MVMCP worth it? (going with senior parents)

[Scrappymags]

I was wondering if the MVMCP would be worth it for us? I'm going with my senior parents (63 & 65). Our thinking:

Con: you can see the Wishes fireworks other nights when there is no Xmas party. It's 7-12 and that would be a very late night. It would cause us to adjust our schedule that day AND the next to get more sleep plus mom & dad are both diabetic so they gotta get up and eat/take insulin all that stuff.

Pro: We're worried we might be missing out on something unique or special that would be worth $40/person. If it's really worth it, we'd go, but aren't sure.

What do u think?

 

[NjRon]

I'm taking my senior parents (70 & 68) and they are looking
forward to it. We all have the understanding that they do what
they can and we run at their pace. It's more important to us
to see what we can together VS. see it all seperate.

 

[Scrappymags]

Oh, I have NO problem going at their pace. They were the ones worried about the 7-12 timeframe! Just wanted to clarify that. They were more worried that being up at 12 and then they both have to be up at 7am to eat and check their blood sugar.. stuff like that.. that would be too tired the next day to do anything.

 

[Carrieberry]

We did not think it was worth it when we did it a few years ago. We will not do it again if we go back at that time of year. Let me tell you why and then you can judge for yourself. Alot of people love this party but to us it is just not worth the extra money we would rather spend on other things.

1. The buses going to the MK for the party fill up quickly. We had to wait for three buses going to the party from POFQ until we could finally make it on one. All in all we waited about 45 minutes to get on a bus. There were so many people going to the party, waiting in the rain (which made it worse!) for 45 minutes just to get there was the first indication it might not be worth the cost.

2. It was way more crowded than we thought it would be. The traffic on Main Street was like herding cattle. Now we know how crowded the MK can get during the day, but getting in and down main street when the party started at 7 was just miserable. Everyone going in at the same time was just crazy, so if you go your might want to head over there really early so you can be one of the first, or wait until later to avoid this problem.

3. The lines for the rides were not that much shorter than during the day. Sure we did get to Buzz when it was fairly empty, rode it twice in a row, and by then it had a very long line. If you are going for the rides, defintely not worth it. If you are going for the parade and the shows, probably worth seeing but whether or not the shows warrant the extra money is debatable.

4. You have to stake out your spot for the parade in the same way/time you would during the day, making you miss alot of what is going on at the party. We decided to do rides instead, and ended up missing the fireworks while we were on Splash Mountain. It does snow on Main Street, but it also does that at Osbourne Lights over at the Studios and you can see those for free.

5. The lines for the cookies, and for the picutres took a LONG time. At least 40 minutes for the picture and another 20 for the cookies. Between the two, we lost an hour.

6. After doing parks during the day, we really wore ourselves out staying up so late and not leaving until about 11:45 (again cattle herding down Main Street) The next day we were dragging, and we even took naps before going to the party.

Now we expect these issues when we go to MK during the day with all of the regular guests, and we are not complainers at all when it comes to crowds and stuff. I am only so picky because we paid EXTRA on top of our regular passes to get into the party. It just didn't seem that magical to us, though I know lots of people would not miss it for the world. These are just my opinions of course!!
The other plus was that Epcot was much less crowded on the nights of MVMCP which made it extrememly enjoyable!

 

[Bete]

always do MVMCP when we go at that time of year. I would take an afternoon nap to make up for any lost sleep. It's a long day going from early morn to late night but it's well worth. If worried I'd rent an electric cart that day for both day and night for them. That's one day you will get your money's worth out of it. You can use your same ticket for the carts each time you come back to the park; you can even park hop and get carts.

There are plenty of slower activities; so, the pace is gentle. Twas the night is a sit-down show. The castle show can be watched standing or sitting on a bench but be early if you want to sit. The parade and fireworks is the same way. You get all the cookies and hot chocolate you want for free with admission to MVMCP. The one with the most energy can stand in line for the goodies. There's a bell ringing choir show in the back of the castle. Goofy puts on a special Christmas show inside; so, you can warm up and sit for that activity. I would pace these slower activities as rest periods between rides and getting around the park, etc. I really like having a long day at MK. I don't feel rushed because you have all day and night to do it all.

You get a family picture together which is priceless. MK looks spectacular at night with the holiday decorations. You get to experience snow on Main St. I have never regretted spending the $40/ per person. If you have never done it before then it's even more grand. Do your homework about what to do and see.
Also, make sure you layer your clothing; so, you keep warm at night. Bring a throw blanket with you; if you can manage it. They have a roll-up style which is very easy to carry.

The most important point is not to feel pressured to stay until the last minute. You can see enough and still leave earlier if you desire. I wouldn't miss it. I hope you decide to do it.

 

[WDWLinda]

Just curious, what night of the week did you go? I was thinking about Sun. 12/12 and hoping it wouldn't be as crowded as, say, a Friday night.

Thanks,
Linda

 

[Carrieberry]

Hmmm, I am trying to remember. Let me get out my old Passorter and get back to you!

 

[Carrieberry]

Ok, I just looked it up and we went on a Thursday night. Dec 7,2000.

 

[spiceycat]

I am also worrying about the crowds at MVMCP - I heard that WDW at the last minute sold more tickets to MNSSHP - for sold out shows on Oct 30 and 31.....

So I am really hopping that they don't do this at MVMCP.

Mother is going with me - she is 82 years old.

Last year the day I picked over a weekend was much too crowded.

we are going on weekday this time so I am hoping for less people.

She gets a wheelchair - either at the resorts or the parks.

I think your parents will be surprise how many older folks do MVMCP - you get all age groups.

of course we have been going to this thing since 93 - when they first started it - and mother still wants the crowds of those days - that is not happening!

 

[webmomom]

As you put it I am senior adult as well as my husband and we both love it. I have some medical problems, Will not go into that, The fireworks are shot off around 10 pm and they are great. They are not Wishes, it is a totally different show of fireworks and all I will say is you have to look all around. There are two parades and we always watch the second parade, a little less crowded than the first. You can get into the park for the xmas party around 4 pm so you don't have to be in the crowd of people all coming in at the same time.
When you first come in head to the back of the park, nobody does and the picture stations and hot coco there usually are hardly any one there. We love watching the kids and shows and we don't do any of the rides unless we catch ones that the lines are really short. We are there for the atmosphere and we missed it last year and it really did not feel like xmas.
go and take them, just pace for them. You don't have to stay until 12. We don't we usually leave a little early.

 

[chyam]

I have been doing the MVMCP (1985?) since they started and I am a passholder so I see the world alot, but I love the party.........MK is truely magical at night and I think once you get in it's not really all that crowded it also depends on the night of the week you go.......the weekends are very busy. I will say that the best plan of action to avoid the bus delays is to head over to the park earlier or stop at the GF or Contemporary or Poly and either have a snack or dinner and then get the monorail to the park, you will be able to enter the park around 4pm with your MVMCP ticket. Alot of people don't realize that and so they head from the resorts around 6 and it looks like a mass exodus.
I took my parents for several years and they loved it, they loved all the shows and watching the parade. But when they were tired they just got on a bus and went back to the resort, but honestly most of the time they stayed til near the end.
I think it is well worth the money.

 

[helenk]

My mother is 74 and she is looking forward to her first MVMCP. We were just in WDW this past June and we went to an e-night that started at 11:00. None of us stayed until 2:00 am but stayed until close to 1:00 and my mother was right there with us.