MNSSHP or MVMCP?

[gcbsdad]

DW and I just got back from our Anniversary trip without the kids. Since we've been back all we hear is "Mom & Dad, when are we going to go as a family again?"
[This doesn't count the 2 nights we are camping with DS's Cub Scouts this weekend at Disney's Creekside Meadow Group Camping Site. Not too sure what activities there are, but we do not think it involves the parks.]
Well that got DW and I to talking and originally we thought we would go for 4 nights sometime during the 2 weeks prior to Christmas and maybe try MVMCP. But the kids want to swim also, so we thought October would be warmer and we could try MNSSHP. Now it is possible that we could swim in December but you never know about the weather. Now DW and I took our oldest, who was 3 at the time to MVMCP, but it wasn't that great. Maybe we missed something? I don't really know? Everyone around here always raves about it?
We have also never been to MNSSHP and that might be fun instead?

Can anyone sell us on either of these 2 events?

 

[Leah and Emily's mom]

My family has been to both. Which to choose? Hard to say. Both were great! The fun thing about it is that it is more leisure. Stroll around and see the sights and take in the extras. At the MVMCP 05 our DD's were finally tall enough we spent the night riding all the rides- absolutely no wait. As the night went on we could get on the rides and ride it 3 or 4 times without getting off the ride. We took our kids to breakfast and looking at the resorts in the moring and then a nap in the afternoon so we could all stay up and enjoy the party / event. I know we left the MNSSHP so late I was afraid we would miss the trams. I did see families swimming in December. However, I did not pack swimsuits so we did not do it.

Our girls are young enough that Trick or Treating at MK was fun during the MNSSHP. We especially liked the parade.

I have heard the LTT is a great place to dine during the MNSSHP. We are going to try it.

 

[ilovemickeymost]

I'm a little biased b/c I've only been to notsoscary. Go early in October as it gets crowded closer to Halloween. DD & I tent camped & it was warm enough. But, I must say that it was worth every penny. The whole place is decorated. The headless horseman rode down the Mstreet on a real horse. They had dance parties, pics, trick or treat for everyone. If you go you all HAVE to dress up. There really were tons of people dressed up & families went as themes (swhite & the dwarfs) DD went as BElle & I went as Tink. A little girl came up to me & asked for my autograph. I just happend to have pixie dust & gave her some. She came back & asked for some for her brother who was sleeping ( by far my favorite disney memory ever). There is a place on mstreet that takes pics, so we went in & got them taken in our costumes. It is kinda crowded in there, so do that early. I can't say enough about it. I wanted to go for the notsoscary this trip, but I couldn't wait that long.

 

[justwinnie]

My first real post!

We've gone to both for the past two years. This year, we'll probably only go to MNSSHP just because of timing (we're going later this month and again in late Sept, so a Christmas trip this year is probably out of the picture!). We had also gone to MNSSHP 4 years ago, and it seems to have improved over time.

We love them both! But if I had to choose one over the other, it'd be MNSSHP. We love Halloween! The weather is also perfect-- it can get really cold at night for MVMCP, but it's nice all night long during MNSSHP.

We usually plan on arriving on a night there's a party and then just go to the party after checking in and resting a bit. Then we don't feel like we "wasted" a park ticket by having to leave by 5ish to get to the party.

We enjoy so many things at both of the events...
- Free photo at both! You can get a family picture taken and they will mail you 2 or 3 copies of it. Best to go right away or at the end of the night. Sometimes the lines can be really long! They add a fun border, with the year and event.
- Trick or Treating at MNSSHP. We got tons of candy without really trying. They just throw handfuls in your bag! I ended up bringing it home and giving it out, since there was so much! All good stuff too-- M&Ms, Snickers, etc.
- Characters in costume! We went to the Judge's Tent and saw Princess Minnie along with other characters in costume. There were special character greetings all over. At MVMCP, the cracters were in "winter" costume. I gasped when I saw how beautiful Belle was-- she was wearing a ruby cloak over a ballgown. Others just seemed to wear a scarf or hat to be wintery.
- Dance party! They hold dance parties in several different locations. You get to dance with different characters and it's a lot of fun.
- Special fireworks. Specially themed with special music. Last year, they had all-over park fireworks and it was amazing! We stood on the bridge from Futureworld for MNSSHP and in front of the Castle during MVMCP. It felt so magical to stand there with fireworks going off all around you, every where you looked!
- If you want to ride rides all night, there's barely a wait at any of them. One year, we rode Space Mountain nearly 20 times in a row!
- The Christmas parade is much longer than the Halloween parade, but both are very fun. Also, catch the 2nd parade-- crowds have thinned out a lot and you can get prime seats. During the first parade, get your pic taken, ride rides, visit the characters!
- If you like Villians, there was a special Villians show at MNSSHP. They mingled with the crowd afterwards, and you can get pics/autographs with them-- pretty rare otherwise!
- The free cocoa and snickerdoodles at MVMCP were ok. People rave about them, but we didn't think they were so special. However, it was nice to have a (free!) snack and watch the parade.


That's all I can think of for now... Hope you'll give either a try (again).

Winnie

 

[beattyfamily]

I've done both a few times and we alternate (or do both if we're lucky!).

Based on your wanting to swim and that you've already tried MVMCP, I'd go for MNSSHP this year.

Have fun deciding AND planning!