Originally posted by susy
Thanks for the link!!!! Okay, e have decided that since we will be visiting the MK three times that week, we don't care about doing any rides during the party. If we eat dinner in the park around 5:30, do we still have to exit the park adn re-enter? Should we we just get there early? It seems like in past years the party started t &, this time it's at 6? Is it because it's a sunday night?
What would be a good strategy? Our priorities are: seeing the parade and FW, seeing the snow, getting our photo and hot cocoa, seeing the shows.
we will do EE that morning. take boat back to WL after lunch and nap!!! Also read about it being VERY cold and temps dropping.We will bring our heavy jackets or layers, hats, gloves and a blanket for my DS (we will rent a stroller).
Are the counter service restaurants open? Snack stands? stores?
anything else we should do???
If you make a PS at CP between 5p and 6p you will just stay there till the party starts. No need to leave and re-enter.
Yes, counter services will be open but not all of them. Yes, lots of stores open but not all.
They changed the party to 6p-12p about 2 years ago.
The weather is very unpredicible. One year, 2000, it was freezing but in 2001 it was quite warm and humid...no need for coats.
Here's my strategy most nights:
Get a special park map ASAP when entering the park!
I eat at a restaurant to be there early and relax while they clear the place out (or you can enter early and they'll herd you over to Tomorrowland while they're clearing the park out). No they don't dress any special way for the party.
Then, as soon as they let us leave the restaurant area, I RUN over to the photo place nearest to the restaurant and get that over with before the crowds come down Main Street! There has never been a line for me yet BUT later in the night, the lines are very long but they do die down again late at night but I don't like to wait that long with little ones.
We avoid the first parade (8:30p usually) because people start lining up very early for it and it's usually more crowded than the second one.
We do some shows and rides till the fireworks at 9:15p (don't miss Rudolph flying down at the beginning of them!). We check out Cinderella's Carriage which gets displayed behind her castle. There are also usually princesses there for photo ops.
We do lots of Fantasyland rides because of our DD's. We especially like Dumbo on
MVMCP nights because they put Santa hats on him just for the party!!
After the fireworks, we see what else we can fit in before the second parade, and then we head to the parade (I've heard near Liberty Bell is a good place; not crowded) usually on Main street to see the snow falling while we enjoy the parade and we head there about 1/2 hour before it starts...so if it's scheduled for 11:15p then I'd be on Main street by 10:45p at the latest.
That's about it. We can never make it past that parade because our DD's are fast alseep in the stroller!
Of course, we do end up just going with the flow (depending on the crowds and our DD's) but this is the general plan. The things that are pretty much set in stone are: Eating in a restaurant, photo first, fireworks, and second parade.
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