***1st Week of December Thread ADR Plans, Park Hours, and dealing with Pop Warner***

[Talby]

@CynBeth We took a family vote and opted not to do CP in favor of another event. It looks like it will be incredibly beautiful and festive, and I love Whoopi!! You're sure to have a wonderful time with those fantastic plans!

 

[1437disney]

We will be there the same dates but staying at YC. Are you doing the CP? Here is our schedule:

12/2 - arrive early morning. Open day except for CP dinner at Chefs and 8:15 pm show.
12/3 - Sea World Day. Breakfast at CG
12/4 - Epcot Day. Breakfast at Trattoria. CS lunch. Dinner at LC.
12/5 -MK Day. Breakfast at WCC. Lunch at LTT. Dinner at Tony's.
12/6 -Epcot and Disney Springs Day. Breakfast at Garden Grove. Lunch at Tutto. Dinner at TRex.
12/7- Gatorland Day. Breakfast at Cape May. 4:00 pm HDDR (hopefully it won't get cancelled).
12/8- MK and MVMCP Day. Breakfast at CP. CS lunch. Dinner at BOG.
12/9- AK Day. Dining might change depending on what happens with ROL but at the moment Breakfast at TH. Lunch at RC. Dinner at Boma.
12/10. DHS Day. Breakfast at CG. Lunch at SciFi. Dinner at 50's PTC.

We will be @ the 4pm HDDR on the 7th also!

 

[Iowamomof4]

WWYD:
We are flying SW on our flight to MCO and we have to catch a connecting flight in St Louis. We only have a 50-minute window to land, get off the plane, and catch the next flight. It's the last SW flight from STL to MCO that night. This is happening the Monday after Thanksgiving, so weather is a potential factor.

How nervous would you be if you were me? Nervous enough to switch to a Saturday night flight and spend $230-$330 on a hotel near the airport (MCO) for 2 nights before transferring to wdw to begin your vacation? That's my dilemma right now. We can change our flight to Saturday night for the same price (Sunday is WAY more expensive so that's not an option, neither is changing to Monday morning) but then we would have to stay somewhere for Saturday night and Sunday night before we check in on Monday at AoA. I'm awfully tempted to switch to Saturday night, dh is hesitant. We're on a pretty tight budget but I'm worried something will go wrong and we'll miss our connection in STL and end up stuck overnight there. I'd rather have that cushion of a couple days just in case we have a travel snafu. OTOH, maybe the odds of us having any problems are very low and we should just take our chances with the Monday night flight and save the $$ to spend at Disney or something.

 

[CynBeth]

@CynBeth We took a family vote and opted not to do CP in favor of another event. It looks like it will be incredibly beautiful and festive, and I love Whoopi!! You're sure to have a wonderful time with those fantastic plans!

I completely understand. I am sure you will have an amazing trip. It is such a great time of year to be there.

 

[CynBeth]

WWYD:
We are flying SW on our flight to MCO and we have to catch a connecting flight in St Louis. We only have a 50-minute window to land, get off the plane, and catch the next flight. It's the last SW flight from STL to MCO that night. This is happening the Monday after Thanksgiving, so weather is a potential factor.

How nervous would you be if you were me? Nervous enough to switch to a Saturday night flight and spend $230-$330 on a hotel near the airport (MCO) for 2 nights before transferring to wdw to begin your vacation? That's my dilemma right now. We can change our flight to Saturday night for the same price (Sunday is WAY more expensive so that's not an option, neither is changing to Monday morning) but then we would have to stay somewhere for Saturday night and Sunday night before we check in on Monday at AoA. I'm awfully tempted to switch to Saturday night, dh is hesitant. We're on a pretty tight budget but I'm worried something will go wrong and we'll miss our connection in STL and end up stuck overnight there. I'd rather have that cushion of a couple days just in case we have a travel snafu. OTOH, maybe the odds of us having any problems are very low and we should just take our chances with the Monday night flight and save the $$ to spend at Disney or something.

