Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Central 2005

[kath1210]

I just checked the website and there are still tickets available for all dates - so far!

 

[Good Ol Gal]

I've never been to Disneyworld before, if you can believe it, and I'm wondering if there's a place at the Christmas Party where you can get your picture taken where the lines are a little shorter. I want to make sure we have time to see EVERYTHING we can! Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks a ton!!

We got our pictures taken last year around 830pm and there was no line at all! We tried to do it right at 6pm (which I got from the DIS) and the lines were sooooo loooonnngg!!!

 

[April]

I may have an extra MVMCP ticket. Since the ticket is non-refundable, has anyone ever try to "sell" a ticket the night of the party?

 

[macphrsn]

If you arrive at 4PM you will have plenty of time to enjoy the park. The lines for the rides move swiftly. If you can believe the only ride that we had to wait any length of time was the Dumbo ride (4 rotations) which wasn't that long. When we arrive at the park we walked down Main Street in awe the headed directly for the Haunted House we were the first ones to enter the ride that evening, then when we went over to Space Mountain we also walked right up and were on the ride immediately. We have always gone on the first Thursday of December. I was told by a CM that they only sell 2000 tickets for each party. We had our picture taken by the Buzz Lightyear ride and had no wait last year. Two years ago we had our picture taken near the Swiss Family Treehouse (Adventure Land), we waited about 20 minutes. What we did was get our cookies and hot cocoa while we waited and relaxed.

You can fill out a form for each member in your party (everyone is entitled to a photo).

Be sure and wear a holiday sweater/shirt. Get in the spirit, those who have been before ususally wear some holiday clothing or hat.

 

[miss missy]

If you arrive at 4PM you will have plenty of time to enjoy the park. The lines for the rides move swiftly. If you can believe the only ride that we had to wait any length of time was the Dumbo ride (4 rotations) which wasn't that long. When we arrive at the park we walked down Main Street in awe the headed directly for the Haunted House we were the first ones to enter the ride that evening, then when we went over to Space Mountain we also walked right up and were on the ride immediately. We have always gone on the first Thursday of December. I was told by a CM that they only sell 2000 tickets for each party. We had our picture taken by the Buzz Lightyear ride and had no wait last year. Two years ago we had our picture taken near the Swiss Family Treehouse (Adventure Land), we waited about 20 minutes. What we did was get our cookies and hot cocoa while we waited and relaxed.

You can fill out a form for each member in your party (everyone is entitled to a photo).

Be sure and wear a holiday sweater/shirt. Get in the spirit, those who have been before ususally wear some holiday clothing or hat.

Cool! We are going the first Thur in Dec! YAY. Now what are the pictures of? are they backgrounds, Santa or characters? Thanks !

 

[beattyfamily]

I was told by a CM that they only sell 2000 tickets for each party.

I think it's more like 20,000 but that's still a guess as Disney officially won't tell anyone for sure!

 

[handicap18]

We're looking at going the first Thursday in December. We'll be there Tuesday, but looking at a possible itinerary Thursday looks like our best bet.

Hopefully the rest of the family can make a decision by the end of the week.

42 days to go!!

 

[alpinebelle]

Thanks for the great picture info, everyone. There will be 6 of us, so I guess we'll get lots of pictures. Will they just make 6 copies of the 1 picture, or do they take a picture 6 different times, do you think?

 

[beattyfamily]

Thanks for the great picture info, everyone. There will be 6 of us, so I guess we'll get lots of pictures. Will they just make 6 copies of the 1 picture, or do they take a picture 6 different times, do you think?

It's one pose and they send you one copy per ticket to one address if you fill one form out and 2 addresses if you fill 2 forms out etc...

 

[100AcreWood]

How do the pictures work? Are there multiple locations around the park?

And where do you pick up the pictures?

 

[beattyfamily]

How do the pictures work? Are there multiple locations around the park?

And where do you pick up the pictures?

Last year there were locations at Adventureland, HOP, IASW, Near the carousel, and in Tomorrowland.

They mail them to you.

 

[dan-tot]

I got the tickets in the mail and they look like entrance tickets but are like a credit card. I have read that they give out wrist bands. What I would like to know is what is the procedure for getting them? Thanks


Dan-tot

 

[beattyfamily]

I got the tickets in the mail and they look like entrance tickets but are like a credit card. I have read that they give out wrist bands. What I would like to know is what is the procedure for getting them? Thanks


Dan-tot

If you enter the park at 4:00p or later, there are CMs at the turnstyles to put the wristbands on you. If you are in the park before 4:00p, then you'll have to look for a CM to get your wristbands. They will be around the park, near the hub and near City Hall.

 

[boswellnakia]

It was mentioned the different places last year that we could get our pictures made. What is the picture background like? are the backgrounds the same at all locations or will there be different options depending on the location you select?

Is there anywhere online to see what last year's background looked like?

 

[makinorlando]

I don't know if they have different backgrounds, but if you go my webpage, to the Family Page- there is a picture of my sister taken at VMCP last year. I'm not sure if it changed from previous years.

You can get different pictures - she and a friend take an annual WDW trip, and attend the VMCP, and they get one of them together most times - this past year her friends son who also lives in Orlando was with us, and they got 3 pics - individual of the two and one of the three of them. My DD and I were there but waited to long to get pics and my DD (who was 7 and had to go to school the next day) didn't want to wait in line! This year we will have 5 tickets with the group that is going, so we can do some combos! We have pics from 2 previous years of NSSHP - and plan to get one later this month for our 3rd annual party since moving here! (Ramble ramble - sorry!)

 

[michellek.]

