Deciding against MVMCP with 2 year old...

[disneypolybride2008]

Originally i saw MVMCP was a few times on our November trip and thought we would do it two times so that we could get it all done. Then i realized if she sleeps 12+ hours at night then the whole next day starts super late, and if she doesn't sleep 12+ and gets up at normal time or is awakened somehow then she'll be cranky losing hours of sleep.

I've always wanted to go to the party. We've done MNSSHP a bunch of times before our DD2, and I was super excited to take her to the party, but i'm realizing it is not practical if she is normally asleep by 8:30pm.. we'd have to leave the MK at 7pm to get to the resort at 7:30, our room at AoA may be a far walk, so settling in the room by 7:45pm or later if the buses are packed and we have to wait, then do a bedtime routine for a few minutes and get her to sleep by 8:30pm.

So I picked a ADR at Liberty Tree, which we love, at 6:45pm which was their only time, and we would be done say at 8pm, and i can absorb all the ambiance i can as we leave the park.. and that would be an hour off schedule, which would be hard enough on her.

What are your plans with your 2 year old? Or 3-4 for that matter, it would be awhile before she could stay up late and not be off put by it.

Disney will be different now having a toddler, i just wish they had the party earlier so i could share the experience with my DD. Too bad they don't have a stage show during the day. There is a parade earlier in the day, so a normal magical MK day will have to do.

Too bad it didn't start when it gets dark, like 6pm start, 6:30 stage show, 7pm parade, 7:30 fireworks, and later times for the older kids too.

thank you for reading, please share what you plan to do about the party or late nights

 

[Trip planner]

We went last year a week before DS's second birthday and made it through the fireworks. He fell asleep in the stroller on the way home. I would go- our entire trip both kids stayed up past their bedtimes nightly but fell asleep in the stroller mid afternoon. We were prepared to go home early almost every night but we were always having a good time and stayed out. I was thankful for the double stroller when the kids crashed though.

 

[lovetogowdw]

I don't know what you are planning on doing earlier in the day or on the following day, but my experience with my two boys at various of the hard ticket parties is that young children (even two year olds) can make it WAY past the normal bedtime for these events. In fact, at the first such event, my then two year old was fussing because they shut down the rides at midnight. (Usually was asleep by 8:30 pm, but with that night's excitement was the Energizer bunny.)

My suggestions:
- Take it easy earlier in the day and get a good long nap the day of the event.
- Arrive between 4 and 4:30 pm. They say 7 pm for entrance to these events, but they will let you in at 4 pm. Know what is open for the party and what isn't and hit rides like the train before they close for the party.
- Forget a table service dinner on a party night. This isn't a good use of your time. But get a decent counter service meal before 6 pm. Many regular locations close early or switch to a "party" menu - with limited choices.
- Don't miss the dance parties!!! Unless your child is afraid of the characters, these are a blast. Look for them on the map - and know that they usually move somewhere nearby (and inside) in case of awful weather. One of the best hard ticket party events we attended was during a pouring rain -- we went from dance party to dance party and got tons of character interaction.
- If your little one falls asleep in the stroller, then stick around and enjoy the party yourself. Once my youngest fell asleep early during MVMCP (was about 15 months old at the time), but woke back up just before the fireworks and second parade and had a blast for the rest of the night.
- Don't plan on getting up early the next day. Sleep in!
- Both of mine were back on regular schedules within a day after returning home. It was no big deal that they were so "off" schedule during vacation.
HAVE FUN!

 

[Happyjen27]

My twins were 5 last year, and we skipped the party. It was our first trip to the World, and I didn't know what I was skipping, and it was all new and special to them.

My twins will be 6 this year, and we're STILL skipping the party. I just don't see the value in using 2 days worth of planning (resting the day of, and then having them overly tired the day after) for the party.

We will hit the party, maybe next year, maybe in a couple of years. It will be there when my kids can enjoy it without being pushed past their limits.

 

[RachaelA]

Well how is she if you change around her schedule a bit? Are you positive that a few hours once will really throw her off THAT much? If you've tried it before, then I understand, but if not why not experiment at home once or twice before your trip. We did MNSHHP when DD was 11 1/2 months up and kept her up 2ish hours past her bedtime (she fell asleep in the stroller. we stayed at the party even later). We did multiple late night fireworks shows in May when she was 18 months old and kept her up late. She was fine. She probably napped longer the next day and maybe slept in a tad later, but we just rolled with it and took it slower the day after a late night.

It really doesn't get dark until the party times anyways in Florida and they can't close MK at like 5pm to non party guests so I understand why they pick the time to start that they do.

 

[acceber32]

We are going and taking our 4 yo and at the time 9 month old. I'm not worried about the baby, he'll sleep in my carrier. The 4 yo will be very excited and energized so will make it past his 8:30 bed time. We've taken him to WDW a few times and he always does better there than he does at home about getting less sleep. We do; however, have a rest day planned for the day after the party. We will be there for 10 days and I think a rest day will benefit everyone so I'd plan one even if we weren't doing the party the night before. We won't be going to a park that day, we'll just relax around the resort. Maybe go play mini-golf or go to Disney Quest, it'll be whatever we are all in the mode for. We won't be staying at the party until close though. We'll leave when we feel 4 yo has had enough and needs to go to sleep. We will also take a break mid-day so we can try to get naps in and be energized for the party. If you really want to go then go and enjoy it. You'd be surprised how little it will probably effect your LO (probably will effect you more, lol).

