Pinterest<\/span><\/button><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nWe\u2019re nearly \u201cHalfway to the Holidays.\u201d Walt Disney World is celebrating Christmas in mid-June with every week of bulletins. This publish covers what to anticipate, plus our predictions<\/em> about what\u2019ll be introduced: Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party, pricing, leisure, some triumphant returns, and extra.<\/p>\nThis is the third 12 months Disney Parks is doing #HalfwaytotheHolidays, and it makes us chuckle just a bit bit. Christmas in July is already a factor<\/em>\u2013why not simply embrace that established custom? Admittedly, it’s a bit becoming that Walt Disney World\u2019s vacation season is creeping ahead a bit. After all, this is identical place that brings us Halloween in early August!<\/p>\nFor regular Americans, there\u2019s nice debate about when the vacation season truly begins. Is it the day after Halloween? Is it the day Starbucks releases its Peppermint Mocha? The begin of Hallmark Channel\u2019s Countdown to Christmas? Or, are you a Turkey Before Tree stickler? These are the urgent questions of our day, all of which dictate after we\u2019re truly<\/em> midway to the vacation season.<\/p>\nOn that notice, the #HalfwaytotheHolidays festivities will occur from June 13 by way of 15, and have bulletins, sneak peeks, particular treats, and different vacation enjoyable. We are actually <\/em>excited. This Christmas goes to be an enormous one for us on a private stage, and we\u2019re actually hopeful that features the restoration of vacation season choices and begin of latest traditions at Walt Disney World. (Definitely not anticipating it, but when they create again Country Bear Christmas,\u00a0we are going to lose our minds.<\/em>)<\/p>\nHere are a few of our predictions for Christmas 2023 at Walt Disney World. Some are just about positive issues, whereas others are a tad extra far-fetched\u2026<\/p>\n
Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party Returns<\/strong> \u2013 Walt Disney World already introduced that Mickey\u2019s Not So Scary Halloween Party is returning for a second consecutive 12 months, so might be an inevitability. However, it additionally appeared like a foregone conclusion that Disneyland would convey again its Christmas get together final 12 months\u2026and that didn\u2019t occur.<\/p>\nRegardless, there\u2019s most likely no less than a 98% probability that Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party is returning for 2023. I\u2019m not sufficient of a contrarian to guess on the two% probability {that a} completely different occasion is introduced for the vacation season. While I wouldn\u2019t put something previous Walt Disney World today, they\u2019ve gotta notice that Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party is iconic and beloved by followers. The good and secure cash is on it taking place this 12 months.<\/p>\n
No Additional Dates\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Last 12 months, Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party was held on 24 nights between November 8 and December 22. It began the second Tuesday in November and ended the Thursday earlier than Christmas.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s frequent for Walt Disney World to make occasions longer and attempt to squeeze extra ticket gross sales. To that time, this 12 months\u2019s MNSSHP is setting a number of information: earliest begin date, newest finish date (tie), and most get together nights ever with 38.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t suppose it\u2019ll be doable for Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party to broaden. Having the final Halloween Party on November 1 makes that robust, however Holiday Services\u00a0can\u00a0<\/em>flip over Magic Kingdom in a matter of a pair nights.<\/p>\nStill, my guess is the primary MVMCP occurs on November 7, so until they squeeze in an additional get together that first weekend or within the lead-up to Thanksgiving, it simply doesn\u2019t appear seemingly. Who is aware of, although. Never guess towards Walt Disney World\u2019s want to seize extra income.<\/p>\n
No MVMCP Price Increase<\/strong> \u2013 Last 12 months, Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets have been $159 to $199 for many nights, with the ultimate two occasions costing a cool $249. There was quite a lot of outrage about these value factors, however each single evening bought out.<\/p>\nThis is probably going resulting from provide and demand. There are usually fewer Christmas get together nights than Mickey\u2019s Not So Scary Halloween Party. The vacation season is way busier, occurring throughout two of the busiest months of the 12 months versus two of the slowest months at Walt Disney World. Given that, it stands to cause that Walt Disney World will push costs increased.<\/p>\n
