Is MVMCP worth it with younger children?

[lpbm4]

My kids will be 5 1/2yrs and almost 4yrs when we go to Disney in 6 1/2wks. I'm considering doing MVMCP but don't know if it's worth it. My kids are normally in bed by 8:30, can stay up to 9:30 if well rested throughout the day. The day I was looking into attending the "party", we'd be going to Sea World the day of. Just don't know if it's worth it. Anyone have any experience with younger kids who can give me some insight? Is it worth the extra $155 for us?

 

[Zoie]

I'm taking my 4 and a half year old niece, but the comment that your kids can stay up until 9:30 if well-rested, and you're spending the day at Sea World, would give me pause...

We're sleeping in that morning, doing a late character breakfast, then will hang out in the Magic Kingdom for just a couple hours, before going back for a 3-4 hour rest period (nap, and maybe some swimming if warm enough). Then we'll return for the party around 6ish.

BUT, we fully intend to be able to stay up till midnight to take full advantage of the opportunities the party affords. If she went to bed at 8:30 every night and could make it till 9:30 if well-rested, I probably wouldn't waste the money on a couple hours of entertainment. My niece typically goes to bed around 10, and can easily stay up till midnight if she's gotten to sleep in and have a short nap in the afternoon, so we shouldn't have any problem.

I think it will be a LOT of fun for kids your children's ages, but not if they'll be too tired and cranky to enjoy it.

 

[scubamouse]

My kids will be 5 1/2yrs and almost 4yrs when we go to Disney in 6 1/2wks. I'm considering doing MVMCP but don't know if it's worth it. My kids are normally in bed by 8:30, can stay up to 9:30 if well rested throughout the day. The day I was looking into attending the "party", we'd be going to Sea World the day of. Just don't know if it's worth it. Anyone have any experience with younger kids who can give me some insight? Is it worth the extra $155 for us?

Our kids were 3.5 and 5 last year and we're going again this year We did Seaworld then a good nap. Our kids usually are spent by 8:30 and at the party my then 3.5 DD was dancing up a storm w/Chip and Dale at 11. We had the double stroller and they were quiet during wishes but definitely got a second wind.

I thought Seaworld was perfect for the day. It's a smaller park and it's easy to leave at 1:30 or so to allow naps. I do recommend naps for all of you! MVMCP was the most magical time of our trip last year

The morning after is tough. I'd recommend taking it easy. We hit AK for the rope drop and both kids slept on the Safari.

 

[lpbm4]

Thank you to both of you for your comments!! I really appreciate it! Sea World is something I've always wanted to do my entire life as I have always wanted to be a dolphin trainer. So I'm sure we'll spend quite a bit of time there. I'll have to look up times for Sea World and such to help me. Thanks again!!

Funny b/c AK was going to be our next day theme park.

 

[MareSINY]

I'll be doing it this year for the first time with my nieces who are 3 & 5. They typically are in bed around 7:30pm (they don't usually fall asleep until after 8.) During our past trips they could easily stay up until after 9 to see Wishes every night, so I think they'll be fine. We have the "grandpa" back up. If the girls get too tired to handle being there we'll just take a quick trip back to the Poly, get them in bed and then head on back to the parks while Grandpa keeps an eye on them. I think with all the stimuli going on around them the kids should have no trouble staying up late, the next day will be a bit difficult I'm sure, but we'll just let them sleep in and take it easy the next day.

 

[Minnie824]

I definitely think its worth it. We went last year with our 4 and 1.5 yr olds. They seem to have about the same sleep schedule as yours...with a nap they make it to 9:30, and even then they start getting slightly grumpy. We did the parks from early on, rested a little, went to dinner then to MVMCP. Just seeing the parade was worth the money to me. They LOVED the parade. My 1.5 yr old (now 2.5) still wants to watch the video of the parade. We actually went to it twice last year. We stayed til about 9pm each time, and watched the parade both times. We got cookies and hot chocolate, walked around, watched a show. We didnt go on rides during that time. That we did during the day. During the party, we went and did the Christmas stuff. I would definitely try it.

 

[backinoz]

We did exactly that 4 years ago. Our kids had similar sleeping patterns as well and were just 3y.o. & nearly 5 y.o. at the time. Kids did only last until 9.30 but we'd hired a double stroller and they just slept in that while we 'cruised' the park taking our time & plenty of photo's. We have the most magical photo of them asleep in the stroller with Santa Goofy & Rudolph Pluto either side!!

IMHO definately worth every $$.

 

[deejohn]

We took DDs(12,8,2) and DS(5) last year, and it was a struggle to keep them a wake and happy until 12. We ended up leaving at 10, because DW and I couldn't take the whining of the youngins....

We are not going to it this year. The parades are at the MVMCP are the same ones they do each night. Instead, we are using the money for a Princess dinner!!!!

 

[lpbm4]

Thank you for both the ups and downs to it! I think my kids could probably last until 10pm with it. May be worth it for those few hours then...but we'd have cranky kids the next day. Hmmm....

 

[MermaidMommy]

The parades are at the MVMCP are the same ones they do each night. Instead, we are using the money for a Princess dinner!!!!

Unless you're going Christmas week, this is not true. Outside of that week, there's only the regular afternoon parade: if you want to see the Christmas one and you're going before Christmas week, you have to do MVMCP. And it's a GREAT parade!!

