Someone please make me feel better about skipping the MVMCP

[MommytoaSweetie]

I totally agree with other posters... do it when they're older! We thought about it this year, but we just don't think it would be worth it for DD (who will be almost 2). We're saving our money and waiting a few (or many!) years until all of our kids are old enough to really enjoy it and make it worth the cost. Maybe by then they'll have worked out the kinks like crowds.

 

[emh1129]

We went last December. We would not go again. It was SO crowded that it was hard to move (and made me nervous with kids!). I will say that the parade was fantastic, but that alone wasn't worth the price of admission. I say skip it

 

[DisBound2010]

We are going Dec 14 - 20th and I was feeling guilty about not attending the Christmas party - thanks for all the posts - it has made me feel less guilty. My kids are little - 4, 2 and 7 months and so I will probably be the one complaining about not attending...

 

[design_mom]

I agree with the others. You are making the right decision.

We went last December. We had a good time, but my children (7 and 3 at the time) were tired by 10pm, so we left. And they were tired and crabby the next day from staying up so late.

Although we had fun and enjoyed everything we did, I don't feel we got our money's worth since we missed half the party. I would go again...but not until the kids are old enough to happily stay up late!

ETA: The MVMCP was "sold out" on the day we went. The parade route was *very* crowded but we did not experience many crowds anywhere else -- cocoa line, rides, etc.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

You can see it another time. We have not been to one yet. If you think you will miss it so much, plan on going the next time. The kids will be older & will appreciate it more.

 

[ms_missy66]

Thank you again everyone! Something that never entered my mind was the crowd. There's no way in heck that I'm paying $200 to miss half or more of the party AND be shoulder-to-shoulder with the whole world.

I think my original post was just a moment of weakness. Why do we moms drive ourselves nuts trying to do EVERYTHING at WDW? LOL I normally have a pretty laid back attitude about doing whatever we get too, doing what we like repeatedly and guiltlessly skipping the rest. I guess I just got wrapped up in thinking my girls would somehow know there was a party and be pouty about missing it. The minute I mention s'mores at the Fort Wildnerness campfire, they'll forget about anything else.

Have wonderful trips everyone!

 

[BarbWB]

I haven't been for the MVMCP but I did go to the Halloween party. It wasn't really worth it. I like the parades -- my kids don't love them -- so the special villians parade wasn't a big deal to them. It was wayyyyy crowded (and we went on a weekday in the beginning of October). The crowds didn't die down until after the 2d parade! I forced my tired cranky children (not to mention my really cranky DH), to drag themselves to Tomorrowland to ride Buzz and SM over and over. They had fun after I dragged them, but, let me tell you, the drive home wasn't fun for me!
It's not like the "private party" they bill it to be. There were some special moments (like dancing with Chip) that look cool in my scrapbook, but if your kids would be happier in bed, then you aren't missing out on anything. Book a special dinner somewhere else and let the rest of the crowds go to the party!

 

[budbeerlady]

Stick to your plan. You can see all the decorations, etc with out paying out all that cash. For the $ you get a show, a cookie, some coco and maybe see santa. (We saw him before MVMCP last year with little lines at around 4pm)

Take the time and see the santas in the world showcase. Its included in your park admission and very cool! Also check out the Osborne Lights, I could spend hours there looking at it all!

 

[littleteapot]

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.

Yep, it was a waste of $$ for us. I can't believe we blew so much time searching for and then waiting for Hot Chocolate that burned my 8 yob's mouth so bad he was miserable for two days.

I would only consider going on a non-park day. We were too tired and didn't enjoy the crowds.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Sorry..can't help you!

We love MVMCP...even with young kids.

Ours are night owls so as long as we were moving...they were fine. Dd went to parties at 18mo (MVCMP), 2.5yo (MNSSHP), and 6.5yo (MVMCP) and ds went at 2yo (MVMCP) and they both "hung" until after 11pm each time. When we popped them in the stroller and started walking down Main Street ...that is when they fell asleep!

We love being able to walk on to everything in Fantasyland and do all the attractions there over and over again to our heart's content.

The kids both love the parades and the fireworks as well.... and I'll put myself in the "kid" category too!

I do have to add that we do the parties "smart" w/ our little ones though. We do NO park during the day...just lazy around the resort, etc., a TS for lunch and then we hit MK at 4pm. The next day we schedule a sleep late day and and don't hit a park until afternoon.

Enjoy your trip! I'm going to be at MVMCP (my third one!) on the 11th...can't wait!!!

 

[holly7347]

We went on our first Disney trip in Oct and skipped the Halloween Party for the same reasons you mentioned. Our girls are 5 1/2 and 3 1/2 and at home go to bed at 8:30. No matter what time they go to bed they always wake up early and the youngest is a bear when she diesn't get enough sleep. So I didn't think we could letting them stay up late and sleep in the next day would work. Plus I figured she would just pass out in the stroller and miss the entire thing anyway. I think it was a good decision on our part and they were really too young to know they even missed anything.