By Dennis and Lamar, The Travel Clarks
Here is a Disney secret hiding in plain sight. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, the big one with the marching toy soldiers, is normally locked behind a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ticket. On Tuesday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 11, 2026, you can see it with regular park admission, because ABC is filming it in the daytime at Magic Kingdom.
We made a video rundown of what might happen at the taping on our YouTube channel, and this post is the written version, so you can plan around it.
What is happening, and when
ABC films Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade at Magic Kingdom during regular park hours on November 10 and 11, 2026, at 2:00 PM. It is the same parade that runs on party nights, performed in the daytime for the cameras, and everyone in the park that day can watch it.
That is two days only. If you are in Orlando that week, this is the Christmas parade without buying a party ticket.
What changes on taping days
Festival of Fantasy Parade is canceled on both days, November 10 and 11, to make room for the filming. Adventure Friends Cavalcade is canceled on November 10 only.
The taping may pause and restart for the cameras, so the parade may not run straight through the way it does on a party night. Build in extra time, pick a spot on the parade route early, and expect some stops and starts while they get the shot.
How to watch it
Get to Main Street or the parade route well before 2:00 PM. A daytime parade in November draws a crowd, and the taping adds one more reason for people to claim a curb early.
Bring the same plan you would bring to a party night parade: a spot with a clear view of the castle if you want the photos, patience for the filming pauses, and a backup plan if the route fills up before you get there.
If you miss the taping, the parade itself is still waiting for you on party nights. We have tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on December 10 and Disney Jollywood Nights on December 12, and we are staying at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, so we will be reporting back from both nights in December.
Watch our video
You can watch our full rundown on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/@thetravelclarks. It is the Christmas Parade Taping video for November 10 and 11, with the rundown of what might happen and what to expect on the day.
Thinking about a Christmas trip of your own? Party tickets, the right resort, and a plan for days like this one are exactly what we help with. Send us your dates and we will plan it with you.
youtube.com/@thetravelclarks
Contact the Travel Clarks for your next adventure perfectly planned
