Help me decide between MVMCP and more parks/days

[lvdis]

I need your help! What would you do? Here's the details; my mom, sister, adult daughter and I will be arriving at noon on Thursday, 12/6 and our flight home is bright and early on Sunday, 12/9. We have two different scenarios we are trying to choose between.

1. Go to Disney Springs on arrival day. Attend MVMCP on Friday. On Saturday use a 1 day, 1 park ticket to go to either Epcot or Hollywood Studios. This option costs $253.48 per person.
   OR
   
2. Buy the military salute tickets, which are park hoppers (my mom is eligible) and go to any combination of the 4 parks on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. This will cost $226 per person.

I can't decide and they are leaving it up to me! Please help me decide!

 

[DisFam4]

If it were me I would do option #2. There are many different Christmas things to do at the parks that just going to 2 parks for 1/2 day on Fri and then Saturday limits what you can see/do.

I would maybe do something like:
Thurs : Epcot - See the Holiday Storytellers, try to get in to see NPH @ Candlelight Processional, Eat/Drink around the countries
Fri : MK first 1/2 (party night so it will be quieter) then hop to DHS to see Jingle Bell Jingle Bam and also Sunset Seasons Greetings with the overlay
Sat : AK in the morning/afternoon then go to Disney Springs for the evening and get a nice dinner with the $27 you saved on the tickets. Others may disagree with DS, but myself and my family love DS in the evening around Christmas time.

Now you do lose out on the MK Christmas parade and fireworks, but imo what you gain from the other parks would make up for it.

But, everyone is different and I do not know if any of those things are of importance to your family, for us they are not to be missed. Either way, whatever you choose you will have a great trip - You're In Disney!!!

 

[disneydentist]

Not an easy call. We did the Christmas party last year and really enjoyed it.

You have to ask yourself, what's your main focus? Rides? Characters? Shows? A mix of all three?

There are unique characters and shows at the Christmas Party but you're giving up a good bid of park time vs three days in the parks.

Personally, I like the suggestions of DisFam4. The Christmas tree trail at Disney Springs is a fun diversion.

 

[lvdis]

A little background; my daughter and i were at WDW during the tail end of the holiday season Jan 2012, but have never been to a party. My mom and sister have never been during the holidays. I for sure want them to see the castle all lit up, so we'd at least need to head to MK Sat night for a bit if we don't do the party.

 

[cassie58]

Would also do #2. Don't know if you've been at Christmas time before, but if not, I would do a combination of favorite parks to do some rides and shows you love, along with seeing special Christmas decor and activities. We love the feel of Main Street with all the trimmings, riding the Jingle Cruise, and seeing the castle lit up is magical for us(it is the background on my phone!) Also like to take the monorail to GF to see(and taste!) the giant Gingerbread House. As PP mentioned Epcot has the holiday storytellers and Candlelight Processional is beautiful if you can catch some of it.

Would probably start out like Disfam4 mentioned with Epcot on Thursday afternoon, MK on Fri till afternoon and then over to DHS to either see JBJB or try and jump on Slinky Dog at end of night with lower wait. Then do AK on Sat(if you can go early to do Flight of Passage with less wait) and back to MK for the evening to see castle (do monorail one of MK days to see GF).

Not sure if you are staying onsite and can get tickets ahead to link and make some FP for favorite rides if possible, to do most with limited time. Have a great trip!

 

[djc9699]

I agree with previous posters and would do option 2. HS and Epcot have some great Christmas happenings and you will get more bang for your buck. Christmas Party is nice but I wouldn't trade it for the chance to see all the parks.

 

[Shanti]

I need your help! What would you do? Here's the details; my mom, sister, adult daughter and I will be arriving at noon on Thursday, 12/6 and our flight home is bright and early on Sunday, 12/9. We have two different scenarios we are trying to choose between.

1. Go to Disney Springs on arrival day. Attend MVMCP on Friday. On Saturday use a 1 day, 1 park ticket to go to either Epcot or Hollywood Studios. This option costs $253.48 per person.
   OR
   
2. Buy the military salute tickets, which are park hoppers (my mom is eligible) and go to any combination of the 4 parks on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. This will cost $226 per person.

I can't decide and they are leaving it up to me! Please help me decide!

The Halloween parties have tended to be oversold and crowded this year, so I would go with Option 2.

 

[MDIME]

I don’t think you can go wrong with either choice but I think I would go for option 1 and really make it a Christmas-focused trip.

