Holiday season starts this Friday, Nov. 13, at both Walt Disney World in Florida and the Disneyland Resort in California, and it runs through Jan. 6, 2027, at each. Christmas decor and holiday food come with a regular park ticket, but the two biggest Florida evening events, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Jollywood Nights, need tickets of their own.

What a regular ticket gets you

A tall Christmas tree with silver garlands stands in an open plaza under a blue sky as visitors walk past
The holiday tree at the entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios in December 2016.elisfkc / Wikimedia Commons.jpg) / CC BY-SA 2.0

The Disney World season brings decorations and holiday entertainment across the resort from Nov. 13, the Disney Parks Blog says, while EPCOT gets two extras that keep their own calendars.

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays runs Nov. 27 to Dec. 30, starting the day after Thanksgiving. A regular theme park ticket covers its holiday food and entertainment from around the world. From Nov. 25, the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coaster plays a set of three holiday songs.

In California, Holidays at the Disneyland Resort returns Nov. 13 and also ends Jan. 6, with holiday versions of several rides.

The two Florida events that need their own ticket

Cinderella Castle covered in white holiday lights glowing at night above dark trees
Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom with its holiday lights in January 2008.Benjamin D. Esham / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
EventPark2026 nightsHoursTicket
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas PartyMagic Kingdom25 nights, Nov. 8 to Dec. 227 p.m. to midnight, entry from 4 p.m.$189 to $229 plus tax, $10 less for ages 3 to 9
Disney Jollywood NightsHollywood Studios15 nights, Nov. 7 to Jan. 5Starts 7:30 p.m., entry from 5:30 p.m.Separate event ticket

Disney's event page says the party ticket works on its own, with no day ticket or park reservation needed. Party guests can walk into Magic Kingdom as early as 4 p.m. The price changes by date. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members save $10 a ticket on nights from Nov. 8 to 20 and Nov. 29 to Dec. 3.

There is a party this Monday night, and the remaining November nights after that are the 12th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 27th and 29th. December has 13 more, the last on Dec. 22.

Jollywood Nights, the Hollywood Studios event with a classic Hollywood theme, runs into January this year for the first time. Its November nights are Saturdays and Mondays (Nov. 14, 16, 21, 23 and 28 are still ahead), and the last two are Jan. 3 and 5.

Christmas party tickets are good for one date only, so pick the night before you buy.