When Will 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion Tickets Go on Sale?


When will Walt Disney World launch 2023 dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion?” and “why haven’t tickets for MVMCP gone on sale but?” are reader questions we’ve been receiving extra. We’ll attempt to reply based mostly on what we all know based mostly on historic launch dates, present developments, previous demand, and extra.

As with all of those speculative posts, we’ll begin with the easy proven fact that Madame Leota isn’t employed by this weblog–which means that we don’t have a crystal ball. Nobody can provide you a definitive reply about when Walt Disney World will announce 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion dates or tickets. The identical holds true for just about something that hasn’t been formally introduced, launched internally, or leaked.

So in the event you’re the type of one that, previously, has complained that such a prognostication submit is a “waste of time,” now could be your probability to choose out. Contemplate as an alternative subscribing to our free e-mail e-newsletter for fast alerts, which is able to present you a right away replace when 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion dates are formally introduced by Walt Disney World. This submit is most actually not that, however fairly, our long-winded try to supply perception in response the above reader questions…

With that out of the best way, now we have some excellent news: what’s previous is prologue. 

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion is hardly a brand new occasion, and there’s a ton of precedent relating to announcement and ticket gross sales dates over time. One in all huge motivators for this submit is compiling historic data. I all the time find yourself digging by way of previous press releases to reply these questions, so fairly than repeating that course of again and again, it is smart to compile the final a number of years right here. I’ve additionally added dates and pricing for individuals who are curious–or simply need to distinction this yr’s numbers with the previous!

In 2017, dates and particulars for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion have been introduced on April 6; ticket gross sales began on Could 10. That yr, costs began at $89 for adults and $84 for kids (3-9).

The 2017 MVMCP was held for a 21 nights, with occasions on the next dates:

  • November 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 26, 28
  • December 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22

That sprung ahead considerably the next yr, with March 19, 2018 being the date that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion tickets went on sale. MVMCP ticket costs began at $95 upfront or $105 on the gate.

The 2018 Christmas Occasion was held for a then-record 22 nights:

  • November 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30
  • December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21

Each of these years, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion tickets additionally went on sale the identical day that MNSSHP tickets have been launched. This was a fairly frequent follow on the time, however didn’t all the time happen.

It additionally wasn’t all the time the case that the announcement and gross sales date coincided. For a couple of years, it was regular for dates to be launched in late March or April and tickets happening sale in early Could.

In 2019, tickets for MNSSHP have been launched in mid-January, which was too early for the discharge of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion dates and tickets. The MVMCP announcement got here on April 8; tickets began at $99 in 2019, and that was after a pre-purchase low cost of $10.

The variety of occasion nights elevated as soon as once more, hitting a then-record 23 dates:

  • November: 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24
  • December: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22

It’s price including a “footnote” right here that 2019 was not a standard yr for Walt Disney World. That late summer season and early fall was the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and many individuals steered away from the parks (each in Florida and California) throughout that land’s opening months out of fears that it could be chaotic.

Individuals pushed journeys again to November or December for Christmas, and/or the opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The top consequence was an atypically sluggish finish of summer season, and surprisingly robust vacation season. This actually has extra pertinence for the Halloween season, nevertheless it’s nonetheless noteworthy when discussing the second half of the yr. Just like the 2-3 years that adopted, 2019 was not regular–when it comes to attendance and demand dynamics–at Walt Disney World.

Quick-forward to 2021, when Disney Very Merriest After Hours was introduced as a alternative for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion following a hiatus in 2020. That new occasion was unveiled on August 13, after the Disney After Hours Boo Bash had already began. Tickets went on sale starting August 17 for on-site resort visitors and August 20 for most of the people.

Disney Very Merriest After Hours was held on 24 choose nights:

  • November: 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 28, 30
  • December: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21

Ticket costs ranged from $169 to $229 plus tax for choose November-December nights and $249, plus tax for late December dates in 2019.  Annual Passholders and Disney Trip Membership Members may make the most of a $10 low cost on choose occasion dates in November.

The timing of this launch was nearly actually an anomaly, as Walt Disney World was scrambling to deliver again its regular choices amidst staffing shortages and whereas attempting to navigate an anticipated inflow of crowds for Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary. As with 2019 and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, this didn’t materialize. This time, it was extra in regards to the Delta variant and reinstated face masks guidelines fairly than “crowdpocalypse” fears, however the latter probably contributed barely to decrease attendance between October and December.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion made its triumphant return final yr. This was introduced throughout Walt Disney World’s “Midway to Holidays” on June 23, 2022. Tickets went on sale starting June 30 for on-site resort visitors and July 7 for most of the people.

