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

[Lisa F]

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?

Aw thanks. I will be more annoyed with a canned response than no response but I am not expecting anything. Truth is we'll still have a great trip and we will remember what we did do, not what we didn't do. It's just a complete shock right now and I'm not sure if they know or care what the impact is on their loyal fans and I wanted to tell them. I'm sure they are just looking at bottom line and how much money they will save by not running the show.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Love the letter, Lisa! You know, you might want to give it a few more days before you break the news to your son. It's entirely possible (even probable, at this point) that MK will have no night parade on non-party nights. It's also possible they will announce some sort of replacement soon, even just a stop-gap parade or some other night time entertainment. It might be worth it just to have a better idea of what will ACTUALLY be happening before you talk to him. Just a thought. I'm sure he needs time to process the change, so I totally get wanting to get it over with sooner rather than later.

 

[Lisa F]

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

haha I was obsessing on it this morning I just had to say it if that makes sense. I expect to get a canned response anyway but I need to be at peace with it and move on

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

I can't really rearrange my plans in that way to go twice. So we'll stick with the plan minus the parade. MK is going to be BS crowded that night and I would have done things differently maybe if I knew but too much hinges on other things to change it now.

 

[Lisa F]

Love the letter, Lisa! You know, you might want to give it a few more days before you break the news to your son. It's entirely possible (even probable, at this point) that MK will have no night parade on non-party nights. It's also possible they will announce some sort of replacement soon, even just a stop-gap parade or some other night time entertainment. It might be worth it just to have a better idea of what will ACTUALLY be happening before you talk to him. Just a thought. I'm sure he needs time to process the change, so I totally get wanting to get it over with sooner rather than later.

Well the other thing I was planning to do is just be really casual about it. At some point sit down and go over what our plans ARE and mention that they are not doing that parade but it gives us more time to ride the rides. I will have to rethink whether I want to use any FPs at Epcot that day or save them all for the MK after dark since it will be so crowded that night.

 

[Mintycake]

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.

Oh, this makes my heart ache. I'm so sorry @Lisa F! I think your strategy is a good one.

My daughter was also very sad about the pirates cruise (I managed to snag a 11:20am 'Ohana brunch which makes our flow that much nicer - more on that later) but it gives us the chance to do MVMCP the night before (if we want to) and have a sleep in day on Wednesday, which will be a late night at MK.

So my flow I think will change a little - not based on crowd calendars per se (which I'm nervous about for sure as now it seems that it will be a very crowded time of year, which makes me grumble since I specifically chose the week I'm going to WDW based on historically low crowds).

On Tues Dec 6 (our Epcot day with RD) we now have the option to do a morning at Epcot, take a break, and then potentially go to MVMCP OR sleep in, spend the day at Epcot, and head directly there on the monorail to MK for party. If we do either of these, I'll have to cancel the Sandcastle club for DD. Alternatively, evening plans remain the same, DD goes to kids club and it's a date night in the WS with DH.

On Wed Dec 7 - if I cancel the Pirate cruise we can have a sleep in and then head to the Poly for 'Ohana brunch, and then go straight there to MK for the day (and evening) with no breaks. This is a nice flow as we get a later start and can recover from the evening. If DD goes to kids club though we may stick with original plan of RD MK and take a break in the afternoon ask we will not have as late a night on Tuesday since Sandcastle is right next door to BC and we'll probably be in bed by 9:30-10pm.

On Thurs Dec 8 - if we decide to stick to original plan we will have a very EARLY start with 7:30am 'Ohana (I wasn't feeling great about this option) and then RD MK, but with the new flow, we can sleep in, get to MK a little later (like 10am), still do Pirates League at noon, lunch, Festival of fantasy parade, and stay in the park until about 5:45pm so we can make our 1900 Park Fare dinner at 6:30pm. Then finish up, back to BC, pack for departure, and enjoy a last night at BC doing activities.

