Walt Disney World recently hosted the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party of the season, and it was bursting with holiday cheer! Parades, character greets, holiday treats, fireworks, and much more all combined to make an evening that was merry and bright!
Party Arrival
This is my third year of attending the parties, and you would think I’d be at least a little jaded by now. However, I was just as excited to see these little cuties welcoming me through the gates as I was three years ago!
Once you enter the Magic Kingdom, Cast Members in festive costumes direct you to the Party Walk. This is an area off limits to guests much of the time, which makes it even more exciting for me! The walk has several photo ops complete with Photopass photographers. It also has merchandise carts with a small selection of holiday merchandise. Additionally, this is where you get your first party treat of the evening!
Merchandise
After finishing the Party Walk, I went straight to The Emporium to see all the event merchandise. Since the party events do not start until 7:00, I recommend shopping when the merchandise is first released, usually around 4:00. Merchandise can be found in several different shops throughout the park, but The Emporium is the only place that carries all of it; however, it is divided into different rooms of the shop. Most of the merchandise is set up in a special, roped-off area, and you must show your wristband to enter. You can read all about the event merchandise HERE. The event-exclusive Alex and Ani can be found with the other Alex and Ani bracelets, and you can read more about it HERE.
The Annual Passholder merchandise is in yet another room but is kept behind the counter. This year’s AP merchandise features Donald Duck trying to steal Mickey’s starring role in the party. It’s quite humorous, and you can see it all HERE. Be warned that Cast Members will definitely check for an Annual Pass card before allowing the purchase of any of this exclusive merchandise.
The event-exclusive magic band and pins are in the area of The Emporium closest to the Fire Station. The magic band actually smells like peppermint! Several special pins are available both individually and in sets, and you can see them all HERE.
Party Treats
Shopping worked up quite an appetite, so I decided to hunt down some party treats as soon as the clock struck 7:00. I started at Tortuga Tavern in Adventureland with the snowman pretzel and sn0-cone. I look forward to this one every year. With the exception of Frontierland, all the lands have treat stations. Liberty Square distributes ginger molasses cookies and eggnog in the Ticket Office, and Tomorrowland has two stations: Cosmic Ray’s which serves snickerdoodles and hot chocolate and Auntie Gravity’s which serves chocolate chip cookies and sno-cones. Fantasyland has three ways to treat yourself! The Friar’s Nook serves apple cider and Dove chocolates, and Storybook Circus Snacks has the peppermint crunch cookie. And to really treat yourself, go to Pinocchio Village Haus; they have all the cookies in one place! You can visit the treat locations as many times as you would like, and these goodies are all free! You may even want to take a few home with you. I can attest that the peppermint crunch cookie makes a wonderful day-after-party breakfast!
Specialty Treats
If you are wanting something a little more substantial than cookies, there are plenty of choices! Main Street Bakery alone offers the jumbo Wreck-It Ralph cupcake, the Mickey cinnamon roll, and the Mickey ornament cookie. Sleepy Hollow has the Red Velvet Zero Waffle Sundae and the Sandy Claws Dessert. The Sandy Claws treat is a spice cake wrapped in red fondant with a white chocolate Jack Skellington embellishment. Gaston’s Tavern offers the Vanellope Eclair, which is a vanilla eclair covered in icing and Fruity Pebbles cereal. That one is sure to cause a sugar rush!
Entertainment
My very favorite part of Disney events is the entertainment. The Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and Holiday Wishes Fireworks understandably get a lot of attention. They are both amazing! But there are several other entertainment options too! Elsa lights up the castle in A Frozen Holiday Wish. This happens even on non-party nights, so you don’t have to attend the party to see it. On party nights, it happens twice! If you have never seen the castle lighting, be prepared for an emotional response. I saw several guests (of all ages) crying as Elsa wielded her magic.
Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration also takes place on the castle stage. Mickey and Minnie host a holiday party for several of their friends. With modern music and fun castle projections, this show always makes me smile!
If you prefer interactive entertainment, dance parties take place at Cosmic Ray’s and Storybook Circus. A cappella concerts and A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas take place on Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland. There really is something for everyone to enjoy!
Magic Shots
Different magic shots are available throughout the park. Each photographer has different ones, so be sure to visit several different spots in order to get a good variety. And don’t be afraid to play around! I visited one spot that only had the mistletoe shot. I was alone, so I felt a little silly doing it, but I love how it turned out!
Character Meet and Greets
One of the most popular things to do at the Very Merry Party is meet characters! Several characters appear in holiday attire, and others are only available during the party. For example, the Christmas party is one of the few times when you can meet the princes along with their respective princesses. Character meet and greet locations are listed on the party maps, but you have to check the My Disney Experience app to see which characters meet in which spots.
Festive Decor
When it comes to decorating, Disney never disappoints! The castle is stunning, especially if you’re looking at it through the “snow” on Main Street. But the projections around the park are also gorgeous! I especially liked the views around Prince Eric’s castle in Fantasyland.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is sure to get you in the holiday spirit! Each year, I am amazed at just how much there is to eat, see, and do. It’s almost impossible to experience it all in just four hours! Are you planning on attending the event this year? Tell us what you are most looking forward to in the comments!
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