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Solo Mickey’s Christmas Party Guide

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Last year, I was able to do a Solo Mickey’s Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom! So, just in case anyone else is considering doing the same thing, I thought I’d make a little post to help.

Solo Mickey's Christmas Party

Solo Mickey’s Christmas Party

For those who don’t know, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a separately ticketed event held at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World on select nights in November and December. I’ve been lucky enough to attend this party several times with my mom. In fact, you can read my general Very Merry party advice in an old post. Last year, I decided to attend it by myself for the first time!

Mickey’s Very Merry By Myself

As per usual, I entered the park prior to the 7 o’clock party start time. This year, I had an early dinner at The Plaza Restaurant. I got the Triple Decker Turkey Club Sandwich with fries. It’s basic, but good. Having traveled all day, I was really hungry and this hit the spot.

After dinner, I enjoyed the ambiance of the holidays in Magic Kingdom by sitting at a table in front of the restaurant. Right before the party began, I decided to get in line to see Minnie, Daisy, Donald, and Scrooge McDuck. Unfortunately, Scrooge ended up missing the picture since he was counting his money. That’s ok, I got a picture with him the next night at Jollywood Nights.

After the meet and greet, I grabbed a few cookies to take with me before wandering over to the dessert party. After standing in line (and traveling all day), it felt nice to sit down with some treats. During the party, another family started talking to me and we had a nice chat about Disney and other travel destinations. Then, we headed over to the Garden Plaza for fireworks viewing.

Following the fireworks, I got a spot on Main Street for the parade. I love the Christmas parade! It’s a must-see every time, for me. After the parade, I hit up the remaining cookie spots and met Mickey before exiting the park.

Tips

  • Do what you want – Do you want to stand in a long line to meet characters? Do it. Want to sit down and just enjoy being in the park? Do it. It’s your trip.
  • Have a list – I didn’t have a concrete plan for this trip considering it was last minute. However, I knew I wanted to see the parade, meet Donald, see the fireworks, and get some cookies. The party goes fast, so having an idea of what you want to accomplish helps.
  • Go fast or go slow – I tend to walk pretty quickly in a theme park, particularly when I’m alone. So, it’s nice to walk at my own speed. However, I also made time to sit down and chill during this party.
  • Consider a dessert party – The fireworks viewing included with the dessert party was nice to get away from some of the crowds. However, it can also be easier to snag a spot when you are alone. It depends what you value.
  • Don’t be afraid – It’s not awkward to meet the characters by yourself. Also, I often have conversations with other families when I’m in the parks. You might be attending alone, but that doesn’t mean you will be lonely.

Should you attend a Solo Mickey’s Christmas Party?

I love traveling by myself. However, it’s not for everyone. I enjoy going at my own speed and doing what I want to, when I want to. I also understand wanting to share the experience with someone else. I think it comes down to individual circumstances, but I think most people can enjoy a party by themselves.

Solo Disney Jollywood Nights Guide

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Last year, I was lucky enough to do a Solo Disney Jollywood Nights event! So, I thought I would share what it was like and offer some advice for anyone considering doing the same.

Solo Disney Jollywood Nights

Solo Disney Jollywood Nights

Just in case you forgot, Jollywood Nights is a separately ticketed add-on event held after the regular park hours at Hollywood Studios. New in 2023, it’s a jazzy holiday themed party. It’s target audience leans more adults than children (versus Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party held at Magic Kingdom). Lots of people enjoy dressing up for this event. Thus far, I have worn a sparkly shirt of some sort with plain bottoms to match the weather. However, there isn’t a dress code.

What I Did

Having previously attended the Christmas Event in 2023, I knew what to expect at this party. I think that helped immensely as I knew I didn’t want to waste party time on the Nightmare Before Christmas Sing Along. However, I also knew that I wanted to see the show with the Muppets and the Jingle Bell! Jingle Bam! Fireworks Show again. I also fit in the Glisten ice skating show since it was new and it’s near the location of the fireworks.

Aside from the three shows, I mainly spent my time running around and meeting rare characters! I loved meeting The Mandalorian and Grogu! I wouldn’t make my mom wait in line for that, but it felt cool to see them. I also met Mickey and Minnie together as well as Donald and Daisy together dressed up in their special outfits for the party. Additionally, I met Scrooge McDuck, Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers, and Max Goof as Powerline.

I even saw Muppet Vision 3D one last time. I also took a stroll around the area just to take it all in before they change the area over to Monsters Inc.

Tips

  • Take your time – I really enjoy sitting down at these parties to people watch. Plus, lots of people get dressed up for this event. It’s neat to see what everyone is wearing.
  • Set your own pace – I ran around the park to see lots of characters and some shows. However, that’s the beauty of going by yourself. You can go fast or slow.
  • Have an idea of things you’d like to experience – If you know which shows you want to see and their schedule, you can work things around them.
  • Don’t be nervous to meet characters – I meet characters by myself often. It’s no big deal. Just don’t hold up the line by taking too many photos.
  • Leave whenever you want – I actually left the party a little early. I had managed to do just about everything I wanted to, so I left a little early.

