Christmas party

[badgergrl]

Dh dd(6) ds (almost3) and I will be at disney for a week on December. Should we go to the Christmas party?

[peggy]

Do you love Christmas?

[curbsideprophet]

How late do they normally stay up? How flexible are they with bedtime? What is your current park schedule?

[Poeticxpassion]

I love Christmas and would love to go to the party so I say YES!

[badgergrl]

We have 6 full days and two partial days. We will be at parks everyday- although we are staying at the poly so we can always come back mid day is we wish

We are not morning people and will be doing none of that get to wherever be rope drop

We don't plan on eating any table service breakfasts early either

My kids can usually hang in til 10 or so and I am considering the party in part so we can see wishes as we are not planning on going to the MK on any nonparty day as the crowd calendar predict those are bad days to MK. I probably wouldn't get park hoppers if we party.

[lala]

Given their sleeping patterns I would say go for it. We did the Halloween party with kids those ages and they normally are in bed by 7. It was still worth it. But we didn't go to a park that day, we just got to the MK around 4. I would consider not going to a park otherwise that day.

[abs]

It's soooooo crowded. I love Christmas but it was a miserable experience for us. No desire to do it again.

[lala]

I don't think she means Christmas week? I would't go then, either, but earlier in December is great.

[badgergrl]

We are going December 4-11. So not actually Christmas week.

[krystee]

I would just make one of your full days a MK day. There is still plenty of Christmas magic without paying extra. Also that week is not typically too crowded.

[abs]

Jun 4, 2016 9:12:30 GMT -5 lala said:

I don't think she means Christmas week? I would't go then, either, but earlier in December is great.

Oh, early December is a wonderful time to go! We've gone the past two years then and it's great. Low crowds and perfect weather. 

The Christmas parties at MK are no fun though which is the part I was responding to.  Super crowded and I was so irritated to pay extra money for more crowds. Just not fun.

My biggest Disney tip is if you go to Disney during party season go to MK on a Tuesday or Thursday morning. You will get so much done because it's not crowded at all.  Last year we rode Dumbo four times in a row without getting off, the Teacups three times in a row without getting off, Winnie the Pooh, Buzz Lightyear three years times in a row, and Ariel all before 10 am.

Meanwhile, at the Christmas party in 2014 we rode Winnie the Pooh. Once. In an hour.  Never again.

[lala]

Well, I think the idea for the christmas party isn't necessarily to ride rides but to take in the parade, special fireworks, shows, etc. Rides are a bonus. If you stay till midnight and go on rides during a parade you'll have better luck.

[curbsideprophet]

It could be worth trying. However I agree with not going to the park earlier in the day. I would take the morning off and relax. I would probably still get hoppers and just reduce the number of days on your ticket.

[ilikedonuts]

We don't ride rides at the parties. We see the parade, fireworks, special stage shows, meet the special characters just at the party etc.

We usually go to a park from rope drop until lunch then come back to the room and have the kids nap and then head over to MK for the party around 5.

[badgergrl]

Is the parade and the fireworks show that much different at the Christmas party then other times?

[ilikedonuts]

Jun 5, 2016 9:32:12 GMT -5 badgergrl said:

Is the parade and the fireworks show that much different at the Christmas party then other times?

They are completely different floats, music, etc. plus Halloween and Christmas fireworks have awesome finales! After the last Christmas party through Christmas they do replace the 3pm parade at MK with the Christmas party parade.

[ilikedonuts]

You can watch party fireworks from outside the park if you don't go to a party

[lala]

Yes the fireworks and parade are totally different. When we're there during a party time we often go to the party one night but still go to the MK another night to see the regular parade & fireworks.

[badgergrl]

We are staying at the poly so we would probably watch the regular fireworks from the hotel beach once or twice

[Deleted]

Since your kids can hang late I would do it.

[lala]

Jun 5, 2016 11:13:47 GMT -5 badgergrl said:

We are staying at the poly so we would probably watch the regular fireworks from the hotel beach once or twice

I'd 100% do it then since you'll have such a quick & easy ride back on the monorail or ferry. Which means they could fall asleep in the stroller and not have to get up.

[arch01]

What time are the fireworks and parade for the Christmas party? We were going to do it but now this post has me second guessing...

[lala]

Jun 6, 2016 7:42:13 GMT -5 arch01 said:

What time are the fireworks and parade for the Christmas party? We were going to do it but now this post has me second guessing...

I want to say something like 8 & 10:30 for the parades and the fireworks in the middle around 9ish?

[arch01]

Jun 6, 2016 8:09:01 GMT -5 lala said:

Jun 6, 2016 7:42:13 GMT -5 arch01 said:

What time are the fireworks and parade for the Christmas party? We were going to do it but now this post has me second guessing...

I want to say something like 8 & 10:30 for the parades and the fireworks in the middle around 9ish?

Excellent. We'd be going primarily for the parade and fireworks, DS can definitely stay up til 10 or a little later.

[ribollita]

I went that week of the year in 2015 with two 4 year olds and we chose not to go. I did take DS on a Pirates and Pals cruise where we watched Holiday Wishes one party night.

We are likely going again this year with a 5.5 and almost 3 year old and I am planning on skipping it again. The crowds are low during the day and IMO (which I don't believe others have to feel the same way), it's too far before Christmas to get into a Christmas parade/ stage show. There are plenty of decorations up at all of the parks and resorts.

[lala]

That makes me laugh since I'm excited to see the Christmas stuff in Disneyland before thanksgiving!

[TBM]

Jun 6, 2016 13:58:26 GMT -5 lala said:

That makes me laugh since I'm excited to see the Christmas stuff in Disneyland before thanksgiving!

This is how I feel.  We have a rule at home that no Christmas decorations are allowed before Thanksgiving, so we go to Disney to enjoy it earlier. ;p

Even better than the Christmas stuff at the parks is The Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion at DL, since you get Christmas and Halloween together even earlier.   I wish they had that in FL.  I wanted to move back to CA when I found out that it wasn't at the park here. lol