Going to MVMCP Very First Thing - Good Idea or Not?

[wannabee princess]

We will be arriving in Orlando on the day that I have reservations for MVMCP - is this a good idea or not? We would be checking into the hotel around 3 and then heading over to MK in time for the 7pm start of the party.

Do you think this is a good idea? How early should we be at the park to get in at 7?

 

[wedindis'00]

The "official" time for the start of MVMCP is 7:00 but..........the unofficial time is 4:00.

They will let you in at 4 w/ only your MVMCP ticket and you will be given a wristband, that will allow you to enter MK like any other time....then around closing (6:00) everyone w/ a wrist band will be "herded" to tomorrowland til the "official" start of MVMCP @ 7:00.

This prevents a grid lock at the gate @ 6:00 w/ people leaving and waiting for the "party" also alows people to have security bag checks done.

so i think you will do fine to go straight to the party on your first day

enjoy

 

[bobbiwoz]

We went to the MNSSHP on the 31st, after getting up at 3:15 AM for trip to Orlando. We knew it would be tough, but it was the last day for the party and we had never been to one. To make it even harder, we signed up for the Steam Train Behind the Scenes Tour on Nov. 1st, the only day it was offered for us, and we had to wake up at 6 AM for that. We enjoyed everything, and used the rest of our time to rest and relax. We did not stay to the end of the party, just until after the fireworks. We hit the important things and know we'll be back again!

So, how many of you are there? What are your travel plans to WDW? We were all senior citizens, mom's 83!

We've booked MVMCP for the day we get to the VWL, because again, that's the last night it's being offered! We've been to this party before and wouldn't want to miss it, it's wonderful!!! They do let you in before the party begins, and it's so great to practically walk on many rides. We got on Peter Pan with only a 10 minute wait!

Bobbi

 

[jeankeri]

Bobbi- glad to hear you had such a good time at the MNNSHP! We will be going to MVMCP on our arrival day as well. How were the lines to rides on the 31st close to the official park closing time/ before the party started? We won't be making a late night out of it-leaving a bit after the fireworks too!
I bought tickets so we could have a magical start to our vacation, and let our DS6 & DS8 get a feel for the park before our park days started. Getting on a few rides would be great, so an idea of what you were able to ride with your short time would be great info for me! Planning on arriving 5ish for the party!

 

[JJS2K3]

They will let you in at 4 w/ only your MVMCP ticket and you will be given a wristband, that will allow you to enter MK like any other time....then around closing (6:00) everyone w/ a wrist band will be "herded" to tomorrowland til the "official" start of MVMCP @ 7:00.

That would be very nice indeed


What does the herd do in Tomorrowland for an hour?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi jeankeri,

We didn't get to the party until 6:15 because first we went to the character meal at the GF, we went in at 4:40. Mom likes the music and atmosphere of the GF and after the meal, we let her sit and enjoy, they had musicians. DH and I walked around, it was a beautiful night.

There was not a line to get into the park. One of the things that mom wanted to do was the Carousel of Progress, and that was good because they had a line down the middle of main street and we had to go to the right before the main intersection. This area, walking into Tomorrowland was crowded, but we walked right onto CoP. We did some trick-or-treating and waited about 10 minutes to have our picture taken where AE had been.

As we walked to PhilharMagic we noted that we could just walk on to Winnie the Pooh, but didn't, and there was no line for Snow White. PM was Great! The only reason we had the wait for PP was because we went right after the PM show, and so did lots of people. As we exited PP, there was NO line at all to enter. We walked into the room at HM, but that's because we were willing to skip the parade which was going to begin shortly. We also did the river boat to hear the story telling.

I think the party is a great way to begin the Disney Vacation, your family will love the parade and fireworks, and because of the smaller crowd good viewing places are easier to find.

The letter that came with the ticket mentions getting PS at the Liberty Tree Tavern, perhaps that's something to do for the wait, and it would also get you to the other side of the park before 7. We got to the MVMCP last year before 7 also but not early enough that I can tell you about crowds much before the party begins.

