MNSSHP or special dinner show for last night?

[brinafair]

We are traveling to WDW at the end of September with our family of 5.
We have an 11 year old, 8 year old, and 4 year old. I want to plan something special for our last evening.

In your opinion, would you splurge on the MNSSHP on the last night or go for a special dinner show (i.e. Spirit of Aloha)? I'm just not sure we'll get our money's worth at MNSSHP because I think our 4-year old will have a hard time hanging that late.

Suggestions please! Maybe there is something else you could recommend we do that I haven't thought of yet? Thanks a bunch!

 

[kohlby]

Hi! We're going to MNSSHP for the first time this Sept as well. My kids are 11, 8, and 5. It's actually our 8 year old who needs her sleep the most. At home, she likes to be in bed at only 7:15pm! So, we don't plan many late nights. She really wants to do MNSSHP though and says she'll make an exception - so we're going! I have no clue how late she'll make it. But it will be a lot of fun. I'm not too worried about our 5 year old. If he can't handle staying up, then he can hang out in the stroller and sleep. We don't usually go in Sept, so this might be our last chance. Also, we don't know if the 11 year old will feel silly doing MNSSHP in the future. (As it is, we planned a family costume but the 11 year old is doing something different since he didn't want to do one with us).

 

[brinafair]

Hi! We're going to MNSSHP for the first time this Sept as well. My kids are 11, 8, and 5. It's actually our 8 year old who needs her sleep the most. At home, she likes to be in bed at only 7:15pm! So, we don't plan many late nights. She really wants to do MNSSHP though and says she'll make an exception - so we're going! I have no clue how late she'll make it. But it will be a lot of fun. I'm not too worried about our 5 year old. If he can't handle staying up, then he can hang out in the stroller and sleep. We don't usually go in Sept, so this might be our last chance. Also, we don't know if the 11 year old will feel silly doing MNSSHP in the future. (As it is, we planned a family costume but the 11 year old is doing something different since he didn't want to do one with us).

Thank you for the input! It sounds like so much fun. I'm torn. Hubby & I continue to discuss. I hope you all have a wonderful time!

 

[imthemamahere]

We're doing MNSSHP this fall for the first time and can't wait. My little guy is 5.

Now, he's a kid who typically goes to bed at a reasonable hour, but when we're on vacation and keep him busy/entertained, he goes with the flow and stays awake pretty late. When he was 3, we did MVMCP with him, and he was content to hang out through the party, riding a few favorite rides and doing character meet & greets, finally konking out as we left the park around midnight. I wouldn't push him to stay up that late regularly, but once in a blue moon? He can go with the flow and continue to have fun way past his bedtime.

If your little one has meltdowns if bedtime's more than half an hour delayed, I wouldn't recommend going to the party. But if you'll have a stroller and your little one can just konk out if necessary, while the rest of your family can enjoy a really fun night at the Halloween party, I'd say go for that!

 

[brinafair]

We're doing MNSSHP this fall for the first time and can't wait. My little guy is 5.

Now, he's a kid who typically goes to bed at a reasonable hour, but when we're on vacation and keep him busy/entertained, he goes with the flow and stays awake pretty late. When he was 3, we did MVMCP with him, and he was content to hang out through the party, riding a few favorite rides and doing character meet & greets, finally konking out as we left the park around midnight. I wouldn't push him to stay up that late regularly, but once in a blue moon? He can go with the flow and continue to have fun way past his bedtime.

If your little one has meltdowns if bedtime's more than half an hour delayed, I wouldn't recommend going to the party. But if you'll have a stroller and your little one can just konk out if necessary, while the rest of your family can enjoy a really fun night at the Halloween party, I'd say go for that!

Thank you! I really appreciate the input!

 

[Dragonfly_34]

We are doing MNSSHP the last night we are there - it will be our only late night during the trip. We have plans for a late breakfast and late lunch, then will head to MK at 4pm. I'm sure we won't stay until the park closes and I expect my 2 year old twins to fall asleep but that's ok. My 5 year old will love it - he's a night owl anyway. We did the same thing with DS17 when he was 5 and he did great, so hopefully we'll luck out again. Will your 4 year old sleep in the stroller? If so, I'd go for it!

 

[ktlm]

We aren't really that big on Halloween, but we LOVE MNSSHP. It is so fun to see all the park guests in costumes, and it is just a great atmosphere. Last year was our first MNSSHP, but we have been taking DD ,8, to MVMCP since she was 2. She is a bit of a night owl kid anyway, but she has always managed to stay up late enough to have a great time. I can recall when she was 2, that it was a totally sold out night and we didn't get a spot for the early parade, so we decided to try to make it to the late parade. She slept in her stroller on the curb until the parade started, we woke her up for the parade and she was smiling and laughing and jumping up and down the whole time, and then after the parade I don't think we had taken 3 steps before she was asleep in the stroller again. I would say just be sure and have the stroller handy and if the 4 year old gets too tired and goes to sleep you can just keep going and let the older kids continue to have a great time! I'm know when DD was 4, she made it to MVMCP's end she was having such a great time.