I like the new flow better, we have 3 early days at the start (and Sunday will be tough as we plan to do SW fireworks party on Saturday night - when does this finish?) and then 3 late days. What do you guys think?

 

[Lisa F]

right now I was asking him about swapping around that la hacienda ADR. I told him about yachtsman (he does love steak and he especially likes it on skewers, not sure why - maybe the smaller pieces are less daunting?) and if the $145 wagyu filet is included on DDP I think I'd like to do that. It is kind of a once in a lifetime chance for me, I can't see myself ever spending $145 on a steak but I'd spend the two TS credits. Otherwise not really interested in yachtsman though I may have oversold it telling him about the garlic, lol. But since it is in play now it REALLY feels like it is in play. We had talked about biergarten way back when and after taking 5 months to process it he has finally decided he might be interested in giving it a try. because there is a show. and because it is different. and he is 3/4 german. I admit this is one I have NEVER done and if I can get over my anxiety about strangers myself (he thinks it might be nice to possibly make friends) it might be a nice place to go. Not as good a value as the others but with the show definitely a "disney experience." There is a 6:20 or 6:35 ADR that would be well timed with the 7pm show and coming out of the 5pm CP.

does anyone know how early you should show up for the CP? If I do the 3:30 voices of liberty with 3:45 American Adventure show will that let me out at 4:15 right in time to get in line for the 5pm CP?

 

[Mintycake]

right now I was asking him about swapping around that la hacienda ADR. I told him about yachtsman (he does love steak and he especially likes it on skewers, not sure why - maybe the smaller pieces are less daunting?) and if the $145 wagyu filet is included on DDP I think I'd like to do that. It is kind of a once in a lifetime chance for me, I can't see myself ever spending $145 on a steak but I'd spend the two TS credits. Otherwise not really interested in yachtsman though I may have oversold it telling him about the garlic, lol. But since it is in play now it REALLY feels like it is in play. We had talked about biergarten way back when and after taking 5 months to process it he has finally decided he might be interested in giving it a try. because there is a show. and because it is different. and he is 3/4 german. I admit this is one I have NEVER done and if I can get over my anxiety about strangers myself (he thinks it might be nice to possibly make friends) it might be a nice place to go. Not as good a value as the others but with the show definitely a "disney experience." There is a 6:20 or 6:35 ADR that would be well timed with the 7pm show and coming out of the 5pm CP.

does anyone know how early you should show up for the CP? If I do the 3:30 voices of liberty with 3:45 American Adventure show will that let me out at 4:15 right in time to get in line for the 5pm CP?

Some "food" for thought on Waygu beef - it's actually very hard to find in the USA. Most of it is hybrid. So this may give you pause. I have no dout the $145 fillet will be high quality but it may not be waygu.
http://www.seriouseats.com/2016/07/fake-kobe-wagyu-beef-japanese-steak.html

 

[Lisa F]

Oh, this makes my heart ache. I'm so sorry @Lisa F! I think your strategy is a good one.

My daughter was also very sad about the pirates cruise (I managed to snag a 11:20am 'Ohana brunch which makes our flow that much nicer - more on that later) but it gives us the chance to do MVMCP the night before (if we want to) and have a sleep in day on Wednesday, which will be a late night at MK.

So my flow I think will change a little - not based on crowd calendars per se (which I'm nervous about for sure as now it seems that it will be a very crowded time of year, which makes me grumble since I specifically chose the week I'm going to WDW based on historically low crowds).

On Tues Dec 6 (our Epcot day with RD) we now have the option to do a morning at Epcot, take a break, and then potentially go to MVMCP OR sleep in, spend the day at Epcot, and head directly there on the monorail to MK for party. If we do either of these, I'll have to cancel the Sandcastle club for DD. Alternatively, evening plans remain the same, DD goes to kids club and it's a date night in the WS with DH.

