Why is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party such a mob scene? About This Page:

[Her Dotness]

We have no basis for comparison, never having done MVMCP until this November, but we left it after a couple hours, tired and frustrated because it was so very difficult to get anywhere from the MK entry to the Castle.

We knew it wouldn't be easy but didn't expect it to be shoulder-to-shoulder along the parade route as early as 4:30. The crowd was so densely packed already that we had difficulty getting DH's scooter up Main Street in order to get to the Castle for our dinner ADR at 5:00. His own scooter isn't much larger than a manual wheelchair, somewhat smaller than the rented ones, too. Negotiating our way was really frustrating even so.

People evidently had already staked out their viewing spots before 4:00 for the first parade which didn't start until nearly 8:30 due to drizzly-drippy weather. Almost no one would budge an inch to let us through, apparently fearful we'd steal their space. Maybe I don't have parade mentality, but having to secure a viewing spot over four and a half HOURS beforehand to be able to see at all well? That's just ridiculous!

I'd nearly had enough trying to get through the crowd to get to dinner in the Castle, but I really was fed up in short order at how much worse trying to get anywhere along Main Street was after the party began.

CM's did a good job of clearing the sidewalk alongside the Main Street shops not long after 7:00, but that didn't help much once you got closer to the Castle where it was like shoving your way through sardines at several points if you didn't simply stay in the middle of the street. Even then, you were weaving your way slowly around clumps of people.

Two women with a toddler and simple folding stroller walked with me up the ramp to the monorail as we headed back to our resort shortly before 9:00. The stroller was the slingseat type that isn't at all bulky.

The older woman said it's become ridiculously oversold when the crowds are so dense you can't even get a stroller like theirs through or make your way up Main Street reasonably easily. She added that just a couple years ago you could still move a stroller up Main Street without much trouble. They were leaving earlier than they ever before had, she remarked, because they were so frustrated with trying to get anywhere beyond Main Street, it was so impossibly crowded.

Maybe others who've felt similarly frustrated need to complain to Disney. Or perhaps we just had unrealistic expectations. A real disappointment as much as tickets to MVMCP cost. We certainly didn't feel very merry, and I doubt we'll ever try it again unless future reviews are more positive for those with mobility issues.

[lauriep]

I find that night-time at MK can be VERY difficult in a scooter even on non-party nights. I've never seen people stake out spots for the parade that early (how crazy!) but the bottlenecks can be pretty bad and quite scary, especially when you're seated and can't see or be seen. My strategy is to get to the park early to get beyond Main St. I watch the parade from Frontierland. Once I went to the party alone-- NEVER, NEVER again! If you're in a scooter you need someone to help with the crowds and to watch out for you. I still enjoy the party, and think the Christmas parade is just wonderful, but it is a challenge and I wouldn't attempt it close to Christmas or Thanksgiving when the crowds are thicker. I'm sorry you had such a difficult time.

[jimmymac]

When WDW first started the MCVCP a few years ago, the number of tickets sold was much more limited than it is today (and less than 1/2 the price). Disney recognized what a cash cow it could be, and now we have the current prouduct, which is no longer worth it imho. We just got back and skipped the party altogether

[Her Dotness]

Part of our frustration resulted from the fact that we'd had gorgeous weather all week until 3:30 the afternoon of the party, our last night big splash. Naturally, the drizzly-drippy rain started then and kept going, of course, until about a half hour after we bought ponchos. At least, the ponchos don't rot and are plenty big enough to cover DH and essential areas of his scooter. We were miffed that we spent $16 for barely half an hour of need, though.

And then, once we finally got over to the stage where the Tomorrowland show was scheduled, the CM there said the first show had been cancelled due to too much water on the stage for performer safety despite at least 8 big fans running. The second show was about to begin. We had a front row vantage point center stage only to hear shortly after that that the second show was also cancelled.

You can't blame Disney for weather frustration, but that was the one show we really wanted to see, and we weren't in a frame of mind to wait another hour for the next. We bailed to our Castle view room and really enjoyed watching the party fireworks from our balcony.

There was a bright spot on our way out of the MK when one narrow front wheel of DH's scooter slipped into the crevice alongside the parade float track about halfway down Main Street and stuck tightly. Two good-sized men quickly stepped over to help lift the scooter up and out with all 200-some pounds of DH still seated. They did it quickly and easily, so we were thankful for the magical help of those two "MVMCP Elves."