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

[sabrecmc]

I was reading it, and it sounds like it takes up a lot of the night. That's not to say it won't be good for some, but just be aware!

Here's what it says:

• Starting at 7:30 PM, Guests will meet at the parade viewing area located by the flag pole in Town Square to see Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, which begins at 8:35 PM.
• After the parade, Guests will be escorted back to Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant—the location for both the dessert party and Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season fireworks at 10:00 PM.

So it sounds like you get great views of the parade & fireworks, but it'll basically run from 7:30pm - 10:30pm... most of the party!

I'm kind of assuming it is similar to the other events like this we have done where you can check in at 7:30 and get your seat or wait until closer to the parade time and not get as great a seat, but they are still perfectly good seats. And then you can stay for after the fireworks and eat your dessert or just leave, so while the time available is that long, you don't necessarily have to actually spend all that time there. I will definitely be watching for reviews though. We don't go until 12/22, so it will be a crowded night. Anything to cut down on some of the craziness is good by me.

 

[J and R's mom]

I'm kind of assuming it is similar to the other events like this we have done where you can check in at 7:30 and get your seat or wait until closer to the parade time and not get as great a seat, but they are still perfectly good seats. And then you can stay for after the fireworks and eat your dessert or just leave, so while the time available is that long, you don't necessarily have to actually spend all that time there. I will definitely be watching for reviews though. We don't go until 12/22, so it will be a crowded night. Anything to cut down on some of the craziness is good by me.

I was assuming the same thing, especially once I read this on the WDW website as well:

• Guests who miss the parade viewing can check in directly at Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant at 9:30 PM.

If this is one's first MVMCP, this type of event might not be worth it. It will take up quite a bit of time from other party events. Since we have been doing these parties off-and-on since 2000, we are looking forward to this event. Especially since these parties have become quite crowded over the past 16 years compared to the early ones. Even the second parade viewing has become harder to find a spot for. We used to be able to walk right up to the rope as the 2nd parade was starting and had plenty of room to choose from. That hasn't been our experience in years, though.

 

[ckelly14]

I'm considering the dessert party but the times seem to be different from last year. Last year parade at 8:15, now 8:35, Holiday Wishes at 10 instead of 9:30. Do you think they may do away with the second parade?

 

[Becky Mouse]

I'm considering the dessert party but the times seem to be different from last year. Last year parade at 8:15, now 8:35, Holiday Wishes at 10 instead of 9:30. Do you think they may do away with the second parade?

Oooh, good point. Maybe my 6:45 BOG won't result in me missing the parade & fireworks after all. I'll have to think about that for a while!

 

[cheryl1976]

If my memory is correct, the 8:35 time is when the parade actually reaches the flag pole viewing area not when it starts. We attended the dessert party last year during the Halloween party and that was the case there.

 

[ckelly14]

If my memory is correct, the 8:35 time is when the parade actually reaches the flag pole viewing area not when it starts. We attended the dessert party last year during the Halloween party and that was the case there.

Good point, but the fireworks certainly is later than last year.

 

[ckelly14]

Oooh, good point. Maybe my 6:45 BOG won't result in me missing the parade & fireworks after all. I'll have to think about that for a while!

I may also try to score an early BOG dinner if things are moved back a smidge.

 

[BlueFairy]

Question regarding tickets for the party -- we will have magic your way tickets and the party tickets on the magic band. They are on MDE.

Will the system know which one we're using via the band, or is it just a smarter idea to bring the physical cards with us and then use the bands for the rest of the evening? I don't want to get dinged for one of our tickets because the system was wrong.

Just want to say that I think you are wise to consider having paper tickets and using those if you don't want to burn a ticket off your MYW that day. I have definitely read reports of the system assuming that one set of tickets has precedent over the other. It can be a huge headache. Do research with some other threads to get the scoop.

Your magic bands will still work once in the park AFAIK.

 

[MonaMN]

Just want to say that I think you are wise to consider having paper tickets and using those if you don't want to burn a ticket off your MYW that day. I have definitely read reports of the system assuming that one set of tickets has precedent over the other. It can be a huge headache. Do research with some other threads to get the scoop.

Your magic bands will still work once in the park AFAIK.

We did that with MNSSHP last year - used our plastic tickets to get in, then used MBs in the park for the FPs we'd set up and whatnot. Worked great.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Pictures of my time there...that was almost 2 years ago freaking crazy how time flies!

