This week, we got a LOT of new details about the new holiday after hours event coming to Disney World this year.
This year, instead of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Disney World will host the Disney Very Merriest After Hours Event on select nights at Magic Kingdom.
We also got some new information regarding the cost of the event, which will range in price from $169 to $229, although the price jumps up to $249 on December 19th and 21st. But how does that price compare to the previous Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? Let’s break it down.
Very Merriest After Hours
Here’s what guests will get with tickets to the new Very Merriest After Hours party:
- Admission to Magic Kingdom as early as 7PM on party nights without a park pass reservation (the party officially kicks off at 9PM)
- Two fireworks shows, including the new Enchantment and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.
- Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade (the first parade to return to the parks since reopening)
- Disney characters in holiday costumes
- Club Tinsel dance party
- Special holiday MagicShots
- Seasonal songs by the Reindeer Wranglers
- Lower wait times for attractions
- Special projections on Cinderella Castle (alternating between 50th anniversary and holiday projections)
- Fake snow falling from the sky
- Holiday overlay on Jungle Cruise and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
- Special holiday food and drinks
- Complimentary ice cream novelties, popcorn, select seasonal treats, and bottled beverages
Annual Passholders and DVC members can score a $10 discount on select November dates. But how does that compare to the previous event?
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
In 2019, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party prices ranged from $99 to $139 per adult ticket and from $94 to $134 per child ticket — that’s a HUGE price difference between the two events. We would also like to point out that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party also had longer hours — the party itself started at 7PM. Here is what was included with that ticket:
- Entrance into the park as early as 4PM
- A Frozen Holiday Wish
- Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show
- Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade
- Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show
- A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show
- Meet and greet opportunities with Disney Characters
- Club Tinsel dance party at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
- Character dance parties
- Special holiday treats
- Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa throughout the Park
- Many of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions (some with holiday overlays)
- Party-exclusive merchandise
So in comparison, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party cost less money and offered more shows, more perks, more hours, character meet and greets, and exclusive merchandise. However, if our experience with the After Hours Boo Bash is any indication, ride lines could generally be shorter for guests at the Very Merriest After Hours party, but we’ll just have to wait and see if that’s the case.
We would be curious as to what you think — how do you feel the prices of the old party compare to the new after hours event in regard to what guests get?
Everything You Need to Know About Disney World’s Very Merriest After Hours
What do you think? Will the new Disney Very Merriest After Hours party be worth it? Let us know in the comments.
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Been to the after hours Christmas party in the past, and while it was fun, that new price is cra-cra! Do they line your snacks with gold flakes? 1k on a single night for my family sounds like a whole lot of regret. How are people being duped into this kind of spending?
Everyone we’ve spoken to about the revised party and pricing changes say the exorbitant prices are extremely high, and certainly not worth the price. The previous Very Merry Christmas Party pricing structure was much more acceptable. Most of the people we’ve talked to are choosing to forego the ridiculous pricing. Bring back MVMCP for next year. If it works, don’t fix it!!
I want to start by saying that I am a lifelong Disney fan. I even worked my dream job of cast member at a local Disney Store for 2 years after graduating high school. That said, I think Walt would be utterly horrified to see what’s become of his legacy. Greed has surpassed everything. I used to put down Universal for nickel and diming everything, like having to pay for their version of Fastpass. So what did Disney do? Did it continue to excel at customer service and set the gold standard for theme parks? No. It stooped to the others level of greed and grabbed on with both grubby, money-seeking hands. We’ve gone to Disney World at Christmas time for many of our trips including the first back in 1994 and have always looked forward to attending MVMCP. It was such a magical experience. I’ll never forget my first “snow” on Main Street. Yes, $100-$125 was expensive, but it was worth it. Over $200 a ticket if you’re going in December is nothing short of highway robbery. This year is especially hard to have to really think of not going to this special party since it’s not only Disney World’s 50th anniversary but also my parents in December. It’s a trip we’ve been planning for years, but it will be bittersweet. It will be our last ride on the Magical Express. It will no longer include Fastpass rides which means even more time spent in line if you miss out on the virtual queue openings (which I suspect fill up very early and while everyone staying at a Disney resort can get into these queues at the same time, you have to remember that 7am to those of us coming from the west coast feels like 4am). I could go on and on about how I feel about the direction Disney is going in, but I think you get it by now and honestly, it’s too depressing to continue thinking about. I give all of these very expensive “upgrades” 2 very enthusiastic thumbs down!
Everyone knows the price for this party is too high and it’s insulting to guest’s intelligence to rename the event to imply it’s worth more money. My biggest complaint, however, is that the hours are too late for younger children. I have come to the conclusion that Disney leaders and decision makers are running amuck and simply adding attractions, events, etc. that they themselves are interested in, price be damned because it doesn’t matter to them. It doesn’t appear Disney does any research on what the average American guest is looking for in a Disney vacation anymore. That or they don’t want the average American guest to visit their parks. If Disney believes they can build the loyal customer base they once had in middle class Americans from the wealthy visitors they are pandering to now, they will eventually learn the wealthy quickly grow tired of all things amusing. IMHO, Disney would do well to reread the Tortoise and the Hare story. Slow and steady got them where they are, but this recent push to see just how much they can charge is quickly eroding the loyalty of their faithful customers.
It states there will be Fireworks
We are coming to WDW in December because my granddaughter’s competition dance team is coming with Dance The World. There is about 70 people coming from our school. Part of our package offered us to include the Christmas party, which a lot of us were excited to sign up to go. We have the option to pay the extra or get a refund. We are personally choicing to go because this is a big event we have been planning for for 3 years. Our biggest complaint is the company told us after our last payment was paid.
We are very disappointed as we loved MVMCP and thought it was terrific value for the money. The new after hours party is more money and less value. We went to an After Hours party in January 2019 and found it to be crowded, cast members were confused about where we were supposed to go to get the wrist band that identified us as after hours people. Rides and stores closed down and about the only thing to do in the last hour was shop on Main Street only.
I will not be purchasing tickets for this event. Overprices and the hours are not for young children. Isn’t this suppose to be a party for children. 7 until 1. No I will be at Disney during November, but will not purchase tickets. We will be doing Universal for 2 days instead.
Rip off
COME ON DISNEY! Don’t price us DVC fans OUT
What a joke. Just like the Halloween “party,” they’re charging a substantially higher price for far less time and offerings. The most expensive nights, $249, are just outrageous. I’ll be curious to see what the turnout it. Oh and the $10 discount for pass holders and DVC members is also laughable.
The only time we went to the old party was in December 2012 when Orlando was having record cold temps (20F) and it was too cold to stay for the whole party. Since we are going in November this time, temps shouldn’t be an issue. While the party does have sticker shock, this is a make-up trip from one cancelled last year, so definitely trying to splurge a bit and we are going to the party!! Plus, how can we possibly pass up the first full parade since re-opening?!
The new party is just too expensive for us. I can do a lot of shopping with that $400.
These prices are insane! The Christmas party is definitely not worth this much, especially now that they’ve gotten rid of features from previous years. I’ve seen a lot of people complaining about the cost, and I hope this means not many people will attend this year. That is the only way prices may go down for next year. Disney fans are usually willing to pay a pretty penny for a magical experience, but at some point, enough is enough! It is our responsibility as consumers to let Disney know what is a fair price and what is exploitation. As long as there are enough people willing to accede to every ridiculous price increase, the abuse will continue. Just think, if you are able to resist this year, it will hurt their wallet, and you will probably be able to go for a reasonable cost next year!