Disclaimer: As an invited media guest, AllEars.Net’s tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party were provided by the Walt Disney Company.
We were able to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) on November 11, 2011 (click the link for dates and ticket prices). The event is an annual “hard-ticket” event (a separate ticket must be purchased to attend the event) at the Magic Kingdom.
A few things before we begin:
*You MUST have a ticket and a wristband to enjoy any of the party events. The park closes at 7 PM to day guests.
*You may enter the park beginning at 4 PM with your party ticket. If you are at Magic Kingdom before 4 PM, keep an eye out for wristband stations. They will scan your ticket and give you your wristband.
*Magic Kingdom’s Christmas tree was not up on November 11. I wasn’t able to find out when it would be going up.
*Here’s the Christmas Party Guide Map, showing which attractions are open and where various special treats are located:
— Christmas Party Map Side 1 (large .jpg 436K)
— Christmas Party Map Side 2 (large .jpg 390K)
On to the fun…
When you approach security at Magic Kingdom, there are signs out for the party.
Banners are hung across the tunnels leading to Main Street.
Main Street looked gorgeous at dusk. (Keep an eye out for a new “What’s New, What’s Next” blog that will have more pictures of the holiday decorations around the parks.)
The logo was visible in Tomorrowland.
The stage was decorated for a Totally Tomorrowland Christmas.
Space Mountain was decked out for the event.
Phineas and Ferb greeted guests in Tomorrowland. They are where Buzz Lightyear is during the day (between Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Carousel of Progress).
Snowflakes were projected onto the pavement in Tomorrowland.
Stations were set up for complimentary hot chocolate and cookies.
In Fantasyland, Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella greeted guests.
Main Street looked beautiful.
The soldiers are around the flagpole.
Santa is greeting guests at the flagpole this year. Duffy the Disney Bear was supposed to be at his old location near City Hall, but I never saw Duffy greeting guests.
These trees were near Santa.
The parade begins in Frontierland and makes its way to Main Street.
Duffy joined Mickey and Minnie in the parade.
The skiers were also new this year.
New to the parade (or new to me, at least, since it’s been a couple of years since I’ve been) are Princess Jasmine and Aladdin.
Here’s a quick video of the Toy Soldiers marching down Main Street.
Santa’s reindeer have slightly different costumes this year. Apologies if this picture is too dark — my attempts to lighten it weren’t very successful.
Just before the fireworks, The Magic, the Memories and You is shown. It has a special holiday segment. The castle turns into a gingerbread castle briefly (and I mean BRIEFLY — have your cameras ready! I missed getting a picture of the candy cane overlay) and a present and… well, you’ll have to see it, but I think you’ll like the segment.
Holiday Wishes was incredible, as always. There’s one segment that always makes me tear up.
Here’s a brief video of the fireworks:
Unfortunately, the cold and crowd drove us out after the fireworks. We had a great time.
A few more notes:
*The princesses and the princes as well as Mickey and Minnie were greeting in the Town Square Theater.
*Donald and Pooh and friends were greeting guests in Fantasyland. The pictures were too dark and I couldn’t lighten them up at all.
*Tinker Bell and her friends were greeting in Adventureland.
*The character meets were very, very busy, especially the indoor locations.
*The party we attended was sold out.
One quick question about MVMCP…..do we have to have park tickets AND the hard ticket for the party or can we get in with just the party tickets?
ALLEARS: Just your MVMCP ticket is all you need unless you want to get into the park earlier than 4ish.
Hello! My family will be staying at Disney next week and have park hopper passes for the whole week. I would like to attend the party but wonder if it would be worth it since we already have passes for the day. What does the party have that we will not be able to see during the week? Thank you very much!!
ALLEARS: The main difference is the party has the special Holiday parade that you can’t see in the parks until after the 18th.
Hi! My family and I are planning on attending the party on Dec. 14. We have dinner reservations over at Epcot first and then plan on going over to MK for the party. Will we have trouble getting in/getting our wristbands because we will be arriving after 7? Also, since it’s a weekday, would you anticipate it being crowded? We are used to 4th of July crowds- this is the first time in years we are visiting during the winter. Thanks for your reply! 🙂
AllEars: You should be ok arriving after 7pm. Hard to say if it will be crowded or not, at this point it has not sold out.
Love the blog and pictures!
This will be our 4th or 5th year at MVMCP and we just can’t wait. But one of our favorite attractions will be closed again, and has been for the party each year, Carousel of Progress, which even has a Christmas scene. Any idea why it will be closed for the party? We’ve written WDW but received a form letter only.
Thanks so much for keeping the Mouse alive and in our hearts until the next trip!
