MVMCP Help Please?

[LuvnMickey]

Hi,
We're off to WDW in a couple of weeks and will be attending MVMCP for the 1st time ever (after 15 years of trips). I am so excited. I went to the Disney site but didn't get a lot of specifics about the event. Any veteran DVC'ers who have attended that could provide some advice on "must see" activites or events?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Pa@okw95]

Well it is like one great "E" night with snow and other goodies. Yes it snows on Main Street. I had my picture taken and there is free drinks etc. That is all I can remember about it.

 

[WDWJWEB1]

Hello LuvnMickey

MVMCP is great, you did'nt say with or without kids?
When you get to the Resort they will give you an update on what is going on the night of the MNMCP. We found that by making a list of must do's helped alot. We can ride the rides anytime so we concentrated on the X-mas events like the show at Cinderellas castle, storytime back by the Teapots (very entertaining), the pictures.(we always wait untill later to do these as the lines are much shorter(around 9:00) The 2nd Parade is always less crowded, we go back to Frontier Land to watch(nobody there) Then we take our time closing the Park, we love being some of the last ones out, and if we do a few rides in between shows that's good if not that's alright also.

Enjoy and remember your there for the x-mas party the rides will still be there in the morning.
Hope this helped you?

 

[tiggerwannabe]

This link should help...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=654434

 

[LuvnMickey]

Thanks for the advice. It is a trip without kids (first one in 15 years of WDW). We don't get into Orlando until 10:30 so likely will checkin around midnight. I hope they have the info we need and our tickets.

I can't wait! You'd think I'd never visited Mickey before!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Enjoy the cookies and the hot chocolate! The line for pictures seems to be less at the Hall of Presidents, we used that area twice.

Bobbi

 

[kathleena]

If you go to the MK park that day, you can just stay in the park when it closes and avoid the long lines at the gate. Just go to the front of the castle around 4 ish and look for the CMs giving out wristbands. They will give you one for a ticket. You cannot arrive with someone elses ticket though - they required you to be there so they can put the wrist band on.

They send everyone over to Tomorrowland for the hour between 6-7 while they switch to Christmas!

Lots of characters in Xmas costumes.

Rather than doing rides - you should just do the special stuff, like the Xmas shows - that you can only see at the party.

And hope it doesn't pour! Two years ago it did and I was bummed - no parades! No outside shows! No body out! Just rain, rain, rain.

And don't forget to get your free picture - do it after the 2nd parade when the lines are shorted. And you are entitled to one per ticket no matter what they tell you. Insist on it! They will try to tell you one per address, but insist on one per ticket.

 

[DVCconvert]

Rather than doing rides - you should just do the special stuff, like the Xmas shows - that you can only see at the party.

I agree completely!
"must see's" : Stage show on castle forecourt
Mickey's T'was the Night before Christmas
The Parade (later one)
Fireworks

HTH

 

[LuvnMickey]

Just one more question--we have only two days. One evening we'll be at MVMCP and the other night we have reservations at 6:45 for the Candlelight Processional and then 8:15 dinner reservations. I'd like to squeeze in seeing the Osbourne Family Lights at MGM. Do you think we should do that just before MVMCP even if it means arriving at MK a little later (7:00 PM)? If that's the case, we won't get our wristbands early at MK.

Trying to make the most of very limited time.

 

[NMW]

We went Dec 2003 and LOVED it. I would suggest doing the special Christmas shows and then rides during the first showing of the parade and fireworks. If it is feasable for your family, that is. The second parade and fireworks show is WAY less crowded. Trust me, it seemed like a couple hundred people left (mostly with strollers)after the first firework show was over. You can get awesome spots for the second parade by arriving minutes before it starts. My kids were a little tired the next day but, it was worth it. We all had a great time and the MVMCCP is one of the things my kids talked about the most after we got home.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

If you go to MGM the day you do MVMCP, you should be ok.
The sun sets at 4:30-the lights should be on by then.
You can walk the Osbourne Lights & then go to MK.

