Hi, Denise! Thanks for visiting the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
Duffy the Bear said his last stateside goodbye in October 2015 after spending five yEARs at Epcot. This cuddly character is almost as popular as Mickey Mouse at Tokyo Disney Resort, where Guests routinely queue up in hour-long lines to meet him. If your kids are hoping to see him in a Disney Parks Christmas Parade, you'll have to travel across the pond to Disneyland Resort Paris where he celebrates the Christmas season.
Although you won't find Duffy at Walt Disney World Resort, there are many beloved and rarely seen characters at
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party such as Moana, the Seven Dwarfs, Mary Poppins with Bert, and of course Jack Skellington as Sandy Claws (who is one of the most popular meet and greets at the Party). If your kids want to sit on Santa's lap, he can be found at the Town Square Theater along with Mickey Mouse in his holiday finery.
Although the Party festivities begin at 7:00 PM sharp, Guests with event tickets can begin entering Magic Kingdom Park as early as 4:00 PM, which I'd highly recommend doing. You'll have the opportunity to watch the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade twice throughout the night at 8:30 PM and 11:00 PM, so look for the Frockling Reindeer Dancers, Toy Soldiers, and Marching Gingerbread Men with their flat backs and burnt edges. I also enjoy visiting the treat stations; I'm partial to the Ginger Molasses cookies! The Holiday Fireworks are "Not to be Missed" and are a wonderful way to cap off the evening.
Denise, enjoy your trip to Walt Disney World Resort during the
merriest time of the yEAR!
Eean