Which of these are a definite must-do?

[mom2connorandcaleb]

I don't think our families going with us in October (my parents and DH's Mom, sister and neice) are going to be willing to do all this financially (and DH doesn't want to either), so which do you think are musts?

Here is what it would cost my family of 5 for each:

1. Trip to Chef Mickeys (currently we do not have free dining in Oct, we have the 35% room discount) about $140

2. Park Hopper $216 (I want this mainly so we can hop over to HS after AK and watch fantasmic. It looks like HS will be too crowded that day for it to be an all-day thing)

3. MNSSHP $220

4. Sea World one day about $300 (or possibly Universal instead)

Which do you think we just HAVE to do? Thanks!

 

[kaligal]

I don't think you HAVE to do any of them, but if it were me, I'd go to Sea World (or possibly Uni.) Second on the list would be MNSSHP.

 

[lsenquiz]

1) Park Hopper
2) MNSSHP

 

[tony609]

1) I would GIVE UP the Park Hopper, it's not worth if for one evening, in my my opinion.

2) I would also GIVE UP Sea World (or universal), especially since you can add days to you MYWT for only a few dollars.

3) MNSSHP is, in my opinion the BEST value you have listed.

 

[ancestry]

Park hopper in my opinion. We don't do to Disney without them. The food at Chef Mickey's leaves much to be desired. I dislike that additional separate tickets are required for MNSSHP and Sea World leaves me indifferent.

 

[hauntedcity]

My first choice would be Park Hopper. Even if you only plan to hop once, you never know when crowds at a park will be higher than expected. It's easy to hop to less crowded park.

MNSSHP probably has more bang for buck, since it lasts for hours, but my second choice would be Chef Mickeys. I just love chatting with Donald while the monorail passes overhead.

 

[mlg32]

1) park hopper

We would never go without them but we also go to the parks for a few hours, back to pool, go back in the evening. We aren't very scheduled. I would also not like being unable to change my plans about what I want to do. We always have a basic schedule but sometimes the older kids want more time in Epcot and the little ones MK so we split up and meet later, kwim? That flexibility is important to us but I do know that a lot of people want to spend the majority of the time in the parks, where I love the resorts/pools just as much

 

[imthatgirl]

I personally will not go to Disney without the hopper. So thats would be #1 for me. After that if I could I would do MNSSHP.

Chef Mickey's for my family is a "never again". I think you could get a better meal by leaving the park and eating $10 a head buffet. And Sea Wold just doesn't interest me.

 

[nkereina]

Another vote for park hopper. Like a PP said, you never know when the crowds at one park may be bigger than anticipated. Or if you miss a ride you like at one park, you have the option of hopping back there for it on a different day.

My second choice would be Universal. IMO, they have great rides - especially thrill rides - and they have done a lot to the park over the years. And Harry Potter is open now if you're a fan of that.

There's still a chance that FD could open in October. According to some, they expect to see new October promos in June/July. So Chef Mickey's could still be an option. I think you should make an ADR for CM's if you haven't already just in case you do end up with FD or you choose to pay OOP there. If it doesn't work out, you can cancel it.

 

[mom2connorandcaleb]

Thanks everyone! Looks like Chef Mickey's and Sea World are last on the list for most of you. I'll do Chef Mickey's if they end up offering free dining but skip it if they don't (I already made an ADR just in case)!.

Keep the comments coming though, you all are so helpful!

ETA: My kids are 6, 4, and 1 if that changes anything!

 

[CathieArms]

I don't think our families going with us in October (my parents and DH's Mom, sister and neice) are going to be willing to do all this financially (and DH doesn't want to either), so which do you think are musts?

Here is what it would cost my family of 5 for each:

1. Trip to Chef Mickeys (currently we do not have free dining in Oct, we have the 35% room discount) about $140

2. Park Hopper $216 (I want this mainly so we can hop over to HS after AK and watch fantasmic. It looks like HS will be too crowded that day for it to be an all-day thing)

3. MNSSHP $220

4. Sea World one day about $300 (or possibly Universal instead)

Which do you think we just HAVE to do? Thanks!

Honestly, i don't think any of them are "must dos." If I had to choose one, I'd probably choose either the park hopper or *some type* of character meal, not necessarily Chef Mickey.

 

[JMD]

Honestly, i don't think any of them are "must dos." If I had to choose one, I'd probably choose either the park hopper or *some type* of character meal, not necessarily Chef Mickey.

Agreed.

 

[MHSweb79]

We never go without park hoppers. We do the morning EMH park in the morning (duh), then back to our resort for a rest/ swim. Then out to a different park later in the afternoon.

With your young kids, I might do the Crystal Palace character breakfast with Pooh & friends. Breakfast is not that expensive and the restaurant is quite pretty. As opposed to Chef Mickey's which is massive chaos, noise and confusion.

