Hiya Jessica,
Welcome to planDisney! I cannot believe how close we are to the start of the Holiday season; I have my tickets all purchased and ready for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party so I can start the season off right. Even though you do not have event tickets, you will still be able to enjoy the stunning
holiday decorations and some sweet treats around Magic Kingdom Park.
On the nights that
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party occurs, the theme park closes to non-event Guests at 6 pm EST. Cast Members come around and check Guests for special wristbands, and those Guests without them are escorted from the Theme Park so partygoers can enjoy the festivities. Unfortunately, despite having an advanced dining reservation for 6:50 pm EST, in my experience, you would not be able to remain in Magic Kingdom until then without a ticket for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The Cast Member I spoke to told me the latest you could make a reservation would be 6 pm. I highly recommend finding an earlier reservation for the dining location you already have reserved so you can still enjoy it.
I hope that you can get an earlier reservation, Jessica! If you aren’t able to get one now, definitely check back closer to your trip. Reservations tend to open up the closer you get. One last thing, don’t forget to cancel your current reservation at least 24 hours in advance to avoid any no-show or late cancellation penalties.
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.