"Official" 2024 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

[Tonberry]

Do you recall around what time people started lining up?

People start grabbing their spots for the first parade as soon as the park closes to guests at 6:00. Last year we entered the party around 6:45 and there were already several people sitting on the curb on Main Street waiting.

 

[Jcandal]

People start grabbing their spots for the first parade as soon as the park closes to guests at 6:00. Last year we entered the party around 6:45 and there were already several people sitting on the curb on Main Street waiting.

Oh wow! I don’t think we’ll want to do that so maybe we will view the parade off of Main Street!

 

[Lesverts]

It is 830 parade. 10 fireworks right?

I think I normal make a loop around the park for the first hour, get back to Main Street around 8, for the parade and head right into the Hub for fireworks. But I think I am going to go to 2nd parade this year.

 

[scrappinginontario]

What time is recommended to line up for the 8:30 parade? Do people line up later on main st since it comes there later?

Main Street will fill earlier than other areas.

 

[mommy2paisley]

Is Santa Duffy at the party? I know he isn’t easily found at DW anymore, but if he will be there, he is a must for us!

 

[Chirple]

Is Santa Duffy at the party? I know he isn’t easily found at DW anymore, but if he will be there, he is a must for us!

He's at Hollywood Studios for Jollywood Nights.

 

[cellomom]

-

 

[Artygal90]

I’m trying to figure out the most efficient way to see the fireworks, parade, and stage show. It seems doable to find a spot in the Hub to see all 3 without camping out for hours *if* we are ok missing the experience of watching parade with the “snow” on Main Street. Seems like seeing the parade on Main Street proper requires 60-90 minutes of time lining up? Worth it, or is there ample opportunity to enjoy the fake snow at other times during the party? (We are from TX so snow at Christmas is rare!)

 

[MinnieMSue]

I’m trying to figure out the most efficient way to see the fireworks, parade, and stage show. It seems doable to find a spot in the Hub to see all 3 without camping out for hours *if* we are ok missing the experience of watching parade with the “snow” on Main Street. Seems like seeing the parade on Main Street proper requires 60-90 minutes of time lining up? Worth it, or is there ample opportunity to enjoy the fake snow at other times during the party? (We are from TX so snow at Christmas is rare!)

Just be aware that hundreds if not thousands see those same times and are thinking the same thing. We had a spot to do this at Halloween party and it was terrible. We started out in a decent spot but people kept crowding in particularly for fireworks because of the Jack puppet. Anyway it was very hard to maintain our space (I do have claustrophobia too). Anyway then people put kids up on shoulders and held phones and tablets up to record and our good spot ended up terrible. Unfortunately there was no way to move. I ended up having to see most of the fireworks through someone ‘s tablet because my view was blocked. We bailed out when crowds moved after fireworks and watched the parade in frontier land area. do think standing back from the castle is better for fireworks since there is no puppet to see and the castle projections aren’t a big deal is the better way to go. We are skipping the stage show. We saw some recordings of it and really only like clarabel. We also decided to watch the parade as far from Main Street as we can lol. I just can’t with that crowd again.

 

[G'sMaman]

We have tickets for the dessert party at the Plaza Garden viewing area. What's our best strategy for the parade? We can go to either the early or late parade. Thanks!

 

[msmayor]

I’m trying to figure out the most efficient way to see the fireworks, parade, and stage show. It seems doable to find a spot in the Hub to see all 3 without camping out for hours *if* we are ok missing the experience of watching parade with the “snow” on Main Street. Seems like seeing the parade on Main Street proper requires 60-90 minutes of time lining up? Worth it, or is there ample opportunity to enjoy the fake snow at other times during the party? (We are from TX so snow at Christmas is rare!)

We followed this strategy last night and it worked out just fine. Got a spot on the hub right near the walkway to Tomorrowland around 9:30 and got to see the stage show easily. We thought it was a good spot for fireworks at 10 - then stayed right there as the masses cleared out. It was positively blissful with respect to the crowd compared to the 'regular' crowd the night before for fireworks (wall to wall people everywhere).

The street area cleared for the parade and there was quite a bit of space on the sidewalks, even as 11pm approached. I walked away to get some snacks and a drink and had no issues returning.

