Bummed about MNSSHP

[familydisney]

I am very bummed about MNNSHP! When we booked free dining from Sept 29-October 6, it was WAY earlier than we intended to go next because we just went January. I told Wifey we could go if the entire budget-- was $2500 for the week including airfare, hoppers, ASMO & dining. Well, it ended up being $2300 total, leaving $200 for the week for miscellaneous and souvies.

Two months after booking we get park schedules and MNSSHP is on THREE of the seven nights we are there. The cost of it will be about $170 for the all four of us to go each time.

There is no extra money for this. I recently started a new business that is doing as planned, but not in the black yet, plus I've still got full-time job that is 50-60 hours a week.

I just feel like Disney is gipping me out of three nights of my vacation. For Goodness sake, THREE nights?

Of course, other parks are mostly shutting down early because of the season and the MK party.

Does anybody else feel like these multiple, additional cost "parties" are a waste of money? I mean, I already paid for hoppers. It's not like it's just Friday night. It's the 29th, 2nd and 5th! Park hours already short due to the season, and now I get kicked out early if I don't pay an extra 170 bucks a night.

I've never before felt that Disney didn't give me back more than gave it,but this time, I'm NOT happy

Am I making too big a deal out this? We are park warriors and close them down every night and I feel like I do when I buy a car & dealer pulls $500 "documents" fee on you...

 

[mking624]

I honestly don't feel you're being jipped...MNSSHP is an event that takes place every year so it's not like this just sprung up last minute. Plus you can still go to the other parks. Those aren't closing for MNSSHP...so you can still go play at a different park. All MNSSHP means is that you can't be at MK that night if you don't have tickets to the party. But they're not saying you can't go to any park. You paid for park hoppers, so just enjoy hopping to a different park, and enjoy MK the other four nights you're there.

 

[ceecee]

Just plan on doing other parks the nights that MNSSHP is going on. We love the party and are planning to go again, but last year with the free dining it was packed! The problem with the free dining in my opinion is that all the parks, food courts and everything are more crowded, which I find more of a problem that the park closing early for a party (longer lines means slower park commando-ing). Epcot and MGM will still be open and you do have early morning and late night available too. It's a trade off I guess.

 

[p2oh]

We will be there the exact same time (staying a couple more days!), but we are only scheduling one of the parties. We plan on doing DQ one night and Fantasmic and Illuminations. If we have a great time at the first party we may go to another but there is no way we will attend all of the parties that are happening while we are there. Too much candy!

 

[beattyfamily]

MNSSHP and MVMCP are held in the Fall/Winter when the parks would be closing early anyway - off season.

Its kind of like the E-nights. People who are willing to pay extra get more hours at MK then they nornally would since its off season.

 

[frannn]

Yes, I am less than thrilled when I find that the first two nights of our trip (last trip as well) coincides with the Night of Joy at MK, and our favorite park will close early. I have no interest in attending the NOJ, so I would not be saddened if it was discontinued. On the other hand, we really enjoy MNSSHP. I was excited to find that there would be a party held on 9/15, during our trip, and quickly purchased tickets. The way I look at it (and this is only my view and how it works in my family), we usually spend about 80. on each character meal, so for a bit more, we can do MNSSHP (of course, we also keep the character meals, so no budgeting there!). If there were three NOJ parties scheduled during my stay, I would be as put off as you. You can always express your concerns to the bigwigs at WDW, but I think they probably added more parties because they are a big income producer. The good news is that you can take advantage of the EMH or EEH to make up some of the lost MK time! I know we will be doing the FDP our first night (NOJ at MK), and Illuminations on the second night (also NOJ). The third night will be EEH for MK. Hope you have an awesome trip, regardless!

 

[familydisney]

Thanks for the replies. Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill. I think my biggest problem wth it is that we always spend the first night at MK when we get there and the last night before we leave at MK. This time, both nights are MNSSHP.

Oh well-- Maybe we'll find a new tradition! (Although I don't think anything is better than opening and closing at MK!)

 

[mking624]

Thanks for the replies. Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill. I think my biggest problem wth it is that we always spend the first night at MK when we get there and the last night before we leave at MK. This time, both nights are MNSSHP.

Oh well-- Maybe we'll find a new tradition! (Although I don't think anything is better than opening and closing at MK!)

Ah yeah, I understand that...we're the same way. It would be a bummer not to continue with tradition.

 

[ceecee]

Our first and last night tradition is Illuminations, we LOVE it and it just sets the mood.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Is there a chance you could shift your vacation by a day? We've done this a few times, and it has always worked out well, but it depends on your circumstances. Usually we've shifted when we looked into airfare prices. (Most airlines won't let you change your flight for free) We flew in a day early (we flew at night, but you could go earlier) and spent the first night at a cheap place. Since we're REALLY only using it for the bed and shower - we didn't care what it was like (so long as no bugs). It helps to have a car.