Happening on 24 choose nights, the 2022 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion set a brand new document for earliest begin date and most occasion nights. It additionally returned to its commonplace schedule of hours from 7 p.m. to midnight, and was not capacity-constrained in the identical was as Very Merriest After Hours.

Because of this, ticket costs decreased as in comparison with After Hours the yr earlier than, however have been nonetheless a document excessive (by a large margin) relative to MVMCP in earlier years, starting from $149 to $199 per individual.

Occasion dates for the 2022 MVMCP have been:

  • November: 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 27, 29
  • December: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22

As you may see from the vary of launch dates above, when Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion tickets go on sale every year varies. It has occurred in each early March and late August–however the latter was an apparent anomaly. Walt Disney World planners could bemoan this, because it makes planning troublesome.

The excellent news is {that a} development has emerged within the post-reopening period. That’s truly clearer with MNSSHP, because the final three years–together with 2023–have featured a “Midway to Halloween” week to construct anticipation and pleasure for spook season. The identical factor was piloted final yr with “Midway to the Holidays,” and it’s extremely probably that’ll return for Christmas 2023.

As for exactly when “Midway to the Holidays” is prone to occur, that’s largely dictated by anticipated demand and gross sales projections. Final yr, pent-up demand was nonetheless operating sizzling; in consequence, each single date of each MNSSHP and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion bought out upfront.

That’s not regular. Whereas Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion does often promote higher than its Halloween counterpart, the norm is for the primary 2-3 events to promote out, the primary one after Thanksgiving to promote out (as a result of events aren’t held through the week of Thanksgiving), after which mid-December dates. In a mean yr, about half of the MVMCP occasion nights would promote out, with the events least prone to promote out being mid-November and early to mid-December.

Often, the primary Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion would promote out in October or early November, with subsequent dates promoting out between late November and early December. Final yr, the primary couple of Christmas Events bought out in September, and each single date bought out earlier than Thanksgiving. Most dates have been passed by November 4. Once more, this was not regular.

Level being, in the event you’re anxiously awaiting Walt Disney World to launch 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion dates and tickets since you’re anxious about it promoting out, don’t. Even with final yr setting the document for bought out dates, nothing was gone till September, and solely the primary two nights bought out that month.

Late October and early November is when most dates of final yr’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion bought out. And once more, that each one occurred sooner than regular. Remember the fact that Individuals have been totally embracing in “revenge journey,” which resulted in freer spending as shoppers sought to make up for misplaced time and have been much less value delicate in consequence.

Along with that, there was pent-up demand for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion specifically amongst Walt Disney World followers. Though Disney Very Merriest After Hours had so much in frequent with MVMCP, it additionally had loads of variations. Essentially the most important of which was a lot later hours, making it a non-starter for a lot of households with young children. This meant that there was ~3 years of fan demand for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion consolidated right into a single yr, plus elevated curiosity among the many normal public, in 2022.

Issues have modified in an enormous method in 2023. In case you’ve been following Walt Disney World information in any respect, you’ve probably seen the 5 Main Enhancements for 2024 at Walt Disney World and all the recently-released reductions for this summer season and fall. After not “needing” Annual Passholders for over a yr, Walt Disney World has pivoted strongly and resumed new AP gross sales whereas additionally rolling out AP appreciation days.

Through the firm’s newest earnings name, CFO Christine McCarthy warned of a slowdown at Walt Disney World within the coming quarters to melt the blow to buyers. This wasn’t information to us–it’s already occurring! We’ve been discussing the upper than regular post-spring break attendance drops in Sharp Shoulder Season Slowdown at Walt Disney World and Low Pre-Summer season Crowds at Walt Disney World.

Suffice to say, the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion is not going to promote out inside days of tickets happening sale. That applies to each the presale window and most of the people window. We all know lots of you’re planners who get anxious about not having each element set in stone, however you actually don’t have something to fret about right here.