This is a sample of my parade view....

 

[Artygal90]

We followed this strategy last night and it worked out just fine. Got a spot on the hub right near the walkway to Tomorrowland around 9:30 and got to see the stage show easily. We thought it was a good spot for fireworks at 10 - then stayed right there as the masses cleared out. It was positively blissful with respect to the crowd compared to the 'regular' crowd the night before for fireworks (wall to wall people everywhere).

The street area cleared for the parade and there was quite a bit of space on the sidewalks, even as 11pm approached. I walked away to get some snacks and a drink and had no issues returning.

This is a sample of my parade view....
View attachment 914180

Looks like a great view!

 

[sadiecatie]

If we are not interested in dealing with the crowds of Main Street (and don't necessarily care about the "snoap"), is it a decent strategy to watch the fireworks, stage show, and parade from the area heading from Liberty Square? This is our first party and I'm trying to figure out strategy. We'll have an 8 and 9 year old with us, but they do well with late nights, so we're planning to do other stuff in the early showings then head over for fireworks and later parage/stage show.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I think (and it is truly a think, not a know) that the bridge between Liberty Square and the hub is some kind of reserved or VIP seating for the parades so you may have to be to one side of the bridge or the other to make your strategy work.

 

[NashvilleMama]

If we are not interested in dealing with the crowds of Main Street (and don't necessarily care about the "snoap"), is it a decent strategy to watch the fireworks, stage show, and parade from the area heading from Liberty Square? This is our first party and I'm trying to figure out strategy. We'll have an 8 and 9 year old with us, but they do well with late nights, so we're planning to do other stuff in the early showings then head over for fireworks and later parage/stage show.

is the "snow" only happening during the parade or is it going on when you enter the park/during the party?

 

[japanese maple]

is the "snow" only happening during the parade or is it going on when you enter the park/during the party?

It's snoaping on the bypass that you enter party through where you get your ornaments and see the Gingerbread people. Then it's also snoaping in the Circus area by Dumbo where Santa meets. I'm not sure how often it snoaps on Main Street.

 

[teeveejunkee]

I heard a rumor that certain party exclusive food items could be purchased before the party officially starts as long as you have a wristband. Can anyone who has been please confirm if that is true, and if so, how early can the food be purchased? I was hoping to eat a couple party exclusive items at Cosmic Ray's to knock one thing out before 7pm. Not to mention, I'll be hungry since that is my dinner and I'm used to eating at 5pm. Haha

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

We have tickets for the dessert party at the Plaza Garden viewing area. What's our best strategy for the parade? We can go to either the early or late parade. Thanks!

I am struggling with this as well. We go Dec 8th.
I am fine with arriving to the dessert party by 9-9:!5, we don't need an hour of desserts. I'd prefer first parade and open time after the fireworks for cookies, rides, etc.
I have watched so many blogger videos. The parade routes look busier than I experienced at MNSSHP last year. Main street is packed. People seem to be lining up earlier in Frontierland too.
I miss the dessert parties that included the parade spot...

Hoping for reports on experiences from others.

 

[thegreatdonaldo]

I am struggling with this as well. We go Dec 8th.
I am fine with arriving to the dessert party by 9-9:!5, we don't need an hour of desserts. I'd prefer first parade and open time after the fireworks for cookies, rides, etc.
I have watched so many blogger videos. The parade routes look busier than I experienced at MNSSHP last year. Main street is packed. People seem to be lining up earlier in Frontierland too.
I miss the dessert parties that included the parade spot...

Hoping for reports on experiences from others.

I went to the last parade and got a spot in front of the train station (with a view of the tree, castle and snope above my head) at 10:30pm. I'd say it filled up around me 2 to 3 people deep by 11pm.

 

[TikiRob]

I went to the last parade and got a spot in front of the train station (with a view of the tree, castle and snope above my head) at 10:30pm. I'd say it filled up around me 2 to 3 people deep by 11pm.

I've grabbed a spot in Town Square for MNSSHP this year and MVMCP last year around 10:45pm. Only drawback to watching here is that it takes a LOONG time for it to make its way to this spot and by the time it is over, the party is nearly over.