Welcome to planDisney, Kemper! I'm so glad to be able to answer your question today about my favorite time of year to be at Walt Disney World:
the holiday season. December is such a magical time to visit, and it's smart to get the lay of the land ahead of time so you know what's included in your tickets and what needs a little extra planning.
Let's start with
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at
Magic Kingdom. This is a separately ticketed event, meaning your regular park admission won't get you in. If you want to attend the party, which happens on select nights in November and December, you'll need to purchase an event-specific ticket. Party guests can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 PM, even though the event officially begins at 7:00 PM. That gives you a nice overlap with the park's regular hours before the exclusive party fun kicks in!
On the other hand, the
Candlelight Processional at
EPCOT is included with your regular park admission. No need for an extra ticket here! That said, seating is first-come, first-served and can fill up quickly. If you want to guarantee a spot without waiting in a long line, the
Candlelight Processional Dining Package is a great option. It includes a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant and a reserved seat at the show, which is super convenient during a busy holiday event.
As for
Lightning Lane Multi Pass, it's totally optional, but definitely helpful if you want to experience as many attractions as possible. One thing to know: if you're only using a party ticket for the evening but you're not using a regular ticket during the day, you won't be able to purchase Lightning Lane, since special event tickets aren't eligible. But if you're using a regular ticket during the day and attending the party at night, you're good to go to use Lightning Lane during the park's regular daytime hours!
I hope this answers your question, Kemper, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation.
Jessica