Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party reviews

[DeeCeeSW]

They do not show the Christmas stuff (fireworks, parade and shows) during the day until the week of Christmas. So if you go in early December and want to see these festive things, then you'll have to go to one of the parties.

Thanks! So for us, attending MVMCP will definitely be worth it!
We attended MNSSHP this past October and it was a blast. I was hesitant to spend the extra $$$ but I'm glad I did. We rode certain attractions 3 or 4 times and still managed to catch the parade and fireworks. I'm hoping that we have the same positive experience at MVMCP!

 

[beattyfamily]

You will get varying views on MVMCP just like any other thing like restaurants, rides, shows etc... everyone has different opinions and experiences. YMMV.

Having said that, we LOVE MVMCP and we've gone 4 times now. I wish I could go every year and I would if I could but we usually alternate MVMCP and MNSSHP so we're doing that this year.

The party is very festive and fun. Yes, Main Street can be a zoo, especially for the first parade but other parts of the park can be dead. If you plan your night out and set priorities, you can get everything done that you want to. We always focus on the festive aspects of the party. This past trip we did the Castle show, Twas the Night before Christmas show, the fireworks, the second parade, some rides and did all of Toontown.

Have fun planning your trip and good luck deciding!

 

[bobbiwoz]

We went on Sunday the 11th. It was our friend's first ever WDW visit and they only had a 3 day non-hopper so the MVMCP was their only chance to see MK. We all had a great time. We arrived at the park around 4, did the RR, CoP, It's a Small World, and Mickey's Philharmagic before our 6PM dinner ressie at LTT. Now that was the only disappointment, the wait, we had the ressie (table for 6), and showed up before 6, but didn't get a table before 6:30! The food and overall experience there was wonderful, I suppose that's why it was so overbooked!

There was a delay in the start of the parade. When I realized that was the case, I went over to the picture taking place and sure enough, we didn't have a line for pictures, and we got to see the parade with great spots toward the end of the parade route.

We have never been to a show at any of the night parties. We keep saying "the next time" but then we get started and just enjoy the rides so much. The fireworks were very nice, but I enjoyed the ones for Halloween better.

We all had the hot chocolate/cookie without a line.

We have AP's so it doesn't mean as much to us, but our guests who have day tickets enjoy going around to see the different resorts during the day and going to the party at night.

Bobbi

 

[Eeyorecln]

What character are out for this party?

 

[heart4dis]

but I couldn't find it in this thread. I loved MVMCP. We thought it would be our "one time" trip to WDW so we wanted to do it big. We were there the second week in December and crowds were low. We got a LOT in!! It helped us get more of MK. And I believe the WISHES show was extra special. They added some touches that weren't there other nights. The snow on Main Street was magical. I loved it.

 

[lorli]

mommyoeo-[

QUOTE=mommyoeo]

One more thing! I bought our tickets a few weeks before the party by calling disney. I thought the price sounded high and when I questioned it, the CM assured me it was right. When I picked them up though, I had been charged full price instead of the advance price. I was mad at first but DH said we'd wasted so much money already that $20 shouldn't ruin our trip!! [/QUOTE]

Just wondering when you were able to pick your tickets up. Was it a couple days in advance or day of event?

 

[lindsey]

We were there on Friday, Dec 2 also. It was DH and myself. Thanks to this board, I knew it would be crowded. Also, thanks to this board, I knew everyone was being sent to Adventureland instead of Tomorrowland as in the past. Things we did:
Splash Mnt, BTMR, Country Bear Christmas Show, cookies and coco, Peter Pan, TTA, Buzz, more cookies and coco, watched Wishes, POC, HM, watched 2nd parade, more cookies and coco. Fortunately, lots of people left after the first parade, and more after wishes. Note that Friday's tickets were not discounted last year.

 

[TxDisneyFan]

This will be our first trip in December and I can't wait to go to the party. It's driving me crazy that you can't buy tickets yet. I think they are available in May.

Just FYI....the 2005 MVMCP tickets went on sale on April 1.

