Is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party a must do?

[im4pacers1]

We'll be visiting December 6-11th. We are celebrating DD's 3rd birthday while we're there. I was just wondering if MVMCP was worth the admission. I'm torn. I know my DD would love it, but then there isn't anything that I think she won't love. What's the consensus? I tried searching, but couldn't find any other threads on the topic.

 

[susykt4]

I've never been to that party, but took my kids to the Pirate and Princess Party a couple years ago and I'm pretty sure the parties all have the same basic extras (parade, fireworks, extra characters, etc.) My son was 3 or 4 at the time and his normal bedtime was 8pm. He is very schedule dependant and we've always (even now that he's 6) tried to keep him on his bedtime schedule at WDW. He did great until he got some minor injury ~9:30pm. He then had a major meltdown. We wanted to stay for the 10pm fireworks. He cried the entire time, through the fireworks, etc. DH took him back to the resort while DD and I stayed until the end. We didn't go to a park the day of the party and made the kids nap. Even so, the late schedule messed up DS for THREE DAYS after the party. The rest of us LOVED the party and all of the extras (great characters, candy, dance parties, short ride lines, awesome parade and fireworks) but it was totally not worth it to mess up three days of our trip with a grumpy kid.

If your child can handle staying up late, she will love the party. If not, I'd skip it until she's older. To answer your original question, a MUST DO? No.

 

[~Kristina~]

We've done the party three times and would do it again in a heartbeat! Very fun!

 

[micheleq]

We were at WDW the same time this past year and we skipped MVMCP, my DDs were 3 and 1.5. I think to really enjoy the party, your kids have to be old enough to hang out late ( I think the party goes until 11 or 12, then factor in leaving the park at the same time as everyone else and time on transportation back to your hotel).

You know your DD best -- if she can stay awake and not meltdown then it sounds like a fun event. If you decide not to go, there is still so much holiday magic that time of year

There are many reviews of MVMCP on allears.net and a whole page of holiday information.

Have a great trip!

 

[annette20071]

I liked it but I am not for sure if it was worth the cost. It was EXTREMELY crowded. The only thing we really got to do was see the Holiday parade. All of the extra shows had really long lines. We went to one a little after 6. The first show started at around 7 then there was another one at 8. We were told the 7 show was filled and everyone there in line was waiting for the 8 show. It was like that with almost everything. So, we just watched the parade and went to one of the dance parties then DD fell alseep.

 

[OokOofy]

We went this past December during the same week. A few things..

Is this the same wk that the Pop Warner kids are going? They were there when we were and I would never go again during this wk.

That being said all of the parks we went to were very busy, including MVMCP. In fact, so busy people were lined up to watch 1.5 hrs before the parade began. During of which, I watched people on their scooters almost running over feet, and one guy in particular, repeatedly ram his into the back of his girlfriend which would send her flying through a crowd of people. It was shocking at best. We would do MVMCP as long as it was not the Pop Warner wk - I am not sure if that is why it was so busy or if that is just how it is.. Definitely keep an eye on your DD so she doesn't get run down by out-of-control scooter drivers.

 

[jpaxton1118]

I have read so many mixed reviews on this subject I don't know what to do. I can not decide if it is worth the extra $200 it would cost my family of 5. We will have a 10,7 and 1 year old. I don't want them to miss out on anything and I am not sure if and when we will be back during that time.

 

[emh1129]

We tried it once and probably wouldn't do it again. Not so much because of the money (although it is expensive) but because it was just so darn crowded and subsequently we didn't get to any of the special activities. Getting through the crowds with a stroller was tough. We went on a Tuesday night that ended up being sold out. It was worse than any regular park day I've ever seen.
I bet if we had stayed really late it would have cleared out, but we left around 9:30-10ish.

I did really enjoy the parade, but that alone isn't enough for us to do it again.

 

[mgmsmommy]

I am trying to decide about this too. We are going to WDW the week after Thanksgiving & it will be our 1st time there seeing holiday decorations. It is so hard to decide. But I am very excited about the trip!

 

[jpaxton1118]

I am trying to decide about this too. We are going to WDW the week after Thanksgiving & it will be our 1st time there seeing holiday decorations. It is so hard to decide. But I am very excited about the trip!

You sound like me. We are going the first week after Thanksgiving also and it is our first time for the Christmas decorations. I keep think that just going to Disney and seeing the Christmas decorations at all the parks and hotels should be enough but then I am afraid we will miss out on something.
I keep reading different reviews on it and it seems to be a very busy party so I just don't know.

 

[clutter]

We'll be visiting December 6-11th. We are celebrating DD's 3rd birthday while we're there. I was just wondering if MVMCP was worth the admission. I'm torn. I know my DD would love it, but then there isn't anything that I think she won't love. What's the consensus? I tried searching, but couldn't find any other threads on the topic.

