Help Me Create MVMCP Plan

[IowaGirl86]

I've never been to a MVMCP, but I've been to MNSSHP about 5 or 6 times. I haven't been to a MNSSHP since 2019. This will be my first trip with a child (I have a current 14 month old, will be almost 17 months when we go) and my husband who has never been to Disney and tells me it looks like his version of a nightmare. I'm trying to create a MVMCP strategy. Prior to baby I would have been a 4PM-close kinda girl. But, with a toddler, I know I need to plan carefully to fit in as much in a short time. We arrive earlier the day we're attending the party (November 10th). We're driving in from the Midwest, but we're giving it three days so I expect we should either get in early in the morning or have arrived the night before and we'll stay off property. So we're going to take that day slow, and the baby should be fully rested prior to the party. Here is the plan I have at the moment, I'd love critiques of it or if I need a slap of reality please let me know.

4:00PM Arrive at MK
4:00-5:00 Dinner at Pinnochio's Village Haus (this is my favorite QS at MK)
5:00 It's a Small World (this is my grandma's favorite ride, and since she can't be there I'd like it to be my daughters first ride)
5:30 Mickey's Philharmagic
5:45 Prince Charming's Carousel
6:00 Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh
6:30 Under the Seas
6:45 Gaston's Tavern (First cookie)
7:00 Cosmic Rays (Second cookie)
7:15 Disney Jingle Jam
7:30 Lunching Pad (Third cookie)
7:45 Monsters Inc
8:30 Parade
9:15 Tortuga Tavern (Fourth cookie)
9:30 Columbia Harbor House (Fifth cookie)
10:00 Fireworks
10:30 Leave

These cookie locations are based on what I've seen in previous years, and I saw online the cookies are often rolled out prior to the start of the party (but if that's wrong please let me know). I know this is a ride heavy itinerary. We're doing Tusker House and maybe Garden Grill so I'm not too worried about character interactions. If people know of any characters with short waits that might fit in please let me know. MNSSHP has soured me on the shows at the castle, because I never can get close enough to see because I'm short. I'm also worried about the amount of time I set aside for us to get a spot on Main Street for the parade. I think it'll be about 30 minutes to get from Monsters Inc to Main Street. If necessary we can probably stay until the second parade, but I'd like to leave after the fireworks because I know we'll be stuck waiting to get on the boat to the WL and the plan is an early morning at AK the next day and neither myself or my daughter are morning people.

 

[fla4fun]

I've never been to a MVMCP, but I've been to MNSSHP about 5 or 6 times. I haven't been to a MNSSHP since 2019. This will be my first trip with a child (I have a current 14 month old, will be almost 17 months when we go) and my husband who has never been to Disney and tells me it looks like his version of a nightmare. I'm trying to create a MVMCP strategy. Prior to baby I would have been a 4PM-close kinda girl. But, with a toddler, I know I need to plan carefully to fit in as much in a short time. We arrive earlier the day we're attending the party (November 10th). We're driving in from the Midwest, but we're giving it three days so I expect we should either get in early in the morning or have arrived the night before and we'll stay off property. So we're going to take that day slow, and the baby should be fully rested prior to the party. Here is the plan I have at the moment, I'd love critiques of it or if I need a slap of reality please let me know.

4:00PM Arrive at MK
4:00-5:00 Dinner at Pinnochio's Village Haus (this is my favorite QS at MK)
5:00 It's a Small World (this is my grandma's favorite ride, and since she can't be there I'd like it to be my daughters first ride)
5:30 Mickey's Philharmagic
5:45 Prince Charming's Carousel
6:00 Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh
6:30 Under the Seas
6:45 Gaston's Tavern (First cookie)
7:00 Cosmic Rays (Second cookie)
7:15 Disney Jingle Jam
7:30 Lunching Pad (Third cookie)
7:45 Monsters Inc
8:30 Parade
9:15 Tortuga Tavern (Fourth cookie)
9:30 Columbia Harbor House (Fifth cookie)
10:00 Fireworks
10:30 Leave

These cookie locations are based on what I've seen in previous years, and I saw online the cookies are often rolled out prior to the start of the party (but if that's wrong please let me know). I know this is a ride heavy itinerary. We're doing Tusker House and maybe Garden Grill so I'm not too worried about character interactions. If people know of any characters with short waits that might fit in please let me know. MNSSHP has soured me on the shows at the castle, because I never can get close enough to see because I'm short. I'm also worried about the amount of time I set aside for us to get a spot on Main Street for the parade. I think it'll be about 30 minutes to get from Monsters Inc to Main Street. If necessary we can probably stay until the second parade, but I'd like to leave after the fireworks because I know we'll be stuck waiting to get on the boat to the WL and the plan is an early morning at AK the next day and neither myself or my daughter are morning people.

As far as transportation goes, you do have a couple more options. There is also a bus that goes to WL from MK, in addition to the boat, and sometimes it has a shorter line than the boat. Or, since you are planning to leave before the party ends, you could hire a Minnie Van to go back to the hotel. Minnie Vans stop running for the day not too long after the party ends, so it can be dicey to get one if you stay for the full party. However, using a Minnie Van before the party ends should not be a problem. I am actually thinking of using a MV after MVMCP myself, as we are staying in the Cabins at FW, and don’t want to deal with a boat and then a bus (or two buses) after a long day.

If you are planning cookie stops in Frontierland and Liberty Square after the parade, why not watch the parade from that area as well? It’s usually not as crowded as Main Street so you might have a better shot at getting a good spot closer to parade time. It can be difficult to cross the hub between the first parade and the fireworks. If you cross the hub after Monsters, Inc., but before the parade, you’ll already be on the side you plan to be on for the next two cookie stops. They will usually have walkways marked so you can get across before the parade, but not always immediately afterwards.

 

[IowaGirl86]

As far as transportation goes, you do have a couple more options. There is also a bus that goes to WL from MK, in addition to the boat, and sometimes it has a shorter line than the boat. Or, since you are planning to leave before the party ends, you could hire a Minnie Van to go back to the hotel. Minnie Vans stop running for the day not too long after the party ends, so it can be dicey to get one if you stay for the full party. However, using a Minnie Van before the party ends should not be a problem. I am actually thinking of using a MV after MVMCP myself, as we are staying in the Cabins at FW, and don’t want to deal with a boat and then a bus (or two buses) after a long day.

If you are planning cookie stops in Frontierland and Liberty Square after the parade, why not watch the parade from that area as well? It’s usually not as crowded as Main Street so you might have a better shot at getting a good spot closer to parade time. It can be difficult to cross the hub between the first parade and the fireworks. If you cross the hub after Monsters, Inc., but before the parade, you’ll already be on the side you plan to be on for the next two cookie stops. They will usually have walkways marked so you can get across before the parade, but not always immediately afterwards.

With MNSSHP our traditional location for watching the parade is outside The Confectionary. It's never been too crowded in my experience (we usually go to Sep parties though). That was where I was aiming for with the MVMCP parade. I just don't really have a measure for how crowded it will be for MVMCP. I would watch in Frontierland but I wanted to see the snow, and my understanding was it snows at the start of the party (which I have us at Cosmic Rays at 7:00), and then again during the parade. Does it snow other times? If it does, then we could catch another snow and watch the parade in Frontierland.

I wish we could do the bus or Minnie Vans. I would be willing to pay extra for the Minnie Van, but alas I get really motion sick. I'm not sure why the boats don't get me, but I can ride them without an issue. We typically stay at Contemporary and just walk when we're going and planning to do a MNSSHP, but with a new baby my budget couldn't afford Contemporary.