First time going - need advice!

[Alice121078]

Going with our toddler in September. Do you guys think MNSSHP or AK Rivers if Light dining package with the Donald Safari at Tusker House would be worth it? Our son will be almost 3 when we go.
I’m worried that MNSSHP might just be super crowded and kind of stressful, but of course I’ve never been to it. Is it fun for toddlers?

 

[Elephantay]

No. It can be crowded, is expensive, and goes late into the night. None of which is screaming "take your toddler!".
At two a child is barely aware of Halloween at all- and of course only if others make it a big deal.
I also wouldn't do ROL- again, expensive and late. They might enjoy the show, but would be just fine without it. What I would be careful about is getting overtired and trying to do too much with a two year old. Take it slow and enjoy!

 

[LuvMyEAR]

We travelled with 3 grandchildren,ages 3, 3, and 4, years ago. Nighttime activities are very iffy and I would always advise against investing the extra dollars for their sake. If YOU really want to do a dining package, desserts party, or MNSSHP for your own enjoyment, go right ahead and make it happen. You will love any of them, and your youngster will be caught up in your excitement as much as the event.

Our little ones adored lunch at Crystal Palace, which was a completely spontaneous impulse for us. Huge hit to parade around with Pooh and friends. It was our only TS meal in a park. They grazed from snack bags, supplemented with some counter service food here and there. The play areas, fountains, and splash pads were truly their favourite activities.

They all slept solidly in their strollers through 4 nights of fireworks. They did, however, love the MVMCP parade and finally saw their first and only fireworks that night. That was because we had the most low key, lazy day imaginable until party time. If your child is not well familiar with fireworks at the time of your trip, plan to be somewhere that you can quickly get free of the crowd and tucked in somewhere away from the noise, if necessary. It can just as easily be traumatic as it can be exciting. In MK, if you are near Crystal Palace, you can duck into the Baby Care Centre or the Main St shops.

Steer clear of Fantasmic until older. It is intense, and packed. Nowhere to run. Funnelling out of that venue is one of my least favourite things in WDW. ROL is much better than I expected, but not worth a dinner package. There are lots of seats and going in last means getting out first.

Most of all, don't overdo it it and wear yourselves down. It will kill everyone's good time. "We'll do that next time" is a good mantra, even if next time may be years in the future.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

We took our son a couple days before he turned 2 and did both of those. Tusker House was our least favorite restaurant (out of 12) as it was so loud, character interaction were rushed, we weren't impressed with the food, and it was a pain making it up to the buffet while still keeping a lookout for the characters. Our son also didn't really care for ROL (to be honest, we were a little underwhelmed as well). He had no problem staying awake for it, but he was just bored and couldn't sit still. Overall, it was a great "value" on the DDP due to the cost, but we have no desire to do it again, and we definitely would not pay that much out of pocket for the dining package.

We loved MNSSHP! We had already spent a full day at MK earlier in the trip, so we didn't feel rushed to hit every ride and attraction. We took the party at a much slower pace. We didn't bother with any character meets as they were all crazy, and only hit up trick or treat lines if they weren't packed. Overall, the crowds seemed far less than on our other MK day and the ride lines were generally much shorter. We slept in that morning and just hung out at the resort, so everyone was full of energy when we arrived at 4. My son especially lived a dance party they had in Tomorrowland with Sulley and it was fun to be able to ride a couple of the rides multiple times in a row due to the short lines. The parade and fireworks were much better than the everyday ones and we could found decent spots to see walking up last minute. My son lasted until shortly after midnight, falling asleep in his stroller during the last show with the Sanderson sisters. It was a great time and would have no qualms about taking a toddler again. If your little one is unlikely to be able to stay up late, it might decrease the value though.

 

[Mmouse1588]

Going with our toddler in September. Do you guys think MNSSHP or AK Rivers if Light dining package with the Donald Safari at Tusker House would be worth it? Our son will be almost 3 when we go.
I’m worried that MNSSHP might just be super crowded and kind of stressful, but of course I’ve never been to it. Is it fun for toddlers?

