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

[Candycane83]

are you assuming WDW will get paint the night? the rumors are that DL won't give it up but maybe it's been traded.

My thoughts exactly and I see a lot of people asking... Wish they would make their announcements soon... So many things hanging- AK, DHS fireworks, and now MK nighttime parade.

 

[PolyRob]

are you assuming WDW will get paint the night? the rumors are that DL won't give it up but maybe it's been traded.

Yes! I assumed it was all speculation until they made this announcement!

I cannot imagine MK without any nighttime parades on non-party nights

 

[Candycane83]

Yes! I assumed it was all speculation until they made this announcement!

I cannot imagine MK without any nighttime parades on non-party nights

Looks like it won't be paint the night.... From the announcement to DL folks, it will still be at DL during select nights during the holiday season.

Edit: from the main thread- https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...-limited-time-last-chance-to-paint-the-night/

 

[PolyRob]

Looks like it won't be paint the night.... From the announcement to DL folks, it will still be at DL during select nights during the holiday season.

Edit: from the main thread- https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...-limited-time-last-chance-to-paint-the-night/

HMMMM now I have no idea what to expect!

 

[Candycane83]

HMMMM now I have no idea what to expect!

I know!! Everything is hanging... There is a little more info on the main thread from yulilin3. I'm happy to be on these boards and get info so soon. But really wish WDW would start announcing things though!

 

[PolyRob]

I know!! Everything is hanging... There is a little more info on the main thread from yulilin3. I'm happy to be on these boards and get info so soon. But really wish WDW would start announcing things though!

My plans have remained the same for 10 days... there is just too much speculation for me to even try swapping things around. Guess I will sit tight until something official is released about either SW dessert party, RoL, and or MK nighttime activities.

 

[Talby]

@Talby I was looking for an earlier time on Dec 8. I have a 6:20 reservation but since we're doing the Xmas party I was hoping for a slightly earlier time. Not a big deal if I don't find it but of course it doesn't stop me from stalking MDE! Lol

@rasadkowski for how many are you looking for? I'm sure you'll be able to find something, just a matter of time and persistence!

I totally get that! From one stalker to another...may the force be with you!

 

[CinderBelleDVC]

I'm not an expert on this but...Pop Warner is a little league football and cheerleading group. Pop Warner week is their championships. I believe they spend most of their time competing. I stayed at All Star Music in 2011 during it and I would have never known. We never ran into any big groups.
I think the dates this year are December 4-10?

Thanks so much for that info!

 

[tacboze]

So...the Holiday dessert parties. Several questions:
1. Did we (and by "we", I mean "y'all", because I certainly don't know) ever figure out if fireworks start at 9:30 or 10:00 on party nights? The holiday dessert party "know before you go" says they start at 10:00, touringplans has it starting at 9:30, and the Cmas party schedule for last year had them starting at 9:30.
2. Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration is the new stage show replacing Celebrate the...something. How can we find out what times that show will be?
3. There is usually a short 15 min or so pre-fireworks show, right? At the castle? Does anyone know anything about being able to see from Tomorrowland terrace? It's one thing to see fireworks in the sky from somewhere, but to try to see characters...just wondering if anyone has experience/comments/opinions on this.
4. If Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration starts shortly after fireworks, which it looked like it's predecessor did...can we stay on the terrace and watch from there? Do they sorta kick us out after fireworks are over?

Thank you!

 

[rasadkowski]

@Talby I was looking for an earlier time on Dec 8. I have a 6:20 reservation but since we're doing the Xmas party I was hoping for a slightly earlier time. Not a big deal if I don't find it but of course it doesn't stop me from stalking MDE! Lol

@rasadkowski for how many are you looking for? I'm sure you'll be able to find something, just a matter of time and persistence!

6.

 

[Lisa F]

I won't lie. I am feeling seriously devastated by this MSEP thing. Someone said that the new fiscal year starts October 1 for WDW on another thread. To me it sounds like this is a way of canceling the nighttime parade, maybe due to lowered attendance, I'm not sure. It sounds like they were planning on having it through the end of the year or else why come up with that tony's package? Then suddenly something made them change course right at the beginning of the next fiscal year. They probably looked at how much they could save. They are not running it at DL until the new year it says so it could be in storage until things pick up again or they recover a bit from shanghai or whatever. I will get over it but right now I just feel heartbroken, it was the thing I was looking forward to most. We saw it on our last trip but during a pouring rain storm (yes that is how much I love it).

 

[Lisa F]

i sound like a total whiner but I just sent this email to WDW guest services. I don't expect to hear a thing about it (or that I will get a canned response about improving guest experience or something) but I just had to express my disappointment.


