Guide to Very Merriest After Hours Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom: Dates, Prices & Info
Disney Very Merriest After Hours is Magic Kingdom’s Christmas party in November & December at Walt Disney World. This info guide covers dates, prices, sold out nights & entertainment schedules for the new holiday event replacing Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP).
It’s unclear whether Disney Very Merriest After Hours or MVMCP will return in 2022. It’s about 50/50 at this point, with crowd levels and other factors influencing which Walt Disney World opts to hold this year. If Disney Very Merriest After Hours returns, it’ll take place on ~25 select nights from around November 7, 2022 through December 19, 2022 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. This year’s holiday celebration will coincide with the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary, “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.”
Tickets for the 4-hour Disney Very Merriest After Hours event grant guests admission to Magic Kingdom starting at 7 p.m. That mix-in with regular day guests gives Christmas party attendees more time to enjoy attractions and more in Magic Kingdom. Additionally, both day guests and party attendees will be able to enjoy the brand-new fireworks spectacular Disney Enchantment and watch as projections transformation Cinderella Castle into a Beacon of Magic. Here’s everything you need to know about Disney Very Merriest After Hours…
Disney Very Merriest After Hours includes the nighttime spectacular Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. That’s the still-new(ish) nighttime spectacular that debuted during the last year of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, replacing Holiday Wishes.
That means Disney Very Merriest After Hours attendees can see two different and unique fireworks shows in one night–Disney Enchantment and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.
Fireworks are not all that’s in store during this limited-capacity event. Here are additional details of what you can experience during Disney Very Merriest After Hours:
- Holiday attraction overlays are also making a comeback: Jungle Cruise transforms into the Jingle Cruise and Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor will get new jokes perfect for this joyful season.
- After Magic Kingdom closes to day guests, enjoy less time waiting in line for more than 20 attractions including favorites like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Haunted Mansion, Jingle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and more.
- Sightings of Disney characters throughout the park all dressed in their holiday finery, including the Country Bears, Jiminy Cricket, and friends from the Hundred Acre Wood.
- Reindeer Wranglers, a musical group performing seasonal songs as they provide sensational street-mosphere in Frontierland.
- While you are walking down Main Street be sure to look up to the sky, you might catch some magical snowfall!
- Dance and boogie the night away at themed Club Tinsel dance party in Tomorrowland.
- Enjoy complimentary snacks like ice cream novelties and popcorn, seasonal treats, and select bottled beverages.
- Disney PhotoPass will offer holiday magic shots throughout the night (images available for purchase)
- Special Christmas background music, lighting, and projections on Cinderella Castle
Now let’s turn to the major entertainment offerings during Disney Very Merriest After Hours. First up, the special holiday-themed parade “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” that is normally shown for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. In this parade, Mickey and Minnie Mouse are joined by pals from Frozen, Santa Claus, and many other favorite Disney characters including the very popular Toy Soldiers.
This is a full parade–the same one from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party–and not a cavalcade. This is a fairly significant milestone, as it marks the first time (barring any other announcements) a full parade will roll down Main Street since March of last year.
Next, a new stage show called “Mickey & Minnie’s Very Merry Memories” will be joining the lineup of event-exclusive entertainment at Disney Very Merriest After Hours. Guests attending the party will be able to watch Mickey and his pals in a celebration filled with music, dancing and nostalgic yuletide fun.
Presented on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage, the show features nods to classic Magic Kingdom holiday stage shows, including “Mickey’s Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Celebrate the Season,” and “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.”
For those who are curious about attending the new Christmas party, let’s turn to event details, pricing, and other planning info. Disney Very Merriest After Hours dates are:
- November: 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 28, 30
- December: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21
Of course, all of the above entertainment comes at a cost. Here’s a chart with ticket prices for each Disney Very Merriest After Hours date with discounts factored in:
As you can see, tickets range from $169 to $229 plus tax for select November and December nights and $249 (!!!) plus tax on December 19 & 21. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can take advantage of a $10 discount on select event dates in November.
These dated event tickets do not require an additional day theme park ticket or Disney Park Pass theme park reservation. Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling 407-939-7947.
DISNEY VERY MERRIEST AFTER HOURS ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
Disney Enchantment (8 pm) – Enjoy Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary fireworks show before the event officially begins as part of the pre-party mix-in!
Mickey and Minnie’s Very Merry Memories (9:25 pm, 10:35 pm, 11:45 pm, 12:50 am) – Join Mickey and his pals for a stage show filled with music, dancing and nostalgic yuletide fun on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage.
