We’re Bringing You INSIDE the First Night of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from Walt Disney World! The perennially beloved Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party  kicked off tonight, and we’re bringing you INSIDE the Party to celebrate with ride overlays, fabulous entertainment, snacks, and merchandise. We’re also bringing you all the info you want to know about crowd levels at the Party, including ride and meet-and-greet wait times.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2019!

Click here to catch up on all the logistics (dates, times, cost) for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!

This way to the fun!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Crowds

Though specially-ticketed parties in Magic Kingdom are billed as having low crowds, we know Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year disappointed a lot of guests due to high crowds and long waits. (Read more about this here!)

So what did we experience on night one of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? The party was sold out…

Happy first night of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!

…and entrance crowds were present but not out of control around 4PM.

The first party was SOLD OUT!

But maneuvering throughout the park was a challenge; the crowds were noticeable, and while we wouldn’t say it was Christmas Day busy, it was still a lot even after the regular day guests filtered out.

Frontierland Crowds
Adventureland Crowds in the Rain

Opening nights of Magic Kingdom parties tend to be busier than most other nights — save for those immediately before the actual holiday — and we found our Party to be pretty packed considering that it rained the entire time. Crowds for entertainment — Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, meet and greets, etc. — were still substantial.

Wait times for attractions and meet-and-greets varied. Meet and greets tended to have substantial lines all night long, whereas ride times were variable. Space Mountain, for example, one of the most popular rides at the Party, maintained a 30+ minute wait the entire night.

Space Mountain Wait Time

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was a little difficult to gauge. The Stand By time when we passed by was only 15 minutes, but the crowd seemed much larger than that.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Crowds

The Stand By time for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was posted at 35 minutes when we were in that area, but a cast member working the ride estimated it was closer to 45.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

So it may well be that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party crowds will be high enough to make attraction walk-ons unlikely. Certainly the most popular rides are going to continue to eat up some time for Party guests.

But do note: everything is subject to change from Party to Party, and this was just our experience. If you attend a Party this year, click here to leave a review of your own experiences with crowds to help inform AllEars readers’ planning!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Entertainment

Ride Overlays

Back in the summer of 2019, Disney announced that a few Magic Kingdom attractions would get a festive holiday overlay just for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party guests. We spotted Tomorrowland Speedway’s overlay in the day…

Tomorrowland Speedway looks like Christmas!

…and now we know it’s a colorful display of cheer at night!

Tomorrowland Speedway Overlay at Night
Tomorrowland Speedway Overlay at Night
Tomorrowland Speedway Overlay at Night
Tomorrowland Speedway Overlay at Night
Tomorrowland Speedway Overlay at Night
Tomorrowland Speedway Overlay at Night
Speedway Overlay

Space Mountain gets the Christmas treatment with lights and music — minus some of the scarier aspects of the Halloween overlay that plunged riders into total darkness. From the outside, though, it doesn’t look like much, but a cast member stationed outside the ride warned riders of the use of tons of strobe lights inside.

Space Mountain with Christmas Party Overlay
Space Mountain Overlay

Nearby at the Mad Tea Party, holiday lights and tunes keep the party going, too!

Mad Tea Party Overlay
Mad Tea Party Overlay

Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor finds Mike and his pals ready for this human celebration. The show is themed for Christmas during the Party!

Monsters Inc Laugh Floor with Holiday Overlay
Monsters Inc Laugh Floor with Holiday Overlay

You’ll still need to laugh hard enough to fill the canister, otherwise you’ll end up on the naughty list. And to help you get your chuckle on, a new monster will scare up some laughs: Betty Boyle! We were told she’s Buddy Boyle’s wife, but we couldn’t catch up with her to confirm. 😉

Introducing Betty Boyle!
Betty Boyle decorated for Christmas!

Pirates of the Caribbean and surrounding Adventureland facades received a festive projection, putting a little jolly in our arrrrrgh!

Adventureland Projections
Adventureland Projections

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks

This year sees the advent of Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, a colorful and festive show that combines Christmas music, a new projection show, high-flying pyrotechnics, and Minnie at the helm!

