"Official" Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2016 - Have Yourself a Very Mickey Christmas.

[areno79]

We attended the MVMCP Dessert Party Tuesday, Nov. 15th. Some specifics:

1) We went to Tomorrowland Terrace ramp and picked up our party lanyards around 6:00pm from two CMs at a podium in that area.

2) We arrived at the parade viewing section around 7:30pm. My mom, husband and I stayed in that area until the parade was over. Our two DDs (12 and 13) went and rode some rides while we waited. As we entered the parade viewing area, we were handed small bottles of water and cookies.

3) We were able to get a spot right under the Christmas tree that looks straight down Main Street directly towards the Castle. Numerous people (non-dessert party folks) tried sittling on the curb in front of us, but CMs would eventually come by and make them leave. They continuously asked everyone close to the curbs to see their dessert party lanyards. And no one (even dessert party goers) was allowed to sit directly on the curb during the parade since the floats come too close to that curb where we were. I'm not sure how much they were enforcing this on any other part of that parade viewing section. We could only see the part around us. I can't even tell you if the other Flag Pole sections were crowded with dessert party goers or not since our spot did not allow for me to see behind us (we had a big, giant Christmas tree blocking the view behind us). Here are some shots of our view:


View attachment 207162

View attachment 207165

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4) After the parade, they rope off a trail and lead the group to Tomorrowland Terrace using the section that runs behind the Main Street shops and comes out between the Plaza Restaurant and Tomorrowland Terrace: Here is a picture of the remnants of last week's supermoon in the background on the way to using that path:

View attachment 207167

5) I forgot to take pictures of the dessert party itself , but we really liked the offerings. As we walked in we were handed glasses of sparking apple cider (YUM).I have attended four other regular MK Dessert Parties in the past and found most offerings to be similar to those offered at this event. They did have a sugar cookie decorating section, though, where my kiddos had a blast applying their own icing and toppings onto various Christmas-shaped sugar cookies. They also had cheeses and crackers to help cut down on all the "sweet". On each table they also had gift bags of assorted Ghiradeli chocolates for party goers to take home.

Now for my opinions on whether or not it was "worth it" or if one should do it:

6) This was our 8th MVMCP since 2000. We do not care to meet characters, we are fine just seeing them from a distance (it is awesome seeing them in their Christmas attire). We have experienced most things that the party has to offer in the past. So FOR US, this was worth it. It was something new for us to experience at MVMCP. Back when we first started going to these events (16 years ago), two people deep on Main Street during the FIRST parade was considered "crowded." Now, ALL parades at this event are "crowded" in our view (you can see how many folks are crammed into Main Street for the first parade). We wanted to experience the parade and fireworks with a good view without having to fight what WE consider "crowds." And this dessert event met our expectations on that front.

7) If you are a first-timer to this event (MVMCP), I think it will not leave you much time to experience all of the other wonderful things the party has to offer. Basically from 7:30pm to 10:30pm we were doing the dessert party events (which we knew ahead of time and had planned on doing). Our girls would come-and-go between the dessert party events so that they could ride rides, get the treats, join the dance parties, etc. We did all go enjoy the remaining 1.5hrs on some rides and shopping, BUT...if this was my first (or even second party)...I would probably have felt that I missed out on MOST of the MVMCP offerings.

8) As for next year, I probably would NOT do this dessert party again. As much as we enjoyed it, once was enough for us. The regular MK dessert party is fine for us...if we feel the need for another dessert party. I'd rather enjoy the other MVMCP events next time.

Thanks for the review!! A couple of questions for you if you don't mind:
-How was the fireworks viewing?
-How busy was the parade viewing area at 7:30? Is it imperative to get there that early, or could we get there at 8 and still get the amazing view you had?

 

[Candycane83]

@Lisa F review is here!

@J and R's mom thank you for the review! What an amazing view of the parade!

 

[J and R's mom]

Thanks for the review!! A couple of questions for you if you don't mind:
-How was the fireworks viewing?
-How busy was the parade viewing area at 7:30? Is it imperative to get there that early, or could we get there at 8 and still get the amazing view you had?

