MVMCP or Hoop-Dee-Doo for 5yo B-day?

[ILUVDizney]

Hi everyone - I'm having a huge dilemma and I'm hoping someone with experience can help me make a decision about what to do on my DD's 5th birthday (Dec 9th).

We are arriving on the Friday the 5th and already doing MK on Sunday the 7th (party night) and the 10th (non-party night). The 9th was supposed to be our 'off' day so we could sleep in and the girls could swim (hopefully) at the resort. I have HDD reservations (cat 1) at 6:15pm and thought maybe we could go to the Chip N Dale sing-a-long after and watch the Electrical Pagent parade from the Ft. Wilderness beach?

Now I'm having 2nd thoughts because of course wouldn't a five year old rather spend her b-day at MK for the party??....but we're already going there the next day (spending the whole day). Last year at this time was our first family trip. We've never done the party or HDD so I'm having a hard time with my decision.

TIA!!

 

[sueliz]

I've never been to HDD so I can't speak to that. Last year I took my 4 and 5 yr olds to MVMCP and they LOVED it- favorite night of the trip! It was our first day at MK and we were there all day - from Rope drop til midnight. They loved sitting on Main street for first parade and being part of the street entertainment before parade started as well as "snow" on Main street. After it was over we rode rides consecutively- some without even getting off- they'd just let us stay on and ride again. Kids LOVED it. It sort of ruined it for the next day when we also went to MK and we had to get off the rides and stand in line again ( a long time too cause I noticed the party day at MK was less crowded than the non party day

 

[LSUfan4444]

Both are fun, but for a 5 year old I think they would prefer (or at least I know mine would) a night with a special parade, dance parties, projection show, short to no standby waits and Wishes and meeting rare characters more then would an awesomely cheesy comedy show with quite possibly the best fried chicken I have ever had in my life. UNLESS your 5yo loves fried chicken ALOT more than mine does.

 

[Luvchefmic]

^^ I agree with above poster OR I will add more to the mix, have you ever been to Mickey's Backyard BBQ ? Lot's of fun there, good interaction with the characters, food good, and if you go early enough you can still get over to the sing-a-long to complete your night.

 

[hoosll]

I love HDD and so would a 5 year old and they do make a big deal of people having a birthday. I would stick with your plan. The problem with the Christmas party is that most 5 yo can ot stay up late enough to see it all. If you already have 2 nights at MK planned then have a fun time at HDD

 

[patty57]

I like your plan, especially since you are spending quite a bit of time in MK. It's always hard to guess what someone else's kids would like better, but my kids were never big parade fans. They would have preferred the music and general silliness of HDDR.

 

[ILUVDizney]

Thank you all for your perspective. I'm leaning toward keeping the reservation at HDD just because it would break up the MK visits and give us all something completely different to do/experience.

I think I'd lean more toward the MK party if we weren't going to spend the entire next day there and stay for the parade/fireworks that night too.

Another option I thought of to experience the party could possibly be Friday the 12th (I assume it would be much busier than a Tuesday party though) which is our last night and we planned on doing AK that day... Our flight doesn't leave until late on Sat and we don't have any plans that day, so being tired/sleeping in would be ok.

I appreciate your input!