MVMCP with toddlers - advice please!

[got2seemickey]

I'm not sure that I'm posting in the right section for this question but...

Can anyone offer advice for how to plan around MVMCP with toddlers? I have
3-year-old twins and while I'm excited to take them to the nighttime event, I am trying to plan wisely so that we can avoid as many meltdowns as possible!

Any suggestions on how to spend the morning/afternoon of the MVMCP night? I don't want to hang around the hotel by the pool the entire day as we will have just arrived the day before and will be anxious to get out a little. Do you think heading to one of the parks for a few hours then back to the hotel for a rest before heading out to the party...actually, dinner ADR at LTT at 5:30...is too much for their day?

Then there's the next day to think about...Assuming we get in late from the party, I'm thinking we'll be getting a late start the following morning. Though I guess there's always the chance that they'll crash at the party and won't sleep in afterall resulting in two energetic kiddos and two very exhausted parents. funny, that sounds like my life everyday!

Anyway, anyone with experience in this area would be more than appreciated.

Sorry for the long post!

-Nicole

 

[NotUrsula]

We'll be doing a waterpark earlier in the day -- no sense burning a theme park day when we are going to be spending 8 hours at MK that night.

I make sure that we rest for awhile during the afternoon, and I take a toothbrush and PJ's for little ones. We have them change and brush teeth before the parade/fireworks, so that if they go to sleep in the stroller we don't have to wake them before really putting them to bed.

 

[GoofyG]

I've done 2 of Mockey's halloween now. I had a 3 and 1yr old and the other time a 4yr, 2yr and a 4mos old. We did a Character breakfast and hit Magic Kingdom for a couple of rides. Then back to the hotel for a LONG nap, we never had melt downs, and both of my kiddos lasted till it closed!

 

[JOCAmom]

When we have done one of the parties, we always hit MK in the morning for a few hours. We usually leave by 12pm if we eat lunch in the park. If we are eating at the resort, we'll leave even earlier. Before we head to the room, we'll do a quick stop at the playground area of the resort just to tire them out a little more for their naps.

For the next morning, we hope to get there for rope drop but it's not a be all end all of our trip if we don't. Usually they will be so exhausted after the party that they sleep very well and are ready to go the next morning. Just be ready to change plans if they seem to need more sleep the next morning. Better to get to the park a little later and have kids ready to go for the day than to have to deal with cranky kids because they didn't get enough sleep.

 

[goldenears]

We did MVMCP last year w/ our 1 year old and 3 year old. Our kids are usually up early, so we did go to the parks in the a.m. and headed back to the room for an early nap. We headed back out late afternoon, so we could get to the MK around 4 when you are able to get in w/ your MVMCP ticket.
We did a few rides and then hit the Twas the Night show first. We also did the early parade, which was great! The kids had their hot chocolate and cookies while we watched. They loved it! Once the parade was over, we did some character meet and greets and fireworks.
Look at the schedule before you go and pick the events that you think your kids would enjoy most and plan your night around those. Once you get those done you are free to leave when the kids start to loose it
As far as the next day goes, I wouldn't plan on being anywhere early. We just let the kids sleep until they woke up and then headed out.
Have fun!!

 

[got2seemickey]

thanks for all the replies...i will definitely bring their toothbrushes and pj's along to the party...great suggestion! i guess we'll try to hit a park in the am and get back early for a rest...and i definitely won't book an ADR for the next morning. thanks again everyone!

 

[amarberry]

I took my DD to MVMCP when she was about 2.5 yo. She was/is an early riser, so we did go to MK in the morning, but just for a couple of hours before going back to the hotel for lunch and a long nap. We stayed until after the second parade (a little after 11pm). By the time we got back to the hotel and ready for bed, I remember it was close to 1am! I had planned for us to sleep in the next morning, but she didn't get the memo. I think she was up around 8am and was VERY cranky that day until she passed out for her nap. Hopefully your little ones are a little better at sleeping in than my DD!

 

[got2seemickey]

amarberry, are we related?! it sounds like our little ones have inherited the "sleeping is merely an option" gene!

sadly, mine are very early risers and napping isn't usually a hit either. my biggest fear is that we'll be out late for the party, and they'll still be up at the crack of dawn. crabby x's 2 is no fun!