Does anyone do MNSSHP on their arrival day!

[lacy1101]

We arrive on Friday, October 2nd around 2-3:00 p.m. Right now, I have us going to MNSSHP on the 8th. Does anyone recommend going to the party on your arrival date?

FWIW, we will be driving 12 hours, but splitting it up - leaving around 5:00 p.m. on October 1, driving halfway and spending the night, leaving hotel around 8:00 a.m. and driving the other 6 hours to Disney, arriving around 2:00 p.m.

 

[Hankshouse]

We will be! Though we're flying and it will be our first time ever at this event...can't wait!

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

We arrive on Friday, October 2nd around 2-3:00 p.m. Right now, I have us going to MNSSHP on the 8th. Does anyone recommend going to the party on your arrival date?

FWIW, we will be driving 12 hours, but splitting it up - leaving around 5:00 p.m. on October 1, driving halfway and spending the night, leaving hotel around 8:00 a.m. and driving the other 6 hours to Disney, arriving around 2:00 p.m.

We are leaving at noon, driving to WDW, check in to hotel, and going to MNSSHP (and this will be after I get up at 5 AM to go to work that morning). And the next day we will be on the DCL bus to the port for the 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise on the Disney Magic. You should be OK as long as you schedule a late morning the day after. Heck, I have even gotten up at 4 AM, worked all day, drove to WDW and gone to MNSSHP/MVMCP and been perfectly fine. Adrenaline once you walk through the gates of MK accounts for a lot.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

We are going on our arrival date of September 18. We're flying in from LAX on a red eye that gets in at 6:09AM so we're really hoping to get checked into Pop Century and napping by 8AM.... if not, we'll probably go to MK until our room is ready and sleep until 6PM ish.

 

[mickey2000]

Two years ago we flew from PHL to MCO for the MNSSHP. We went to the event, slept overnight, and flew home in the morning! Was a fun overnight trip !

 

[Shadoninja]

Two years ago we flew from PHL to MCO for the MNSSHP. We went to the event, slept overnight, and flew home in the morning! Was a fun overnight trip !

Great to hear!

 

[larsnshan]

I haven't personally attended the party the same day I arrived, but 2 of my best friends did that last year with their two girls (3 and 4). They arrived at noon (via airplane) and even went to their room to rest before going to the party. They both said though they loved the party they would never go on arrival day again. They said the girls were a little cranky and overwhelmed at the party and then said the next day was even worse. Plus, they even said it was a little hard on them to be patient in the lines and such after traveling all day. Just wanted to share.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I did this 2 years ago, I was EXHAUSTED, even though I had a few hours to sleep..I had arrived from NY and then stayed at POP. I had my room as soon as it was available but I also wanted to get to the party as soon as they would let us in. By the time of the first parade I was probably as cranky & dragging as the children mentioned in another post. Personally I wouldn't recommend going the day you arrive....by the time I got back to my room I had been up going on 24 hrs & then the next day I felt the real effects, like a bad case of jet lag.

 

[RMulieri]

I wouldn't.Especially if flying. My SIL learned the hard way one year when she was scheduled for MVMCP on arrival from the Northeast.Well, her flight was delayed and delayed again.She missed the party and lost money.I also did it on arrival and though I made it to the party ..I was EXHAUSTED.My friends kids were cranky and overwhelmed and too tired and wanted to leave by 830pm.

 

[stitchlovestink]

We did this last year. Arrived at WDW on the morning of the 31st and went to the MNSSHP that night. We didn't have a choice of going to the party on another day, it was the last one. Would I do it again, SURE! But with planning the way we did this past one. We flew to WDW and arrived about 10:30 am. Fortunately, our room was available immediately. We grabbed a bite to eat and then went and took a nap. Well, I and dh napped. DD's 13 and 16 laid on the beds and watched some tv and read. We didn't rush over to MK right at 4pm when you can get in. We did dress up, so we arrived around 6ish. If you're going to pay the extra $$$ for the party ticket, I recommend planning to stay until the party is over. No seriously, if your kids are older the park continues to thin out as the evening progresses and it is much better for riding rides. Plus there are character meet and greets that you won't get from say 4 to 7 pm, when the park is still open to the general public. We also planned Sat as a 'down' day. We were boarding the Wonder on Sunday. so on Sat our plans were to p/u the rental vehicle, go to the disney outlet store in Prime to do some shopping, and just chill in general. We were coming back to the parks after our cruise. Only you will be able to figure out what is right in your situation. but you will find opinions on both sides of the fence as to what you should do.
I do recommend taking into consideration if you are changing time zones too. That would be a determining factor for me. Best of Luck w/ your decision and have a wonderful trip!

