~*~*~*~*The Official DECEMBER 2015 Thread*~*~*~*~

[AEB123]

Great question! This is what I've come up with for Christmas Day afternoon... Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, am I planning too much, am I missing anything we really need to see?? I'm planning on about five hours as we have a 5:55 Artist Point ADR and we'd like to get back to our room at ASMo to get ready for and I'm hoping to get in a round at the Winterland putt-putt at 10:00am?
Bus to MK, Monorail ride to see hotel decorations (Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, MK)
2 QS at Contempo Cafe at Contemporary or Gasparilla Grille at Grand Floridian
MK bus to Hollywood Studios, boat to Swan and Dolphin, walk to Boardwalk and Beach Club and Yacht Club, back to MK for bus to ASMo.
We'll grab a QS lunch at one of the monorail resorts, any ones that are a necessity? I was thinking CC or GG? Am I over planning??? (I'm good at that... )

 

[lovegrumpy]

65 more days!!!!

 

[Mainemama]

Great question! This is what I've come up with for Christmas Day afternoon... Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, am I planning too much, am I missing anything we really need to see?? I'm planning on about five hours as we have a 5:55 Artist Point ADR and we'd like to get back to our room at ASMo to get ready for and I'm hoping to get in a round at the Winterland putt-putt at 10:00am?
Bus to MK, Monorail ride to see hotel decorations (Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, MK)
2 QS at Contempo Cafe at Contemporary or Gasparilla Grille at Grand Floridian
MK bus to Hollywood Studios, boat to Swan and Dolphin, walk to Boardwalk and Beach Club and Yacht Club, back to MK for bus to ASMo.
We'll grab a QS lunch at one of the monorail resorts, any ones that are a necessity? I was thinking CC or GG? Am I over planning??? (I'm good at that... )

This sounds like more than will fit in 5 hours! Remember to plan on an hour to get between destinations with Disney Transport (monorail loop excluded, though I would allow 10-20 minutes between stops.) if it were me, I would do minigolf, then pick either the monorail resorts or Epcot resorts, not both. Especially if you will be having lunch and also returning to your room to get ready for dinner (which you should start at the latest at 3:45 for a quick change). I am going to squeeze in both Epcot and DTD on Xmas day, but we won't go back to our resort.

 

[Tashak]

I hadn't planned on hitting Polynesian or Contemporary, but them being on the monorail would certainly make it easy. Thanks for that! I honestly hadn't thought about it.

 

[MagentaMulan]

I just booked our FP+. I got the times I wanted, but had to adjust my plans a bit!

 

[AEB123]

We just extended and upgraded our trip, Dec. 19-26 at Pop!! I'm so excited! We got the stay, play, dine deal too!

 

[DisMom1981]

I'm so glad fp night is over! I was surprised by the 7DMT availability- lots to choose from. I am super nervous by all the chatter on Facebook about major crowds even the first week following Yhanksgiving which has always been historically low. I can't help but be sucked in to the panic even though I know. We are planners and veteran guests. We should be fine!

 

[wehrengrizz]

I'm so glad fp night is over! I was surprised by the 7DMT availability- lots to choose from. I am super nervous by all the chatter on Facebook about major crowds even the first week following Yhanksgiving which has always been historically low. I can't help but be sucked in to the panic even though I know. We are planners and veteran guests. We should be fine!

I'm with you, I was SO excited to be able to swing an "after Thanksgiving week" trip...then immediately started doubting. I keep getting all nervous stuff will be crazy, but then I calmly remember Josh's crowd number being a 4 haha so I'll just keep that as my mantra for now (and keep swimming too!)

 

[Pally]

We just extended and upgraded our trip, Dec. 19-26 at Pop!! I'm so excited! We got the stay, play, dine deal too!

We have the same dates as you for POP. We then go over to the dark side and are staying at Portofino until the 29th.

 

[AEB123]

To those if you who have been in December in recent years, do you think the Wishes fireworks will still remain at the 8:00 time I've seen in several places? We'll be going after the Christmas Party days and plan to do MK on Dec. 20th and 24th.

 

[BCO]

I'm new here but will be going December 19-23 and staying at Port Orleans Riverside.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

61 days and I'll be up at midnight tonight to make our FP+ ressies! I'm so excited!

 

[Erinleehi]

My family is going 12/21-12/27 staying at CBR. Me and hubs. Stepson (21) and our little girl (5). We are first time Christmas goers, but have gone over Spring Break.

These are our plans, so far. I'm really excited, but I'd love some help!

M 12/21 DS - BBB Midday
T 12/22 HS - 50s Prime's Time Early Dinner
W 12/23 PR/MK - O'Hana Breakfast
- Lilo's Playhouse Early Evening
Th 12/24 AKV - Sanaa Early Dinner
- Resort Tour Day
F 12/25 MK - Royal Table Noon Lunch
St 12/26 EP - Via Napoli Dinner Time w/ Candlelight Processional 8:00
- Sandcastle Activity Center Early Evening
Sn 12/27 - ???

I want to soak in Christmas and go at a slow pace. I'm worried about park closures even as resort guests with ADRs. With our ADRs we need to be in certain parks on certain days, especially Christmas Day. I don't know really know what I was thinking, except make this dream come true and get in that castle on Christmas Day. Now I'm ready to stroke out.

