MVMCP- Worth $250??

[mommy4]

It would cost our family $250 to attend MVMCP! That seems really high! And, we are not night people. Our kids are young (8,6,4, and 2 when we travel)
Would it be worth it? Last year we skipped it, but this might be our last year for a while.
I should also add that it is going on for 3 of the 7 nights we are there.
Advice?

 

[#1_Grumpy_Fan]

We went several years ago. It was okay, the park was crowded. My DS was about 5 or 6 when we went. He fell asleep during the parade and missed it. I personnally don't think it is worth the extra money. But that is just me, I'm sure some will think it is worth every penny.

 

[taliategan]

I think most would say yes. Here's my view - I think going to a party for the 1st time is definitely worth it. However, I do not think I would go again on another trip if I was in disney on a 4+ day trip because adding an extra day of tickets is so much cheaper than going to the party. However, if I was in disney for a 1 to 3 day trip, I would definitely buy the party tickets and purchase one less day on the MYW tickets.

 

[ammo]

Everybody will have a different opinion on this, but I will back you if you decide "No, it's not worth it." I felt that MVMCP was way overpriced, so I would only do it if everybody was gung ho.

And given the ages of your kids, when you do return in a few years you may find that they are better prepared for evening activities. Right now your 4 and 2 year olds will be absolutely spent after a day in the park (you may be as well after pushing a stroller). Maybe this is something to delay for awhile.

 

[LoveBugs]

It is a lot of money, but we've always enjoyed the Christmas and Halloween events, and we have young children, too. Last year we did the Christmas party with our 3.5 and 1.5 year old and we had a blast. Of course, we always keep them on west coast time when we travel so a good late nap was all they needed to keep up with us until midnight. It was great riding everything with no lines. We, personally, much prefer to visit the parks at night with the smaller crowds than get the kids up early to be there at opening. But that plan won't work for everyone

 

[frdeb1999]

For us it was deffinately well worth the money. But our kids are older and we stayed literally right up til the end. While it is a wonderful thing to experience.....I don't know if I'd pay that much with such little kids. I think you'd be leaving early and honestly not getting your money's worth.

 

[bfrosty]

Sorry...don't mean to hijack this thread...but.

I share the same sentiments as you all do, but for the Halloween party.

We went 4 years ago and it wasn't crowded, not too many knew of it and they gave out tons of candy.

The last 2yrs we went and the park is overwhelmingly crowded now due to popularity and less candy, much less candy is given out now.

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted (early days that is)

Take care all,
Bfrosty

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

It depends. We are a family of 6 as well and have done the MNSSHP and MVMCP and enjoyed both. But we had to make cutbacks in souvenir shopping to accomodate the price. It also depend on if you were going to RD every day. With our younger kids we spent the day of the party relaxing at the resort pool and then went in at 4 so they could last until midnight. Had we been in the parks that morning they would have been too tired to last the whole party. We also had to let them sleep in the next day and just go to Epcot WS when they opened around noon instead of hit a park RD. So it does affect your park touring. Another thing to consider is whether you are going for rides or the party stuff. Members of our extended family wanted to do rides while we wanted to do the special shows/parades/fireworks and characters. The price of adding another day on a multiticket is far cheaper if you're just looking for rides. Just some thoughts to look at. Good luck in deciding.

 

[mommy4]

I think we will probably skip it again, because I just don't think we could stay up that late (me included ) We will easily make RD every day, but staying up late would be a big stretch!

Hopefully they will have normal wishes and spectro on a weekday while we are there though so that I can take my older kids.

We'll use the $ on the new pirate makeover for the boys!

 

[Silver Queen]

We went to MVMCP in December and it was just okay. The night that we went was very crowded. The parade and the shows were nice, but not overly impressive. We feel no need to do it again. In my opinion it's not worth $250, especially with very young children. In October we will be trying MNSSHP. I've heard that many posters prefer this party.

 

[Orangeandwild]

We have tried it three differnt times, several years apart with the last being in Dec 2008. Neither of us felt it was worth the extra money over a normal evening in the parks.

