I'm torn between telling you every little single thing so we don't miss a moment of the merry events or sights and keeping the whole thing under wraps so you both have that "moment".
I'm going to share becuase I've done this celebration a few times and every single time I see the castle lit and watch the snowflakes fall I get tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. It never fails. It's that magical and that special.
Seeing it on video and in person are two completely different events and showing you a sneak peak won't ruin it.
I've just ordered our tickets for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party or MVMCP. (Yes, I've ordered everyone's tickets. We are all going, together, as a happy family. We will pick them up the night of at the ticket window at Magic Kingdom.)
Here is a little bit about it:
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
(MVMCP)
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a special night of holiday entertainment in the Magic Kingdom that includes: Castle Dream Lights; Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade featuring Santa Claus; special Holiday Wishes - Celebrate the Spirit of the Season Fireworks; Celebrate the Season Castle Stage Show; snow on Main Street, U.S.A.; complimentary hot cocoa and cookies. The party runs from 7 p.m. to midnight; Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is at 8:15 and 10:30 p.m.; Holiday Wishes fireworks is at 9:30 p.m.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party features:
Castle Dream Lights on Cinderella Castle
Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade
Holiday Wishes Fireworks
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show
Celebrate The Season Show
Meet and greet opportunities with Disney Characters
Character Dance Parties
Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa
Magical snow fall on Main Street
Many of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions
Hours:
The official hours of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) are 7 PM to midnight.
However, guests attending the party are admitted as early as 4 PM. The turnstiles on the right hand side are used for party guests and the turnstiles on the left are used for day guests. Note, even though you may enter the park before the party starts, the special events do not begin until 7 PM.
Times of MVMCP shows, parade and fireworks:
Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade: 8:15 and 10:30 PM
Holiday Wishes Fireworks: 9:30 PM
"A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas" Show: 7:45, 8:45, 9:55, 10:50 & 11:45 PM
"Celebrate The Season" Show: 7:45, 10:05 & 11:20 PM
Character Meet & Greets: 7:00 - 11:30 PM
Magic Kingdom attractions that will be in operation:
Adventureland:
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Swiss Family Treehouse
Frontierland:
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Country Bear Jamboree
Liberty Square:
The Haunted Mansion
Fantasyland:
Peter Pan's Flight
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Snow White's Scary Adventures
It's A Small World
Tomorrowland:
Astro Orbiter
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Space Mountain
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Stitch's Great Escape
Tomorrowland Speedway
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Where to purchase something to eat:
Main Street:
Casey's Corner
Main Street Sweets
Frontierland:
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe (closes at 10:00 PM)
Westward Ho
Turkey Leg Cart
Frontierland Churros & Pretzels
Liberty Square:
Sleepy Hollow
Fantasyland:
Storybook Treats
Tomorrowland:
Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe
The Lunching Pat at Rockettower Plaza
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What Special Holidays Happenings are at the Magic Kingdom?
Castle Dream Lights -- When daylight has passed during the holiday season, Magic Kingdom guests can behold a breathtaking transformation during the Castle Dream Lights ceremony.
Each evening November 8 and continuing through January 3, 2012, Cinderella and favorite characters decked out in holiday garb take to the stage and magically transform Cinderella Castle into an ice palace aglow with 200,000 white lights – a perfect centerpiece to a park all decked out with wreaths, bows, garland and towering Christmas trees.
Mickey's Once upon a Christmastime Parade celebrates the many festive moods of the holiday season, showcasing a series of holiday themes including a Friends and Family Christmastime Party, a sleigh ride through a Winter Wonderland, a romantic Fairy Tale Christmastime, a scrumptious display of Christmastime sweets, and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus in a grand finale. And for longtime Disney Christmas parade fans: Soldiers, Snowflakes and dancing deer are all still in the parade. The parade features original music as well as both classic and current holiday tunes.
A number of special holiday shows take place from mid-December on.
The Magic Kingdom Tree lighting ceremony takes place most nights on Main Street.
Celebrate the Season at Castle Forecourt Stage is performed daily beginning mid-December.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a special "hard ticket" event.
Tell me more about Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, which kicks off at 7 p.m. on select evenings (after regular Magic Kingdom closing), is pure, time-honored Disney magic.