On Christmas Day....When do we get up? Get there?
How likely are the other parks to close on the other days?

I really want to see:
1. Osbourne Family Lights
2. Castle Light Show
3. Mickey's Christmas Parade
4. Main Street Electrical Parade
5. Holiday Wishes
6. Reflections
7. Anna and Elsa
8. 7 Dwarves Mine Train
9. World Showcase
10. Frozen Sing A Long

Am I over ambitious? I know I don't have to do it all in one day, but is this possible to spread out with enough planning and FPing? What should I FP+?
How reliable are the touring plans? Am I missing anything? Thank you!

 

[Mainemama]

My family is going 12/21-12/27 staying at CBR. Me and hubs. Stepson (21) and our little girl (5). We are first time Christmas goers, but have gone over Spring Break.

These are our plans, so far. I'm really excited, but I'd love some help!

M 12/21 - ???
T 12/22 HS - 50s Prime's Time Early Dinner
W 12/23 PR/MK - O'Hana Breakfast, BBB Early Afternoon
- Lilo's Playhouse Early Evening
Th 12/24 AKV - Sanaa Early Dinner
- Resort Tour Day
F 12/25 MK - Royal Table Noon Lunch
St 12/26 EP - Via Napoli Dinner Time w/ Candlelight Processional 8:00
- Sandcastle Activity Center Early Evening
Sn 12/27 - ???

I want to soak in Christmas and go at a slow pace. I'm worried about park closures even as resort guests with ADRs. With our ADRs we need to be in certain parks on certain days, especially Christmas Day. I don't know really know what I was thinking, except make this dream come true and get in that castle on Christmas Day. Now I'm ready to stroke out.

On Christmas Day....When do we get up? Get there?
How likely are the other parks to close on the other days?

I really want to see:
1. Osbourne Family Lights
2. Castle Light Show
3. Mickey's Christmas Parade
4. Main Street Electrical Parade
5. Holiday Wishes
6. Reflections
7. Anna and Elsa
8. 7 Dwarves Mine Train
9. World Showcase
10. Frozen Sing A Long

Am I over ambitious? I know I don't have to do it all in one day, but is this possible to spread out with enough planning and FPing? What should I FP+?
How reliable are the touring plans? Am I missing anything? Thank you!

This is my first trip at Christmas, too, so I mainly wanted to say welcome! It sounds like you have laid out some great plans. We will be touring similar spots a day before or after you! Hue only advice/consideration I think you should bear in mind is that you are looking at a good length trip, with days that look like you won't necessarily be breaking midday, with bus travel.... Just be cautious of burnout. I have learned the hard way to schedule a rest day mid trip. My family can't sustain parks for 5 days in a row, but maybe your family has more zip! It looks like most of your must dos are in MK. Maybe you could go to MK on your first day without the scheduled appointments/ADRs and knock off the parades. Or try to FP A&E and SDMT for your last day. Looks like a great trip!

 

[happypaws]

New to posting to this thread. My family is going to be staying at AKL 12/13-12/17.
So excited to see Disney around the Holidays! Last time I went in Decmber we did a land and sea package 2004-2005 over New Years and I remember how amazing the gingerbread house was in beach club. I also remember at night it was pretty chilly! We did not bring enough warm things on our trip then.

 

[Ginya]

Great question! This is what I've come up with for Christmas Day afternoon... Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, am I planning too much, am I missing anything we really need to see?? I'm planning on about five hours as we have a 5:55 Artist Point ADR and we'd like to get back to our room at ASMo to get ready for and I'm hoping to get in a round at the Winterland putt-putt at 10:00am?
Bus to MK, Monorail ride to see hotel decorations (Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, MK)
2 QS at Contempo Cafe at Contemporary or Gasparilla Grille at Grand Floridian
MK bus to Hollywood Studios, boat to Swan and Dolphin, walk to Boardwalk and Beach Club and Yacht Club, back to MK for bus to ASMo.
We'll grab a QS lunch at one of the monorail resorts, any ones that are a necessity? I was thinking CC or GG? Am I over planning??? (I'm good at that... )

You can take a bus from Magic Kingdom to the Boardwalk inn then walk the resorts in that area and the Swan & Dolphin. Would shave some time. My DH calls the Friendship boat that runs that circle from HS to EP with all the resort between the slowest boat to China ever made lol.
And I agree with other poster, you have too much in there for five hours.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

FP+ Ressies all made, we got everything we wanted with little fuss or bother and now I'm glad it's over and I'm going to bed happy!

 

[MommaGinger]

FP+ reservations made. Did not get A&E but got 7DMT. I guess we will make the mad dash to A&E at rope drop. Time to go to sleep.

 

[DisMom1981]

FP+ reservations made. Did not get A&E but got 7DMT. I guess we will make the mad dash to A&E at rope drop. Time to go to sleep.

We also did not get A & E for any of our THREE MK days- at midnight on 60 day mark. So weird- not sure if Inplayed around more with our party size of it would have worked out as people saw availability that I did not, but- it shouldn't be that hard IMHO

 

[DisMom1981]

I took DD to The Disney Store yesterday and we were both so happy to be there lol. It is getting harder to pull off the surprise element of the trip. I want to tell the kids so badly!!! I am determined to keep the secret though!