Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is getting two daytime performances at Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World’s park calendar lists 2:00 p.m. performances of the holiday parade on Tuesday, November 10, and Wednesday, November 11. Those dates line up with the annual taping of ABC’s Disney Parks holiday special, Blog Mickey reports.
The parade is normally a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party exclusive. It steps off after dark, and only guests holding a party ticket get to see it. A 2:00 p.m. step-off puts it in front of everyone in the park with a regular ticket, no extra purchase needed. Festival of Fantasy Parade, Magic Kingdom’s usual afternoon parade, is off the schedule on both days.
The party itself opens November 8, so the first daytime performance comes just two days after this year’s version debuts. These two afternoons are the only chance to see the parade without a party ticket, and ten of the 25 party nights, including opening night, have already sold out.
Why Daytime Performances Point To A Taping
In past years, early November daytime runs of the parade have been used to film the holiday special that airs on ABC later in the season, with celebrity segments shot alongside it. Disney has not formally announced this year’s taping dates, but the schedule follows the same pattern.
Tapings also affect where guests can stand. In recent years Disney has kept guests off camera by filling Main Street, U.S.A. with Cast Members or closing it to regular foot traffic and routing people around the area. If you plan to watch, expect Main Street to be crowded or closed off, and the castle area to be busy.
Where To Watch On November 10 And 11
The parade still travels its full route, which starts in Frontierland and runs through Liberty Square before heading toward Cinderella Castle and down Main Street. Frontierland and Liberty Square should offer the clearest views away from the taping. Grab a spot early, since the daytime runs will draw plenty of guests.
Floats and costumes are easier to see in daylight, along with the details of the Nutcracker-inspired soundtrack that arrived in 2024, so photographers may want to aim for one of these two days.
Disney has not announced who is hosting or performing on this year’s special. Times can shift, so check the My Disney Experience app the morning of your visit before you stake out a curb.
After November 11, the parade returns to party nights only, through December 22.
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