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks

We enjoyed the subtle projections, and the tone of this show was energetic and fun. During our Party, the foggy weather combined with smoke from the pyro to create some pretty creepy illusions. But we still think it makes a positive impression.

Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

This perennial parade of holiday fun travels down Main Street, U.S.A., twice per night — at 8:30PM and 11PM. See more pictures and video from years past of Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade here!

This year our parade experience was very different than years prior. The rain put a damper on the traditional parade and instead forced the park to institute the Rainy Day Christmas Cavalcade! We were told this is a first!

Rainy Day Cavalcade

The nutcrackers still marched, so that was a fun, festive addition.

Nutcrackers Marching
Nutcrackers Marching

And characters rolled down Main Street, U.S.A., in their Main Street transportation vehicles! Check ’em out!

Double Decker full of characters
Double Decker full of characters
Double Decker full of characters
Double Decker full of characters
Mickey, Donald, and more!
Mickey, Donald, and more!
Vanellope and Chip ‘n’ Dale
Vanellope and Chip ‘n’ Dale
Pluto and Santa
Pluto and Santa
Pluto and Santa

Meet and Greets

Per usual, meet and greets at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party were popular. Even at the official start of the Party there were lines to meet characters like Moana…

Adventureland Crowds for Moana

…and Aladdin with Abu.

Adventureland Crowds for Aladdin and Abu

The Seven Dwarfs are always a big hit with Party-goers. Their wait times tend to be prohibitive if you want to maximize your time. But if you must meet them, lines are shortest at the very start of the Party and the very end.

Storybook Circus Meet and Greet Banners
Meet the Seven Dwarfs
The Seven Dwarfs… from afar!

Additional Party Entertainment

If you want to bust a move during the Party, head to Cosmic Ray’s for the Club Tinsel dance party! You can break it down with polar bears!

Club Tinsel
Club Tinsel

Elsewhere in Tomorrowland, enjoy some holiday tunes with Buzz Lightyear and his friends! It’s A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas!

A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas

Also on the Tomorrowland stage, enjoy the stylings of The Edge Effect! This a cappella performance always gets the crowd fired up!

The Edge Effect

Little elves might want to party with characters just for them — and that’s where the Disney Junior Jingle Jam comes in! You’ll find this dance party back in Storybook Circus, and Disney Junior characters get right out on the dance floor to boogie with your littles!

Disney Junior Jingle Jam
Vamperina
Doc McStuffins
Fancy Nancy
Timon

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Food

Complimentary Party Snacks

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party has no shortage of snacks and treats. Some cookies, snacks, and drinks are included with the price of admission. We like to grab these before waiting in line for attractions and meet-and-greets!

Cosmic Ray’s Complimentary Treats
Peppermint Chip Cookie
Snowman Pretzel and Orange Fanta
Ginger Molasses Cookie
English Bay Cookie and Cider from The Lunching Pad
Complimentary Snickerdoodle
Complimentary Eggnog
Plenty of complimentary chocolate chip cookies at Friar’s Nook

Golden Horseshoe was a popular spot to grab a snack. There was even a small wait to enter.

Golden Horseshoe
Complimentary Snacks at Golden Horseshoe

Allergen-free snacks are available for guests who need or want them.

Enjoy Life Cookies and GoGo Squeeze Apple Sauce

Extra-Cost Party Exclusive Snacks

Other added-cost treats are Party-exclusives, so you can only try these tasty bites if you attend one of the parties.

At Sunshine Tree Terrace, purchase An Orange Bird Christmas!

An Orange Bird Christmas
An Orange Bird Christmas

And if you’re in need of orange refreshment, head to Cool Ship in Tomorrowland for ‘Tis the Season — made with Fanta orange!

‘Tis the Season
‘Tis the Season

At Aloha Isle, the Kakamora Float is seriously refreshing! And it’s garnished with a Kakamora Cake Pop, so it’s two snacks in one! 😉

Kakamora Float
Kakamora Float

If you eat five dozen eggs just to help you get large, consider fueling up at Gaston’s Tavern. You’ll find Gaston’s Cheese Dip there — with antler breadsticks!

