Christmas party worth nearly $700 for 4 people????

[Pickles282]

I’m so tempted to drop a day and do the party but the cost of dropping a day doesn’t save near enough to cover the cost of the party. Anyone think it’s worth it??? We’re going on a tight budget, this would be a big splurge. Kids are 8 and 9.

 

[sky13]

I'm also trying to decide about this. If it was just myself I wouldn't think too hard about spending the cost of a single ticket but there are 4 of us on my upcoming trip!

 

[Her Dotness]

It's so difficult to gauge worth-it, I think. What people will enjoy most is so hard to predict about a limited-time event like the holiday parties.

We've done the Christmas party a couple times and really enjoyed it, just us two adults. You can often walk pretty much straight onto super-popular rides like 7DMT once the party is underway. That might be a worth-it for your family with kids their ages.

However, we saved up specifically for adding party tickets. I don't myself think dropping a park day to do the party is a good idea because you can do so much more with a full day than the few hours of the holiday parties.

You really have to estimate, I think, if getting onto more rides, seeing some rare characters, a few stage shows and "free" watery hot chocolate and grocery store cookies will mean that much to your family. Stay out of The Emporium, though, where party-exclusive souvenirs are sold. They're expensive and enticing.

If your trip is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime, then you might consider the party worth it. Otherwise, I'd start saving for party tickets and a return trip so as you won't need to cheat yourselves out of a park day while there.

 

[Pickles282]

It's so difficult to gauge worth-it, I think. What people will enjoy most is so hard to predict about a limited-time event like the holiday parties.

We've done the Christmas party a couple times and really enjoyed it, just us two adults. You can often walk pretty much straight onto super-popular rides like 7DMT once the party is underway. That might be a worth-it for your family with kids their ages.

However, we saved up specifically for adding party tickets. I don't myself think dropping a park day to do the party is a good idea because you can do so much more with a full day than the few hours of the holiday parties.

You really have to estimate, I think, if getting onto more rides, seeing some rare characters, a few stage shows and "free" watery hot chocolate and grocery store cookies will mean that much to your family. Stay out of The Emporium, though, where party-exclusive souvenirs are sold. They're expensive and enticing.

If your trip is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime, then you might consider the party worth it. Otherwise, I'd start saving for party tickets and a return trip so as you won't need to cheat yourselves out of a park day while there.

All good points, thank you!

We’re alteady doing 5 park days so I’d actually be more than ok dropping it down to 4 and having a little extra down time between park days. We were there our first time back during Covid and feel like we got jipped out of a lot (but no crowds was fabulous!) so this is kind of a redo trip, and probably our last, just wanting to do the things we didn’t get to back then.
We’d really only be doing the party for the holiday festivities you can’t do/see otherwise, but it’s just so dang hard to justify spending that much. But I feel like if we’re going during the Christmas season, we really should do the party.
Why did they have to go and raise the prices so much

 

[Her Dotness]

Unless any of the shows are must-dos for your family--some are really fun to see, I doubt it's worth that much money for you because you are budgeting.

Rarely appearing characters are fun, but the lines to meet them form fast and can be loooonnng. Who wants to hang around for 30-45 minutes or more to meet a character when you've only a few pretty pricey hours for partying?

Here's something that might help you decide if the party is worth the cost to you--watching 4K WDW's video of an older one:

4K WDW films have no narration and are done from a person walking about's viewpoint, ambient sounds only. You get a good sense of the actual experience, I think, from these videos.

I can really understand your wanting to say the hey with it and laying out the bucks for the party. We didn't stay till the end either time but still thought the cost worth it for the holiday atmosphere. Even though you know it's not real, watching the snow fall along Main Street after dark is sooooo Christmas card-like. Just lovely.

Okay, I'm doing a rotten job of arguing my earlier probably-not-worth-it. Given that this may be your last trip, doing the party might be for you. Good luck deciding and have a magicaltime whatever you do.

 

[Pickles282]

Unless any of the shows are must-dos for your family--some are really fun to see, I doubt it's worth that much money for you because you are budgeting.

Rarely appearing characters are fun, but the lines to meet them form fast and can be loooonnng. Who wants to hang around for 30-45 minutes or more to meet a character when you've only a few pretty pricey hours for partying?

Here's something that might help you decide if the party is worth the cost to you--watching 4K WDW's video of an older one:

4K WDW films have no narration and are done from a person walking about's viewpoint, ambient sounds only. You get a good sense of the actual experience, I think, from these videos.

I can really understand your wanting to say the hey with it and laying out the bucks for the party. We didn't stay till the end either time but still thought the cost worth it for the holiday atmosphere. Even though you know it's not real, watching the snow fall along Main Street after dark is sooooo Christmas card-like. Just lovely.

Okay, I'm doing a rotten job of arguing my earlier probably-not-worth-it. Given that this may be your last trip, doing the party might be for you. Good luck deciding and have a magicaltime whatever you do.

Lol! After seeing the video I kind of want to go back next year instead… only if the dream lights are back! I doubt they’d be back this year with the 50th decor still up.

 

[frannn]

We are going back late Oct thru early Nov as we hoped to do both a halloween and holiday party. Unfortunately the holiday one doesn't start till the day we leave....so we considered adding a day. But, after spending about 500 for MNSSHP tickets (the price increases as you get closer to Halloween), we couldn't see spending almost as much for the other party plus resort plus meals etc. We've been to a bunch of pre-covid MNSSHPs, and TBH they have gotten very crowded and not as enjoyable as earlier ones. We still bought tickets for reasons but I'd always rather have a full vacation day than any of the parties.

 

[Her Dotness]

Lol! After seeing the video I kind of want to go back next year instead… only if the dream lights are back! I doubt they’d be back this year with the 50th decor still up.

Probably won't be until the 50th is over, I agree. Elsa's "frosting" the Castle really was spectacular, wasn't it?

Well, maybe that's a better idea--waiting to return till next year when you'll have saved up not only for the party but for some party souvies, too. Disney does sell some very nice ones.

Except, if the younguns are expecting to go this year, putting it off might not be a great idea.

It's our philosophy, though--save up until we've the money to make dreams come true. We've sometimes waited three years to be assured we had the money to do those completely magical things we really, really wanted. It's torture but soooo magical getting the fun stuff we really truly want.

Tough choices can make for maximum magic. Again, good luck deciding what to do.

 

[MamaMermaid]

Personally, I lean towards not worth it.

 

[peabody58]

Need to consider if your kids at 8/9 yo will be able to stay up all night. We've seen a lot of sleeping kids at night - party or not. Either way, enjoy your trip and know WDW will be there when you're ready to return.

 

[katyjeka]

The Halloween party, yes!!!! However I would never drop a day for the Christmas party.