MVMCP Help deciding if we should purchase event tickets - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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MVMCP Help deciding if we should purchase event tickets
Hi,
We have never been to Disney in November, I'm very excited to see Disney this time of year. I saw that the Christmas Party is available 3 nights we will be there. Do you recommend me buying the tickets to go . I know nothing about the party, is it worth it or not? Any Pro's and Con's of the party would be great. Do you recommend me purchasing the event ticket's? Thanks again for any information, advice and help!
We are going to the party on November 20th. We have never gone before and I can't wait to see the Christmas parade. Let alone the snow on Main Street and some of the characters, cookies and hot cocoa... I know some people wait until they see the weather before buying the tickets. This is the only party that worked for our dates, so we went ahead and got the tickets.
If massive crowds bother you, I wouldn't waste the money. Main Street and the Hub will be nearly shoulder-to-shoulder from about 3:30 until after Wishes on party nights. CM's did a far better job last year than they had the year before of keeping paths clear along MS shop windows from about 6:00 on so that people can more easily get to the Castle and beyond. Access becomes less frustrating once that occurs.
That said, the party can be lots of fun. Whether or not it's worth that much money is difficult to say. It is a unique experience you'll have no other way. So, if the various party events sound appealing to you, you may find it well worth the money.
I suggest making a beeline to the outskirts of the park and staying there until nearly time for Wishes. Find out where party souvenirs are sold and get there quickly if you want those as they often sell out rapidly. We spent a lot of time in Memento Mori, which was practically deserted then, along with browsing other shops.
You'll likely find as we did in mid-November that you can walk onto all but the insanely popular attractions since most families stake out spots for the first parade and leave after Wishes.
Watch Wishes and then find a place to see the second parade which starts at 10:15. Shopping along Main Street is much easier after Wishes and a great time to enjoy the "falling snow."
That strategy worked well for us.
Eating dinner at CRT is particularly magical on a party night since you can come out into a Christmas fairyland with holiday lights aglow. However, what worked even better for us last year was a late (4:55) Afternoon Tea at the GF. It was filling but light enough we didn't feel too stuffed. We lingered over that until nearly 7:00, hopped onto the monorail and off to an only slightly crowded entry to the MK. I expect most people enter between 4:00-6ish to feel they're getting full value, so entering at the party start time really worked nicely.
We found getting along Main Street vastly easier by having arrived well after CM's began zealous traffic control, making our escape beyond the Castle far easier than it was the year before.
Hope this info is helpful. deciding.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
We've done it half a dozen times and will be doing it again this year. Some nights are more crowded than others; I would avoid weekend nights when locals are more likely to come too. We usually arrive between 6:00 - 6:30 which seems early enough given we normally stay almost to the end. Main Street does get crowded as you get closer to 7:00pm, which is when they start urging non-party people to the front. I just walk through the stores and head to Adventureland or Tomorrowland immediately, depending upon what is on the schedule and what my son wants to do.
We do as Dot does and eat before we come, usually at our resort food court. Then if my son is hungry, there are CS places open to catch a quick bite until 11:00pm.
Unless bad weather is forecast, I don't worry about the first parade. After that and the fireworks (which we usually watch from the bridge between the Castle and Cosmic Ray's/the Teacups) many people with young children will leave. We then take in the second parade, normally standing near where they enter/exit at the junction of Frontierland and Adventureland. We get lots of eye contact and waves from CMs in the parade but don't have to fight the campers on Main Street.
Is it worth it? If you've never done it before and enjoy holiday festivities, then I would go at least once. You get a different parade than the regular one (at least until the parties end), strolling musicians, stage shows and dancing at the Castle and in Tomorrowland, free cookies and cocoa (apple juice too) at various stops, and special merchandise that is only available at the parties. Plus, it snows on Main Street.
We have never been to Disney in November, I'm very excited to see Disney this time of year.
Meant to ask when in November if you are excited about Christmas decorations.
