It may be a few months away, but Disney is already gearing up for the holidays!
This year, the holiday festivities will kick off in the parks on November 8th and throughout the entire season, guests will be able to enjoy decorations in the parks, shop for specialty merchandise, eat their way around the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, and more. And, though Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will not be returning this year, there will be a brand new holiday event called Disney Very Merriest After Hours and we’re sharing everything that we know (so far) about what to expect!
Here’s Everything We Know (So Far) About Disney Very Merriest After Hours!
Dates and Times
The brand new event will be coming to Magic Kingdom on 24 (!!) nights from November 8th through December 21st and take place between 9PM to 1AM.
The full schedule includes events on:
- November: 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 28, 30
- December: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21
And, you don’t even have to purchase a separate day ticket to head into the parks on your event date! Guests who have purchased a Disney Very Merriest After Hours ticket can get admission to Magic Kingdom as early as 7PM on the evening they have a ticket for — no park pass reservation needed!
Of course, guests can still opt to spend their entire day in the park, they’ll just need a separate ticket and park pass reservation to enter prior to 7PM.
Click HERE for more details about event dates!
Pricing
When it comes to the cost of the event, tickets will be quite a bit more than guests may be used to paying for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Depending on the night that you choose to visit, ticket pricing will range from $169 to $229 (plus tax), and tickets on December 19th and 21st, they’ll be $249 (plus tax) a piece.
Some guests will be able to score some savings, however, with Disney World Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members receiving $10 off tickets on select dates in November.
Tickets go on sale for all Disney guests beginning August 20th and guests staying at select Disney World Resorts, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green at Walt Disney World Resort are able to begin purchasing tickets as early as August 17th.
Learn More About the Event Pricing HERE!
Entertainment
So, what kind of holiday entertainment will be packed into Magic Kingdom’s 4-hour event? A lot!
Guests will be able to enjoy TWO fireworks shows including the new 50th Anniversary show, Disney Enchantment, which will show before the event begins, AND Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks (which guests may recognize from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party) will take place during the event itself!
And, that’s not the only returning holiday entertainment! Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade will also be back as a FULL parade (not cavalcades) to make its way down Main Street, U.S.A. during the evening! It will feature Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, characters from Disney’s Frozen, Toy Soldiers, and, of course, Santa Claus.
Of course, guests will also be able to find Disney characters dressed up in their holiday best throughout the park…
…dance the night away at the themed Club Tinsel dance party in Tomorrowland…
…take advantage of special holiday magic shots with Disney PhotoPass…
…listen to some seasonal songs in Fronterland performed by the Reindeer Wranglers…
…and enjoy 20 attractions with lower wait times including Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, The Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, and more!
Check Out MORE of the Holiday Entertainment Coming to Disney World This Year!
Decorations
Of course, Magic Kingdom will be transforming into a winter wonderland for the holiday season once again! During the event, Cinderella Castle will feature special holiday projections that will alternate with the new 50th Anniversary “Beacon of Magic” look throughout the night.
Just keep in mind that this likely means that the Dream Lights will NOT be coming to the park icon this year.
And, Cinderella Castle won’t be the only place that you can experience a taste of the holiday! “Snoap” (aka Disney’s fake snow) will be falling from the sky as you make your way down Main Street, U.S.A. too!
Check Out MORE Park Icons that will feature holiday projections this year!
Attraction Overlays
Holiday attraction overlays are also coming back to Magic Kingdom for Disney Very Merriest After Hours! Throughout the evening, guests can get their dose of holiday jokes from Jingle Cruise (which is Jungle Cruise’s holiday overlay)…
…and over at Monster’s Inc., Laugh Floor!
In the past, Disney has also done a holiday overlay at Space Mountain, Mad Tea Party, and Tomorrowland Speedway, however, this year Disney has only confirmed that these two attractions will receive a makeover for the season.
Learn More about the holiday ride overlays here!
Food
And, there will be lots of eating to do during the event too! Throughout the night, guests will be able to enjoy specialty holiday food and drinks…
…and like other Disney After Hours events, ice cream novelties, popcorn, select seasonal treats, and bottled beverages will be available for FREE with the purchase of a ticket at snack kiosks!
Check out some of the BEST and WORST snacks from the 2020 holiday season here!
So, are you ready to celebrate the holidays in Magic Kingdom this year? We’ll continue to keep our eye out for more updates on the new after hours event, so be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for the latest!
Check out more Disney World Holiday announcements HERE!
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Will you be attending Disney Very Merriest After Hours this year? Let us know in the comments!
Can you purchase a ticket and reservation for these days and stay in the park through closing?
How soon are tickets expected to sell out? We are meant to be travelling mid-November but with the current restrictions on UK travel we are conscious of buying tickets!!
This is very expensive on top of what our trip is costing. I am going to skip it. We are WDW freaks but I cannot see spending almost $800 for one night.
What rides will not be open for the Christmas Party? I thought they all were?