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One time a year, there's a marvelous night
When enchantment and wonder spark and take flight.
Each home fills with joy on this grand holiday,
With hearts growing warm in a magical way.
The rooms are all covered with garlands and wreaths.
The mantle is ready, with stockings beneath.
Lights twinkle and glow and bells brightly chime.
The moment's arrived! It's here! Christmas time.

— The male narrator at the beginning of the movie

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas is an animated direct-to-video Christmas anthology film produced by Walt Disney Television Animation in 1999. The movie consists of three original short segments starring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and their friends. It was followed by Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas in 2004.

Synopsis[]

"Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas"[]

Donald and his Nephews in Stuck on Christmas

Donald sees that his nephews have already opened their presents.

The first story, an adaptation of Christmas Every Day by William Dean Howells, opens when Huey, Dewey and Louie wake up on Christmas morning and open up their presents even though they are supposed to wait for Daisy, Uncle Scrooge, and the previously-unmentioned Aunt Gertie. After they take their new sleds from Uncle Donald (without bothering to read the card) and go sledding, have Christmas dinner, play with their toys while the adults sing carols, it is time for the boys to go to bed. Having enjoyed the day immensely, the boys then wish that it would be Christmas every day. Their wish is granted and at first, the three are joyful at having Christmas every day.

After a few days, however, the boys begin to get sick of Christmas being every day, soon realizing that every day will be the same as when they first made their wish. They decide to change the course of action the next day by playing tricks and pranks, including swapping a live turkey with the cooked one. Unfortunately, this creates a mess and the day turns out to be a bad Christmas for the rest of the family, especially Donald. The boys then finally read the gift card that was given to them which they had previously disregarded. The card is from Donald and Daisy; it wishes them love and explains that Christmas isn't just about presents, it's about being with family.

Upon learning how hard their family has tried to make Christmas better for them, the boys feel guilty about their pranks. They then decide to make amends and make the next day the best Christmas day ever. They switch the turkey with ham, give Aunt Gertie exclusive kisses, and join in on singing the carols. When Donald questions their behavior, they admit that they are up to something and eventually present him with a gift of their own - a boat that they built from the sleds he gave them. The next day shows that Christmas is finally over, and Huey, Dewey and Louie all become happy. The narrator explains that even though Christmas can't always be here, the feeling it gives us can always be here.

"A Very Goofy Christmas"[]

A Very Goofy Christmas

Goofy tries to cheer up Max.

Goofy and Max are writing their letter to Santa Claus. They finish it and rush off after the postman, managing to catch him just in the nick of time. After mailing the letter, Max mentions to his dad that he wants a snowboard for Christmas and hopes that Santa will bring it, but their next-door neighbor, Pete, insists that Santa does not exist. Goofy, however, tells Max that Santa does exist and that he should never stop believing in him.

The next evening, Goofy and Max visit a poor family who lives nearby to give them a Christmas dinner. Goofy then dresses up as Santa Claus for the children, but one of the family's kids pulls off his hat and beard, exposing him. This upsets Max and makes him think that his dad was lying to him about Santa, and he runs home upset. Goofy tries to cheer him up, unsuccessfully, and then decides to prove to Max that Santa Claus does exist by staying up all night to keep an eye out for him.

After quite a few hours of waiting, Goofy sees someone coming out of the chimney on Pete's roof, but it turns out to be a Beagle Boy robbing Pete's house. Goofy then falls off the roof and goes into a deep depression, now believing that everything Max said was true. Max eventually cheers his dad up by dressing as Santa Claus himself. After Goofy finds out it's Max, they look up into the sky and see the real Santa Claus, who gives Max the snowboard he wanted and then blows the snow from Goofy's house onto Pete's house to teach Pete a lesson. Max then tells his dad that he is going to go share his present with little Jimmy (one of the kids from the poor family). The narrator explains that Christmas is found in the way that we live by not what we receive but by what we give.

"Mickey and Minnie's Gift of the Magi"[]

Mickey's Gift of the Magi

Mickey and Minnie.

