Hello, Jennifer and welcome to planDisney!
I'm glad you've stopped by with your question about the
Disney Very Merriest After Hours event. This new offering is certainly like
a spoon full of (holiday) sugar and I'm happy to chat with you about some specifics.
First, Jennifer, let's talk about entertainment! The quick answer to your question regarding the parade is yes,
“Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade" only occurs during the After Hours party. In addition to the parade, you'll find special holiday fireworks, snacks (included with the price of admission) and lower wait times for popular attractions.
Now, Jennifer, while the above description sounds
practically perfect in every way, even Mary Poppins couldn't discern this event's worth for anyone but herself. What my family would consider worth the cost might not be the same for yours, but allow me to offer some points for consideration in the hopes it helps you decide if purchasing tickets is in your future.
When I'm considering an "extra" like this party, I like to look at the hours of the event and think about the likelihood of all of the Mouseketeers in my house making it through the party. For example, when my kids were preschoolers and bedtime was much earlier, we would likely need to leave well before the 1:00AM closing time, rending the party "not worth it" for us. Another consideration for my family is the number of people riding attractions. One of the main "perks" of this event is the lower wait times for popular attractions. Since my whole family now rides almost every attraction in
Magic Kingdom Park, we would consider this perk "worth it" and would likely attend. Jennifer, while there is no right answer for every family, I do hope this helps in your decision making.
Finally, it's VERY important to note that tickets to this event are NONrefundable (regardless of the circumstance). If there is a strong possibility you won't be able to take the vacation you've been planning, you may want to forego tickets to the Disney Very Merriest After Hours event as you would not be able to recover the price of those tickets.
Jennifer, whatever you decide, I'll be hoping that your family has a wonderful holiday season. If you have any additional questions, please come on back to planDisney where we are merrier than Scrooge McDuck counting his coins on Christmas Eve.
Lauren