MVMCP worth the money????

[buzz for boys]

I know its a along way off but im trying to finalise how much money we still need to save. As a family of 6 this party really adds up and im wondering if others who have been to mvmcp think its worth the money???

I have 2 friends who have been to the party 1 says unmissable and 1 says dont waste your money !!
So its over to you guys to help me decide
louise x

 

[amystevekai&bump]

i'm not much help as I have never done it either!

But we are going to do it, as we won't be at WDW for Xmas week and therefore won't see all of the xmas extras that they have that week unless we go to the MVMCP.

We went to a Pirate and Princess Party last time and really enjoyed it - so I am hoping for a similar experience - plus I am a sucker for the hot chocolate, cookies and snow fall that they have promised at the party!!

 

[catherine]

I guess the short answer is it depends on what you like. Some people might think that it's worth going just for the parade or the fireworks. We went to it several years ago when our DDs were much younger and the four of us thought that it was ok, but probably wouldn't go again. After everyone had been talking about it and saying how much they'd enjoyed it we decided to give it another go this past Dec. at the end of the evening we decided that we'd have been better of spending the money on something else! I don't know whether you've been to MNSSHP, but in our opinion it's nowhere near as good as that. I'm sure that there will be lots of different opinions, but in the end I guess that it does depend on the type of things that you like to do!

 

[jharrowell]

I think it's worth doing if you've never done it before but at the current prices there isn't much repeat value.

MNNSHP... Well, that's another story. I've done that more than once in one trip before.

 

[buzz for boys]

We have never been to any party nights but I read trip reports like im obsessed and I can tell from them that the mnsshp is worth the money as people are so enthausastic about them but im yet to read a trippie where it says more than Great fireworks and Parade for mvmcp.

Its a lot of money if its really just about the fireworks and parade as if its too crowded ds wont enjoy it anyway - I love the idea of all the xmas bits and bobs and defo snow on main street but not sure I can justify the price when we can get snow in celebration and see xmas stuff at epcot for nothing.Also see holiday wishes from the poly beach - ohh im so confused

 

[Pegasus928]

We have never been to any party nights but I read trip reports like im obsessed and I can tell from them that the mnsshp is worth the money as people are so enthausastic about them but im yet to read a trippie where it says more than Great fireworks and Parade for mvmcp.

Its a lot of money if its really just about the fireworks and parade as if its too crowded ds wont enjoy it anyway - I love the idea of all the xmas bits and bobs and defo snow on main street but not sure I can justify the price when we can get snow in celebration and see xmas stuff at epcot for nothing.Also see holiday wishes from the poly beach - ohh im so confused

To be honest Louise it sounds as though you have answered your own question.
Everything that they are offering for a fee you can get somewhere else for free. And surely they don't just turn the lights on on MVMCP nights
If Cam wouldn't like the crowds there is also the risk you could end up having to leave early and miss everything anyway.
Have you considered spending the money on a cruise instead - and do one for a night that Holiday wishes is on. That way you would get a nice trip around the waterways surrounding WDW, all cuddled up under the HUGE thick blankets with snacks and drinks provided, get a close up view of the water pageant and an uncrowded view of the fireworks whilst sat directly in front of MK.

 

[loobylou44]

We went to MVMCP on Dec 15th last year, the reason we booked was because we had never done it before and also we only had a three day ticket for disney (left over from a previous holiday) and MVMCP was a way of getting virtually an extra day in the parks but cost less than a one day ticket.

The parade and shows were beautiful - but we could have seen them Christmas week during normal hours.
The free cookies looked lovely - but were far too sweet for our taste so none of us ate them.
The park was absolutely packed - but that is probably better if you go early in december.
Meeting Minnie and Mickey (had to queue spearately for each) in their Christmas gear and getting photos was great - but long queues.
Got our photopass card at MVMCP - therefore got 40% discount on all our photos, so that was a good benefit.
Did some rides - but still fairly long queues.

If MVMCP will be your only opportunity of seeing Christmas Parade and shows
then its probably worth doing, but I wouldn't do it again.

Hope this helps with your decision.

 

[gemmybear83]

We were going to do this but then I read that after the party dates are over they show Christmas wishes etc anyway every night? Were going to just see it after the cruise during regular park hours instead I think!

 

[2Tiggies]

I have been debating MNSSHP for the same reasons. Same questions apply.