I would change to Sat. It is better to be safe than sorry. Most of the time we have never had an issue but years ago on a summer vacation our first plane left an hour late due to a mechanical issue and we were a second away from missing our connecting flight. They called our name on the loudspeaker twice as we were running to the gate (it was a huge airport) and were just about to close the door when we got to the gate. After that we agreed to do nonstop unless we had no choice where we would go for a longer connection time.

 

[CynBeth]

We will be @ the 4pm HDDR on the 7th also!

I am really looking forward to it. I only have seen it once as a kid.

 

[1437disney]

I am really looking forward to it. I only have seen it once as a kid.

This will be our first time

 

[Candycane83]

@Iowamomof4 i agree with @CynBeth. I think move the flight to have peace of mind at least. It's such huge stress to be worrying about this. So much what ifs and 50 mins is pretty short.

 

[Lisa F]

WWYD:
We are flying SW on our flight to MCO and we have to catch a connecting flight in St Louis. We only have a 50-minute window to land, get off the plane, and catch the next flight. It's the last SW flight from STL to MCO that night. This is happening the Monday after Thanksgiving, so weather is a potential factor.

How nervous would you be if you were me? Nervous enough to switch to a Saturday night flight and spend $230-$330 on a hotel near the airport (MCO) for 2 nights before transferring to wdw to begin your vacation? That's my dilemma right now. We can change our flight to Saturday night for the same price (Sunday is WAY more expensive so that's not an option, neither is changing to Monday morning) but then we would have to stay somewhere for Saturday night and Sunday night before we check in on Monday at AoA. I'm awfully tempted to switch to Saturday night, dh is hesitant. We're on a pretty tight budget but I'm worried something will go wrong and we'll miss our connection in STL and end up stuck overnight there. I'd rather have that cushion of a couple days just in case we have a travel snafu. OTOH, maybe the odds of us having any problems are very low and we should just take our chances with the Monday night flight and save the $$ to spend at Disney or something.

if you change it to saturday I would spend more days at the parks and not 2 nights at the airport. I would get a place offsite near WDW if on site WDW is impossible or cost prohibitive... but with so many people leaving that sunday you might be able to add another night onto your AoA reservation and just spend saturday night offsite. If you have tickets more than about 5 days it is only like $10 per day to go to one that is longer so I'd do that. That is a pretty narrow connection though I assume they would not book if it if was impossible but it does not leave room for anything to happen. Also I think spending the extra $$ is more justifiable if it actually gets you a full day at disney than just hanging at the airport for a couple of days, which I would not do.

or it could be a good opportunity to check out other orlando area attractions too. But the least expensive thing to do for entertainment would probably be to add a day onto your multi day tickets.

 

[Lisa F]

I'm doing HDDR too, 12/9 at 6:15. I know at least one other is. I saw it once maybe in 1998, my kiddo never has. it is the finale to our trip

 

[Lisa F]

@CynBeth We took a family vote and opted not to do CP in favor of another event. It looks like it will be incredibly beautiful and festive, and I love Whoopi!! You're sure to have a wonderful time with those fantastic plans!

I've come to the conclusion that there is too much to do in just one week this time of year with the various special events. Something has to give. for me that is highly likely to be RoL at this point. I have decided even if it opens to give AK some time to become more of a full day into night park for me...

