MVMCP - Is it a must do?

[Joy70]

We're going to WDW Nov. 16 - Nov. 20. MK is our favorite park and we get park hoppers since we find that we'll usually go there in the morning or evening, even if we hit another park that day. The dates we are going MK closes at 4:30 on the 17th, and the 18th is MVMCP so it will be closed at 7. They do have EMH's on Saturday evening, so we'll probably stay late then, but we'll still have a shortage of time since I'm anticipating Saturday will be pretty busy.

My question is, should we consider buying tickets for MVMCP on the 18th for more time at MK, or is it usually so crowded that we wouldn't get much extra ride time anyway? Are the extras that are offered during the party worth the additional $400 for tickets? I think my DD's (11 & 8) would enjoy it, but that's quite a bit of money for a short amount of time. It may be worth it if it's a not-to-be missed experience as I doubt we'll be there during this time of year again (we usually go in the Spring.) I'd love to hear from those of you that have went recently and how your experience was!

 

[DisneyMom111]

When we went to the party the first time back in 2004, it was awesome. Low crowds and you could ride tons of rides. As time went on, it got more and more crowded. We finally gave it up because we felt like we couldn't even move while we were there. I think if you go, and stay until closing, you can get some rides in as the crowds thin out. But be prepared for it to be packed for a while! The Christmas parade is fun, the hot chocolate and cookies are average.

 

[monique5]

We went on the last night in 2014. IMO, it's worth it. Especially if you won't be back around Christmas. There are opinions on both sides you'll see here. I planned for MVMCP like I would my WDW trip. Checked out the MVMCP thread here & KtP FB page & website. Then filled in with other websites.

The Hub was crowded due to fireworks, parade & 1st year Frozen did the castle show. But totally doable. Short wait times for rides, except for 7DMT.

Entered park @ 2:45 to eat @ CRT. Had APs, but MVMCP ticket holders can enter MK @ 4pm using party ticket. After dinner, got party wristbands, then used 3 FP+ on party ticket. DH got in 7D M&G line around 5:30. We did our last FP+ without him, rode Little Mermaid & did Ariel M&G, then Barnstormer. Then joined DH in line, 7D came out around 6:45, 3rd in line, done by 7. Jumped over to meet Princesses with their Princes. Then to Hub for castle show, ate @ Casey's while watching 1st parade. Then to NFL for Minnie in peppermint dress. Santa Goofy & road Barnstormer again. Meet Scrooge McDuck & Family. We did do Dessert Party during party, didn't know about DD & crowds, it worked for us & would do this again. Rode a few rides. Back to NFL, was able to meet Sandy Claws around 10:45 with 5 minute wait. Few more photo opps with random Christmas characters, non-Disney (reindeer, elf). A few other things too.

 

[kwdw]

I went in 2015 and we had a great experience. If your goal for the party is extra ride time at MK - you'll get that. Probably only SDMT will be more than about 30 minutes as it gets later in the evening and some rides will be walk-on by 7:30. But extra ride time isn't what makes the party special for most folks. You need time to see the parade, the fireworks, the castle show, the show in Tomorrowland, and see the fireworks. And if you want to wait in line to see a special character - that all adds up in time. It can be a fun experience - but. I think its better for folks on longer visits, frequent visitors looking for something different, or folks not paying for a regular park ticket that day.

For a family of four on a short visit - it's a lot of extra money. The park is beautiful for Christmas without the party. I think if you really hit RD on the 18th at MK - and plan to go commando style - you'll get A LOT done in the park before 4pm. Don't plan a TS meal for that lunch - just have a QS lunch - and make your FP+ for between 4-7 pm when the park gets crowded (or plan to hit things like HoP, CBJ, CoP, treehouse in that time frame). They will really kick you out at 7pm (no shopping after 7pm!) - but you don't have to be exiting the park until 7pm (you can be in a ride line at 6:55pm and still get on that ride). Last year - A&E did a castle lighting at like 6:45 pm - so day guests could see that. The hub was PACKED - but it was cute. Plan a nice dinner someplace or hop to another park after 7pm or do a monorail resort hop to see the different decorations at the resorts. The gingerbread house at the GF is not to be missed, IMO. So - you don't need to attend the party to see WDW all dressed up for Christmas.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Have you done it before? If not, yes.

