MVMCP - Tips, Tricks, Secrets newbies should know...

[bdiddy]

I just had to report back - we went on 12/10 to the party and while it was for the most part fun I don't think we'll ever do it again. Too crowded and not worth the $200 it cost us!! Yes, the show was neat, the dance party fun, the parade and Wishes cool but just not worth the hassle of the crowds and the cost....

 

[LISAVWL]

We had just the opposite experience. We went to the party on the 13th and DH is already counting the days until we can go back next year!
We arrived at 4pm and the park was crowded. By 7pm it had emptied out quite a bit and we really enjoyed the party. We missed the new show in Tomorrowland but the Dance parties were so much fun! The parade was amazing and so was Wishes. We did not wait more than 10 minutes for any ride all night long. The kids new favorite ride is BTMRR and we rode it 4 times in a row! (exiting and re-entering each time) Our last ride of the night was POTC and for some reason they were only loading every other boat -- that line was about 20 minutes at 11:30. We can't wait to go back next year!

 

[momtomatthew]

I've got a feeling Disney is selling as many tickets as people buy .... we were there on 12/8th and it was wall to wall people .... worse than NYE or July 4th. It was awful and I lost the magic after that experience.

We've been to the party twice before, once in 2006 and in 2007. This was our first bad experience. For the price this was a big disappointment.

We were at the same party and I agree- it was awful. People starting sitting on the curb at 5:00 for the parade- many without wristbands. My mother was in a wheelchair, and we had to go into the handicap parade seating area at 6:45 or risk not getting a seat. We did no rides, and saw nothing but the parade and fireworks. I didn't get any hot cocoa or cookies. I went to get some for our entire party (which I thought I could since I saw other carrying several cups) only to be told that you could only get it for you- not others who weren't with you. The cast members were very unfriendly and unhelpful.

We did the MNSSHP and had a blast- this party was just miserable. We will NEVER do it again.

 

[YontzFamily]

you have to pay extra to watch the parade??? We will be there on New Years eve, what will we run into? what do we need to do or watch for? If you have to pay extra, how much extra?

 

[poohj80]

We had just the opposite experience. We went to the party on the 13th and DH is already counting the days until we can go back next year!
We arrived at 4pm and the park was crowded. By 7pm it had emptied out quite a bit and we really enjoyed the party.

I'm happy to hear that because we saw signs that the party was sold out Sunday night so we expected it may be really crowded. We are headed there tonight and signs are still up at MK saying tix are still available so hope it will be empty!

 

[bdiddy]

I'm happy to hear that because we saw signs that the party was sold out Sunday night so we expected it may be really crowded. We are headed there tonight and signs are still up at MK saying tix are still available so hope it will be empty!

When we went on the 10th they still had signs up that tickets were available and the place was packed!

 

[aimee11621]

Just got back from the Christmas party of the 12/13/2009.

The park was not crowded!!! We did a good job of avoiding the crowds if we ran into any. Got to see the Dance party in Tomorrowland. The dd8 really enjoyed it danced her butt off. DD15 loved the music to shy to dance.

Very warm and muggy. Lots of Hot chocolate and cookies available (no lines). We all asked for two cookies to go with our hot chocolate and got them, cms didn't say no.

CMs where nice and polite.

In this economy I wont be doing this again. Wasn't worth the $$.

 

[DisneyGerry]

anyone thinking of going tomorrow night? I have 5 tickets and looks like I have to work now

 

[lessernobleman]

We were at the same party and I agree- it was awful. People starting sitting on the curb at 5:00 for the parade- many without wristbands. My mother was in a wheelchair, and we had to go into the handicap parade seating area at 6:45 or risk not getting a seat. We did no rides, and saw nothing but the parade and fireworks. I didn't get any hot cocoa or cookies. I went to get some for our entire party (which I thought I could since I saw other carrying several cups) only to be told that you could only get it for you- not others who weren't with you. The cast members were very unfriendly and unhelpful.

We did the MNSSHP and had a blast- this party was just miserable. We will NEVER do it again.

We were at the same party (12/8, it was DS's birthday)... I have to concur with you for the most part, except to say that the CM's at the Noodle joint handing out cookies & cocoa actually let us take two each to carry back to the others. We staked out a spot for the parade right across from the Country Bears around 7:15 or so when we saw others doing it. We found the post holes that they use for the ropes and squatted right along the line! Got a good spot for the fireworks directly below Tink's flight wire in the "secret" pathway. We did notice once that a group of CM's were walking around checking for wristbands, but that was the only time. We also only saw the parade and fireworks, but we thought it was worth it. We were also hoping to get a lot of PhotoPass pics, but the photographers were always mobbed. Not too sure if we would ever do it again though...