Sorry to sound down about anything Disney, but having been at the Very Merry Christmas Party several times, I can honestly say it has gotten worse every year to the point where we will not be buying tickets for it again. First off, the crowds are ridiculous now. They make it sound like it will be a limited number of tickets sold, so theoretically you should have shorter lines for rides--definitely not true. Last year, we went on a weekday in December, and the place was mobbed. We got on three rides (one being Splash Mountain because it was cold), and stayed for the first parade and Wishes show before leaving (we heard lots of people complaining about the hoorendous crowds as well). Also, the parade you see is not a special one--you could see it other nights at Disney as well during December. Being a Passholder, I don't need to spend an extra $30 to be stuck in more crowds than a normal night in December to get the same parade, Wishes show, etc. A cup of hot chocolate and a cookie that I waited on line for 15 minutes for doesn't help either! Very disappointing! We are going back in 2 weeks, and will miss the holiday decorations and special events this year, but the VMCP is not one of them. Think it through before buying tickets. You can have the same (and more) fun on a normal night in Disney during the month of December, and not have the pleasure of paying extra for it!

 

[miss missy]

Sorry to sound down about anything Disney, but having been at the Very Merry Christmas Party several times, I can honestly say it has gotten worse every year to the point where we will not be buying tickets for it again. First off, the crowds are ridiculous now. They make it sound like it will be a limited number of tickets sold, so theoretically you should have shorter lines for rides--definitely not true. Last year, we went on a weekday in December, and the place was mobbed. We got on three rides (one being Splash Mountain because it was cold), and stayed for the first parade and Wishes show before leaving (we heard lots of people complaining about the hoorendous crowds as well). Also, the parade you see is not a special one--you could see it other nights at Disney as well during December. Being a Passholder, I don't need to spend an extra $30 to be stuck in more crowds than a normal night in December to get the same parade, Wishes show, etc. A cup of hot chocolate and a cookie that I waited on line for 15 minutes for doesn't help either! Very disappointing! We are going back in 2 weeks, and will miss the holiday decorations and special events this year, but the VMCP is not one of them. Think it through before buying tickets. You can have the same (and more) fun on a normal night in Disney during the month of December, and not have the pleasure of paying extra for it!

I disagree, kinda. I was there last Dec 29 thru Jan 7. We missed the party, but we were there for THE busiest weekend of the year... and we had a blast! I did not go to MK on New Years Eve, as that is just craziness to me, but the rest of the time we did fine. It was crowded some days, but it didn't stop us from having fun.

I guess if your going there that day to ride the rides, this would not be an ideal choice of time of year. But if ya just looking to BE in the spirit and all... you'll be ok.

 

[Pigletlover]

We are going to buy tickets for the Christmas Party in advance and I was just wondering - are they only available from Disney or can you also buy them from ticket sellers like Ticketmania etc?

Also I was reading the page with all the Christmas party ticket prices (on this wdwinfo website) and the prices were more expensive on the 3 Fridays. Why is this? Is it busier on Fridays? Are there more events on Friday parties so you pay more for the tickets, compared to other days?

 

[beattyfamily]

We are going to buy tickets for the Christmas Party in advance and I was just wondering - are they only available from Disney or can you also buy them from ticket sellers like Ticketmania etc?

Also I was reading the page with all the Christmas party ticket prices (on this wdwinfo website) and the prices were more expensive on the 3 Fridays. Why is this? Is it busier on Fridays? Are there more events on Friday parties so you pay more for the tickets, compared to other days?

Nope, they are only available through Disney.

They increased the price for Fridays this year. Disney knows how to make a buck. Fridays are more popular so they raised the price for Fridays. They did the same thing for the Hlalloween party; charge extra for Halloween night just because its popular.

 

[goofy4tink]

Sorry to sound down about anything Disney, but having been at the Very Merry Christmas Party several times, I can honestly say it has gotten worse every year to the point where we will not be buying tickets for it again. First off, the crowds are ridiculous now. They make it sound like it will be a limited number of tickets sold, so theoretically you should have shorter lines for rides--definitely not true. Last year, we went on a weekday in December, and the place was mobbed. We got on three rides (one being Splash Mountain because it was cold), and stayed for the first parade and Wishes show before leaving (we heard lots of people complaining about the hoorendous crowds as well). Also, the parade you see is not a special one--you could see it other nights at Disney as well during December. Being a Passholder, I don't need to spend an extra $30 to be stuck in more crowds than a normal night in December to get the same parade, Wishes show, etc. A cup of hot chocolate and a cookie that I waited on line for 15 minutes for doesn't help either! Very disappointing! We are going back in 2 weeks, and will miss the holiday decorations and special events this year, but the VMCP is not one of them. Think it through before buying tickets. You can have the same (and more) fun on a normal night in Disney during the month of December, and not have the pleasure of paying extra for it!

This coming Dec 1 will be my third MVMCP. In 2003, it was really wonderful. My dd and I had a terrific time. The park wasn't too crowded and we were able to do a lot of the attractions as well as some of the shows. Last year we went, Nov 29 (or close to that, a Tuesday), and it was very crowded. We had to make some choices as to either rides or shows.....you really couldn't do both effectively. But, the parade is very different than the regular parade. They do start running this holiday parade nightly, but it is much closer to Christmas time. The Holiday Parade is a big favorite in my family. While there seemed to be many more people there last year, we just went with the flow. We really don't use MVMCP as a time to do rides anyway. It's those special shows that you can't see until much later in Dec. that we like to do.
So....go with lower expectations. The days of WDW and MK being 'empty' are gone. Seems that more and more people are knowledgable about what is going on in WDW and plan accordingly.
Decide which is more important to your family...rides or shows and then make some choices. You can do some rides as well as some shows but it's really hard, if not impossible, to do everything during this 3 hr. period.