Someone please make me feel better about skipping the MVMCP

[ms_missy66]

When we booked our trip a few months ago I deliberately skipped the MVMCP because our kids are only 5 and 4. They are falling asleep by 8:00, especially after a long day in the parks. We'll see loads and loads of wonderful shows and Christmas decorations. We'll eat treats until we puke. We'll see "snow" at the Osborne Family Lights. It'll all be wonderful. Plus, the party for our family will be nearly $200. It just seems like it wouldn't be worth it.

So now that we're a little less than three weeks out, I'm wondering if I should just go for it. I need someone to tell me to stick with my original decision. Tell me it's not worth it for us this time. Pretty please?

 

[grumpy donald]

It was really crowded, the lines for the coco were long, and it was difficult to get around with the stroller. We'd never go again with little kids. Maybe I'd go with just my husband.

 

[JESW]

Save your money this trip and use it another time when your kids are a bit older and they can enjoy it more - now you will have a reason to go back again!

Jill

 

[buffalogirl]

It's not worth it. We went Dec 2006 and haven't bought tickets since. It was fun, but just not worth the $$$. And the cookies and cocoa-nothing special.

On non-party nights you can enjoy the Castle Dream Lights, Spectromagic and Wishes at MK . As you mentioned the Osborne lights at DHS are also an option along with Fantasmic. My kids also enjoyed touring the monorail resorts-seeing the gingerbread house at GF, taking a walk on the beach at the Poly-seeing the MK fireworks from a distance.

There are lots of other great ways to spend your time without spending extra $$$.

 

[ms_missy66]

You all rock! Thank you! I keep telling myself, "We'll do it when they're older! Now is not the right time!"

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I agree - don't do it. We are going in just over 2 weeks, and have opted not to go either. We have a 2 & 3 year old, and know they will be sleeping by 8pm as well. Now DH and I may go alone and leave the kiddos with the grand parents (both sets are coming), but probally not - just not worth the extra $$$$ to us, and personally, we would rather to go DTD and shop. I really don't think you are cheating yourselves out of anything! Have a great time!!!!

PS - Where are you staying?? We will be down there from 12/9 - 12/16 and staying at POFQ.

 

[jenb1023]

I just went to the MVMCP on 11/20 and can say skip it based on first hand knowledge. We had low crowds all week but the party was very crowded and the schedule of shows makes it hard to do everything unless you are there all night which is just not possible with little ones. We loved the P&PP and experienced low crowds there but that was just not the case here. We loved what we saw (Mickeys Twas the Night Before Xmas, the parade and Holiday Wishes) but it was not worth the money IMO especially with little ones who can't stay awake until midnight.

 

[happymommy]

We're going Dec 17th for 5 nights. No, we're not going either to MVMCP.

Our reason, we rarely stay up late in the winter, and even at Disney during one trip we may only stay up for fireworks once. My kids are older than yours, but still we like to turn in early, relax and maybe watch some movies on tv or something.

I have heard it gets a bit crowded. We'll also see the beautiful decorations at the parks. So I don't feel at all like we need to do it.

I don't think it's a bad decision to skip it at all!

 

[sharibrat]

IT's hard to miss out on fun

We just got back from a lovely week with our 5 and almost 3 year old. We stayed late one night to watch Spectromagic, which they loved. I tried sticking around an extra 35 minutes or so for Wishes and fireworks and they just couldn't do it. I (yes me) pouted at the bus stop knowing I was missing it. But it was not worth staying and then dealing with the crowds and the extra 30 -40 minutes of bus, etc.

Same thing in Epcot, we tried to stay one night for Illuminations and by 8:30 my daughter was asking to go back to the room.

There is no way my kids could stay awake - and if they did - they would be miserable for the rest of the week.

It's hard to leave the park when the Christmas music is being piped in louder and all the people are entering the park in their CHristmas hats, etc, you start smelling the hot chocolate and seeing the CM's in their Christmas attire........someday when they are bigger!

