November 21st - Evening
 

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Thursday, November 21st, 2024            

Tonight was the night that Uncle Steven and I have been waiting for - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney's Magic Kingdom. We headed off to the park around 5:00pm, parking at the Transportation and Ticket Center before boarding the ferry boat to the park entrance. We were steered over to the right side of the main park entrance to enter through the special after-hours event, where we were given wrist bands to signify that we were allowed to stay in the park past the 6:00pm closing time. Instead of walking down Main Street, U.S.A. we were taken to the right, through the backstage area. Here we were able to stop at special meet and greets with various holiday characters, such as gingerbread men and snow angels. We were given a special Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party ornament when we reached the main part of the park, coming out between The Plaza Restaurant and the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant.

Since we were so close to Tomorrowland, we decided to head that way. While in Tomorrowland I was able to pick up another popcorn bucket, this one being a Mickey Mouse elf bucket. The MyDisney Experience app wasn't showing wait times, but we decided to head to TRON Lightcycle / Run to see how long the line was. Thankfully there wasn't much of a wait at all, thanks to the party, so we got in line to enjoy our ride in not time at all. This ride is definitely cool at night, its just too bad that you aren't outside for more of it!

While leaving Tomorrowland I tried to do a mobile order for the Mickey Mouse drummer sipper that was being offered, but the wait at the closest restaurant that it was available at - Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café - had too long of a wait. I instead ordered from Pinocchio Village Haus as there was no wait. As we passed by Cosmic Ray's, we did head inside, as there were handing out hot cocoa and cookies to guests of Mickey's party. One we arrived at Pinocchio Village Haus, I was able to walk right in to pick up the sipper (well, aside from waiting for what felt like forever for the guy in front of me to make sure he had his complete order).

From Fantasyland we headed over to Adventureland to take a ride on the Jingle Cruise, the holiday version of the usual Jungle Cruise ride. Unfortunately we weren't shown our way to the Lightning Lane this time, instead we were given a return time to come back after. With some time to kill we wandered our way over to Frontierland to take a spin on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, one of Steve's favorites. The views from this ride were great at night as well, though I have no complaints about riding during the daylight either!

While we were here I briefly thought about seeing if Tiana's Bayou Adventure was available or required the virtual queue for the Christmas event, but I decided that it was too cold to even try tonight. I would have like to have taken Steve on it, as he hasn't had the chance to ride it since it reopened, but tonight wasn't going to be the night.

We left Frontierland and headed back to Adventureland. We passed by Tortuga Tavern, and they were giving out cider and cookies as well, so we made our way through there to enjoy a treat. While we were close, we got in line for Pirates of the Caribbean, as there was no wait here as well. I definitely enjoy this ride, though I still miss some of the old, non-politically correct scenes, but I understand why they were changed. It just doesn't seem as authentic this way. Life marches on, however.

We then headed back to take our turn on the Jingle Cruise. The holiday layover was well done, and I enjoyed the ride at night more than I thought that I would. I was worried about the visuals, but they utilize lights on top of the boats to light up the key scenes at the appropriate times, so it was a great way to experience the ride.

We headed back to Tomorrowland to stop at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café to split a chicken tender meal as we were both getting hungry. I also grabbed a second Mickey Mouse drummer sipper, this one for Grandma Terry.

Our next stop was in front of Cinderella Castle, where we were able to catch the Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration and we stuck around for Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show shortly thereafter. The fireworks were certainly enjoyable, and I am glad that I had the chance to take them in!

At this point I had ridden pretty much every ride that I had wanted to (though looking back I should have taken Steve on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train as well, but that one slipped my mind). We decided to head out at this point, as it was later than either of us typically stay up, and we were tired from our long day (plus, Steve had a certain "aroma" that we needed to get back to the hotel to clean up).

We once again boarded the ferry boat, this time for the ride back to the Transportation and Ticket Center before we headed back to the hotel for the night.

All in all I truly had a great time at this event. I could definitely see going back with the kids, though I think I would target the Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney's Hollywood Studios with them - it would be great to have short lines at a park with more thrilling rides that we would enjoy repeating if given the time to do so!

 

Disney's Magic Kingdom - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party


 

Rodney was frustrated by Uncle Steven at this point of the day, but was determined to enjoy the evening together despite it all!

 
 

A look at Cinderella Castle from the ferry boat as we departed the Transportation and Ticket Center...

 
     
 

...as well as Disney's Contemporary Resort.

 
 

A look at the entrance for the guests of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party in the backstage area at Disney's Magic Kingdom.

 
 

There were gingerbread men available to pose for pictures with...

 
 

...as well as these ladies, which I am calling snow angels.

 
 

A look at the TRON Lightcycle / Run canopy lit up at night.

 
 

The view of Space Mountain as seen from the TRON Lightcycle / Run queue.

 
 

Another shot of the TRON Lightcycle / Run canopy lit up at night.

 
 

A couple of views of the TRON Lightcycle / Run queue...

 
     
 

A look at Cinderella Castle lit up for the holidays.

 
 

A nightime view of the Beauty & the Beast Castle.

 
 

One of the mountains on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride.

 
 

A look across the park from the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride.

 
 

Frontierland as seen from the exit of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

 
 

A look back at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at night.

 
 

The trees between Frontierland and Adventureland were lit up beautifully tonight.

 
 

A couple scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean...

 
     
 

A selfie of Rodney while waiting for Uncle Steve to use the restroom.

 
 

A shot of the queue for the Jingle Cruise.

 
 

Rodney and Steve waiting in line.

 
 

Another view of the queue for the Jingle Cruise.

 
 

Some of the scenes from the Jingle Cruise ride...

 
     
     
     
     
     
 

A couple shots of Cinderella Castle as we headed back to Tomorrland...

 
     
 

While eating we got to enjoy a DJ at the Disney Junior Jingle Jam inside of Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café.

 
 

After eating we watched the Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration on stage in front of Cinderella Castle...

 
     
 

I included a lot of pictures from Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, mainly to show off all of the different lighting effects that they had on the castle during the show...

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

While making our way out of the park following Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, we were greeting by "snow" falling on Main Street, U.S.A.!

 
     
     
 

Rodney enjoying the snow!

 
 

While we were waiting for the ferry to depart the dock we were able to see the Electrical Water Pageant on Seven Seas Lagoon...

 
     
     
     
     
     
 

Rodney on the ferry boat, ready to head to the hotel after a long day!

 


 

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