Thanksgiving trip...opinions needed???

[dbprimeaux]

I thought getting advice from my DVC family would be the place to ask this question... I just realized , MVMCP is not going on the week of Thanksgiving (we are scheduled at SSR Nov. 22-29th)...MVMCP is going on Nov. 21st & 30th. Is the party worth me trying to add a few days to our trip? Or the holiday decorations enough?? First thing to consider will be taking the kids out of school for one day and me missing 2 more days of work that originally expected.

 

[CarolMN]

By not attending a MVMCP event, you will miss the Christmas parade and the special Holiday Wishes. There may also be one or two shows that you couldnot see in the MK during the day. But everything else at the party can be done or seen during normal MK hours.

Is it worth taking the kids out of school for a day and two more vacation days for you? While I love the parade and the special fireworks (IMHO, worth the price of admission alone), I'm not sure it would be worth 2 extra days of my vacation time or taking the kids out of school for a day. (My vacation time from work is limited & when our daughter was young, we elected to travel only during school vacation periods. We wanted to impress upon her the high priority our family put on education. I know some here have different values for their family).

Only you can decide whether it will be worth it for your family and situation.

 

[edk35]

We went last Thanksgiving and went to the party. It was really fun. Our kids always miss a day or two for Thanksgiving vacation but as they have gotten older and into middle and high school even they HATE missing school school. This year's trip they are missing just one day. I will not take my kids out of school for more than 2 days and now it ends up being one. How old are your
children? I think when they are in elementary school it is much easier to miss a day or two.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The bigger problem will be getting a room for the extra nights.

 

[dbprimeaux]

DS=15
DS=6
DD=4

In your opinions... is it worth it or will there be enough Christmas atomsphere and "activities" going on without going to MVMCP?

 

[mmmcq]

Two years ago we were at WDW from Friday before Thanksgiving until the Friday after. We went one day early (had to fly out Thursday night) to take advantage of the MVMCP on that Friday night. It was a great way to start our trip and we had never been to WDW at Xmas time. So I think that year it was worth the extra day of missed school.

But I have one in college now and one is a senior in high school. Neither of them is coming for the entire trip this year and my senior is not missing any school per her request. We can go to MVMCP on 11/30, but did not extend our stay to take advantage of it, but rather the whole trip is one big excuse to watch our alma mater play basketball at the Old Spice Tournament that weekend.

I haven't even bought tickets yet for 11/30 if that tells you anything. I thought the night was great and the decorations were lovely, I'm just not sure it's worth the extra $$$. I'll likely buy the tix and we'll go.....or at least some of us will. It turns out the final game of the b-ball tournament starts at 7:30 and we expect our team to be in the final. So DH will go to the b-ball game with the teens and I'll go to MVMCP with my DD8.

If you don't think you'll ever be back there during the xmas season....well that might make a difference. I'm not sure it's worth extra vacation days from work, however. You'll have a wonderful trip no matter what.

FYI The Osborne lights in Hollywood Studios will be operational on 11/28 - so don't miss those before you leave. I recall they were up and functioning before Friday two years ago.....because we left on Friday and I know we saw them earlier in the week.

See you there!

 

[mmmcq]

Just noticed what you're celebrating.

 

[hakepb]

IMHO, you MUST experience MVMCP at least once!
(to DW, the longer parade and fireworks had the same magic she remembered as a kid, when everything at WDW was (or seemed) bigger than life!)

If you are sure you will make a MVMCP in the next 3 years, then it's OK to wait, otherwise I'd go for it! (But fully respect your decision to keep the kids in school)
Osborne is also amazing. watch the other park goers. You seem them walking in from a relatively warm Florida theme park, in disbelief that Disney wants them to think about Christmas, and are then overwhelemd by the amount of lights and the loud Christmas music.
Then it start snowing, and as they focus on the first few flakes, it clicks. Disney did it! It's Christmas!

 

[mmmcq]

I do have to admit that I vividly remember the soldiers in the special Christmas parade. It was an amazing and the snow on main street was just lovely. The music over at the Osborne lights really got me. And we did Candlelight Processional our last night. It was all so wonderful.

The only negative was that we had the real temps to match the snow in the scenes! It actually snowed in Orlando one night. Ouch. I'm hoping for warmer weather this November....but we will be packing mittens and hats just in case.

 

[hakepb]

Yep, '06 pre thanksgiving, that was really, really cold I remember those Weather channel reports of real snow in Orlando. I never saw a 7 day forecast in Fla with 7 consecutive days that cold the rest of the winter!

'07 pre Thanksgiving was perfect (except one day) every day was low 55-60 and high of 80

If you need another reason to go early, the crouds are really pleasant the week before Thanksgiving week. They get more and more insane on Thanksgiving week approaching the actual Thanksgiving day!

 

[slk537]

My opinion is that you'll enjoy thoroughly the Christmas atmosphere without the party. Is the Candlelight Processional on that week?? That said...

I am ALWAYS up for adding on to our trips and we love MVMCP, the parade and special Wishes. DS is starting 1st grade this year so we also haven't hit any snags taking him out of school yet, but I do understand that's a consideration.

If it were me? I'd add on. But then...I love love love love LOVE that time of year at WDW and any extra time is worth it to me.

 

[dbprimeaux]

Thanks everyone for the opinions....Now to make my final decision .

 

[bobbiwoz]

Just noticed what you're celebrating.

And I would add on the night at the end, if I could! Osborne lights aren't going on until Thanksgiving this year, so I would stay longer to be sure I'd get everything in.
Bobbi

 

[dbprimeaux]

I am going to call MS tomorrow morning to try to extend our stay, so we can attend the MVMCP - if tickets and room are available ???

 

[dbprimeaux]

I am so excited !!! I just got off the phone with MS (Steve), and I got our reservations extended (Nov. 22-Dec. 1). And, I purchased our tickets for MVMCP !!! We have never visited WDW for more than 7 days. I am SOOOOOOO excited right now