MVMCP - Is it worth the extra money?

[5Hfan]

Hijacking instead of starting a new thread...

People keep saying sold out parties are super crowded. Can someone try to quantify it? Like a "9" day on an easywdw calendars? Spring break crowds? Summer crowds? Is it more crowded than mid day at MK?

We are going November 13. According to TP that date has never sold out (though I don't put much faith in that).

Are most people doing the big rides and things you can't do otherwise? I'd love to see the 7 dwarves but don't plan on waiting in a long line. How long are Mickey lines? Princesses with their princes?

I just have no idea what to expect!

We waited nearly 40 minutes to see Mickey at the Halloween party 9/27. It was sold out.

Here are some pictures to gauge:

Party entrance at 4 pm


Once in the park at 4 Main St was not bad.



Sitting at the curb in the hub for the second parade.



Walking out around midnight. The last abbreviated show was going on behind us, so we were "ahead" of the crowd.



So park busy but not Christmas week crowded busy. The ride lines were 10-20 minutes, we did not try Peter Pan or 7 Dwarves though.

 

[5Hfan]

I'm wondering the same thing... not meaning to hijack the thread. I last visited in 2005 when it was just my wife and I. We're taking our 7yo daughter this time around. I had no intention of spending the extra $ for the party, but then I read that it's happening on the day I chose MK (for low crowd predictions), and that they'll shoo us out at 7 without tickets. This seems unfair when you're staying on property with a MYW package and paying admission for the day.

I guess if we get there at rope drop, and they really let us stick around right up to the 7pm cutoff, that would be ok -- we'll probably be ready to drop by then anyway. But -- will we see any parade or fireworks at least?

The regular day parade, but no you will not see the Christmas parade or fireworks.

 

[siskaren]

Hijacking instead of starting a new thread...

People keep saying sold out parties are super crowded. Can someone try to quantify it? Like a "9" day on an easywdw calendars? Spring break crowds? Summer crowds? Is it more crowded than mid day at MK?

We are going November 13. According to TP that date has never sold out (though I don't put much faith in that).

Are most people doing the big rides and things you can't do otherwise? I'd love to see the 7 dwarves but don't plan on waiting in a long line. How long are Mickey lines? Princesses with their princes?

I just have no idea what to expect!

The thing to keep in mind with regards to the parties is that they sell a lot fewer tickets for those than park capacity, so no, it wouldn't be like a "9" day on easyWDW. However, since most of the events that are exclusive to the party are centered around Main Street (parade, fireworks, stage shows), that area may feel more like a "9" than the rest of the park. The ride lines tend to be short because most people are going to prioritize the party-exclusive events and meet & greets, rather than something they can do during regular park hours.

 

[kathy884]

We did the MVMCP last December on a sold out day. I'd say crowd level kind of like a 7 for rides. (Anna/Elsa castle show, parades even second, fireworks -- huge crowds -- packed in like sardines - more like an 8). We had dinner at Casey's, the hot dog place on main street after the Anna and Elsa show and were in line for about a 1/2 hour and were quite fortunate to get a place to sit -- lots of people didn't have one of those. No FP+ as not a normal day. I missed not being there for rope drop -- early morning those first two hours is my favorite time in the park. Some characters who aren't normally out if you are into that (Tinker Bell, all Seven Dwarfs). New rides like Seven Dwarf Mine Train ride had lines of an hour and 15 minutes -- 45 minutes at the very end of the day (11 p.m.). Other lines weren't too bad. We did attractions till midnight and then hit Main Street USA gift shops till 1:30 a.m. or so. // We had a good time, but then we always do at Disney. Given that I don't have too much interest in parades, fireworks, and characters, I wouldn't go out of my way to do it again. Note too, we did not do the party and the MK on the trip, but did the party instead of doing a day at the MK. // My next way to do the MK (next trip) is the Keys to the Kingdom tour from (9:30 till 2 and then seven or so attractions after that.) // If you've been what seems like a zillion times, you might want to do the party to mix things up a bit. That was our reason for doing it instead of a regular admission - a desire to hit the MK, but to do it in a different way.

 

[busymommy2pink]

Hijacking instead of starting a new thread...

People keep saying sold out parties are super crowded. Can someone try to quantify it? Like a "9" day on an easywdw calendars? Spring break crowds? Summer crowds? Is it more crowded than mid day at MK?

We are going November 13. According to TP that date has never sold out (though I don't put much faith in that).

Are most people doing the big rides and things you can't do otherwise? I'd love to see the 7 dwarves but don't plan on waiting in a long line. How long are Mickey lines? Princesses with their princes?

I just have no idea what to expect!

We are going that same party see you there!


We went to MNSSHP last year and it was a blast!!! We are trying MVMCP this year since we all love Christmas. The Halloween one was a blast!! We rode splash mountain six times in a row before I told my daughter no more lol. We never got off.