 

[Juliet25]

When we booked our trip a few months ago I deliberately skipped the MVMCP because our kids are only 5 and 4. They are falling asleep by 8:00, especially after a long day in the parks. We'll see loads and loads of wonderful shows and Christmas decorations. We'll eat treats until we puke. We'll see "snow" at the Osborne Family Lights. It'll all be wonderful. Plus, the party for our family will be nearly $200. It just seems like it wouldn't be worth it.

So now that we're a little less than three weeks out, I'm wondering if I should just go for it. I need someone to tell me to stick with my original decision. Tell me it's not worth it for us this time. Pretty please?

It's not worth it. I've been twice. The only reason I went the second time is b/c we went down with another family and they wanted us to come along. It's just not worth the extra $$$ to me and I doubt we'll do it again.

 

[Juliet25]

I just went to the MVMCP on 11/20 and can say skip it based on first hand knowledge. We had low crowds all week but the party was very crowded and the schedule of shows makes it hard to do everything unless you are there all night which is just not possible with little ones. We loved the P&PP and experienced low crowds there but that was just not the case here. We loved what we saw (Mickeys Twas the Night Before Xmas, the parade and Holiday Wishes) but it was not worth the money IMO especially with little ones who can't stay awake until midnight.

That's a good point about it being crowded. I expected it to be less crowded than an average day in the parks, but it's actually more packed.

 

[Jennia]

We just went, and while it was fun, it wasn't really worth it, imo. I'm not a huge fan of cold weather, and I didn't enjoy sitting around forever outside waiting for and then viewing the parade (though it is one of the best I've seen). Other than going for the parade, I didn't think anything else was worth the money/time. Like others have said, it is VERY crowded, even when the rest of the day it's nearly empty!

 

[Jennia]

I think one reason it's really crowded could be due to them not actively checking for wrist bands. We were checked once, and that was while moving out of a store onto Main Street-but if you were already *on* Main Street/somewhere else in the park, you could probably just stay and see everything. We saw quite a few people who were doing this, and seemed totally oblivious that it wasn't just part of the entertainment for that day.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Skip it.
We went last year. It was OK, but I don't need to rush back. There are so many special holiday things around all of the parks that won't requeire $200 and caffeine to get through.
You'll still see the castle lights, Osborne lights in Hollywood Studios, everything around you will be decorated, there are Santas in Epcot, and lots of other things to get you in the holiday mood.

If you had said the Halloween party, I would say it's absolutely worth it because it's so much fun. But the Christmas party is definitely one that can wait.

 

[Lesley Mahler]

It's not worth it. We went Dec 2006 and haven't bought tickets since. It was fun, but just not worth the $$$. And the cookies and cocoa-nothing special.

On non-party nights you can enjoy the Castle Dream Lights, Spectromagic and Wishes at MK . As you mentioned the Osborne lights at DHS are also an option along with Fantasmic. My kids also enjoyed touring the monorail resorts-seeing the gingerbread house at GF, taking a walk on the beach at the Poly-seeing the MK fireworks from a distance.

There are lots of other great ways to spend your time without spending extra $$$.

When do they put the gingerbread house out at GF, that sounds like something to see!!!

 

[jackie101]

We are also not going I didn't think my children would last - we will be in Disney 12/11-12/17

 

[Dannielle_1]

Thought about going, but decided to skip it too.

I have DS (almost 3) and he would never make it to midnight - I'm hoping to be able to get to the 8:00 wishes on regular nights though!!! I feel if I were to spend the money on an extra, I'd want to be able to take full advantage of it and the full time allowed, not just an hour or two.

Plus, there is plenty of other Christmas stuff going on around the World.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I know its not the Christmas party, but we were in WDW this past October and we decided to skip Mickey's Halloween Party.

Our kids are 10 and 5 and they didn't want to go. We have been to 4 other Halloween parties in the past and had fun but were not that impressed. And since it would have cost over $200.00 for our family of 4 to attend for just a few hours, we were happy with the decision.

 

[ALittleDisneyFan]

It will be OK There are other parades that you're planning on... Have a great time!

 

[Stephres]

My kids are 9 and 6 and we've never been to any kind of party. My little one gets up at 6:30am, no matter how late she stays up, and it didn't seem worth it to us to make the next day miserable for all of us by keeping her up late the night before.

You will have plenty of fun and magic, I promise you! Have a great time!