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A Comparison of Disney Very Merriest After Hours and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Posted by: Paula K November 15, 2021

Credit: Paula K

Many Guests who attended Disney Boo Bash After Hours at the Magic Kingdom were disappointed because they thought that they were getting Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which wasn’t the case. Now that the holidays are upon us, we have Disney Very Merriest After Hours instead of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Having attended both, we thought that it could be helpful to share what is different, and what is the same.

We’ll start with the free treats. At Disney Very Merriest you won’t find a variety of cookies, beverages, and snowman pretzels included in the price. There are only Snickerdoodle Cookies and Hot Cocoa. There are multiple places to pick one up, all found on your event map.

Credit: Paula K

That doesn’t mean you will go hungry. All Disney After Hours events include popcorn, ice cream bars, and bottled beverages in the cost.

The length is also different. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was five hours long, while Disney Very Merriest After Hours is four. Your ticket will allow you into the Magic Kingdom two hours before that.

Credit: Paula K

Characters are another difference, although this could be more because of COVID-19. There are plenty of characters out and about at Disney Very Merriest, but you still cannot get close. Most of the characters are outdoors, and since it’s dark it is hard to get good pictures.

Credit: Paula K

There is a brand new stage show for Disney Very Merriest After Hours. It’s called Mickey & Minnie’s Very Merry Memories. If the full Christmas Party returns, we have a feeling that this will be part of it.

There are a couple of things that make Disney Very Merriest After Hours feel a lot like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Unlike Boo Bash, there is a lot of entertainment.

Credit: Paula K

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is back. This is the first full parade to return to Walt Disney World. It is the same parade that you know and love, and it runs twice each evening.

Arguably the best part of Disney Very Merry After Hours is Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show. This debuted at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2019, and we are glad that it’s back!

Credit: Paula K

Minnie knows how to put on a near perfect display. There are more fireworks than we have seen at Walt Disney World in a long time, and the whimsical projections on Cinderella Castle add just the right touch.

Disney Very Merriest After Hours is not cheap, which is probably why there are still several dates available. We’re glad that we bought our tickets, because it did almost feel as if we were attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party again.

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About Paula K

I grew up in Western Massachusetts. When I was nine my family went to Disneyland and I was hooked. I grew up, attended New England College in Henniker, NH and eventually moved to Virginia. I worked as a disc jockey, married and became a full time mom when our daughter was born. Fast forward several years. In 2010 we moved to Central Florida and my Disney obsession grew. I now work as a freelance writer and spend my spare time in the parks. Under the name Paula Brown I penned the novels Dream Wanderers and The Coffee Cruiser. I also am a co-author of Dining at Walt Disney World: The Definitive Guide. I'm obsessed with Star Wars, so this is a good time to live in Central Florida. I've been a vegetarian for well over a decade, a choice that my daughter eventually made as well. While my husband still hasn't joined us fully he has given up most meats except for seafood. I was relieved to find that vegetarian dining is not difficult at Walt Disney World.