Don't typically post but since I learned SO much about
MVMCP from this thread, figured it was only right to provide my experience from the sold out party on Friday, Dec 1.
Had park hopper tix so we were already in the park. Wrist band locations were operating a little before 4 and was a very easy, painless process. Now, our number one goal was to get pic with 7 dwarfs. So, we headed up to Storybook circus around 5:15 after reading reports on this thread about when the line typically forms. They were still setting up the actual queue when we got there but there was a line formed just outside so we got in it. We were the 5th group (which I was really happy with). Finished the queue couple min later and we moved into the "tent". I would say the line really started getting long around 5:30/5:45. 7D came out promptly at 6:15. Cast members (character handlers) do not mess around. Prompt you to be ready, then get you in and out of photos (which I think is great). Do allow multiple shots if you want different people but since not that much interaction, it moved quickly.
Number two priority was Pooh and friends. Knowing they come out at 7 (again, due to this thread), we headed over there next. Got in line around 6:40 and were 4th group. Line built fast around 6:50. They came out a little after 7. Finished them at 7:15.
Did rides for next couple hours. Once first parade was past Frontier land, rides over there (Thunder, Splash, Haunted Mansion, even those in Fantasyland) get a lot busier. We got to ride Thunder 2x in a row, then Splash, then HM and they were all walk-on BUT, once off Thunder after parade, lots of people headed up that way.
Got in line for Nick and Judy right before Wishes (around 9:45)...probably only 12-14 groups in front of us however it took almost 45 min to get through it because...(I don't want to get off on a rant here but...) I appreciate that characters take some time to interact with people, especially kids (full disclosure...don’t have any kids so it was me and my wife at party), but Nick and Judy took approx 5-7 min with each group. Gets a little tiresome in line seeing the time tick away. I know it's on us to decide to get in line, so the decision to wait that long was ours, and only ours. But, at one point, between groups, they spent 3-4 min interacting with the photo pass person and the character handler. No one could even hear what the cast members were saying so that was annoying. (rant over).
Big rush of people after Wishes to rides in Tommorrowland. Did notice a down tick in people in line for stuff from 10:30 to 11:00 as they were heading to watch second parade. We found a spot for parade in Frontier land one row back from front 10 min before start. Got a little lucky as a group that was there just moved over a bit and the two of us took their spot. I would say if you don't mind seeing parade from Frontier land, if you get there 10 min before start, you'll be able to stand and see pretty much everything.
Ended party doing all rides. Did 7DMT twice at the end of the night. Wait time said 40 min but it was 20-25 each time we did it.
Started walking out of the park around 12:15 and main street still had a TON of people getting pics of castle. I would say each Photo Pass person had a line of 6-10 groups but that goes pretty quick. Awesome that Disney keeps them out there until late after the party. We got some of our best photos after 12:30 am that night. Finally left the park around 12:45/1:00.
Overall, very happy we went. Was the first party we even attended. Was a little more crowded than I hoped. Walked by some of the other characters and those lines were long all night. For the most part only 7DMT and Peter Pan had waits over 25 min most of the night. Cookie lines seemed long when you look at them but they go really, really fast. Only walked down main street once during the party...after parade…before Wishes…very cool to see everything but super crowded with picture takers, parade spot holders, shoppers, etc. Good advice I’ve read on this thread is to eat early (before party)…and then snack after that. As wife waiting in line for Nick/Judy, I went and bought some food and we ate in line (good use of time if you ask me). There aren’t a lot of “real” food options during the party so something like Cosmic Rays that has real food, plus cookies, plus Club Tinsel…was pretty busy all night.
To those who are attending future parties, enjoy your time there..don’t over stress about getting everything in. If you are constantly worrying about getting to do everything you want, you won’t fully enjoy what you are doing at that very moment.