Fireworks Viewing:
Opinions vary on this view of the fireworks. We LIKE this view. It is slightly off to the side, but then again....Tinkerbell flies right over the top of your head. You have a great view of the Castle itself and BEST OF ALL in our opinion is that you are SEATED at a nice table with refreshments and do not have intense crowds all around you or kids on shoulders right in front of you. I did not get pictures during this party, but here are two pictures back from our April 2015 dessert party in the same location (but they had assigned tables back then and people would then go to the railing to watch the show...NOW, the tables are up against the railing and no one can go stand up against the rails in front of the tables).

APRIL 2015 Party View...similar to MVMCP dessert party view


(My DH is holding up a chocolate covered strawberry above because those are my FAVORITES...and they had them at the MVMCP dessert party too! YUM!!!!)



Just a reminder...the tables are no longer assigned and people do not stand up against the railing (no one pictured here was with us...just folks that were in front of us).

ALSO...They had very pretty royal blue over white table cloths and lanterns on the tables during the MVMCP dessert party. It was a nice touch.


Crowds at parade viewing area at 7:30pm:
At 7:30pm, we were the second or third group to enter the parade viewing area. We had our choice of spots. The entrance to the party was behind us so we did not see when most of the area began filling up, but spots around us filled up by 8:00pm. However, people were arriving even after the parade had begun down in Frontierland. I even saw them bringing one group with Lanyards over to our area even as the parade turned onto Main Street around 8:50pm. So you certainly do not have to get there as early as we did and I think most people will have a good view of the parade even if they aren't looking down Main Street.

 

[Lisa F]

We attended the MVMCP Dessert Party Tuesday, Nov. 15th.

Some specifics:

1) We went to Tomorrowland Terrace ramp and picked up our party lanyards around 6:00pm from two CMs at a podium in that area.

2) We arrived at the parade viewing section around 7:30pm. My mom, husband and I stayed in that area until the parade was over. Our two DDs (12 and 13) went and rode some rides while we waited. As we entered the parade viewing area, we were handed small bottles of water and cookies.

3) We were able to get a spot right under the Christmas tree that looks straight down Main Street directly towards the Castle. Numerous people (non-dessert party folks) tried sittling on the curb in front of us, but CMs would eventually come by and make them leave. They continuously asked everyone close to the curbs to see their dessert party lanyards. And no one (even dessert party goers) was allowed to sit directly on the curb during the parade since the floats come too close to that curb where we were. I'm not sure how much they were enforcing this on any other part of that parade viewing section. We could only see the part around us. I can't even tell you if the other Flag Pole sections were crowded with dessert party goers or not since our spot did not allow for me to see behind us (we had a big, giant Christmas tree blocking the view behind us). Here are some shots of our view:


View attachment 207162

View attachment 207165

View attachment 207166


4) After the parade, they rope off a trail and lead the group to Tomorrowland Terrace using the section that runs behind the Main Street shops and comes out between the Plaza Restaurant and Tomorrowland Terrace. Here is a picture of the remnants of last week's supermoon in the background on the way to using that path:

View attachment 207167

5) I forgot to take pictures of the dessert party itself (between helping my mom--who is in a wheelchair--and a daughter who has a cast on her arm get their desserts and then my own, the fireworks had begun), but we really liked the offerings. As we walked in we were handed glasses of sparking apple cider (YUM). I have attended four other regular MK Dessert Parties in the past and found most offerings to be similar to those offered at this event. They did have a sugar cookie decorating section, though, where my kiddos had a blast applying their own icing and toppings onto various Christmas-shaped sugar cookies. They also had cheeses and crackers to help cut down on all the "sweet". On each table they also had gift bags of assorted Ghiradeli chocolates for party goers to take home.