• DS on weekends in December can be crowded so going on Thursday is a good idea. Make an ADR on Open Table for the most flexibility. Christmas tree trail is cute and can be done in a few minutes or you can linger and take longer if you want. Plus there are some really nice decorations throughout DS.
• On Friday, I would do a quick tour of the MK resorts for Christmas decor. Check out GF, then CR, boat over to WL. I would eat at Geyser Point at around 2:30 then take the ferry to MK for the party. I simply adore MVMCP and am going for the 3rd time this year!
• Saturday I would do whichever park your group votes on. Both DHS and Epcot have really awesome Christmas offerings!

Just my 2 cents, whatever you decide, have a blast!

 

[GPC0321]

I'd definitely do #2. We went to MVMCP last year, and it was pretty crowded. We just watched the castle show, the parade, and the fireworks, then stopped by to meet Mickey in his Christmas attire and left. And that took from the time the party started until after 11pm because we spent most of it battling crowds to get spots for the three things we wanted to see and then standing in line to meet Mickey.

If there is a non-party MK night during your trip (we were just there 3 nights too), you can see the castle all lit up on that night. I wouldn't miss Epcot at Christmastime, it's awesome. And if you've got any money to spare, along with #2 I'd suggest the Jingle Bell Jingle Bam Dessert Party at Hollywood Studios. We loved that!

 

[puffkin]

I'd do option 2 as well. So many other Christmas things to do throughout the parks that don't require an upcharge.

 

[CinderellaDream]

You can't go wrong with either option but I would choose #2. MVMCP is fun but I would rather have the opportunity to visit all four parks and see how each one handles Christmas.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I'd go with option 2. Then you'll be able to see the Christmas decor in all of the parks. The Christmas party is fun, but I wouldn't center a trip around it. I'd take more parks/park time.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I agree with the other posters and I would go with option 2. If you were going in November, I would maybe recommend option 1, but being in December, you can enjoy the International Festival of the Holidays at Epcot, the holiday atmosphere at DHS and AK. Option 2 allows you to see more of the offerings for those who haven't been before over the holidays. My parents went to the Halloween Party and mentioned how crowded it was. We also went last year for the Christmas Party and went back to the room after the first parade because my pregnant wife couldn't handle all the crowds.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

#2 and I love Christmas. I would want to see the Christmas décor in all of the parks so I would skip MVMCP.

 

[Bete]

I vote option 2. More time in the parks is the way to go. Each park offers Christmas decor and more.

If you want a special Christmas experience than do the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package at Epcot. The Biergarten is not too hard on the pocketbook and you get reserved seating for one of the three shows offered each night. Make sure you get the package. At the American Adventure Pavillon there's a group called Voices of Liberty which will dress Victorian and sing Christmas songs a cappella. The holiday storytellers are wonderful in World Showcase.

Hollywood Studios has a night Christmas show that will wow you.

Also, take a ride on the monorail from MK and go to the Grand Floridian resort to look at their decorations including an adult size ginger bread house. There's an orchestra that plays in the lobby and they do Christmas tunes at that time of the year. There is a schedule for their show.

 

[TJA]

Option 2 allows you to get so much more out of your time. We have a similar short trip coming up but we're staying onsite at GF. We're skipping MVMCP this year, but we intend to go to MK one of our nights for rides and to see the park in full décor all lit up. The other parks we're going to at night are Epcot (might see if we can get a standby seat at CP, if not that's ok and we'll just listen to some of the show) and also HS at night for some rides and Jingle Bell show. We will go to AK one of our mornings for rides. Any spare time will be spent at the GF soaking in the holiday, and our plan is to visit WL too.

 

[lvdis]

We got super cheap flights and couldn't resist doing a girl's trip! We will be staying off site and renting a car. I really appreciate all the feedback I'm getting!

 

[ktlm]

Having been to Disney Springs during the holiday season, I would absolutely say go with the parks! Disney Springs is often insanely crowded during the holiday season especially around the weekends. Also, since the revamp-- it feels a lot like any outdoor mall area in our opinion. I love MVMCP, but if it was between that and more days in the parks- I would probably go with the parks!

 

[Miffy]

Another vote for option #2.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I'm with the others - #2. We did MVMCP last year and, IMHO, the holiday decor and offerings at DHS and EP were much better. With #2, you get more park time at less cost. In years past, they have done an MK castle lighting prior to parties, so you could definitely plan to be in MK on the party night and, perhaps, just hop to another park after the castle lighting.