As the weather turns colder and spooks turn to snowflakes, it is time to revisit some festive delight that Walt Disney World has to offer. While Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party returned in 2022, we thought it would be the perfect time to look back on the Very Merriest After Hours event that took place in 2021 as there are a few similarities.
Magic Kingdom is festive throughout the day from November to December, but it takes on a whole new personality at night for the Holiday events.
For the Very Merriest After Hours, let's start with the included snacks. You could get a few park favorite treats and some seasonal delights. The lines at the start of the event for Ice Cream and soda were long, but they faded throughout the night and it was much easier to get snacks later on. We enjoyed Mickey's Premium Ice Cream Bars first. While it was December, it was still plenty warm out for ice cream! They had a few other favorite ice cream novelties available as well. We also got some park popcorn which is always a delight. The event treats were available in four quick service restaurant locations and provided hot cocoa and a cookie that was individually wrapped to be enjoyed now or later! Allergy-friendly options were available for the cookies/cocoa upon request. These were all the perfect fuel to keep us going late into the night.
Next up is the wonderful characters. We saw so many great familiar friends and loved Stitch's Santa outfit!
There are also specialty Photopass pictures you can capture throughout the park to add a little extra holiday magic as well.
There are of course rides open and available throughout the event as well. With limited attendance levels, lines were shorter to hop on some of your favorite attractions. This is typically one of the bigger draws of an After Hours event!
That brings us to the main, event-exclusive events, let's start with the parade. The holiday parade is full of cheer and delight. This is definitely a fan-favorite so if you are interested stake out your spot early or try to catch the second show of the evening. If there is a second parade, it will be less crowded. There are favorite Disney characters along with gingerbread men, reindeer and Santa Claus himself! Some of the floats are even scented!
Finally we have the Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. These were absolutely a highlight of our night. They were so endearing and just a great firework show. As with all Magic Kingdom fireworks, the best view will be from the Hub/Main Street area but if you aren't a fireworks fan, lines for rides and snacks will be shorter during this time!
Are you a fan of the holiday happenings at
Walt Disney World resort? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Maci Schau
Maci is an avid foodie and loves trying out new restaurants and seasonal food offerings in the parks. You can email Maci at
[email protected].
