Merchandise Sneak Peek for 2023 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Jun 09, 2023

It’s time for Christmas in July at Walt Disney World, as the parks are now (more than) halfway to the holidays. The company has shared photos offering a preview of merchandise for the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom, and we wanted to give you a first look at some of these souvenirs.

We don’t normally do merchandise updates unless the spirit (of the season) strikes us, as we’re not big on this stuff and it isn’t our area of expertise. In this case, many readers have asked us about merchandise for the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, so we figured it’d be worth making an exception and sharing.

The reason for those inquiries is because Walt Disney World didn’t offer a product line for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party last year. That came as a big disappointment and caught many fans by surprise, especially since Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party did have special souvenirs. It also seemed like a conspicuous omission, since so many annual attendees collect items from the paid parties–having exclusive merchandise is low-hanging fruit and essentially “free money” for Walt Disney World.

Given all of that, our stock answer up until now when readers have asked about merchandise for the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is that we expect it. Although it’s odd that MNSSHP (the earlier of the two events) did have merchandise and MVMCP didn’t, it probably was still a supply chain or production issue.

Those disruptions plagued Walt Disney World for a surprisingly long time, even after most major retailers had put them in the rearview mirror and were dealing with the opposite problem–inventory overstock due to the bullwhip effect. Regardless, we saw it with delayed deliveries of 50th Anniversary items, limited selection of MagicBands, and more. It was also unlikely that Walt Disney World would deliberately discontinue merchandise for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party given its popularity.

Now we know that for sure–so let’s take a look at the Spirit Jerseys, shirts, mug, and everything else for the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party that Walt Disney World just shared…

First up is a child’s ringer shirt that has a Santa Mickey Mouse holding a present with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Magic Kingdom 2023 on its two tags.

I like the idea of this shirt. I’m a big sucker for this Mickey Mouse character model, and think it’s perfect for vintage-inspired souvenirs that have a mid-century vibe. I think this vaguely qualifies as that. I also appreciate that the year isn’t too prominent, but conversely, am not a fan of how small Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is. I’m hard to please, and recognize there’s a lot of personal preference at play. Fine.

Next up is the MVMCP Spirit Jersey. I’ve learned better than to speak candidly about Spirit Jerseys given their huge following.

To Disney’s credit, many of these puppies are offering more bang for buck now. They used to cost ~$40 but only said Walt Disney World on the back, making the cost approximately $40 per graphic. Now they’re like $90, but have the whole visual kitchen sink going on. A good example of Walt Disney World following the pricing policies of Dan Flashes. This Spirit Jersey costs more because the pattern is so complicated! (I’ve been advised to stop quoting ITYSL so much because ‘regular people’ don’t think it’s as funny as I do.)

Walt Disney World has also shared a pin with Santa Mickey and a not-so-silly reindeer, which appears to have Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and maybe Magic Kingdom 2023 on the present tags.

I shouldn’t have particularly strong feelings on any of the above merchandise, as there’s a zero percent chance I’d buy any of it regardless of the designs. Nevertheless, the degree to which Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is minimized strikes me as odd. If I didn’t know any better, I’d suspect that Walt Disney World wants to be able to throw this on the regular store shelves Christmas week if it doesn’t sell out by the last party. Hmmm.

Finally, there’s the coffee mug. Exact same design as the pin, but in mug form.

Okay, now I feel qualified to speak freely. Coffee mugs are something I do purchase with regularity, so long as they’re dishwasher safe. (It’s 2023–I’m not going back to the dark ages of washing things by hand.) There’s no way I’ll buy this. Honestly, even if this were a regular piece of Christmas merchandise, I wouldn’t buy it.

I’m so tired of the insipid sayings that feel like they’re pulled from a mood board or sign on clearance at HomeGoods. If people want a mug that says “Holiday Magic,” more power to them, I guess. But why can’t stuff with that generic slogan (or whatever you want to call it) be sold on shopDisney instead of Walt Disney World? It’s just so boring and bland. Give me a mug that pairs the fun retro-inspired art with a fun retro-inspired Walt Disney World or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party logo.