In this adaptation of The Gift of the Magi, Mickey and Minnie Mouse are trying to gather enough money to buy the perfect gift for each other. Mickey is working at Pete's Christmas tree lot so he can earn enough money to buy Minnie a gold chain for her one heirloom, her watch. However, after Mickey suggests a poor family buy a small Christmas tree that he found out back instead of one of the ten-foot trees his boss is trying to sell, Pete takes away the money he has earned and kicks him out. Pete ends up getting payback for his actions, though, as he unintentionally stuffs the money he took from Mickey into his pocket along with his still smouldering cigar, leading to a chain reaction that leaves him charred, burnt, and singed, and then watching helplessly as his ten-foot Christmas trees get burned down.

Meanwhile, Minnie is working in the gift-wrapping department at Mortimer Mouse's department store, hoping that her Christmas bonus from her boss will be enough to pay for Mickey's present. Unfortunately, her Christmas bonus is nothing but a fruitcake.

Mickey plays his harmonica for a Charity Toy Drive by the fire department and is told that his harmonica plays so great that it must be worth lots of money. This gives Mickey the idea to trade his harmonica for the chain, so he and Pluto rush off to the store. Later, at Minnie's house, Mickey gives her the chain for her watch and Minnie gives him a case for his harmonica. Of course, the irony is that Minnie traded her watch for the case -- just as Mickey has traded his harmonica -- so the gifts are essentially useless, but the couple is happy to know they were willing to give up their most prized possessions for each other. As in the original story, the thought behind each gift is what counts.

Once Upon a Christmas Group

Mickey and the gang sing Christmas carols.

As the movie comes to a close, we see Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Max, Donald, Daisy, Huey, Dewey and Louie joining each other in the streets outside and singing a medley consisting of "Jingle Bells", "Deck the Halls", and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".

Songs[]

Availability[]

The film was originally released on VHS on November 9, 1999, and was notably also the first animated direct-to-video Disney film to debut on DVD as well. The DVD included a read-along storybook based on the "Mickey and Minnie's Gift of the Magi" segment, sing-alongs of "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells", and a music video of "Deck the Halls" performed by SHeDAISY. Despite the film being produced in 1.78:1 widescreen, the VHS and original DVD release presented it in 4:3 fullscreen. Both the VHS and DVD were reissued as part of the Walt Disney Gold Classic Collection on November 7, 2000.

A Blu-ray/DVD combo pack release, which also included the sequel, was released on November 4, 2014. Unlike the original DVD release, both the Blu-ray and the included DVD present the film in its intended widescreen aspect ratio. The "Gift of the Magi" read-along and the two sing-alongs from the previous DVD release were also included on both discs, but the SHeDAISY music video was dropped.

The film was also part of the launch line-up for the Disney+ streaming service.

Broadcast history[]

The film aired annually on the Disney Channel from 1999 through 2018, on Toon Disney (before it was rebranded as Disney XD) from 2000 to 2007, on ABC Family/Freeform from 2009 to 2018, and on Disney Junior from 2011 to 2018. The movie didn't air on either of those channels in 2019 and 2020, but returned to airing annually on them in December 2021.

Accolades[]

The special won the Award for Best Animated Featured Film at the 5th Kecskemét Animation Film Festival and was also nominated for the 2000 Annie Award for Best Animated Home Entertainment Production, which it lost to An Extremely Goofy Movie.

Notes[]

Cast[]

MickeysOnceUpon group art

Promotional artwork based on the movie's closing scene.