At the end of the day I have to decide:

1. Will I keep my expectations realistic? By that I mean that it is no good spending the evening there constantly trying to feel I have "got my money's worth for the evening".
2. Remember that the US guest buy their tickets differently. The party tickets give you admission to the park as a park ticket from 4 pm, so effectively they have the option to benefit from not having to buy a park ticket for that day/use and admnission day from their multi day ticket. This will only work with UK tix if you go to the party on your first day BEFORE you activate your ticket or use it afterwards at the end of your trip if you will be there more days than what you have ticket days for.
3. Has the hype generated by positive threads/reviews and recommendations damaged the reality of the experience by making my expectations too high?
4. The park and attractions are the same as any other day. There s still a parade, but it is different. Characters are more plentiful and dressed up.

I would do it as a once off if DD really wanted to. She hasn't indicated any great desire to do so and I am happy to skip it for now on that basis. I would rather take the money and take her to a special dinner or get her a great treat or experience that we would not ordinarily do.

However I may go some time and love it and decide it is worth repeating. Not sure, but based on the foregoing, it is possibly not for us just now.

 

[gemmybear83]

I have been debating MNSSHP for the same reasons. Same questions apply.

At the end of the day I have to decide:

1. Will I keep my expectations realistic? By that I mean that it is no good spending the evening there constantly trying to feel I have "got my money's worth for the evening".
2. Remember that the US guest buy their tickets differently. The party tickets give you admission to the park as a park ticket from 4 pm, so effectively they have the option to benefit from not having to buy a park ticket for that day/use and admnission day from their multi day ticket. This will only work with UK tix if you go to the party on your first day BEFORE you activate your ticket or use it afterwards at the end of your trip if you will be there more days than what you have ticket days for.
3. Has the hype generated by positive threads/reviews and recommendations damaged the reality of the experience by making my expectations too high?
4. The park and attractions are the same as any other day. There s still a parade, but it is different. Characters are more plentiful and dressed up.

I would do it as a once off if DD really wanted to. She hasn't indicated any great desire to do so and I am happy to skip it for now on that basis. I would rather take the money and take her to a special dinner or get her a great treat or experience that we would not ordinarily do.

However I may go some time and love it and decide it is worth repeating. Not sure, but based on the foregoing, it is possibly not for us just now.

We loved MNSSHP - the parade itself was worth the cost of the ticket for us. We only had time to go on one ride as we were enjoying all the extra activities!

Depending on when your there you can just buy the tickets on the day, so you could wait until you are there and decide then?

 

[poggs]

Did it once on 6th December. A tuesday. In early december. Expected to be quiet....

Serious waste of money. Paid $140 for the 3 of us to go. It was totally mobbed. Could not move or get remotely near the parade route. Any extra xmas perfomances (like mickey xmas carols or whatever) were full 90 minutes beforehand. The cocoa was not worth the 20 minute wait for it. All we could do was go on splash mountain and thunder mountain, but as it was a touch chilly, this did not appeal too much! THe fireworks were nice though, but so are the normal fireworks. Snow on main street was nice to see, but they did start this 30 minutes before the park closed to non party guests, so anyone in the park at that time also saw it. There were also a load of people without the special wristbands simply sitting on main street taking up all the space. Disney made no attempt to get them to leave. All the wrist bands did was get you cocoa and on a ride. So if you want to see the party, dont bother buying a ticket, just go in before it starts and sit down!

One of the few things I've ever been disappointed with in Orlando was this. They sell it on it being quiet and its not. There is about 5 times as many people in the park on a party night as you get during the day! Far easier to go to the park as normal on a normal day.

IMHO of course.

 

[2Tiggies]

We loved MNSSHP - the parade itself was worth the cost of the ticket for us. We only had time to go on one ride as we were enjoying all the extra activities!

Depending on when your there you can just buy the tickets on the day, so you could wait until you are there and decide then?

I know. I am not knocking MNSSHP in any way - still considering it. Another factor for me is that DD has never liked anything to do with Halloween. In fact, she won't even take part in the Halloween festivities at school, so on that basis it may not be worth it for us. However an open mind is the best way to go. I have heard it is great so possibly would be worth it for us seeing as I would likely go in not expecting too much and be pleasantly surprised.