Perhaps this is a “me problem” as someone who (admittedly) has only a passing interest in merchandise. It’s entirely possible that Walt Disney World knows their audience and exactly what will sell. Eh, I’d be more inclined to give the benefit of the doubt if I didn’t have extensive experience with the Character Warehouse Outlet Stores, or if I hadn’t seen countless half-baked product lines over the years.

Walt Disney World has some truly exceptional merchandise lines, to be sure. Other times, they’re completely clueless, making the same mistake over and over again by producing stuff that does not sell–all while seemingly refusing to make items fans would love. (No offense to those who loved the “dropping beets” product line.)

Maybe Disney knows what they’re doing here and this MVCMP stuff will sell well. But perhaps the target demo actually is people like me, many of whom will be similarly disappointed that this doesn’t prominently say Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. (Don’t count on Walt Disney World learning the right lessons if this stuff fails to fly off the shelves during MVMCP. My guess is that making the party logo small was a deliberate hedge so it could be sold to day guests later.)

If I were in charge of merchandising for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, in addition to highlighting the event on the products above, I’d introduce several party-exclusive products not necessarily MVMCP-branded, but that guests would want to buy and wear during the party.

The first would be an ugly Christmas sweater. I have a huge collection of these that I’ve acquired over the years and wear to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and I’m often stopped and asked where I got them. Second, would be ear bands and coin/phone purses like what Sarah’s wearing above. Finally, a Santa hat with Goofy ears.

Make these things product lines that guests would wear and collect; do a fresh style each year, with the MVMCP logo and year somewhere on the item. (This could also help maintain interest in MVMCP whenever there is an economic slowdown and demand drops.) For what it’s worth, this is hardly an original or unique idea on my part. It’s a mix of the old Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party merchandise playbook, and what Tokyo Disney Resort still does each year for its limited-release holiday line.

Ultimately, maybe this is an unpopular opinion and diehard Walt Disney World fans are going to let me know in the comments just how off-base I am, and how excited they are for this 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party merchandise. Honestly, I hope that’s the case. It wouldn’t be the first time that my taste in souvenirs is dramatically different from pretty much everyone else, and I can handle being the odd man out on that.

Assuming that isn’t how the response to these items plays out, it’s also possible that this is a small sampling of an expansive product line for the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and the other merchandise will have distinctly Disney logos instead of vapid and generic pleasantries. Or at the very least, that there will be some great stuff along those lines for the broader Christmas 2023 merchandise lines.

There was a time when we bought a novelty hat, mug, picture frame, or shirt for every single Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party we attended both because the stuff was so good and to commemorate the event. (The above MVMCP mug is one of my all-time favorites, and still my most-used Christmas cup to this date!) If this sneak peek is any indication, we won’t be doing that this year. I guess that’s a silver lining for our wallets, though!

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What do you think of the 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party merchandise? Do you have a favorite product? How do you feel about recent merchandise at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with my assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Honestly I have been very disappointed by the merchandise for the last few years. Previously my best friend and co-Disney fanatic travel buddy’s job was to say “You don’t need another t-shirt” and “you don’t need another magic band”. This last year or so I’ve been specifically shopping to replace some of my worn out shirts and instead of the usual “Here’s 10 I love, how do I decide” it’s “wow, I can’t even find something I even want to consider.”

I am a big fan of the Spirit Jerseys – at least the FRONT. I hate the back of them so I won’t buy them.

Fingers crossed for better merchandise options this fall and winter!

I so agree about those Spirit Jerseys and LoungeFly packs but I have a feeling they are not meant for me! And don’t get started on bobble heads! Getting old has both changed my tastes and limited my budget but I think the kids and twenty something’s have their own likes. I remind myself of that when I am shopping – it isn’t meant for me!

We’re leaving today, and I bought myself NOTHING, hubby (who is a major souvenir sucker) forced himself to buy two T-shirts and a pin, son bought an old Cuddleez off EBay, and daughter bought herself a thin Moana sweatshirt because we’re freezing in AC with just a stupid tip sheet and multiple thin flannel-light sheet/blankets.

