MVMCP - Yes or No with small kids?

[Anliena]

We're planning a WDW for the first week of December. Trying to decide if MVMCP (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, right?) is something we should shoot for one day. My kids are younger (almost 6, just turned 3, and 8 months at the time of our trip). My concern is how late it is and the kids lasting for parade and fireworks. I want it to be fun, not melt down city. Anyone with little kids that can share any advice?

 

[MSSANDRA]

We choose not to do it. My oldest would have NEVER made it past 9:00 no matter what. Little guy might would have hung with us much later but would have been a bear the next day. We did the party after our older one was older and before little guy came along. Plan to do MNSSHP this year and DS is 7.

 

[ktlm]

It depends on your kids. If they are early to bed or low energy kids it might not go that well. My DD, 8, has always been a high energy night owl. We've been taking her to MVMCP since she was 2, and it has always been great. We love it so much, that we often go more than once. She usually is up and ready to hit a park close to rope drop the next day too.

 

[usagibuffy]

My kids will be similar ages and we are planning to do it. They will be 5.5, almost 3, and 3 months. We have done MNSSHP twice at Disneyland and with a later start to the day, both kids have made it to midnight. DD was just 2 and just 4 when we went, DS was 1.5 for his one trip. They surprised us by making it to the end, but there was so much to see and so much going on that they were very excited and not at all interested in sleeping. We also encouraged both of them to walk when it was possible and gave them plenty of sugary snacks. I'd say it depends on your kids' personalities. Do they tend to poop out early on exciting days or are they stimulated by the action? If you choose to go, make sure to have a very low key, quiet morning/afternoon, and make a real point to get everyone a nap or quiet time in the afternoon. That will help with the meltdown potential and recovery the next day.

 

[Figmentmommy]

We took our boys to MVMCP for the first time when they were 4 & 2. They were- and still are the type to stay up late without any problems. We watched the first parade as they sat in their stroller and then hit lots of rides with very little wait, if any - Then saw the old Goofy Christmas show. They loved it! The youngest fell asleep around 11:00 and the oldest not until we were leaving. Since we normally visit during this time of year they are still excited to attend the party and they are now 12 & 9!

 

[Happyjen27]

I think my kids absolutely COULD do it, but I chose not to. I didn't want 2 whole days of my trip to revolve around one event that, while special, isn't drastically different.

The day before would have to be carefully planned to include relaxation and rest and a "must do" nap. The day after would include sleeping in as late as possible, and equally low key activities since they will be running on less sleep.

2 days of my vacation plus the ticket price seemed like to high a price to pay for one night.

 

[caselaw3]

absolutely - my kids loved it!!! they were 3.5 and 4.5 and they had a blast - especially going to the different food stations to get cookies and hot cocoa! And the snow on main street - absolutely magical for them!!!!

 

[RachaelA]

We did it with an 11.5 month old. We met the princesses/princes, Mickey/Minnie, saw the parade on main street, watched the villians mix and mingle show and then DD passed out 2 minutes into the fireworks. DH and I then did the trick or treating before walking back to BLT.

We're doing it again this October with both girls. A week shy of 1st and 3rd birthdays.

 

[ktlm]

I'll add that whether you need a low energy day before hitting MVMCP depends on your family's energy level (kids and adult). We are open to close parks people, including DD. We have always gone to a park before MVMCP. Sometimes we go to AK, then head back to the resort mid-afternoon and head over to MK around 4:00 or 5:00. Other times we have started the day at 9:00 at MK and just stayed there until almost midnight at MVMCP. My BIL, SIL and niece could never keep that kind of schedule. They would have to either go to a park in the morning and take a long afternoon break, or just skip the parks in the morning not head to MK until mid-afternoon.

 

[ajwolfe]

My second child was 18 months at the time we did MVMCP and he did fine with it. My older one was 5 at the time and didn't have any issues either. My kids have always been pretty easy going with changes to their routines and staying up late for fun stuff. I wouldn't skip it at those ages. I was so magical for them!

 

[disneypolybride2008]

i was so excited to see that MVMCP would be offered 2x during our week and i wanted to go to both with DD 2 years 4 months. Once it got closer I had the same question as you. I started to re-think it. I thought about doing the last ADR before park close for the party at Liberty Tree so that we could exit during the party and catch some of the magic on the walk out. Then i rethought that as well. Glad I did. She was nothing like she is at home. I planned everything for her home schedule, wake up at 8, out the door by 9-9:30, no naps, in bed by 8.. as we do at home. Once at disney she made her own schedule.. wake up at 3am, crawl in bed with me til 5am and then wake up wide eyed and ready to go. We were at EMH at MK, and AK, no naps at all (passed out in Festival of the Lion King though mid-week) other than that no naps, dinner luckily we ate at the earliest adr time, like 5pm, and then headed back to the hotel. She was asleep 7:30-8pm. So with her schedule of waking at 5am and not napping.. nor being crabby, she was always the happiest kid on earth, i would not have wanted to push her to be up for the party, as bad as i wanted to go to it, i wanted her little body to rest. I also agree with how if you do the party you should take it slow the day before and after.. but they have to want to and it wastes a lot of precious disney time. Perhaps doing a land and sea package, where you can go on a 3 day cruise would be good since they have Holidays at Sea with lots of activities for the holiday for all late Nov-Dec sailings. I thought of that for MNSSHP since on the ship they do trick or treating, parties, and other activities all Oct long on the ship and there the fun starts at 4:30pm, not 7pm. I really wish they could start the two parties at WDW at 4pm. Then it would be so much easier on the littlest ones. Good luck and have fun.

 

[kohlby]

It really comes down to your kids. We've been that time of year several times and never done it - because we knew it would not work for our kids. With three kids as well, we needed it to work well enough for all. My middle child actually needs her sleep more than my youngest, so we were waiting for her to be able to handle it. We're doing MNSSHP this year and they're 5, 8, and 11. So, it took a while - I'm still not sure how much we'll pay for it the next day with the middle child! Or how late we'll be able to stay out. We have the time though so we really want to do it.

I'd think your youngest wouldn't be a huge issue - as babies are more likely to fall asleep and nap when it becomes essential. By 6 years old, many kids will rise to the occasion. I'm sure my eldest could have handled it easily at 6, but not my middle. 3 year olds are typical wild cards though.

 

[boltfan]

I would not do it with children that young. Our first year our kids were 5, 7, and 9. These ages were great because they were able to stay up and enjoy the night after having a nap in the afternoon. I think and infant would make it very difficult to enjoy the evening and with the cost of tickets, you want to make it worth the price.

 

[puffkin]

My kids could absolutely do it with no issues (DS8 and DS2) but we choose not too because of the cost. It is just so expensive and you really don't get that much more than the normal holiday happenings in the parks. We still will do MNSSHP but we just don't find any value in MVMCP for us. I do like the parade but it honestly isn't worth the cost or the crowds to me. To us, we just feel like its a better value to get 2 full days in the parks rather than shortened days to accomodate for the party.