Thanks

 

[2Tiggies]

Snow on main street was nice to see, but they did start this 30 minutes before the park closed to non party guests, so anyone in the park at that time also saw it. There were also a load of people without the special wristbands simply sitting on main street taking up all the space. Disney made no attempt to get them to leave. All the wrist bands did was get you cocoa and on a ride. So if you want to see the party, dont bother buying a ticket, just go in before it starts and sit down!IMHO of course.

This seems to be what bugs people most. Lots of threads on the main boards last october - December about it. I agree that you are essentially paying for certain privileges like exclusive use of attractions (and IMO this would include your very presence in the park during those hours). The same rings true for EMH. I don't know how Disney could enforce this, but I do agree more should be done about it. The numbers are capped on party nights and this is a selling point - but it means nothing if they don't ensure that non ticket holders haven't left the park.

 

[Pegasus928]

All the wrist bands did was get you cocoa and on a ride. So if you want to see the party, dont bother buying a ticket, just go in before it starts and sit down!

Personally I wouldn't recommend this. We were there last October for MNSSHP and did see CMs activley checking wrist bands each time you tried to move from one section of the park to another, each time you joined a queue for candy or a ride, or just picking a spot for the parade.
More than once we saw people without the wristbands being escorted from the park - along with a lot of huffing and puffing - but if you don't pay you don't deserve to be there.

 

[2Tiggies]

More than once we saw people without the wristbands being escorted from the park - along with a lot of huffing and puffing - but if you don't pay you don't deserve to be there.

Agreed. Aren't people funny?! I just remembered a thread going last year (running over several pages and getting quite heated as you can imagine) by someone who was escourted to the entrance after their dinner. Oh, the outrage!

I would never do that - I don't think it sets a very good example for your kids anyhow. How would I explain to her that we were CHEATING by being there so don't get upset if we are asked to leave?!

 

[Ware Bears]

If MVMCP will be your only opportunity of seeing Christmas Parade and shows
then its probably worth doing, but I wouldn't do it again.

I totally agree.

We did the last night (18th Dec) as a way of buying ourselves extra time in MK before we went off on our cruise and came back to manic crowds.

DH and I watched the Christmas parade and loved it so much we watched it twice!! We didn't find it very crowded however we watched it in Frontierland so we could escape to rides once it had passed, that's probably why. It was so magical seeing it in the dark ~ however once the last MVMCP is over that will become the daytime parade so you'll still get to see it. In fact we loved it so much we watched it again on Christmas Day! Can you tell I love watching parades?

My DDs loved being able to ride again and again without queuing (they're all teens so able to go off on their own) and we all watched Holiday Wishes and saw the snow fall on Main Street but you'll be able to see that once the Christmas season is in full swing. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the Christmas show in front of the Castle as it was rained off ~ in fact we never got to see it even over Christmas as it kept getting cancelled due to the wet weather but that's just one of those things and not Disney's fault.

The only thing I was very disappointed on was the lack of exclusive MVMCP merchandise ~ we wanted to buy a couple of 2009 MVMCP pins and the Party Events CD, and after not being able to find it in the locations listed on the MVMCP map I asked a CM only to be told we'd be lucky to find anything left by this,the last party, and if there was anything left it would be in the Emporium. Luckily, we found a couple of pins we liked and both DD and I managed to buy the Party CD for our collections but I was annoyed that there might not have been any left. To add insult to injury, it was all on sale in the Emporium after that night ~ so much for being MVMCP exclusive!!

So, in a nutshell, we enjoyed the night and it certainly gave us the equivalent of an extra day in MK which was our game plan but I would only do it again if it was our ONLY way of seeing the Christmas stuff.

 

[wideeyes]

I have booked November just to do this. It doesn't seem like it will be as good as MNSHP which we loved however we want to try different things at WDW.

 

[2Tiggies]

I have booked November just to do this. It doesn't seem like it will be as good as MNSHP which we loved however we want to try different things at WDW.

Hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised. I would love to do the Xmas party. I know I will enjoy it because I love Christmas and to experience the lights and the Christmas parade and atmosphere would make it worth it for me. I guess it depends what you are wanting from it. That is why I havent felt too olbligated to get MNSSHP tickets in October - I dont' bother with Halloween.

If you enjoy Christmas and you are able to go, I am sure it will be great. And trying something new is the only real way to find out if you have been missing out on something great! I hope you have a wonderful time