On Wed Dec 7 - if I cancel the Pirate cruise we can have a sleep in and then head to the Poly for 'Ohana brunch, and then go straight there to MK for the day (and evening) with no breaks. This is a nice flow as we get a later start and can recover from the evening. If DD goes to kids club though we may stick with original plan of RD MK and take a break in the afternoon ask we will not have as late a night on Tuesday since Sandcastle is right next door to BC and we'll probably be in bed by 9:30-10pm.

On Thurs Dec 8 - if we decide to stick to original plan we will have a very EARLY start with 7:30am 'Ohana (I wasn't feeling great about this option) and then RD MK, but with the new flow, we can sleep in, get to MK a little later (like 10am), still do Pirates League at noon, lunch, Festival of fantasy parade, and stay in the park until about 5:45pm so we can make our 1900 Park Fare dinner at 6:30pm. Then finish up, back to BC, pack for departure, and enjoy a last night at BC doing activities.

I like the new flow better, we have 3 early days at the start (and Sunday will be tough as we plan to do SW fireworks party on Saturday night - when does this finish?) and then 3 late days. What do you guys think?

In general I like that plan. I am doing mostly the same thing, my earlier days at the start and then assume we will start to flag in the mornings and stay up later as time goes on. Doing AK at RD the first day and hoping to do the SW fireworks that night but given that HS closes at 7 I figure that whole thing will be done by 8 and that is not really a "late night" to me (assuming they go off that night). I won't bore you with the rest but around wednesday of our weeklong trip we will be staying up for the extra magic hours at MK (currently scheduled til midnight but who knows now) and then sleep in the next day with a 9:30 breakfast at Boma (that is late for my kiddo lol, thinking of making it 10am instead of 9:30 though but we have ohana at 3:30 that night so I wanted to keep that 6 hour spacing between meals) with a down day and then to the MK for the MVMCP and hoping to do the whole thing. Then the next day I have a 9:50 at CP for breakfast and will prob sleep in a bit too and go to MK until it is time for our HDDR at 6:15. This is our last night so planning not much but fireworks from the resort and packing that night.

 

[Lisa F]

Some "food" for thought on Waygu beef - it's actually very hard to find in the USA. Most of it is hybrid. So this may give you pause. I have no dout the $145 fillet will be high quality but it may not be waygu.
http://www.seriouseats.com/2016/07/fake-kobe-wagyu-beef-japanese-steak.html

It is actual Japanese wagyu. That's why I am interested in doing it. It apparently comes with certificate and hoof print of the cow

every sig has some form of "american wagyu" or "american kobe". This is the real deal. Otherwise I would not make an effort for it.

from yachtsman's menu:
100% Japanese Wagyu Beef

5-oz Wagyu Filet Mignon
Miyazaki prefecture marble score A5
$145.00
5-oz Wagyu Strip Steak
Miyazaki prefecture marble score A5
$125

but then honestly part of me just wants to do biergarten because it is fun and the kid wants to do it. Talk about schitzo!

 

[tacboze]

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.

THANK YOU for your reply...that helps me sooo much with my BOG dinner decision. The Beast was one of the main reasons I wanted BOG dinner, so to know he would be in parades, that makes my decision much easier.

 

[Mintycake]

Doing AK at RD the first day and hoping to do the SW fireworks that night but given that HS closes at 7 I figure that whole thing will be done by 8 and that is not really a "late night" to me (assuming they go off that night).

Do they move the fireworks earlier in winter? I thought i read the sw party started around 8:15pm with fireworks at 9pm. I'm confused.

 

[Mintycake]

Oh and it looks like I'll be letting go a BOG lunch and Skippers Canteen dinner. BOG conflicts with 'Ohana now and there's nothing at SC that my DD will eat.