This year we want to see the parade, maybe the fireworks and the 7 dwarfs. As well as get a nice photo pass photo of all of us in front of the lit up castle. Add a few rides and everything else is golden. We aren't interested in hot cocoa so the quality of that doesn't matter lol

 

[lovesdumbo]

I've been to MVMCP 3 times. I'm still on the fence about going this year. I'm going to wait and see how I feel about it day before event when I've got a weather forecast. I'll still get pre purchase price and if it's sold out I don't want to go anyways.

 

[momimouse27]

msmama, out of the three i've attended I would say one was super crowded. I haven't been at Christmas to say what that's like but I have been during spring break and summer busy time.

I would say for our busy party, the crowd would have been a 6-7 on a 1-10 scale. Now, let me say this. As the night wore on, the crowds dispersed. We rode rides during the first parade, and watched the second parade near the front entrance. Then we went back in and rode more rides. When we went back in after the second parade, it was like a ghost town. My family are all night owls, and we stayed til the bitter end. But it's fun because we kind of had the park to ourselves.

This was only our experience, maybe someone else had a different one.

 

[edk35]

We just booked a week in Nov. The plan is to go to the party on Thursday Nov. 19th. We have NOT been since Nov. 2008. I hope we are not disappointed. We loved the past ones we have done way back when.

 

[Happy_2_B]

Been to some MVMCP's- got talked into another one this year. Are they worth the extra money? Tough call. Rare characters are the draw for a lot of people. The parades/fireworks/stage shows/character M&G's are similar to a very busy day at the MK- they are very crowded because even though the tickets are limited- most everyone is there to see those so it will seem like the park is full if you are part of those crowds. Fireworks and first parade are really busy. If you are planning to stay for the whole thing, do attractions during the first parade- just don't pick super headliners because the lines will still be long at those that early in the evening. After the fireworks, a lot of people head out- many with small children, and many of those that bit off more than they could chew by doing a full day at the MK then attempting to stay for the party head out as well. It is still busy for the second parade, but after that there is another exodus of people- and it gets pretty quiet after that. That is the sweet spot for attractions- and for walking right up to characters with no lines. We always go in early December, and always attend a mid week party, so have never been exposed to a sold out party. It might be a different experience at those that are sold out- but if you pick the right day it can be a pretty amazing time in the MK at the very end of the party. Lastly, we do nothing the day of the party except sleep in and hang out at the resort- maybe grab lunch offsite or whatever. If you want to be fresh and be able to tour the attractions/meet characters/whatever else until the party closes, it is very difficult to tour either the MK or another park that same day then finish out the party IMHO. Your 'value' in MVMCP is you don't burn a day of admission (assuming you don't have APs like we do- then it obviously doesn't matter). With all that said, crowds will be the same at the end of the party as the are at rope drop on those same days since most people don't do the MK on a party day- there might even be fewer people there at rope drop. Attending, or not attending, a party comes down to your personal preferences and how you view value for your dollar.

 

[Dis703]

I think it's great to do at least once. I took my ODS when he was 5 years old and we loved it. We saw all the shows and had our hot cocoa and cookies and we walked down Main Street while it was snowing. We didn't do any of the special meet and greets, but I know those are very popular with some people. The Christmas parade was very cool. And the waits for rides during the earlier parade were awesome! We literally walked on some rides with no wait at all and only had 5-10 minute waits on others. It was a really great night.

 

[got2sammies]

We went last year on the 13th (thursday night..2nd time going so I knew what to expect BUT the crowds were a lot bigger. Rides were still short but the character lines were crazy long.. We did do the parade and fireworks and my brother and nieces loved it.. When they say crowded no its not like a 9.. Its prob more like a 5/6 but in past years it was more like a 2...The dwarfs are also the longest line and people start to line up early.. The prince/princess and Santa Claws lines were long as well and they cut them off after the fireworks Mickey is not so bad.. If you want party merchandise buy that first and have them hold it to the front or send it to your hotel....

 

[margot31]

Among all the people who have gone and now don't like to go and even listening to the Dis podcast got me thinking the same thing.

But here is something to think about if you have never been why not give it a try and see if its worth doing again later down the road.

For my husband and I he has said we are going just to see it snow in Florida. We lived there for a total of 5 years on and off (military) and never saw snow. Yes we have seen plenty of snow living in Maryland right now but snow in Florida.....hell will freeze over before that actually happens.