Now for my opinions on whether or not it was "worth it" or if one should do it:

6) This was our 8th MVMCP since 2000. We do not care to meet characters, we are fine just seeing them from a distance (it is awesome seeing them in their Christmas attire). We have experienced most things that the party has to offer in the past. So FOR US, this was worth it. It was something new for us to experience at MVMCP. Back when we first started going to these events (16 years ago), two people deep on Main Street during the FIRST parade was considered "crowded." Now, ALL parades at this event are "crowded" in our view (you can see how many folks are crammed into Main Street for the first parade). We wanted to experience the parade and fireworks with a good view without having to fight what WE consider "crowds." And this dessert event met our expectations on that front.

7) If you are a first-timer to this event (MVMCP), I think it will not leave you much time to experience all of the other wonderful things the party has to offer. Basically from 7:30pm to 10:30pm we were doing the dessert party events (which we knew ahead of time and had planned on doing). Our girls would come-and-go between the dessert party events so that they could ride rides, get the treats, join the dance parties, etc. We did all go enjoy the remaining 1.5hrs on some rides and shopping, BUT...if this was my first (or even second party)...I would probably have felt that I missed out on MOST of the MVMCP offerings.

8) As for next year, I probably would NOT do this dessert party again. As much as we enjoyed it, once was enough for us. The regular MK dessert party is fine for us...if we feel the need for another dessert party. I'd rather enjoy the other MVMCP events next time.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed and thoughtful review. I have done christmas parties in the past but my kiddo never has. We did MNSSHP in 2014 when he was 6 and we showed up a 4, rode a ton of rides, ate a lousy QS dinner at cosmic ray's, did trick or treating until it was time to wait for the parade then did parade, fireworks and he pooped out and we left. It felt really worth it to me still, lol, and was a highlight of our trip. So to me the dessert party has a similar sort of a timeline... we had to stake out a good spot for the parade at around 7pm anyway and spent a good portion of the party waiting for the parade and fireworks... so I'm not sure how this would be different only less crowded and more comfortable.

that said I am totally fine with doing things once and being done with them, lol. People seem to take that as some kind of a bad review... if you don't want to do it over and over it's not worth doing once. This MVMCP will be toward the end of our trip and I think it would be fun to do the party (I do have it booked). I think my kiddo would love to ice the sugar cookies and since it is so late in the day and toward the end of our trip, the more laid back way to enjoy the two highlights IMO of MVMCP (the parade and fireworks) will be the way to go.

wondering what my other dessert party buds are thinking though @areno79 @Candycane83 @Mrs. Inc

 

[Lisa F]

Fireworks Viewing:
Opinions vary on this view of the fireworks. We LIKE this view. It is slightly off to the side, but then again....Tinkerbell flies right over the top of your head. You have a great view of the Castle itself and BEST OF ALL in our opinion is that you are SEATED at a nice table with refreshments and do not have intense crowds all around you or kids on shoulders right in front of you. I did not get pictures during this party, but here are two pictures back from our April 2015 dessert party in the same location (but they had assigned tables back then and people would then go to the railing to watch the show...NOW, the tables are up against the railing and no one can go stand up against the rails in front of the tables).

APRIL 2015 Party View...similar to MVMCP dessert party view
View attachment 207195

(My DH is holding up a chocolate covered strawberry above because those are my FAVORITES...and they had them at the MVMCP dessert party too! YUM!!!!)

View attachment 207196

Just a reminder...the tables are no longer assigned and people do not stand up against the railing (no one pictured here was with us...just folks that were in front of us).

ALSO...They had very pretty royal blue over white table cloths and lanterns on the tables during the MVMCP dessert party. It was a nice touch.


Crowds at parade viewing area at 7:30pm:
At 7:30pm, we were the second or third group to enter the parade viewing area. We had our choice of spots. The entrance to the party was behind us so we did not see when most of the area began filling up, but spots around us filled up by 8:00pm. However, people were arriving even after the parade had begun down in Frontierland. I even saw them bringing one group with Lanyards over to our area even as the parade turned onto Main Street around 8:50pm. So you certainly do not have to get there as early as we did and I think most people will have a good view of the parade even if they aren't looking down Main Street.

another weirdo question from me.

since it is no assigned seating are people basically rushing the tomorrowland terrace after the parade for good fireworks viewing? My kiddo moves kind of slow, esp at that time of night... I worry we'll have a bad view.

