Which option for a first timer?

[mshanson3121]

So our travel party has grown by 1, and she is a first timer! My husband's 68 year old aunt. She is joining myself, my two kids (11 and 8), and my MIL (her sister). She is open to anything. She has never been and is really excited about it. We're going to stay at Port Orleans Riverside, arriving Nov 24th for 5 nights.

Due to budget, it looks like we have 2 days max for WDW (primarily focusing on Christmas). HS is definitely going to be the second park due to the kids (big TS and SW fans). So, I'm torn on what to do:

- MVMCP plus HS
- Not doing MVMCP, and instead doing a full day at MK and HS?

We're also planning on taking a rest/resort day. Suggestions for things to do at POR, or other resorts/ideas?

 

[sharonabe]

- MVMCP plus HS
- Not doing MVMCP, and instead doing a full day at MK and HS?

I think you know this, but a full non-party day at MK at that time of year will be CROWDED. Not quite Christmas week crowded, but definitely high 9s - 10 crowded. I would probably do the party and HS. If you do any meet n greets during the party, it will mean missing some attractions, but if you skip the meets, you'll be able to do almost everything. BUT that also means you miss HEA, so maybe plan a resort dinner at an MK resort on the HEA night to catch it from outside MK?

 

[mom2rtk]

I think you know this, but a full non-party day at MK at that time of year will be CROWDED. Not quite Christmas week crowded, but definitely high 9s - 10 crowded. I would probably do the party and HS. If you do any meet n greets during the party, it will mean missing some attractions, but if you skip the meets, you'll be able to do almost everything. BUT that also means you miss HEA, so maybe plan a resort dinner at an MK resort on the HEA night to catch it from outside MK?

Especially since the first few days of the trip are Thanksgiving weekend.

OP, I would choose to have your MK day as late in the trip as possible to get further away from the holiday weekend, the better. If Tuesday is a park day and a party day, I would choose that as your MK day.

 

[mshanson3121]

I think you know this, but a full non-party day at MK at that time of year will be CROWDED. Not quite Christmas week crowded, but definitely high 9s - 10 crowded. I would probably do the party and HS. If you do any meet n greets during the party, it will mean missing some attractions, but if you skip the meets, you'll be able to do almost everything. BUT that also means you miss HEA, so maybe plan a resort dinner at an MK resort on the HEA night to catch it from outside MK?

The crowd calendars all show low crowds for that week after Monday? From what I had read it said that crowds drop sharply after the Monday? And Touring Plans shows that the Sunday was only 5, Monday a 7 and then Tuesday forward were only 3 and 4.

 

[KittyKitty]

If you have planned to go to MVMCP before Auntie was going, then go for it. But if not, I would ask Auntie if she is an early bird or late nighter. 1st timers don't need to go to special events to be amazed.

POR. Beautiful resort.Take the boat to Disney Springs, or a carriage ride, or go to the pool. They also have a great food court.

Have a great time whatever you choose!

 

[mshanson3121]

If you have planned to go to MVMCP before Auntie was going, then go for it. But if not, I would ask Auntie if she is an early bird or late nighter. 1st timers don't need to go to special events to be amazed.
Have a great time whatever you choose!

I was wondering that as well - if she could handle the late night, but she said she's game for anything, lol. I was just thinking that perhaps doing a full day might allow her to see more of what MK has, and I'll admit, I'm dying to see HEA with all the projections etc, lol.

 

[hllb]

The crowd calendars all show low crowds for that week after Monday? From what I had read it said that crowds drop sharply after the Monday? And Touring Plans shows that the Sunday was only 5, Monday a 7 and then Tuesday forward were only 3 and 4.

Looks like this year, Sunday-Monday-Tuesday was 5, 7, and 3 overall crowd levels.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

So our travel party has grown by 1, and she is a first timer! My husband's 68 year old aunt. She is joining myself, my two kids (11 and 8), and my MIL (her sister). She is open to anything. She has never been and is really excited about it. We're going to stay at Port Orleans Riverside, arriving Nov 24th for 5 nights.

Due to budget, it looks like we have 2 days max for WDW (primarily focusing on Christmas). HS is definitely going to be the second park due to the kids (big TS and SW fans). So, I'm torn on what to do:

- MVMCP plus HS
- Not doing MVMCP, and instead doing a full day at MK and HS?

We're also planning on taking a rest/resort day. Suggestions for things to do at POR, or other resorts/ideas?

For a first-timer, I would do the full day at MK, hands down. IMHO, MVMCP is all about the special events. For a first-timer, I would want to do the MK opening show, all of the classic rides, shows and definitely HEA (the best nighttime show in WDW, IMHO). If you can swing it, I would try to book the HEA plaza garden dessert party. We went Dec. 16 - Dec. 23 and did the party only because the non-party days were crowded that week. I don't think you will see those kinds of crowds the week you are going.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I was wondering that as well - if she could handle the late night, but she said she's game for anything, lol. I was just thinking that perhaps doing a full day might allow her to see more of what MK has, and I'll admit, I'm dying to see HEA with all the projections etc, lol.

If that's the case, I'll reiterate what I posted. Do the full MK day. HEA blows Holiday Wishes out of the water and, yes, a full MK day will allow you to do a lot more in MK. Some of the classics like CoP and Tiki Room won't even be open during the party.

