Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Nala · Post by **Nala** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:40 am

Has anyone gone to this event at WDW. We might be going to WDW in December and would like to know about it and what all happens during this party.

goofystitch · Post by **goofystitch** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:35 am

I have been several times. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays. At 7:00 PM, the Magic Kingdom closes to regular guests. To go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, you have to buy a separate ticket, in the past it has been around $45 for an adult. Most of the rides in the park stay open and since this is a hard ticket event, the lines are short if you care to ride them. There are special holiday themed shows. The one at the castle was called Celebrate the Seasons and was very delightful. They used to have Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas at the Tomorrowland theater, but that stage is gone so I don't know if they will have that show again. Of course, there is also the Christmas parade, and going to this event is the only way to see it unless you go to the park on Christmas day. It also snows on Main Street during the party and this is the only way to see that as well. Complimentary hot cocoa and cookies are available throughout the night at multiple locations, but be sure to get some right away and then be prepared to wait until the park is almost closed to go back. The lines for them get really long. And if you are interested in getting pictures with some characters, this is the only way to get them dressed up in holiday attire.

I hope this has helped you make your decision. Also, don't forget about the other great holiday offerings throughout the resort. Epcot has the candlelight procession, which is hard to get into if you don't have a dinner package so consider booking one. They also have Christmas Around the World in World Showcase where a holiday figure from each country tells about how Christmas (or whatever holiday) is celebrated in their native country. Disney's Hollywood Studios has the Osbourne Spectacle of Dancing Lights every night. Animal Kingdom has Mickey's Jammin's Jingle Jungle Parade, a holiday version of their normal parade. And Downtown Disney usually has something going on as well.

Nala · Post by **Nala** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 8:42 pm

goofystitch wrote:I have been several times. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays. At 7:00 PM, the Magic Kingdom closes to regular guests. To go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, you have to buy a separate ticket, in the past it has been around $45 for an adult. Most of the rides in the park stay open and since this is a hard ticket event, the lines are short if you care to ride them. There are special holiday themed shows. The one at the castle was called Celebrate the Seasons and was very delightful. They used to have Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas at the Tomorrowland theater, but that stage is gone so I don't know if they will have that show again. Of course, there is also the Christmas parade, and going to this event is the only way to see it unless you go to the park on Christmas day. It also snows on Main Street during the party and this is the only way to see that as well. Complimentary hot cocoa and cookies are available throughout the night at multiple locations, but be sure to get some right away and then be prepared to wait until the park is almost closed to go back. The lines for them get really long. And if you are interested in getting pictures with some characters, this is the only way to get them dressed up in holiday attire.

I hope this has helped you make your decision. Also, don't forget about the other great holiday offerings throughout the resort. Epcot has the candlelight procession, which is hard to get into if you don't have a dinner package so consider booking one. They also have Christmas Around the World in World Showcase where a holiday figure from each country tells about how Christmas (or whatever holiday) is celebrated in their native country. Disney's Hollywood Studios has the Osbourne Spectacle of Dancing Lights every night. Animal Kingdom has Mickey's Jammin's Jingle Jungle Parade, a holiday version of their normal parade. And Downtown Disney usually has something going on as well.

Thanks. The Christimas around the World at World Showcase is interesting for sure. My mom is from Austria but Germany is close enough. I'd really be interested in how they celebrate Christmas around the world. Is it Mexico where they have a pinata?

goofystitch · Post by **goofystitch** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:56 pm

I think Mexico has a pinata for Christmas, but I don't think I've ever seen Mexico's part for Christmas Around the World. Germany's is my favorite though. It's the story of the nutcracker and sometimes, if you are lucky, they send out a walking nutcracker for pictures at the end. This is a rare occurrence, however, so count your blessings if it happens to you.

Nala · Post by **Nala** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:12 pm

If you wanted to go to that party, would there be any shuttles that would take you back to your hotel?

goofystitch · Post by **goofystitch** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:05 am

If you are staying at a Disney resort, all of the buses continue running to the hotels until an hour after the party. If you are staying off property, you might want to call the hotel and ask if they will be providing transportation.

Nala · Post by **Nala** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:51 pm

The parade that's during the party, is that the same one as on Christmas Day that's broadcast on TV?

Prince Charming 12 · Post by **Prince Charming 12** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:54 pm

A couple of other special events that take place on these selected nights: Holiday Wishes and a free family/group photo taken at designated locations throughout the park. They mail you the 5X7 photo and you have the opportunity to purchase additional photos, as detailed in their brochure. Yes, they are expensive.

