The holiday season stars officially at the Walt Disney World Resort on November 14. That's when Disney rolls out its holiday decorations, entertainment and menus across its four theme parks in Florida.
But for fans who want even more holiday cheer, Disney World also offers two after-hours, hard-ticket events at its theme parks. Let's look at those two events, to help you decide which one is the better choice for you and your family.
At the Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party starts one week ahead of the official holiday kickoff, on Friday, November 7, and runs 25 select nights through Sunday, December 21.
Tickets vary by date and run from $169 to $229 per person, plus tax. Tickets include admission to the Magic Kingdom starting at 4pm, as well as all party activities and access to select attractions from after park closes at 7pm until the party ends at midnight.
Holiday entertainment for the party includes "Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade," the "Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration" castle forecourt character show, the "Frozen Holiday Surprise" at the castle, and "Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show." Dance parties take over Rockettower Plaza Stage and Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café, and Santa is on hand to meet guests in Storybook Circus.
But the highlight for many guests are the free treats, including cookies and hot chocolate, that are available throughout the park. (It's the same type of set-up as the treat trails at Disney's Halloween party.)
At Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney Jollywood Nights starts November 8 and runs 13 select nights through December 22.
Those tickets also vary by date and run from $159 to $199 per person, plus tax. Tickets include admission to Hollywood Studios starting at 5:30pm, as well as all party activities and access to select attractions from after park closes at 7:30pm until the party ends at 12:30am.
Holiday entertainment at Jollywood Nights includes the "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!" fireworks and projection show, the "Disney Holidays in Hollywood" character show - hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, the "Glisten!" ice skating show, and "What's This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along."
The courtyard of Tower of Terror's Hollywood Tower Hotel hosts the 1930s-style jazz lounge Twilight Soirée at the Tip Top Club, and those who book dining reservations can listen to more jazz performers inside the Hollywood Brown Derby.
In addition, Pixar Disco takes over Pixar Plaza and Holiday Fiesta en la Calle moves to Coaster Courtyard on Sunset Boulevard, with Miguel from Coco joining the character line-up this year. Other new characters this year will include Partysaurus Rex in Toy Story Land and Chewbacca celebrating Life Day in Star Wars Galaxy's Edge.
At both parties, fans can purchase special merchandise, food, and drinks during the events. You might find lower wait times for the parks' rides, too, as all that extra entertainment draws other visitors away from the rides. Yet I suspect that most holiday party visitors are frequent Disney visitors who are here for that extra entertainment and not attractions that they can do any other day of the year.
So which is the better party choice? If you are up for noshing on free cookies and hot chocolate at night, then the Magic Kingdom party is the one for you. But if you are looking for more unique and diverse entertainment, you might want to opt for the newer Jollywood Nights event, instead.
If you have been to either - or both! - of these parties, we would love to hear in the comments what you think about them. And if you haven't, I hope that everything you read here will help you see which party might be the best choice for you and your family.
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We've done MVMCP many times and it is a 5* event every time but the prices are creeping up year by year to a cost I would have to question in the future. But let's face it, is there anything more magical in any theme park anywhere in the world than Christmas at Magic Kingdom?
The "treats" are the worst part. The same watered down drinking chocolate and the occasional biscuit (cookie) variation you get at each station has zero appeal to me, however, to stand down Main Street decked with lights, the castle resplendent watching the Christmas parade with artificial snow being pumped out from the roofs needs to be experienced at least once in theme park lovers lives.
About 18 years ago we asked a member of staff how do we get tickets for the event which was on our last night and were told "Just arrive at the ticket office and purchase your tickets". When we arrived, and we had never been before, we were advised it was sold out. I insisted on speaking to the manager, which I did via the kiosk phone. He travelled by boat to the ticket office, met us, apologised and gave us three free tickets for the confusion saying "We like to make dreams come true". And this was the real Disney magic for us. As a "thank you" we have been at least ten times since. When Disney get it right they have no equal and MVMCP is the best event of them all.
I have never been to Disney Christmas celebrations.
But if I could I would love to see - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
Personally, I wouldn't recommend visiting WDW during the holidays to my worst enemy. We actually have a bit of a tradition to look at the wait times on Christmas Day to see how many people think others won't want to visit the parks on the holiday. I know a lot of families don't have a lot of options for visiting central Florida when you have school-aged children, but it's crazy to read trip reports from first-timers who have no idea what they got themselves in for when visiting WDW during the winter holiday. Also, seeing what Disney is charging nowadays for these after hours parties (typically for 8 hours of park time), the value is completely gone (I'd say the same for MNSSHP too, an after hours event we used to SWEAR by), and from most reports, Disney has slowly increased the capacity of these events to the point where guests still encounter significant lines for top attractions even during the parades and fireworks. When it comes to DHS's event, without the Osborne Lights, the after hours DHS event is not really worth it.
I'd say most guests are probably better off watching the Disney Christmas Parade on TV and going to the parks during a less crowded time of year.
Russell: "Personally, I wouldn't recommend visiting WDW during the holidays to my worst enemy."
Me: Fair point. But hitting MKP or EPCOT that week after Thanksgiving or the first week in December. The decorations are in place. The music. The food. And frankly, during those weeks the crowds are tolerable.
No doubt TH, but we're talking about maybe 7-10 days where you can actually enjoy it - weekdays in the 1-2 weeks following Thanksgiving and maybe another handful of days in the week prior to Thanksgiving week in a year where Thanksgiving is late in November as it is this year. However, I still think the after hours parties have lost much of their value as a way to avoid crowds.
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We went to Jollywood Nights two years ago.
Really, really, lame.