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

[texasteacher35]

I messed something up in my pp! LOL

 

[nytimez]

Is MVMCP worth a 9 hour, 2 day trip from North Carolina you think?

By itself, maybe not. It's a really pleasant part of a trip, but I don't think it's worth a special trip just to do that and leave.

But if you just need a getaway, there are worse ways to spend two days. Go for it.

 

[PEANUT1]

How often do the parties sell out?? We are thinking about doing Tues Nov 16th...but I was hoping to wait til right before our trip to buy..do you think that will be ok?

 

[texasteacher35]

Is MVMCP worth a 9 hour, 2 day trip from North Carolina you think?

I would say YES!! Because I know how Disney rolls. We have not been to this particular party before, but a couple of years ago we went to the MNSSHP and it was fantastic! The Christmas decorations and the whole atmosphere is breathtaking!!!!! How may days would you be staying??

 

[jlm]

I would LOVE our trip to begin at MVMCP. Here's the scenario. We arrive at MCO at 6:45pm. 3 adults, checked all baggage. Taking ME to Pop. Arrive 8ish? Do not check in and head straight to park (hope this is allowed)- wait for bus and could be 9ish arriving at MK? or maybe taxi (cost?) a little faster? I really don't want to buy my tickets ahead of time unless we can switch unused tix for a different day in case the plane is late. If I could be sure that we would have 3 hours at the party, I would be happy. Can we make it?

I agree with pp that it wouldn't be worth it....there are too many what if's....delayed arrival, delayed ME. Personally, for me it would be too stressful to hurry up and get to the party.
Also-we buy a package so we don't have our tkts until we check-in to the hotel. Could you do the party on a different night? MVMCP tkts are not transferable to another night.
Jen

 

[newdisfamily]

I would say YES!! Because I know how Disney rolls. We have not been to this particular party before, but a couple of years ago we went to the MNSSHP and it was fantastic! The Christmas decorations and the whole atmosphere is breathtaking!!!!! How may days would you be staying??

I was thinking of leaving early Friday morning to get there for check in, a quick rest, and then shoot over to MK for the party at 4pm (to make the most of my time and money) and probably just walk around Downtown Disney Saturday before leaving Sunday afternoon.

 

[bigAWL]

The "experts" list the MK as a park to avoid on party days. But I have always subscribed to the above theory and it has proven accurate most of the time. 3 of the 4 times we have done MK on party days have had very light traffic. I really do think the days BETWEEN parties are the days to avoid the MK (as these are the only days non-party goers can see Wishes and the night parade.

Can't wait to test my theory twice more in December!

Well, considering MVMCPs are held during one of the least crowded times of the year, I would expect party days and non-party days to both have pretty light traffic.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, considering MVMCPs are held during one of the least crowded times of the year, I would expect party days and non-party days to both have pretty light traffic.

Ask anyone who has been to the MK to see Wishes and the night parade on one of the 3 nights of the week they hold it during party season..... and they'll confirm traffic is anything but light.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Is MVMCP worth a 9 hour, 2 day trip from North Carolina you think?

Only if you really, really want to see MVMCP. I did part of MVMCP once and it was fun. If it was just me, I'd go for it but I wouldn't do it if my family was going.

We've done the 8 hour drive for a weekend trip (was 9 hours with lunch stop and 1 potty break stop).
We arrived home Sunday evening exhausted. My husband said never again. The kids were grumpy, husband was grumpy. I had a blast. We'd have to have a 4 day trip to make it worth the drive for the 4 of us.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I would LOVE our trip to begin at MVMCP. Here's the scenario. We arrive at MCO at 6:45pm. 3 adults, checked all baggage. Taking ME to Pop. Arrive 8ish? Do not check in and head straight to park (hope this is allowed)- wait for bus and could be 9ish arriving at MK? or maybe taxi (cost?) a little faster? I really don't want to buy my tickets ahead of time unless we can switch unused tix for a different day in case the plane is late. If I could be sure that we would have 3 hours at the party, I would be happy. Can we make it?

That's alot of money to spend for only 3 hours tops at MVMCP. I wouldn't do it.

I'd go another day.

 

[cm8]

You CAN get a special FP card, which will allow you to get a 40% discount on prints, but you can also add that to your prepurchased CE. Or you can just use your regular FP card from regular park hours. They all work and can be added to your CD.

Just remember to take a digital picture of the number on each card in case you lose them.

do you know if you can use the cards from last year if you never used the code on it?

 

[mom2rtk]

do you know if you can use the cards from last year if you never used the code on it?

I wouldn't bother trying. Just ask the first Photopass Photographer you see at the party. They will have them.

 

[bigAWL]

Ask anyone who has been to the MK to see Wishes and the night parade on one of the 3 nights of the week they hold it during party season..... and they'll confirm traffic is anything but light.

This Dec is going to be my first trip during the holiday season. Doing my first MVMCP on Dec 12. So no I haven't seen the crowds yet. But when I look at Touringplans' crowd calendar specifically for MK, I see that the average ranking for MVMCP days is about 1.1. The Average for non-MVMCP days (not counting Thanksgiving week) is about 3.7. That is significantly higher. If you avoid Saturdays as well, the average is only 2.7.