I'm just writing to tell you how disappointed I am that you are removing the main street electrical parade from the Magic Kingdom for the holiday season.

I have been a DVC member since 1999 but when I got a divorce in 2010 I thought that I would never as a single mother be able to afford to go to walt disney world again. However it was the one asset from our marriage that we retained and after 4 years of saving up money, I was able to take my then 6 year old son to walt disney world for the most magical trip ever of the many trips I have taken. He has numerous issues (as many kids nowadays do) and is on the autism spectrum, has ADHD, and struggles at school and with friendships and relationships outside and I am a single mother working full time who never seems to have enough time for anything and is always stressed by work and dealing with my son's issues. It was amazing being able to have a trip where there were no worries for either of us and although I have taken many many many walt disney world vacations in my life, it is the best vacation I have ever taken. The brightest memory we have of that trip was standing in the pouring rain watching the main street electrical parade because we wanted to see the parade that badly and the rain rolled in at the last minute and my normally inflexible son was so enthralled that he dealt with the sensory overload of having thousands of drops of rain pour over him. At the end of that trip my son sobbed that it was over and I promised him I'd take him back in 2 years.

That trip is finally coming up this December. We have been talking about it and planning it since I could book my DVC room at 11 months and I have been squirreling away money to pay for it for a year before that. Yes, the main street electrical parade is just one part of the trip, but it was one of the most highly anticipated parts of our trip - one that I went through extraordinary measures to plan for my son including finding a way to be able to stay at a monorail resort so that he would not have a meltdown by a long and complicated travel to the hotel at the end of a long night due to his difficulty with transitions. We are both very very disappointed that there will be no magic of a nighttime light parade at walt disney world after anticipating it for so long.

To say that this last minute decision to cancel the parade right before the busy holiday season is a confusing and disappointing one to many disney fans is an understatement.

I don't expect that this email will have any effect whatsoever but please do not insult me by sending me some canned response about improving guest experience. This is not an improvement. This is a heartbreaking disappointment for disney fans far and wide who have been saving for and planning their trips for months if not years. I know that this is a business and the decision was made for financial ones but you should know the impact of your decision on your guests.

Lisa F
longstanding loyal disney fan who has yet to break the news to her son, who is a longstanding loyal disney fan in the making

 

[Talby]

So...the Holiday dessert parties. Several questions:
1. Did we (and by "we", I mean "y'all", because I certainly don't know) ever figure out if fireworks start at 9:30 or 10:00 on party nights? The holiday dessert party "know before you go" says they start at 10:00, touringplans has it starting at 9:30, and the Cmas party schedule for last year had them starting at 9:30.

Sorry, I can only address your first question. Fireworks are at 10:00 on MVMCP nights. We had an 8:30 p.m. BoG dinner reservation at one point on a party night. I was discussing this with a CM and she explained how we wouldn't see the Beast at that time because he is in the parade (8:15 and 10:30) and shared that fireworks are at 10. I just ordered MVMCP tickets over the phone this morning and was told the same thing with regard to parade/fireworks times. I'm sure someone else will know the answers to your other questions.

 

[Talby]

i sound like a total whiner but I just sent this email to WDW guest services. I don't expect to hear a thing about it (or that I will get a canned response about improving guest experience or something) but I just had to express my disappointment.


I'm just writing to tell you how disappointed I am that you are removing the main street electrical parade from the Magic Kingdom for the holiday season.

I have been a DVC member since 1999 but when I got a divorce in 2010 I thought that I would never as a single mother be able to afford to go to walt disney world again. However it was the one asset from our marriage that we retained and after 4 years of saving up money, I was able to take my then 6 year old son to walt disney world for the most magical trip ever of the many trips I have taken. He has numerous issues (as many kids nowadays do) and is on the autism spectrum, has ADHD, and struggles at school and with friendships and relationships outside and I am a single mother working full time who never seems to have enough time for anything and is always stressed by work and dealing with my son's issues. It was amazing being able to have a trip where there were no worries for either of us and although I have taken many many many walt disney world vacations in my life, it is the best vacation I have ever taken. The brightest memory we have of that trip was standing in the pouring rain watching the main street electrical parade because we wanted to see the parade that badly and the rain rolled in at the last minute and my normally inflexible son was so enthralled that he dealt with the sensory overload of having thousands of drops of rain pour over him. At the end of that trip my son sobbed that it was over and I promised him I'd take him back in 2 years.