I took my DD when she was almost 5, and she went to bed even earlier than your kiddos -- 7:30 bedtime, woke up at 6:30 every day. I thought we might make it until 9 or so, hoping we could make it till 10. Well, we had to drag her out of there at midnight! She loved it so much (OK, and so did we), that we ended up buying tickets to go again on our last night. We toured one of the parks the day of the party, but at a very relaxed, leisurely pace, and then back to the hotel for a nap. Then, we took off the next day from touring so we could rest. However, if you're planning on doing AK the next day, you should be OK sleeping in that morning, since AK can be done in 1/2 a day. The only problem you might encounter getting there later would be Expedetion Everest, and I wonder if you'd be doing that one anyway, based on your kids' ages.

So, here's my advice: go, go, go to the party -- it will be especially magical for your kids at their ages, and I think it's good enough to merit rearranging your schedule around it. Have fun at Sea World; go back to the hotel for a nap; go to the party and, as another poster noted, concentrate on the shows, parades, fireworks, etc. saving the rides for another time; sleep in the next morning and do AK in the afternoon. It gives you the best of all worlds!

 

[HollyJoy]

I would have to say that it's really up to you, for you know your kids the best. We went to MVMCP two years ago when my girls were 7 and 5. They did okay, and actually made it until just about midnight, but crashed on the monorail ride back to the resort. I found that even though we had a good time, it was the most crowded and the longest lines we found MK during our entire trip!! Sure, there were special things happening, shows, parades, characters, etc.. but we decided to forego it this year and do some other things instead.

 

[lpbm4]

I found that even though we had a good time, it was the most crowded and the longest lines we found MK during our entire trip!! Sure, there were special things happening, shows, parades, characters, etc.. but we decided to forego it this year and do some other things instead.

YIKES!!! This is something I'd be nervous about and not want.

ETA: What do I call to order tickets? I can't find it anywhere.

 

[HollyJoy]

I believe you can call the regular Disney Customer Service line to order your tickets. The 800 number is: 800 828 0228


Don't get me wrong, we had a great time, but we were there the first week in December, when the crowds were low, and that night we had some waits on line that were pretty excessive for our trip. We tried to take in more of the special shows instead of standing in the long lines for rides. I think out of the entire night, my girls' favorite thing was seeing the "snow" on Main Street!

When in December are you going?

 

[MareSINY]

You can also purchase tickets online. Go to Disneyworld.com and look for special events and then under MK you'll see MVMCP. Towards the bottom of the page is the link to where you can purchase tickets.

 

[lpbm4]

We're going Dec 2-7th, probably doing MVCP the 5th if we decide to do that.

 

[Mo-Yo]

We went last year with DS9, DD7, DD5 - the same week.

We relaxed during the day and ate at LTT for dinner at 4 or 4:30. We enjoyed it, but like the other poster, we found the crowds to be the worst of the week.

Pros and Cons

Bad - Lines for cookies and chocolate, lines for pictures (we decided against it), crowded streets, time wasted staking out spots for shows, fireworks and parades, some lines for some attractions (Pooh), lines for characters. Plus, we were pooped by 9:30...just from the vacation.

Good - price of the admission ticket, most rides were walk-ons, the Christmas parade was very nice.

I'm not sorry we did it, but I wouldn't make it a priority in the future.

Have fun on your trip...it's a great time to be in Disney.

 

[Camno's Mama]

We've been trying to decide this as well...I actually posted a thread about it, but didn't get much response. My kids are 3 and 1, though. I know the 3-year-old might be able to handle it, but I'm not so sure about the little one. And we have a character breakfast at Chef Mickey's the next morning at 7:30 (the only time we could get) which is something we cannot miss. My son loved it last year, and he loves Mickey, etc. I really want to go to the party, but I'm just not sure about the expense and everything else being that they may not make it past 10!

The problem is, we are picking up my father-in-law from the airport the only other night they are having the parade while we are there, so I don't think we can swing it that night!

It seems like a lot of the kids that you all are talking about are older...anyone go with little ones?

Courtney

 

[HayGan]

My boys are now 4.5 and 6 yrs old. We do go to MVMCP but we take the day of very easy. Last year we did DTD for a few hrs (about 2.5) and then just swam and napped in the afternoon. We will be doing the same thing this year. It is just too much for them (and for us) to go from 8 am until after 11pm. We also plan on starting out late the next day.

 

[golden1]

I decided against it with a 4.5 year old and a 2.5 year old. We will be there a whole week and will have plenty to do without doing the MVMCP. My kids go to bed at 8pm and I am not sure I could get them to nap predictably in order to keep them up later. I'd hate to have to leave at 8 or 9 pm because of a meltdown. I will be back to WDW some other time and I'll save MVMCP for the next trip.

 

[deejohn]

My kids were DDs11,7,2 and DS6 when we went. None of them made it past 10pm any night we were there (even the 11 year old). They always got up at 7AM (wish they would do this during school!!!).

I got exhausted reading all the things you got going on...I would recommend you skip it this year, we are.

It is a lot of money for us, was pretty crowded, and we saw the same parade the night we stayed late. All we missed was the hot cocoa and cookies, not worth the whining.