You may arrive at 7pm, but you have til midnight to enjoy the festivities. JMO.

 

[LuvnMickey]

Thanks tiggerwannabe! Sounds like a plan to me.

Only one more week.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Only one more week.

I can't wait I can't wait I can't waitI can't wait I can't wait I can't wait I can't wait I can't wait I can't waitI can't wait I can't wait I can't wait

To See Mickey!

LOL!

You think I'm ready?

 

[kathleena]

I think in 2002 that they didn't get the lights on until around 6pm at MGM. They do a lighting ceremony.

I wouldn't do the lights - you are paying for a limited amt of time at a party. I think you will get there later than you think.

JMHO. Keep looking for the time the lights go on at MGM.

 

[kathleena]

Just an update - yes the lights start at 6pm. When I went it was a full 45 minutes to walk thru them in a sea of people.

November 24 - January 2
Wednesday-Saturday from 6pm to 8:30pm
This year's holiday light display will illuminate the new Streets of America with millions of sparkling holiday bulbs in designs created by Jennings Osborne, an Arkanas businessman and philanthropist. From trees to spinning carousels, some of Osborne's original "illuminating" creations include 3-D and motion-based displays, a giant holiday-light Mickey Mouse, dozens of flying angels and several giant Santa Claus light creations.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

If you don't get to see the lights it's always an excuse to try again next year...JMO.


Have a Great time!

 

[Doug7856]

Originally posted by LuvnMickey
Just one more question--we have only two days. One evening we'll be at MVMCP and the other night we have reservations at 6:45 for the Candlelight Processional and then 8:15 dinner reservations. I'd like to squeeze in seeing the Osbourne Family Lights at MGM. Do you think we should do that just before MVMCP even if it means arriving at MK a little later (7:00 PM)? If that's the case, we won't get our wristbands early at MK.

Trying to make the most of very limited time.

Our first year for MVMCP we went to see the Osbourne Family Lights first and then went to MVMCP. We left immediately from MGM and arrived at the Magic Kingdom during the first parade (this was in 1997 I believe, so the schedule may be a bit different now). We were a bit disappointed at first, BUT it was so magical coming into the park with the snow and the Christmas parade it turned out to be a wonderful entry into the Christmas Party! We did see the second showing of the parade and enjoyed the whole parade later. Just be aware that if you do the Osbourne Lights first, you may enter the party after the festivities have begun!

 

[DeeDeeDis]

LuvnMickey

This will be our first Holiday trip to wdw also, bits and pieces i've learned from this board (Thank God for this board) is as follows;

You can arrive as early as 4:00pm for the MVMCP
YOu can get PS for dinner before the party begins (originally told NO by cm when i purchased tickets)
There are TWO parades

My Plan for Dec 14th (my dh is already exhausted)
1. Spend the day by the pool
2. Arrive between 4 & 5 pm at MK
3. Ride (s)
4. Tree liting at 5:30pm
5. pictures at Hall of Pres. (Now I know I can get a minimum of 3 - three different households)
6. 6:20 dinner at Liberty tavern -DS#1 birthday celebration
7. Holiday Happenings (if I can find a schedule of events, ie castle, retelling of a Christmas Story, main street, etc..) or ride
8. ride, or just hanging with mom looking at all the sights with our mouths open i'm sure
9. end the nite with Fireworks (Are there two firework showings???) At frontier land, can you see the castle from here?
10. crawl home

I Can't Wait, i feel like i'm waiting for Santa to arrive

 

[CapeCodFam]

We'll be there on the 14th too!

We will be focusing on all of the special shows, etc and saving rides for last. We went to the Holloween party last year and missed almost all of the special events because we went crazy with the rides and lost track of time.

Since the holiday parade is only shown during MVMCP, we don't want to miss it. The only time it is shown during the day is beginning 12/18.

 

[Muushka]

We are also planning on going the 14th. This is our first time ever. We have been going for the past 12 years and never did it. I cannot wait!