 

[bnhonest]

If you haven't done a hard ticket parade/party event, then, yeah, you need to see it if you have the ways and means. But getting extra ride time should not be a priority. You need to hunker down in the hub pretty early for the parade, stage show and fireworks. They are all unique and only available for the party. Watch them on YouTube if you want to know what they are about. But when I say hunker down, I mean hunker down. Get your spot early and don't give it up.

Once you've seen parades, stage shows and fireworks, then do the rides. But don't make rides your first priority. You will probably have time to work about one side of the park. Maybe hit fantasy land and work counter clockwise. You can catch the 2nd parade in Fronteir land if you time it right.

 

[TStrickland01]

MVMCP is a must do, but only if all of the parades, fireworks, shows, characters, and holiday theming is a priority. If it is just to get time for rides, then it is a very expensive way.
There are many guides that will assist on making the most of the park during the party.
First arrive at 4 PM if you are not already at the Magic Kingdom. Take full advantage of the early entry for the party and use those few hours to visit some of the rides.
Use the 5 hours of party time to enjoy the one time items.
Personally I like to view the parade once from the firehouse area, and once from Frontierland. The fireworks, character events, and various shows can be managed by early planning with the times guides.
I have gone between 2008 and 2015 and varied the timing from the first party of the season to the last before the Christmas rush. Some times are very crowded, some locations are as well, but I have also been almost alone in Fantasyland. Eat before you start, grab cocoa and cookies, and have fun.

 

[warrenz1963]

We're going to WDW Nov. 16 - Nov. 20. MK is our favorite park and we get park hoppers since we find that we'll usually go there in the morning or evening, even if we hit another park that day. The dates we are going MK closes at 4:30 on the 17th, and the 18th is MVMCP so it will be closed at 7. They do have EMH's on Saturday evening, so we'll probably stay late then, but we'll still have a shortage of time since I'm anticipating Saturday will be pretty busy.

My question is, should we consider buying tickets for MVMCP on the 18th for more time at MK, or is it usually so crowded that we wouldn't get much extra ride time anyway? Are the extras that are offered during the party worth the additional $400 for tickets? I think my DD's (11 & 8) would enjoy it, but that's quite a bit of money for a short amount of time. It may be worth it if it's a not-to-be missed experience as I doubt we'll be there during this time of year again (we usually go in the Spring.) I'd love to hear from those of you that have went recently and how your experience was!

You're an MK fan, it's a special event, if you can afford it I say why not do it? Disney vacations are for splurging and treating yourself. The special Christmas parade is pretty awesome. The special meet and greets are cool (but crowded), and the unique party-only shows can be really fun. But I would only do it on it's own, I would definitely NOT spend the day in the park and then buy a party ticket for the same afternoon and evening. Now, here comes the curmudgeon response...
The 12/18 party is close enough to Christmas day that the party is likely to sell out, and every year it seems that the number of party tickets sold increases. Dreams of extra ride time may be unrealized, or just marginally better than a regular day of park operations. We did it once, and that will probably be it for us. The parties just don't hold much value for us, but everyone's mileage varies on that issue. Personally I don't think one special parade, marginally unique fireworks, soap bubbles on Main Street, and free snickerdoodles are worth the extra cost. The extra cost now is just too high to justify, for me. I mean it's almost double what it once was, and almost equals the price of a single day ticket, and nothing extra has been added to the party experience save for changing out the unique shows. Now back to the pixie dust...
Do it, especially if you know it's going to be once in a life time.