Now when I compare those numbers to other times of the year that I've visited... well, from late June all the way to mid-August (looking forward to 2011 as comparison) there are no MK days rated lower than 6.0. Maybe I'm in for a shock, but I can't imagine complaining too much about any of the crowds we're going to see in mid Dec.

Now these ratings are based on wait times for attractions, and not how crowded the parade route is. So maybe the experience isn't so great if that's what you're wanting to see on those days.

But you're right about the "experts" suggesting to stay away on party days. And TouringPlans explains:

if there is a special event going on, you typically have fewer hours to tour with. This may not be a huge concern for those with park-hoppers or long-stays, but for guests with short stays or without park hopping, this can be a significant reason not to visit a certain park.

For what it's worth, I'm paying no attention to the experts and plan on doing several EMH mornings (even one at MK on a party day *gasp*), just because I've never tried one and figure the lower crowds should make those days more bearable.

 

[mom2rtk]

Now when I compare those numbers to other times of the year that I've visited... well, from late June all the way to mid-August (looking forward to 2011 as comparison) there are no MK days rated lower than 6.0. Maybe I'm in for a shock, but I can't imagine complaining too much about any of the crowds we're going to see in mid Dec.

Now these ratings are based on wait times for attractions, and not how crowded the parade route is. So maybe the experience isn't so great if that's what you're wanting to see on those days.

I hope you're right! We're doing the MK on Dec. 13th, one of those few non-party days because we want to see Wishes and the MSEP. I would love to be pleasantly surprised. But I was there last Sept 28th on one of those few on MNSSHP days when everyone was there to see the parade and Wishes. You couldn't even MOVE on the sidewalks. That was a slow time of year too.

I think the missing ingredient in the equation is all those people with park hoppers who spend the day in another park, and hop over to see the night activities, coupled with the fact that everyone congregates on Main Street.

FWIW......... that night in Sept last year we were there to meet someone in Toontown. The attractions and things PAST Main Street were pretty much empty. It was Main Street that was massively packed.

Having hard ticketed parties 4 nights out of the week makes seeing Wishes and MSEP similar (although I'm sure quite as bad) as seeing Fantasmic since they cut the showings in Jan 09. Even during slow times, it pulls people all to the park at the same time for the limited availability of the event. Keep in mind during busier times, they add more showings of all of these things to try and accommodate. They don't do that during the anticipated "slow" times.

My plan is to stake out a spot VERY early that night...... watch the last Dream Along With Mickey, watch the castle lighting, MSEP and Wishes.

 

[bigAWL]

FWIW......... that night in Sept last year we were there to meet someone in Toontown. The attractions and things PAST Main Street were pretty much empty. It was Main Street that was massively packed.

I think that's the key. MK is a pretty big place, and if you spread out the crowd throughout the park, you don't realize how many people are there. But when EVERYONE wants to be at the same place at the same time, even the smallest crowd is going to seem magnified.

 

[RachaelA]

I hope you're right! We're doing the MK on Dec. 13th, one of those few non-party days because we want to see Wishes and the MSEP. I would love to be pleasantly surprised. But I was there last Sept 28th on one of those few on MNSSHP days when everyone was there to see the parade and Wishes. You couldn't even MOVE on the sidewalks. That was a slow time of year too.

I think the missing ingredient in the equation is all those people with park hoppers who spend the day in another park, and hop over to see the night activities, coupled with the fact that everyone congregates on Main Street.

FWIW......... that night in Sept last year we were there to meet someone in Toontown. The attractions and things PAST Main Street were pretty much empty. It was Main Street that was massively packed.

Having hard ticketed parties 4 nights out of the week makes seeing Wishes and MSEP similar (although I'm sure quite as bad) as seeing Fantasmic since they cut the showings in Jan 09. Even during slow times, it pulls people all to the park at the same time for the limited availability of the event. Keep in mind during busier times, they add more showings of all of these things to try and accommodate. They don't do that during the anticipated "slow" times.

My plan is to stake out a spot VERY early that night...... watch the last Dream Along With Mickey, watch the castle lighting, MSEP and Wishes.

That's our plan for the same day. I think we'll camp out around 6ish and see everything except Dream Along with Mickey (we've seen it a ton of times already!) and just hang out. DH can run and get us some CS meals and we'll just people watch since I'm sure spots are going to go fast!

 

[bevgray]

Reported Spam.

 

[kimis]

This is also going to be our first MVMCP! So would love some tips!!

This will be our first MVMCP also and can't wait!

 

[Marblies]

Reported Spam.

Please excuse my ignorance. What?

 

[mom2rtk]

That's our plan for the same day. I think we'll camp out around 6ish and see everything except Dream Along with Mickey (we've seen it a ton of times already!) and just hang out. DH can run and get us some CS meals and we'll just people watch since I'm sure spots are going to go fast!

Hey, will you have your husband pick us up some CS too??? It's just my daughter and me, so no one to save our spot!