There are several specially ticketed events offered at Walt Disney World throughout the year.
One of these events is the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. These parties are offered several nights in November and December, and feature all of the holiday favorites.
From special characters, to meeting Mickey in his holiday outfit, to snow on Main Street, to a festive parade, these special activities are only offered during the party.
One of the additional activities offered during the main Christmas party is the Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace. This event costs extra to attend (on top of the cost of the Christmas party ticket) and is kind of a party inside a party.
So, is it worth it to pay the extra to attend the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party dessert party?
Eh, not so much.
Dessert Parties
Dessert parties are not exclusive to the Christmas Party. Over the years, we’ve tried (and loved!) the dessert parties at Magic Kingdom.
We think those parties are great for when you are looking for something special to do during your vacation OR if you just don’t want to have to worry about finding a good spot to watch the fireworks OR if you have someone in your group who would feel safer being inside a closed area and not in the middle of the crowds.
But, when it comes to the dessert party at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, we feel a little bit differently.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) is already a specially ticketed event, which means you cannot use a normal park ticket to enter the park while it is occurring. You have to purchase a separate ticket if you want to go.
The cost to get into the Christmas Party is around $159-$199 (plus tax) for adults and $149-$189 (plus tax) for children (depending on the night). In all fairness, your MVMCP ticket allows you to enter the park at 4 p.m. even though the party itself runs from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. – but even with that perk, there’s no denying it’s still super pricey.
Make sure you check out our Complete Guide to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which covers everything from tickets to entertainment to characters. We even have a map to help you find everything.
Now add to that total ticket cost the price for the dessert parties during MVMCP, which range from $109 to $119 per adult.
Basically, if you want to do both (attend Mickey’s Merry Christmas Party and the Christmas Dessert Party) you’re looking at paying a minimum of $268/adult all the way to $318/adult.
Yeah, that’s a big chunk of change.
Christmas Party Dessert Party Options
There are 2 styles of dessert parties that you can book during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. They both include guaranteed viewing for the Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, and the food and drinks are identical:
- Desserts: Holiday-themed desserts, cupcakes, seasonal fruits, cheeses, etc.
- Beverages: A variety of beverages, including signature lemonades, hot chocolate, coffee and tea—as well as a glass of wine or beer
The difference between the 2 parties is the view you’ll have of the fireworks.
We have done the Christmas Dessert Party and while it was a lot of fun, it is expensive and it took up a large chunk of our party time.
Christmas Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing
- Cost: $109/adult, $59/child age 3-9 (that is in addition to the price of your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ticket)
- Time: Check-in 1.5 hours before fireworks begin
- How to book: Book online or by calling 407-939-3463
Christmas Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace
- Cost: $119/adult, $75/child age 3-9 (that is in addition to the price of your Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ticket)
- Time: Check-in 1 hour before fireworks begin.
- How to book: Book online or by calling 407-939-3463
Missing Out on the Christmas Party
In addition to the costly expense of the dessert party, if you decide to attend one you’ll also be looking at losing a large chunk of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party time.
This is one of our main complaints about “parties within parties” like this: the loss of time from the original event (the original event that you’re already paying a premium to attend, we might add).
Not only do you lose out on time to do other special events only offered at the party, unlike the other non-party nights, the crowds aren’t as bad, which means it shouldn’t be difficult to find a good viewing location for the fireworks without having to pay for dessert party viewing.
VIDEO: Is the Dessert Party at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party worth it?
What to Expect at the Christmas Dessert Party
Here’s what to expect if you are planning to attend one of the Christmas Dessert Parties:
Checking In
After you book your reservation, you’ll receive information on checking in for the event. The fireworks are held at 10 p.m. on party nights. However, depending which party you book, you’ll have to check in up to 90 minutes prior to showtime.
- If you have Plaza Garden Viewing: check in 90 minutes beforehand
- If you book the Tomorrowland Terrace package: check in 60 minutes beforehand
We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled check-in time, so:
- Plaza Garden Viewing: arrive at 8 p.m. for an 8:30 p.m. check-in time
- Tomorrowland Terrace: arrive at 9 p.m. for a 9:30 p.m. check-in time
Why do we suggest this? You may able to avoid long lines and you’ll have a better chance of snagging a table with a better view.
At check-in, you’ll be given a wristband. If you’re planning on drinking alcohol, your ID will be checked, so make sure you have it on you. You’ll then be escorted to a table.
Snacks and Drinks
After you get your table, you’ll be able to grab some snacks and drinks.
In general, there is nothing over-the-top “Christmas” about these treats. You can get basically all the same things during the regular dessert parties on non-MVMCP days.
The selection may always vary, but here’s an example of what you might find:
Beverages with alcohol
- Veramonte Chardonnay
- Zolo Signature Red Blend
- Saracco Moscato d’Asti
- Paul Cheneau Lady of Spain Cuvee Cava
- Blue Moon Belgian White Ale
- Bud Light
Beverages without alcohol
- Water
- Tea
- Minute Maid Lemonade
- Nestlé Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava Juice
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Coffee
- Hot tea
Snacks
- Cookies ‘n Cream Cheesecake
- Peppermint Crunch Bars
- Gingerbread Mousse Domes
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Devil’s Chocolate Pudding
- Hot Cocoa Cupcakes
- Eggnog Panna Cotta
- Firehouse Doughnuts (also found at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant)
- Chocolate Cake Bites
- Vanilla Cake Bites
- Assorted Fruit
- Assorted Bread (Plain, Olive, or Fig and Anise)
- Assorted Cheese and Crackers
- Cranberry-Orange Crêpes with Crêpes Suzette Sauce
- Decorate your own dessert with either assorted icing or assorted sprinkles:
- Birthday cupcake
- Sugar cookie
- Chocolate chip cookie
You Can Come and Go
As long as you have your wristband, you can come and go from Tomorrowland Terrace (if you are still dining) and the viewing area (if you have the dessert party with the Plaza Garden Viewing).
We’ve done this several times at past parties. It’s a good strategy, especially if your group wants to split up. Some may want to hang for a bit, while others head out to catch the first parade.
Fireworks
When it comes time for fireworks, those with the Plaza Garden View will be directed to the viewing location (or escorted if you don’t know where you are going). If you have Tomorrowland Terrace viewing, you’ll just be able to stay there at your table.
If you want, you can even go out to the viewing area early to watch the parade from there – just know that the view isn’t that great.
Even on nights when it is sold out, it isn’t too difficult to find a spot in the garden. You can sit while you wait for the fireworks, but at about 5 minutes before showtime, they’ll ask you to stand up.
Who do we recommend the attend the fireworks dessert party?
We admit that having a spot to sit, relax, and have a snack and a drink during a busy Christmas party is nice. It’s one of the things we really enjoyed when we tried it.
It may be worth it to those looking for something a little different to do at the party.
For instance, if you regularly attend the MVMCP and are wanting to change your routine or experience something new, this could be a good option for you.
This might also be a good idea for anybody in your group that you know might need a break from the crowds and a place to sit and relax for a bit. The dessert party could be compared to a mini-club lounge, where you have several hours to come and go while you snack and drink. That could be the perfect thing for some people.
BUT – if you have never attended, or don’t attend the MVMCP frequently, you should probably skip the dessert party and enjoy the Christmas party you are already paying a premium for.