Mickey’s Christmas Party and CRT

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

When you pull up Mickey’s party page and scroll down the page there is a section of three options under bookable dining, it lists the Terrace, Plaza, and then table service dining at mickeys very merry Christmas party. That’s why I thought it had something to do with the party. But maybe those are the only table services that will open during that time.

Yes you got it. Its just saying those TS locations are the only ones open during the party.
I think if you could have been explained that that is what you were confused about you would have gotten better info faster.
I'm glad @focusondisney was able to understand and answer.

 

[bobgobblin15]

Yes you got it. Its just saying those TS locations are the only ones open during the party.
I think if you could have been explained that that is what you were confused about you would have gotten better info faster.
I'm glad @focusondisney was able to understand and answer.

Thank you! Today has been crazy busy lol

 

[Disturbia]

When are you going? The parade is offered twice (8:30 pm and 11:00 pm). Fireworks are at 10 pm.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/official-2024-mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party.3941143/

Unless it’s Christmas week or Thanksgiving week, I wouldn’t do the dessert party. It blocks 2 hours: check in (15+ min line) and sit and eat; it’s just lots of sugar (unless you drink alcohol then might be worth it). If you book the dessert party then eat an early Quick service dinner before heading to MK. If you get hungry later on you can mobile order something later in the park (keep an eye as restaurant hours change and most close early).

I would personally book CRT (unique experience, start the night meeting princesses). You do have to carry the souvenirs with you everywhere. I would book dinner around 4:45 pm (plan extra time to get into the park 1 hour). To mobile check in to CRT you need to be in the hub after Main Street.

Do not eat after 5:30 pm (we did one time and that is peak dinner time in the parks so it took 40 mins at BOG just to be seated and another 1.5 hrs with dessert to go). People who do not have party tickets will block the last regular park hour and it will be next to impossible to snag a 5-6 pm ADR.

Note:

After MVMCP ends on 12/20, a version of the Christmas parade (Mickeys once upon a Christmastime parade) and fireworks (Minnie’s wonderful Christmastime fireworks) are shown until 12/29. On 12/30 and 12/31 Fantasy in the sky will be shown at 6:30 pm and 11:50 pm (calendar won’t update until closer to the dates)

https://blogmickey.com/2023/11/disn...hristmas-week-entertainment-at-magic-kingdom/

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Any reason why it's more expensive during the party? I was looking to make reservations and it was coming out to $102 for Adults during the party vs $84 on a regular non-party night.

They don't do anything special during the party to justify the cost increase, do they?

 

[Disturbia]

Any reason why it's more expensive during the party? I was looking to make reservations and it was coming out to $102 for Adults during the party vs $84 on a regular non-party night.

They don't do anything special during the party to justify the cost increase, do they?

In the past they have changed things up with little notice and when we went two years ago there were plenty of ADRs for BOG/CRT. CMs were holding up signs that ADRs were available!!!

Maybe book it and cancel closer to your dates? They need to have the soirée on Halloween nights and something similar for Christmas

 

[Disturbia]

I’m not seeing the price increase (it’s $88), but tax and 20% tip will be included in total

 

[bobgobblin15]

When are you going? The parade is offered twice (8:30 pm and 11:00 pm). Fireworks are at 10 pm.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/official-2024-mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party.3941143/

Unless it’s Christmas week or Thanksgiving week, I wouldn’t do the dessert party. It blocks 2 hours: check in (15+ min line) and sit and eat; it’s just lots of sugar (unless you drink alcohol then might be worth it). If you book the dessert party then eat an early Quick service dinner before heading to MK. If you get hungry later on you can mobile order something later in the park (keep an eye as restaurant hours change and most close early).

I would personally book CRT (unique experience, start the night meeting princesses). You do have to carry the souvenirs with you everywhere. I would book dinner around 4:45 pm (plan extra time to get into the park 1 hour). To mobile check in to CRT you need to be in the hub after Main Street.

Do not eat after 5:30 pm (we did one time and that is peak dinner time in the parks so it took 40 mins at BOG just to be seated and another 1.5 hrs with dessert to go). People who do not have party tickets will block the last regular park hour and it will be next to impossible to snag a 5-6 pm ADR.

