104 days ‘til Christmas vacation (Apologies to Phineas and Ferb)

[snuggly duckling]

EDNA
It will be bold! Dramatic!

BOB
Yeah!

EDNA
Heroic!

BOB
Yeah. Something classic, like, like Dynaguy. Oh, he had a great look! Oh, the cape and the boots...

EDNA
[throws a wadded ball of paper at Bob's head]
No capes!

BOB
Isn't that my decision?

EDNA
Do you remember Thunderhead? Tall, storm powers? Nice man, good with kids.

BOB
Listen, E...

EDNA
November 15th of '58! All was well, another day saved, when... his cape snagged on a missile fin!

BOB
Thunderhead was not the brightest bulb...

EDNA
Stratogale! April 23rd, '57! Cape caught in a jet turbine!

BOB
E, you can't generalize about these things...

EDNA
Metaman, express elevator! Dynaguy, snagged on takeoff! Splashdown, sucked into a vortex!

No capes!


Part 6 / Day 5 coming right up!

 

[snuggly duckling]

Here is the more detailed look at day 5:

Day #5, Monday, December 22nd

By day 5, we’ve already been to all four parks and have likely done the bulk of the most important attractions. So now we can be a little more flexible and adaptable and take in less popular attractions. We will still have a shell plan, but also some viable options to change things up if desired.

In the plan, day 5 has us once again rope-dropping at…

EPCOT!

We can hit TT and/or Soarin’ at rope drop and then play in Future World all morning. The kids love the Seas pavilion and Innoventions so we can spend some relaxed time exploring those since crowds are starting to pick up (crowd level 7, per Josh.)

Our first ADR of the day is a Candlelight Processional package at Via Napoli at 12:45 pm. We can spend the afternoon in World Showcase, and listen to as many of the Holidays Around the World storytellers as possible, before attending the 5:00 pm CP with Marlee Matlin as our narrator.

After the CP, we will head back to Future World for dinner at Garden Grill at 7:00 pm. We’ve never been, so we are very excited about trying a new restaurant. Living with the Land is one of DD5’s favorite attractions, so I think she will get a huge kick out of this.

Then we can stay and play until Illuminations and do whatever we want.

But, this could also by a choose-your-own adventure kind of day too. With the first ADR of the day so late (at 12:45), we could sleep in if we want. Or we could rope drop a different park, AK perhaps, before hopping to EPCOT. Instead of staying in EPCOT after dinner, we could choose to go back to the hotel if we’re tired. Or we could hop to MK which is open late that night. We’ve got options and flexibility, especially since we’ve theoretically rocked each park already.

FP+ is a little trickier on a day like this one though, where we have built in a little more flexibility. Because our of ADRs, we will definitely be in EPCOT from 12-8, so the safe thing to do will be to book them here. Ideally, I think I would book them starting around 11:00 am. Maybe Spaceship Earth at 11:00, Soarin’ at 12:00, and something else for after lunch, around 2:15? We would have done Maelstrom, but ummm, yeah.

 

[snuggly duckling]

CINDERELLA
Oh, that clock! Old killjoy. I hear you. "Come on, get up," you say, "Time to start another day." Even he orders me around. Well, there's one thing. They can't order me to stop dreaming.

Part 7 / Day 6 coming right up!

 

[snuggly duckling]

Here is the more detailed look at day 6:

Day #6, Tuesday, December 23rd

I think this is my favorite day in our whole trip, plan-wise.

Once again, we are rope dropping…

MAGIC KINGDOM!

Right now, MK has an 8:00 am EMH, but I expect it to become a 7:00 am open so it will be an early one. We will hit a few Fantasyland attractions or just soak in the Main Street atmosphere before DD5’s 8:00 am appointment at the BBB. This is her 5th time at the boutique, but she’s still super excited about it. She hasn’t decided which dress she wants yet, but she’s narrowed it down to 3: Elsa’s coronation dress, Ariel’s “sha-la-la-la dress” (the one she wears during the “Kiss the Girl” scene), or Jasmine. She certainly does not make my life easy, since 2 of the 3 don’t really exist. Me and Etsy will be spending some quality time together, I think! We will head over to Castle Couture for her royal portraits afterward.

