Mickey's Halloween Party is soooo expensive!

[JimmyV]

Meanwhile leaving the other three people (family members, I'm assuming) out in the cold.

Well, to be fair, the other family members probably weren't/aren't going to get much out of a birthday party that the DD has with her friends/classmates.

As for your pricing, many of those things can be done considerably cheaper or done without altogether.

Again, the OP has not been back to tell us what the other options are. The original post didn't seem to ask us to help plan a birthday party for her daughter for $20 or less. It was simply a statement about the expense of MNSSHP. And I think that the point has been well made that IF the ticket to the party substitutes in for both a birthday party that might otherwise have been planned as well as a (or one of her) gift(s), then the price is doable.

 

[stargazertechie]

Meanwhile leaving the other three people (family members, I'm assuming) out in the cold.

As for your pricing, many of those things can be done considerably cheaper or done without altogether.

I'm sorry, but a birthday isn't about the other 3 people in her family- it's about the birthday girl. It's the ONE day a year where you're allowed to be selfish.

 

[twoplustwins]

I looked into us going and as a family of six (2 adults, 4 children), it will cost us $342. IMO, that is too much for us. That is more than we will spend in food for the week.

 

[mom2rtk]

I looked into us going and as a family of six (2 adults, 4 children), it will cost us $342. IMO, that is too much for us. That is more than we will spend in food for the week.

Feeding a family of 6 at Disney for $342 for the week is a mean feat. I'm assuming you don't have teenagers like we do!

 

[JoshuaShaw]

I'm sorry, but a birthday isn't about the other 3 people in her family- it's about the birthday girl. It's the ONE day a year where you're allowed to be selfish.

And here I thought it was about spending time with the people who love you. What a sentimental dope I've been. I wasted all my childhood years with my family, when I could have been alone doing whatever I wanted.

 

[scion5220]

I don't get this at all. How is having an AP any different than having a 7 day pass? Either way, the customer has to pay extra money for the party. The hard ticket event doesn't become any more or less "sensible" just because one person has an "already paid for" pass that gets them into the park 20+ times a year and the other person has an "already paid for" pass that gets them in 7.

I actually agree with the previous poster. We have always had APs and the thought of paying even more money to go to a place we can go EVERY DAY has never seemed worth it.

I know there are special events, but to us it always seemed like a nice way for people to see Disney without having to spend the cost of a single day ticket...not a way to spend more money to see the same decor we saw yesterday and could see tomorrow.

I understand that there are special parades and characters, but many people don't think that's worth fifty bucks a person...unless they are going to the party in lieu of a more expensive park ticket.

And to act like $100 couldn't make or break a vacation budget is sort of unrealistic in the current economic times. People who have to really budget for a visit to Disney are still entitled to enjoy themselves. You could basically go and spend nothing there but the cost of the ticket and parking.

 

[stargazertechie]

And here I thought it was about spending time with the people who love you. What a sentimental dope I've been. I wasted all my childhood years with my family, when I could have been alone doing whatever I wanted.

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. If I was given the choice between cake and ice cream with the family and friends, or MNSSHP with just one parent, you'd be finding me at the Magic Kingdom.

Holidays (thanksgiving/christmas/easter/etc) are for spending with family. Birthdays are about celebrating A PERSON.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

Well, to be fair, the other family members probably weren't/aren't going to get much out of a birthday party that the DD has with her friends/classmates.

That's a pretty broad assumption. Growing up, I always attended my brother's birthday parties (and vice versa), and despite the four year age difference always enjoyed myself. Conversely, I would have not enjoyed my party as much if I knew my brother was being purposefully excluded, regardless of the reason. Maybe I was raised completely different from most people, but having a birthday party as a child, without your whole family, just seems cold and selfish.

Again, the OP has not been back to tell us what the other options are. The original post didn't seem to ask us to help plan a birthday party for her daughter for $20 or less. It was simply a statement about the expense of MNNSHP. And I think that the point has been well made that IF the ticket to the party substitutes in for both a birthday party that might otherwise have been planned as well as a (or one of her) gift(s), then the price is doable.

You're absolutely right, we don't know what the options are, so it's just as ignorant to assume that one of them is some elaborate birthday blowout for a large group of children, rather than a quiet evening with the family. Which is why all of this conjecture is pointless. The only information we have is that the family can't afford MNSSHP for a group of five. There's no reason to assume any more, or any less, than that.

 

[JimmyV]

I actually agree with the previous poster. We have always had APs and the thought of paying even more money to go to a place we can go EVERY DAY has never seemed worth it.

Yes, but my point is that having an AP does not make you unique in that regard. If I have shelled out a grand for my family's non-AP park passes, the thought of paying more money to go into the self-same park that I was in yesterday that was part of my up-front admission charge is just as much of a dilemma. No more, and no less.