Should you do a Solo Disney Jollywood Nights?

I really enjoyed myself last year. I have no regrets. However, I could see where a more outgoing person would want to share the night with someone. I think it’s totally fine to attend events and travel by yourself. I also understand that it may not be for everyone. You know yourself. Do what feels right. This event is ideal for someone who likes meeting rare characters in a more snazzy, grown up setting. It’s also ideal for people who love the holidays.

Disney Christmas Plaza Garden Dessert Party Review

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Last year, I booked the Disney Christmas Plaza Garden Dessert Party at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. So, I thought I would post a review of that experience in case anyone was considering booking it this year.

Disney Christmas Plaza Garden Dessert Party

Disney Christmas Plaza Garden Dessert Party

You may recall that I posted the Mickey’s Very Merry Dessert Party Review the other year. However, that was the party with seated Tomorrowland Terrace viewing of the fireworks. This party is a few bucks cheaper and comes with standing viewing in the Garden Plaza. So, was it worth saving a few dollars?

The Food

The food for both parties is the same. It’s an assortment of holiday goodies found at the party and other sweet treats. I’m happy to report that the apple caramel crepe was still there as were the chocolate covered strawberries! As with the other party, it’s a buffet and you can get as much as you like. I enjoy trying different goodies at these parties. However, once again, there’s very few savory options. I think it was once again mostly cheeses that was available. So, you definitely need a sweet tooth to appreciate these dessert parties.

The Dessert Party Experience

I know some people are against paying extra for this dessert party. However, I had a really long travel day with flight delays on the day of the party last year. So, it was amazing to just sit down and enjoy some sweet treats during the party. In fact a family sitting near me struck up a conversation with me about visiting solo and other locations to visit for Christmas. That was a neat way to relax prior to the fireworks. Although, it does take time away from the party itself. I’m lucky in that I’ve attended several times and don’t feel like it’s wasting time to sit down and enjoy myself.

Plaza Garden Viewing

Where the parties differ is the fireworks viewing. Instead of staying in one seat at the Terrace for fireworks, you are led over to a reserved area in the Plaza Garden for fireworks viewing. Initially, people were allowed to sit down. Although, the grass was wet from rain earlier in the day, so I remained standing. We were able to view some of Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration stage show from the Plaza Garden Viewing area. So, that was a nice perk.

Right before the fireworks, they had everyone stand up. While I appreciated the fact that we weren’t all crammed together like you typically are for fireworks at Disney, I wasn’t super impressed with the view. I still had several people in front of me blocking the bottom part of the castle. Then, there were some poles blocking part of the view as well. It wasn’t a terrible view, but it certainly wasn’t the best either.

Is the Disney Christmas Plaza Garden Dessert Party worth it?

For 2025, the Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing costs $99/person. That’s on top of the party ticket price. So, it’s a really expensive evening. However, it was so nice to sit and enjoy some treats. Plus, I was by myself and appreciated having some breathing room during the fireworks. However, I think I will probably stick with the seated Tomorrowland Terrace viewing going forward. While I think the view of the castle and projections is probably superior in this party, I prefer staying seated if the view is going to be obstructed.

Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland Review

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It took five trips, but I finally got to eat at the Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland last month! I thought I would do a review to help you determine if it’s worth the hype.

Blue Bayou Restaurant

Blue Bayou Restaurant

For those who don’t know, this is a classic restaurant at Disneyland. In fact, it opened in 1967 and Walt Disney himself was involved in the planning of the restaurant! The restaurant is located inside of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride! In fact, people in the boats ride by the restaurant! If you are lucky enough to get a riverside table, you can see the people and wave. It’s this immersive theming and ties to Walt Disney himself that makes the restaurant so popular.

The Ambiance

I believe the best part of this restaurant is the ambiance. It is next level themed to the Louisiana Bayou! You feel like you are dining at night on the bayou. There’s a big tree and balloon lanterns hang above you. Watching the boats on the ride go by adds to the feeling that you are somewhere else. I will also note that there’s something to be said for going into the cool, dark room of this restaurant when it’s hot and sunny outside.

While I didn’t get a riverside table, I still enjoyed the ambiance here. It was a relaxing meal that was much welcomed after running around a theme park that morning. Plus, it was much calmer than a Disneyland character meal.

The Food

I booked this restaurant specifically for lunch (instead of dinner) so that I could get the Monte Cristo. I have a bit of a tradition of enjoying a Monte Cristo during my solo Disneyland trips. Previously, I enjoyed it at Cafe Orleans. So, I didn’t want to give up this tradition and instead was happy to try it at Blue Bayou. I’m happy to say the sandwich tasted the same. Although, I did appreciate a cast member brining me a small plate and dumping the strawberry preserves on it to demonstrate how much easier it is to enjoy versus cramming my sandwich into the tiny container. No one had ever shown me that at Cafe Orleans.

Additionally, instead of the lovely fries that I get at Cafe Orleans, there are other sides here. At Blue Bayou, it comes with truffle potato chips and roasted fruit salad. The chips seemed like regular house-made chips to me. They reminded me of a restaurant back home that makes their own chips. The roasted fruit salad seemed like a regular salad to me too. So, I definitely prefer the fries at Cafe Orleans over these sides.

