Charming Reasons You Should Go to Disney Merriest Nites at Disneyland
On Veterans Day, my kids and I attended the first night of Disney Merriest Nites. This is a special after-hours event featuring 6 separate holiday parties. Tickets for this year are sold out, but if you were lucky enough to snag a ticket, here is what you can expect!
Reasons to Attend Disney Merriest Nites
Beyond the 6 holiday parties, there were also unique Disney character sitings, a Christmas Fantasy Parade, snowfall on Main Street, special themed photo ops, Disney PhotoPass included with your special pass, special themed menu items, live bands, dance parties, and special themed merchandise. The Disney Merriest hours are from 8 pm – 12 am. But these special event tickets allow you to enter the park as early as 5 pm.
As I mentioned, there are 6 uniquely themed parties with Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Miguel, Tiana, Elsa, Lilo, Stitch, Buzz Lightyear, and a special appearance by Santa Claus! If you attend the Disney Merriest Nites you can gain admission to the park starting at 5 pm and the event goes until Midnight. This was our first time being at Disneyland this late. We have stayed past sunset before, but my kids aren’t used to staying up this late! No, we didn’t make it until Midnight, but we definitely got our fill of all of the Disney magic.
If you’ve been to Disneyland, you know their parades are truly spectacular. The Christmas Fantasy Parade was no exception! Beyond the parties and the parade, we also spent time on some of our favorite rides. The majority of the rides we visited had very short lines – the longest was Space Moutain, which took us about 30 minutes. Haunted Mansion Holiday and Matterhorn Bobsleds are both open. Unfortunately, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is not available during the event.
With the special event ticket, you do have access to the Disney PhotoPass photographers. Plus, you can have unlimited downloads of all the photos taken during the event. If you’re a collector, you can also get really special Disney Merriest Nites -themed merchandise. There are also unique event-inspired menu items throughout the park.
The 6 Merry Parties
1. Victorian-Themed Party on Main Street, U.S.A.: The host with the most, Mickey Mouse, invites you to the party of the year! Revel in the holiday spirit with marvelous snow moments and holly-jolly carolers singing some holiday favorites.
2. Feliz Navidad Party in Frontierland: Join Miguel from Coco for a jolly fiesta with lively music, dancing and so much more.
3. New Orleans Holiday in New Orleans Square: Swing by this jazzy celebration hosted by Tiana and brimming with beads, beignets, and bountiful holiday fun.
4. Frozen-Themed Party in Fantasyland: Discover a flurry of festivities at a celebration featuring Elsa and her icy escapades—and plenty of heartwarming cheer.
5. Tropical Party in Adventureland: Delight in a holiday celebration with tropical flair hosted by the loveable Lilo and her mischievous pal, Stitch.
6. Tomorrowland Party in Tomorrowland: Party to infinity and beyond at this futuristic hoopla featuring Buzz Lightyear, a DJ, and more.
Disneyland Holiday Decorations
Probably my favorite part of the night was exploring the park to check out all of the phenomenal holiday decorations. Now through January 9, 2022, you can enjoy all of the wonders of the holidays with their festive decorations. This is my first time experiencing the holidays at Disneyland. The light displays blew me away. Their Christmas Tree on Main Street is phenomenal. The Castle looks absolutely stunning. But best of all, I loved It’s a Small World. The colors were so vibrant and it literally took my breath away.