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade (9:45 pm, 12:05 am) – Wave to Disney friends during a holiday parade brimming with joy and magic. This jolly procession begins with Mickey and Minnie, and ends with an appearance by Santa Claus himself!
Reindeer Wranglers (9:25 pm, 10:30 pm, 11:40 pm, 12:35 am) – This musical group brings their holiday hoedown to the streets of Frontierland, performing seasonal songs with a distinctive country flair.
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show (11:15 pm) – Feast your eyes on a scintillating fireworks display, hosted by Minnie Mouse. See the sky light up in dazzling colors to the tune of favorite Christmas carols.
Club Tinsel Dance Party (9:00 pm to 1 am) – Dance the night away at the Rockettower Plaza Stage.
Disney Very Merriest After Hours Commentary
When it comes to this new event, there are a few notable things worth discussing. First, the return of Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. You might recall from Christmas at Walt Disney World Dates & Details: What’s Coming & Cancelled that no cavalcades or parades were announced back when holiday season details were first released.
We speculated at the time that more announcements were likely coming, concerning things like the parade, Candlelight Processional, and other entertainment that it was still “too early” to announce. It does come as a surprise that Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is happening during the event.
Next, the stage show. “Mickey & Minnie’s Very Merry Memories” was added to the lineup in late October, and it thus might seem like that happened added due to low ticket sales. That was my initial guess, and may be part of the motivation. However, in hearing more entertainment rumors recently, it sounds like this is part of an urgent push to recall as many performers as possible in the near future.
In a nutshell, there’s the concern among some leaders at Walt Disney World that if more performers aren’t recalled now, they won’t be available when they’re needed in 2022. Think of it as similar to the staffing situation as a whole that has played out throughout this year, but with more specialized roles. (Even this might be too little, too late.)
Most importantly, we should discuss the price increase. This is significantly more expensive than Disney After Hours Boo Bash. It costing more is not a huge surprise–Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party always averages higher prices than Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.
However, it’s never by this much. Starting prices at $169 per night and going up to $250 is not something I would’ve predicted. That’s a big yikes from me. I did not expect this to cross the $200 threshold, let alone smash right on through to $250.
Moreover, there isn’t a single Very Merriest After Hours night under $200 in all of December. The last night of the $169 or $189 prices is November 19. These prices are astronomical, even as an “I know it’s not worth it but I want to do it anyway” splurge. I say all of this as someone who more or less “defended” the Boo Bash pricing as being on par with Villains After Hours.
Our hope with the slow early ticket sales for Disney Very Merriest After Hours is that Walt Disney World has exceeded the maximum price ceiling most guests are willing to pay. While the company is unlikely to remedy the overpricing issue this year, that would be a positive development for years to come. Pricing has gotten out of hand with these parties in the last few years, but they continue to sell out–the only way anything changes is if people stop buying overpriced tickets.
The main difference between Boo Bash and Very Merriest After Hours is that Walt Disney World has added fireworks, a full parade, and attraction overlays to the event. Additionally, Disney Very Merriest After Hours is an hour longer. It’s thus likely that Walt Disney World views those as sufficient “value adds” to justify a significantly higher price point.
In my view, the problem with that reasoning is Very Merriest is either an entertainment-centric Christmas party or a limited-capacity After Hours event with low wait times. While it’s promising both, it cannot deliver both simultaneously to guests. They have to choose one or the other given the practical realities of physics, the space-time continuum, or whatever.
People either can take full advantage of the entertainment or the short wait times, but not both. Four hours might seem like a lot of time, but it goes by fast. Disney Very Merriest After Hours isn’t long enough to enjoy both a lot of attractions and the fireworks and parade. As we discussed in our Disney After Hours Boo Bash Photo Report, we found it difficult to do both and recommended ignoring the cavalcades because they were such a time waster.
That was the case with virtually no crowds along the parade route and it being easy to snag a last minute spot to see the cavalcades. I’d hazard a guess that won’t be true with Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, which is a bigger draw–guests will camp out for it.
In a way, this feels like Walt Disney World trying to offer Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party…without actually bringing it back. Maybe they think this is the “best of both worlds,” but it doesn’t feel like it. Not only is it considerably more expensive than MVMCP (which cost $100 to $139 in its last year), but the start time is several hours later.