Banking on a quick BBB experience first thing in the morning, I will schedule FP+ for just the two of us for both sides of PFTH, one at 8:00 am and one at 9:00 am. We did this last year and it worked beautifully. We finished up at the BBB by 8:30, got the photos taken, and then used our 8:00 am FP+ to meet Rapunzel right before it expired. By the time we were done with her, our 9:00 am FP for Cinderella was open and we waltzed right in. I will book the Cinderella/Rapunzel side for 8:00 am (in case it needs to be adjusted due to a delay at BBB) and Anna/Elsa for 9:00 am. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to get this since it’s later in our trip. Fingers crossed. But even if we can’t get A&E early, we can hopefully get them at some point today.

The boys can use 2 FP+ to do boy things, likely the Tomorrowland Speedway and Buzz Lightyear. Because I expect it will be impossible to get a 7DMT FP+ day of, we will use our final one for this, around 10:00 am. We’ll find a FP kiosk immediately after, because I’d like to use a 4th FP+ for ETWB, so we can get a photo of BBB-ed DD5 with Belle as well, ideally around 12:00 pm.

We have a late breakfast ADR at CRT at 10:20 am, strategically planned for another photo of my princess with a real princess. We also love the CRT breakfast (lobster and crab crepes… mmmmmm.)

After breakfast, we can keep using additional FP+ as possible. I’d also like to have the kids meet as many princesses as possible so we’ll try for a FP for Ariel’s Grotto, swing by to see Merida, and after dinner meet Tiana and Naveen. It is still only a crowd level 7 so it shouldn’t be too mobbed.

We have a 5:00 pm dinner ADR at BOG, continuing with our very princessy day.

More MK after dinner, and maybe a jaunt over to the Contemporary to see the Frozen gingerbread house.

But we have to be back in the MK for Wishes, because we’re doing the dessert party! This is DD5’s absolutely favorite thing in WDW.

We can stay in MK afterward, or go back to the hotel if we’re tired.

 

[snuggly duckling]

WOODY
Buzz! Hey, Buzz! Are you okay?

Buzz lifts his head up and wails in drunken despair.

BUZZ
Gone! It's all go-o-one! All of it's gone. Bye-bye! Whoo-hoo! See ya!

Woody picks up Buzz's severed arm.

WOODY
What happened to you?

BUZZ
One minute you're defending the whole galaxy...

(pointing at other dolls)

...and suddenly you find yourself suckin' down Darjeeling with Marie Antoinette and her little sisters.

The headless dolls turn and wave.

Woody removes the teapot from the severed arm and sets it on the table.

WOODY
I think you've had enough tea for today.

(helping Buzz up)

Let's get you out of here, Buzz.

BUZZ
(grabbing Woody)
Don't you get it?! You see the hat? I am Mrs. Nesbit!!

(hysterical laughter)

WOODY
Snap out of it, Buzz!


Part 8 / Day 7 is on deck!

 

[snuggly duckling]

Here is the more detailed look at day 7:

Day #7, Wednesday, December 24th – Christmas Eve!

This is another built-in flexibility day, where we can be adaptable and take in less popular attractions. We will still have an ideal shell plan, but also some viable options to change things up if desired.

In the plan, day 7 has us once again rope-dropping at…

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS!

This will be a more flexible, go-with-flow HS day. Obviously, we will still head straight to TSMM but after that we can do whatever we want. If JTA didn’t work out on day 4, we can try again. We can meet characters we’ve missed, see shows we’ve missed, re-do anything we want to re-do. Whatever.

We have an 11:30 am ADR at Hollywood & Vine so DD5 can meet Doc for the first time. DS7 won’t admit it, but he is a big Sofia fan.

After lunch, the plans calls for us to hop to...

EPCOT!

where we can continue to work our way through the Holiday storytellers and do other flexible things all afternoon.

We have a 5:50 pm dinner ADR at Biergarten which is one of DS7’s favorites. And then more of whatever we want after dinner.