Voice actor/actress Character(s)
Kelsey Grammer Narrator
Wayne Allwine Mickey Mouse
Russi Taylor Minnie Mouse
Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck
Tony Anselmo Donald Duck
Diane Michelle Daisy Duck ("Stuck on Christmas")
Tress MacNeille Daisy Duck ("The Gift of the Magi")
Chip
Aunt Gertie
Bill Farmer Goofy
Pluto
Shaun Fleming Young Max
Alan Young Scrooge McDuck
Jim Cummings Pete
Postman
Onlooker (uncredited)
Collectibles shop owner (uncredited)
Santa Claus
Police
Dad
Fire Chief
Corey Burton Dale
Frank Welker Turkey
Figaro
Jeff Bennett Mortimer Mouse
Father
Taylor Dempsey Kid #1
Little Jimmy
Kylie Dempsey Kid #2
Little girl
Andrew McDonough Poor boy
Gregg Berger Mr. Anderson
Shopper
Pat Musick Angry woman
Distressed woman
Eccentric lady
Mrs. Anderson
Shopper
Mae Whitman Girl
April Winchell Firefighter
Mother

Note: Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, a Beagle Boy and Owl from Winnie the Pooh appear, but do not have speaking parts.

External links[]

This page uses Creative Commons Licensed
content from Wikipedia (view authors).
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The Walt Disney Company
Animated shorts
Empty SocksMickey's OrphansSanta's WorkshopMickey's Good DeedThe Night Before ChristmasBroken ToysToy TinkersPluto's Christmas TreeThe Small OneMickey's Christmas Carol • "Jingle Bells, Something Smells" • "The Nutcracker" • "Mickey's Mixed Nuts" • "Mickey's Christmas Chaos" • Operation: Secret Santa • "Oh, Christmas Tree!" • Olaf's Frozen Adventure • "The Lights Before Christmas" • "Tinsle Tussle" • Mickey's Christmas Tales
Movies
Animated Christmas JollitiesThe Nightmare Before ChristmasBeauty and the Beast: The Enchanted ChristmasMickey's Once Upon a ChristmasWinnie the Pooh: Seasons of GivingMickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of MouseRecess Christmas: Miracle on Third StreetA Very Merry Pooh YearMickey's Twice Upon a Christmas . Disney Princess: A Christmas of EnchantmentMy Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Sleuth Christmas MovieA Christmas CarolMarvel Super Hero Adventures: Frost Fight!
Live-action Babes in ToylandOne Magic ChristmasThe Christmas StarErnest Saves ChristmasA Mom For ChristmasIn the Nick of TimeThe Muppet Christmas CarolThe RefThe Santa ClauseThe Preacher's WifeThe Christmas TreeI'll Be Home For ChristmasThe Ultimate Christmas Present 'Twas the NightThe Santa Clause 2The Santa Clause 3: The Escape ClauseSanta BuddiesThe Search for Santa PawsGood Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!Santa Paws 2: The Santa PupsThe Nutcracker and the Four RealmsNoelleGodmotheredMarley
Television specials and episodes
Animated
Television specials "A Present for Donald" • "From All of Us to All of You" • A Disney Christmas GiftA Disney Channel ChristmasWinnie the Pooh and Christmas TooA Goof Troop ChristmasPhineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation!Prep & LandingMickey's Christmas SpecialPrep & Landing: Naughty vs. NiceToy Story That Time ForgotDuck the HallsLEGO Star Wars: Holiday SpecialMickey and Minnie Wish Upon a ChristmasMickey Saves ChristmasShortsmas with Big City Greens