Twice we were able to save SO much on the airfare by going a day early, that the extra time was basically free, except for maybe food, so it worked out really well.

 

[familydisney]

Is there a chance you could shift your vacation by a day? We've done this a few times, and it has always worked out well, but it depends on your circumstances. Usually we've shifted when we looked into airfare prices. (Most airlines won't let you change your flight for free) We flew in a day early (we flew at night, but you could go earlier) and spent the first night at a cheap place. Since we're REALLY only using it for the bed and shower - we didn't care what it was like (so long as no bugs). It helps to have a car.

Twice we were able to save SO much on the airfare by going a day early, that the extra time was basically free, except for maybe food, so it worked out really well.

No, we can't change flights-- got $148 air fare from DEN to MCO & no car-- we are using DME

But I like the idea of illuminations! Our first night (flight gets in a 5:00 -- figure 8:00 by the time we can get into a park) is at 8:45 at Coral reef.

 

[NancyIL]

Since you are currently $200 under budget, is spending $170 to go to MNSSHP once out of the question? That to me would be a great way to end your trip. If not - Epcot is open until 9:00 every night, and I LOVE lluminations.

 

[DaisyD]

Thanks for the replies. Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill. I think my biggest problem wth it is that we always spend the first night at MK when we get there and the last night before we leave at MK. This time, both nights are MNSSHP.

Oh well-- Maybe we'll find a new tradition! (Although I don't think anything is better than opening and closing at MK!)

Our first night there will also be on the 29th. Since we are flying in around 10am we should be able to get to the park by 2pm if all goes well. We are hitting the MK til close then heading over to an ADR at 'Ohana afterwards. We will be at WDW Sept 29-Oct 8. This time of year has always been where parks close early so at least we get the option of doing MNSSHP which we are on the 2nd. You should really try to do the party once during your trip. We only go once a trip but I think this event is worth every penny. We schedule our trip just for that party.

 

[kldmom2000]

It is too bad, but like the other posters said, there are other parks.... we are going the same time, but can only do 5 nights in WDW Sept. 30 is my DD's 4th bday and the MK is open until 11pm that night.... so you could plan on that being a definite night to stay at the MK and then plan your other nights for the other parks/DTD??

 

[mercydisney]

We were planning to do MNSHHP, but looking over our budget; WE as a family decided not to go this yr. We figured the day of MNSSHHP we will do AK, and then DTD, that way we won't be at all near MK and the urge or "I wish we were their" doesn't affect our day and time together. MNSSHHP is a great event but it will be their next yr. Enjoy the fact that you will be able to go and the freee dining.!!

HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!!

 

[SmileMom]

Have you purchased your park tickets yet? If not, you could reduce your park tickets by one day and replace that day with MNSSHP tickets. During the day, rather than go to a park, you could go to the pool, DTD, resort hopping, etc....some of the things we "park warriors" sometimes don't take the time to enjoy. Then have an early dinner, head to MK and close the park at midnight. Plus, you get to try something new. Trust me, MNSSHP is something you want to do at least once.

 

[vanyel]

Never did the party so can't speak to that but I was there during the same time frame last year and the other parks were open at night, except of course AK cause it always closes earlier.

I understand the tradition thing but I don't think it's as bad as you think. After all, you're still at WDW and you'll still have a great time. You could take some of the extra and do one night of MNSSHP - I doubt that'd you'd want to do that more than once anyway.

You might even find an evening at the resort would be fun, playing in the pools and relaxing!

 

[ceecee]

Have you purchased your park tickets yet? If not, you could reduce your park tickets by one day and replace that day with MNSSHP tickets. During the day, rather than go to a park, you could go to the pool, DTD, resort hopping, etc....some of the things we "park warriors" sometimes don't take the time to enjoy. Then have an early dinner, head to MK and close the park at midnight. Plus, you get to try something new. Trust me, MNSSHP is something you want to do at least once.

This is a great idea for those without the length of stay hoppers. You really do need to relax because it gets to be a long night if you're tried.

 

[Figment's friends]

I would reccommend going without hoppers- shave money off your tickets and if you plan well you won't need them.

 

[Brooknwdw]

We will be there Sept 29-Oct 6 also!! Our budget & money spent is basically the same as yours.

We too are avoiding MNSSHP.
I just planned my days accordingly, which as a bonus, the days I picked are "BEST DAYS" parks to be in according to crowd levels! (You couldn't pay me to be in MK on OCtober 1st, the kick off of the new celebration).

Here is our sceduale:

9/30 MK (O'Hana ADR that night)
10/1 EPCOT (Le'Cellier ADR)
10/2 MGM (HBD Fantasmic package)
10/3 MK again (Chef Mickey's)
10/4 EPCOT again (Biergarten)
10/5 AK (Boma)



IF you plan around it, it won't effect your trip in the least!