For those wondering why Walt Disney World would do that, it’s because the last three months of the year are going to be bonkers. As we’ve previously stated, running an After Hours event in November and December makes more sense than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Normal park hours will need to be much longer due to attendance forecasts during the kick-off months of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, it’s simply not feasible to close Magic Kingdom early so many nights of the week.
Even in a normal year closing Magic Kingdom at 6 pm several nights per week for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party creates a logistical nightmare. As you can probably imagine, most guests don’t want to spend their day in Magic Kingdom during the holiday season if they won’t be allowed in the park after sunset.
The event hours here suggest that Walt Disney World agrees with our perspective–that it’s simply not feasible from an operational perspective to close that early in November and December. However, the solution doesn’t make a ton of sense either. Very Merriest After Hours starting at 9 pm and running until 1 am is going to automatically rule out a ton of families who would otherwise love to see the parade and fireworks. Many of those who aren’t eliminated by virtue of the late hours will find the price points to be a total non-starter.
Ultimately, the entertainment and other details announced for Disney Very Merriest After Hours feels very much like an internal “compromise” between competing factions in Walt Disney World management. Maybe some leaders or divisions wanted an After Hours event and some wanted Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party–so this is what we got. A combination of the two events and, it would seem, the cost of the two added together for one outrageously priced evening.
While I am very heartened by the return of holiday fireworks and a full parade, the numbers just don’t add up. It would’ve made more sense to rename the party and remove the After Hours branding, increase the capacity cap, and price this more competitively. With a few weeks until tickets go on sale, perhaps we’ll still see that change happen. It wouldn’t be the first time that Disney pivots with this event or other modifications due to guest feedback.
Of course, that assumes guest feedback to this will be negative. Perhaps it won’t. Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see how well Disney Very Merriest After Hours sells. Many dates for Disney After Hours Boo Bash sold out quickly, and this offers a significantly better lineup than that, at least in theory.
With that said, the price increase for Disney Very Merriest After Hours seems too steep to me. While it has sold well, the audience was already narrow for Disney After Hours Boo Bash. I suspect many of the guests who reluctantly paid more than they would’ve liked for that will sit out Very Merriest After Hours due to that significant price jump–especially the dates that cross that $200 threshold. Then again, maybe I’m underestimating the number of guests with disposable income or willing to splurge around Christmas. (‘Tis the season!)
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your thoughts about all of this? Is Disney Very Merriest After Hours fairly priced or way too high? Do you think this is a “compromise” between an After Hours event and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year? Will your family be buying or sitting this Christmas-themed event out? Do you agree or disagree with our perspective on this? Are you disappointed that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party won’t be happening, or is Disney Very Merriest After Hours a superior (or at least sufficient) alternative for you? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Which Disney resorts are part of the “select Disney resorts”? Will it be all Disney owned on-property resorts or just the deluxe resorts? Assuming it’s all of them…what time do I need to call on the 17th?
@ Berty. Yes, you would be able to enter the park as early as 7 PM using only your event ticket. You do not need a separate ticket for the day. This is so guests have extra time and space to enter the park before the party starts, rather than have chaos ensue if they restricted you from entering until the start of the party, while also asking guests without a ticket to leave.
I’m wondering how this schedule will coincide with the extra evening hours for Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Trying to plan days.
We are coming Dec 26- 29. Will any of these things be offered that week, like the parade and fireworks?
I’m confused by this statement:
“ Tickets for the 4-hour Disney Very Merriest After Hours event will grant guests admission to Magic Kingdom as early as 7 p.m.”
So even with no other park ticket you can get in at 7PM rather than 9PM?
Maybe the increased prices will mean that they can turn the profit they need and still keep the crowds down to After Hours Events levels? We can only hope. I think if they would do that, with the extra entertainment offers over the Boo Bash, it might justify the price increase.
Makes me a little sad. I always defend Disney. I grew up going to the Magic Kingdom
on Sunday afternoons and I have many happy memories there. I can afford to keep going and paying for these extras, but no one else wants to go with me anymore. I can’t continue to say they are wrong. The value isn’t there anymore unless you have the attachment to the parks like I do. Even for me it is starting to feel a bit wrong. For perspective my friend sent me this list of max prices for the heist as events for the last several years : Pretty shocking.
2013: $67
2015: $82
2018: $115
2019: $139
2021: $249
The first time Sarah and I did Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party together (2007), we paid ~$40 per ticket. Amazing how much prices have jumped in just the last 5 years.