Television episodes Disney Television Animation "Jolly Molly Christmas" • "It's a Wonderful Leaf" • "Miracle at the 34th Precinct" • "Doug's Secret Christmas" • "A Christmas Cruella" • "Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave" • "Don't Be Elfish" • "A Kosher Christmas" • "A Dog for All Seasons" • "The Worst Holiday Ever" • "Holiday Time" • "Cheery Theerlap, Lloyd" • "The Blight Before Christmas" • "Pete's Christmas Caper" • "Clarabelle's Christmas List" • "Happy Holidays, Mr. Gruff!" • "A Very Possible Christmas" • "Topper" • "On Whiskers, On Lola, On Cheryl and Meryl" • "Hairy Christmas" • "A Giftmas Story" • "Season's Beatings" • "Dick Daring's All-Star Holiday Stunt Spectacular 5" • "Stitch and Santa" • "A Phineas and Ferb Family Christmas" • "A Cousin Kyle Christmas" • "Merry Fishmas, Milo" • "The Gift" • "Gingersnaps and Grumpy Snaps" / "Jollybells" • "Future-Worm and the 54 Days of Snordfest" • "Stump Day" / "Holiday Spellcial" • "A Christmas Peril" • "Tree Lighting" • "A Merry Mocap Musical" • "Last Christmas!" • "The Present" • "Green Christmas" • "How Santa Stole Christmas!" • "Froggy Little Christmas" • "Saving Christmas" • "Virtually Christmas" • "White Christmess" • "We Wish You a Merry Chaos-Mas"
Playhouse Disney /
Disney Junior
"The Wishing Tree" • "Little Dog Lost" • "A Circus Town Christmas" • "Twinkle's Wish" • "The Christmas Wish " • "A Very Handy Holiday" • "The Wind-Up Toy Prince" • "Mickey Saves Santa" • "The Night Before Zipsmas / A Gift For Zooter" • "Flicker Saves Christmas" • "The Ayalas' Christmas Extravaganza" • "The Living Holiday Lights" • "It's a Winter Never Land!" • "A Very McStuffins Christmas" • "Holiday in Enchancia" • "Captain Scrooge" • "Winter's Gift" • "Toby's Christmas Critter" / "A Very Tricky Christmas" • " Navidad" • "The Mystic Isles: A Very Mystic Wassailia" • "Timon and Pumbaa's Christmas" • "Happy Hot Diggity Dog Holiday!" • "Happy Holiday Helpers" • "A Very Pug Christmas" • "The Latke Kerfuffle" • "A Very Muppet Babies Christmas" • "Summer's Super Fabulous Holiday Surprise" • "A Santa for Bob" • The Doc McStuffins Christmas Special • "Nanpire and Grandpop the Greats" • "Snow Place Like Home" • "Nancy and the Nice List" • "A Gargoyle Carol" • "The Lights Before Christmas" • "Elves for a Day/The Dreidel Dilemma" • "Festival of Lights" • "Tinsle Tussle" • "Santa Baby" • "The Fright Before Christmas" • "Merry Chickmas" • "It's a Wonderful Elf-bot" / "A Merry Litter Christmas" • "The Gingerbread Palace" • "A Christmas Mission in Toyland / Nine Lights Tonight" • "The Christmas Car-Sled Race" • "The Gingerbread Palace" • "Jingle Bog Rock" • "Wrap Party Pups" / "Fixing Santa's Sleigh" • "Jingle Birds" • "Blizzard Buds" • "Pupstruction Saves Christmas" • "Merry Mousemas" • "Santa’s Crash Landing"
Touchstone / ABC Signature "How the Super Stole Christmas" • "A Very Special Clone High Snowflake Day Special"
Marvel Animation (post-2009) "Nightmare on Christmas" • "It's a Wonderful Smash" • "Jingle Bell Rock" • "The Moon Knight Before Christmas" • "A Very Spidey Christmas" • "Halted Holiday" / "Merry Spidey Christmas"
Lucasfilm, Ltd. LEGO Star Wars: Holiday Special • "Life Day"
Hyperion Films "Who Stole Santa? • "Christmas in Oz" • "Seven Days of Kwanzaa"
Live-action
Television specials The Walt Disney Christmas ShowChristmas at Pooh CornerA Magic Kingdom Yuletide SpecialThe Disney Christmas SpecialMickey's NutcrackerDisney's Christmas Fantasy on IceA Muppets Christmas: Letters to SantaGood Luck Jessie: NYC ChristmasJessie's Aloha Holidays with Parker & JoeyDisney Channel Fa-La-La-Lidays Celebrates a Radio Disney Family HolidayDisney Holiday Magic QuestDisney Channel's Epic Holiday ShowdownDisney Channel Holiday House Party" • The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Television episodes Walt Disney Television "Christmas at the Circus" • "Christmas