Hi Katherine! Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
Your three-year-old has excellent taste – Moana is amazing! I absolutely love her fierce and beautiful combination of determination and empathy, and the “you know who you are” moment is one of my favorite moments in any movie ever. I cry every time!
You’re right: there are some very, very popular characters who attend
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and the attendants do sometimes begin admitting Guests to meet them before the party officially starts at 7:00 p.m. However, in order to be admitted to the queue, Guests must show their Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party wristband. When I attended last year, I definitely sneaked some cookies before the party officially kicked off, but the Cast Members at the candy cane striped treat stations were diligently checking for those bands.
I do have some suggestions for places your Moana-loving kiddo can spy their favorite character. During the Happily Ever After fireworks show, the Moana scene is just beautiful and one of my family’s favorites. You can also spot her at the very end of Fantasmic! Having said that, both of these shows might take place after your Mouseketeer’s bedtime, so be sure to check a Times Guide or the
Park Hours for the showtimes on your visit dates.
Over at
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the Moana Mercantile gift shop (located on the second floor near the monorail entrance) features lots of great Moana merchandise. It might be fun to visit the resort, where you can grab a Dole Whip from
Pineapple Lanai, let your little one play on the sandy beach, and even stop for a special souvenir at Moana’s shop. Last year, my son picked a Moana doll, and he and his sister played with her on the beach for hours – it’s one of my favorite memories.
Katherine, have you heard about the new
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana experience coming to World Nature in Epcot? I cannot wait to explore this interactive “water maze,” where Guests can interact with water just as Moana does in the movie. We don’t have an opening date for that yet, but stay tuned to the
Disney Parks Blog for news about this and the other exciting things coming to Epcot.
I hope you and your little one have an absolutely wonderful visit to the Walt Disney World Resort this holiday season!
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Robyn