfect for any kiddos needing to burn off some energy or Lilo & Stitch fans hoping to meet multiple characters in one spot.

#2 New Food Items

One thing you can count on every year is that new food and drink offerings will be available at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This year, some of these new food items include the Winter Wonderland Express for $6.49. 

We also grabbed the Minnie Cocoa Cake for $6.49. 

For a savory bite, we also tried the Tostada de Nochebuena for $13.99. 

This is just a small selection of ALL the new food and drinks we tried at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year. To check out everything we tried with our thoughts, you can read our full review of all the food below!

FULL REVIEW: We Ate Everything NEW at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in Disney World

# 3 New Merchandise

No Disney event would be complete without new exclusive merchandise!

This collection included Minnie Ears…

…a crewneck…

…and SO much more!

There is even a Party Exclusive Popcorn Bucket!

# 4 Photo Ops Missing

One thing you’ll find at both the Christmas and Halloween Parties at Magic Kingdom is fun photo frames you can take pictures with throughout the night. There are large, set-like areas where you can place yourself inside the frame for fun pictures. However, this year there was only one frame available, when normally there are several sprinkled throughout the park.

#5 The Market Street Entry

When you visit Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, you are directed through a separate entrance that will have entertainment, your party maps, usually a first treat, and more! This space usually varies slightly year to year, and this year you could find the reindeer from the Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Time Parade as the special meet-and-greet.

There were also elves alongside Mrs. Claus on stage interacting with guests as they made their way through. Plus, Clarabelle and Clarice were on the spiral staircase where guests could snap a quick picture with them.

# 6 Cast Member Costumes

Perhaps the most controversial change of the 2026 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party season was the change to the iconic Cast Member costumes.

Very similar to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the costumes were updated to be much simpler, this time with a gingerbread and snowflake shirt design with either pants or shorts, compared to the much brighter and more vibrant outfits of years past.

These costumes are supposed to be much more comfortable for Cast Members, so we think that while they might be a little bit less fun visually, Cast Members’ comfort is much more important!

# 7 Exclusive 2026 Ornament

Each year, every guest who attends the Christmas Party gets a free commemorative ornament to remember their time at the party. This design changes each year, and it is an amazing take-home included with the price of your ticket.

# 8 Winnie the Pooh and Friends Meet-and-Greet Moved to a New Location

This year, Winnie the Pooh and the rest of the Hundred Acre Wood gang moved to a new meet-and-greet spot. Instead of meeting outside The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction this year, they are meeting over in Storybook Circus instead. So, if you are visiting the party this year back sure you head back to Storybook Circus to find this adorable group of characters.

That’s all the changes we found at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year! We will continue to bring you all the holiday news from Disney World and beyond, so stay tuned to Disney Food Blog so you never miss anything.

Is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Worth Over $200 in 2026?

 

For more Disney Christmas fun, make sure to check out our ULTIMATE guide to Jollywood Nights 2026 in the video below!

 

Will you be attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year? Let us know in the comments!