If you had to choose one: MNSSHP or Pirates and Pals Cruise?

[Crispity]

I would like to do one fun "extra" on our October trip (me, DH, and DD3). I was set on the Pirates and Pals fireworks cruise, as DD loves Peter Pan and Captain Hook, but then I saw the price tag: $179 for the three of us for a boat ride and some snacks?!

At that point, I realized that for $38 more, we could get tickets to MNSSHP, which on the surface seems like a better plan. Our favorite thing last trip was MSEP, so I know we would love the Halloween parade, and DD would love trick-or-treating in the Magic Kingdom. The dance parties also sound like a lot of fun. However, there is no way that we would stay until midnight (would leave after fireworks at the absolute latest), so I am not sure that those tickets are "worth it" either. Would all of our time be eaten up staking out good spots for the parade and standing in line for candy?

If you were going to choose one of these with a toddler, which would it be?

Thanks!

 

[tony609]

MNSSHP hands down. It's a full on event. We have done both and are in love with MNSSHP. The cruise was fun but I didn't feel the overall value was there for us and wouldn't do it again.

 

[Kemorr]

We went to MNSSHP when my youngest kids were 4 and it was a waste of $$ for us. We arrived, sat down to stake out a spot for the first parade, happened to be able to see the first villains show from our spot, waited for the parade, watched the parade, ran to join one long, slow line for two pieces of candy each, went to find a spot for fireworks and watched fireworks. By that time the two four year olds were asleep in the stroller and the 6 year old was yawning her head off and almost asleep, so we left. We spent most of the party sitting and waiting for something to happen (parade and fireworks) and got two pieces of candy. Total waste of $$. I was the only parent on that trip so didn't have another adult to take the kids off to do something during all that waiting, if I had we might had had a better experience. I love the party and can't wait to do it again, but won't be doing it until my kids are 7 and 9 and I can reasonably expect them to stay up much later.

 

[Crispity]

We went to MNSSHP when my youngest kids were 4 and it was a waste of $$ for us. We arrived, sat down to stake out a spot for the first parade, happened to be able to see the first villains show from our spot, waited for the parade, watched the parade, ran to join one long, slow line for two pieces of candy each, went to find a spot for fireworks and watched fireworks. By that time the two four year olds were asleep in the stroller and the 6 year old was yawning her head off and almost asleep, so we left. We spent most of the party sitting and waiting for something to happen (parade and fireworks) and got two pieces of candy. Total waste of $$. I was the only parent on that trip so didn't have another adult to take the kids off to do something during all that waiting, if I had we might had had a better experience. I love the party and can't wait to do it again, but won't be doing it until my kids are 7 and 9 and I can reasonably expect them to stay up much later.

This is definitely my concern with MNSSHP - not sure how much we could get done before DD would crash. Of course, this would also be an issue for the Pirates and Pals cruise - not sure if she will be able to make it through 10:00 fireworks. Hmm...

 

[mort1331]

Love Love Love the MNSSHP. Have taken my DD a couple of times even when she was young. Have an extra long afternoon nap. Make no plans for early the next day, and love the night. It might surprise you, my DD stayed up till we hit the bus then crashed.

 

[cel_disney]

We have done MNSSHP several times with young kids and it's always great....we enter the park between 4-5, enjoy low ride times, one adult get in line for a special meet and greet at 6:30 or so while the family tours...at 7, they hit a few nearby trick or treat spots before rejoining the character waiting grownup, then usually have from 7:30-9:15 to find more things to do (trick or treat, rides, ghost hitchhiker picture, ride haunted mansion, etc...), then watch the 9:30 fireworks, the 10:30 parade and then the villains show...our kids have always made it thru the parade, but not always the villains show (and never the old mix and mingle after!)...we definitely enjoy the event and are bummed to miss it this year....we are not big fans of the Christmas party, so even though it's going on during our November trip, we are skipping it...and possibly going to consider the Pirates cruise!! But we don't have reservations yet...

 

[DisneyWishes14]

It's a tough call, but, honestly, I don't know if I would do either with a 3-year old. Of course, this really depends on your child. I waited until my DS was 6 to do Pirates and Pals and I did it on a night when the fireworks were held at 9 pm. We were also staying at CR when we did it, so it made it super easy to come back and simply go to the room afterward. He did enjoy it! Go hungry if you go. They put out a TON of desserts.

We did MVMCP with DS this past year (he is now 7. I've done MNSSHP without him) and, while we didn't do and see everything, it was fun, but he had had it by the time the fireworks rolled around. We stood back near the train station to see the fireworks - it wasn't crowded and we didn't have to stake out a spot.

Have you considered doing a smaller extra? Or maybe one that doesn't require a late night? Perhaps a makeover at Pirate's League or the Family Magic Tour which is a scavenger hunt through MK and you get a little meet and greet with Peter Pan? The "suggested" age is 4, but I know you can bring younger children. It's 2 hours and it starts at 10 am in MK - might be a better time for your 3-year old? It's also about $35 per person, so cheaper than the party and cruise.

 

[PennyInPink]

Forget sitting around waiting for something to happen, like a parade or fireworks. Half the fun is seeing all the decorations, meeting soooooo many people in costumes, unexpected surprises, music, it's just a whole park party!

 

[tony609]

If your concerned about her falling asleep I would have to agree with another above poster and maybe skip both and wait til the little one is older. There's plenty to do at Disney without spending the extra money. You'll still have a blast without either of these added on options.