 

[ursula28]

We have done all three parties (MVMCP-MNSSHP & Pirates & Princess). I'm glad I tried them, but would not spend the $ to go again. I was disappointed on how crowded they were, especially the shows & parades. We won't be spending the extra $ to do them again.

 

[Nikki_Mouse]

We went for the first time in Dec. 2008- NEVER again!!! It was soo crowded- I was taking a picture at 12am and my husband said "waht are you doing?" I said- I want to remember why I will never come here again! People wew wall to wall like I have never even seen in the summer! It was an absolute nightmare- definately not worth the money! How much hot chocolate can you drink to justify the cost?

 

[larryz]

...it was worth it. The crowds were smaller, the chocolate and cookies were bigger and better, the family photos with characters were free, you got a free button as a souvenir.

These days, it sounds like just another revenue event. Here's your (dry, crumbly) cookie and your (tepid, weak) hot chocolate. Photos are 22.95, thanks, and no, we don't give out buttons any more.

That's why we charge more than we used to, and give a lot more people the chance to participate.

 

[Condorman]

MVMCP- Worth $250??

In two words... No.

 

[MelanieC]

We have been quite a few times during end of Nov/early Dec when the kids were younger. We just felt like it wasn't worth the money, especially since the kids were little. We had fun during the day and we always went back to the hotel after dinner anyway. - so for us we didn't miss it.

 

[MeLaNie9]

We went for the first time in Dec. 2008- NEVER again!!! It was soo crowded- I was taking a picture at 12am and my husband said "waht are you doing?" I said- I want to remember why I will never come here again! People wew wall to wall like I have never even seen in the summer! It was an absolute nightmare- definately not worth the money! How much hot chocolate can you drink to justify the cost?

I agree with Nikki_Mouse above. In its current form - definitely not worth it! We also went for the first time in Dec 2008. I absolutely was against this because of the prices and I knew my kids (4 and 2) would be asleep during most of it, but my MIL and SIL insisted and DH agreed. It was so incredibly crowded that we only rode TTA, saw the parade from about 6 rows of people back, and had some cookies and hot chocolate. We spoke to a family that lived in FL who said that they had come to MVMCP a few years ago and that the crowd had been nothing like that night, they thought it was ridiculous the number of people they allow in there. I wholeheartedly agreed.
The kids were asleep soon after the parade. The crowds/lines for the shows were massive. And...it was absolutely freezing. MIL, SIL, and DH managed to see one show late in the evening - the one in the amphitheatre in Tomorrowland - while I sat outside freezing my buns off on one of the concrete benches there with the boys asleep in the strollers. There was some glitch with the show such that it lasted an hour and by the time they came out I had totally had it.

 

[Mom2twinboys]

It depends. We are a family of 6 as well and have done the MNSSHP and MVMCP and enjoyed both. But we had to make cutbacks in souvenir shopping to accomodate the price. It also depend on if you were going to RD every day. With our younger kids we spent the day of the party relaxing at the resort pool and then went in at 4 so they could last until midnight. Had we been in the parks that morning they would have been too tired to last the whole party. We also had to let them sleep in the next day and just go to Epcot WS when they opened around noon instead of hit a park RD. So it does affect your park touring. Another thing to consider is whether you are going for rides or the party stuff. Members of our extended family wanted to do rides while we wanted to do the special shows/parades/fireworks and characters. The price of adding another day on a multiticket is far cheaper if you're just looking for rides. Just some thoughts to look at. Good luck in deciding.

Totally off topic!! We have 3 boys and I love your name and signature. I am working on talking DH into the 4th!!

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

Totally off topic!! We have 3 boys and I love your name and signature. I am working on talking DH into the 4th!!

Thanks. The 4 boys was purely chance we were hoping for some pink (and I still am hopeful) but we wouldn't trade them for a girl now. Just would like to add some princess to the mix.
If you do go to the parties the farther away from the holiday the less crowded. Weekdays tend to be better as locals would go on a week-end. We found the second parade was less congested than the first. We did enjoy the Christmas party but then again we love Christmas and would drive a half hour to a Christmas lights display.

 

[RMulieri]

Not worth it for that kind of money...Seriously there is a lot of holiday happenings around the world that don't require a $250 cover charge