Holiday revelers can sip cocoa, catch a "snowflake" on a fingertip and catch the spirit of the season through enchanting entertainment that includes live shows, fireworks, carolers and special character meet and greets.
Dancing gingerbread, marching soldiers and Santa's sleigh parade down Main Street, U.S.A. to seasonal melodies during the twice-nightly "Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade".
Cinderella Castle is draped radiantly with 200,000 glistening white lights and "Holiday Wishes, Celebrate the Spirit of the Season" fireworks lights the night sky during a pyrotechnics show orchestrated to holiday melodies.
The night wouldn't be complete without the forecasted flurry of snowflakes along Main Street, U.S.A. and a warming cup of cocoa in hand. Party-goers also enjoy complimentary cookies and apple slices and enjoy unlimited admission to favorite attractions.
Holiday stage shows include the following:
Celebrate the Season at the Castle and Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show in Tomorrowland's new theatre.
The parade is spectacular and is accompanied by great Disney Magic and Music.
How much does MVMCP cost? Is it offered every night?
A separate admission ticket is required.
Hours – 7 p.m. - midnight
2011 party dates and times:
November 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29, and 30;
December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, and 18
Prices for the party are as follows (all prices listed include tax):
Advance Purchase for November 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 29, and 30; December 4, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14: $60.66 for adults 10 and older / $55.33 for ages 3-9
Passholder and DVC Member Discounts for November 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 29, 30; December 4, 6: $56.40 / $51.07
Day of Event (if still available): $67.05 /$61.72
Tickets go on sale May 8, 2011.
Children under 3 are admitted free.
Buy your tickets early! A number of MVMCP events SELL OUT! For more information, call 407-W-DISNEY.
In previous years, the park would close and then reopen. Now the park stays open through regular closing time. Be sure to get a special MVMCP wristband before 7 p.m. Cast Members will direct guests without the bands to leave the park.
This sounds like a lot of fun, but is it overly crowded?
WDW limits the number of tickets sold in order to keep the crowds down and many nights do sell out in advance. It is estimated that tickets max out around 20,000.
I have never been, what tips can you give me?
Buy a Disney Holiday Hat and Join in the Fun!
Santa Hats with Mickey Ears and Reindeer Horns with Mickey Ears are Available.
Ride the Mountains during the First Parade!
Enjoy the special shows.
Take in the Snow on Main Street!
Visit the characters in Fantasyland later in the evening.
Make sure to watch the Special Fireworks!
Watch the second showing of the parade.
Pace yourself -- the park empties quite a bit by midnight and you'll have most attractions to yourself.
The very first MVMCP was held on December 16, 1983.
Character Meet & Greets –
If you want to meet all of the characters at the Party, this is one area where you might want to employ a bit of strategy. First, get in line early (prior to 7 pm) for the Seven Dwarfs.
As long as you visit the Dwarfs early before a line accumulates, you should be fine. The stars of the party, the Country Bears, rarely attract crowds (more like, “who are you?” questions) as they wander the parks, and they are an incredible amount of fun if you stick around to ‘play’ with the bears.
If you happen to find them inside the Adventureland Veranda (the hot cocoa spot in Adventureland) or the Golden Horseshoe, you can really have some fun with them. We spent nearly an hour at one party doing this.
In years past, Mickey & Minnie have been most accessible near the very end of the party. The same may not be true in 2011, as people may try to meet them as they exit the park. Keep this in mind when contemplating when you should visit them, and Santa Claus.
Complimentary Cookies & Hot Cocoa –
There are stations to get these all over the park. Although reasonable mind can differ on this, I think these free refreshments are delicious. Just thinking about them as I write this makes me hungry, and transports me back to memories of many a cold night sipping on hot cocoa to keep warm (it doesn’t work, but hey, why not try?!). Lines for refreshments can get bad near the front of the park (Crystal Palace especially) near the parade-time, but most of the time, you won’t encounter too bad of crowds.
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I know that when it comes to our planning I don't have much say and I often leave the decision making to Mike. At this time of year though, there are a few things I really would love to do and will totally whine like a bitchy baby to get my way.