 

[Brandilovesdisney]

I don't think our families going with us in October (my parents and DH's Mom, sister and neice) are going to be willing to do all this financially (and DH doesn't want to either), so which do you think are musts?

Here is what it would cost my family of 5 for each:

1. Trip to Chef Mickeys (currently we do not have free dining in Oct, we have the 35% room discount) about $140

2. Park Hopper $216 (I want this mainly so we can hop over to HS after AK and watch fantasmic. It looks like HS will be too crowded that day for it to be an all-day thing)

3. MNSSHP $220

4. Sea World one day about $300 (or possibly Universal instead)

Which do you think we just HAVE to do? Thanks!

When your kids are that young, I wouldn't bother Park Hopping - my kids were 3 and 1 last year and it took all day to do a single park. I can't speak for Sea World but Universal is largely geared towards older kids/teens/adults. I personally loved Chef Mickey's especially for the kids. I love the character interaction and it means I won't have to line up later for autographs from the main 5! MNSSHP is an event in itself - you just have to ask yourself how your kids would react to a "somewhat" scary evening. I think I would have to go with MNSSHP as my first choice.

 

[OhThePain]

Thanks everyone! Looks like Chef Mickey's and Sea World are last on the list for most of you. I'll do Chef Mickey's if they end up offering free dining but skip it if they don't (I already made an ADR just in case)!.

Keep the comments coming though, you all are so helpful!

ETA: My kids are 6, 4, and 1 if that changes anything!

I was tossing back and forth between MNSSHP and the Park Hoppers until you mentioned your kids ages.

Now I would have to go with the Park Hoppers. You might have a hard time getting your value out of the MNSSHP, especially with the 4 and 1 year old Even if the 6 year old fights through some exaustion and wants to stay as late as you will allow, even if you bring the 4 and 1 year old back, one of the adults will not be getting the value out of their ticket either.

With the park hoppers you can start out your morning at one park, take a break (nap, pool, shower, etc.) which will also be a good idea with the little ones, and then head to a different park at night. We find that doing this helps make the vacation feel a bit longer, which is always a plus. Also, having the PH doesn't make you feel obligated to get through everything you want to do in a single trip, it gives you the chance to return whenever you want to finish or repeat attractions.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

park hopper!!

 

[BrerNashville]

1. Trip to Chef Mickeys (currently we do not have free dining in Oct, we have the 35% room discount) about $140

2. Park Hopper $216 (I want this mainly so we can hop over to HS after AK and watch fantasmic. It looks like HS will be too crowded that day for it to be an all-day thing)

3. MNSSHP $220

4. Sea World one day about $300 (or possibly Universal instead)

I would definitely cross off Sea World -- it looks like you will only be there for a few days, so trying to squeeze in SW seems a little much.

The Halloween party would be at the top of my list -- the parade is the best one in DW, IMHO, and the trick or treating is really cool. The Halloween music throughout the park is also neat along with all the kids (and adults) dressed in costumes.

If you want a character dining experience, Chef Mickey's is a pretty good one -- yes, the food is buffet style and mediocre, but you get the classic Mickey characters, so our kids have always liked it.

The Park Hopper is a tough call. We bought it the first time we went, but have not since. We haven't missed it. You get an automatic hopper with the MNSSHP -- you can go to a different park in the am (AK?), then get to MK at 4:00. I know that doesn't help with your HS/AK plan, but it's an opportunity. I'd have a hard time justifying an incremental $220 just so I could go to HS and sit in the ampi-theater for 60-90 minutes to see a 25 minute show. If I really wanted to see Fantasmic (and I agree that it's the best night-time show in the parks), I'd just plan to be at HS for the day, or at least get there for RD and TSM and whatever else you wanted to do, go back to the hotel for rest, then return for the show. HS is a decent park to skip an afternoon rest in, as there are lots of relaxing things to do -- the various stunt shows, Ariel, Beauty & the Beast, etc. There's also the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area.

You can add the Park hopper at the last minute (as in, buy it at the gate of the second park of your day the first time you want to hop), so you can see how things are going and whether you think you need it.

 

[mommystieg]

Mnsshp

 

[chicagoshannon]

With your kids ages (especially the 1 year old) I'd skip MNSSHP. I took my daughter at about 2.5 years and we couldnt' stay late enought to make it worth it. We met Snow White, did a little TnTing and then saw the parade and left.

Park Hoppers might be handy. BUt you also might not use them. I'd wait and see on those. If you decide you need to hop you can add that when you get there.

Chef Mickeys. NO! The food is not good and we got better character interaction in the parks.

Sea World! I think this would be my first choice with kids the ages you have. They will love it! There's so much to watch. BUT if you have 5 days or less I would save it for another trip.

 

[mom2connorandcaleb]

Oh, one more thing. My parents offered to take my 1 year old back to the resort while me and DH take our 5 and 6 year old (I just realized he will be 5 by then - I realize I put 4 in my original post) to MNSSHP. So, that might help things!