MVMCP "must do's" RECAP of TIPS!!!

[campinggal]

Thanks Tink2 for the schedule!

Does anybody know how early one needs to line up for some of the shows?

 

[daisylove]

Why is everyone doing LTT that night. Do they do something special?

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by daisylove
Why is everyone doing LTT that night. Do they do something special?

Nope, it's only because they were the only sit-down restaurant taking PS right when the tickets went on sale. At 90 days though you can also book Crystal Palace, the Castle and Tony's.

 

[Doug7856]

We have PS arrangements for LTT. Is it worth it? We've never eaten there. We have enjoyed the Crystal Palace, but we've done that twice before and Tony's looks expensive (even for Disney). Just wondering what others think.

 

[Debs Hill]

Another first timer! I am also travelling with a 4 yr old.......will be able to do it all in one night, or should I get tickets for two nights? What restaurants will be open? What is the Plaza restaurant on main street like?

Thanks!!

 

[daisylove]

I have never done Plaza during the MVMCP but did try it this April and it was great. The chicken strawberry salad was really yummy. I am definietely trying it again.

 

[nisiemouse]

Originally posted by Doug7856
We have PS arrangements for LTT. Is it worth it? We've never eaten there. We have enjoyed the Crystal Palace, but we've done that twice before and Tony's looks expensive (even for Disney). Just wondering what others think.

I like the fact that LTT has a good location for starting the party depending on your priority seating time. I am hoping to be finished about 6:45 and go right to the Hall of Presidents to get our picture . I also like that we are deep within the park to start the party. I have gone back and forth on whether to eat at LTT but I think we will keep our priority seating.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Hi all you partygoers, I copied this from last years trip report because I think it's worth mentioning again.

*Let me warn all of you about the hot chocolate. It is piping hot! DGS could not drink it and I was tired of holding it, waiting for it to cool down. He lost interest in it, so I threw his out. Many people were dumping half the hot chocolate in the water fountains and filling the hot chocolate cups with cold water. There was no other way you could drink it. So what ever you do, do not hand the hot chocolate to a child right away. Those lids are deceiving. It is dangerously hot under there. It is delicious though.*

About LTT - this will be our third year eating there prior to MVMCP and we are looking forward to it. The food is pretty good and it has just gotten to be a tradition, I guess.

Tink

 

[Kteacher]

Thanks for the tips everyone

 

[Jordan's MOM]

We thought our MVMCP day was just about perfect last year so here is what we did.

We did not plan on any parks that day. We slept late, had a nice breakfast and then I resort hopped and the guys swam. About 4:30 we headed over to the park and got in with our party tickets. We hit a few rides and went to our 5:45 PS at LTT. WE loved it there. The food, and characters were aswome. Service was ok. We finished about 6:45 and were allowed to remain there till the party stared at 7:00. A few minutes before 7:00 we lined up at the presidents hall for pictures. We were done a few minutes after 7:00 and headed to the castle show. It was wonderful. We spent the rest of the night catching as many shows as possible. We had cookies & hot chocolate, saw wishes and got a great seat for the second parade. We followed the end of the parade out and left around 11:30. It was a quick easy boat ride back to the WL.

BTW- We went on a tuesday night the 2nd week in Dec. There were a lot of people there but crowds were not too bad. Lines for rides were very short but if you want to do all the show, there is really not time for many rides.

Have a great time.

Jordan's mom

 

[DVCconvert]

We are planning on going December 7- a Tuesday night. Can anyone give me an idea of how long I have to stake out a spot for the first parade?

The early parade is always the best attended. Tuesday nights are a good night to go! - less "locals" attend, and you have the best odds for a prime viewing spot! Honestly, unless you have a specific viewing spot in mind, I wouldn't worry about where you saw the parade. About 15 minutes before the parade begins, just walk the parade route (front of park to back) and look for a nice spot for you and your party!

 

[CarnotaurDad]

We too are doing a LTT PS on our MVMCP night! We are very much looking forward to this event. We were at Disney in Nov and saw the beginings of the holiday decorations - they were great. Thanks for all the hints.

If you have young kids - don't forget the earplugs. Wishes is loud...even at WL it was loud. Loud noises at the end of a long day of excitement = crying kids.

See you all there.
Carnotaur (mom)
Karen

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Thanks for the great replies and great info. Definitely helps with the planning!

Holly Joy - I will watch for you at the LTT. We will be a party of 7 - me, DH, and my three kids - DD 6, DD 4, and DS with red hair almost 3, and my in-laws. Our PS is at 5:20. I'll recognize yoru girsl from the photos. If I figure out how, I'll post a picture of my gang. We'll wave "hi" if we see you!

 

[Debs Hill]

If we have PS for a restaurant, will be able to enter the MK with just our party tickets? Once you have finished eating, do they make you stay in a certain area until the party starts? Where do you get your photo done?! Sorry about the endless questions!

