When we think about how people spend their time on a Disney vacation, there appear to be two different categories. One group tries to get by as inexpensively as possible while the other group embraces the experience. Guests know going into the vacation that it's going to be expensive, and people save their hard-earned money—sometimes for years—to visit. When they arrive, vacationers want to make the most of every minute, even if the cost adds up to a little more than they expected.
Our recent visit to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party can actually work for both groups of people. If you're trying to minimize expenses as much as possible, the party can actually save money. We'll explain in a bit. For those of you who want the most from your Disney experience, this is yet another opportunity to heap on the memories.
Dates and Tickets
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is held each year during the holiday season. This year (2015), it is running for nine days in November, beginning on November 8, 2015, and for eleven days in December, ending on December 18, 2015. During nights that the event takes place, The Magic Kingdom closes at 7:00 pm and allows guests who have purchased admission to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party to stay for the festivities, which end around midnight.
Tickets can be purchased online at the Walt Disney World page or by calling (407) 939-7679. Discounted tickets are available for annual passholders and Disney Vacation Club members for select dates with advance purchase.
How to Save by Attending
The admission to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is in addition to a regular park admission, but it can be used in lieu of admission too. If you don't mind coming to the park at 4:00 pm, you can simply purchase admission to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party instead of a regular park admission and get into the park as early as 4:00 pm the day of the party. If you don't have an annual pass and are paying by the day, this is an opportunity to see the Magic Kingdom in a new and unique way for a bit less than the regular daytime admission price. If you're trying to make your Disney experience as cost effective as possible, this is an opportunity to visit the park by spending less money than a normal admission.
What is there to do at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party?
To start, all the rides that are normally open are still open during the event. You can't get Fastpass+ reservations after 7:00 pm, but the lines are usually shorter than they are during regular hours.
You can't purchase food at all the normal spots, but some of the quick service facilities reset and hand out free hot chocolate and cookies. A limited number of quick service facilities are open if you feel the need for something more than sugar, but it's best to eat your main meal before you arrive.
Entertainment
Short attraction lines and free cookies are nice, but the main feature of the party is the entertainment that isn't available during regular park visits. We were not able to attend all these events. That would make for a very busy and tiring evening. Available entertainment we did not experience includes:
- A totally Tomorrowland Christmas! – An interactive Christmas party at the Tomorrowland Rockettower Plaza Stage with Buzz Lightyear and others.
- Voiceplay – An a capella holiday concert at the Rockettower Plaza Stage.
- Celebrate the Magic – A light and music show using the castle as a backdrop.
- Character Dance Party – A dance party with Disney characters held at Club Tinsel in Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe.
We did attend the following, and hope you enjoy some of the images we brought back.
A Frozen Holiday Wish
A Frozen Wish is a stage show with Queen Elsa and other characters from Frozen performed on the Castle Forecourt Stage. Elsa uses her powers to transform the Castle into ice.
Olaf appearing in A Holiday Frozen Wish at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Queen Elsa works her magic to transform Cinderella's Castle into a magic ice palace in A Frozen Holiday Wish. This show is presented at The Magic Kingdom during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Cinderella's Castle is transformed into an ice palace when Queen Elsa works her magic during A Frozen Holiday Wish, presented at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Celebrate the Season
Celebrate the Season is a musical show featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy that is also performed on the Castle Forecourt Stage.
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy along with unnamed reindeer sing and dance during Celebrate the Season, a presentation on the Castle Forecourt Stage during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Mickey and Minnie host the show during Celebrate the Season, a musical presentation at the Castle Foreground Stage in front of Cinderella's Castle. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Pyrotechnic displays are a part of many Disney shows, and it's no exception during the presentation of Celebrate the Season. This musical performance shows at the Castle Forecourt Stage during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Photo by Donald Fink.
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
The Christmastime Parade is one of the main events of the evening. It features many Disney characters including the usual Mickey, Minnie, and the gang—and of course now includes Elsa, Anna, and Olaf. Pretty much every Disney character—and a few that are not, like Santa—is present in this parade.
One important thing to know is that this parade will be performed for a short time for regular evenings when Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party ends on December 18th, 2015. If you miss the Christmas Party, you can still catch this parade after the parties end.
A bear from the Country Bear Jamboree entertains guests in Frontierland as they wait for Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Toy soldiers playing brass and drums. These soldiers make several appearances at the Magic Kingdom, but this time it's during Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Queen Elsa (right) and her sister Anna ride a frozen sleigh in Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Olaf, in Mickey's Once Upon a Christmstime Parade during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Magic Kingdom. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Cinderella in her pumpkin carriage during Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Donald and Daisy Duck, with Winnie the Pooh and Tigger in the background, entertain guests along the parade route during Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. Photo by Donald Fink.
The Seven Dwarfs during Mickey's Once Upon a Time Christmastime Parade. Sleepy wasn't paying attention over there on the right. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
We shouldn't have to explain who this is, but it's Santa. He's making an appearance in Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Holiday Wishes—Celebrate the Spirit of the Season
Holiday Wishes is the main event fireworks display that is exclusive to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party during its run. Like the parade, the fireworks will be available to the general public after the parties end.
Fireworks over Cinderella's Castle at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. The show is called Holiday Wishes—Celebrate the Spirit of the Season. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Projections on the castle complement the shells bursting above. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
It's hard to believe how fireworks can be as precise as they are during these Disney performances. Photo by Donald Fink.
Fireworks at Walt Disney World can get intense. They fill the sky with so much smoke that the show sometimes needs to pause to let it clear. Slower music helps while still moving the show along. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
The Christmas tree at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom sparkles as “snow” falls. Photo by Donald Fink.
