Asking for Valued Opinions and Options

[poohbearwithme]

Okay, here is the deal. My sisters and I would like to take my nieces and nephews on a trip to DW but alas don't have the vacay time nor money for a full blown-out trip. However, we were talking about possibly taking a extended weekend trip this fall and just going to the Disney Christmas Party and a water park. However, my nieces and nephews have never been to Disney and have been wanting to go for awhile. So here is my question, would just taking them to only the Christmas party be kind-of cruel? Should we just hold off to next year when we plan to do the whole kit & caboodle trip. I thought it might be nice to give them a little taste of what is to come next year but then again don't want to give them just one Lay's potato chip and then take the bag away from them LOL. BTW their ages are 10-18.

 

[ronandannette]

If time and money are limited, why would you choose MVMCP and a water park? A single day at MK (with maybe an overnight at one of the All-Stars properties and some time browsing DTD) would make for a much fuller Disney experience. In most first-timer's minds MK is Disney - they would likely be content without Epcot, DHS or Animal Kingdom.

 

[poohbearwithme]

Excellent option ronandannette. Thanks. That's why I asked.

 

[LadyJayne813]

I think just the christmas party would be a fine idea if money is tight. We did something similar last year on a short weekend trip. We did the halloween party, and a day at universal. We had been to disney before, but not for a few years.

Instead of the waterpark, why not take a full park day in addition to the party? The waterpark isn't much cheaper is it? I haven't looked at those prices for a bit.

 

[pigletto]

Personally I think I would hold off. But for us to get down there is so expensive that I don't want just a day or two after I've paid so much for flights. If you could drive I would think your idea is a good one.
I also think there is something to be said for waiting, picking the time of year it would be cheapest and doing a full week.
I don't think going for a shorter time is cruel at all! But you may find yourselves wanting more.

 

[kymom99]

Since you are in Florida (I assume from your info), I think a short trip would be very doable for you. If you were driving 15 hours to get there, then I would say to wait, but that is not the case for you. I agree with others though. I would not do the party. I would do MK and then let the kids vote on another park or try to decide what park would suit your kids the most. Epcot would probably be a good one for kids the ages of yours, but if they are animal lovers, AK. Will you stay on site? If you stay at a moderate, the pools are pretty nice.

 

[Mama Steph]

If it helps, I ordered greatly reduced tickets from USSSA.com for our quick trip. 1 day tickets were only $85. I did a 2 day hopper for $160. Maybe you could do 1 full day at MK and another at a water park or even 2 days at MK.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[poohbearwithme]

You are correct KYMom, I'm in NW Florida and it would be about a 6 hour drive. Not bad but not great either. LadyJayne you idea is really great. I think the Party and another Park would be about the same as a waterpark and I do live near 3 or 4 waterparks so dropping that idea would be practical. Yes we would probably stay on property at the on the Value or Moderate resorts.

 

[StitchBuddy]

First, I want to say that what you are doing is so sweet! I think if it were me, I would take that money, which is quite a chunk and put it towards a nicer trip next year. My thinking is Disney gets "cheaper" the longer you stay per day. Then you could do all the parks and the water parks. Just an idea. Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be magical!

 

[powellrj]

I you are planning on spending the night, I would stay at an off-site with a great pool and go to the christmas party. Since you can get into the party at 4pm, that would be a nice evening to spend in the park without breaking the bank. Off-site would be cheaper than on-site even with paying for parking since you will already have a car. There are some really neat pools that while not the same as a waterpark, would still be fun.

Look into Bonnet Creek for 2 bedroom options for less than you would pay for an onsite room.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Will the children be able to stay awake until midnight or the late hours to maximize the party or do they regularly go to bed early?

 

[LJSquishy]

If you are planning a trip next year that will be longer (to do all 4 parks), I would wait. It's not cruel to give them a taste of Disney World with the Christmas party, but a partial day is not enough time to even do all of the major rides with a group even without the Christmas party. I think it will make everyone sad that they can't ride everything/see it all during their time in the park. One full day would be better (and skip the water park), but still not ideal. Not to mention a 6hr car ride for that...no way.

Save the gas & food money and put it toward next years trip. Everyone will be much happier and it gives you all something to look forward to, more time to save for the ideal trip, and time to plan out all of the details as far as lodging, food preferences, etc!