 

[goofie4goofy]

We LOVED it. We went Dec 13th, which was our first one. First we went to CG for an early dinner, hopped on the monorail around 7 ish or so and went into the MK. It was so great. We rode a couple of rides TCC, Buzz, SM, HM but mostly went for the Holiday stuff as we have been on all the rides hundreds of times. The Parade is beautiful, and the fireworks amazing. We were having so much fun, that honestly I could not tell you how long we waited for "free" cookies and cocoa. It was minimal at best.

People make such a huge deal over this kind of crap. They build up expectations to get to the MK before the party starts for dinner, wear matching outfits to wait on line for a "free" holiday pic then complain about waiting for cookies and cocoa and pictures. The best pictures of MVMCP are the ones where we took pics of ourselves by turning the camera around. Just go to the party, don't plan anything...take it all in. Remember wherever you are is where you are supposed to be. The party goes till midnight, and there are 2 parades. Don't plan on getting there before the party starts. Take your time, enjoy a nice meal and a few drinks. Get to the MK and just take it all in....it is beautiful and worth every penny.

Also after reading some posts, I thought it was going to be a mob scene...it was not.

It is definately a must do.

 

[beattyfamily]

Just FYI....the 2005 MVMCP tickets went on sale on April 1.

Actually, they went on sale April 30, 2005

 

[Puffy2]

They do not show the Christmas stuff (fireworks, parade and shows) during the day until the week of Christmas. So if you go in early December and want to see these festive things, then you'll have to go to one of the parties.

This is only partially true - the special shows (stage shows) at the MK are reserved for the parties (not that big of a deal, really). But the parks are all decorated for the holidays big time and you can see this prior to Christmas week. I went last Nov. (the second week) and they even had some decorations for the holidays up then (which was a departure from the "waiting until the day after Thanksgiving rule".) We even saw a holiday parade with a little snow at the Animal Kingdom that week in Nov. !

 

[bizeemom4]

I would resist the urge to go and skip it - save your money and precious time. We went in 2004 - it was cold, crowded and we did all of
1. Riding Buzz twice
2. Saw one stage show
3. Stood in line for cookies and cocoa
4. Ate cookies and cocoa
5. Watched part of a parade over other people's heads
6. Went back to the hotel because the younger kid was "freezing and tired".

Waste of money.

Same with us except that we also sat on freezing cold benches to listen to Belle's Enchanted Christmas. I wish I could have that 1/2 hour of my life back. What a DUMB show!

We also stood in line for 1/2 an hour to get Rabbit's autograph only to have him replaced with Pooh.

My 10 and 6 y.o. fell asleep in the double stroller (free) while we waited for the parade.

We went the Thursday after Thanksgiving during the supposedly "slowest" time.

My advice is save your money for Christmas and skip the Christmas party.

 

[jonestavern]

We went on Tuesday, 29 November '05 & it was wonderful!
We felt there were light to moderate crowds, a super parade & spectacular fireworks
Our feeling is you can ride the rides anytime--although for sure we piled on to quite a few with very little wait --we hit the shows (which seem crowded whilst lining up but once the doors are open plenty of room) & the photo ops. the line for photos stretched on forever, but we waited, tops, 15 - 20 minutes. we had no problem scooping up cookies & cocoa or securing a decent spot to view the fireworks. I did notice some long lines for cookies, but both DH w/DS & I simply walked up to sepearate counters & got served immediately--don't know why more folks didn't notice the empty lanes , although you can breeze thru the lines, no problemo
Lots of characters strolling about & plenty of chances to get photos/autographs.
this was only our 2nd MVMCP, but we will be doing it again

Jean, Christopher & Patrick

 

[beattyfamily]

This is only partially true - the special shows (stage shows) at the MK are reserved for the parties (not that big of a deal, really). But the parks are all decorated for the holidays big time and you can see this prior to Christmas week. I went last Nov. (the second week) and they even had some decorations for the holidays up then (which was a departure from the "waiting until the day after Thanksgiving rule".) We even saw a holiday parade with a little snow at the Animal Kingdom that week in Nov. !

Well, I was specifically speaking about Magic Kingdom and the Christmas shows, Christmas parade and Chirsmtas fireworks that are shown at MVMCP since this is what this thread is about. I was not refering to decorations at all or the AK, or even MGM parade. I was only talking about Holidaywishes fireworks, the MVMCP parade and the Christmas Castle show and the Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas shows. They are only available to see at MVMCP parties until the week before Christmas. They you can see them for free during the day.