 

[Lisa F]

Do they move the fireworks earlier in winter? I thought i read the sw party started around 8:15pm with fireworks at 9pm. I'm confused.

right now they are starting them 15 minutes after F! So I am assuming with F! at 7pm fireworks will be at 7:15 if they run at all. They might extend hours but that does not seem the way they are going right now. We'll see. For AK before there was nighttime stuff at all they always closed at sunset which is earlier in the winter. HS also has always had earlier closing hours and that usually comes with earlier F! and fireworks (when they have them) in the winter. They have the option because the sun is setting earlier. In Epcot Illuminations is actually LATER, I think owing to the candlelight processional schedule. In MK I think it is about the same, but in january it might be a bit earlier.

 

[Talby]

THANK YOU for your reply...that helps me sooo much with my BOG dinner decision. The Beast was one of the main reasons I wanted BOG dinner, so to know he would be in parades, that makes my decision much easier.

Yay!! Yep, the Beast is a big deal for us too. So grateful that CM told me about that detail that made all the difference.

 

[Mintycake]

right now they are starting them 15 minutes after F! So I am assuming with F! at 7pm fireworks will be at 7:15 if they run at all. They might extend hours but that does not seem the way they are going right now. We'll see. For AK before there was nighttime stuff at all they always closed at sunset which is earlier in the winter. HS also has always had earlier closing hours and that usually comes with earlier F! and fireworks (when they have them) in the winter. They have the option because the sun is setting earlier. In Epcot Illuminations is actually LATER, I think owing to the candlelight processional schedule. In MK I think it is about the same, but in january it might be a bit earlier.

Great! I am actually hoping this is the case as I wouldn't mind an early first night. We're going very early for H&V PPO breakfast and we will have the option to take a break that day but need to be back for a 4:15pm 50s prime time dinner reservation. Then we can do the SW party (if it starts 7:15 they will likely start the party at 6pm so we'll need to go right there from dinner. Not sure if a break makes sense then if we need to do everything? The only things we're skipping at HS is the Indiana Jones show and Muppet show.

 

[CaleCakes]

After reading most of this post (ok- I admit skipped most of the middle pages) I am officially in a panic over my lack or preparation for our trip to Disney. I had no idea until stumbling upon this thread this morning that the 1st week of December was Pop Warner week! We (my husband, myself, and out 13 month old) are going to be at Disney Dec 4-8th and this is our first trip in 20 something years since we were kids. I have been so focused on the logistics of traveling with a toddler and having all the right equipment, and maybe since we are staying at SoG I didn't notice hotels had limited availability. A friend did tell me to book dining reservations as soon as the window opened, so I was able to snag a few (BoG, Tusker House, Kona cafe, Biergarten). And I got tickets for the Christmas party right away for Dec 6th. But other than that I figured we could just wander around and wing it. Evidently that isn't the case! I had no clue planning a few days in Disney would be so much work. I'm headed over to the "Official Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party" thread now so I can try and get a grasp on where to be when. I hope we aren't totally overwhelmed when we get there because I didn't plan properly.

 

[Lisa F]

After reading most of this post (ok- I admit skipped most of the middle pages) I am officially in a panic over my lack or preparation for our trip to Disney. I had no idea until stumbling upon this thread this morning that the 1st week of December was Pop Warner week! We (my husband, myself, and out 13 month old) are going to be at Disney Dec 4-8th and this is our first trip in 20 something years since we were kids. I have been so focused on the logistics of traveling with a toddler and having all the right equipment, and maybe since we are staying at SoG I didn't notice hotels had limited availability. A friend did tell me to book dining reservations as soon as the window opened, so I was able to snag a few (BoG, Tusker House, Kona cafe, Biergarten). And I got tickets for the Christmas party right away for Dec 6th. But other than that I figured we could just wander around and wing it. Evidently that isn't the case! I had no clue planning a few days in Disney would be so much work. I'm headed over to the "Official Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party" thread now so I can try and get a grasp on where to be when. I hope we aren't totally overwhelmed when we get there because I didn't plan properly.

