Dear Emily,
Thank you so much for reaching out to chat with us here at the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your terrific question about planning your day at the
Magic Kingdom!
How exciting that you will be experiencing
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party this winter! It is just so spectacular and you are going to love it. There are pros and cons to each scenario that you have suggested.
If you get park tickets for the same day that you are attending the party, you will be able to enter the park when it opens in the morning instead of waiting for late afternoon, so that's a positive. However, you will then not be able to experience the nighttime spectacular or other evening activities that run on non-party evenings. You do not need to leave the park between using your regular ticket and your party ticket, no.
If you only use your party tickets that day, and then save your Magic Kingdom day for a different day, you will be able to be in the park from early in the morning until closing time in the evening on that alternate day, if you wish. That will allow you to see all of the evening activities (such as
Happily Ever After) that don't happen on non-party nights. Also, with your party tickets alone, you can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4pm.
It's a tough choice, I know, and a lot depends on your plans for other days of your stay. Hope that helps with your magical planning!
- Jan K.