Category: Walt Disney World

Is Mickey’s Very Merry Party Very Merry?

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Disney Adult, Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Travel, Traveling Writer, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Greetings, fellow travelers! Welcome back to Brent’s Crossroads. To stay in the Christmas mood, we will look at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Yes, that is a long title and a mouthful to say. How did I like the party? Well, let’s talk about the experience, and on Friday, I’ll compare the two to see which will win the prize for the best Disney World Holiday party for 2024.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be held this year in the Magic Kingdom on select nights from November 8th through December 20th. It is an extra-ticketed event that runs from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Party guests can enter the Magic Kingdom as early as 4 p.m. to enjoy the park before the party begins. The early entry is nice to rise rides and grab a bite to eat before the merriment starts. Pricing ranges from $169 to $219, depending on the date. Unlike Jollywood, this event sells out most of its dates, so if you choose to go, it’s better to pick a date quickly once tickets go on sale. The dates change yearly, so you must watch the Walt Disney World website to book (or contact Bobby Linn at Pixie Travel Co. at bobbyl@pixietravelco.com and tell him I sent you).

The night features special menu items, ride overlays, merchandise, a parade, a stage show, and an exclusive fireworks show. The offerings are a fun and festive way to get in the holiday spirit. You know I’m a Halloween boy, and this always puts me in a cheery mood. Now, I’ll break down each party section and give you my thoughts.

First, the early entry is valuable. Being in the park before the party begins allows you to ride the rides without party overlays and get some dinner. Not taking time during the party hours to ride regular rides helps give you more time to enjoy the party’s unique offerings. You have to be aware that some holiday food items are available all day, but some are only sold during party hours. The app and party map can help you find out which is which. The restaurant menu boards will also show what is only at the party. Rides like Tomorrowland Speedway, Mad Tea Party, and Space Mountain have holiday effects and lighting only during party hours. The holiday overlays on Jungle Cruise (Jingle Cruise) are on the ride all day, so this is one to hit when you arrive for early hours to check it off your list.

Second, it is all about the cookies. Five stations featuring different cookies are set up around the Magic Kingdom. The stations also have apple cider, hot chocolate, or egg nog to drink with your cookies. This year’s cookie offerings were two different sugar cookies (round red iced and tree-shaped green iced), red velvet cake cookie, buttercream frosted gingerbread, and caramel pretzel chocolate chip. I will be tasting and reviewing the cookies as soon as I get the YouTube channel set up. The hot chocolate was delicious. The apple cider tasted like regular apple juice with a splash of cinnamon. Lastly, the egg nog was a thick concoction with a flavor hint of bubble gum. The egg nog was weird.

Next are the rides. The Mad Tea Cups feature festive music and lights while you spin yourself sick. It is fun to let the ride take you around without spinning the cups. Life is better when you aren’t ill from cookies and spinning. Tomorrowland Speedway was the best of the ride overlays. The last time we attended the party, right after COVID-19, the speedway didn’t have the lights and decorations around the track. Seeing it all lit up while driving around the course was beautiful, and I’m glad they had the overlay this time. Space Mountain is a different animal compared to the usual ride experience. The ride is usually dark inside; you can’t see the track when you speed through space. Red and green lights illuminate the inside during the party, and holiday music blasts through the show building. The last ride I want to discuss is Jingle Cruise. This is a fun alternate version of the Jungle Cruise and worth waiting to ride. The boats are renamed, and the animals have a good time showing their Christmas spirit. Jingle Cruise is a must-ride during the holiday season.

Now, a quick word on merchandise. Like any other Disney event, merchandise is out there in force. Disney knows how to merch you to death, and they hold true here. Besides the regular holiday offerings, the party has specially branded merchandise with the Very Merry logo that is only sold in select locations during party hours. This year also features a gingerbread house ornament as a free token for partying with the mouse.

Food? There are plenty of party and holiday exclusive choices. The sweet treats far outnumbered the savory ones, and it was hard to find something that sounded good to eat during the party to combat the sweets. I’ll discuss this in depth when I compare this party with Jollywood Nights.

