Help me decide...

[pfeifer14]

The more I read about MVMCP, the more I want to get the ticket for the party. Even though it is quite expensive. We will be staying at CBR 11/28-12/4.

I am thinking of going to the party on 11/29 since Tuesday seems to be less crowded. Now I have two choices to spent the day before the 1) Take a easy day and chill out at the resort or something low key since we will be at the party from 4pm till 1am. Or 2) Visit AK from 9am till 2-3pm. Then MK for the party from 5pm till closing.

Pros and Cons for option #1: We will arrive on 11/28 so we won't be tired from walking all day at the park yet. But I thought maybe saving energy for a long night may be good. It also will save us one day park ticket. However, this mean we won't visit AK until 12/3 (sat) which it is busier than if we were visiting AK on 11/28.

What do you think? Maybe AK on 11/29 may not be too tiring since we won't wait long much for any rides or attractions?

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Here's how we do it...
We DO NOT go to a park prior, imho it wastes a park ticket and I kind of feel like we're buying an extra park day by going. We chill out and head over so we're there by 3:15 - 3-30. We are almost always the very beginning of the line. So far every year we've gone they let us in by 3:45.
We plan 3 fp, 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30. We do our fp, then eat, then party. All before 7 pm. So then we concentrate on holiday stuff.
This works for us!

 

[HopperFan]

Here's how we do it...
We DO NOT go to a park prior, imho it wastes a park ticket and I kind of feel like we're buying an extra park day by going. We chill out and head over so we're there by 3:15 - 3-30. We are almost always the very beginning of the line. So far every year we've gone they let us in by 3:45.
We plan 3 fp, 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30. We do our fp, then eat, then party. All before 7 pm. So then we concentrate on holiday stuff.
This works for us!

Another twist is to get a late lunch ADR (@2:00-2:30) at Grand Floridian Cafe, Kona Cafe or Wave. Enjoy a nice table service for less, no rush and then head over to the park to enter at 4 pm. The great part was when we did this at the holidays (Grand Floridian Cafe) we also got to see and take photos with big Christmas tree and see the beautiful gingerbread house. We then had full bellies for the park and only supplemented with snacks and the party cookies. No wasted time eating in the park.

 

[mom2rtk]

We go to the MK on party days. Crowds are lower and the cost is low if you're on a multi day ticket. We schedule a nice table service meal around 4:30. This allows us to be deep in the park and completely out of the chaos on Main Street with people arriving and departing at the same time. After dinner, we go line up early for a hard to meet character. Between dinner and the wait (we sit in line) we are well-rested for the evening.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

See, there's multiple great ideas, just figure out what fits for you!

 

[pfeifer14]

Thanks all. Which crowd calendar is more "accurate"? I just looked at another web site and it's totally different than the one I visited before.

I guess MK is usually less crowded on the day of the party?

 

[hedberg1661]

Save the park ticket for that day and relax before the party.

 

[poohfriend77]

I'm going to go against the majority and say, hit AK (or MK) at rope drop! The morning of down time might be nice if it were our 4th or 5th day there, but I know my family would have a hard time just hanging around the resort on our first day. The weather will be kind of iffy for swimming, we probably wouldn't be sleeping in anyway (not exhausted yet!), and adding one more day to a 5+ day ticket really isn't that expensive.

My family would probably hit AK at rope drop until 11 or so, then eat at Tusker House (or go to MK at RD and eat at Crystal Palace), then go back to the room to rest until closer to 4. In either case, we'd make FP+'s for 4, 5, and 6 p.m. at MK. Just a different train of thought for you to consider.

*I'm not suggesting that 2 hours is enough time in AK! We'd keep the other day there as well, and just use that RD day for the safari and a few times on EE.

 

[Accident]

That time of year, so many great things are setup at resorts. gingerbread houses in some, others highly decorated.. campgrounds are in a who can decorate their campsite more unofficial contest.. I love waking up late so we're rested for the party, then start to resort crawl to see the holiday decorations, get a nice large but late lunch in a resort table service we haven't tried before (or a favorite).. then a short break and we're in the MK at 4pm when the party ticket allows..

Basically a day of holidays around the property ending with a party in mk!

 

[Figmentmommy]

We have often done AK the morning & early afternoon of our party night. We stay until 1:00 or 2:00 and then either take a quick trip back to our resort to freshen up (we have a car) or we head straight to MK around 3:00-3:30 (we have Park Hoppers) and enter ahead of time for a 4:00 early dinner in MK before the party starts.

 

[GPC0321]

I like Accident's and HopperFan's ideas. I wouldn't do a park that morning. You're going to be in MK for 8-9 hours that evening/night. That would be more than enough park time for me. Save that park day for another non-party day.
When we go next year, if we wind up doing the party, we'll probably spend time at the GF before taking the monorail over to MK for the party. I envision a late lunch at the GF Cafe and enjoying the festive lobby. I'm almost as excited about that as I am the party!