The real star of this meal was the seasonal Doberge Cake! It had thin layers of pumpkin cake, with caramel buttercream, and chocolate whipped ganache! If you happen to eat here while this cake is available, I highly recommend getting it. It was one of my favorite things I ate on this entire trip! Yummy! The combination of the flavors was the best! I can’t decide if I’m sad it’s seasonal and I won’t get it again or if I’m happy that I won’t have to resist the pull of the cake to eat here again.

Tips for Getting a Reservation

This is probably one of the most popular restaurants at Disneyland and it can be difficult to get a reservation. In fact, I’ve tried on previous trips to get a reservation and came up empty handed. This time, I was able to grab one exactly 60 days out. So, make sure you check right when reservations open up. Also, keep checking back and you can also look into a waiting list on the day you want to dine here. Who knows, you might get lucky!

Is Blue Bayou Restaurant worth it?

I am so glad I was able to finally eat at Blue Bayou Restaurant. It’s a classic for a reason. However, I will probably stick to enjoying my Monte Cristo at Cafe Orleans. It’s cheaper ($26 vs $34) and comes with those tasty fries I haven’t had anywhere else. Although, if that cake is there, that does make it harder to decide. I think this restaurant is perfect for any Disney fans or if you want somewhere more romantic or with an immersive indoor theme to eat. However, you can enjoy some of the same foods elsewhere in the park for cheaper.

Canceling an Orlando Trip Due To Weather

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Are you considering canceling an Orlando trip due to weather? If so, I have some advice for you.

Canceling an Orlando Trip due to weather

Canceling an Orlando Trip Due to Weather

As you may know, hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th. However, it typically peaks sometime from mid-August to mid-October (aka September). Now that it’s September, you may be considering canceling an Orlando trip due to weather (either to Walt Disney World or to Universal). Unfortunately, I have now had two planned fall trips impacted by hurricanes. During those experiences, I learned about the severe weather policies at each resort. So, I thought I would highlight those policies and share what my experience was like.

Canceling a Universal Orlando Trip

In general, Universal will you allow you to cancel a hotel room 5 days before your arrival for a refund of the deposit paid. However, tickets are not typically refundable, although you may be able to change their dates.

Anyone considering a trip to UO during hurricane season, show know about their severe weather policy and page. They typically update that page when a hurricane or tropical storm is predicted to impact the resort. While they make every effort to remain open, they do sometimes close the parks and cancel Halloween Horror Nights for hurricanes. UO will allow you to cancel the portion of your trip booked directly with them whenever a hurricane or tropical storm warning is issued for Orlando OR your place of residence if it’s within 7 days of your arrival for a full refund.

I had a trip booked last October to experience HHN solo again. However, Hurricane Milton had other ideas. While I was at home, under a water boil notice thanks to Hurricane Helene the National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning for Orlando. I immediately called UO to cancel and was able to get a full refund for my hotel, park tickets, and HHN tickets. Universal did have a long wait to speak to someone. However, they were very nice and didn’t give me any grief for canceling.

Canceling Walt Disney World

Similar to Universal, you are able to cancel a Disney World trip 5 days out. They also have a hurricane policy about being able to cancel for a hurricane warning for Orlando or your place of residence within 7 days of arrival.

In September 2022, my mom and I visited Universal/SeaWorld Orlando for a few days. The plan was to spend a night at Walt Disney World for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ian interrupted that trip. We checked out of Aventura Hotel as planned, rented a car, and drove back up to Virginia. On the long car ride back, I called Disney to cancel that portion of the trip. After a long wait, I was able to get the hotel room refunded. The tickets for MNSSHP were turned into regular park tickets that we had a year to use. I was also able to cancel our dining reservations without penalty. The only annoyance is that we had to make a return trip within a year to use those tickets or lose the money.

Tips for Canceling for Weather

  • Wait for a warning to be issued – If you wait until a state of emergency or hurricane/tropical storm warning is issued for Orlando or your place of residence, it is policy for your hotel money to be refunded. It also makes it easier to get a refund or extension on your park tickets.
  • Be patient – You will probably have to wait a while to talk to someone to cancel your trip. Be patient and nice to the person on the other end of the phone. Also, know that it may take a few days to receive your refund.
  • Airlines may also issue a refund – Last year, American Airlines gave me a credit that I had 12 months to use when my trip to UO was cancelled. When my mom and I drove ourselves back early, we were able to get a refund for the return flight when it was canceled.
  • You will have to contact whichever company you used to book the trip – If you didn’t book your trip directly (or you used a travel agent or booked on a site offering a discount), you will have to contact those people instead and hope they have a good severe weather policy too.

Canceling an Orlando Trip Due to Weather

Traveling to the southern states during September and/or October can be fun. It can also be stressful with hurricanes impacting travel. Just be aware of the policies of the place you are visiting before it becomes important and you should be good. Also, keep an eye on the weather.