If those are the only ADRs that you want to do then you are good until it is time to make fastpasses. we have about 50 days or so to figure it out It sounds like you have everything you need done by now done, so don't panic! I'd maybe try to think about adding a little structure to your day with fast passes and figure out how you are going to ride things with the toddler - do you want to skip all rides your (son? daughter?) can't go on? if so then there are not many fast passes you will need. Otherwise you're going to need to do the baby swap thing. You might want to read up a bit on how that works. If you are not really into a lot of the rides your kiddo is too small for then honestly you probably CAN just wander around. Most of the more gentle rides do not have much in the way of waits.

 

[Talby]

After reading most of this post (ok- I admit skipped most of the middle pages) I am officially in a panic over my lack or preparation for our trip to Disney. I had no idea until stumbling upon this thread this morning that the 1st week of December was Pop Warner week! We (my husband, myself, and out 13 month old) are going to be at Disney Dec 4-8th and this is our first trip in 20 something years since we were kids. I have been so focused on the logistics of traveling with a toddler and having all the right equipment, and maybe since we are staying at SoG I didn't notice hotels had limited availability. A friend did tell me to book dining reservations as soon as the window opened, so I was able to snag a few (BoG, Tusker House, Kona cafe, Biergarten). And I got tickets for the Christmas party right away for Dec 6th. But other than that I figured we could just wander around and wing it. Evidently that isn't the case! I had no clue planning a few days in Disney would be so much work. I'm headed over to the "Official Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party" thread now so I can try and get a grasp on where to be when. I hope we aren't totally overwhelmed when we get there because I didn't plan properly.

I've said this recently and I maintain my position that Disney planning is not for wimps! lol It can actually be a lot of fun too though. I'm in the new-to-planning boat as well and it can be overwhelming trying to navigate it all. It's awesome that you have those ADRs/MVMCP tickets in place and since your window for fastpasses is still a ways out, you have plenty of time to figure it out. In my opinion, a really good thing to be aware of is what your priorities are; meeting characters or riding as many rides as possible, lots of dining experiences, seeing all fireworks shows, etc. Everyone does Disney a little bit differently depending on what your priorities are. I think wandering around and winging it is definitely an option when you have an overall understanding of how things work (parade and fireworks times, fastpasses, show times, park hours--things like that)! I have found everyone here to be amazing when it comes to answering questions so ask away if/when you have any. Have fun with the planning!

 

[CaleCakes]

@LisaF and @Talby, very good points, thank you. We will mostly just ride the kiddie stuff and not to ride swap. My friend said to get fast pass for things like It's a small world, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo, Kilimanjaro Safari, some frozen ride. I think SoG guests can book 30 days out. I don't have the tickets yet, those can be bought at 45 days out. To be honest these 4 days in Disney were an add on to a cruise we are taking the week before. I said to my husband, hey since were already in FL why not take the baby to check out Mickey. He said ok, whatever you want. We would like to see some parades and I love to watch fireworks so I'll research the best spot to see them. Thanks again for the tips. I'm open for more.

 

[Talby]

@CaleCakes What a great husband! lol Fantastic that you're doing both a cruise and spending time at WDW--nice!! I think you can definitely combine some winging it style along with a little bit of planning; they can mutually coexist! I am NO expert, but I think it's a nice combination to have a little bit of both. I think your friend gave you solid fast pass advice. If your family happens to be early risers, getting to MK at rope drop is an idea to consider. That way you can knock out a few of the kiddie rides before the crowds are in full force. Not to worry if that's not your family's style; lots of people prefer to sleep in and get to the parks later in the morning. @Lisa F wrote a great post recently (it's in the middle somewhere that you skipped! haha) about various touring strategies. The great thing is there is no right or wrong, just preferences. I would look over the parade/fireworks times at each park and decide what you want to go to. Google or search on here for best fireworks viewing spots in _____ (whichever park) to get some ideas of where you want to be for those. I would HIGHLY recommend looking at park maps to get an understanding of the layout of the parks. Find where your ADRs are, look over the rides you want to go on and see where those are, find your fireworks viewing spots. You're going to have a GREAT time!