My family has been attending MVMCP every year since 1987 and it’s a special tradition for us. We are sad because the only night we can all make it this year (due to school and work schedules), 12/18, is sold out. Do you have any suggestions? Are additional tickets ever released for sold out nights? We are SO disappointed. 🙁
I attended the November 15, 2011 Mickey Very Merry Christmas Party with my husband, 2 children and 2 adult friends. I had done the Christmas party in 2004 and again in 2006 and LOVED it.
However, this party was horrible! Such a waste of money. The early parade was a mob scene! We got to Magic Kingdom at 6pm to get online to meet Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder. (120 minute wait!). My husband sat on Main Street to hold a space for the parade. At about 815pm the parade made its way to the front on Main Street. The crowd was 6 people deep!! Right after the parade we watched hundreds of people with NO WRISTBAND exit the park!!! I was so mad that these people who DID NOT PAY for the party were able to stay inside the park to see the parade for FREE!! My family wore long sleeve shirts that night, hiding our wristbands. We were asked to show our wristbands once during the entire night at Haunted Mansion. Every other ride we were not asked. We saw many people in short sleeve shirts with NO wristbands getting on rides, eating the free cooking and hot cocoa. Why did I pay close to $300.00 for this even when so many people did for free?
I am very upset that Disney did not enforce the wristbands. I complained to several castmembers only to be told that it was hard to check everyone! This is ridiculous! Also, the amount of people at this event was insane! Years ago the park was virtually empty with 5-10 minute waits at the rides. Now with so many people the waits were 20-60 minutes.
There was a lack of holiday cheer as well. I was also displeased to see the Mickey Popcorn Buckets and Event only mugs being sold everyday, all day in the park. I will NEVER pay for this even again. Why should I when so many people did not and went for free? I have written to Disney about this and am waiting a reply.
We attended on Tues 15 November, and it was by no means elbow to elbow. Most rides were a walk-on or very little wait. The cookies were different to previous years but still delicious! They tasted a bit coconutty to me. The hot chocolate was also lovely, and there was one occasion when we were particularly thirsty so managed to get apple juice as well as hot choc, just by smiling at the cast members and asking nicely!
It was a great night, the parade is one of the best I’ve ever seen – the soldiers were incredible! And the parade was so loooooooong as well! The fireworks were beautiful, and made me tear up at the end. What a great night, and definitely worth the admission price. Be aware – we had our wristbands checked extremely regularly by cast members positioned all around the park. Good thing too – it kept the night exclusive to those who had paid extra for it.
I am sooooooo incredibly excited! My husband and I are also attending on November 29th. Thanks for the pictures! You made us even more excited.
I recall we found out the MVMCP dates in April and bought our tickets in May. Our family will be doing MVMCP on November 29. Our first Christmas at WDW!>)
Hi this year will be second time that my family will go to MVMCP this year we are taking my parents I just want to know what time does it snow on main street I missed it last year and would love for my 3 year old daughter to see it along with my parents?
Hi Ashley! Thank you so much for your review of the party and taking time to stop and take pictures, they were great! I especially like the Gingerbread Castle. It was amazing!!
Do they change the lights on the castle to show as a gingerbread house, etc, just at this party or will it be shown on the 19th, 20th, etc?
We attended Nov. 11. Note to all those free sugar cookie lovers out there…THEY CHANGED THE COOKIE! And sadly the new ones aren’t worth the wait. Seems the hot chocolate is the same.
Hi, can you enter the park early with just the party tickets?
AllEars: You can usually enter after 4pm, but that’s not a guarantee
We will be attending MVMCP 12/4… Definitely plan to be in park @ 4pm! In what order do you suggest we view the Christmas show in front of the castle, parade, fireworks, Tomorrowland Christmas show, dance parties with characters??? And what about the rides? Start in what area? Really wanting to optimize our time there with enjoying all the events! SOOOO EXCITED!
Hey again Ashley. When do they do the actual castle lighting? Does it happen at a specific time or just when it gets dark? And what kind of show is Celebrate the Season? Thanks for your help!
Do you know when the dates for MVMCP are usually announced? I am planning a trip for next December and we really would like to attend MVMCP so we are getting as much info about it as possible.
Thanks for all of the info on MVMCP! I’ll be taking my kids there for the party on December 11th and i’m looking very forward to it! I went to MNSSHP back in October and it seems as though there are quite a few of the same characters at this party that there was at that one. The one thing I was wondering was what princesses and princes will they have at Town Square Theatre? Is it the regular princesses they usually have (Cinderella, Aurora, and Belle) or are there others as well? Also, at MNSSHP there were many characters that you don’t usually see, however they weren’t giving autographs. Is that the case for MVMCP as well? Thanks for the great advice!
Hi Ashley! Great review of the party! It has been a couple of years since I have been. Are Raggedy Ann and Andy still part of the stage show in front of the castle, and in the parade?
Thanks! Cindy
Hi Ashley. What happens if you are in the park the night of the party but don’t have tickets? I know you can’t go on rides or get the snacks, but can you stay and watch the parade and Wishes without a band or will they eventually kick you out?