Price increases will happen as long as the market will bear it. Pricing will reduce park crowds for sure. Reduced crowds will help with the staffing issues. We will miss going this year as it doesn’t seem to be a good use of funds in our household. However, it sounds fun!
HI Tom,
Will the Christmas overlays only happen at the After Hours Event? Do you think the Jingle Cruise will be going at night for regular park hours? And also for the Autotopia? Thank you
Jingle Cruise will almost certainly be available to day guests as well.
Disney hasn’t announced whether the Tomorrowland Speedway overlay will return. I’m guessing no, but if so, it would only be during the event.
I know this parade is running with reduced crowds, but I don’t think it has been crowds that have been preventing parades, given they can do fireworks. So … staffing must be set so they can commit to this … so does that mean we’ll be seeing the return of a daytime parade, too? If not, they’re running out of excuses.
Walt Disney World still has a lot of Entertainment Cast Members on furlough, so staffing is not really a valid excuse for the lack of parades. Nor is physical distancing. It’s totally a cost savings measure at this point.
One “theory” as to why they’re bringing this parade back is so more of the Entertainment CMs don’t quit (for what it’s worth, I think there’s at least some validity to that theory). Not sure where that leaves Festival of Fantasy…maybe back in early 2022 after this ends?
Hi Tom. Been reading the blog for at least 6 years! A bit confused – didn’t Disney release that the Holiday Season would begin on November 12th? Since three dates proceed this will the decorations not be fully up? At these prices it needs to be all in!
In Magic Kingdom, decorations will be up by early November. More here: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/when-christmas-decorations-disney-world/
I think they’re pricing themselves out of the market.
I’ve come for the last 15 years for the Christmas Holiday and very merry Christmas party. I can afford to pay the new fee but it’s not a good use of my money.
I truly believe the Disney Family would be disappointed in these new changes. Total increase in tickets, shorter hours, extra fee for fast passes.
My family will be spending our money on a different vacation in the future. Disney used to be our first pick but with the increase in cost we can go to Europe.
I realize this makes no financial sense whatsoever, but “shut up and take my money!!!”. We have a trip scheduled in late November that coincides with a party and I’m super excited for it. I think the Christmas holidays are absolutely magical at Disney. Personally, I much prefer them over Halloween. Plus we are a family of night owls so the hours don’t faze us.
I wish more people will stand up to Disney and voice their outrage at the way Disney is price gouging families. More and more it’s a “rich persons amusement park and not Walt’s dream. Why is it that some people whine and Disney cows down and takes out certain attractions but no one is complaining directly to Disney about how they are slowly erasing families dreams?
I’m actually happy about all this. We are a childless couple, so it’s just the two of us. We are night owls, so the times are perfect. And since it is so late at night and so expensive, many families who would normally attend the party will opt out. This means that we will get to experience all of the Christmas offerings without the huge crowds that we have seen the past several years of the party. Can’t wait!
Wow! Walt’s goal of providing a place where families can spend time together and have fun is slowly bleeding to death. The cost to come to WDW is becoming prohibitive for most families. This is really disheartening.
I hope that no one is still under the delusion that this is an “After Hours Event”.
This is honestly infuriating. My family of 4 with two little ones who both absolutely love Christmas definitely can’t afford these prices. I get that it’s less occupancy than other parties in the past but it’s frustrating if this is the only way to experience the castle lit up for Christmas, full parade, etc. I’m hoping that the event doesn’t sell out so that Disney understands that they are pricing out the majority of families. When I’m paying $1800 total for 6 day Hopper passes for my family (one child is under 3) and the 4 hour party would be $630 plus tax (if I don’t have to get a ticket for my 2 year old) it just doesn’t make sense to do it.
So Dec. 21 is the last day of the party. I wonder if the parade will be offered to regular Magic Kingdom guests on Dec. 22, like in the past how the party entertainment became standard entertainment in the days just before Christmas. We have a trip Dec. 16 thru 23, so I would add a 5th park day on the 22nd to see the parade!
Tom (or anyone) – any guesses on how the crowds at MK will be on the days of the event vs. the off days? Family of 4 (two little ones) with a scheduled trip in mid-November, so we’re unlikely to spring for the late After Hours, but I’m wondering if we should move around our park reservations to avoid the evening hours of daytime guests and After Hours guests all together at once.
I might goto the Disney Very Merry Christmas since I’ll be in the park on November 8th, been saving $$$ since January stimulus money and money from $200 per month in disney gift cards..