“Not Worth the Money at All” — Why This Disney Fan Regrets Paying $169 for This Exclusive Event

Disney fans know that one of the highlights of the holiday season is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!

It’s an after-hours event in the Magic Kingdom that is chock-full of specialty entertainment like Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, character meet-and-greets, and the lines for attractions tend to be mercifully short! And that’s not even bringing up the holiday merch and treats! As you can tell, we’re big fans of the event as many of you are, but not everyone is feeling the holiday cheer. A recent review from a fan left us with the impression that they seriously regretted paying for the event, so let’s find out what happened!

As we were saying, one of our readers recently left a review of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and it’s pretty clear that they regretted having paid to attend the event. Let’s dive into what they shared.

Here’s what they said:

“Oversold plus unsure if everyone had tickets or just stayed in the park. Long queues for free snacks so gave up. Not worth the money at all.”

They even rated the event 3 out of 10 stars! That’s a tough score for an event that Disney enthusiasts typically rave about. The reader also went on to list the pros and cons as they saw them.

The Reader’s Review: What Went Wrong?

Pros:

• • The Parade: It’s hard not to feel festive watching Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. However, the reviewer noted it was “too busy” to fully enjoy.

Cons:

• • Crowds Everywhere: Our reader felt the event was oversold, with lines for everything—especially the free holiday treats.
  • Long Queues Until Late: According to them, ride lines didn’t ease up until after 10:30 PM, which left them with little time to enjoy what’s supposed to be an exclusive, limited-capacity event.

In their conclusion, the experience just didn’t justify the cost.

Our Thoughts on MVMCP 2024

We attended the first and second nights of the party this year and had a much different experience. While we absolutely understand the frustration with crowds and lines (no one loves spending their evening in queues), we found a lot to love this year.

Let’s dive into the pros and cons of this year’s party based on our time at the event.

Pros:

• • Crowds Were Pretty Manageable: While Magic Kingdom is never empty, we felt like crowd levels during the first two nights were reasonable this year. Yes, specific areas like Main Street during the parade were packed, but overall, we didn’t feel overwhelmed.
  • Character Meet-and-Greets: One of the best parts of the party is meeting rare characters, and this year, the lines for these were surprisingly short. This meant we could fit in plenty of character time while still exploring everything else the party had to offer.
  • So Much to Do: From holiday-themed entertainment to specialty food, it felt like there was more than enough to fill the evening. We couldn’t get it all done in one night, so we recommend arriving as early as 4 PM to maximize your time.
  • Santa’s Carnival: This area brought major holiday vibes with carnival games, elves on stilts, and even a meet-and-greet with a polar bear. The “snoap” added to the festive ambiance.
  • Low Wait Times for Popular Rides: During the party, TRON Lightcycle / Run and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure are available in standby lines, with much shorter waits compared to a regular park day. You can even ride them multiple times!

Cons:

• • The Parade Crowds: No surprises here — the parade draws a huge audience. If you want a more relaxed viewing experience, we highly recommend skipping the first parade and catching the second one instead.
  • Hit-or-Miss Food: While some specialty items were fantastic (looking at you savory snacks at Pinocchio Village House and Casey’s Corner), others fell flat. Some offerings felt like regular menu items with a holiday twist that didn’t quite work.
  • Overcrowded Treat Lines: We did notice lines for the free cookies and drinks could get long, especially early in the night. However, since the cookies are pre-packaged, you can easily stock up and save them for later.

Was It Worth the Money?

Ultimately, the value of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party depends on your expectations and how you choose to experience it. For our anonymous reviewer, the combination of crowds and long lines clearly overshadowed the magic for them. But for us, the pros far outweighed the cons this year.

At the end of the day, we’d argue the ticket price is about on par with a regular day at Magic Kingdom, and the perks made it feel like a good deal. That is if you know how to plan your evening.

Again, for us, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party delivered on the holiday magic, but we can understand why some guests might not feel the same way, especially if crowd levels don’t meet their expectations. If you’re on the fence, consider what aspects of the party appeal most to you, and remember to go in with a plan to make the most of your time

Until then, make sure you keep it right here at AllEars for all the latest on the holiday happenings around Disney World!

Blink and You’ll Miss These CHANGES at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Are you going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year? Let us know in the comments!