Thank you
ASHLEY:
You must leave the park at 7 PM if you do not have a party ticket and a wristband. You will not be permitted to stay for the parade or fireworks. Cast Members are set up around the park for wristband checks and if you do not have one, you will be asked to leave.
Hi-Can you tell me if the park was cleared of day guest right at 7pm. I recommended the MNSSHP to several groups of friends with young children this year and they were disappointed to have to share space with day guests for the first parade because the park was not really cleared. Thanks.
ASHLEY:
An announcement is made at 7PM that the park is closing to guests without tickets. Beginning at 7, they had Cast Members set up around the park to check for wristbands. They did a wristband check just before the parade as well.
I felt that the wristband check was more thorough at the Christmas Party than it was at the Halloween Party.
I’m going to the party on December 4th with a LARGE crowd of people and we’re trying to plan our night. Can you tell me what time the shows, parades and fireworks take place?
ASHLEY:
The parade is at 8:15 and 10:30. It starts in Frontierland.
The Magic, the Memories and You is shown at 9:15. The fireworks are immediately after at 9:30.
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas is at 7:45, 8:45, 9:55, 10:50 and 11:45.
Celebrate the Season (on the castle stage) is at 7:45, 10:05 and 11:20.
There are also character dance parties located around the park.
Hope that helps. Have fun! 🙂
Do you know who is doing a meet & greet in the Belle’s story time area? And is there anywhere to take a picture with snow white & the dwarfs? love your blogs – they are so helpful.
ASHLEY:
Belle and Beast are greeting in the Fairytale Garden/Belle’s Story Time. Belle is in her holiday gown.
The Seven Dwarves are near Big Thunder Mountain but Snow White is not with them – she is in the Town Square Theater with her prince.
My family and I was at the party on 11/11/11 and we had a blast!! Been to the MNSSHP 3 times before and wanted to try this one. I was expecting a little more from the decorations, seems to me the Halloween has more visual interest but the Castle looked awesome. The longest line we waited in was for the Phineas and Ferb meet and greet, we started waiting in line 20 minutes before the “start” of the party. Most had posted wait times of 10-15 minutes when in fact the only wait you had was walking through the lines.
Buzz Lightyear ride walked right on back to back
Speedway we waited maybe 15 minutes
Space Mountain was 10 minutes
Teacups walked right on
Snow White walked right on
Peter Pan and Dumbo did have a 20 min wait
Haunted Mansion walked right on
Thunder Mountain walked right on back to back
Pirates walked right on
Magic Carpets walked right on
If thats whats its like when a party is sold out I could not imagine the lines at half capacity. To me it did not seem all that busy, we did enter right at 4 and the lines were crazy and the park was packed before the party started, I was freaking out. We opted to do the rides until the fireworks and watched the 2nd parade.
I was wondering what days if any that we can see the Christmas parade and holiday wishes if we do not attend the MVMCP. We will be there until Dec. 22 but I do not see it on the calander even for Christmas day. I have heard that you can see these without attending the party if you are there closer to Christmas, but I can’t find any sort of schedule. Do you happen to have any info on this? Thanks
ASHLEY:
The last Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year is December 18. After that, the parade is performed during the day and Holiday Wishes is the evening’s fireworks. Keep an eye on Disney’s website for an updated schedule and check the times guide when you get there for the most up to date information.
Have fun!
We attended the opening day Party on the 8th and we had to wait no longer than 5 minutes for any ride. We walked right on to Splash Mountain and had only me, my sister and Dad in the log, so we stayed dry. Our weather was great and the hot chocolate was some of the best I have had. This was the first time we have attended any of the parties and had a Holly Jolly time. I think going on the first night and on a Tuesday kept it less crowded, we did not even have a full bus going back to Riverside when we left.
Hi,thanks for the MVMCP info.
We’ll be at the Party in two weeks. Do you know which store is selling the party pins at?
Thanks!
ASHLEY:
Party merchandise is available in the following locations:
Emporium
Fantasy Faire
Mickey’s Star Traders
Heritage House
Frontireland Trading Post
Pirate’s Bazaar
Have fun! 🙂
Thanks for the report. A few questions if you don’t mind answering them:
Are there any other nights that are sold out?
Was it elbow to elbow since your night was sold out?
We are attending on Dec. 18th – how cold was it on your night?
Thanks!
ASHLEY:
I have not heard if any of the other nights are sold out. From talk I heard around the park, it sounded like it sold out closer to the day of.
It was VERY busy in the park. It wouldn’t say it was elbow to elbow but it was certainly busy.
The temperature was a tad chilly but it was the wind that made it so much colder. We were wishing we hadn’t forgotten our scarves. Keep in mind that Florida weather can be unpredictable. We’ve been to MVMCP in shorts one year and bundled up the next.
Have fun! 🙂