 

[courtneybeth]

We bought into the parade and fireworks viewing party since that's what we wanted to see. We will be late arrivals to the parade and the fireworks dessert party... using our time to meet characters while dressed in dumb holiday clothes (hey- we want good Xmas card photos for once!) and just enjoy the ambiance of the park. We're not there for rides but really just to enjoy the magical experience

I'm assuming we can get into the parade area at 815? For the Dessert Party can we arrive at 930? We don't need a good seat or whatever. We can hold a plate and just enjoy the "moment"

 

[Bethislucy]

It’s been several years (5+) since I have attended a MVMCP and the crowds weren't bad then although that doesn’t seem to be the case now. At first I was like absolutely not, I won’t pay that to go. Now I’m kind of toying with the idea of Dec 11th it’s a Sunday. Are the crowds any lighter on a Sunday than a different night of the week? If this was asked in the thread already, I’m sorry. I didn’t go back and read all 35 pages. We skipped it last year in Nov and I kind of missed that extra Christmas touch I just don’t know if I want to do this or a dinner CP package. So if you’ve been on a Sunday in mid-December let me know what you think. Thanks!!!

 

[MaizeRage25]

It’s been several years (5+) since I have attended a MVMCP and the crowds weren't bad then although that doesn’t seem to be the case now. At first I was like absolutely not, I won’t pay that to go. Now I’m kind of toying with the idea of Dec 11th it’s a Sunday. Are the crowds any lighter on a Sunday than a different night of the week? If this was asked in the thread already, I’m sorry. I didn’t go back and read all 35 pages. We skipped it last year in Nov and I kind of missed that extra Christmas touch I just don’t know if I want to do this or a dinner CP package. So if you’ve been on a Sunday in mid-December let me know what you think. Thanks!!!

I think the mid-week (Tues/Thurs) are typically less crowded than Fri/Sun.

 

[Becky Mouse]

It’s been several years (5+) since I have attended a MVMCP and the crowds weren't bad then although that doesn’t seem to be the case now. At first I was like absolutely not, I won’t pay that to go. Now I’m kind of toying with the idea of Dec 11th it’s a Sunday. Are the crowds any lighter on a Sunday than a different night of the week? If this was asked in the thread already, I’m sorry. I didn’t go back and read all 35 pages. We skipped it last year in Nov and I kind of missed that extra Christmas touch I just don’t know if I want to do this or a dinner CP package. So if you’ve been on a Sunday in mid-December let me know what you think. Thanks!!!

TouringPlans makes predictions on crowd levels for each party date. They say that, last year, the equivalent Sunday that you're looking at sold out 1 day in advance:
http://blog.touringplans.com/2016/04/07/least-crowded-disney-world-christmas-party-2016/

With 1 being the best/lowest crowds, they rank it 18/20--so pretty crowded. However, remember only a limited number of tickets sell! I actually have never been to the party before, so I can't tell you first hand how the crowds are on sold out party nights.

 

[jpwest]

Disney released a dessert party for the Christmas parties: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/wishes-fireworks-holiday-dessert-party/

I grabbed reservations for our MVMCP night (11/18). Probably not worth it, but I like knowing we'll have good spots for the parade and fireworks. That said, I'll be watching the reviews from the first few nights closely, and will decide prior to the 5-day cancellation deadline.

 

[jillyh]

I grabbed reservations for our MVMCP night (11/18). Probably not worth it, but I like knowing we'll have good spots for the parade and fireworks. That said, I'll be watching the reviews from the first few nights closely, and will decide prior to the 5-day cancellation deadline.

You, me and a bunch of other peeps on the DIS

 

[courtneybeth]

I grabbed reservations for our MVMCP night (11/18). Probably not worth it, but I like knowing we'll have good spots for the parade and fireworks. That said, I'll be watching the reviews from the first few nights closely, and will decide prior to the 5-day cancellation deadline.

Excellent idea. We're December 13 so I'd like to get my money back if people feel that it took up too much time for the party, etc.

But at least I secured my spot

 

[Regan117]

We are doing Holiday Wishes Dessert Party. It seems like they are doing it exactly like the Hallowishes one, and I love that one. In my opinion, you can get in at 4pm and use fast passes to ride things, enjoy the party from 7 until around 8pm, get to the parade viewing area around 8:30 (there are no bad spots if it's the same as Halloween), and then walk up to the dessert/fireworks portion at Tomorrowland Terrace around 9:30. There is still plenty of time after fireworks to take everything in for a couple hours before the party is over. I'm going for it. I think if the parade and fireworks are your top priority, it's great. If not, then definitely don't do it.

 

[Becky Mouse]

We are doing Holiday Wishes Dessert Party. It seems like they are doing it exactly like the Hallowishes one, and I love that one. In my opinion, you can get in at 4pm and use fast passes to ride things, enjoy the party from 7 until around 8pm, get to the parade viewing area around 8:30 (there are no bad spots if it's the same as Halloween), and then walk up to the dessert/fireworks portion at Tomorrowland Terrace. There is still plenty of time after fireworks to take everything in for a couple hours before the party is over. I'm going for it. I think if the parade and fireworks are your top priority, it's great. If not, then definitely don't do it.

Do you get to make the fastpasses ahead of time for party night? How does that work if you're not using a regular ticket?

 

[Regan117]

Do you get to make the fastpasses ahead of time for party night? How does that work if you're not using a regular ticket?

In the past, I believe you can make fast passes from 4 to 7pm. I assume it will be the same for this year.