And we have another dessert party tonight, for Illuminations! The kids are flabbergasted, because they did not know there was another dessert party. We’ll head back to the hotel after this, because it is Christmas Eve! We have to remember to pick up some carrots and cookies in EPCOT for Santa and his reindeer.

We can tweak this day on the fly in a number of ways. We could skip rope drop and sleep in, just getting to HS in time for the 11:30 ADR and staying in HS for a while after lunch. We could stick with HS rope drop, but head back to the hotel right after lunch to rest until dinner time.

This again makes FP+ really challenging to plan for, so I am thinking to book them in HS in the middle of the day, with TSMM right before or right after lunch. This will ensure that we get to ride it at least once today. The other 2 FP+ are less important. We will pick two more things at HS, but could always cancel them out and book new ones in EPCOT once we’re there. This is the true beauty of a longer trip, because we don’t “have” to get the most popular attractions each time.

Christmas Eve!!

 

[snuggly duckling]

JACK
Sandy Claws in person. What a pleasure to meet you. Why you have hands! You don't have claws at all.

SANDY CLAWS
Where am I?

JACK
Surprised aren't you? I knew you would be. You don't need to have another worry about Christmas this year.

SANDY CLAWS
What?

JACK
Consider this a vacation Sandy, a reward. It's your turn to take it easy.

SANDY CLAWS
But there must be some mistake!

JACK
See that he's comfortable. Just a second fellows. Of course, that's what I'm missing.

SANDY CLAWS
But --

JACK
Thanks! [took Sandy's hat]

SANDY CLAWS
You just can't... Hold on where are we going now?

JACK
Ho ho ho

SALLY
This is worse than I thought, much worse. I know...

SANDY CLAWS
Me? On vacation on Christmas eve?


Part 9 / Day 8 is coming up!

 

[snuggly duckling]

Here is the more detailed look at day 8:

Day #8, Thursday, December 25th – Christmas!

No rope dropping planned this morning (unless the kids are up and done with gifts at some ungodly hour.) Last year we had an early (7:30 am) ADR booked at ‘Ohana on Christmas day. We quickly realized that it just wasn’t going to happen. The kids were tired and wanted to sleep. And then when they got up, they were not interested in leaving the room when there were gifts to play with and explore. Thankfully we were able to reschedule it for later in the trip and didn’t have to pay the $10 per person cancellation fee.

This year, we will let the kids sleep as late as they want. When they get up, they can do Santa gifts and stockings and leisurely prepare for the day.

If it’s early enough, we will head to

ANIMAL KINGDOM!

for a little while. We won’t book FP+ here, so we’ll just wing it. Do the safari if the wait isn’t too bad, see a show, do some character meet and greets, or even just work on the Wilderness Explorer badges. Very low key.

Then we will hop to...

EPCOT!

Our first ADR of the day is another Candlelight Processional package at Tutto Italia at 1:00 pm. We ate at Tutto for the first time last Christmas trip and enjoyed the food. However, on our way there from the Land pavilion, a random and intense rain storm broke out and soaked us. We weren’t expecting rain so we didn’t have ponchos or dry clothes for the adults (we did have back-up outfits for the kids in the backpack in zippy bags – thank you DISBoards!) The meal was generally miserable because we were dripping, cold, and uncomfortable. The servers were wonderful though, so I am hoping for a great experience this time.

We will book FP+ in the afternoon, likely for Test Track, not Maelstrom, and something else. Other than that, we can finish any remaining storytellers and take in the atmosphere until the 5:00 CP with Isabella Rossellini as our narrator.

We’ve got a Christmas dinner ADR at 7:00 pm at Le Cellier. Mmmmmmm.

We can close out the evening however we like… attractions, atmosphere, or just go back to the hotel to crash.

Merry Christmas!

 

[snuggly duckling]

Oh, what a merry Christmas Day!
Hear the joyous music play!
Bells are ringing
Choirs singing
Oh, what a merry Christmas Day!

Sharing a season of good cheer
With the ones we hold so dear
Friendly faces
Warm embraces
Oh, what a merry Christmas Day!