Note:

After MVMCP ends on 12/20, a version of the Christmas parade (Mickeys once upon a Christmastime parade) and fireworks (Minnie’s wonderful Christmastime fireworks) are shown until 12/29. On 12/30 and 12/31 Fantasy in the sky will be shown at 6:30 pm and 11:50 pm (calendar won’t update until closer to the dates)

https://blogmickey.com/2023/11/disn...hristmas-week-entertainment-at-magic-kingdom/

This may be an option! And I will definitely keep a note of not getting a reservation after 5:30 so thank you for that info! We don't tend to eat at the quick service places and like the sit downs better. We usually do a good breakfast, small snack for lunch, and then a good meal when at Disney so this may be what we do especially since our daughter is getting closer and closer to being out of the princess stage . I've been trying to catch up on soo much reading since its been years. I don't think we should do mobile orders because I have a shellfish allergy that I have to carry an epipen for and our daughter has dye allergies so everything that I've been reading from others is that you have to personally go and speak with a cast member to make sure what is safe. Thank you so much. We don't get to go as often as we would like and have never been during Christmas so for us this is definitely something special and magical.

 

[Disturbia]

This may be an option! And I will definitely keep a note of not getting a reservation after 5:30 so thank you for that info! We don't tend to eat at the quick service places and like the sit downs better. We usually do a good breakfast, small snack for lunch, and then a good meal when at Disney so this may be what we do especially since our daughter is getting closer and closer to being out of the princess stage . I've been trying to catch up on soo much reading since its been years. I don't think we should do mobile orders because I have a shellfish allergy that I have to carry an epipen for and our daughter has dye allergies so everything that I've been reading from others is that you have to personally go and speak with a cast member to make sure what is safe. Thank you so much. We don't get to go as often as we would like and have never been during Christmas so for us this is definitely something special and magical.

We have food allergies as well. You need to contact special diets team at:

special.diets@disneyworld.com

They will give you the most recent special diets form. You need to have all your ADRs booked and submit the form up to 14 days ahead of your trip. A coordinator will call and ask if you want to speak to the chefs at each restaurant. You can even talk to Quick Service locations (ingredients change every year for the same item so always check the folders). The chefs are really kind but that a can still go south at high demand locations:

The waitress (Kathy) at CRT was extremely rude and refused to bring our pre order and kept forcing us to order from the menu. She talked down to us and kept repeating the menu (disturbing other guests near us; we were very calm and patient). There was a substitute Chef so some miscommunication and he later came to the table and apologized. We chose to enjoy our meal despite her. She eventually calmed down and even took pictures of us.

Similar thing happened at Space220. The Chef had our order but waitress refused to bring anything other than what was on the menu; I wrote a letter to the Chef that our order was not brought out (this was the second time this happened). Manager called me and initially started by saying we never checked in..long story short next trip we were seated by the Manager and she made sure everything was correct (no discounts or anything), but it was a good experience.

Stand your ground and speak to a Manager! Allergies are serious. I’m not sure if you heard of what happened at Raglan Road. The Patina group is not Disney owned (the operate Space220 as well) but Disney does train them on allergies.

 

[bobgobblin15]

We have food allergies as well. You need to contact special diets team at:

special.diets@disneyworld.com

They will give you the most recent special diets form. You need to have all your ADRs booked and submit the form up to 14 days ahead of your trip. A coordinator will call and ask if you want to speak to the chefs at each restaurant. You can even talk to Quick Service locations (ingredients change every year for the same item so always check the folders). The chefs are really kind but that a can still go south at high demand locations:

The waitress (Kathy) at CRT was extremely rude and refused to bring our pre order and kept forcing us to order from the menu. She talked down to us and kept repeating the menu (disturbing other guests near us; we were very calm and patient). There was a substitute Chef so some miscommunication and he later came to the table and apologized. We chose to enjoy our meal despite her. She eventually calmed down and even took pictures of us.

Similar thing happened at Space220. The Chef had our order but waitress refused to bring anything other than what was on the menu; I wrote a letter to the Chef that our order was not brought out (this was the second time this happened). Manager called me and initially started by saying we never checked in..long story short next trip we were seated by the Manager and she made sure everything was correct (no discounts or anything), but it was a good experience.

Stand your ground and speak to a Manager! Allergies are serious. I’m not sure if you heard of what happened at Raglan Road. The Patina group is not Disney owned (the operate Space220 as well) but Disney does train them on allergies.

Thank you. I will do that.

That is insane to me that you experienced that. It amazes me that the waitress is under the assumption she has that kind of power. I, am definitely not one to let it go so I will definitely stand my ground lol.

But I will say the last time I went, I noticed a shift in entitlement, I’ll call it, from cast members although nothing like you experienced.

I did hear about that! It worries me about my shellfish allergy even though I have an EpiPen as my doctor told me some reactions are instant and some are delayed.