 

[disneygal29]

I was there on 12/10 and had a totally different experience!! I LOVED it and would go back in a heartbeat We got there about 4:30 and went straight to Tomorrowland. rode Buzz with about a 10 minute wait, then went to Space Mountain and watied 30 minutes. These were the longest waits we had ALL night!!! We never waited more than 5 minutes for any ride after that, most were walk ons!!! And I've never experienced that before. We watched the 2nd parade(I even had Woody blow me a kiss), Wishes(Loved it and got some great pics!!), and actually walked through Frontierland and Adventureland and saw NOBODY!!! We did not do the dance party or shows since it was all adults and we only had that one night in the park. It was a bit crowded on Mainstreet, but we didn't dwell there. If you are going for the rides, this is the perfect time to go. We rode on BTM 3 times and had CMs telling us the times really meant however long it takes you to walk from the front to the ride was what the wait was. I'm hoping to plan another trip with my girlfriends for next year at the same time

 

[matt and beth]

We were there Dec. 8 with 6 adults and four children 3-8. They had their naps so they were ready.

1. Arrived at 6:45. Very Busy. 7 pm before we got in the gates.
2. Stood in line for the picture of the group w/the castle. 7:20
3. Parade curbs were maxed out. We will watch 2nd parade.
4. Went to Tommorrowland Christmas 7:45? show. Loved it.
5. Went over to Belles Enchanted. waited in line and drank hot cocoa which is right next door. Had a great seat and enjoyed the show.
6. Went to our spot for the parade since it just cleared out. from 1st show.
7. Enjoyed the awesome fireworks.
8. Park cleared out some.
9. Enjoyed an incredible parade. Loved the toy soldiers.
10. Went in front of the castle and sat on the pavement in the center circle to easily watch the show.
11. Great show. Sprinkles start and show ended one song early. No big deal.
12. Huge!!!!!!!!!! line for the buses. However, they move superfast. I'm impressed.

I thought the MVMCP was the best part of our seven day stay. Plan the crowds and you can see all the shows.

 

[LisaTex]

any way to get 1 adult tic for 12/18?? my brother was able to join ou trip at the last minute but 12/18 is sold out. it is his daughter's b-day trip and his 1st disney trip - i've heard sometimes they sell them at the gate the night of??

thanks for any ideas - and Merry Christmas!!

 

[Elmo888]

you have to pay extra to watch the parade??? We will be there on New Years eve, what will we run into? what do we need to do or watch for? If you have to pay extra, how much extra?

No, you will be fine. You don't have to pay extra to see the daily afternoon parade.

There is a parade every afternoon that is included in your admission.

You have to pay extra to attend Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP), which is the only place that you can see the Christmas parade until December 18th(?) or so. After that, from what I understand, they have the Christmas parade as the daily afternoon parade (until Christmas? or after? Someone here will know!).

Here is info on MVMCP for reference...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/mvmcp.htm#tickets

Have a great trip!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I just had to report back - we went on 12/10 to the party and while it was for the most part fun I don't think we'll ever do it again. Too crowded and not worth the $200 it cost us!! Yes, the show was neat, the dance party fun, the parade and Wishes cool but just not worth the hassle of the crowds and the cost....

I was at the same party and agree completely. I've done the halloween party before and really enjoyed it. The Christmas party just felt completely packed and uncomfortable. I wasn't even able to get anywhere near the stages to see the shows, and the lines for the rides were crazy. It didn't help that the wait times posted were horribly wrong. Space Mountain had posted a wait time of 20 mins. which ended up being closer to an hour. Buzz Lightyear had a 5 min. wait time posted and we were in line for about 30 mins.

After the lines on those rides we didn't even attempt most of the rides in Fantasyland. Most of those had posted 30 min. waits. We didn't want to see how long the waits really were. There was even a 30 min. wait for Small World.

The park didn't really clear out too much after the fireworks either, unlike the halloween party. Most of what I did see at the party was in the last 1/2 hour - 45 mins or so. The majority of the night felt like we were battling throngs of people to just a few feet down walkway.

I don't think I'd do it again. I ended up feeling like I paid $55 a ticket to see a parade and some fireworks.

 

[Pjimmeyer]

Just got back from a trip where we hit MVMCP on 12/15, 12/17 and 12/18. We loved it. Crowds weren't bad at all on 12/15 and 12/17. The last one on 12/18 the crowds started to pick up (and of course continued through the weekend on the ramp-up to Christmas). We also did 2 holiday wishes desert parties and they were very special. Great desert bar and great view of the fireworks. Both nights we had a table right on the edge of the balcony closest to the castle.

 

[kswm30b]

We did the Christmas Party for the first time this year, and had lots of fun! We both agree we enjoy the Halloween Party *much* better (and our next trip is already planned for that time of year!), but we liked this party, too! We went to 2 parties, and met pretty much all the characters I wanted to see (didn't meet Mickey, we looked early & the line was already insane.) Loved the parade, my favorite part was the Toy Soldiers (my fav part in the Halloween parade is the grave diggers, so the TS were the grave diggers of this parade for me!)