Snowflake covered country lanes
Jack Frost painted window panes
Twinkling stars on Christmas trees
Oh, what happy memories.

Gathered 'round the fireplace
Families filled with love and grace
'Round the peaceful embers glow
Blessed yuletide spirits grow
Grow and grow
Grow and grow

Joy to the children far and near
What a wond'rous time of year
Isn't it just grand to say
Merry Merry Christmas
Merry Merry Christmas
Oh, what a merry Christmas Day!

Part 10 / Day 9 in just a few minutes!

 

[snuggly duckling]

Here is the more detailed look at day 9:

Day #9, Friday, December 26th

This is another built-in flexibility day, where we can be adaptable and take in less popular attractions. We will still have an ideal shell plan, but also some viable options to change things up if desired.

In the plan, day 9 has us up early and rope dropping at…

MAGIC KINGDOM!

No concrete plans for this morning. We can just do whatever the kids want to do. Maybe we’ll make it to Tom Sawyer island for the first time.

We have a late breakfast ADR at ‘Ohana at 11:05 am. While we’re at the Poly we can check out the resort decorations.

Then back to the MK, again with no concrete plans. We will book FP+ here, like for 7DMT, maybe Anna and Elsa again, and Peter Pan. Who knows? At this point we will have done everything important so it doesn’t truly matter. No one will mind that this is crowd level 10, because we don’t have to be where the crowds are. We do want to ride 7DMT at night, so maybe this is the right day for that.

Our dinner ADR is at 5:00 pm at 1900 Park Fare. I adore this meal. The characters are the best. The Tremaines are always hilarious and I am totally addicted to the strawberry soup. And we can check out the holiday décor at the Grand Floridian.

We will head back in to the MK after dinner for more “whatever we want” time. I expect the MK to be open late (like 3 am late!) this night, so one of us can stay and play while the other takes the kids back to the hotel.

We can also totally change this around if we want. We could rope drop any other park and just hop to the MK area in time for the ‘Ohana ADR. We could sleep in and start our day at ‘Ohana. We could hop to a different park between breakfast and dinner, or just go back to the resort to rest. We could hop to a different park after dinner, or just call it a night. So many options.

 

[snuggly duckling]

ART
We did it!

MIKE
No we didn't. We forgot the flag.

SQUISHY
Mike? [shows them the flag]

DON CARLTON AND ART
Way to go, Squishy!

MIKE
How?

TERRI
Misdirection.

The EEKS fly out of the library and into the river, which means they are eliminated.

BROCK PEARSON
The EEKS have been eliminated! And Oozma Kappa live to scare another day.

Here comes Part 11 / Day 10...

 

[snuggly duckling]

Here is the more detailed look at day 10:

Day #10, Saturday, December 27th – our last full day

This may look eerily similar to yesterday…

This is another built-in flexibility day, where we can be adaptable and take in less popular attractions. We will still have an ideal shell plan, but also some viable options to change things up if desired.

In the plan, day 10 has us up early and rope dropping at…

MAGIC KINGDOM! (again)

No concrete plans for this morning. We can just do whatever the kids want to do.

We have a late breakfast ADR at 1900 Park Fare at 11:00 am. Alice in Wonderland is a big deal in our house (DD’s 4th birthday was an insanely Pinterested Alice theme – so much fun!!) so this is a favorite of ours. Last year, we were pixie dusted and saw Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh here as well.

Then back to the MK, again with no concrete plans. We will book FP+ here, like for 7DMT, and two other somethings. Who knows? As with yesterday, at this point we will have done everything important so it doesn’t truly matter.

Our dinner ADR is at 5:00 pm at ‘Ohana, basically flip-flopping yesterday’s ADRs.

We will head back in to the MK after dinner for more “whatever we want” time. Until it’s time for..

the Dessert Party again!

We won’t tell the kids about this one but they will be very happy to do it again. Not a bad end to our last night at WDW.

And as with yesterday, we can also totally change this around if we want. We could rope drop any other park and just hop to the MK area in time for the 1900 PF ADR. We could sleep in and start our day at 1900 PF. We could hop to a different park between breakfast and dinner, or just go back to the resort to rest.

