This will be our first time attending Mickeys Christmas Party, we have our tickets, and are super excited!!! Being a rookie to this what tips can anyone offer to get the most of this, whether it be a place to be (least crowded) for the parades/shows...or a route to take while walking around, hidden gems, or even places not to bother going to because other areas are better...lol MK is a big place and we want to make sure we enjoy the party the best. THANKS!!!
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Mickey's Christmas Party!!!
- Thread starter PA-Maze
- Start date
pixiesteno
Well-Known Member
When we attended there was a carriage set up for a photopass pictures that the family could get into. The CM was so cool, they even put our teenage son in front of the carriage like he was pulling us. It was somewhere in the Liberty Square area if memory serves me correctly. You will see lots of character M & G that are not normally there and of course everything - everything is decorated to the nines for Christmas!
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Mr.Skunkape
Well-Known Member
You have 5 hours to enjoy the party so just take your time and have fun.
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journ116
Well-Known Member
I have attended MVMCP in Dec. 2008 & MNSSHP in Oct. 2007, Sept. 2010 & Oct. 2011 (and again on Nov. 2, 2012), soooo, I can relay what I learned:
1. You can enter the park as early as 4 p.m. using your MVMCP tickets. There will be a special turnstile you will enter & then EVERYONE (even children under 3 who do not need a ticket) will receive a wristband. If you are already in the park, beginning around 5 or 6 p.m., signs will be put out in certain areas (especially down Main Street) indicating that there is a "party tonite" & guests with tickets can head to the front of the park or other areas to pick up a wristband. CM's try their best to escort non-party guests out of the park around 7 p.m., but don't be surprised to see some free-loaders. However, in order to ride rides, you must present your wristband to the attending queue CM, thus curbing the free-loaders from enjoying shorter ride times.
Another reason to enter the park earlier than 7 p.m., is to catch the "Castle Lighting Ceremony" around 6:30 p.m.. It's awesome & a great way to get your party started!!!
2. We like to watch ANY parade in MK in Frontierland: near the entrance to "Country Bear Jamboree." We prefer that side for viewing because if we need to make a semi-quick exit, we can stroll on thru the tunnels to Adventureland, plus it's close to the restrooms. Also, it seems to be less crowded here. We have tried other spots for viewing (Main Street, the Hub, the other side of the street in Frontierland, & across from "Sleepy Hollow" in Liberty Square), but this area is a tried & true favorite. Typically, we pick the first parade to watch, because we always have children in tow & in order to curb a meltdown, we leave the park by 10 p.m. (I know, I know, it's a crime to leave with only 2 hrs. to go). I have heard thru the grape vine that the second parade is less crowded, and that guests who view the 2nd parade ride as many rides as they can during the 1st parade.
3. The free cookies & cocoa are nothing to write home about (especially the cocoa), but hey, it's "free." We hit up the Tomorrowland Noodle Station for this.
4. Meet & Greets tend to have longer lines during special events because: A. They're dressed in holiday costumes. B. Rarer characters are out. C. Special photo opps are presented (i.e. Cinderella's carriage). Because we enter the park at 4 p.m., we can decide which character(s) we really, really want to meet, and then hang around the area that that character will be in around 7 p.m. . But the line for the "carriage" starts an hour or so before the official party time.
5. We really liked the "Celebrate the Season" castle show! You could conceivably stake out a spot around the Walt/Mickey Statue around 7:15 p.m., catch the 7:45 p.m. castle show & then wait for the 8:15 p.m. parade. Then spend the rest of your evening meeting characters & riding rides as the crowds start to thin out (depending on what night you go: the closer it is to Christmas, the longer the crowds stay). Orrrr...you could stake out that same spot around 9 p.m., watch the fireworks at 9:30 p.m., the castle show at 10:05 p.m. & wait for the 10:30 p.m. parade to come your way.
6. A fun & delicious way to start your party, make a reservation at the Liberty Tree Tavern! We did this in Dec. 2008, and it was like having Christmas dinner without the clean-up! Our ressie was at 5:15 p.m., which gave us enough time to eat to our hearts content & catch the 6:30 p.m. castle lighting ceremony!
Enjoy your trip and party!!
1. You can enter the park as early as 4 p.m. using your MVMCP tickets. There will be a special turnstile you will enter & then EVERYONE (even children under 3 who do not need a ticket) will receive a wristband. If you are already in the park, beginning around 5 or 6 p.m., signs will be put out in certain areas (especially down Main Street) indicating that there is a "party tonite" & guests with tickets can head to the front of the park or other areas to pick up a wristband. CM's try their best to escort non-party guests out of the park around 7 p.m., but don't be surprised to see some free-loaders. However, in order to ride rides, you must present your wristband to the attending queue CM, thus curbing the free-loaders from enjoying shorter ride times.
Another reason to enter the park earlier than 7 p.m., is to catch the "Castle Lighting Ceremony" around 6:30 p.m.. It's awesome & a great way to get your party started!!!
