It’s Christmastime at Walt Disney World! This year instead of the classic Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party they have opted to do an After Hours event to celebrate the holidays. So what are the big differences between the classic party and this event, and is there anything vegan? Let’s dive in!
The Very Merriest After Hours runs on select nights from November 8 through December 21. You can find more information about the dates and purchase tickets here. It begins at 9pm and runs to 1am. You can get in the park without a day ticket beginning at 7pm. But know that the park closes at 8pm and the new Disney Enchantment Fireworks show is usually around 8pm as well, so you may be fighting a sea of day guests while making your way in.
First things first, let’s talk about the food situation. During the classic MVMCP you were able to wander around the park and find various locations with cookies and hot drinks that varied by location. This still exists this year but with less places to do that and the same options each place.
These locations are listed on your park guide and are marked with a giant candy cane out front. We stopped in two locations to see if the vegan options were the same at both. When you get to the cast member giving out the treats just let them know you need the allergy option. This year it is a Lucy’s cinnamon thin cookie. The hot beverage is a non vegan hot chocolate.
The cookies are very good, inside the bag are 4 small cookies and they have a great cinnamon sugar taste. They are very hard and crunchy though, so young kids may not enjoy them as much.
Now unlike a MVMCP the After Hours events include some snacks while you’re there. These snacks include popcorn, ice cream bars (the fruit ones are vegan), and bottled sodas/Dasani water.
There were some specialty options to eat during the event, but none of them appeared to be vegan or modified to be.
During the event there was the classic Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, this is the first time they’ve run this parade in two years. The parade runs the usual route from Frontierland to Main Street USA.
You can catch some classic characters here, princesses, Frozen friends, my favorite toy soldiers and reindeer, and the big man himself, Santa! The parade lasts about 15-20 minutes. If you watch in Frontierland it is often less crowded. But if you want the full experience watch it on Main Street so you can get the bright lights and snoap!
There was one overlay for an attraction this year, a Holiday-themed Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. This was super fun and very cute with Roz even wearing a Christmas sweater. Just know this will be about 30 minutes of your time between waiting for the show and the actual show, but I do recommend watching it.
We didn’t get a chance to check them out, but Club Tinsel was bumping in Tomorrowland, which in the past was inside Cosmic Ray’s Cafe. This year it was outside near the People Mover entrance.
There was a stage show out at the castle at specific times during the evening, we missed this by watching the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. But fortunately we were out in time to catch Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show.
This was the same as a few years ago, but just as fun. The music is great, and the projections were super fun. You need to make sure to catch this fireworks show if you visit!
I had a great time and it felt way more like the classic party than what I experienced at the After Hours Boo Bash a few weeks ago. I hope this means we’ll get the normal party back next year.
Now to the big kicker for this event. It is not cheap. Back in 2019 I paid around $100 to go to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. That party started at 7pm and ran to either midnight or 1am. You could enter the park starting at 4pm for that party. For the most part this After Hours event was the same as that party with the exception of the included popcorn and drinks. Tickets for the Very Merriest After Hours event start at $169. The cap of people on the After Hours event are what make the huge difference. The lines for attractions were very low, but we spent most of the time enjoying the holiday offerings.
Is it worth paying an additional $70 to get less time in the park at a later hour, but be able to enjoy unlimited popcorn? Honestly, no. But that is because I am comparing the two events. Had I not had previous experience at MVMCP I probably would think it was more worth the cost. I love Christmas at Walt Disney World, so for me I was fine paying this to treat myself. If you love Christmas and want that added magic I do recommend going. This event was way more worth it to me than Boo Bash.