It’s very likely that we’ll hop elsewhere at some point on days 9 and 10 but it will be completely spontaneous. All ADRs and FP+ will be in the MK area.

 

[AmyKat]

I'm so impressed! My trip is earlier than yours and I'm struggling to get my daily plans laid out. It's just DH & I this time and I used to planning kid trips. I can't seem to get my head wrapped around the planning part of an adult only trip.

 

[snuggly duckling]

I'm so impressed! My trip is earlier than yours and I'm struggling to get my daily plans laid out. It's just DH & I this time and I used to planning kid trips. I can't seem to get my head wrapped around the planning part of an adult only trip.

This trip was easy to plan since we did the same basic 10-day Christmas trip last year. I really just took last year's plan, tweaked it as necessary, made sure it worked with the crowd calendars, and we were done.

But I know what you mean about adults-only trips. DH and I went in January a month after last Christmas's family trip. We didn't really plan anything except ADRs. I remember wandering around the MK and not being sure what to do. It was very strange considering our family trips are fairly go-go-go, commando style. We didn't feel the need to do Dumbo, Barnstormer, Carpets, etc. without the kiddos. We basically rode the heck out of Mansion, Pirates, and Jungle Cruise.

I did the Keys to the Kingdom tour by myself on my birthday and would highly recommend it. I spent the better part of the day after the tour just observing the Magic Kingdom to see all the "tricks" I learned about and studying the Main Street windows. And people-watching!

 

[AmyKat]

Thanks for the input! DH & I were talking about doing the Key to the Kingdom tour but I was afraid it would take up too much of our park time. We're only there for 5 1/2 days this time. We normally take 8 day trips but we thought we could save at least a day's worth of time by not having to do stroller parking! I'm going to revisit the idea of taking the tour.

 

[snuggly duckling]

I am contemplating doing KTTK again in February when I go on a girls' trip. That's only a 4 day trip and I would totally give up 5 hours for the tour. It's that good!

I just have to decide if my lazy butt is actually going to "run" the Enchanted 10K. If not, I'm doing the tour!

 

[snuggly duckling]

RUSSELL
Good afternoon. My name is Russell. And I am a Wilderness Explorer in Tribe 54, Sweatlodge 12. Are you in need of any assistance today, sir?"

CARL
No.

RUSSELL
I could help you cross the street.

CARL
No.

RUSSELL
I could help you cross your yard.

CARL
No.

RUSSELL
I could help you cross your... porch?

CARL
No.

RUSSELL
Well, I gotta help you cross something.

CARL
Uh, no. I'm doing fine.


The end is near. And coming right up!

 

[snuggly duckling]

Here is the more detailed look at day 11:

Day 11, Sunday, December 28th - departure day

This is bonus day. Last year our flight was first thing in the morning so we were on the Magical Express as soon as we woke up. This year, our flight out of MCO isn’t until much later in the evening. So, BONUS!! OVERTIME! EXTRA INNINGS!

We will finish packing, do curbside airline check-in, ditch our carry-on with Bell Services, and head to…

MAGIC KINGDOM!

I doubt we’ll make rope drop since we’ll be checking out, but you never know. We will be motivated to get as much Disney in before we have to leave, so maybe.

The morning will be spent re-riding any and all favorites one more time and soaking in as much WDW magic as possible before we have to go back to cold, miserable Philadelphia.

Ironically, we have lunch ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern at 11:30 am.

With our flight at 7:40 pm, I expect our DME departure time will be 4:40 pm. Given that, we will leave the MK around 3:00ish to allow time to head back to CBR, gather our belongings from Bell Services, grab some dinner from the food court, and then cash out any remaining snack credits in the gift shop, buying loads of candy.

We should all sleep quite soundly on the plane ride home. And for about a week after.

 

[snuggly duckling]

BUY N LARGE CEO
Greetings and congratulations, Captain! If you're seeing this, that means your Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator, or...(air quotes)..."EVE" probe, has returned from Earth with a confirmed specimen of ongoing photosynthesis!