That trip is finally coming up this December. We have been talking about it and planning it since I could book my DVC room at 11 months and I have been squirreling away money to pay for it for a year before that. Yes, the main street electrical parade is just one part of the trip, but it was one of the most highly anticipated parts of our trip - one that I went through extraordinary measures to plan for my son including finding a way to be able to stay at a monorail resort so that he would not have a meltdown by a long and complicated travel to the hotel at the end of a long night due to his difficulty with transitions. We are both very very disappointed that there will be no magic of a nighttime light parade at walt disney world after anticipating it for so long.

To say that this last minute decision to cancel the parade right before the busy holiday season is a confusing and disappointing one to many disney fans is an understatement.

I don't expect that this email will have any effect whatsoever but please do not insult me by sending me some canned response about improving guest experience. This is not an improvement. This is a heartbreaking disappointment for disney fans far and wide who have been saving for and planning their trips for months if not years. I know that this is a business and the decision was made for financial ones but you should know the impact of your decision on your guests.

Lisa Firstenberg
longstanding loyal disney fan who has yet to break the news to her son, who is a longstanding loyal disney fan in the making

I'm so sorry @Lisa F I admire that you wrote the well-articulated letter to Disney; good on you for doing that. It's very disappointing news, and it's obvious what a special thing it was for you and your son. I wonder if there is anything that might help soften the blow for him? You seem like a great mom and didn't ask for advice so I'll not go there, but if we can help with ideas or anything along that line, please ask.

 

[Candycane83]

i sound like a total whiner but I just sent this email to WDW guest services. I don't expect to hear a thing about it (or that I will get a canned response about improving guest experience or something) but I just had to express my disappointment.


I'm just writing to tell you how disappointed I am that you are removing the main street electrical parade from the Magic Kingdom for the holiday season.

I have been a DVC member since 1999 but when I got a divorce in 2010 I thought that I would never as a single mother be able to afford to go to walt disney world again. However it was the one asset from our marriage that we retained and after 4 years of saving up money, I was able to take my then 6 year old son to walt disney world for the most magical trip ever of the many trips I have taken. He has numerous issues (as many kids nowadays do) and is on the autism spectrum, has ADHD, and struggles at school and with friendships and relationships outside and I am a single mother working full time who never seems to have enough time for anything and is always stressed by work and dealing with my son's issues. It was amazing being able to have a trip where there were no worries for either of us and although I have taken many many many walt disney world vacations in my life, it is the best vacation I have ever taken. The brightest memory we have of that trip was standing in the pouring rain watching the main street electrical parade because we wanted to see the parade that badly and the rain rolled in at the last minute and my normally inflexible son was so enthralled that he dealt with the sensory overload of having thousands of drops of rain pour over him. At the end of that trip my son sobbed that it was over and I promised him I'd take him back in 2 years.

That trip is finally coming up this December. We have been talking about it and planning it since I could book my DVC room at 11 months and I have been squirreling away money to pay for it for a year before that. Yes, the main street electrical parade is just one part of the trip, but it was one of the most highly anticipated parts of our trip - one that I went through extraordinary measures to plan for my son including finding a way to be able to stay at a monorail resort so that he would not have a meltdown by a long and complicated travel to the hotel at the end of a long night due to his difficulty with transitions. We are both very very disappointed that there will be no magic of a nighttime light parade at walt disney world after anticipating it for so long.

To say that this last minute decision to cancel the parade right before the busy holiday season is a confusing and disappointing one to many disney fans is an understatement.

I don't expect that this email will have any effect whatsoever but please do not insult me by sending me some canned response about improving guest experience. This is not an improvement. This is a heartbreaking disappointment for disney fans far and wide who have been saving for and planning their trips for months if not years. I know that this is a business and the decision was made for financial ones but you should know the impact of your decision on your guests.

Lisa Firstenberg
longstanding loyal disney fan who has yet to break the news to her son, who is a longstanding loyal disney fan in the making

Good for you! I was thinking about writing a letter last night but I felt it would not really make a difference and went to bed. I'm glad one of us is thinking better

 

[Candycane83]

I just realize how crazy Epcot will be at nights if they do not extend DHS and AK hours especially on party days... There's nothing open past 7 except Epcot on party days.... If they are truly cutting down on expenses, I wonder if hours will be left as is...

 

[Talby]

I just realize how crazy Epcot will be at nights if they do not extend DHS and AK hours especially on party days... There's nothing open past 7 except Epcot on party days.... If they are truly cutting down on expenses, I wonder if hours will be left as is...

MVMCP has been on my radar but I didn't bite the bullet and purchase tickets until this morning. The recent announcement and thinking about MK nighttime activities made the party all the more appealing (not that there wasn't plenty of appeal to begin with!). Wondering about MK nighttime activities and what you've just posted have me thinking about going to the party TWO nights! Hmmmmm...