 

[5Hfan]

Been to some MVMCP's- got talked into another one this year. Are they worth the extra money? Tough call. Rare characters are the draw for a lot of people. The parades/fireworks/stage shows/character M&G's are similar to a very busy day at the MK- they are very crowded because even though the tickets are limited- most everyone is there to see those so it will seem like the park is full if you are part of those crowds. Fireworks and first parade are really busy. If you are planning to stay for the whole thing, do attractions during the first parade- just don't pick super headliners because the lines will still be long at those that early in the evening. After the fireworks, a lot of people head out- many with small children, and many of those that bit off more than they could chew by doing a full day at the MK then attempting to stay for the party head out as well. It is still busy for the second parade, but after that there is another exodus of people- and it gets pretty quiet after that. That is the sweet spot for attractions- and for walking right up to characters with no lines. We always go in early December, and always attend a mid week party, so have never been exposed to a sold out party. It might be a different experience at those that are sold out- but if you pick the right day it can be a pretty amazing time in the MK at the very end of the party. Lastly, we do nothing the day of the party except sleep in and hang out at the resort- maybe grab lunch offsite or whatever. If you want to be fresh and be able to tour the attractions/meet characters/whatever else until the party closes, it is very difficult to tour either the MK or another park that same day then finish out the party IMHO. Your 'value' in MVMCP is you don't burn a day of admission (assuming you don't have APs like we do- then it obviously doesn't matter). With all that said, crowds will be the same at the end of the party as the are at rope drop on those same days since most people don't do the MK on a party day- there might even be fewer people there at rope drop. Attending, or not attending, a party comes down to your personal preferences and how you view value for your dollar.

I think something else with the MNSSHP this year is the later fireworks/parade times. It made much less of a sweet spot time for doing rides after!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Among all the people who have gone and now don't like to go and even listening to the Dis podcast got me thinking the same thing.

But here is something to think about if you have never been why not give it a try and see if its worth doing again later down the road.

For my husband and I he has said we are going just to see it snow in Florida. We lived there for a total of 5 years on and off (military) and never saw snow. Yes we have seen plenty of snow living in Maryland right now but snow in Florida.....hell will freeze over before that actually happens.

Hell froze over January 2010 Marathon weekend. Coldest race ever, snow, sleet, ice HORRID!

 

[PeasandCarrots]

I think it depends on a lot of things. First if you have never done it even though I'm not a huge fan I think it's worth doing one time. That said, while I wasn't miserable, both times (I went last year and several years ago) I didn't not feel like it was worth the money for me personally. It really depends on what you are there to do and how much you are willing to stand around.

If you want to ride rides then it's a great time to go, ride lines tend to be shorter. If you want to do the special character meet and greets be prepared to stand in long lines. If you want a good spot for the parade, be prepared to wait a long time.

Last year (and I'm short) despite trying to get in place I could not see the parade (I'm 5') and I could not see the stage show. Fireworks are pretty easy to see from many places so not as big of a deal. The cookie and hot cocoa are not worth standing in line for IMO. I got in line very early for Jack Skellington and waited 1 hour 15 minutes. It was worth it for me once because I'm a huge fan of that movie but just be prepared for lines.

Here's our video of the party last year - the parade footage especially will give you an idea of the crowds and this party was NOT sold out and that was in the frontier/liberty square area which is supposed to be less crowded.

Here's the next morning where we talk about why we won't be doing the party again even though I at least had a reasonably good time.

Hope this helps you!

 

[margot31]

Hell froze over January 2010 Marathon weekend. Coldest race ever, snow, sleet, ice HORRID!

We were still living in CA at that time before we headed back to Florida.

 

[disneysailor]

For my husband and I he has said we are going just to see it snow in Florida. We lived there for a total of 5 years on and off (military) and never saw snow. Yes we have seen plenty of snow living in Maryland right now but snow in Florida.....hell will freeze over before that actually happens.

When my children were young, it snowed on one of our Disney days. We started with their pjs and layered most of their clothes over that. The tram ride to the park was FREEZING but kind of exciting! DH and I looking forward to our first MVMCP and warmer "snow" on Main Street! That's actually what sold me on the party! Sorry, a bit off topic.

 

[pixeydust]

The same special Christmas parade, fireworks, decorations, Christmas characters and snow on mainstreet are all available to guests outside of the party at Christmas time also. You do get cookies and cocoa though so there is that!

 

[Fanboy]

It's something I would recommend doing once as it's a pretty fun and unique experience. That said, the time to do a ticketed event is always "now" as they're only going to get more expensive and more crowded as the years go by and Disflation keeps driving those ticket prices up up UP!

While I won't do a second party, what with the price and crowd increases, I am in that elite crowd of DISers who can cluck my tongue and look shocked at the current crowds, proudly proclaiming that "It wasn't like that when I went!" And how can you put a price on that?

 

[sharadoc]

Definitely once as long as the cost doesn't strain your budget in a big way. The cast members are dressed up, there are special decorations and projections, and the parade is wonderful. Here's a piece, the toy soldiers literally brought tears to my eyes.

Dress in Christmas clothes and get in the spirit. Don't spend your time meeting characters, go on all the rides, watch the entertainment, there's a special castle show, get in the spirit!!