Lastly, the shows. There are three exclusive shows during Very Merry: a stage show, a parade, and a fireworks show. These are different from the regular park shows and are only during party hours. The stage show, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration, is a festive show that is located on the stage in front of Cinderella’s Castle. It features Mickey and friends in a fun show that will make you smile. The Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade follows the regular park parade route from Frontier Land to Main Street, USA. Many characters get in the spirit with holiday costumes, and Santa makes his appearance at the end in grand fashion. The best of the three is Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show. The show includes festive projections on Cinderella’s Castle and a jolly fireworks show. It is my favorite of the Disney World fireworks shows.

Is this a perfect party?

No, because it’s geared more for children. One plus is that once the parade ends, there is a mass stroller exodus to the exit. This reduces wait times for rides and clears the park. The park is already at reduced capacity for the party, but the kids and parents leaving make it even less crowded. This makes for a fantastic experience in the Magic Kingdom.

In closing, I won’t tell you which party I liked more, but I will say it started with fewer strollers in the park. If you can attend the party, it is worth the price to experience it. I won’t turn down going again, and you won’t either.

Okay, back to writing this novel I’m super behind on. I hope you get to travel where you want to go, and I’ll see you out on the crossroads!

Good night,

Brent

Christmas Tree on Main Street, USA

Is Disney’s Jollywood Nights Worth It?

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Jollywood Nights, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Travel, Traveling Writer, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Greetings, travelers! I want to welcome you back to the crossroads. I hope all is well. Today, I want to discuss the Jollywood Nights party at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios. The party is an extra-ticketed event happening once the park closes. Attendees can get in early, at 6 pm, to enjoy the park before it closes to the general public. Without a party wristband, you can’t ride rides or do anything in the park after 7:30 pm. The price ranges from $159 to $179 and is only on select nights. This year, it is only being held on thirteen nights. So, if you want to go, check the Disney website for ticket availability (or email Bobby Linn with Pixie Travel Co. to help book your trip at bobbyl@pixietravelco.com and tell him Brent set you).

The Jollywood party is geared more to an adult audience than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. I attended both over the weekend, and I will review Mickey’s Very Merry later this week. There are some distinct differences, and I will get into those in the reviews. Both parties feature special food and drink, events, ride overlays, shows, and merchandise.

Now, let’s talk about Jollywood Nights.

Jollywood Nights is billed as a throwback to Hollywood’s golden age. The streets are lit with lights, a Christmas tree is in the lake, and festive projections adorn the Chinese Theater where Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is housed and also on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Overall, the mood is like Christmas, leaving this Halloween fan feeling jolly.

I want to start off with the special shows. Jollywood Nights has a Christmas fireworks show, a musical show hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, and, new this year, an ice skating show called Glisten! on a special surfaced area in front of the Chinese Theater. If those shows aren’t enough to squeeze into your five hours, there is also a Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along show and a Pixar dance party. We did all the shows, and each one was fantastic.

The next thing to discuss is the food. The event features exclusive food and drinks that are only available during the party hours. We tried some of the offerings and liked everything we ate. The prices seemed more reasonable than the food at Mickey’s Very Merry, and the food tasted better, too. The highlights were the birria taco, yuca con chicharron, and the two popovers (main dish and side dish themed). We also tried the caramel apple cider and the drinks featured at the Tip Top Club’s Twilight Soiree at the Hollywood Tower Hotel (or the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, as we like to call it). There were so many choices, and trying them all would take multiple trips. It sounds like a goal for next year.

Lastly, the merchandise. Outside of the Haunted Mansion, I don’t pick up other Disney things. I do, however, like to pick up a trinket or two from events as a memento of the trip. This was the first year for Ollie, a gingerbread man who acted as the mascot for this year’s party. There was Jollywood Nights-dated merchandise like shirts, coffee mugs, Mickey ears, ornaments, and pins, to name a few. I’ll be curious to see if Ollie sticks around as the mascot going forward. Disney won’t want to pass up on a way to brand the party for future merchandise. The offerings were few, but deciding what to pick out was easy.

Overall, the party is amazing. It is better than its partner party in the Magic Kingdom. Once I finish my review of Mickey’s Very Merry, I’ll tell you why Jollywood Nights are better for your money and sanity. I would go again and can’t wait to spend more time at Jollywood Nights.