 

[Candycane83]

MVMCP has been on my radar but I didn't bite the bullet and purchase tickets until this morning. The recent announcement and thinking about MK nighttime activities made the party all the more appealing (not that there wasn't plenty of appeal to begin with!). Wondering about MK nighttime activities and what you've just posted have me thinking about going to the party TWO nights! Hmmmmm...

I know what you mean. I was thinking about the same thing this morning while reading all the comments on the Disney blog... I'm just going to scrap the dessert party and sleigh ride and maybe think if going twice is feasible..

Edit: I have not bought any MVMCP tickets yet! Lol

 

[Winniebell10]

i sound like a total whiner but I just sent this email to WDW guest services. I don't expect to hear a thing about it (or that I will get a canned response about improving guest experience or something) but I just had to express my disappointment.


I'm just writing to tell you how disappointed I am that you are removing the main street electrical parade from the Magic Kingdom for the holiday season.

I have been a DVC member since 1999 but when I got a divorce in 2010 I thought that I would never as a single mother be able to afford to go to walt disney world again. However it was the one asset from our marriage that we retained and after 4 years of saving up money, I was able to take my then 6 year old son to walt disney world for the most magical trip ever of the many trips I have taken. He has numerous issues (as many kids nowadays do) and is on the autism spectrum, has ADHD, and struggles at school and with friendships and relationships outside and I am a single mother working full time who never seems to have enough time for anything and is always stressed by work and dealing with my son's issues. It was amazing being able to have a trip where there were no worries for either of us and although I have taken many many many walt disney world vacations in my life, it is the best vacation I have ever taken. The brightest memory we have of that trip was standing in the pouring rain watching the main street electrical parade because we wanted to see the parade that badly and the rain rolled in at the last minute and my normally inflexible son was so enthralled that he dealt with the sensory overload of having thousands of drops of rain pour over him. At the end of that trip my son sobbed that it was over and I promised him I'd take him back in 2 years.

That trip is finally coming up this December. We have been talking about it and planning it since I could book my DVC room at 11 months and I have been squirreling away money to pay for it for a year before that. Yes, the main street electrical parade is just one part of the trip, but it was one of the most highly anticipated parts of our trip - one that I went through extraordinary measures to plan for my son including finding a way to be able to stay at a monorail resort so that he would not have a meltdown by a long and complicated travel to the hotel at the end of a long night due to his difficulty with transitions. We are both very very disappointed that there will be no magic of a nighttime light parade at walt disney world after anticipating it for so long.

To say that this last minute decision to cancel the parade right before the busy holiday season is a confusing and disappointing one to many disney fans is an understatement.

I don't expect that this email will have any effect whatsoever but please do not insult me by sending me some canned response about improving guest experience. This is not an improvement. This is a heartbreaking disappointment for disney fans far and wide who have been saving for and planning their trips for months if not years. I know that this is a business and the decision was made for financial ones but you should know the impact of your decision on your guests.

Lisa Firstenberg
longstanding loyal disney fan who has yet to break the news to her son, who is a longstanding loyal disney fan in the making

Great letter Lisa. Hope someone responds. I'm really sorry for your son and your sweet mama heart. And I'm just finding this crappy news out. I am devastated. Favorite parade of all time. I saw it as a kid and my parents bought me this record of the soundtrack that had really cool artwork on it. I was really looking forward to it and had planned the Wednesday of our trip to be there. Really really sad news. So, does it look like they will be closing MK early on non party nights?

 

[Lisa F]

I'm so sorry @Lisa F I admire that you wrote the well-articulated letter to Disney; good on you for doing that. It's very disappointing news, and it's obvious what a special thing it was for you and your son. I wonder if there is anything that might help soften the blow for him? You seem like a great mom and didn't ask for advice so I'll not go there, but if we can help with ideas or anything along that line, please ask.

I really just had to vent. I don't think it will make a bit of difference and I expect to get a canned "thank you for your feedback while we continue to improve guest experiences" type of a letter even though I asked NOT to have that. It is going to tick me off all over again. But I just kind of had to get it off my chest even if I am yelling it into the great Disney void.

I will talk to him about it this weekend and we will be prepared. I have one ADR in play right now and we are talking about our various options as well (epcot night, we have la hacienda but now I am considering another signature or biergarten or cape may. The top 3 things were MSEP, Illuminations (which we are doing twice, hopefully they won't curtail that either) and F! which we have the dinner package for so I think he will still have a great vacation. I will just focus on what we ARE doing rather than what we are not.