The holidays are in full swing at Disney (Epcot Festival of the Holidays, Animal Kingdom Holidays), and while each of the parks has something fun to add to your holiday celebration, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom will always be our family favorite. Every year, Disney adds something new to the event, and this year is no exception. Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks lights up the sky while special new holiday moments on Tomorrowland Speedway, Space Mountain, Mad Tea Party and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor light up the rides.
New Holiday Ride Overlays At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
The first time I experienced a ride with a holiday twist was on my first visit to Disneyland where the Haunted Mansion had received a Nightmare Before Christmas makeover. I was entranced by the idea of taking a favorite ride and giving it a holiday makeover, so naturally, I was overjoyed when the Jingle Cruise arrived at Disney World the same year. But it wasn’t until this year that the holiday overlays at Disney World were expanded for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. New for 2019, the Tomorrowland Speedway, Space Mountain, Mad Tea Party and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor each received an extra touch holiday magic.
Colorful lights and cheerful holiday music give guests another reason to love Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. And my family was all about it! Our favorite was the Mad Tea Party. (Which was equally fun with a Halloween overlay for Mickey’s Not So Scary.)
In case any Imagineers are reading, I am still waiting for Jack Skellington to make an appearance at the Haunted Mansion at Disney World. Just saying…
New Christmas Cookie Packages
Disney used to hand out Very Merry Christmas cookies wrapped in a paper napkin at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Last year, the cookies were individually wrapped in plastic bags, which makes it easy to bring home a few of your favorite treats. (I may or may not be snacking on one right now!) This year the treat bags were upgraded from plain clear bags to adorable Very Merry Mickey bags.
The only drawback to the new Mickey bags is that all of the bags look the same. While there were no labels on the clear bags either, it is harder to see what type of cookie you are breaking into from the back of the cookie, especially in the dark.
As usual, look for the giant blow-up candy canes at the entrance of each cookie station. Here are the cookies and treats you will find throughout the park. (My personal favorite are the Ginger Molasses Cookies.)
- Welcome Holiday Treat – Market Street (until 8 pm)
- Ginger Molasses Cookie – Jingle Cruise, The Lunching Pad
- Snickerdoodle Cookie – Golden Oak Outpost, Pinocchio Village Haus
- Peppermint Cookie – Miner’s Cove, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
- Chocolate Chip Cookie – The Diamond Horseshoe, The Friar’s Nook
- Snowman Pretzel – Tortuga Tavern, Storybook Snack Carts
- Fanta – Tortuga Tavern, Pinocchio Village Haus
- Eggnog – The Diamond Horseshoe
- Apple Cider – Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, The Lunching Pad
- Hot Chocolate – Pinocchio Village Haus, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
I admit that I always get a bit wistful when Disney retires a fireworks show (I still miss Wishes!), but I was thrilled to instantly fall in love with Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. My parents had not been to Disney in quite some time, so this was their first time seeing a fireworks show with a castle overlay and they were blown away. My dad couldn’t stop talking about how cool it was, and it really is a beautiful show.
My kids’ favorite part was the return of Tinkerbell flying from the castle at the beginning of the show. While you can catch the Magic Kingdom fireworks shows from anywhere in the park, the castle overlays and Tinkerbell make standing in front of the castle for the show a top priority in my opinion. (No need to be close to the castle, a view from the back is just as nice.)
Those are the new highlights for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2019. What are your favorite enchancements?