 

[mousehunter3]

We went when my kids were 1, 4, and 6. They all made it to the very end, but all three crashed out in the stroller on the way back to the shuttle/resort. They had a BLAST! I am so glad we went.

They will be 5, 8, and 10 when we go this time and we are definitely going to MNNSHP! We are planning a "down" day that day before the party. Going to have lunch downtown and maybe a dip in the pool before we head over.

I can't wait!!!

 

[caselaw3]

we are taking our 3 and 4 year old to the party - BUT - we have made that our rest day - so we won't be going to the park at all that day until our 4pm ressie at The Plaza - I figure this way - the kids aren't all worked up all day about being in the park, etc. and so they will be better able to make it through the party - WDW is a special trip and a special time - so we aren't going to worry about schedules and bedtimes and all of that - we are just going to let the kids guide the days....

 

[disneypolybride2008]

you all got my hopes up! maybe we should do the party! the hard thing is that all the days on the 2nd week of November sold out 1 day in advance.. so we can't just see how she's doing and decide to go.

I was planning the Thursday party. Then on Friday, our last day, would be a leisurely day to re-do our MK favorites, so it would be fine to sleep in. We have a princess dinner, early, that day and we leave early on Saturday.

Sounds like we should go.

 

[caselaw3]

you all got my hopes up! maybe we should do the party! the hard thing is that all the days on the 2nd week of November sold out 1 day in advance.. so we can't just see how she's doing and decide to go.

I was planning the Thursday party. Then on Friday, our last day, would be a leisurely day to re-do our MK favorites, so it would be fine to sleep in. We have a princess dinner, early, that day and we leave early on Saturday.

Sounds like we should go.

I heard that Thursday's are less crowded so it might be a good idea to give it a try - my 3 and 4 year old are looking forward to it!

 

[ktlm]

DD (7) went to her first MVMCP at age 2 yrs and 10 months, and she had a fantastic time, but she has always been a night owl anyway. She has always been crazy about all the characters, so she loved visiting all the characters during the party. Our only issue that time was we were there on a sold out night and we couldn't get a spot for the 1st parade anywhere on the route an hour ahead of time (when we got out of the Mickey's Twas the Night before Christmas show which is no longer there). We wound up staying for the 2nd parade. She fell asleep while we waited in our spot-we woke her up for the parade and she loved it- and then she was asleep in her stroller before we got out of the park. If I had my choice, that year we probably would have seen the first parade and then left around 10:00 p.m. Now, the next year when she was 3, we dragged her out of the park wide awake and throwing a fit at 11:30 p.m. because she wanted one more ride on the Barnstormer (and before you feel sorry for her, this was after they let her ride 14 times in a row without getting off because there was no line- I had to get off after 11- and DH couldn't handle another one after 14. )

It sounds like you really want to go. I know you really want her to enjoy it too, but if you really want to go for yourself, would it matter if she fell asleep in the stroller and slept through it while you had fun, especially since she is 2 and doesn't cost?

 

[dsneygirl]

We just did the Halloween party and my DS (21 months) slept from about 9pm on. We just pushed him around and took turns doing rides with my older DS. But he fell asleep every night in the stroller (and every afternoon for that matter).

If your kid won't sleep than you may have issues.

Also if you leave LTT at 7:45 a CM will escort you directly to the exit so you will be absorbing ambiance on the move. They will not let you stop and linger.

 

[DSNY4ever]

The only thing I am worried about is the weather. We are taking our DS (2) and I think he will just fall asleep in the stroller. He goes to bed at 7:00 or 7:30 at home. We are just going to relax at the hotel during the day and let him nap, then go to the party. We are going to let him have ice cream which hype's him up and can hopefully keep him up till 8:30, then he'll fall probably fall asleep in the stroller. We hope he'll make it through the parade, but if not, no biggie. We will enjoy everything after he falls asleep.

If it rains a lot though we won't be able to push him around sleeping int he stroller, so that is our one worry. Hoping for good weather because I worked hard on the costumes!

 

[Woodmnky]

We are skipping it with our almost 3yo. This is our 1st trip to the World as a family (DH & I went on our honeymoon 10 years ago). I know that DS will have plenty to keep him occupied and amazed for the week. He is not good with staying up late and prone to significant meltdowns that keep him awake a lot longer than if we had just gone to bed like normal.

Also I want to save some extras for future trips. I don't want to feel like we have seen and done it all in one vacation.

For me it is just not worth the hassel of sleeping in, getting a good nap beforehand, then chancing paying a lot of money for DS to have a meltdown, then sleeping in again just to recooperate. Instead we have an evening where if all works out well we will go to MK see the Castle Lighting, the MSEP, and possibly the fireworks. Since we haven't seen any of these it will still be awesome and if it doesn't work out I am not out any extra money.

 

[HHMcG]

We are skipping it with 7, 6 & 2 -year olds. My guys are such early birds. They could hang late but they would still be up by 6am the next morning. And eventually it would catch up with them and result in super crankiness = no fun.
Plus the price is pretty steep.
I could not justify the cost and crankiness versus any positives the party would present.

Will do it eventually, when it suits are family better.