Decision time for us - HELP!

[LuvMyEAR]

DH will have to put in his 2010 vacation dates within the week. We are planning a fall trip to WDW, with DD, DSIL and 2 DGSs, who will be 5 & 6 by then. We traditionally plan late Nov/early Dec dates as we studiously try to avoid crowds and tremendously enjoy the Christmas atmosphere. However, MNSSHP keeps catching our eye...and we thought we might be able to snag the best of both worlds, bracketing our trip the MNSSHP at the start and MVMCP at the end!

My big concern of course is the crowds. If we arrived in Orlando on Oct 30, Oct 31st may be the only night we could get to MNSSHP, and of course the Food & Wine Festival runs through the time we'd be there.

I know the party is a sell-out on the 31st. How does the park feel with a full party-capacity crowd? Only DH is tall enough to have a better view than portions of other people's anatomy when moving through relatively crowded areas. NOT our idea of a good time, at all! Likewise, how does the Food & Wine Festival affect attendance levels during the first 2 wks of Nov? I have read some less-than-enchanted reviews about the effects of the lovely libations in Epcot. I'd really enjoy that sort of thing myself, but am concerned if the "magic" can be somewhat diminuished for young children.

Your thoughts, advice, and experiences would be greatly appreciated! We won't be disappointed if it sounds like we should stick with a late Nov trip, just thought we might try something new if it is suitable.

 

[squirrel]

I went to the Halloween Party on Oct 6th. It was very crowded and we had to wait quite a while for the parade and HalloWishes to start if we wanted a good spot. I have no idea if this party was sold out or not, but I will not go back to another MNSSHP, if it's that crowded. I would definately not go for a sold out party.

 

[disneynutsx4]

We went to Food & Wine two years in a row during the last week of Oct/1st week of Nov. Festival was crowded & busy on Friday evening, but very manageable on Weds/Thurs. I don't think I would recommend Food & Wine Festival for very young children, as the exotic foods aren't always treats (to my own great sorrow, I might add!), plus it's dark and Epcot isn't well lit. We did take my 9-year-old son one year, and he surprised us by trying almost everything we suggested, and really enjoyed himself. We didn't see a lot of libation-related foolishness until Friday evening, but it was really very crowded...so the odds of seeing a fool or two were greater. Nothing terribly unusual, though.

 

[LuvMyEAR]

squirrel - Sounds like confirmation on the crowds... if Oct 6 was busy at the party, I think Oct 31 would probably be overwhelming for us. I know it can still be pretty hot, too.

dinsneynutsx4, while we weren't so much thinking of the Fod & Wine Festival in terms of the children partaking at this age, I think you made a good point about this being a much better experience for them when they are a little older. We had just planned to enjoy Epcot as per the usual attractions, but it sounds like the F&W event might almost be "in the way." Likewise, we could be in the way of those enjoying the festival.

Family council being held in the next day or so, and I will urge that we stick to the late Nov time this trip unless someone has their heart set otherwise.

Thanks!