One of the things I really want to do again this year is visit as many of the resorts as I can to see their Christmas decorations.
Clearly we will see the Boardwalk and I'd like to go over one night and see the Yacht & Beach and maybe one afternoon we could do the Monorail circut and see the decorations at the Contemporary, then the Poly and then then Grand Floridian. I've also heard that the decorations at the Wilderness Lodge are not to be missed.
One of the other things I'd really like to do this year is a sleigh ride. I think the boys would get a huge kick out of it.
Price: $60.00 per group
Can accommodate 4 adults or 2 adults with 3 children ages 9 and under.
This 25 minute sleigh ride departs every 30 minutes from 5:30 - 9:30pm. Check in at the Blacksmith's shop near the Settlement area.
This excursion can be booked up to 180 days in advance by calling 407-WDW-PLAY
A relaxing and cozy 25 -minute carriage ride through Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
- $45.00 for 25 minutes (includes tax)
- Tickets are sold by the carriage drivers
- Cash and Disney Resort guest room charge only. No credit cards are accepted
- Small carriage holds 2 adults and 1 small child.
- Large carriage holds 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 small children.
- Reservations nightly (weather permitting)
- Begins at 6:00 pm with the last ride departing at 9:30pm
- Departs from Crockett’s Tavern at Pioneer Hall.
- Beverages are permitted
Advance reservations can be made up to 180 days ahead by calling 407-WDW-PLAY. A $45 fee for no-shows or cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will apply.
Carriage Rides may be cancelled due to weather problems
A relaxing and cozy 25 -minute carriage ride through Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort
- $45.00 for 25 minutes (includes tax)
- Tickets are sold by the carriage drivers
- Cash and Disney Resort guest room charge only. No credit cards are accepted
- Large carriage holds 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 small children.
- Reservations nightly (weather permitting)
- Begins at 6:00 pm with the last ride departing at 9:30pm
- Departs from in front of the Boatwright's Dining Hall
- Beverages are permitted
Advance reservations can be made up to 180 days ahead by calling 407-WDW-PLAY. A $45 fee for no-shows or cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will apply.
Carriage Rides may be cancelled due to weather problems
Click this link for info:
http://www.passporter.com/articles/sleigh-rides-at-walt-disney-world.html
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I would also love to get a group photo with Santa Claus at Downtown Disney.
At Downtown Disney you can enjoy the Festival of the Seasons. Window shopping takes on a whole new meaning as you enjoy the wonderful holiday displays celebrating traditions from different cultures.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
At the Marketplace, you'll find Santa Claus waiting to greet you at his chalet in front of the World of Disney store. You can take your own pictures or use PhotoPass:
November 19, 2010 - November 26, 2010 (Santa Claus)
5:00 pm - 9:30 pm daily
November 27, 2010 - December 24, 2010 (Santa Claus)
12:00 pm - 9:30 pm daily
December 25, 2010 - January 3, 2011 (Santa Goofy)
3:00 pm - 9:30 pm daily
Throughout the Holiday season, you'll find school choirs performing at the Dock Stage as well as DJ Dance Parties.
If we can't catch him there we can meet him at the Magic Kingdom:
MEET SANTA CLAUS
Santa Claus will be meeting and greeting Magic Kingdom guests from 10:00am - 6:00pm at the Tour Guide Gardens next to City Hall.
Santa Claus will be meeting and greeting Magic Kingdom guests from 10:00am - 6:00pm at the Tour Guide Gardens next to City Hall.
You can also visit Santa during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party until he's needed for his very important role in the parade.
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One of the other things is photos with the characters. I know, we did a lot in April and why the hell do we have to go and see Mickey Mouse AGAIN but we do. I have two small guys who are growing insanely fast before my eyes and I need to document them as often as I can. That means a photo or two with some of the characters.
One of the other things I do at Christmas is I bring a string of lights with me along with a couple of suction cups and I hang lights out on our balcony and if I'm feeling extra festive, I bring some decorations for inside the room. Makes it a little more fun to come "home" to.
Pack as much of your holiday spirit and joy to the world and kindness and patience. It's a crowded time of year but insanely magical and I'm super excited to go!
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