My priorities are this:
-Special christmas events: MVMCP, CP with package (we are not likely to come back this time of year again so want to prioritize that stuff we can't do other times of year), Illuminations with xmas ending (also this show is so old at this point not sure when they will start grumbling about changing it, although it is my outright favorite nighttime show ever at WDW)
-F! with package with kiddo (he went with his dad last february and skipped F! to do it with me) along with Minnie's Holiday Dine, something else special to the season
-Star Wars fireworks w/dessert ...this was added after the reviews of the new fireworks were so amazing, the reviews of the dessert party were so amazing, the viewing spot in the new fireworks became so important. So this became a priority for us and who knows what will be doing at HS the next time we come back
-special dining: ca grill (kiddo request), Narcoosses (mine), HDDR
-AK RoL maybe because I'm pissy that they don't know what is happening

 

[1437disney]

I'm doing HDDR too, 12/9 at 6:15. I know at least one other is. I saw it once maybe in 1998, my kiddo never has. it is the finale to our trip

It's our finale too! I hope it is as good as everyone says it is.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Well, dh told me today that the only way he would be in favor of going done on Saturday night is if we were able to do some sort of excursion on Sunday (like rent a van to go see Hope and Winter the dolphins over in Clearwater or go to the beach). So now I need to figure out the logistics of that and a potential cost. Any recommendations for a car rental company?

 

[Candycane83]

Well, dh told me today that the only way he would be in favor of going done on Saturday night is if we were able to do some sort of excursion on Sunday (like rent a van to go see Hope and Winter the dolphins over in Clearwater or go to the beach). So now I need to figure out the logistics of that and a potential cost. Any recommendations for a car rental company?

Oh nice! Research would be fun unfortunately, can't help you on the rental. Maybe @Lisa F can since she's renting

 

[Lisa F]

Well, dh told me today that the only way he would be in favor of going done on Saturday night is if we were able to do some sort of excursion on Sunday (like rent a van to go see Hope and Winter the dolphins over in Clearwater or go to the beach). So now I need to figure out the logistics of that and a potential cost. Any recommendations for a car rental company?

the best reviews (and best prices) seem to be with alamo. Check out mousesavers for tips

 

[CynBeth]

Well, dh told me today that the only way he would be in favor of going done on Saturday night is if we were able to do some sort of excursion on Sunday (like rent a van to go see Hope and Winter the dolphins over in Clearwater or go to the beach). So now I need to figure out the logistics of that and a potential cost. Any recommendations for a car rental company?

We love Alamo. If you sign up online for free to be an insider there is a discount whenever you rent from them and you get even more off if you pay online.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I'm going to keep working on him. As long as the money comes together and the flight is available, I think I'll get him brought over to my way of thinking about all of this.

 

[Lisa F]

We love Alamo. If you sign up online for free to be an insider there is a discount whenever you rent from them and you get even more off if you pay online.

do you know how far in advance you have to pay to get the extra 10% off?

 

[Talby]

I completely understand. I am sure you will have an amazing trip. It is such a great time of year to be there.

Thanks @CynBeth. We do love this time of year to visit Disney! And we'll see what happens. Our itinerary seems to be ever-evolving.

 

[Talby]

I've come to the conclusion that there is too much to do in just one week this time of year with the various special events. Something has to give. for me that is highly likely to be RoL at this point. I have decided even if it opens to give AK some time to become more of a full day into night park for me...

My priorities are this:
-Special christmas events: MVMCP, CP with package (we are not likely to come back this time of year again so want to prioritize that stuff we can't do other times of year), Illuminations with xmas ending (also this show is so old at this point not sure when they will start grumbling about changing it, although it is my outright favorite nighttime show ever at WDW)
-F! with package with kiddo (he went with his dad last february and skipped F! to do it with me) along with Minnie's Holiday Dine, something else special to the season
-Star Wars fireworks w/dessert ...this was added after the reviews of the new fireworks were so amazing, the reviews of the dessert party were so amazing, the viewing spot in the new fireworks became so important. So this became a priority for us and who knows what will be doing at HS the next time we come back
-special dining: ca grill (kiddo request), Narcoosses (mine), HDDR
-AK RoL maybe because I'm pissy that they don't know what is happening

I admire your concise priorities. That's definitely what I need to be focusing on (our priorities). Otherwise, I find I tend to be all the over the place with adding various things. There IS such a thing as too much, even for Disney, and I definitely don't want to to that! Sure wish the RoL info would become available soon!