The cost of purchasing an adult ticket at the gate is USD $63 (if the event is not sold out) and $55 for advanced purchases.

My thoughts on the event....... it is a pleasant and festive, fun event. However, if you are on a budget I would not recommend it. The cost of a ticket verses the limited hours of the event (5 hours), with basically the same attractions that are available during normal operating hours, makes this tough to justify. The same beautiful, seasonal decorations are also there during the day, too.

Disney does a great job with this special event, but for those on a budget you should weigh the "extras" against the extra cost.

goofystitch · Post by **goofystitch** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:34 pm

Nala wrote:The parade that's during the party, is that the same one as on Christmas Day that's broadcast on TV?

No. The one that airs on TV usually uses some of the floats, but is typically a mix of entertainment from around the resort, as well as celebrities. For example, Festival of the Lion King is usually in the Christmas Day parade that is aired on ABC, but it isn't in "Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime," the parade that is run during the parties. What I meant was that this is the only way for you to see Disney's Christmas parade unless you go to the park on the 24th or 25th, during which they run the Christmas parade in place of the regular parade.

They usually film the Christmas Day Parade the first week in December. If that is when you will be there, don't expect to get to see it live. They pre-fill it with DVC members, annual passholders, and cast members. The only way to be offered a spot is to be one of those three things. You can go to the park that day and walk by, but you need a wristband to be in the crowd.

Nala · Post by **Nala** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:55 pm

goofystitch wrote:
Nala wrote:The parade that's during the party, is that the same one as on Christmas Day that's broadcast on TV?
No. The one that airs on TV usually uses some of the floats, but is typically a mix of entertainment from around the resort, as well as celebrities. For example, Festival of the Lion King is usually in the Christmas Day parade that is aired on ABC, but it isn't in "Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime," the parade that is run during the parties. What I meant was that this is the only way for you to see Disney's Christmas parade unless you go to the park on the 24th or 25th, during which they run the Christmas parade in place of the regular parade.

They usually film the Christmas Day Parade the first week in December. If that is when you will be there, don't expect to get to see it live. They pre-fill it with DVC members, annual passholders, and cast members. The only way to be offered a spot is to be one of those three things. You can go to the park that day and walk by, but you need a wristband to be in the crowd.

We don't know when we're going yet. We're trying to decide if we want to go in the first half of December or actually be there for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Which is better do you think if you could help me out.

goofystitch · Post by **goofystitch** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:55 am

If you have a choice, I would avoid Christmas eve and day like the plague. Christmas is the 3rd busiest day of the year at Disney World. The crowds are so immense that they basically keep the parade going around with 15 minute breaks to meet the demand of people that want to see it and don't expect to get on many rides because the lines will be outrageous. The rule of thumb for planning a Disney vacation is to not go a week before or after a major holiday. My family likes to go the first week in December. It's usually very quiet and relaxing at that time.

Nala · Post by **Nala** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:14 pm

goofystitch wrote:If you have a choice, I would avoid Christmas eve and day like the plague. Christmas is the 3rd busiest day of the year at Disney World. The crowds are so immense that they basically keep the parade going around with 15 minute breaks to meet the demand of people that want to see it and don't expect to get on many rides because the lines will be outrageous. The rule of thumb for planning a Disney vacation is to not go a week before or after a major holiday. My family likes to go the first week in December. It's usually very quiet and relaxing at that time.

Thanks. We'd be going for 2 weeks. The first half we were were considering was from December 2-16. Would those dates be fine and not as crowded as during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Is WDW busier than Disneyland. We were in Disneyland for Christmas Day last year and Knott's Berry Farm on Christmas Eve. We didn't find it that busy, though it did constantly rain on Christmas Day when we spent most of the day at DCA.

What are the hours like at the 4 parks at WDW in December?

Nala · Post by **Nala** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:53 pm

We're most likely going to WDW from December 2-17. Would we need to bring suntan lotion with us?