 

[Northstar]

Another thing to keep in mind... you can use MVMCP tickets without burning a day on your park tickets. It works out well for a late-start day...swim, laze, nap, whatever, and then you can get in at 4:00 and stay until midnight if you want. We did a morning at SeaWorld (which gives you a second day free for a 1-day admission), rested, then went.

This year we went Thursday Dec. 15. Crowds were spotty... I think whenever you get out of a show, you should head for the other side of the park instead of trying to get on something nearby. It started to rain quite heavily at about 10:00 and lines under cover got long then... but before that time, we did about all the rides in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland a couple times, and while we waited in a few lines, we really enjoyed the festive atmosphere and looking at everybody's cool headgear and costumes!

 

[dutch_girl_scout]

We went on Sunday, December 11, and it was great. It was our first trip to WDW, on our first night (we went to the park at 4:00 and didn't have to use a day off of our tickets). We rode all the rides we wanted to, some twice, with almost no lines, caught the night before Christmas show, and the fireworks. It was chilly for some (temps in the mid 50's) but it felt great to us, coming from single digit temps. I had worried when I bought the tickets that we would be too tired from traveling to go but it was the opposite, my kids were 10 and 13, and anxious to get going once we got to the hotel, after sitting all day we didn't mind walking. We stayed late, and slept in a little bit the next morning. We're going back this year, hopefully on Thursday the 7th.

 

[New England Eeyore]

One more thing! I bought our tickets a few weeks before the party by calling disney. I thought the price sounded high and when I questioned it, the CM assured me it was right. When I picked them up though, I had been charged full price instead of the advance price. I was mad at first but DH said we'd wasted so much money already that $20 shouldn't ruin our trip!!

The way it worked last year (not sure about past years) is that there was no discount for Friday nights even if you purchased it in advance. Only for Sun-Thurs nights could you get a discount with advance purchase.

I didn't go last year, but I'm looking into it for this year and I learned that from Deb Wills' site. MVMCP

 

[anneofgreengables]

Another thing to keep in mind... you can use MVMCP tickets without burning a day on your park tickets. It works out well for a late-start day...swim, laze, nap, whatever, and then you can get in at 4:00 and stay until midnight if you want.

What do you mean? Are you saying if we buy a six-day park hopper we don't need to use all six days consecutively? We can skip a day and use MVMCP tickets for that skipped day?

 

[beattyfamily]

What do you mean? Are you saying if we buy a six-day park hopper we don't need to use all six days consecutively? We can skip a day and use MVMCP tickets for that skipped day?

Firstly, yes, you do not have to use all six day consecutively, you can skip a day.

Secondly, what he meant was many plan their MVMCP day as a day off from the parks and then head over to MK around 4:00p, which for the past few years, they've unofficially let party goers in after 4:00p with just their party ticket, so you wouldn't have to use one of your park tickets if you don't want to but you'd still be able to enjoy MK after 4:00p till Midnight with the purchase of the party ticket.

 

[asa'smom]

We went to MVMCP on Dec 18, 2005.It was a sold out night. The crowd wasn't that bad to me. We arrive as they were openning the gate for party guest to go in. Went to the assignned gate recieved a wrist band and went in. Lots of chracters at the front of the park so we were able to get started on pics and autos. Went in ride Thunder Mountain with very little wait time. Left and went to ride space mountain with hardly no wait at all. When we left Space Mountain party was officially getting started. We staked a place out in front of the castle to watch the parade. Loved the parade. We got our hot chocolate and cookie. Didn't stand in the line for the pictures. It was a bit chilly, but you were fine wearing a jacket. We bought our MVMCP pin and one from a previous night that I liked. That had alot of pins from previous nights on sale a Uptown jewelry Store. We didn't see any of the shows. So can't say what they were like. Don't forget the pic with Santa. Characters we saw were:Mary Poppins , Bert , Goofy , Max, The Penguins, Terk, King Louie,Mayor,Donald,Chip&Dale,Pluto, Launchpad McQuack, Baloo,Jessie, Woody,Scrooge McDuck. The ones I can remember. Over all it was a very enjoyable night.