Park Hoppers or MNSSHP?

[jana616]

It would cost us roughly the same to add PH or to attend MNSSHP, and I can't decide which way to go. It will be DH and myself, our 60 year old mothers, and our two boys, ages 26 months and 5 years. This is the kids' first trip. We will be there 6 1/2 days, from 9/7-9/14. Do you think we will be better served getting park hoppers and adding flexibility, or doing the party and adding that experience? Will my kids, at those ages, even get the party? And since it's our first family trip and EVERYTHING will be exciting, will we be better off just enjoying the basic Disney experience without adding "more" to it? If we are going to get PH, we'll decide now so I can factor that into our planning as we make ADRs (as opposed to waiting and seeing if we want them there). TIA!

 

[brendaziz]

I would base this one on your 5 year old. If the 5 yo likes halloween, costumes, candy(well who doesn't like candy!)- then i'd go w/ that for the experience.
However not all kids like the whole costumes and spooky stuff sort of thing- so if that's your kid (that's def mine) then just go w/ the hoppers. Hoppers are SO nice to have. I LOVE hoppers.
But if my son like halloween more, i'd go w/ the HP

 

[lfwhipp]

we are choosing the MNSSHP, the kids love the experience and halloween

 

[Sleeping Becca]

The park hours are short during you visit, so I would def go with the Halloween Party.

Park hopping won't be necessary.

 

[kevgraub]

I would go with the MNSSHP. In fact, we are doing just that, only we are going with our two kids ages 7 and 3 so it is a little easier decision.

One thing to consider is that does give you one free day of park hopping. You can go to a different park on the day of the party using your regular ticket, and then use the MNSSHP ticket for admission to the Magic Kingdom after 4:00 pm.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I say skip the PH's. There is so much to do in each park that I think they are a waste of money. The times we have had them we really didn't find them of value. We have been to the world enough times now that we just leisurely tour the parks. There is no rush to do anything because we have already done everything. It makes it more of a vacation than an event.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

Since this is your first trip I would not do either. Plan your days so that your day time and evening is spent at the same park. You may not even venture back out in the evening, but have dinner right at your resort. If you hit rope drop you will be very tuckered out by the evening. (At least our family always was.) And if your 5 year old is still full of energy the pool is a great place for everyone to gather. (I think many of us adults forget the attraction of the pool to the younger ones.)

I would also not do the extra evening party. Again, there is so much to experience during the day. I would save the party for when your younger one is a bit older.

My husband and I went two years ago with our then 14 year old to Disney. It was the third trip as a family. My 14 year old had an absolute blast. I'm just adding this to say that even the older kids still have a fantastic time, so

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

Hands down....MNSSHP

 

[maroo]

Don't miss MNSSHP!

 

[1hero2princesses]

My kids at 5, 3 were scared at MNSSHP. They thought the castle being all dark and the music was scary. Also, the 3 year old was a mess by 10 (even after trying to rest during the day) so we really didn't get much use out of it leaving so early. We went on a Tuesday, lines for candy and face painting were really long. They kids did like dressing up and getting candy, but I am not sure it was worth it. I don't know we would go again till they are older. We did use our park hoppers twice. I have been debating whether or not to get the hoppers again this Sept. We didn't use them that much, but since we are doing free dining again, and most of the restaurants we want to visit are in Epcot I am thinking they may be worth it. I think using hoppers with young kids is doable. You just need to be aware of the easiest routes between parks. If we get hoppers I will try to do better planning (ie it is pretty easy to get from Epcot to HS) last time we went from HS to MK which was a little more challenging.

 

[amytheobald]

Skip the park hoppers, and don't be afraid to consider just taking those to MNSSHP who will enjoys it...we skipped park hoppers last time and we felt like we weren't as rushed....when we hopped we would book dinner in different parks etc and the transit time ate into our vacation. Not sure if we will ever do hoppers again!

 

[jana616]

Thanks everyone for the advice! I still don't know what to do. I think the MNSSHP sounds like a lot of fun, but my kids aren't huge into Halloween, and DS5 is kind of in an "afraid of bad guys" stage right now-so villians might freak him out. I am also worried about whether they (esp. my 26 month old) would be able to stay awake for it happily. We're planning to do late EMH at MK our last night (which would be two nights later), and I'm worried they won't make it long then (open til midnight), but at least that's free. I'd hate to pay $150 and leave early.

The park hoppers would be nice, I think, to allow us to go to a couple PM EMH, and also hit Epcot in the evening a couple times. I would rather have maybe 3 mornings at MK, and then hop to Epcot after a break for dinner and walking the WS, versus two full days at each. I am also assuming that I may have to do some compromising on my ADRs during FD, so I thought PH might give me some flexibility that way. I don't know, so much to think about. Thanks to all for the perspectives, I really appreciate it!