I have to go and do the writing thing again, lol. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you at the crossroads! Don’t forget to subscribe here, on Instagram (@brenttabell), Threads (brenttabell), and TikTok (@brent.abell). Each follow on a platform will enter you for the first of two subscriber giveaways for one of two pins from the two parties. More info on when the deadline is for the first drawing is coming later this week.

Enjoy the road ahead,

Brent

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2024

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Travel, Traveling Writer, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Welcome to the Crossroads! Today, I want to give my final thoughts about Walt Disney World’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (check out the details here). The event is a ticketed party after the Magic Kingdom closes down. The night features trick-or-treating, a special fireworks show, and a villain stage show. Disney also has exclusive food, drink, and merchandise available to purchase.

Now, how was it for the cost?

The tickets range from $119 to $199 per ticket, depending on which date you attend. This event isn’t every day, so you have to plan when you want to party with the mouse. You can get into the Magic Kingdom a few hours before the party begins to ride the rides and grab a bite to eat. Once guests without a wristband have left the park after regular hours, the party gets going.

When the spooky lights come on, the fun begins. While kids can dress up and get candy from designated locations, there are plenty of other things for everyone to enjoy. Some rides have special overlays or lighting to give them a Halloween feel, and lightning effects are projected on Cinderella’s Castle. The vibe is enjoyable and festive. The highlight is seeing the Haunted Mansion portion of Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade and riding the attraction multiple times. By the way, I am a huge Haunted Mansion fan.

The lines for the rides are almost all walk-on since the park capacity is significantly reduced during the party hours. Once the first parade and fireworks end, the crowd gets even smaller. The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show is done multiple times. Wait until the end of the night and see the last show right at the end of the party. This allows you more time to ride rides and pick up some treats or merch.

Overall, it is worth the money to do this extra-cost event. Being able to get right on most rides without waiting almost makes the cost worth it. We’ve heard you get a ton of candy in the past, but it seemed like we didn’t get much this year. They also have special dietary treats, and I didn’t get much of it when I cashed in my tokens for them. I should’ve stuck with the regular candy instead of trying to be good. We’ve also been to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and I feel it is a better party for the money. I’ll have to compare them again after attending this year’s Very Merry.

Thanks again for visiting! I will bring home some goodies from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party to have as giveaways for subscribing here or following my TikTok over @brent.abell. Everyone subscribed here, following on TikTok, or subscribing to the new YouTube channel will be entered when it launches next week. You can get an entry for each one you subscribe to.

In closing, I want to give a shout-out to my Disney trip guy, Bobby Linn, at Pixie Travel. He does fantastic work helping you plan your trip, and best of all, it is a free service. Be sure to contact Bobby at bobbyl@pixietravelco.com to get your dream vacation rolling.

See you out at the Crossroads,

Brent

Welcome to the Crossroads

On By Brent AbellIn Halloween Horror Nights, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Travel, Traveling Writer, Universal Studios Orlando, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

I want to welcome you to Brent’s Crossroads. If you know me, you know I am an author who loves to travel and share my experiences. The purpose of this new site is to separate my writing work from my travels. I am also a huge Disney adult, and I have plenty to say and share concerning that as well.

The picture above is from this year’s Universal Studios Orlando Halloween Horror Nights. During the same weekend, I also attended Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. To kick this site off, I will have an article on both experiences in the next few days.

If you like traveling or like someone with a warped sense of humor about traveling, this is the place for you. I will talk about my trips, explore the sights, and review the local snacks I bring back from foreign lands on this site. Soon, there will be an accompanying YouTube channel, Facebook page, and other media sites for you to join in the fun with.

This is a work in progress, so please don’t mind the dust and sounds of the hammering. I want to give you a place to learn about other places to visit, what they offer, and what the food is like. Feel free to kick your feet up, grab a drink, and converse. This is your page, too, and you can always share your tales with everyone, but please be respectful.

You can find my author website at www.brentabell.com. If you feel so inclined, you can also join the TikTok page for videos about my travels and other musings about writing and the horror genre at @brent.abell.

Welcome again to the Crossroads, and I hope we can have fun traveling around together!

Brent