However, that didn’t occur with MNSSHP. The value vary remained the identical, with the\u00a0common\u00a0<\/em>value rising by advantage of the distribution of dates skewing increased. That\u2019s precisely what we anticipate to happen right here: ticket costs starting from $149 to $199. Same as final 12 months.<\/p>\nOne wild card is how nicely tickets to the 2023 Mickey\u2019s Not So Scary Halloween Party are promoting. No dates have bought out but, so it actually doesn\u2019t appear that Disney priced these events too low. However, it is<\/em> doable that they\u2019re priced too excessive, particularly with pent-up demand cooling and a slowdown in client spending.<\/p>\nIf tickets for the MNSSHP are falling wanting expectations, or if Walt Disney World is already seeing lighter bookings for fall and past, it\u2019s doable the MVMCP value vary finally ends up being decrease. Don\u2019t guess on that, although. Even although the final couple months have been slower than anticipated, we\u2019re nonetheless anticipating October by way of December to be extremely busy. Those are Walt Disney World\u2019s largest months of the 12 months.<\/p>\n
More Characters\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party had fewer characters than regular final 12 months. This was due nearly fully to staffing shortages, and can also be why meet & greet wait occasions ballooned through the day between final August and December (diminished capability to reallocate performers to events).<\/p>\nBringing again extra characters simply is sensible. It helps with capability, and new characters additionally present drawing energy. My private hope, and maybe an unpopular opinion, is that the Seven Dwarfs don\u2019t return. I\u2019d relatively have 7 extra meet & greets with particular person characters, however that\u2019s simply me.<\/p>\n
More Muppets (or Other Entertainment) <\/strong>\u2013 One of the problems we\u2019ve harped on since 2018 is the\u00a0distribution\u00a0<\/em>of crowds on the Halloween and Christmas events. In a nutshell, although attendance is capped, it doesn\u2019t all the time really feel that approach as a result of a disproportionate variety of individuals crowd into the entrance of the park. The result’s that space being packed\u2013immediately in entrance of Cinderella Castle feels downright unsafe between the parade, fireworks, and stage exhibits\u2013whereas different areas are virtually empty.<\/p>\nTrying to attract occasion attendees or underutilized areas of Magic Kingdom is exactly why Walt Disney World added the Tomorrowland trip overlays just a few years in the past. That helped, however the issue persists. (If solely there have been an precise\u00a0theater again in Tomorrowland. Oh wait.<\/em>)<\/p>\nOur guess is that within the second 12 months of Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party being again, Walt Disney World will try so as to add extra outdoors of Main Street that spreads crowds out. With Disneyland\u2019s Merriest Nites (apparently) going defunct, bringing the characters from the Muppets\u2019 Christmas Caroling Coach to Florida would make sense. Probably not on the Omnibus, although.<\/p>\n
Reindeer Return\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Finally, my out of left subject prediction: the return of the \u2018Silly Reindeer\u2019 designed by Disney Legend Bill Justice that appeared in Mickey\u2019s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade till round 2014. These used to have longer tongues however these have been shortened\u2013purportedly by an leisure supervisor who felt they appeared ridiculous.<\/p>\nThe present reindeer are completely sufficient, however that\u2019s exactly the issue. They appear to be faux reindeer you might discover performing anyplace, and lack the character that outline nice Disney characters. \u201cRidiculous\u201d is an efficient factor\u2013the Bill Justice reindeer are memorable due to their caricatured look.<\/p>\n
Obviously, this can be a longshot. Given that they\u2019ve been absent for nearly a decade, there\u2019s a very good probability the outdated Silly Reindeer costumes are lengthy gone and must be refabricated. That\u2019s an enormous enterprise. Not solely that, however I\u2019d hazard a guess that 95% of individuals studying this had by no means heard of or seen the Bill Justice Silly Reindeer. That quantity seemingly will increase to 99% as soon as expanded to the potential visitor pool of Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party.<\/p>\n
However, Disney has lately revived the Silly Reindeer twice. In final 12 months\u2019s Carousel of Progress refresh, the household was given slippers within the Christmas finale that function the Silly Reindeer. Of course, that would simply be an Easter Egg inserted by a geeky Imagineer eager to pay tribute to Bill Justice, and have zero bigger-picture significance.<\/p>\n
More vital is the Reindeer Sipper that the corporate simply introduced goes to be obtainable on Disney Cruise Line sailings this summer season. As with Imagineers, merchandise groups like to pay tribute to the previous, however the distinction right here is that this product would\u2019ve gone by way of a number of layers of approval and evaluation earlier than launch. Together, this two issues counsel it\u2019s doable the Silly Reindeer will make a return.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the chances are low of that taking place this 12 months. From my perspective, it appears extra like a carried out the highway chance, taking place if the parks (the Bill Justice Silly Reindeer have been additionally at Disneyland) need to lean into the nostalgic characters on merchandise and make them \u2018a thing.\u2019 An Easter Egg in a trip and a single sipper most likely don\u2019t rise to that stage, however issues may snowball over time\u2013particularly if Disney diehards reply nicely to the primary piece of merchandise.<\/p>\n
Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Is Jingle DEAD<\/strong> \u2013 If the vacation pyro and projections present at Disney\u2019s Hollywood Studios have been going to return, it might\u2019ve made sense to convey it again beforehand. For no matter cause, Walt Disney World opted towards bringing again Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!<\/p>\nIt\u2019s unlikely the calculus on that call has modified. Both specials now being over a decade outdated, so maybe the Prep & Landing<\/em> IP is considered as previous its prime. With that stated, there\u2019s the skin chance that Walt Disney World will need \u201ccounterprogramming\u201d to Fantasmic. There\u2019s a cause why DHS used to have a number of nightly projection and pyro exhibits, and the park nonetheless <\/em>has issues maintaining visitors late. (That was by no means a difficulty through the Osborne Lights days\u2013simply saying!<\/em>)<\/p>\nCinderella Castle Dream Lights Return <\/strong>\u2013 Usually, when one thing is gone for 3 years at Walt Disney World, it\u2019s gone for good. That\u2019s very true with vacation overlays and choices. But what, Christmas is a magical time of 12 months when miracles occur, and hope springs everlasting<\/em>.<\/p>\nUnlike the Silly Reindeer prediction, I\u2019m not going to hedge this one by saying it\u2019s extremely unlikely. I\u2019m calling my shot: Cinderella Castle\u2019s Dream Lights will return<\/em> for Christmas 2023. No equivocation or asterisks.<\/p>\nFor one factor, the fiftieth Anniversary decorations at the moment are down, so the lights might be put in on Cinderella Castle. For one other factor, the moat remains to be partially drained and the cranes are nonetheless on web site, even a few weeks in spite of everything that work wrapped up. Although it might be sort of odd to simply have them sit round till August when the Dream Lights usually begin going up, I don\u2019t know why else they\u2019re there.<\/p>\n
Finally, bringing again the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights after a multi-year hiatus could be one strategy to lure again followers to Walt Disney World and enhance bookings for the vacation season. It\u2019d even be a win from a visitor satisfaction perspective, and be one other strategy to say to followers that \u201cwe\u2019re listening\u201d to suggestions.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, these are a few of my predictions for the Christmas season at Walt Disney World, not essentially what\u2019ll be introduced throughout Halfway to the Holidays. Disney may begin with imprecise particulars and a reveal that Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party is returning, whereas teasing extra to come back sooner or later.<\/p>\n
Personally, I believe that\u2019s unlikely. With a point of financial slowdown on the horizon and client sentiment beginning to stoop already, it makes far more sense to announce as a lot as doable now and\u00a0<\/em>juice bookings ASAP. Disney would possibly need to get these Christmas journeys and ticket gross sales locked-in earlier than customers begin to rethink their spending.<\/p>\nPlanning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about resorts on our\u00a0Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews<\/a>\u00a0web page. For the place to eat, learn our\u00a0 Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews<\/a>. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our\u00a0 Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets<\/a>\u00a0publish. Our\u00a0 What to Pack for Disney Trips<\/a>\u00a0publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our\u00a0 Walt Disney World Ride Guides<\/a>\u00a0will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our\u00a0 Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0for the whole lot you’ll want to know!<\/p>\nYOUR THOUGHTS<\/h3>\n Now that I\u2019ve made my Halfway to the Holidays predictions\u2026what are yours? Think Walt Disney World will announce the return of the whole lot that was lacking from Christmas the previous couple of years, restoring circa-2019 normalcy? Expecting something new for the 2023 Mickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party? Expecting any (destructive) surprises? What are your ideas on ticket costs? Will your loved ones be shopping for or sitting out the Christmas festivities? Are you excited for Christmas 2023 at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our perspective on this? Any questions we will help you reply? Hearing your suggestions\u2013even while you disagree with us\u2013is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!<\/p>\n