My dd, 3.5 the first time we went, LOVED it. However, she's a night child by nature and managed to stay up until after 1am. However, I doubt a child that is not a night person would like it that much. For her, the big deal was seeing Cinderellas coach and all of the princesses.

 

[Elmo888]

You sound like me. We are going the first week after Thanksgiving also and it is our first time for the Christmas decorations. I keep think that just going to Disney and seeing the Christmas decorations at all the parks and hotels should be enough but then I am afraid we will miss out on something.
I keep reading different reviews on it and it seems to be a very busy party so I just don't know.

We are going the same week, and I went back and forth, too. I found a lot of mixed reviews. I finally decided that this will probably be our one and only Christmas season trip (we prefer January, but I wanted to see Christmas at Disney just once!), and I had to see the party for myself to see if it was worth. So, we are going. And I would like to try to figure out how to make a plan to make the most of it (unofficial guide-style)!

 

[DISNEYNV]

We'll be visiting December 6-11th. We are celebrating DD's 3rd birthday while we're there. I was just wondering if MVMCP was worth the admission. I'm torn. I know my DD would love it, but then there isn't anything that I think she won't love. What's the consensus? I tried searching, but couldn't find any other threads on the topic.

We went last december and was dissapointed at the crowd levels! You couldn't get into the early shows and the parade was insane. I would visit the resorts or go to see the Osbourne lights again before waisting my money on MVMCP...wasn't so very merry!

 

[floydfamily4]

We had struggled with the same thing - to go or not to go?? We (me, DH, twins, and DMIL) are going the week before Thanksgiving and are on a budget. My twins will be turning 5 on Thanksgiving. I decided that in order for me to keep my sanity I needed to try to keep them going to bed no later than 9pm which means 8pm start of wind down, baths, etc. So for us the strain of it is not worth the money - this time I hope to go back to WDW when they are only and then try it if its still offered. I also couldn't let go of the cost For that amount we can do an additional character meal or buy a nicer souvie. You know your family best. I figured this is my kids first trip so they really won't know if they've missed anything - they are just so excited about meeting Mickey and the Sleeping Beauty that everything else is a bonus

Good luck!

 

[GoinToDisney]

We did it once, and with TourGuideMike's help, we got to see the parade, special wishes, and the show they do at the galaxy theater as well as the one at the castle. We left during the second parade and didn't do any rides. It was nice, but I wouldn't do it again.

 

[jpaxton1118]

We do one park a day,not park hoppers so we try to plan our parks on the days of fireworks and parades at night. So if we go to MK on the days that are not the party then we will still get to see a night parade and fireworks? And is the parade on the nights that are not the party nights, the regular parade or is it also a Christmas Parade? Does that make sense?

 

[Elmo888]

We did it once, and with TourGuideMike's help, we got to see the parade, special wishes, and the show they do at the galaxy theater as well as the one at the castle. We left during the second parade and didn't do any rides. It was nice, but I wouldn't do it again.

Does TGM have a special MVMCP plan??? That's what I would like! I'm not interested in the rides during the party - just the special events.

 

[gentah]

We did it and it was fun, but I do not think it is worth the cost, especially if you are already using a ticket that day. My impression was that it seemed more tailored to get local residents to come in for a special event, and maybe would be worth it if you were just buying that ticket for that day. We tried to pick a less busy day during the week and it was very crowded. We had a limited view of the parade, and had standing room for one show. Oh, and a cup of hot chocolate. I'd say, save the money.

 

[katied]

We try to go evey year. The party is a must for us. DS has been twice (at 8 mo and at 20 mo). DS is pretty flexible, so staying up late does not bother him. We play it by ear - I expected to only stay until 9 - 10 pm both years with him, but he was up and having fun until about 11 pm each year. We'll see how he does this December...

BUT - while the party is fun and a MUST for us, I won't say it's a good deal. The Christmas spirit, etc., is all nice, but for most, I would say likely not worth the cost compared to just having an extra day on a park ticket.

The main reason it's a must for us is because it's something I used to do with my mom every year before she passed away. I know she'd be happy to see me going with DS now that she's gone and passing on a favorite tradition - so Disney will get their extra $ out of me every year. It's a fun Christmas thing to do, and I've gotten some great Santa pictures (but you can also get great Santa pictures at DTD without paying for it, or at Epcot with Mrs. Claus too)

 

[puffkin]

We are going the same week as the OP. We have done the party in the past, but with the insane price increase this year we are not going to do it. The crowds also seem to get worse and worse and I am not happy with how they clear the parks now, so lots of non-party guests stay to see the parade and fireworks.

The decorations are basically all there during the day and on non-party nights. Tons of holiday stuff to do at Epcot (Santas around the world) and the Osbourne lights at DHS. The resorts are gorgeous and fun to look at. Heck, even playing mini-golf at Winter Summerland is festive this time of the year.

I still think the Halloween Party is a must do, but we are passing on MVMCP this year!