MNSHHP with young kids???

[brat5063]

Would you/are you taking you young children to MNSSHP? Are party consists of me and hubby, our two kids 4 and 1 , and my in-laws (lower 70's). I want to go, but at the same time I am afraid we won't be able to stay long into the evening and it won't be worth the money. We are thinking of going 10/21 which is also an AP discount night. I was going to play it by ear and wait till we got down there to decide, but I am also afraid that 10/21 will sell out beforehand since it is a dicount night for APs.

 

[christa112]

We went back in 2005 and our kids were 1, 4 & 6 and it was a big mistake. The kids were miserable!!! Tried to keep them quiet and have them take a nap, yeah right. We are going this year and they are going to be 4, 7 & 9. I hoping it goes better this year

 

[rt2dz]

We are definitely doing MNSSHP this year with kids 7, 4, & 2. We did MVMCP last year with the kids 6, 3, & 2 and it was the highlight of our trip. The kids LOVED it. DS2 (just turned) and DS7 (then 6) crashed in the stroller around 11 PM, but DS4 (then 3) stayed up the whole time. They napped during the day and then slept in the next morning. Because we did not wake them, and we never do at WDW--no rope drop for us--they were happy and pleasant the next day. A great experience.

 

[Pixiedust34]

It would depend up how good the kids are at staying up late. If they can stay up late enough to enjoy themselves and for the festivities (parade/fireworks), then I think the party would be fun. But if they are used to going to bed early and/or will be skipping a nap earlier in the day, then I don't think it would be worth it.

 

[danielle782001]

Take it easy during the day...Do a later breakfast, maybe hang out by the pool or go to Downtown for a couple of hours, and rest! It is a long night for everyone and the biggest mistake you can make is do a full day before the party begins...

We always take it easy the day of a party and arrive to MK at 4:00... We dinner around 4:30-5:00 and give the kids a snack while we are waiting for the parade to begin...This has worked great for us...Our baby was 14 months when we went to our first party...He did end up falling asleep before the fireworks but the three year old managed to stay awake and was in a great mood...We have gone to three parties since and we have never had a problem.

 

[mtemm]

we took the kids when they were 4, 2, and 2 and had the best time! we went to AK in the morning till around noon, then went back to the hotel and napped/swam. got to MK around 4 and had dinner at CP at 5, then had a great time at the party.

one of my 2 year olds slept from about 8:30 on...missed the parade and the fireworks! well, woke during the fireworks. but h and I and the other 2 had a wonderful time (and he did while awake! lol).

depends on what "money's worth" means to you. we planned to leave after the fireworks and that is what we did (around 10:15 or 10:30)...we watched them from main street, near the entrance (think right around the flag pole). it was a beautiful spot for viewing, and made it so easy to leave after (it was a slow night anyway). to us it was worth it even though we only stayed for a few hours of the party. it was such an awesome time...the parade alone was worth it to me.

sooo excited to go this fall!

 

[cdrn1]

We were in the same boat as you last year...it was my DD and her two littles, ages 1 and 3.5, as well as my two other adult DD's. The 1-yr-old was very high-maintenance, had to eat at a certain time, be in bed at a certain time (730p) and just in general a tough little guy to be around. Well...we were staying at the Poly and decided if the little ones couldn't take it I would take them back to the Poly on the boat, and the three sisters could have fun until midnight. Soooooo glad we took them. Both kids had a blast. DGS fell asleep about 830, slept through the fireworks, then woke up cheerful and happy shortly after. He then danced his little heart out at the Monster Ball, trick or treated some more, and was just in general a little delight. DGD also had a great time. We all closed the park...we were in the last little bit of people trickling out around 1 am. We had sooo much fun and both kids loved it. We got GREAT pictures.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our DGC are 3, 4 and 5 and we just went back and forth about taking them to MVMCP in November when they will be there. We decided against it because they go to sleep early...are not good nappers. We'll just have to wait a few more years.

Bobbi

 

[mom2girlsn1boy]

we are going on the 23rd of Oct. and taking our 5yr. old 2 yr. old and 1 year old. we plan on having a easy day and taking naps before we go and then having a blast at the party

 

[delmar411]

we took our 4 kids last fall. They were 9, 3, 2, and 19mths. We had a great time. 2 fell asleep around 10pm or so and they slept through the fireworks but we caught the first parade and did all the TOT'ing right at the beginning. It was a lot of fun and the kids enjoyed getting all dressed up. My boys are awesome nappers though and slept easily in the parks during the day for hours on end. We stayed for the whole party. It was sticky humid hot though so I'd consider that when picking out costumes. I didn't think hard enough about that and 2 of my kiddos were melting away.

 

[Doc CW]

Yes its not at all scary as its title says and I'm sure any child would love this time of year to go because its really fun and hey what kid wouldnt want free candy

 

[Freyja]

We did MNSSHP when our kids were 18 months, 6 and 8. We all had an amazing time and stayed til the park closed. Youngest DD (18 months at that time) fell asleep in her stroller very late in the evening, which was fine (not like we were paying for her anyway)

 

[Lil'DisneyMom]

We are planning on going this year too, and our kids will be 4 and 11 months!! They both do wonderful in the stroller with sleeping!

 

[Chelley00]

Youngest DD (18 months at that time) fell asleep in her stroller very late in the evening, which was fine (not like we were paying for her anyway)

This is what happened with us. The 4 (almost 5) stayed awake and WALKED the whole night. She had a great time! DS who was a month from turning 2, crashed around 8 and slept through the parade and fireworks.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

My son will be 7 in October just before we attend MNSSHP. Many times we have trouble keeping up with him. He has always been able to stay up late with no trouble. I'm not worried about him pooping out on us.

 

[HotMama]

We went with DD 3yrs and DS 17months last year and had a BLAST! DS got a bit tired during the parade and almost passed out, but still had a great time. We are doing it again this year!

 

[MickeyNicki]

We did it with our then 3 year old niece and she was miserable in the heat and the costume started to make her itch, the fireworks were too loud and it scared her, she didnt get into the dance parties with the characters but she did like the trick or treating and the parade.

Whatever you decide to do make sure you have very light and breezy costumes because it will be hot. I saw so many kids in heavy and warm costumes, they were all red and sweaty.....

 

[danielle782001]

We did it with our then 3 year old niece and she was miserable in the heat and the costume started to make her itch, the fireworks were too loud and it scared her, she didnt get into the dance parties with the characters but she did like the trick or treating and the parade.

Whatever you decide to do make sure you have very light and breezy costumes because it will be hot. I saw so many kids in heavy and warm costumes, they were all red and sweaty.....

You are right about the costumes...Most are much too heavy for Florida weather...

We opted not to have the kids wear their costumes...Instead we ordered matching shirts from www.disneydirect.com. We all had a Mickey Mouse wearing a skeleton costume...They were really cute and we got tons of compliments during the evening...We surprised the kids with the shirts the day of the party and they loved them!

 

[brat5063]

Thank you everyone one for your replies and votes. I think we are going to get the tickets. I wonder when they will be available to buy online.

 

[Lauree]

We took our 2.5 DS and 6yr. old DD in Oct. 2005. We had a very good time. One thing that helped was sleeping in that morning, playing in the pool, and just taking it easy until time to go party. We were able to get in a 4:00 with our party tickets.

Have fun!!