We wandered into the dance party both nights, they were so cute! Goofy danced the first night, and when we went in on the 15th, Mickey, Minnie, and Dale were dancing. It was one of the cutest things I ever saw! At one point Minnie messed up, and she was shaking her head in shame. My mom & I realized we should have been taping it (rather than me just taking pics) *just* as they left the stage, lol.

We never made it over to see the new Tomorrowland show, guess I'll have to go watch it online, lol.

Oh, and during the party on the 15th, I was asked to see my wristband more times than all the parties I've attended over the years combined!

I just had to report back - we went on 12/10 to the party and while it was for the most part fun I don't think we'll ever do it again. Too crowded and not worth the $200 it cost us!! Yes, the show was neat, the dance party fun, the parade and Wishes cool but just not worth the hassle of the crowds and the cost....

Wow, we were there on the 10th, and it was empty. I walked down Main Street a little before the first parade, and there was hardly anyone waiting. We watched the 2nd parade, and you can see hardly any people on the other side of the street in my pics. We also went on the 15th, and you could see the huge difference in the amount of people. Main Street was packed early for even the 2nd parade.

 

[maroo]

This was the picture I took of the "crowds" waiting for the first parade on the 17th...we were sitting on Town Square by the City Hall. We got there early...

but here were the crowds right at 8:15 when the first parade started in Frontierland...notice that it is not even more than 1 or two people deep beside us?

So...maybe this is a tip - check the crowds over by Town Square near City Hall!

I believe there were a lot more people on Main Street where the snow was falling.

 

[05MM08MM]

Have some questions after reading through many MVMCP threads.

1. These are the dates for 2010 we can pick from (based off 09 dates): Sun. 11/28, Tues. 11/30, Thrus. 12/2, they are all the week following Thanksgiving. I'm guessing Sun the 28th which was a premium date last year might not be a good option, that is also when we are arriving, so may be a little wore out from all the driving, so would you recommend Tues or Thurs?

2. Kind of related to Q1; When should be purchase our tickets? Is it smart to wait till closer to the trip and see if one day sells out vs another or if discounts are offered (for Visa Card holders)?

3. Is it possible to hit a lot of the Character spots and see all the shows in one night? Speaking specifically about Holiday Wishes Fireworks, the parade, Celebrate the Season show at the Castle & Totally Tomorrowland Christmas show. Arriving at 4 p.m. going straight to a counter service location for a quick bite to eat and not riding any of the rides during the evening (will be going to MK another day).

4. Do they wait till 7 p.m. to put out the special event specific merchandise (pins, clothing, etc) or can you buy sooner with wrist band?

5. What time does the store on Main St (or any of locations) that sells the event merchandise close? If items don't sell out may be better to pick things up on way out of the park at midnight.

Thanks!

 

[poohj80]

Have some questions after reading through many MVMCP threads.

1. These are the dates for 2010 we can pick from (based off 09 dates): Sun. 11/28, Tues. 11/30, Thrus. 12/2, they are all the week following Thanksgiving. I'm guessing Sun the 28th which was a premium date last year might not be a good option, that is also when we are arriving, so may be a little wore out from all the driving, so would you recommend Tues or Thurs?

We've always had good luck on Tuesdays, but right after the holiday weekend you may still have some folks stretching their stay for Tuesday's party.

2. Kind of related to Q1; When should be purchase our tickets? Is it smart to wait till closer to the trip and see if one day sells out vs another or if discounts are offered (for Visa Card holders)?

I would recommend waiting unless you are trying for that first Sunday as most dates don't sell out quickly. Also, if a discount is released after you buy your tickets, you should be able to have the price you paid adjusted and receive a refund - we have.

3. Is it possible to hit a lot of the Character spots and see all the shows in one night? Speaking specifically about Holiday Wishes Fireworks, the parade, Celebrate the Season show at the Castle & Totally Tomorrowland Christmas show. Arriving at 4 p.m. going straight to a counter service location for a quick bite to eat and not riding any of the rides during the evening (will be going to MK another day).

We have never been able to do it all at a party (we usually miss a show or two)

4. Do they wait till 7 p.m. to put out the special event specific merchandise (pins, clothing, etc) or can you buy sooner with wrist band?

Yes, or even a bit later. I have been in some stores right at 7 and they hadn't put the merchandise out yet as they still had non-party folks shopping.

5. What time does the store on Main St (or any of locations) that sells the event merchandise close? If items don't sell out may be better to pick things up on way out of the park at midnight.

Right at midnight. If you are in the store by midnight, you'll be fine. But they start locking doors and monitoring who comes in right at park close on these late nights (EMH included).

 

[kkfinley]

What time do the restaurants that are not open during the party close? Will we have time for a quick dinner at Pinocchio Village Haus or Columbia Harbour House if we enter the park between 4 and 5?

Thanks,
Krista