I am a big planner by nature and love researching...we are doing an Oct 2015 trip that is in the works right now...15 months away! We have our dates set and DVC point rental arranged and are just waiting until November now to be able to book the room. I think it's more fun planning a trip that far out.

 

[danygirl]

Life is short. Do the short trip now! My kids spent a full day in the water park and loved it. And it is much cheaper than the parks

 

[Southernmiss]

Okay, here is the deal. My sisters and I would like to take my nieces and nephews on a trip to DW but alas don't have the vacay time nor money for a full blown-out trip. However, we were talking about possibly taking a extended weekend trip this fall and just going to the Disney Christmas Party and a water park. However, my nieces and nephews have never been to Disney and have been wanting to go for awhile. So here is my question, would just taking them to only the Christmas party be kind-of cruel? Should we just hold off to next year when we plan to do the whole kit & caboodle trip. I thought it might be nice to give them a little taste of what is to come next year but then again don't want to give them just one Lay's potato chip and then take the bag away from them LOL. BTW their ages are 10-18.

With the ages of 10 to 18, I'm guessing they would enjoy the thrill rides more than a waterpark. My kids are ages 12 to 20. And 2 if mine have worked at a waterpark. Even my youngest who was 5 our first trip, loved the thrill rides! For those ages, mvmcp would be fun, but I would wait to do a longer trip right.

Also, those ages would probably enjoy a weekend at universal studios and islands of adventure which can be done pretty well over three days and not feel like you've missed a lot.

We did a long weekend at universal right before Christmas in 2011 with ours and they loved it! We did a mvmcp night for me that trip! We enjoyed the mvmcp but it wouldn't have been enough Disney had we never been.

 

[Happyjen27]

I think you're on the right track with dumping the water park and seeing if you can fit in another park ticket.

But, if you can't, I think staying at a hotel and doing MVMCP is a fantastic way to do Disney without paying full price for a ticket. These ages just scream "party all night" and it would be so fun!!

I'm not sure I would bother staying onsite since you'll have a car, and you're doing the party and maybe one park day. The benefits of on-site really add up over the course of a week, but perhaps not as much for a 2 days trip. I would look into other lodging options. Maybe even you can stay longer, hit the beach, do airboat tours or something like that with cheaper lodging and make it seem like a long vacation, even though it's over an extended weekend.

 

[worm761]

I would not take them for just one day for their first trip. I would find something else special to do in the fall instead.

Though, have you considered asking the kids what they would want? They are old enough to have an opinion on it.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Definitely offsite since you'll have the car anyway & budget is tight. Put the room savings toward either a 2nd park day or next year's trip.

 

[hsmamato2]

OP might use the same amount of money to... stay off site for 3 nights- in a condo with a great pool (Bonnet Creek?)
Get 2 days into a park, Mk, and whatever else they like... what's not fun about that? I'd drive 6 hours for a fun weekend like that....
another option is the party at MK from 4 p.m.-closing, swim at the awesome pools hotel day/DTD shopping, then another full parks day,say Epcot.... since the party tix are cheaper if you buy ahead, and you get a LOT of hours in if you get there early

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

OP, how many are in your group? If you would need 2 hotel rooms I would definitely look into either renting DVC points or staying in a condo. As others said, Bonnet Creek is very nice and would cut down on costs. Also it would give you more than one bathroom which is nice and a kitchen to help keep from going to a restaurant for every meal & snack.
I would do it but do what you can to keep the price down. This will probably be just enough to get them excited for a longer trip next time.

I would give up the WP idea. December can be chilly. We've had to cancel WP plans in early Nov because the high was in the low to mid 70s which sounds warm until you're dripping wet and standing in the shade in line.

It will probably make you queasy but I would calculate the price per hour between the ticketed party vs. a full day ticket and see which is the better value. I would also look at park hours that weekend and see if EMH would be of any value to you. Paying for just 1 night of onsite hotel would get you 2 days of EMH which would extend the number of usable hours of a ticket.

 

[poohbearwithme]

Will the children be able to stay awake until midnight or the late hours to maximize the party or do they regularly go to bed early?

They are all night owls. So staying up to midnight and beyond would not be a problem.