 

[kmdrago1783]

We have done MNSSHP several times with young kids and it's always great....we enter the park between 4-5, enjoy low ride times, one adult get in line for a special meet and greet at 6:30 or so while the family tours...at 7, they hit a few nearby trick or treat spots before rejoining the character waiting grownup, then usually have from 7:30-9:15 to find more things to do (trick or treat, rides, ghost hitchhiker picture, ride haunted mansion, etc...), then watch the 9:30 fireworks, the 10:30 parade and then the villains show...our kids have always made it thru the parade, but not always the villains show (and never the old mix and mingle after!)...we definitely enjoy the event and are bummed to miss it this year....we are not big fans of the Christmas party, so even though it's going on during our November trip, we are skipping it...and possibly going to consider the Pirates cruise!! But we don't have reservations yet...

This is going to be our strategy for MNSSHP! WE will have our four year old and 11 month old girls with us. My four year old is OBSESSED with Jack Skellington and TNBC so I will be waiting for that meet and greet.

 

[Crispity]

Have you considered doing a smaller extra? Or maybe one that doesn't require a late night? Perhaps a makeover at Pirate's League or the Family Magic Tour which is a scavenger hunt through MK and you get a little meet and greet with Peter Pan? The "suggested" age is 4, but I know you can bring younger children. It's 2 hours and it starts at 10 am in MK - might be a better time for your 3-year old? It's also about $35 per person, so cheaper than the party and cruise.

Love these ideas! I will definitely look into both. I didn't know there was a tour with a Peter Pan meet!

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Still not sure whether we will do either one, but love reading people's experiences!

 

[epcotty]

We haven't done either but I would still say MNSSHP seems much better and a better deal (We might go to MNSSHP this year)

 

[Wendybird55]

MNSSHP by far! e have done both and MNSSHP is one of our favorites by far (actually wasn't thrilled with pirates and pals). Usually with MNSSHP ticket you can get in park around 4-4:30...so with younger ones you may want to spend the morning and afternoon hanging out at resort...sleeping in late...relaxing by pool etc...so they will be nice and rested and head for park around 4ish...the parade and fireworks are some of the best Disney has to offer...and there is an earlier parade for the younger ones...character M&Gs and trick or treating are also available and of course the rides...DS has always enjoyed and stayed up for MNSSHP (his first tie when he was 4 or 5) and on Pirates and Pals he fell asleep...I think more so because it wasn't so exciting to him.
Now if you're still concerned about both being too late for your kids...anther suggestion for something special to do that I think is less expensive then both is the family magic tour at MK..its a fun scavenger type tour that young kids will enjoy...it's about 2 hours and it starts at 10am...this tour has some fun surprises and one of them when we went last year was a m&g with Peter Pan..it was great...lots of time to spend with Peter and take pictures and get autographs...now the special surprises change and I can't guarantee you will see Peter Pan if you do it this year..but when I was researching the tour last year on Disboards Peter Pan M&G was a constant.

 

[lizard1]

For me, it would depend on what I would plan for the party....rare character meets, parade, fireworks? or just rides? If you do Pirates and Pals on a MNSSHP night, you should be able to see the fireworks from there. So if the party characters and parade aren't that important, I would do the cruise because you'll have a guranteed hit with Pan and Hook.

 

[Kathryn777]

I think I'd pick the one you would enjoy most, at 3 they won't remember the trip (sad but true). I haven't done either. We've waited until this year (older kids are 5 & 9) to add anything else on. I'd be tempted to spend the money on a nice character meal or not on anything at all

 

[GatorMama]

My son turned 3 the day we went to our first MNSSHP. We rope dropped MK that morning, took a break at lunch to take a mandatory nap ::cough cough and for me to finish my costume cough cough:: then went back to the party at 4. It was a very rainy night (always is it seems...) but we rode several rides, saw the parade and fireworks, and DH called it THE BEST part of the whole tripe!

The next year we took a 16 month old and new 4 year old.

Last year a 2 year old and new 5 year old.

And we stayed until 11:30-12 each time. Because we love it.

 

[GatorMama]

Oh and the 3 year old DEFINITELY remembered. Asked us to go back to Mickey's Halloween Party darn near daily for a whole year.

 

[skipfierce]

We did the Halloween party last year with our 6 yr old. It was awesome. She hung in there like a champ. One of the CM's told us to bypass the trick or treat lines until about an hour left of the night. We did stay until midnight and it was well worth it as at the end of the evening the trick or treat lines are very short.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We've been to MNSSHP twice and had a great time both times. The first time, my youngest was about 2 1/2 and he lasted way longer than I thought he would - I think it was 11:00 before he fell asleep in the stroller. Our oldest was 6 and still going. The second time they were about 6 1/2 and 10 and we made it to midnight. Both times we came out with our treat bags loaded down with candy. My kids still remember how as we walked out the front gate, CMs were encouraging us to take handfuls of Halloween Peeps out of a huge treasure chest. When we got home from that trip, I weighed the candy and we had about 13 lbs between the 4 of us. Crazy. We don't do the meet-n-greets - not our thing. We do our favorite rides, we always watch Hallowishes and try to get a decent last-minute spot for one of the parades. At the last one we went to, my youngest really enjoyed the dance party with Woody, but that was the only one we went to. I have a great memory of him interacting with Peter Pan and Wendy in the parade. He was dressed as Peter Pan, and Wendy came up to him and said, "Peter, it's you!" and called over the "real" Peter Pan to meet my Peter Pan and they had a play sword fight during the parade. Totally worth the admission price, right there!

 

[matt&jakesmom]

I have done both and definately recommend the party for the extra money. It's a great time and I don't think you will be disappointed.