Gaston’s Cheese Dip

At Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, guests can cool down with the To Be Jolly Float. This is a combination of peppermint iced coffee and vanilla ice cream. These are topped with crushed peppermint candies and a chocolate Minnie Mouse bow. Sounds like a great pick-me-up!

To Be Jolly Float
To Be Jolly Float

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe is keeping Party-goers fueled up with two tasty offerings. The first is a savory trio of Jolly Tamales. These can be topped with anything from the fixin’s bar, making them a potentially great meal option during the Party.

Jolly Tamales

And for something sweet: Sven’s Carrot Cake. This one is worth it for that frosting alone!

Sven’s Carrot Cake

Extra-Cost All-Day Snacks

And there are a few holiday treats that hit the Magic Kingdom scene around the time that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off but that are available all day long for anyone who wants to dig in!

Sleepy Hollow is home to the all-day chocolate Santa Mickey Waffle Sundae. Be sure to eat that ice cream quickly before the Florida heat and warm waffle melt it away!

Santa Mickey Waffle Sundae

On Main Street you can start your day at Main Street Bakery (Starbucks) with a giant Mickey Cinnamon Roll or Olaf’s Frozen Hot Chocolate Cake to go with your coffee.

Olaf’s Frozen Hot Chocolate Cake

Casey’s Corner is pitching a Snowflake Brownie this season. This simple treat is a Magic Kingdom party regular (in different attire each season).

Snowflake Brownie

You’ll be ready to deck the halls after enjoying this Deck the Halls Eggnog Milkshake at Cosmic Ray’s. (Don’t mind that big red chocolate Christmas bulb that looks like it’s seen better days…)

Deck the Halls

Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies is celebrating the Christmas cookie with a Christmas Cookie Milkshake and a Christmas Cookie Sundae.

Christmas Cookie Sundae
Christmas Cookie Milkshake

During the day you can say “aloha” to Aloha Isle‘s Cherry and Pistachio Float served on cold hot chocolate.

Cherry Pistachio Float

Fantasyland’s Storybook Treats is home to a Gingerbread Sundae is season. That sundae is topped off with a Minnie Mouse waffle topper!

Gingerbread Sundae

You’ll also find Christmas Churros at Pecos Bill and the various outdoor churro carts. These mini churros come in a cardboard board, are sprinkled with red and green sugar, and have a side of chocolate for dipping!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Merchandise

Once you’ve exhausted yourself with attractions, entertainment, meet and greets, and snacking, you’ll want to spend a little time picking out the perfect souvenir!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Spirit Jersey
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Spirit Jersey
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive T-Shirt

Christmas Party-exclusive merchandise comes marked with the year, making them a unique collectible item that’ll trigger happy memories for years to come.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Raglan Shirt
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Ornament

We think this mug is supposed to resemble a Christmas light!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Mug
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Mug

There is a party-exclusive MagicBand with a limited edition of 3,000. Be sure to add this to your wrist for some holiday cheer!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive MagicBand
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive MagicBand

We found a few Christmas party-themed phone cases as well!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Phone Case
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ExclusivePhone Case

Disney pin collectors and traders can add to your collections with a whole bunch of party-exclusive pins.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Pins
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Pins
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Pins
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ExclusivePins

There are two sets of pins, the smaller set is $125, while the framed set is $225.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Pins
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Pins Set
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Pins Set

This year (as in years past), Annual Passholders also have some exclusive merch, so be on the lookout for AP-branded pieces like pins and tee shirts!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Annual Passholder Pin
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Exclusive Annual Passholder Phone Case

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Guide Map

Your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Map will keep you on track all night long, so you’ll want to pick one up on your way in! This year’s map features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Clarabelle!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Map
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Map
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Map
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Map

Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas Party season, our Disney friends! Night one is done, but we will keep bringing you latest from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and all the holiday happenings at Walt Disney World!

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Sarah is a former high school English teacher, mom of three, and a (nearly) life-long writer. She's worked with AllEars.net since 2018 and loves sharing the Disney magic with AllEars.net readers.

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