The Holiday Season has officially arrived at Walt Disney World. The decorations are up, the Christmas merchandise is out and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is now running on select evenings. Since many of you will be hitting the parks at some point over the next six weeks for this special evening ticketed event, we thought we’d share some of our favorite tips to help you make the most of these special Yuletide festivities. So don your red and green mouse ears and let’s get planning.
1. If travelling with small children have a quiet morning/afternoon the day of the party. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will run until midnight each evening. Though that sounds just brilliant for us excited adults, little kids may be reluctant to party into the wee hours of the night. If you’re travelling with tiny tots, don’t expect them to spend a whole day traversing the parks and still be going full steam when the clock strikes 12. I travel with a seven-year-old and have found that its best to take the morning/afternoon of a party day off. Have a lie in, lounge by the pool, take advantage of other resort activities and have a siesta. The evening hours at Magic Kingdom can be an absolutely magical time but not if its an exercise in endurance.
2. Arrive early. Though the parties themselves don’t officially kick off until 6-7pm, it’s generally a good idea to arrive early. Your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ticket will grant you admission to the parks from 4pm. I would recommend arriving as close to this time as possible. Not only does this provide more bang for your buck but it also gives you an opportunity to see and do a bit more. Squeeze in a few attractions before the parade, have a bite to eat so as to not waste valuable party time later in the evening and just take everything at a bit more relaxed of a pace. Guests to the Magic Kingdom on party nights tend to take the 6pm suggested arrival time pretty literally. Show up during that time and not only will you find long lines to get into the parks but also for snacks, meet and greets etc.
3. Save the character Meet and Greets for last. Okay. so there will be people that specifically go to these events to meet some of the rare characters that come out for photo ops and to sign autographs. If this is one of the reasons you’re visiting the Christmas Party then yes, you may want to start lining up at 5 – 5:30pm to meet some of the popular characters like Sandy Claws and the Seven Dwarfs. However, if you’re a family that really wants to see and do it all and the thought of waiting in line for 90 minutes to meet a character isn’t appealing, try visiting the lines later in the evening. A few hours into the party and families will start to trickle out of the parks meaning fewer crowds and shorter wait times.
4. Watch the Second Parade. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is an absolute feast for your senses and will definitely be a highlight of your Very Merry Christmas Party experience. The parade will run twice nightly on the evening you attend with the first parade packing in the much larger crowds. As a matter of fact, it’s not uncommon for family members to start staking out a spot as soon as they enter the park. However, if you are travelling with guests that have the stamina to stay up a bit later, hold out for the second parade. Some families especially those with small children won’t make it that late in the evening which means there are fewer crowds and it’s easier to find a parade viewing spot without having to wait an hour in advance.
Please Note: If opting for parade number 2, pay attention to the weather. I have waited it out before only to have the second parade cancelled due to rain. If the forecast is looking a bit iffy than don’t take your chances, see the first parade.
5. Get Party Merchandise ASAP. The Very Merry Christmas Party merchandise that is available at select locations throughout the park (consult your party map for details) can sell out really quickly. So if you’re strolling through the Emporium on your way into the park and you see a must-have Christmas treasure, don’t leave it for later. Chances are it won’t be there come party’s end.
6. Don’t miss the stage show. Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration is a relatively new addition to the festive Christmas party line-up. This all singing, all-dancing holiday spectacular is hosted by none other than Mickey himself who welcomes a cast of much-loved Disney characters to help him celebrate the holidays in style. You’ll be singing carols in no time as the gang takes your from one delighted Christmas-themed musical number to another! The show will take place several times nightly. Consult your times guide for further details.
7. Be sure to try the holiday treats. Each year, a highlight of the Christmas Party is the FREE Christmas-inspired treats handed out at various locations throughout the parks. Here’s a quick rundown of the amazing goodies you’ll find at this year’s party:
- Sno-cone and snowman soft pretzel – Tortuga Tavern (Adventureland)
- Eggnog and Ginger Molasses Cookie – Liberty Square Ticket Office
- Silky Smooth Dove Chocolate and Sparkling Apple Cider – Friar’s Nook (Fantasyland)
- Nesquik Chocolate Milk and Peppermint Crunch Cookie – Pete’s Silly Sideshow (New Fantasyland)
- Hot Chocolate, Apple Cider and Cookies – Pinocchio’s Village Haus (Fantasyland)
- Santa Claus Cookie and Sno-cone – Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies (Tomorrowland)
- Hot Chocolate and Snickerdoodle Cookie – Cosmic Ray’s Cafe (Tomorrowland)
- Hot Chocolate and Peppermint Bark Cookie – The Lunching Pad, Tomorrowland
- Snow Cone and Snowman Sugar Cookie – Friar’s Nook, Fantasyland.
- Eggnog and Gingersnap Molasses Cookie – Heritage House, Liberty Square
- Spiced Apple Cider and Snowman Sugar Cookie – Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Storybook Circus.
Arrive there early enough (as per tip 2 )and you may just have time to enjoy them all!
For those heading to the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in the weeks ahead, we hope that these tips help you to a fabulous time.
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Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to help you with everything from finding your perfect package to helping you plan lots of festive touches to make your destination Christmas truly magical. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at mroden@mickeytravels.com or follow along on Facebook.
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