Mickey's Halloween Party with a 3 yr old?

[southlake]

Hi everyone,

We are going to DL in mid-October. It will be my first time being there during Halloween Time since I was 8 apparently (and I don't remember it!) Our daughter will have just turned 3 a few days before and I'm wondering if will be worth the $192 expense to buy 3 tickets to MHP when she is so young? Is she too young to enjoy it?

I just hate to finally be there during Halloween Time for the first time in 25 years and not go to MHP, but on the other side, don't want it to go to waste if she's too young! We are spending so much already.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I think this will depend on you and your daughter. How does she do being out at night? Does she do well staying up late? If the party start time (6 or 7 pm depending on the night) is close to her bedtime, then you won't get to experience much before leaving. She probably won't remember any of the party and she won't know that she's missing it if you don't go, but will you miss having pictures of her at the party? Will it bother you that you didn't take her? I think $192 is a lot of money, so you want to make sure to spend it or save it in whatever way gives you the most peace of mind.

If you really want to go to the party, would it be possible for you and your husband to get a sitter so you both can go to the party?

Hope this helps.

 

[krispin41]

I think she would enjoy it. Some of my earliest memories are T Disneyland, when I was three. She would probably enjoy the trick or treating. But, like the previous poster mentioned, I would take into her bedtime, etc.

 

[KalamityJane]

We are bringing our 4y3mo, and were at Disney last year at 3y4m. She remembers a LOT from last year, so I think that your DD would probably love it, if bedtime is not going to be an issue.

 

[theworldneedscolor]

I just want to make sure you know that even without going to the party, you can experience Halloween Time. There is the carnival thing at Big Thunder Ranch, decorations, Haunted Mansion Holiday and Ghost Galaxy, and villains/traditional characters in costume out and aboutn

 

[southlake]

I just want to make sure you know that even without going to the party, you can experience Halloween Time. There is the carnival thing at Big Thunder Ranch, decorations, Haunted Mansion Holiday and Ghost Galaxy, and villains/traditional characters in costume out and aboutn

Thanks, I do know about Halloween Time outside of the party I guess we're on the fence about it.. it wouldn't really cut into her bed time (last time we went to DL she was up Late every night!). I think if cost weren't an issue we would do it, but adding in almost $200 for the party is so steep. Ugh!

 

[KateDrake]

I think it largely depends on your kid and what type of parent you are. If you have a schedule you are really strict about, it is probably not a good plan. But we've taken my DD twice now, once at 18 months and once at 2.5, and she LOVED every second of it! But we are fine with her staying up late and she's pretty flexible.

I think 3 is a great age for the party, because they are just starting to "get" Halloween, so Trick or Treating and everything is super fun. And if your child likes characters, this is a great opportunity to meet a lot of them! I'd say do it, as long as your child can stay up to enjoy it. Make sure you get a nap before hand, and then don't plan an early morning the next day. We took an 18mo, three 2yos and one 5yo in our group last year, and they all had a blast!!!!

 

[twinkletink]

I agree with the others, it is so dependent on the child. All of my sons were really horrid when they didn't get enough sleep; so we opted out of the party when we went 2008 and they were all much older. My daughter on the other hand just seems to need less sleep, has from the time she was about 1...and when she is ready to sleep, she can and will sleep any where, so I know she'll crash in the stroller if she gets too tired. Between that and the fact that she is my biggest dare devil means that no question, I would have taken her when she was three (well she is three now, but just under a month away from being 4, I meant your daughters age).

Now with that said, we budget everything. Many times when we were younger we skipped things because we simply couldn't afford them. So if it meant by tightening our belts else where, we could swing it, I would go for it. If I had to charge it, I would pass.

JMHO. I hope you have a blast what ever you decide

 

[disneegrl4eva]

i say definitely take her...she probably wont remember..but you will and your memories of her are just as important....besides, she will have fun regardless...however, do NOT do what i did with my grandson...the year he turned 3 (hes gonna be 6 in Nov)we went 2 weeks before his bday and the day of the party I knew i would need to give him a nap...but everytime i attempted to go over to the hotel something happened and kept us there...he never got a nap and we went back and had an early dinner, got him dressed in his costume and we didnt even make it through the turnstyle before he was OUT...and he stayed asleep the entire night and missed EVERYTHING...i was soooo mad at myself..so heed my warning...make sure you get her for a nap at all costs

 

[NiceOneSimba]

We went with our DD, who was not quite 3 last year. Honestly, we went just for the extra time in the parks. It was our last day, and we didn't want to be done by 6, and we knew DCA would be packed once DL closed.

The fireworks are AMAZING, and you really do have to be in the park to get the full effect. The calvacade was kind of lame compared to the other parades during the day, but it was fun to see the characters in costume.

Our DD was a little freaked by the fog around the Rivers of America and by some of the music, but she did enjoy the pumpkins and meeting Jasmine (the highlight of the party for her, by far).

After we went, my husband and I both expressed that we would probably not go back to the parks during Halloween again. It was fun, and we like Halloween fine, but we don't LOVE Halloween, and we missed the "regular" park atmosphere. That said, if we did go during HalloweenTime again, we would do the party again, mostly because it was worth the money to us to not have to fight with the crowds over at DCA from 6 p.m. until park closing, and because we really enjoyed the fireworks.

Just a different perspective from someone who isn't into the trick-or-treating and/or costume aspects of the party, but still had a pretty darn good time.

 

[All American]

Something else to think about (read:enable ) is that it is really fun for the kids to see everyone else, kids especially, dressed up. When we took our daughter who was 4 to Disney World for the Halloween Party, she went bonkers over a kid who was dressed like Diego and whose brother was dressed like Baby Jaguar. She talked about that duo for MONTHS. Being a tomboy, she went dressed as Robin from "Teen Titans" and was really excited to see another boy dressed in the same costume. Even at 3 your daughter could get into that sort of thing.

This year we're going back to Disneyland for the party and are bringing our girls, one of which will be a week shy of turning 3 before we go. (We wanted to squeeze in one more free-admission trip.) She is going to be Ariel and goes around the house practicing her trick-or-treating. I think you guys would have a blast at the party, and it's pretty amazing what kids can absorb and remember at such a young age. Sometimes, I don't think we, as adults, give them much credit. I say, "Go for it!"

 

[goiu]

We are going in a few weeks with my DS (3). He gets scared pretty easily. Do you suggest going to the Mickey party? I don't want him to be scared the whole time.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

We did the MHP for the 1st time when dd was 3... we liked it for the less crowded lines for the rides... everyone else was getting candy and seeing villians. We did it again when dd was 5 or 6... and it was still a blast... more autographs this time because that was what she was into. I can't really think of anything that would be scary... its Mickey ghosts and pumpkins... pretty fun stuff!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We are going in a few weeks with my DS (3). He gets scared pretty easily. Do you suggest going to the Mickey party? I don't want him to be scared the whole time.

You might want to find videos of the party on YouTube (make sure they are videos from DL, not from MK). That way you can talk about what he is seeing and prepare him ahead of time. He may have a lot more fun if what he sees at the party is already familiar.