Another "what would you do?" thread....MVMCP vets please read!

[quirty30]

Here's the deal. We booked a free dining trip for Sept. over Labor Day weekend. Staying at CS and thrilled about getting 4 more park days out of our well utilized AP's, which expire later in September. This means we'll have 2 day park tickets that I thought we'd save for our short trip later in December.

The December trip is from 12/16 - 12/20; getting in late on the 16th and probably staying at the airport Hyatt. Will take DME to BLT the next morning, where we're staying the rest of the trip. Thought we'd hit HS on 12/17 and Epcot on 12/19. I had initially thought we'd check out MVMCP the evening of the 18th, and just resort hop during the day. I have heard that since this is the last MVMCP, it will likely sell out and be very crowded - I know there are no discounts available as well. So it will cost a little over $200 for myself and 2 preteen kids.

Tonight I was thrilled to book airfare for less than $200 a person out of O'Hare; a real coup for around the holidays. I am now in full planning mode and got to thinking. Maybe we should skip MVMCP. Then we can visit MK on the 17th and walk over after checking in. Visit HS on the 18th and leave our Epcot plans for the 19th.

I initially wasn't planning on renewing our AP's, however, I know we'll end up back at WDW for several days next June before and/or after our DCL cruise. If I apply the $200 I'd spend on MVMCP to our AP renewals, along with the value of our 2 day park tickets ($168 each), it would only cost me another $418 to renew in September (an added plus is I don't have to shell out the $200 now for MVMCP.)

So for those of you who have done MVMCP, is it a must-do? Or is visiting MK on any other day in December just as good an option for seeing the Xmas decorations? We are not huge parade fans...and if there are special fireworks, we could go to TOTWL the night of the 18th when we get back from HS.

What would you do?

 

[Sammie]

The parade and fireworks to me are the highlights. They have changed the shows, and reduced the decorations.

I have never been during the time period after the shows stop, but I have read on the forums they start offering the Christmas parade then. So it is possible you could catch the parade without attending MVMCP.

The other thing I don't like about buying tickets in advance, a couple of years recently it has been so dang cold it was miserable trying to stay long enough to get your money's worth out of the party. Many people finally gave up and left, as it was miserable.

 

[bumbershoot]

We chose to not go to the christmas party last December, and we're glad we didn't. Too cold! And the reviews of it just weren't solidly positive enough to make me think I MUST go.



Your Sept trip is under the AP. YOu will have tickets for your short December trip. You're thinking of next June.

It doesn't *feel* like having an AP from September, for trips in December (for which you would already have tickets) and June, is really worth it. I think if those were the only trips planned, I would just use the tickets in December, then in June decide on *future* trips and just buy a new AP at that time if I thought it would be warranted.

But I could be wrong. And if you guys tend to go spontaneously,if you know that you will very likely end up going more than just the December and June trips...then obviously that makes a difference.

 

[DVCconvert]

since you're from the windy city, any "cold" by FL standards won't set you off much. If you've never gone to MVMCP I would recommend it. The parade is fantastic, the atmosphere of the MK is great.

 

[OKWJan]

Don't forget the all you can eat cookies and hot cocoa - My favorites.

 

[CarolMN]

After that last party, the Christmas parade takes the place of the afternoon parade. I believe Wishes also changes to the Holiday version.

If you will be there after the 18th, there's really not much of a reason to spend the money on the party, IMO, since the best parts of it will be available for "free" with regular park admission. About all you'll miss by skipping MVMCP is the snow on main street (you can see the snow at the Osborn Lights if that's a big problem, LOL) and the cookies and hot chocolate.

If you were asking about the November or early December parties and hadn't been at least once, I would say to go. Those parties are generally not sell outs and you wouldn't be able to see the Christmas parade or Holiday Wishes if you didn't go to a party.

 

[quirty30]

Thanks all for your input. I think Bumbershoot's post made a big impact - why the heck should I renew our AP's when I'd be better off letting them expire and getting an AP again next year IF we decide on more trips after our cruise. Honestly, I might just upgrade to 10 day non-exp tickets. I think we will be taking less trips next year AND we don't spend as much time at the parks as we used to. I think they might suit our needs better over the next couple of years.

As for MVMCP, we have more than our share of snow here in Chicago, but snow on Main Street totally piqued my kids interest. And when Carol suggested we could see the parade & fireworks on a later date, I realized that wouldn't be possible. Our last full day is 12/19 and I have my heart set on seeing the CP at Epcot with Trace Adkins. So I think we'll go ahead and book it...we did MNSSHP once, so we'll try the Xmas party once before my kids are older. We'd have had to add a day to our park tickets anyway in order to visit HS, MK & Epcot on this trip. The party is about the same price...and we'll spend the day seeing Xmas decorations at GF and WL before we attend the party.

And as an added bonus, I was thrilled today when I called MS and I was able to add the 16th to our existing reservation for a 1BR LV at BLT. No worries about the added expense of a hotel room or the hassle of moving once during, what is, essentially, a long weekend stay. And no fretting over a waitlist.

Thanks again for helping me make this decision!

 

[disneynutz]

I believe that it's worth attending all hard ticket or special events at WDW at least once. IMO MVMCP is OK, but not worth the extra cost and the time we went it rained and the crowds made the night less than enjoyable.

Why not skip it this year and attend MVMCP sometime in the future?

Bill