Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party or Not??

[cousininmiami]

We will be in WDW for a 4 day weekend in December. Of the countless trips to Disney, we haven't been between Thanksgiving and New Years for 8 years. We are always too busy during the holidays and go, and we have usually been two or three other times during the year already. But this year is different, we are going! So I have some questions...

1. Is the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party worth the extra $200 it will cost (3) of us? And our son is 15 years old.

2. If we go on an alternate night to Magic Kingdom, will the castle be lit with the "ice" lights on other nights??

3. What time do the Osbourne lights go on??

4. Any other "must do" suggestions

We are staying at The Boardwalk, and I seriously can't wait!!!!!

[Amy]

1. We've never been to the party. We probably would not spend that much more to go.

2. Yes, the castle lights up with the fireworks and is beautiful!

3. I think the Osborne lights are put around dusk, maybe 6-ish? It is on the park schedule.

4. If you like celebrities, and/or the nativity story, the candlelight processional is a beautiful way to spend an hour or so in EPCOT.

[boilerbabe]

How fun!!!! I would highly recomment MVMCP! My husband and I love it! They make it snow on Main St., they serve you hot cocoa, cookies and just puts you in a good mood! The parade is awesome and so is the Castle. We've really enjoyed it! If memory serves me correctly, the Castle will be lit other than just during the Christmas party and it's breath taking! The Osborne lights are a must do, I'm not sure what time they turn on, but you will love it! Also, check out the resorts and their decorations! The Boardwalk is awesome and walk across to the YC/BC, their displays are great too! We love the GF and the life size Gingerbread house too! There is so much to do at Disney during Christmas, I hope you and your family have a wonderful trip!

[Sleepy90]

I was going to say the gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian. I say a Disney blog on this the other day and they sell the shingle roof tiles in the shop in the house real gingerbread shingles with chocolate covering on one side. Wish I could be there at Christmas time I so want one of those.

[Amy]

One word of caution, if you do go when it is "snowing" on Main Street. Do not try to catch the "snowflakes" on your tongue! It is really sort of funny to watch people, kids and adults alike, open their mouths and stick out their tongues in anticipation of catching one. When they get one, they quickly realize the "snow" doesn't taste very good

[Wizzard419]

It kind of depends on what you want to get out of it, if the only thing you want to see is the castle, then I think you can watch Holiday Wishes or whatever the show it called, and not have to pay the extra admission.

[wewantsdaredhead]

1) I wouldn't pay extra for it again, but some people think it's "the cat's meow." Like B-Babe said, it puts you in a good Christmas-y mood, but its a bit pricey.
2) They light the castle a little earlier and then the fireworks come later, so , Yes, you will be able to see it all lit up even without MVMCP tickets.
3) Osbourne lights go on at dusk and they are a MUST see! Like Amy said, be sure and read the park schedule for the exact time. Oh and one thing I didn't know was that there was a "flow" to them. You start in the back of the park and walk your way around toward the front. They dont move you along or anything, you can hang around and see everything. I guess I should say that there is an "entrance" and an "exit" but everything else is up to you. I talk about how confused I was about this in my Christmastime Trip Report from last year...
4) I spent one whole day just visiting resorts to see the decorations. It was well worth it. And like Sleepy90 said, you can buy the tiles from the gingerbread house at the GF. They are YUMMY!! I wish I had bought about 4 more
Holiday Wishes is a must also. My favorite part was when they lit the castle up in a deep green and played O Tannenbaum. AWESOME!!!

I am excited for you! It is a magical time of year...
I think the Marauder Meetup is just a few days after the lights come down

[Chernabog]

1. No, not at all. The reason being you can experience 85% of it w/o paying the add'l money. I went a few years back & could not wait for the snow on Main Street. It never happened, I was bummed. The hot chocolate is nice, but it is not worth all the $$ for that. The parade is very good, but that is really all you are paying for. As the folks mentioned already, you can always see the castle and the park is decorated all day/season. I guess I compare it to the MNSSHP where the park actually transforms, you can trick or treat, you have the parade, stories, special fireworks, characters in costume, and a few other cool things, etc. While I would, and have, done that one again (3 times so far), I would not do the MVMCP again, especially since they keep jacking up the price!

I'm going down in December myself w/a Grand Gathering of family in the double digits and not buying these tickets was an easy decision.

2. Yes, that is my understanding.

3. Dusk, and very impressive. (I also heard it snows there, but alas, not for me!)

4. Any other "must do" suggestions - the EPCOT Candlelight Procession is very nice. We did it once and are not doing it this year, if that tells you anything. Boiler Babe is right on w/checking out the hotels. If time is tight, just do the monorail loop, but if you can, Wilderness Lodge was made for Christmas! AK also does a Christmas themed parade that is very clever & fun.

We are staying at the BC and I am very much looking forward to seeing what the decor will be there, the YC & BW!

If anyone has any other suggestions let me know too!

[Soarin08]

The castle is lit up regardless during the holidays at MK, that isn't anything specific to MVMCP.

I've never done the party but I would say for that cost, I'd definitely choose the Candlelight Processional dinner package at Epcot instead. Your son might find that more to his liking, dinner and then the reading of the Christmas story/mass choir and then Holiday IllumiNations. Definitely found it is more in tune with the true meaning of the holidays than Holiday Wishes. And MK is insane right around the actual holiday anyway.

[Wyntuck]

Save your 200.00.
Yes, it's very festive, fun, beautiful and everything, but I don't think it's worth the extra bucks, unless u are a supreme disney fanatic, or really want to see the Christmas parade. Take in the Osbourne's light display or the best show on property, the Candlelight Processional. Get the dining package, so you have guaranteed seating.
Have a great time!

[Wizzard419]

I'd also say if you want to "take part" in the christmas day parade and have a flexible schedule, you could always go in early/mid december, that's when they film it at DLR and WDW.

[Torylovesdisney]

I figured you would get a mixed batch of responses here. For me, it wasn't worth the money, however, I will say the parade is awesome!! The cookies were yummy and don't they have a dance show or something? I dunno now I'm thinking maybe you should go. The other problem is MK will close early on that day which is kind of not cool. It is a once in a lifetime kind of trip so the more I think about it the more I say, Go for it!! -- tory

[Goofyfan]

Wow. I have never been to Disney at Christmas time. It sounds wonderful. One of these years we have to go. The Osborne light show sound awsome. I think I am a little..... OK a lot jealous.


If anyone has any shots of the other resorts. please post them. I would love to see them.

[Soarin08]

Wow. I have never been to Disney at Christmas time. It sounds wonderful. One of these years we have to go. The Osborne light show sound awsome. I think I am a little..... OK a lot jealous.


If anyone has any shots of the other resorts. please post them. I would love to see them.

I have some from the Grand Floridian in 2008 (gingerbread houses included, I think) if anyone wants to see.

[wewantsdaredhead]

Wow. I have never been to Disney at Christmas time. It sounds wonderful. One of these years we have to go. The Osborne light show sound awsome. I think I am a little..... OK a lot jealous.


If anyone has any shots of the other resorts. please post them. I would love to see them.

Goofyfan: Check out my trip report from Christmas viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6809 at that link...
it has some pictures I took of the resorts and some other things