Last year we took our 2 year old son to MNSSHP and it was a mistake. He was tired and it was crowded and i kept trying to make the most of it and stick around. Finally around 9 a stranger asked me if I was having fun and without hesitation i answered no. Then i realized it was time to go back to the hotel. Stop torturing my kid my husband and myself. I had taken him to holiday parties that started that late at home and it was fine. But this was a different experience obviously. This is just my story.

 

[Alice121078]

Last year we took our 2 year old son to MNSSHP and it was a mistake. He was tired and it was crowded and i kept trying to make the most of it and stick around. Finally around 9 a stranger asked me if I was having fun and without hesitation i answered no. Then i realized it was time to go back to the hotel. Stop torturing my kid my husband and myself. I had taken him to holiday parties that started that late at home and it was fine. But this was a different experience obviously. This is just my story.

I think we might give it another year. I have a feeling it will be too much for him and for us this time! Maybe on our second trip...

 

[katyjeka]

MNSSHP is our favorite event at WDW. If you plan on going I agree with the above, stay around the resort, sleep in, arrive at the park later. I'm not sure if we picked lucky days but lines for rides and trick or treating were small. We rode many with no wait.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think we might give it another year. I have a feeling it will be too much for him and for us this time! Maybe on our second trip...

I would agree. I love evening activities with littel kids, but not those pricy ones that I have to pay for in advance. Disney is not the same as a beach vacation, and I have found that it is not easy to determine in advance how any child is going to react to the level of stimulation. My DGD was 4 on her first trip and a real nightowl. WE managed evening entertainment, however we slept in a lot with her.

I woudl suggest choosing character meals that are less chaotic, such as Garden Grill and Crystal Palace. I also think that Hollywood & Vine was pretty fun too, and perhaps your little one woudl enjoy the characters at Breakfast. The classics are there for dinner. In all of these, The characters come around, but the noise level is not crazy. We hated TH both for breakfast and dinner. The noise seemed to echo in there.

 

[unrequited23]

I would second the suggestion of Garden Grill as a toddler friendly meal. The interaction was great and the food is family style--no juggling multiple plates while dodging other diners.

 

[sponica]

My kid is almost 3 and in bed most nights by 7, so the halloween party would be a stretch. Even if she did stay up late, she'd be MISERABLE the next day.

I took her at 20 months and she hated basically every ride. I've never had such a terrifying ride on Dumbo in my life.

 

[stephk1981]

It depends on your child. Both of my children have been on early scheduled....DD1 goes to bed by 7:30. At 2 1/2 DS was on a similarly early schedule, we tried MNSSHP. It was okay for an hour, then he was super cranky. The $ we spent on party tickets wasn't worth it to us for an hour's time. I learned a long time that even on vacations, things go much h more smoothly if I keep the kids on their normal schedules. DS is now 10 so his ' bedtime' is later on vacation/ weekends, but we weren't able to do that until he was 6 or 7 without him being cranky. Have a great time no matter what activities you choose!

 

[YesterDark]

For a 3 year old, the Halloween Party is pretty fun if money is not an object. It's more about the family when they're that age, not their own memories. At 2-3 they really won't remember much even a year or so after other than generalities.

 

[Alice121078]

My kid is almost 3 and in bed most nights by 7, so the halloween party would be a stretch. Even if she did stay up late, she'd be MISERABLE the next day.

I took her at 20 months and she hated basically every ride. I've never had such a terrifying ride on Dumbo in my life.

you just never know, do you?

 

[sponica]

@Alice121078 to this day she says "i didn't like dumbo when i was a baby"

We're going again next July, hopefully Dumbo will go better...she did love the country bears though. We spent more time in Epcot as she liked the nemo ride and she did ok on frozen ever after, and she got to meet her hero Minnie at the character spot.

Thanks god she was free, all she really wanted to do was climb on park benches.