Review: Tony’s Most Merriest Town Square Party at Magic Kingdom

Looking for a way to escape the crowds during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom? Hoping for a great view of the parade without having to stake out a spot two hours early?

We have your solution: Tony’s Most Merriest Town Square Party.

A big step up from your typical dessert parties, Tony’s Most Merriest Town Square Party gives you an array of food choices and a place to rest and recharge between entertainment during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. A new offering this year, tickets cost $99 per person (with no discount for passholders or DVC members). The party runs from 9:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m., 30 minutes after park close, although you wouldn’t know the park closed at midnight by the massive crowds that were still there at 12:30.

Here’s what you can expect from the party:

• Food and drinks: Tony’s put on a great spread that included a charcuterie and cheese table and a buffet of what we assume are the restaurant’s greatest-hits appetizers: stuffed artichokes, meatballs, pizza, fried calimari, and more. Of course there was also a dessert table with a selection of holiday themed bite-sized desserts, including the most wonderful little pumpkin tartlets. And because Tony’s now serves limited alcoholic beverages, there was also a selection of wine and other seasonal drinks. Even though it was 85 degrees, we tried warm hard cider poured over whipped cream, and it was delicious.
• Atmosphere: The space was decorated for Christmas, with tables of a variety of sizes inside and outside on the veranda. One unexpected joy was “Tony” himself joining the party. “Chef Tony” charmed everyone, from kids to adults, and sang “Bella Notte” to several couples who were celebrating anniversaries.
• The fireworks: The fireworks go off just half an hour after the party starts at Tony’s. We opted to go out onto Main Street and watch from the middle of the street. The view was good, and it wasn’t terribly crowded.
• The parade: You have two choices of spots for the 11 p.m. parade: You can grab a table on the restaurant’s terrace and watch from above the ocean of people, or you can find a spot in a large reserved area in town square under the Christmas tree. We opted to stand under the Christmas tree, and the view down Main Street couldn’t be beat. There were about 130 people signed up for Tony’s party when we checked in, leaving plenty of room for everyone in the reserved area on Main Street. It wouldn’t surprise us if that area is scaled back a bit for future parties.

Our night went something like this: Stop in at 9:30 p.m. for a substantial snack, then run out at 9:55 p.m. to watch the fireworks at 10 p.m.. Head back to Tony’s after fireworks for another beverage, dessert, and a rest before heading across the street for the parade at about 11 p.m.. (The parade actually arrives near town square at about 11:20.) After the parade, Mr. Disney Diary swam against the tide to go to the castle to watch the last show of the night. I went back to Tony’s for some quiet time (and, I admit, a few last boursin-stuffed artichokes) and sat on the veranda watching the crowd go by.

With about 130 people signed up for the party when we checked in, I never felt that crowded in the restaurant, as people would come and go all the time.

For us, it was worth every penny to have a retreat from the crowds and a reserved spot to watch the parade.

Whether or not it’s worth it for you depends on how you approach the parties: If you want to meet all the characters, go on all the rides, and see all the shows, you may not have enough time in your night to get the most out of Tony’s. But if you’re mostly in it for the atmosphere and the entertainment, this is a great option.

Tony’s Most Merriest Town Square Party will take place on the following dates:

• November 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29 and 30
• December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 21

You can book online  or by calling (407) 939-3463.