The Captain stares slack-jawed at the screen. Wall-E sneaks under the console towards Eve...

BUY N LARGE CEO
That's right, it means it's time to go back home!

CAPTAIN
(nervous) Home? W-w-we're going back?

BUY N LARGE CEO
Now that Earth has been restored to a life-sustaining status, by golly, we can begin "Operation Recolonize"!

A section of the console illuminates. An ancient, dusty MANUAL slides out...

...into a passing Wall-E's hands.

Wall-E immediately boxes up. Holds the manual over his head. The Captain mistakes Wall-E for a book podium. Grabs the manual. Blows dust off the cover. It reads: "OPERATION RECOLONIZE". Below the title, the same PLANT ICON from Eve's display.

BUY N LARGE CEO
Simply follow this manual's instructions to place the plant in your ship's holo-detector, and the -- (bad edit)-- Axiom -- will immediately navigate your return to Earth! It's that easy!

ON VIDEO SCREEN (DURING SPEECH)
An animated diagram depicts a stage below the ship's bridge. The symbol of a HOLO-DETECTOR rises up. A STICK FIGURE places a plant inside the machine. A STARLINER ICON flies back towards Earth.

The Captain listens closely to the instructions. Wall-E paying attention as well.

CAPTAIN
Huh?

WALL-E
Huh?

Wall-E notices he has a clear shot to Eve. Heads in her direction.

BUY N LARGE CEO
Now, due to the effects of micro-gravity, you and your passengers may have suffered some slight bone loss. But I'm sure a few laps around your ship's jogging track will get you back in shape in no time.

The Captain looks at his VESTIGIAL LEGS.

CAPTAIN
We have a jogging track?

BUY N LARGE CEO
If you have any further questions just consult your operation manual. See you back home real soon.

The transmission ends. The Captain examines the manual. Holds it out in front of him.

CAPTAIN
(reads; to himself) Operate... Manuel... (aloud; cautious) Manuel, relay instructions. Manuel?


So that's it! 11 days! Christmas at Disney!

 

[snuggly duckling]

So all put together, the trip looks like this:

Thursday, 12/18

• Fly to Orlando from Philly
• Magical Express
• Check in to Caribbean Beach
• Head to EPCOT
• Lunch at San Angel Inn
• Dinner at Akershus

Friday, 12/19

• Rope drop Magic Kingdom
• Lunch at Crystal Palace
• Dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Saturday, 12/20

• Rope drop Animal Kingdom
• Breakfast at Tusker House
• Lunch at Yak & Yeti
• Dinner at Sanaa

Sunday, 12/21

• Rope drop Hollywood Studios
• Fantasmic! package lunch at Mama Melrose
• Dinner at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater

Monday, 12/22

• Can be flexible, if desired
• Rope drop EPCOT
• Candlelight Processional package lunch at Tutto Italia
• Candlelight Processional with Marlee Matlin
• Dinner at Garden Grill

Tuesday, 12/23

• Rope drop Magic Kingdom
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
• Late breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table
• Dinner at Be Our Guest
• Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party

Wednesday, 12/24

• Can be flexible, if desired
• Rope drop Hollywood Studios
• Lunch at Hollywood & Vine
• Hop to EPCOT
• Dinner at Biergarten
• Illuminations Dessert Party

Thursday, 12/25

• Christmas in the room
• Head to Animal Kingdom
• Hop to EPCOT
• Candlelight Processional package lunch at Via Napoli
• Candlelight Processional with Isabella Rossellini
• Dinner at Le Cellier

Friday, 12/26

• Can be flexible, if desired
• Rope drop Magic Kingdom
• Breakfast at 'Ohana
• Dinner at 1900 Park Fare

Saturday, 12/27

• Can be flexible, if desired
• Rope drop Magic Kingdom
• Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare
• Dinner at 'Ohana
• Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party

Sunday, 12/28

• Check out of Caribbean Beach Resort
• Head to Magic Kingdom
• Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern
• Magical Express
• Fly back to Philly

I'm tired already.