“Tis the Season to be Jolly … “
Well, normally it would be. But given what’s been going on with the economy this year, for a lot of folks holiday time 2008 is shaping up to be “Tis the Season to be Stingy …”
So with so many people cutting back on their holiday spending, why should you spring for “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” tickets this year?
Copyright 2008 Disney. All Rights Reserved
To be honest, until just this past Friday, I didn’t have a good answer to that question. Mostly because I had never actually experienced MVMCP.
But having just spent a very cold night at the Magic Kingdom, I can now tell you why this holiday hard ticket event is something that you don’t want to miss the very next time you’re down at Walt Disney World in November or December.
So what makes “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” so special? For starters, it’s an after-hour private party at the Magic Kingdom, which gives a limited number of Guests access to the place, which means that there are virtually no lines for the most popular rides, shows and attractions at this theme park.
Photo by Courtney Mills
Which was how — last Friday night — I was able to rack up two back-to-back rides on Space Mountain with almost no wait, as well as all of the rest of the shows & attractions that I experienced at MVMCP. The longest line I encountered all night was over in Frontierland, where I waited a whole seven minutes before I finally got to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
So — if you’re looking to make the most of your time at the Magic Kingdom, while racking up as many rides as possible — snagging a ticket to “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” might be a very smart idea.
On the other hand, if you’re just looking for a great evening of holiday entertainment the next time you’re in Orlando, MVMCP definitely delivers the goods. As I wandered through the Magic Kingdom last Friday night, I saw all sorts of seasonal shows.
Photo by Courtney Mills
Take — for example — “Celebrate the Season,” which is presented on the forecourt stage at Cinderella Castle. This outdoor entertainment features lots of energetic singers & dancers, as well as those great new winkin’, blinkin’ and talkin’ versions of Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy.
Speaking of Cinderella Castle … This Magic Kingdom icon was literally the centerpiece of the “Holiday Wishes” fireworks show, with the very walls of this Castle being used as projection screens for this seasonal extravaganza.
Then, factor in all of those rarely seen characters you encounter as you wander through this theme park on MVMCP. This past Friday night, the walk-around versions of Big Al & Wendell from “Country Bear Jamboree” were out and about in Frontierland. Decked out in colorful scarves & hats, these two were happy to pose for pictures with all passersby.
Copyright 2008 Disney. All Rights Reserved
Of course, if you really want to see Disney characters, you’ve got to stack out a spot along Main Street U.S.A. to catch “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade.” Then you’ll get the chance to see all of the Company’s high profile cartoon characters while soapsuds “snow” drifts down from above.
That may be my own complaint about about MVMCP. That “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade” may have been a little too long. Which means that you can get kind of frosty while standing out there in the cool Central Florida night air.
But being cold brought along the great bonus of the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ticket: Hot Cocoa & Cookies provided for all Guests attending MVMCP. You can duck in to any one of the four locations at the Magic Kingdom where they’re offering these freebies and then warm up for a bit before heading back out into the party.
Photo by Courtney Mills
So let’s review here: If you purchase a MVMCP ticket, you get:
* A Magic Kingdom with virtually no lines, which then allows you to experience super-popular attractions like “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “The Haunted Mansion” with almost no wait. * To experience special seasonal shows like “Belle’s Enchanted Christmas” and the Castle Dream Lights without battling with crowds. * As much as Cookies and Hot Cocoa as you care to consume.
And, you can get all — a full five-hour-long after-hours party at the Magic Kingdom – for nearly $40 less than what it costs to buy a single day ticket to that same theme park. All of that entertainment for nearly half the price! No wonder so many Central Florida families have made a trip to “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” one of their holiday traditions. With some holiday-happy folks making a point of attending MVMCP two & three times each year.
This year may have been my first “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.” But I know that it won’t be my last. Next year, I’ll definitely be back. But next time, I’ll be sure and wear a warmer coat.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is held at the Magic Kingdom theme park on select nights now through December 19th. Orlando Fun Tickets is currently offering specially discounted tickets to certain nights at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. If you’d like to learn more about this offer, please click on this link.