Skipping character dining and doing MNSSHP instead?

[Twice_as_Nice]

I was wondering what people think. We are contemplating skipping character dining, 1-2 meals, and instead doing MNSSHP with our kids.

The reason why we are thinking this is because we are going on a MAW trip and the dining at GKTW is included. At first we thought about pay OOP to do 1-2 character meals ourselves since our kids enjoy it so much but then wondered since we only have 3 day tickets for Disney if adding the MNSSHP on a day we weren't doing Disney would kind of add a half day at WDW for us since you get to ride the rides during the party. We have done the MNSSHP on our first trip last year and it was tons of fun, the kids got to ride Mine train 4 times during the party and they had a blast getting candy.

My only worry is if the party might be busy, though it would be Sept when we go so far away from Halloween.

 

[andiraye]

How old are your kids?

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I could take or leave the character meals. If I had to choose, I would pick MNSSHP. I'd love to see the unique offerings of the halloween party, plus it's an extra park day!

You said it is a MAW trip, so why not ask the child being honored what he or she would like to do?

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

Our kids will be 10, almost 9 and 4.

You said it is a MAW trip, so why not ask the child being honored what he or she would like to do?

He doesn't have the cognitive ability to answer or I would most definitely ask him. I think I will ask the older two kids what they think though, that's a good suggestion. They helped decide what wishes he would want for his trip also.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I'm so sorry. Re-reading my post, it comes across as very insensitive to the fact that your child might have impairments. I didn't mean to sound so snarky.

I think asking the other children sounds like a good alternative. Again, sorry for being insensitive.

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

I'm so sorry. Re-reading my post, it comes across as very insensitive to the fact that your child might have impairments. I didn't mean to sound so snarky.

I think asking the other children sounds like a good alternative. Again, sorry for being insensitive.

Oh my goodness no no I didn't take it that way at all, please don't apologize. I was just explaining why I couldn't really ask him, though I could but he pretty much just says YES to everything. Which is both good and bad depending on what you are going for.

 

[MommyMK]

I'm not really a fan of character meals, we've done them several times over the years, but we prefer to do the character meets separately. LOVE MNSSHP though!! If I had to choose I'd pick the Halloween party hands down.

 

[andiraye]

I think generally younger kids (ie your four year old) get more out of character meals and older ones (your 10 and 9 yo) get more out of MNSSHP. Our 3.5 yo fell asleep in the stroller halfway during MNSSHP last year and missed so much but he loved the character meals. I think by age 10 some of the magic of characters wears off a bit.

Since you have older and younger kids not sure that's helpful!

 

[TinaLala]

I can understand your dilemma. We are going in Oct and I had booked CM for 8:30pm on same day as our MNSSHP and realized how stupid that was. Then I booked CP for 3:45pm for a late lunch and realized it worked much better. It's hard to take any time away from the park. My group really wants a character meal, but really wants to spend every second in the park.

I'd suggest asking your group what's more important and seeing if you can obtain a character meal another day at another park to compensate

 

[pooh4evr]

the lines for the characters at the parties can be very long- just something to think about