 

[Serenity]

Debs Hill,
I have never been so the information I am giving you is basedon what I have read here on these boards. Hope it is accurate and helpful.

You can enter with just your party ticket starting at 4 p.m. even if you do not have a PS at a restaurant. Anyone not eating, will be directed to a central location to wait while they clear the rest of the park of non party guests. Posts here indicated that it is usually Tomorrowland or Fantasyland or both. Attractions in the land where you wait will be operating during that hour.

There are about 4 locations for the photo - I think. From what I have read they are in Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Fantasyland and one more which I can't remember.

There is a lot of info in the official MVMCP post on the top of page one.

Happy Planning.

Edited to add:
Went backt o Tink2's post on page 2 of this post and went to the link for last years's Christmas Party map. The fourth location for the picture is in Adventureland.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Thanks everyone for the great responses. Here's a recap of the tips:

TIMING
* If you are eating before the party, plan to eat early enough to be finished by 7:00. Eating during the party wastes party time!

* The parks close at 6:00. If youa re inthe parks, you will be able to ride rides in Tomorrowland for the hour, with very little lines.

* People are *usually* allowed to enter the parks at about 4:00 without using a park ticket - just a party ticket. A good way to save a day on your park hopper pass.

* Ride lines are not too long, especially during the 1st parade.


EVENTS
*Pick up a map with a schedule of events for the evening.

* The most recommended shows are:
- the show at the castle (Celebrate the Seasons)
- Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas
- the Christmas parade
- Christmas Wishes

* The Christmas Wishes fireworks show is done 360* and can be seen from anywhere in the park, but standing directly infront of the castle may limit your view a bit. The Tomorrowland bridge is a good spot!

* The parade is excellent and is exclusive to the party (different from the day parade at MK) until the after the last party. Then the Christmas parade from the party is used as the parade at MK. The second parade is less crowded.

* Other events include:
- Goofy's Country Jamboree - Holiday Style
- Riverboat Cruise w/ Christmas Carolers
- Belle's Enchanted Storytelling - Fantasyland Pavillion
- Snowflakes Special Storytelling - Fairytale Garden

* Visit Santa next to City Hall in Town Square.

*Watch for snow on Main Street.

* Enjoy the free cocoa and cookies, but be careful - the cocoa is HOT! (Check the map for Santa's Helper Stations.)

* Don't forget to get you family photo taken for FREE. There are 4 sopts inthe park to do this (Adventureland, tomorrowland, Fronteirland, and Fantasyland - check the map). The photo is free and will be mailed home. At that point, you can order more if you choose.

Photo tip: It is usually one free photo per group, but if you have more than one party in your photo, each party can request a photo. When I went to MNSSHP, we were a group of 7 - my family of 5 (me, DH and three kids) and my parents. We took one photo as a large group of 7, but I filled out a card and and my parents filled out a card, and we both got a copy of the photo! Two photos total for the group of 7 -- Like I said, it is supposed to be one photo per group so you can't have 5 people from a group of 5 each ask for a photo, but if you are sort of like two groups mixed into one group, you can probably each get a photo. If not, you can always order more later, but it can't hurt to ask, if you have more than one family in your party.

MISC
- Strollers may be free that evening.
- Ride lines are not too long, especially during the 1st parade.
- A limited edition MVMCP pin is available - a different one for each party night.
- MVMCP shirts and T-shirts are available - only during the parties.

Thanks for all the info everyone. Hope the re-cap is helpful!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Bumping this.. it's a great thread.



Tink

 

[pigget74]

As far as the pins go--we were able to buy them in several stores. If you go to a later party you can go to the emporium to buy pins from earlier nights. I bought three pins this way last year and we only went to one party.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

We went to MVMCP last year and had our photo taken at IASW. Since that is under renovations I know that will change. We went past the photo op in Tomorrowland because the line was so long and waited for the CM to drop the rope at Fantasyland. We then went to IASW and got our photo taken quickly. We received four photos, one for myself, DH, DS and DD, in the mail before we returned home.

The CM at the photo op's will mark your MVMCP hard ticket to show that you have already had your picture taken. Do not throw away your tickets before you have your picture taken.

Yes, the hot chocolate will scald your mouth.

Lori

 

[married@wdw]

Does anybody know how late restaurants other than LTT usually take priority seatings on MVMCP nights? Will I be able to get a PS for Tony's or the Castle at around 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. that night? Or do these restaurants not serve "dinner" on MVMCP nights?

I'm looking for a little more low-key "romantic" holiday feeling so, while we love the family picture and meeting Santa, etc., I don't necessarily need characters at dinner. But if LTT is all I'll have an option for, we might just do that.

And will they take your picture with Santa? I'd love to get a shot of DH and I on his lap!