 

[J and R's mom]

Has anyone met the Country Bears this year? I read that they are roaming this year and don't have a specific spot. Can someone explain this to me, how do you find them?

When we were there for the 11/15/2016 MVMCP event, we looked through the window at Cosmic Rays in Tomorrowland and saw two of them dancing inside there (I think they hold a dance party in a section of Cosmic Rays now...and the Country Bears were dancing in there for at least part of the night).

Probably about 10:55pm that night (right before the second parade was set to begin), we were headed down the center of the street in Frontierland headed to Fantasyland and had TWO COUNTRY BEARS sneak up on us and then STEAL MY MOM'S CANE. It was AWESOME!!! I was pushing her in her wheel chair (the cane was on her lap while I was pushing her), but by the time I was able to grab my phone to take a picture they had already given her her cane back. But they were still being silly with her. It was so FUN!!! Those sitting along the side were laughing and enjoying the show. When the one bear took the cane, he did a little walk/dance with it down the road. The other one kept petting on my mom and trying to push her wheel chair. It was a HOOT!!! This was the only "decent" shot I was able to get...



So to answer your question, they are sometimes dancing in Cosmic Rays...and sometimes trying to steal canes in the middle of the street in front of LOTS of witnesses in Frontierland.

 

[areno79]

Fireworks Viewing:
Opinions vary on this view of the fireworks. We LIKE this view. It is slightly off to the side, but then again....Tinkerbell flies right over the top of your head. You have a great view of the Castle itself and BEST OF ALL in our opinion is that you are SEATED at a nice table with refreshments and do not have intense crowds all around you or kids on shoulders right in front of you. I did not get pictures during this party, but here are two pictures back from our April 2015 dessert party in the same location (but they had assigned tables back then and people would then go to the railing to watch the show...NOW, the tables are up against the railing and no one can go stand up against the rails in front of the tables).

APRIL 2015 Party View...similar to MVMCP dessert party view
View attachment 207195

(My DH is holding up a chocolate covered strawberry above because those are my FAVORITES...and they had them at the MVMCP dessert party too! YUM!!!!)

View attachment 207196

Just a reminder...the tables are no longer assigned and people do not stand up against the railing (no one pictured here was with us...just folks that were in front of us).

ALSO...They had very pretty royal blue over white table cloths and lanterns on the tables during the MVMCP dessert party. It was a nice touch.


Crowds at parade viewing area at 7:30pm:
At 7:30pm, we were the second or third group to enter the parade viewing area. We had our choice of spots. The entrance to the party was behind us so we did not see when most of the area began filling up, but spots around us filled up by 8:00pm. However, people were arriving even after the parade had begun down in Frontierland. I even saw them bringing one group with Lanyards over to our area even as the parade turned onto Main Street around 8:50pm. So you certainly do not have to get there as early as we did and I think most people will have a good view of the parade even if they aren't looking down Main Street.

Thank you!! I'm glad to hear the big draw of the party is avoiding crowds. I get anxious when I feel surrounded by people and unable to move, especially during fireworks.

 

[Lisa F]

Thank you!! I'm glad to hear the big draw of the party is avoiding crowds. I get anxious when I feel surrounded by people and unable to move, especially during fireworks.

so you may be "planking" one way or the other lol

 

[J and R's mom]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed and thoughtful review. I have done christmas parties in the past but my kiddo never has. We did MNSSHP in 2014 when he was 6 and we showed up a 4, rode a ton of rides, ate a lousy QS dinner at cosmic ray's, did trick or treating until it was time to wait for the parade then did parade, fireworks and he pooped out and we left. It felt really worth it to me still, lol, and was a highlight of our trip. So to me the dessert party has a similar sort of a timeline... we had to stake out a good spot for the parade at around 7pm anyway and spent a good portion of the party waiting for the parade and fireworks... so I'm not sure how this would be different only less crowded and more comfortable.

