I'm starting to plan what characters we for sure want to meet during the parties and I just have a few wait time questions.
-Is Moana at 60+ minute wait all night long?
-What about the princesses and the princes? Would they be 20-30?
-If time would allow it, maybe Nick and Judy. Do they command a long wait too?
Moana's wait was much shorter later in the night for the Halloween party this year. We'll have to see if the same happens for the Christmas parties. We met her with only about a 20 minute wait right after the first parade.
Sadly, the princes and princesses, the ones we meet outside (Snow and Aurora with their princes) usually ran an hour. The ones inside can have shorter waits because they are not as visible. I'd prob line up for your fav prince/princess group around 6 so you don't waste party time.
I believe Nick and Judy had consistently long waits for last year's Christmas party. Around maybe half an hour to 40 minutes.
I'm going to my first Christmas party this year (next week!) and am feeling totally lost on strategy. I am a plan-out-my-full-itinerary person but just really have no clue with this, even after reading lots of this thread. Our priorities are all the entertainment (especially the parade & fireworks) and the treats, maybe a couple of rides that we missed earlier in the week. That being said, I really don't want to have to sit in one spot for hours to see what we want to see, because then I feel like we'd be missing out on a lot of the treats and other atmosphere. I have no idea where or when we should be trying to get spots for the parade or fireworks. I know my friend is interested in the stage show too. Can you help me out with strategy? I'd rather do the earlier parade, but can do the later one if necessary (just 2 adults going). I'm very open to any suggestions!
Fireworks: fenced in grass area in front of Casey's. This is a great spot that people don't seem to realize that you can watch the fireworks from. Lots of people in the grass stay seated during fireworks and it can be a great spot.
I always recommend watching the first parade from in front of the train station. For whatever reason this area doesn't fill up as early as other areas, though I'd still probably camp a spot at least half an hour in advance. Then, right as the last parade goes by you can duck in to meet Mickey and he usually won't have much of a wait at all.
I'm so excited to read your strategies for meeting characters! It will be our first time at Christmas (we did Halloween two years ago) and we want to at least see Moana, Sandy Claws and Scrooge McDuck. Our pary night is tuesday december 4th!
At Halloween we did Jack & Sally, 7 dwarfs, all the characters in Storybrook and we were finish at 7h45, ready to concentrate on entertainment and trick-or-treat!
From what I found online last year Moana started around 4PM, Sandy Claws at 6PM in liberty square? But when he was moved to the entrance anyone know how early?
How realistic would something like this be if the hours stay the same (I know it's too early and will change, but it's fun for me lol):
3:30 : In line to enter the park as early as possible
4:00 : Moana line, hopefully done before 5 PM
5:00 : Sandy Claws line, hopefully done before 7 PM
7:15-7:30 : Found a spot for Mickey celebration, A Frozen Holiday Wish, and the 8:30 parade
After the parade: Meet characters in Storybrooks (NOT the 7 dwarfs) + dance party + Treats
9:45 : Find a spot for fireworks
After: Meet Princess and Prince, Mary Poppins & Bert, treats... maybe catch the parade a second time or visit the tomorrowland show/Cosmic ray cafe...
Probably end the night with a photo with Mickey at Town square.
So excited!
Your strat will be easier to plan once we have the first few parties and know when Moana and Sandy Claws will start, since they do seem to vary year to year.
Honestly, if Moana is inside the tiki room again this year I don't think you need to meet her first. We went over right after the first parade and were able to meet her in 20 minutes. She just isn't visible inside the tiki room and Disney doesn't even put character names on the park maps, just a little Mickey head to designate a character. People just don't realize she is in there.
So I'd prob do Sandy first, hopefully they'll have him start meeting at 4:30 like they did for
MNSSHP.
Last year's Christmas party we were able to quickly meet Mary and Bert right before we got our parade spots, their line wasn't long at that point.
I like the rest of your plan, but just food for thought. We went to Storybook Circus at 11 and were able to meet the 7 dwarves in 15 minutes (they are another set of hidden characters like Moana now that they meet inside the tent), Goofy in 3 minutes and then walked up to Ariel and Eric, Belle and Gaston only had about 6 groups in line at 11:30.
Looking for some advice from the experts. We are attending the party on 12/6/18 and are hoping to accomplish the following:
1. Meet Judy Hopps and Nick
2. Meet rapunzel/Flynn and Tiana/Naveen
3. Early Parade
4. Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration show.
What would be the best plan of attack to accomplish this?
Also, my daughter will be 4 and a half at the time of the party, was thinking about doing one of the dessert parties, but I don’t know if she will make it that late....goal was to forgo the party and if she is still going strong just grab a spot and watch them, and then leave..
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I would probably skip the dessert parties.
I'd line up for Rapunzel/Flynn and Tiana/Naveen around 6. That way you don't waste party time. Grab some snacks and get a spot for the parade an hour to 45 minutes in advance. If you want to watch on Main Street I'd go near the train station.
Judy and Nick had pretty decently long waits last year, you might have to just sadly wait a while for them. I'd go after you meet the princes/princesses. That way you have all your must do characters done pretty early on in the party and you can relax a bit.