in Wonderland" • "Refrigerator Day" • "A Roman Holiday" • "Fountain" • "Happy Holidays" • "Heck of a Hanukkah" • "Xtreme Xmas" • "Escape Claus" • "Christmas at the Tipton" • "Christmas Break" • "Killing Me Softly With His Height" • "Present Problem" • "Happy Ha-Ha Holidays" • "A So Random! Holiday Special" • "A London Carol" • "Bro Ho Ho" • "So Random! Episode 18" • "Pair of Santas" • "sANTa's Little Helpers" • "Christmas Story" • "Jingle It Up" • "A Little Elf Esteem" • "A Duncan Christmas" • "Bark! The Herald Angels Sing" • "Merry Merry It Up" • "Oh, Christmas Nuts!" • "Big Dreams & Big Apples" • "Nanny in Miami" • "Fa La La La-A-Rooney" • "Mix-Ups & Mistletoes" • "Twas the Mission Before Christmas" • "silANT night" • "Twas the Fight Before Christmas" • "Girl Meets Home for the Holidays" • "Stan Steals Christmas" • "Merry Miss Sis" • "Secret Santa" • "Twas the Fight Before Christmas" • "The Girls of Christmas Past" • "Santas & Surprises" • "Joy-to-a-Rooney" • "Single All the Way" • "Cali Christmas-A-Rooney" • "Girl Meets a Christmas Maya" • "How the Griff Stole Christmas" • "Holly Holly Not So Jolly" • "The Christmas Curse" • "Agh, Humbug" • "Stuck at Christmas" • "A Killer Robot Christmas" • "Would You Wrather Get a Moose Angry?" • "Holiday Video Sketchtacular " • "Bah Humbugged " • "Merry Christmas Mr. Gooch " • "It's Christmas, Gabby Duran " • "Would You Wrather Lose Your Presents? " • "Summer Winter Wonderland " • "How the Syd Stole Christmas" • "Mad About Yuletide" • "Jolly Holidance" • "The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year" • "Holiday" • "How the Villains Stole Christmas" • "A Very Villain Christmas" • "Friends in Snow Places"
Touchstone / ABC Signature "It's a Marginal Life" • "Yule Better Watch Out" • "I'm Scheming of a White Christmas" • "Santa's Little Helper" • "'Twas the Blight Before Christmas" • "Some Like It Hot Rod" • "'Twas the Night Before Chaos" • "'Twas the Flight Before Christmas" • "Easy Street" • "Bright Christmas" • "A Very Topanga Christmas" • "Home for the Holidays" • "An According to Jiminy Christmas" • "Spirit" • "One Office Party Too Many" • "The Christmas Party" • "Secret Santa" • "Silent Night, Opening Night" • "Stalking Santa" • "Aru-Bah Humbug" • "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" • "The Gift of Maggie" • "Christmas Time" • "Light the Lights" • "The Miracle Song" • "Fake Plastic Snow" • "The Nutcracker" • "Two for the Money" • "Holidaze" • "Boom Crunch" • "Cold Turkey"
Albums
30 Favorite Songs of Christmas with Chimes and ChorusA Family ChristmasDisney's Merry Christmas CarolsMickey's Christmas Around the WorldAriel's Christmas Under the SeaA Pooh ChristmasThe Twelve Days of ChristmasDisney's Christmas CollectionDisney's Christmas Collection IIDisney's Family Christmas CollectionDisney's Snowy Christmas . Disney Santa Sing-AlongDisney's Princess Christmas AlbumDisney's Merry Little ChristmasA Green and Red ChristmasDisney's Holiday Celebration 2007Disney Channel HolidayDisney Holiday Magic 2009Disney Winter Wonderland 2010Phineas and Ferb Holiday FavoritesMickey's Magical Holiday 2011Disney Channel Holiday PlaylistHolidays UnwrappedA Very Merry Disney ChristmasDisney Junior Holiday HitsICON: Disney HolidayDisney Junior Holiday Hits 2Disney Christmas Magic
Other
Disney Parks Christmas Day ParadeThe Magic of Christmas at DisneylandThe Magic of Christmas at Walt Disney WorldFa-La-La-Lidays25 Days of ChristmasThe Santa Clauses
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