The best merchandise, and I wish there was more of it, is resort-specific stuff! And to the PP point, cutest designs are only kids’ clothes.

F&G Orange Bird continues to be a favorite though, for us at least.

We now eat our souvenirs; Boma, Crystal Palace for fireworks viewing, and Ohana breakfast with Stitch.

The quality of merchandise is piss poor. The 100th pins look like tin foil!

Just here to say that you should keep quoting I Think You Should Leave! And if you think it’s funny now, just wait until you’re watching it in the sleep-deprived haze of new parenthood!

We’ll be at the party, had hoped for a better selection of new merch and we agree – the merch should cater to the party and not just generally vague holiday themes. Also, can someone be brave enough to point out that 1) Spirit “jerseys” are really just oversized sweatshirts with really big font on them – there’s nothing “jersey” about them and 2) Loungefly backpacks, due to their tiny size, shouldn’t be worn by anyone over the age of 14. thank you.

The problem with that first shirt is that I don’t think the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party logo/writing matches the 50s-or-so era of the Mickey Mouse model. Since it’s a party shirt, shrinking the logo works for me, though I’d rather have the shirt without it if I’m not attending the party.

Eh, what do I know about souvenirs? I’ve wanted the football Mickey sweater Danny Torrance is wearing at the Overlook Hotel for a very long time.

I’ve always loved souvenirs. As a young boy no matter where we went I was happiest in the gift shop. Of course I’m insane. I realize that and am always shocked at how many other like minded sickos are out there. Somewhere deep within me, is a small shred of my sanity which recognizes there’s something very wrong about Disney’s sales pitch to come to Orlando to shop. It should be about making memories through physical activities like going on rides, kayaking, hiking, breaking bread etc, with loved ones. “Happily Whatever Your After” is just so commercially vain. If you flew your lear jet down to Disney Springs to buy a mug and crocs, you probably think this comments about you. Don’t you, don”t you?

This is what happens when you don’t get enough sleep.

“Collect Memories, Not Things.”

That’s actually a quote we started to embrace more for a couple of years when we put all of our stuff in storage, traveled, and lived mostly out of carry-on suitcases. You realize just how little you need most stuff when you don’t have access to it.

We do buy more souvenirs now, but still a fraction of what we used to purchase. My Disney collection has shrunk, not grown, since around 2016.

On the opposite coast, so I doubt we’ll be going to MVMCP any time soon, but the merchandise situation when we visited DL a few weeks ago was pretty bleak. Lots of cool looking mugs that were impossible to drink out of, shirts that I swear I’ve seen better versions of on Etsy and any shirts I actually liked? Only available in XS or S.

I love the annual ugly sweater idea! Heck, I’d take an ugly Halloween sweater, too! It seems they can’t find the right balance between having a giant party logo or barely including it, but man, if they could do that on a sweater?

The stuff made by third parties on Etsy is often really, really good. I’m surprised Disney merchandising doesn’t hire some of them.

In fairness, Walt Disney World merchandise is not all bad. Some of the resort-specific items or retro-inspired stuff can be quite good. For me at least, it always seems like there’s one graphic too many or other dealbreaker, though.

I’m with you on the merchandise. I want to go to the park and purchase some items. The last 8 or so years, I’ve pretty much gone home with nothing. I look on ebay or other sites for vintage Disney items and like the style or print of most. Mostly, my family finds we like the kids items best. We constantly say, ” why can’t they make that kids t-shirt for adults ?” On a side note, will you be doing a merchandise report for the Halloween items?

“On a side note, will you be doing a merchandise report for the Halloween items?”

Possibly, but no promises. People seemed to enjoy that last year. All depends upon whether I have the time and inclination to brave the Emporium crowds!

I guess we aren’t regular people! My family would award you bonus points for your ITYSL references! Mugs are my weak spot. But I manage to remain firm unless they are actually sized and shaped for real use. I learned the hard way that even if I love a mug’s cleverness or design, if it isn’t practical to drink from I end up disappointed.

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