Park reservations will not be going to guide up for November and December 2023 anytime quickly–so you may both wait to make yours (there’s actually zero threat in doing so) till MVMCP dates are introduced, or modify as soon as they’re launched. The Advance Eating Reservation window additionally gained’t open earlier than tickets go on sale. There’s completely no want to begin planning your day by day itineraries proper now. (In case you completely should, simply seek the advice of final yr’s MVMCP calendar–events will probably be held on the identical days of the week.)

With that mentioned, the recognition of final yr’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion shouldn’t be minimized. Don’t have a look at the looming summer season slowdown and assume the identical can be true for November and December.

These months will most likely be slower than their counterparts final yr, however they gained’t be as dangerous as proper now or August and September. The vacation season is all the time busy; it’s a fan favourite, and Individuals discover cash of their funds for Christmas even when slicing again at different occasions of the yr.

In different phrases, there are explanations for the recognition of final yr’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion that won’t apply in 2023. Nevertheless, it could be silly to forecast considerably decrease gross sales in consequence.

There have been many components driving the recognition of MVMCP final yr, and way more demand for tickets than provide. Even 25% much less demand for the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion may nonetheless imply many or most dates nonetheless promoting out over the course of the occasion.

Our expectation is that “Midway to the Holidays” is moved ahead in 2023 to supply an extended “runway” for 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion ticket gross sales. That is given the probability of decreased demand and slower gross sales.

Once more, this yr is already proving very totally different from final; extra resort reductions have already been launched, and so they’ve come earlier and been higher than historic norms. If there are inner issues about even MVMCP doing softer numbers because of fizzling pent-up demand, it could behoove Disney to maneuver quicker and lock-in MVMCP ticket gross sales ASAP. Seize a few of that income earlier than shoppers develop into much more value delicate and cost-conscious.

Regardless of how or when the announcement is made, I’d additional predict that tickets will go on sale a pair weeks after the announcement and as soon as once more be staggered for on-site and off-site visitors to create a way of urgency and maybe demand for on-site lodging.

Right here’s my particular prediction: Walt Disney World will announce dates, costs, and when tickets will go on sale for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion on June 8, 2023. That is precisely two weeks sooner than final yr, however nonetheless a couple of months later than when the announcement was usually occurring pre-closure. Actually, these are hardly daring predictions given the precedent set by “Midway to Halloween.”

With that in thoughts, I’ll throw in a few extra daring wildcards. First, I don’t suppose there can be value will increase to the ticket value vary for the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion. I’ll truly go a step additional and name a $10 drop on the low finish. Reducing costs could be very out of character for Walt Disney World, but when the ticket offers launched within the final week are any indication, they’ve hit a wall with costs. Perhaps that doesn’t apply to arduous ticket occasions, however possibly it does. Therefore this being the extra daring prediction.

My subsequent prediction is that, if costs do enhance, bought out dates will lower. To offset this, it may imply the return of low cost tickets for Forged Members or the last-minute introduction of a brand new uncommon character meet & greet–something to entice extra demand. A technique or one other, I believe Walt Disney World will see a return to regular after the sky-high gross sales and recognition of final yr’s occasion.

Trying ahead, I additionally wouldn’t be stunned to see Walt Disney World drop the “Midway” occasions for each Halloween and Christmas subsequent yr, or at the least not tie these to the discharge of ticket gross sales. They might nonetheless be used to announce new leisure choices or in any other case construct anticipation for the vacation season. However there was a motive that dates and tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion was launched a lot early, and as issues return to regular, so too will that. These are simply my guesses, although–we’ll preserve you posted when one thing is truly, formally introduced for the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion!

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? In case you’re fascinated with studying extra about resorts, our Walt Disney World Lodges Critiques web page is an efficient place to begin. For the place to eat, check out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques web page. If you wish to lower your expenses on tickets or decide which sort it is best to get, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at unconventional issues it is best to take in your journey. When you arrive on the parks, our Walt Disney World “Journey Guides” are nice for figuring out what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of those matters and a lot extra, the most effective place to begin is our complete Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information to take advantage of your expertise!

YOUR THOUGHTS

When do you suppose 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion dates can be introduced? Anticipate ticket gross sales to begin the identical day, or with a delay? Did you attend MVMCP at Walt Disney World final yr? Planning on attending once more this yr, or have been you a part of the ‘pent-up demand’ crowd? What did you consider the ‘bought out’ crowds? Suppose it was well worth the excessive ticket value? Any leisure additions you’re hoping to see for the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Occasion? Every other suggestions, likes or dislikes? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!



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