Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2017

This year, Reagan's birthday is going to be overtaken by a cousin's wedding. So we went to Disney early in December to celebrate! This was the first time we had been to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. We've been at Walt Disney World for Christmas festivities a handful of times in the past - including actually being there when Santa came (the two images below are from 12/25/10 at the Magic Kingdom)!

The Very Merry Party is fun. As with Mickey's Not So Scary, it is a separate ticket to the Magic Kingdom. The party is offered several days each week beginning just after Halloween. Guests for the Party are filtered into the Magic Kingdom down a different path, so Cast Members can move nonparty-goers out of the Park. 

Mickey's Very Merry has everything you'd expect from a Disney Christmas party. There are hot chocolate stations (although we did not get any, it's still really warm in Florida). The holiday decor is always gorgeous and worth seeing. The rides have minimal lines because Disney limits the amount of tickets sold for each night. Honestly, that is my favorite part of any special event. 

We arrived around dinner. But because it is Disney AND Reagan's birthday, we had ice cream for dinner! At the end of Main Street, across the street from Casey's Hot Dogs, there is a fantastic ice cream shop. It's almost always busy, but it is so worth it. YUM! Both monsters ordered the "kitchen sinks" 

After stuffing our faces in dairy goodness, we went off to Tomorrowland to ride some fun stuff! Reagan decided to brave Space Mountain again. Riley insisted we all ride Buzz Lightyear. And we, of course, took a trip around Tomorrowland on the People Mover. 

Next we stopped at the castle to watch Queen Elsa light it. This particular event is not specific to the Very Merry Party, it happens every night in the Magic Kingdom, but I love it. The difference at this party was the snow. Yes, Disney magic can make it snow in central Florida. 

Grammie and I would have spent a little more time at the Park, but both kids were beginning to melt. My monsters cannot hang late into the night... even at Disney World. So we walked back toward the train station and exits. I insisted we stay and watch the parade. Disney parades are AMAZING. This is what my kids looked like while waiting... 

Don't let Riley's exhausted grump face fool you. He perked up and laughed through most of the parade. I think my favorite part is the Toy Soldiers. 

So my opinion is this: 

This party is fun. Everything at Disney is fun. But I still prefer Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I don't think there is enough "special party-only" things that happen at this one to warrant the ticket. The parade is the same one you can see during the day. Yeah, it's cool when it's "snowing" at night, but you can experience that too at other Parks (Hollywood Studios, for instance). Perhaps we will try this one again one day... when my kids can hang late into the night. 

Have a Very Merry Christmas!