 

[scion5220]

Yes, but my point is that having an AP does not make you unique in that regard. If I have shelled out a grand for my family's non-AP park passes, the thought of paying more money to go into the self-same park that I was in yesterday that was part of my up-front admission charge is just as much of a dilemma. No more, and no less.

We will have to agree to disagree.

 

[scrappinannie]

Spoken like someone who's never had to struggle with money. I applaud your success, either inherited or earned, but not everyone is able to have such a devil-may-care attitude about their finances.

While I don't think MNSSHP is expensive in terms of value in comparison to the rest of WDW's pricing structure, it is a pretty extravagant cost for a birthday present, particularly when you'll have to buy at least two tickets, if not more. Obviously this isn't the case for everyone, as some people can afford such extravagance, but for many people this would be living well outside their means.

I've seen more than a few people say, "If this is what she really wants, it shouldn't matter how much it costs." This logic baffles me. In a perfect world everyone would like to grant their children their every wish, but this doesn't work in reality for two reasons: 1.) The aforementioned money issue and 2.) Just because a child wants something, doesn't mean they're entitled to it, even for their birthday. That's a lesson more people could probably stand to learn. There are more than a few 16-year-olds who really wanted a car for their birthday, but alas, they'll still be riding the bus.

To the original question my best advice is to save up for another year, perhaps someday you can grant your daughter's wish. Until then, I'm sure you'll find no problem making each of her birthday's special, with or without Disney.

My sentiments EXACTLY! We love Disney, my DD4 has been twice already, but it is a year in the making for us. We usually stay moderate and look for a discount, but if we fly that's another $1000 for our family of 4, if not more. I would LOVE to be able to attend one of the hard ticket events, and you know, if it was $30 a person I probably wouldn't even bat an eye at that, even times 4, but at $60 to $100 or more per ticket, we could be eating at a character meal or 4 counter service meals for our family at Disney. My DH & I have agreed that we will do the party one day, but it will be when the kids are truly old enough to enjoy it and be able to stay awake late enough to stay to the end. But even then, it will most likely be a once in a lifetime thing. Being at Disney is an extroidinary experience in and of itself (even I have to be reminded of that sometimes) and we are truly blessed to be able to go at all. My kids will be just fine if they miss a Disney party or 2.

 

[JimmyV]

That's a pretty broad assumption. Growing up, I always attended my brother's birthday parties (and vice versa), and despite the four year age difference always enjoyed myself. Conversely, I would have not enjoyed my party as much if I knew my brother was being purposefully excluded, regardless of the reason. Maybe I was raised completely different from most people, but having a birthday party as a child, without your whole family, just seems cold and selfish.

There may be regional differences here, but we are not talking about how it was when you grew up. Rather, the issue is in the here and now. I grew up like you with "family" birthday parties. My daughter, (and every single one of her friends) have had exclusively "friends/classmates" parties. Indoor Playscapes. Laser Tag venues. Bowling alleys. Roller rinks. Every one of them is $15-$20 per head with an invite list of 12-15 people. I don't think this is a pretty broad assumption at all. It is based on actual experience. There is no guarantee that I am right. But where I live, the custom and practice is decidedly in favor of these types of parties. So my suggestion that the OP offer her daughter the choice of having such a party or having the whole family go to MNSSHP isn't a wild hare. That does not mean that the parents and siblings can't also have a birthday cake and blow out the candles as a family. The ideas are not mutually exclusive.

You're absolutely right, we don't know what the options are, so it's just as ignorant to assume that one of them is some elaborate birthday blowout for a large group of children, rather than a quiet evening with the family.

Care to direct me to where anyone suggested an elaborate birthday blowout? Everything so far has been consistent with the norm of what today's birthday parties have become. Again, at least where I am from.

The only information we have is that the family can't afford MNSSHP for a group of five. There's no reason to assume any more, or any less, than that.

Why should we even assume that? You make a huge leap from "MNSSHP is expensive" to "I can't afford to go". Those two things are not even remotely the same. The OP has over 1,000 posts. I am assuming (and yes, you read that right, I am assuming) that this is not her first rodeo. I don't think it is unfair to assume that a poster with over 1,000 posts has been to (and thus was able to afford) several different Disney vacations. They may not like the pricing structure of the hard ticket event. But that is a far cry from not being able to afford it.

 

[TheNotSoGreatGonzo]

Quite a bit more than 'just' $50.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/halloween.htm#tickets

Many nights, a LOT more.

If you count the price of the adult ticket, yes. I don't know why you are assuming that they are going to a more expensive evening and acting like I'm silly for thinking they're going to one of the cheaper nights. We have no idea which one they would be going to, but "about $50" is pretty close to how much a child's ticket costs.

It's not $48. It's not $54.

Unless you're planning to wave good-bye as the kid goes into the MK to attend the party alone, you're looking at $114-131.

That isn't "just spend it" money to everyone.