Nala · Post by **Nala** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 8:52 pm

goofystitch wrote:I have been several times. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays. At 7:00 PM, the Magic Kingdom closes to regular guests. To go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, you have to buy a separate ticket, in the past it has been around $45 for an adult. Most of the rides in the park stay open and since this is a hard ticket event, the lines are short if you care to ride them. There are special holiday themed shows. The one at the castle was called Celebrate the Seasons and was very delightful. They used to have Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas at the Tomorrowland theater, but that stage is gone so I don't know if they will have that show again. Of course, there is also the Christmas parade, and going to this event is the only way to see it unless you go to the park on Christmas day. It also snows on Main Street during the party and this is the only way to see that as well. Complimentary hot cocoa and cookies are available throughout the night at multiple locations, but be sure to get some right away and then be prepared to wait until the park is almost closed to go back. The lines for them get really long. And if you are interested in getting pictures with some characters, this is the only way to get them dressed up in holiday attire.

I hope this has helped you make your decision. Also, don't forget about the other great holiday offerings throughout the resort. Epcot has the candlelight procession, which is hard to get into if you don't have a dinner package so consider booking one. They also have Christmas Around the World in World Showcase where a holiday figure from each country tells about how Christmas (or whatever holiday) is celebrated in their native country. Disney's Hollywood Studios has the Osbourne Spectacle of Dancing Lights every night. Animal Kingdom has Mickey's Jammin's Jingle Jungle Parade, a holiday version of their normal parade. And Downtown Disney usually has something going on as well.

Can you use your PhotoPass to have your pictures taken with the characters?

Nala · Post by **Nala** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:04 pm

We're going to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on December 8. What I'm wondering is what rides are going to be open during the party.

goofystitch · Post by **goofystitch** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:34 pm

The full schedule of park hours is available at disneyworld.com

You might want to bring or buy some suntan lotion for your trip. It's usually between 60 and 70 degrees during the day and sunny. You will also want to back pants and sweatshirts, and possibly some hats and gloves. It can get downright cold at night in December.

You can use PhotoPass during the party and they actually have a special card just for the event that gets you a discount on any photos taken that night, but you have to buy the photos in the park and during the party. Once the party is over, the discount disappears, but the photos are still available.

Most of the rides will be open. The ones that will be closed are the ones with limited hours, like Hall of Presidents. However, there is so much to do that is exclusive to the party that you might want to save rides for a different day and focus on the parades, shows, coco and cookies, and characters.

Nala · Post by **Nala** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 1:34 pm

goofystitch wrote:The full schedule of park hours is available at disneyworld.com

You might want to bring or buy some suntan lotion for your trip. It's usually between 60 and 70 degrees during the day and sunny. You will also want to back pants and sweatshirts, and possibly some hats and gloves. It can get downright cold at night in December.

You can use PhotoPass during the party and they actually have a special card just for the event that gets you a discount on any photos taken that night, but you have to buy the photos in the park and during the party. Once the party is over, the discount disappears, but the photos are still available.

Most of the rides will be open. The ones that will be closed are the ones with limited hours, like Hall of Presidents. However, there is so much to do that is exclusive to the party that you might want to save rides for a different day and focus on the parades, shows, coco and cookies, and characters.

The sweatshirt and pants are coming anyways as we're leaving from Vancouver, BC and it's not actually cold but not warm enough to wear shorts when we leave on December 2.

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:21 am

I was going to post this in the Stitch show thread, but I figured this thread is more appropriate:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/featur ... party.html
(via LaughingPlace.com)

A trusted source reports that Disney is reviving a Stitch show that will be presented this year during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. It's name: "A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas," but it will include the rascally character.

Expect it on the stage where Stitch was previously seen for the short-lived, much-panned Stitch's Supersonic Celebration.

A Disney official told me they have nothing to announce at this time.

Reasons to believe: You had to know that stage wasn't going to sit idle forever. But it has a distinct look that isn't going to work for just anything, say, princesses, for example.

Nala · Post by **Nala** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:32 pm

blackcauldron85 wrote:I was going to post this in the Stitch show thread, but I figured this thread is more appropriate:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/featur ... party.html
(via LaughingPlace.com)

A trusted source reports that Disney is reviving a Stitch show that will be presented this year during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. It's name: "A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas," but it will include the rascally character.

Expect it on the stage where Stitch was previously seen for the short-lived, much-panned Stitch's Supersonic Celebration.

A Disney official told me they have nothing to announce at this time.

Reasons to believe: You had to know that stage wasn't going to sit idle forever. But it has a distinct look that isn't going to work for just anything, say, princesses, for example.

We never saw Stitch's Supersonic Celebration. When was it there? We were in Florida in September last year.

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:18 pm

I think it opened in May and closed in June. I never saw it, either.

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