 

[ead79]

We went to MVMCP on the night we arrived in WDW last year, and it worked out wonderfully. We drive down, so it was nice to go to a park and do some walking to stretch out our legs (of course, by the end of the trip the legs are tired of walking, LOL). Plus, we were not tired from a week of park touring, and it really got us in the Disney mood. We enjoyed doing MVMCP on our arrival night so much last trip, we're doing the same thing this trip. Unfortunately, I can't help with being there for the opening, as we always get there around 7:30 or so. By then the entrance line isn't too bad.

 

[jeankeri]

Thanks for the info! We will probably see the first parade- don't want to take the chance my guys will fall apart! If they're up for them after, great! You mentioned CoP was open during MNNSHP; did you notice if Timekeeper was as well? Thanks for any info .

 

[bobbiwoz]

Didn't notice if Timekeeper was opened.

 

[mazzarafe]

We did MNSSHP last year on our arrival day. We landed about 2:00pm got our car at National and headed over to ASMu. Got changed into our costumes after taking a peek around the resort and made it to LTT in plenty of time for our 5:15 ps. My 2 dd's who were 4 and 8 at the time had no problem with lasting until after the second parade. Worked out great and was an awesome way to start off our trip.

We are going to MVMCP on 12/18, also our arrival day. We get in same time so it will work out great. This time I'm hoping to pry everyone away from the Poly to get into the park about 4:30 so we can try to do a ride before our ps at LTT at 5:15.

If you can get there at least before park closing I would definately take advantage of being in the park before the official start of the party. When people start entering they park themselves on Main St. for the first parade and it is crowded to get down. At least this is what we encountered in 2001 when we got out of Tony's just about 7:00pm.

Have a great time at the party.

 

[2cutekids]

wannabe princess,

That is EXACTLY what we did last year and it worked out wonderful. The Magic Kingdom was beautifully decorated for the holiday and it was our family's first glimpse of any of the parks. It set the tone for the whole trip. We're planning on going this year with my parents and I won't let them go to the Magic Kingdom until the night of the Christmas party so they will have a wonderful and MAGICAL first impression. We can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mickeysaver]

We have plans to check into Pop Century on 12/14 and give it a good look over. Then around 3:00pm we will head over to MK so that we can do dinner at LTT at 5:00pm and use only our MVMCP tickets to get into the park. This saves us a hopper day and gives us pixie dust from day one! Mickey

 

[southernwingz]

We arrive on the 17th, but aren't going to any parks or MVMCP until the 18th. I want to be well rested, so we're taking it easy on arrival day and hopefully off to bed fairly early.

WooooooHoooooooo I am sooooo excited !

 

[jdads2]

I wouldn't worry about doing all you can do that first day. We (DW, 3 kids 11, 8, 5 and myself) get up at about 5:00am fly down and hit the parks all day and night. We don't ussually end up getting to sleep until 1:00am. Then we're back up by 7:00. Usually a much less hectic pace on day 2.

 

[anne930]

I think it would be a perfect beginning to a Christmas vacation - but in order to feel like I get my money's worth, I like to be rested when I arrive at MVMCP so I can stay until closing. I usually arrive at Disney totally exhausted, so we usually try to plan something low key (like dinner and a stroll around the Boardwalk), then get settled into our room. Then, the next day, I am ready to roll. But that's just me!

It all depends on your family and how much you want to get accomplished during the party!

You will enjoy MVMCP, whatever you decide!!

 

[DebbieB]

I would be hesitant to plan something that is prepaid for the day you arrive if you are flying. You never know if the plane will be delayed by weather or mechanical problems.

 

[wannabee princess]

Sounds like we aren't the only ones planning to go to MVMCP on the first day of vacation!

We will be driving, so no worries about flight delays. We generally take 2 days to drive to Orlando, so we don't have to get up early on the day we arrive.

If everything goes well, we should have at least an hour to wander around the hotel (AKL) before heading to the park!