that said I am totally fine with doing things once and being done with them, lol. People seem to take that as some kind of a bad review... if you don't want to do it over and over it's not worth doing once. This MVMCP will be toward the end of our trip and I think it would be fun to do the party (I do have it booked). I think my kiddo would love to ice the sugar cookies and since it is so late in the day and toward the end of our trip, the more laid back way to enjoy the two highlights IMO of MVMCP (the parade and fireworks) will be the way to go.

wondering what my other dessert party buds are thinking though @areno79 @Candycane83 @Mrs. Inc

I'm right there with you! And you guys sound like this will be a perfect fit for you plans that night. We all REALLY LIKED IT and are very glad we decided to give it a try.

another weirdo question from me.

since it is no assigned seating are people basically rushing the tomorrowland terrace after the parade for good fireworks viewing? My kiddo moves kind of slow, esp at that time of night... I worry we'll have a bad view.

They did seem to try and rush and crowd together to get a "prime" table. But honestly, all of the tables were good. I was definitely slower getting us over there because I was pushing my mom in a wheel chair...and they do not have specific tables set up for wheel chair access...but that wasn't needed anyway. We had a table in the "back"...no other tables were behind us. But our view was still really nice and not obstructed by anyone or anything. I do not think that they are putting in as many tables at this event as they do at the regular dessert party, but I have no official proof of that.

Thank you!! I'm glad to hear the big draw of the party is avoiding crowds. I get anxious when I feel surrounded by people and unable to move, especially during fireworks.

ME TOO!!!

I start to feel claustrophobic with all of those folks right up on me...and it gets even worse right after it all ends and people start shoving and pushing us on their way to leave. With the dessert party, we were able wait at a nice, un-crowded table while SEATED until the crowd around the Castle area thinned out some. It was GREAT!

 

[BlueFairy]

@littlejen22 - 11/18 they came out about 7pm in front of country bears. All 4 of them.

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

The lines are pretty open and when i met the 7 dwarves a couple years ago I asked the line attendent if it was ok to stand in line (this was well over an hour before they would even come out. ) and have my family meet me later. They were ok with it. In fact most of the people around me did that.

Yep this has been the standard we have seen at MNSSHP before. And we just do pics of the kids so we don't take up as much time as people doing multiple groupings.

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

When we were there for the 11/15/2016 MVMCP event, we looked through the window at Cosmic Rays in Tomorrowland and saw two of them dancing inside there (I think they hold a dance party in a section of Cosmic Rays now...and the Country Bears were dancing in there for at least part of the night).

Probably about 10:55pm that night (right before the second parade was set to begin), we were headed down the center of the street in Frontierland headed to Fantasyland and had TWO COUNTRY BEARS sneak up on us and then STEAL MY MOM'S CANE. It was AWESOME!!! I was pushing her in her wheel chair (the cane was on her lap while I was pushing her), but by the time I was able to grab my phone to take a picture they had already given her her cane back. But they were still being silly with her. It was so FUN!!! Those sitting along the side were laughing and enjoying the show. When the one bear took the cane, he did a little walk/dance with it down the road. The other one kept petting on my mom and trying to push her wheel chair. It was a HOOT!!! This was the only "decent" shot I was able to get...

View attachment 207199

So to answer your question, they are sometimes dancing in Cosmic Rays...and sometimes trying to steal canes in the middle of the street in front of LOTS of witnesses in Frontierland.

What a great story, I love when the characters interact with the adults as well as the kids.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

Afraid not.

You can try ebay, I've seen them on there before. I don't think your chances will be great, but that's the only place I've seen them re-sold.

 

[Northernlites]

You do not need to scan the MVMCP tickets to be used for fast passes.

What do you use to scan for the fast passes then?

 

[Sharla75]

He does not. They hand out pre-printed cards with a copy of his autograph on it instead.

Does anyone know if the same is also true for Nick and Judy?

