Hi, James! Thanks for bringing your question to planDisney!
As the mom of a child with special needs, I really appreciate the way that
Walt Disney World Resort goes above and beyond to
make the magic accessible to everyone. When I visit the Walt Disney World theme parks with my son who is on the autism spectrum, we use
Disability Access Service (DAS). DAS is an accommodation intended for Guests who, due to a disability, cannot wait in a typical queue environment.
Unfortunately, DAS is not available to use during special events such as
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. The first time I brought my son to this event, I had the same concerns as you. However, I can assure you that my family really doesn't miss using DAS at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. As you mentioned, attraction wait times during this limited-capacity event tend to be fairly low. Also, there is so much to do at the party other than rides.
When my family and I attend Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, we like to take advantage of the festive entertainment that is unique to this event. We might try to experience a couple of attractions like
Space Mountain that have a special holiday overlay during the party, but for the most part, we spend our time watching the
stage show in front of Cinderella Castle, the
fireworks, and
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. Nothing gets me in the holiday spirit quite like enjoying some complimentary cookies while watching the parade go by as the snow falls on Main Street, U.S.A.
Since a visit to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party looks a bit different than a typical theme park day for my family, I always make sure to prepare my son for what to expect. We talk about what our schedule will look like during the party, and we remind my son that we probably won't do too many attractions during that particular evening. This really helps my son manage his expectations and allows us all to have an evening filled with holiday cheer.
As you get ready for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, be sure to take a look at the
Panel Extras section on the planDisney website. There you'll find lots of great holiday tips from our panelists. Also, keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog for all of the latest announcements about what to expect during this year's holiday festivities. If you have any additional questions as you plan for your trip, please don't hesitate to ask.
Wishing you a vacation filled with holiday magic!
Samantha