 

[NJlauren]

We went this weekend 2 years ago, we came in on Saturday after Thanksgiving and did 2 park days, one at MK (party day) and Epcot at night, then an HS day.

Can you do a HS day, and then a party day at MK? Either get party tickets or just leave when the party starts.

I have never done MK on a non-party day that time of year. However we did MK day 1, short waits, great day. The next morning we got up to head to Hollywood Studios, and my DH saw the line for MK and couldn't understand why it was so long, why didn't anyone go yesterday it was empty, he asked how we got so lucky.. it was all because we went on a party day, but you will miss the nighttime entertainment at MK..... we were at the POP and the line was so long, whole queue and along the whole side of the building at 8am, i doubt half the people made it to rope drop!

 

[mshanson3121]

If that's the case, I'll reiterate what I posted. Do the full MK day. HEA blows Holiday Wishes out of the water and, yes, a full MK day will allow you to do a lot more in MK. Some of the classics like CoP and Tiki Room won't even be open during the party.

I know this may garner hate... but oh my word I hated Tiki Room, lol.

 

[KittyKitty]

I am the same age as Auntie, so you might suggest to her to start walking up to 10K steps a day starting 2 months prior to trip. One perk is I slept better during the "training"!

 

[BriLovesDisney]

Do a full day at MK and don't do the party. In my opinion, the party is a waste of time and money.

 

[mom2rtk]

The crowd calendars all show low crowds for that week after Monday? From what I had read it said that crowds drop sharply after the Monday? And Touring Plans shows that the Sunday was only 5, Monday a 7 and then Tuesday forward were only 3 and 4.

But wouldn't you be leaving by the time the crowds died down to 3 or 4? Can you change your dates so you arrive the 28th or so?

 

[PPFlight75]

I would do MK on a party day for the low crowds. You still get to see all of the Christmas decorations. You could then do your HS day and experience the Christmas nighttime events there. You could also spend one afternoon touring the MK resorts for the Christmas decorations which is a lot of fun or Disney Springs tree trail.
(Edit to add:I would actually prefer HEA over the Christmas party, so if that is a priority, I would go on the non party day and deal with the crowds. HEA blew me away!)

 

[mshanson3121]

But wouldn't you be leaving by the time the crowds died down to 3 or 4? Can you change your dates so you arrive the 28th or so?

I was thinking we would do SW first (when MK is still busier), then HS, and then MK last when crowds ahve dropped.

 

[rpb718]

Ok - I assume this is a 5 day stay in 2018 with 2 park days and you already know the parks (MK & HS). The trick is to pick which days to do these parks and which days to either rest at POR or tour other resorts (the gingerbread house at GF and even the tree trail at DS should be on that list).

Don't do MVMCP instead of the MK day but know you will have crowds. However you will have an unknown factor in the mix - as in what the new Toy Story Land will do to park crowds. I would imagine with Toy Story Land that HS will have higher crowds than what were seen this past year, which may alleviate somewhat the MK crowds. If the timing is right, you will want to do MK on a non-party day (since you want to see HEA) and also HS on a MK non-party day (so a good portion of the crowds will hopefully be at MK). With a 5 day stay, this scheduling of the MK MVMCP days will determine which days you would visit each park.

 

[sharonabe]

The crowd calendars all show low crowds for that week after Monday? From what I had read it said that crowds drop sharply after the Monday? And Touring Plans shows that the Sunday was only 5, Monday a 7 and then Tuesday forward were only 3 and 4.

The overall crowd levels have almost no bearing on MK for that time of year due to the number of days WITH parties. I'm not saying you shouldn't do MK on a non-party day, but you do need to be ready for heavy crowds. This year, for the week you want to do, MK also closed early on the 30th for the cast party. No way of knowing when and where they will do it next year, but if it hits that week and it's at MK, you'll have even fewer non-party days. The majority of guests are like you and want to see the nighttime entertainment, so they do MK on those days. Just be prepared. You won't have a crowd level 3 at MK on a non-party day, no matter how late in your trip you make it.

 

[mom2rtk]

The overall crowd levels have almost no bearing on MK for that time of year due to the number of days WITH parties. I'm not saying you shouldn't do MK on a non-party day, but you do need to be ready for heavy crowds. This year, for the week you want to do, MK also closed early on the 30th for the cast party. No way of knowing when and where they will do it next year, but if it hits that week and it's at MK, you'll have even fewer non-party days. The majority of guests are like you and want to see the nighttime entertainment, so they do MK on those days. Just be prepared. You won't have a crowd level 3 at MK on a non-party day, no matter how late in your trip you make it.

I can't agree with this enough! Party season in the MK is its own beast.

If the overall resort crowd level is 5, that might mean party days are 3 and non party days are 7 (or higher). It makes a huge difference. I'm actually hoping to visit during party season when we swap back to WDW for the sheer purpose of having an easier time of finding a lower crowd day in the MK.

I'm also dying to see HEA, but would trade a pleasant lower crowd day for that (although I'd probably watch HEA from outside the park) if I go without park hoppers.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I know this may garner hate... but oh my word I hated Tiki Room, lol.

No hate! I love it, but DS10 is completely freaked out by the "crooning" flowers! LOL!