 

[Cluelyss]

Does anyone know if the same is also true for Nick and Judy?

Yes. Pooh and friends as well.

The dwarfs don't sign either, but no card there.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

What do you use to scan for the fast passes then?

They meant that the MVMCP tickets did not need to be scanned for entry into the park in order to use the FP's associated with them. It was in response to a group that also had AP's and was going to be in the park earlier on those entry tickets - not just on the MVMCP tickets.

 

[YayDisney]

We are doing a Universal trip the week before Christmas but are slipping over to Disney for the party on December 22nd. I already purchased my tickets and was e-mailed printable tickets to take with us. My question is, how do those paper tickets work with FP+? We plan to arrive at MK at 3:30 so we can get in right at 4:00 and want to take advantage of our 3 allotted FP+ before the party starts at 7:00. Anyone know if we can just use the tickets we printed out at home as our fastpasses?? Or will they exchange our printed paper tickets with a hard ticket of some kind when we enter that we will need to use?? We've never been to Disney when we weren't staying on property so this is different than anything we've done before. Thanks!

Bumping this question -

We haven't done the Christmas party in years and FP+ wasn't around then. I actually don't remember using any FP for rides then.

I was contemplating getting tickets and driving up this Sunday and driving back that night (I know it's crazy, but we are close enough) so this FP+ question is a good one - if you get etickets for the party and you are not staying in any of the hotels, what do you use for FP+?

Also, are the FP+ options only available before 7? So during the party there is no FP?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Mrs. Inc]

Fireworks Viewing:
Opinions vary on this view of the fireworks. We LIKE this view. It is slightly off to the side, but then again....Tinkerbell flies right over the top of your head. You have a great view of the Castle itself and BEST OF ALL in our opinion is that you are SEATED at a nice table with refreshments and do not have intense crowds all around you or kids on shoulders right in front of you. I did not get pictures during this party, but here are two pictures back from our April 2015 dessert party in the same location (but they had assigned tables back then and people would then go to the railing to watch the show...NOW, the tables are up against the railing and no one can go stand up against the rails in front of the tables).

APRIL 2015 Party View...similar to MVMCP dessert party view
View attachment 207195

(My DH is holding up a chocolate covered strawberry above because those are my FAVORITES...and they had them at the MVMCP dessert party too! YUM!!!!)

View attachment 207196

Just a reminder...the tables are no longer assigned and people do not stand up against the railing (no one pictured here was with us...just folks that were in front of us).

ALSO...They had very pretty royal blue over white table cloths and lanterns on the tables during the MVMCP dessert party. It was a nice touch.


Crowds at parade viewing area at 7:30pm:
At 7:30pm, we were the second or third group to enter the parade viewing area. We had our choice of spots. The entrance to the party was behind us so we did not see when most of the area began filling up, but spots around us filled up by 8:00pm. However, people were arriving even after the parade had begun down in Frontierland. I even saw them bringing one group with Lanyards over to our area even as the parade turned onto Main Street around 8:50pm. So you certainly do not have to get there as early as we did and I think most people will have a good view of the parade even if they aren't looking down Main Street.

Thank you so much for this review.....we were pretty set on going anyway, but your review makes me happy! Good view for the parade, seats for the fireworks, decent snacks...what's not to love? I get the time issue, but we splurged on two parties that week.. (There's only two of us), so I imagine we will have seen almost everything we want to see by the end of both. A slower, relaxing pace suits me just fine! And then we will still have 1.5 hours to run around after the fireworks to do anything DD wants to do before we leave. Yippee!

 

[Northernlites]

Bumping this question -

We haven't done the Christmas party in years and FP+ wasn't around then. I actually don't remember using any FP for rides then.

I was contemplating getting tickets and driving up this Sunday and driving back that night (I know it's crazy, but we are close enough) so this FP+ question is a good one - if you get etickets for the party and you are not staying in any of the hotels, what do you use for FP+?

Also, are the FP+ options only available before 7? So during the party there is no FP?

Thanks in advance!!

I too need to know this.