2. We like to watch ANY parade in MK in Frontierland: near the entrance to "Country Bear Jamboree." We prefer that side for viewing because if we need to make a semi-quick exit, we can stroll on thru the tunnels to Adventureland, plus it's close to the restrooms. Also, it seems to be less crowded here. We have tried other spots for viewing (Main Street, the Hub, the other side of the street in Frontierland, & across from "Sleepy Hollow" in Liberty Square), but this area is a tried & true favorite. Typically, we pick the first parade to watch, because we always have children in tow & in order to curb a meltdown, we leave the park by 10 p.m. (I know, I know, it's a crime to leave with only 2 hrs. to go). I have heard thru the grape vine that the second parade is less crowded, and that guests who view the 2nd parade ride as many rides as they can during the 1st parade.
3. The free cookies & cocoa are nothing to write home about (especially the cocoa), but hey, it's "free." We hit up the Tomorrowland Noodle Station for this.
4. Meet & Greets tend to have longer lines during special events because: A. They're dressed in holiday costumes. B. Rarer characters are out. C. Special photo opps are presented (i.e. Cinderella's carriage). Because we enter the park at 4 p.m., we can decide which character(s) we really, really want to meet, and then hang around the area that that character will be in around 7 p.m. . But the line for the "carriage" starts an hour or so before the official party time.
5. We really liked the "Celebrate the Season" castle show! You could conceivably stake out a spot around the Walt/Mickey Statue around 7:15 p.m., catch the 7:45 p.m. castle show & then wait for the 8:15 p.m. parade. Then spend the rest of your evening meeting characters & riding rides as the crowds start to thin out (depending on what night you go: the closer it is to Christmas, the longer the crowds stay). Orrrr...you could stake out that same spot around 9 p.m., watch the fireworks at 9:30 p.m., the castle show at 10:05 p.m. & wait for the 10:30 p.m. parade to come your way.
6. A fun & delicious way to start your party, make a reservation at the Liberty Tree Tavern! We did this in Dec. 2008, and it was like having Christmas dinner without the clean-up! Our ressie was at 5:15 p.m., which gave us enough time to eat to our hearts content & catch the 6:30 p.m. castle lighting ceremony!
Enjoy your trip and party!!
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swissamy
Well-Known Member
OH wow - reading this makes me really want to go! We have never gone but were considering it this year. Are there any days of the week that are more crowded than others? It looked like Sundays, Tuesdays and Thurs. were cheaper so I guessed that it was because those days were in less demand. Any ideas friends?
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RonAnnArbor
Well-Known Member
It makes no difference crowd wise -- if you suddenly get companies that do their Christmas party in the park that night, even a quieter evening can suddenly swell....In general ,the closer you get to the holidays themselves, the more crowded the party gets. The majority of the party nights sell out, though some don't sell out until the day-of or the day-before the party. My advise: just pick the party night you want, get your tickets, and go have fun. Remember, this is an event that was created for the locals, not tourist visitors to the resorts -- so evening crowds depend more on how many local folks are at the party, not so much the resort guests which remain steady.
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Lisalyn
Well-Known Member
I am also enjoying MVMCP for the first time this year and after reading all the above..I can't wait! We are going the end of November and are so looking forward to it. I've been to WDW over the holidays and there is nothing like it. Experiencing the Christmas Party will be one more thing to check off my bucket list - excited!!!!
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journ116
Well-Known Member
You're welcome! I was hoping to attend both MNSSHP and MVMCP in one trip, but I'm leaving a day earlier and will miss the first Christmas party
. The MVMCP definitely sets the mood for the holidays, especially the parade (check out the gingerbread cookies as they go by)! And my all time favorite, the castle lighting show...but you don't have to be attending the party to see it! It's a nightly event...I literally "gasped" at the sight!Enjoy the party and have a magical trip!
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coachwnh
Well-Known Member
crowds will thin out after the first parade and fireworks. there are so many unique character meet and greets to see, so if there is something (or someone) you want to see, be sure to know where you are going ahead of time. some of these lines are longer than lines for attractions! we have been to two partys and both were crowded. but if you plan what you really want to see, you will be more than satisfied. we had a great time. im sure you will too. we are heading to our third the sunday after thanksgiving.
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dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
The Fri/Sat night parties (if they are scheduled) are obviously a bigger draw for locals. Since they can do them and not have to worry about getting up for work/school the next morning. So they try to help balance the crowds by having different ticket prices. They may or not be in less demand. More tourists could plan to go to a Tues party as its cheaper, and end up having a bigger crowd then on a weekend party. It's a total game of chance.
Definitely check out the character blogs after the first party. They will usually cover all the character meeting places along with who is out when and where. It seems to be much easier to get everything done in MVMCP than MNSSHP, so simply look over the schedule, and plan it out and you should be able to do almost everything if you stay til the end. (I think we ended up not seeing Abu/Genie, just Aladdin/Jasmin who they swap out with) The main things that can throw a monkey wrench into your plans are meeting the 7 Dwarves and/or Jack Sparrow (if he is out at MVMCP). Those two M&G can both have very long lines. People will often start lining up for the Dwarves at 6-6:30 in order to see that as quickly as possible.
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