 

[Disturbia]

If you are meeting a character that has long waits (need to be at the front of the 4 pm park check in line so be at the front of the park around 3:15 pm?) then you could book dinner around 6:30 pm (most likely miss the first parade but enough time to not miss fireworks).

https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party-characters/

 

[bobgobblin15]

If you are meeting a character that has long waits (need to be at the front of the 4 pm park check in line so be at the front of the park around 3:15 pm?) then you could book dinner around 6:30 pm (most likely miss the first parade but enough time to not miss fireworks).

https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party-characters/

I have been watching videos on the party and different people have said the second parade is usually not as crowded as the first. You’re definitely giving me lots to think about!

 

[focusondisney]

Any reason why it's more expensive during the party? I was looking to make reservations and it was coming out to $102 for Adults during the party vs $84 on a regular non-party night.

They don't do anything special during the party to justify the cost increase, do they?

It is $84 plus tax $ gratuity, as @Disturbia indicated above. Directly from the restaurant booking page. If it is $88 during the party, I would consider that more like surge pricing. Not enough of a price increase to indicate anything special being done. They might have a special dessert with a holiday theme. Also remember that CRT is paid at the time of booking & doesn’t follow the normal 2 hour cancellation policy. If you book it, make sure you pay special attention to the cancellation time frame in case you decide not to go.

 

[Pyxie]

I think you may have gotten this figured out, but adding some clarification.

If your confusion is because you are wondering what "perks" you get for eating at CRT during the party, there are none. It isn't like the dessert party that gives you premium fireworks viewing.

If you want to eat there, you still can, but make your reservation for a time that doesn't conflict with activities like the parade. Then you won't miss anything. Others have suggested not doing any TS dining during the party, but really that's only for you to decide.

 

[bobgobblin15]

I think you may have gotten this figured out, but adding some clarification.

If your confusion is because you are wondering what "perks" you get for eating at CRT during the party, there are none. It isn't like the dessert party that gives you premium fireworks viewing.

If you want to eat there, you still can, but make your reservation for a time that doesn't conflict with activities like the parade. Then you won't miss anything. Others have suggested not doing any TS dining during the party, but really that's only for you to decide.

Yes! Thank you we definitely do not want to miss the parade and other activities we have actually never seen the night fireworks and have only seen maybe a parade or two so that’s definitely on the top of the list.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

For comparison at Grand Cal:

26 points for a studio.

$225 buy in/ 35 years is $6.43 a year
Dues are $8.55

($8.55 + $6.43) * 26 =$390

Add in TVM of ($225 * 26) * 4% =$234.00

$234 + $390 =$624.00

So the currently posted prices for August 5th:

VDH Studio SV = $559
Westin 2Q no view= $561
VGC Studio = $624
VDH Studio PV = $632
DLH 2Q SV = $633
Grand Cal = $950+

Or…. they are points… basically free! Hooray!

I’m not seeing the price increase (it’s $88), but tax and 20% tip will be included in total

View attachment 903647
View attachment 903648

Hi!

You're right. One view was showing before tax and another was showing inclusive of tax and gratuity.

Looks like it is more expensive during the party but only by a couple bucks... $26 total for our group so not a big deal.

 

[Disturbia]

LL premier pass is being tested (Thanks @Angel Ariel

https://www.cnn.com/travel/disney-parks-new-line-skip-plan/index.html
https://www.disboards.com/threads/ll-premier-pass.3955541/

 

[BrianL]

I have been watching videos on the party and different people have said the second parade is usually not as crowded as the first. You’re definitely giving me lots to think about!

Theh second parade at the parties is always less crowded - usually by a lot. That's when I tend to watch.

 

[Marthasor]

I would highly recommend making your reservation for 4:45/5:00 pm so you have time to enter the park, walk through the Main St. bypass area where you will receive your party favor and be able to get some pictures and walk back to CRT in a leisurely manner. This gives you a full 2 hours to enjoy your meal and not miss any part of the party. There is so much to do and see during the party and you will miss out if your meal goes past 7 pm, IMHO.

 

[bobgobblin15]

I would highly recommend making your reservation for 4:45/5:00 pm so you have time to enter the park, walk through the Main St. bypass area where you will receive your party favor and be able to get some pictures and walk back to CRT in a leisurely manner. This gives you a full 2 hours to enjoy your meal and not miss any part of the party. There is so much to do and see during the party and you will miss out if your meal goes past 7 pm, IMHO.

Oh thank you for this advice! Will there be cast members standing out in the open handing out the favors? Or do we need to go into one of the shops?

 

[erinch]

I agree that advertising CRT and BOG are confusing during the parties. It is listed separately with a Dine Event banner, and called Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party Dining. it says “enhance your evening celebration with a special sit-down dinner during MVMCP. Check back later for more details.” We are going for our first party this year, and I thought it was something special as part of the party too. It was not at all clear to me what it meant by “event.”

We will be eating at 2 before the party in the park (APs so can get in early) but MDE didn’t help make that decision , the dis board did.