The parks are mostly all decorated by the third week of November. Not that we cared as pretty as the Main Street decorations are, but the big MK tree doesn't go up until after the Christmas Parade taping the first weekend of December.
Resorts may be fully decorated at some point during the third week but often are not until near or shortly after Thanksgiving. The Gingerbread House in the GF doesn't begin selling goodies until Friday of the week before Thanksgiving week some years. Other years, it will open on Friday of the second week of the month. You can still see the house, but it may not have all the finishing touches as yet.
So, if you're planning an early November trip, don't expect to see holiday decorations except in the MK which will have them because of the Christmas party.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Last edited by Her Dotness; 10-10-2015 at 12:17 PM..
So, if you're planning an early November trip, don't expect to see holiday decorations except in the MK which will have them because of the Christmas party.
Yes, not everything is up and running until Thanksgiving, but there are still decorations here and there. Don't forget that this is the last year for the Osborne Lights at DHS, very festive in and of themselves, stating November 7th, I believe.
Meant to ask when in November if you are excited about Christmas decorations.
The parks are mostly all decorated by the third week of November. Not that we cared as pretty as the Main Street decorations are, but the big MK tree doesn't go up until after the Christmas Parade taping the first weekend of December.
Resorts may be fully decorated at some point during the third week but often are not until near or shortly after Thanksgiving. The Gingerbread House in the GF doesn't begin selling goodies until Friday of the week before Thanksgiving week some years. Other years, it will open on Friday of the second week of the month. You can still see the house, but it may not have all the finishing touches as yet.
So, if you're planning an early November trip, don't expect to see holiday decorations except in the MK which will have them because of the Christmas party.
We are going the third week into thanksgiving week in November, I did see the osborne lights will be already up, and I want to attend the party . I'v gotten mixed information about park decorations I hear they are stating to decorate and than I hear they are not. I was looking forward to osborne lights seeing it's the last year. If the decorations are up or not isn't an issue for us.
We are going to the party on November 20th. We have never gone before and I can't wait to see the Christmas parade. Let alone the snow on Main Street and some of the characters, cookies and hot cocoa... I know some people wait until they see the weather before buying the tickets. This is the only party that worked for our dates, so we went ahead and got the tickets.
We are going to that one as well. It will be a second time for us.
I say, if you haven't ever been, to try it at least once. It is a fun party to get you into the holiday spirit, but, IMO, it's not as good as the Halloween party. However, it's still something everyone should to try out as it is a bit of extra fun.
DH and I have been quite a few times over the years, but with each year's price increase, we just can't justify the cost for the Christmas party -- and even the Halloween party is getting close to being priced out. So, admittedly, I'll miss going -- like this year! -- but we'll try to catch the fireworks from somewhere nearby!
As far as holiday decorations around property, Main Street in the MK, the back area of DHS by the Osborne Lights, as well as the lobby of the Grand Floridian (and probably the Boardwalk and Beach Club) who will be busy their gingerbread constructions, will probably be the only locations really decked out for the holidays prior to the third week/week before Thanksgiving, as was mentioned. Then, overnight and pretty much resort-wide, the holiday decorations appear everywhere! It's an awesome sight to see! You wake up and *bam!* Christmas everywhere!
...the lobby of the Grand Floridian (and probably the Boardwalk and Beach Club) who will be busy their gingerbread constructions, will probably be the only locations really decked out for the holidays prior to the third week/week before Thanksgiving, as was mentioned.
Last year, the only decorations in place before Thanksgiving week in the GF and BC were the gingerbread constructions.
We were told by a CM that the GF lobby decorations "never" go up before Thanksgiving which we knew from experience isn't so because they were put up in the night of the Thursday before Thanksgiving in 2013. We ate dinner at the GF on the Sunday before Thanksgiving last year, and there were no decorations up yet which really disappointed me. I love the spectacular GF display.
That's why I caution people not to expect to see resort decorations before Thanksgiving. You might, but there's no telling which.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
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So, admittedly, I'll miss going -- like this year! -- but we'll try to catch the fireworks from somewhere nearby! 
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