they haven't put the dates up yet.
they usually put things on their website six months in advane. i know that the event starts up in mid november so you should check back at this link in early to mid may. and on this link it will tell you what the festivities are at the party.
some things are:
-snow on main street
-hot coco and cookies
-dance parties with characters
-the night before xmas play
-going on rides
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/special-events/mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party/
the average daytime high in dec is 72 but many days are higher than that. (when i went in 2007 in early dec it was in the 80's every day and this past time when i went in late dec in was in the low 80's part of the time and low 70's the rest of the time)
and the night time lows are about 51.
i'd bring shorts, jeans, t-shirts, and a sweatshirt or lght jacket for early mornings and later at night.
i think that bad experiences are few and far between on the magical express bus and that your bad experience was due to your flight being delayed. see they usually fill every bus in every time slot so when your time slot had to shift they had to figure out where there was room to put you. and since they had expected you earlier it also screwed up the luggage and usually the luggage is brought to your room with in a few hours of you getting to the hotel. but they start delievering luggage to the rooms closest to the front of the resort and work theri way back so if you we in a room further from the main building it could take a bit longer.
they always say to be sure you take what you need in your carry on bag incase your luggage does take longer than expected.
i did have an issue with magical express when i went this past dec-jan. i know that you are supposed to get an envolope taped to your door the night before you check out and that tells you what time you need to get the magical express but back to the airport but we didn't recieve an envolope. there was a message on our phone saying no need to come to the desk to check out just be sure to get on the bus that comes 3 hours prior to your flight time. i was confused so my sister went and asked at the desk that night what we were supposed to do and they said the same thing just get on the bus 3 hours prior ot your flight time. so when we went to the bus 3 hours prior the driver said ok only the people that have a time slot for the 9:45 bus can get on. well we didn't have a time slot and weren't on the check list the driver had but he squeezed us on cuz if we had waited for another bus we wouldn't have made it to the airprot in time. the driver even said you didn't get an envolope on your door last night and we said no and he was very upset with the hotel for not doing what they were supposed to.
but for the most part the ME bus system is great. just be sure you either get an envolope on your door the night before you leave or visit the front desk and have them give you a time slot (not just say 3 hours prior but make them give you a sheet with a time on it)
favorite disney hotel:
pop century. they have huge replicas of icons from 20th century pop culture like big wheel bike, mr and mrs potatoe head, a mickey phone, floppy disks......
favorite restaurants:
magic kingdom:
-cinderella's royal table in the castle
-crystal palace
-liberty tree tavern
epcot:
-garden grill restaurant
-san angel inn
hollywood studios:
-sci-fi drive in theater
-50's prime time cafe
animal kingdom:
-rainforest cafe
downtown disney:
-cap'n jack's
hotels:
-chef mickey's in the contemporary
favorite rides:
magic kingdom:
-carousel of progress
-splash mountain
-pirates of the caribbean
-haunted mansion
-its a small world
-tomorrowland transit authority
-enchanted tiki room
epcot:
-test track
-imagination! with figment
-spaceship earth in the epcot ball
-norway boat ride
hollywood studios:
-tower of terror
-rock n roller coaster starring aerosmith
-beauty and the beast
-the great movie ride
-sounds dangerous with drew carey
animal kingdom:
not much i don't care for animal kingdom.
dinosaur is ok.
favorite experience:
-illuminations reflections of earth at epcot
-rock n roller coaster pre-show
-soundsations booth when you come out of sounds dangerous. 4d sound experience where you are RJ mcbean.