You're talking about 2 separate things. I'm talking about the value of the gift to the child. You're talking about total out-of-pocket.

$50 isn't that extravagant for a birthday present. If the extra $60 or so (for adult ticket) puts you over the top, that's an entirely different argument.

 

[okeydokey]

I don't get this at all. How is having an AP any different than having a 7 day pass? Either way, the customer has to pay extra money for the party. The hard ticket event doesn't become any more or less "sensible" just because one person has an "already paid for" pass that gets them into the park 20+ times a year and the other person has an "already paid for" pass that gets them in 7.

Because my family of four paid 800 total for 4 seasonal annual passes. If we budget 3 trips a year, the pass cost per trip averages to be less than 300. We go for 7 days. 300 for tickets for a week for the four of us is what we budget.

Paying that much money for one nights party doesn't make sense.

 

[csharpwv]

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is SOOOOO worth it!

The total atmosphere of the park changes!

The off peak dates are definitely worth it - and the peak dates are marginally worth it.

Off peak, the attraction lines are SO short - if they exist! We walked on to Pirates, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain - we actually got to ride Big Thunder 2 times in a row - without getting off the ride!!!

The parade and fireworks ALONE are with the price of admissions! It was absolutely INCREDIBLE!

I really wish we could go this year!

 

[Dan Murphy]

If you count the price of the adult ticket, yes. I don't know why you are assuming that they are going to a more expensive evening and acting like I'm silly for thinking they're going to one of the cheaper nights. We have no idea which one they would be going to, but "about $50" is pretty close to how much a child's ticket costs.......$50 isn't that extravagant for a birthday present. If the extra $60 or so (for adult ticket) puts you over the top, that's an entirely different argument.

I was counting the adult ticket also, as the adult, at least one, would also be going. If they purchased the advanced FL tickets OP indicates FL as home), for a Sept party, average cost would be just about $50, $50.95 each. If they went on the most costly night, average ticket would be $69.71 each. A range of almost $20 per ticket. I do not know what night, and do not assume you are silly. Just pointing out the range, again, depending on date of attendance.

 

[tmarquez]

Wow this thread sure blew up! Really I was just complaining because I had decided it was not worth the money...which made me sad. because like everyone, I want to give my kids what they want...but know I can't (or shouldn't) always do it.

We are AP holders and the 5 of us are me, DH, DD(8), DD's friend, and Grandma. We do kind of go all out on DD's birthday every year, but she gets a choice of a birthday party at home with her friends/classmates or a long weekend at Disney with one friend (we cover expenses). We stay at a value resort and go to a park for a day, maybe 2...and spend most of the time hanging out at the pool (her choice). We also go to the HDDR, and she would rather do that than the party when given the choice.

Why not worth it? We have been to one MNSSHP when DD was 4 and I thought it was just ok. Of course she remembers it differently and wants to go again. She is not big on characters, is probably too old now to participate in the dance parties, gets bored watching fireworks, and doesn't eat candy really. She definately wouldn't want to go without the rest of the gang, so it would be 5 tickets.

So...the $275 on top of the rest of the trip just isn't worth it. I wouldn't have to sell a kidney to do it (thanks PP for the idea though! ) but it isn't a value for us.

I think they charge too much for the hard ticketed events in general.

Anyway...thanks for all the advice!

 

[twoplustwins]

Feeding a family of 6 at Disney for $342 for the week is a mean feat. I'm assuming you don't have teenagers like we do!

haha!! No teenagers yet. We are staying at a condo and will eat most meals there. We also eat rather healthy, so I will most likely pack our lunches and snacks.

 

[mom2rtk]

haha!! No teenagers yet. We are staying at a condo and will eat most meals there. We also eat rather healthy, so I will most likely pack our lunches and snacks.

Just another reason I will never stay in a condo! I never understood having a vacation where mom has to cook and clean. But given that my family says that when God was handing out the cooking genes, I got back in the sewing line........... everyone is much happier that way!

 

[ariekannairb]

Why not worth it? We have been to one MNSSHP when DD was 4 and I thought it was just ok. Of course she remembers it differently and wants to go again. She is not big on characters, is probably too old now to participate in the dance parties, gets bored watching fireworks, and doesn't eat candy really. She definately wouldn't want to go without the rest of the gang, so it would be 5 tickets.

I am with you. It is ok at best. Definitely not worth the cost of the tickets. I am actually kind of annoyed that I cant get one of my ADRs I wanted because the park will be closed for MNSSHP. I also agree that the whole family should be there. A birthday IMHO is a family event and from your description of what your daughter enjoys I would say no. She remembers it from a 4 year old perspective so can't really make an objective decision on if she would really like it.

I also must be one of those strange parents who thinks that a $50 birthday gift is rarely called for and my children are by no means deprived. Im not even sure my son's birthday which is tomorrow cost me $50 total. Well maybe because that darn cake is $20 by itself!