 

[loperella]

We arrive on Friday, October 2nd around 2-3:00 p.m. Right now, I have us going to MNSSHP on the 8th. Does anyone recommend going to the party on your arrival date?

FWIW, we will be driving 12 hours, but splitting it up - leaving around 5:00 p.m. on October 1, driving halfway and spending the night, leaving hotel around 8:00 a.m. and driving the other 6 hours to Disney, arriving around 2:00 p.m.

You sound like you're just a few hours up the road from us & our plans our similar. Can't say about when to do the party, but we're planning on doing it on arrival day (friday, 2nd). We thought it'd be a great way to start our 1st Disney trip---with a 1st MNSSHP!

We're leaving on the 1st too, going til around Gainesville and then driving to Disney the next morning. Don't have anything planned for arrival day other than Beaches & Cream/Stormalong Bay and of course MNSSHP, so it should work out o.k.

Either way, hope you have a blast!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

We did MNSSHP on our arrival date in 2007 and we are planning to do the same this year. It works out perfectly for us. We check into our resort around noon, have lunch, get unpacked and then head to the party.

 

[bouncycat]

We're doing that this year, getting there around noon, unpacking and relaxing, then nice dinner at Ohana, and then the party, have AK scheduled for the day after, and we're local, so not flying.

 

[onelilspark]

We're flying in the morning of MNSSHP. Our flight lands at 930am. Plenty of time to take it easy before a late lunch and the party!

We're 2 adults though, not sure if it would make a difference with kids.

 

[swald91]

We've never done MNSSHP but have done MVMCP on the same day as arrival. We really were exhausted b/c we had left around 2am for early flights-meaning we had been up since around 1am...but we still had a great time!!

 

[DisneyObsessive]

considering it. We arrive oct 15th and elave the 19th. There's a party on the 15th and the 18th. I would love to do the 15th, but i do know last time i went with 2 out of the 3 other people coming this time, and both barely got any sleep the night before to be up for our early flight, and all three of us were falling asleep by like 7pm. So... thinking maybe the 18th though we are probably going to BE at MK the day we arrive anyway... argh I can't decide!

 

[hoosiermike]

We're doing MNSSHP on our arrival day this year (Oct. 25). First time that we are attending the party as well. My main concern is convincing my 6-year old that an afternoon nap would be advisable, since we will be getting up at around 5:00 a.m. to get to our 7:00 a.m. flight in the morning. Hopefully, our room will be ready by lunch time. And as mentioned by another poster, I'm planning on sleeping in the next morning and arriving at the parks later.

 

[lacy1101]

Thanks for all the replies! As much fun as it sounds to do the party our first night in Disney, I think I'm going to play it "safe" and keep it toward the end of our trip. My main reason for doing this is not so much that I'm afraid we would be too tired at the party (although I am a little concerned about that), but that I'm afraid we would be too tired for our first full day in Disney. I just don't think I could "sleep in" our first morning, KWIM?

I do appreciate the input - its interesting to hear the different sides.

 

[eastcarolinafan]

We will be! Though we're flying and it will be our first time ever at this event...can't wait!

Rest up.

 

[TheRider]

We are flying in from PHL to MCO to get in September 15th at around 1:30pm. We plan to put our DS3 down for a nap at Coronado Springs (please NAP PLEASE!!!) We will then head over to MK for MNSSHP that night. It will be our first time hitting the party but I figure it will be a great start to the vacation. We also booked breakfast at Chef Mickey's at 10:20am the next day, so we can sleep in a little.