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

[Lisa F]

Here's the updated itinerary so far:

November 29th -- Late arrival into BCV. (10:30pm). Girls will be in jammies for the flight. Tentative arrival to resort at midnight.

November 30th -- Sleep in. Lunch at Rose and Crown (12:45). Depending on how the girls are doing, either a few hours in the world showcase or we'll go back to the room and nap and maybe a bit of pool time. For dinner we have a 7:00 ADR for Raglan Road (yes, very similar foods. DH was insistent on this and it is what it is. We love the entertainment though!)

December 1st -- Transfer to AKL. We will go to Animal Kingdom for lunch, Yak and Yeti and do a few rides and/or shows. Hopefully our room will be ready and we'll rest before our big night at MVMCP! Depending on who is hungry (probably just the girls) we'll grab a bite to eat at a QS spot. We then have reservations for the dessert party! We will have a double stroller so if the girls pass out, we can stay till midnight.

December 2nd -- Breakfast at H&V at 10am. FP+ for HS (haven't decided yet). Will park hop to Epcot for a 4:30 CP package at Tokyo Dining. We'll then enjoy the show!

December 3rd -- RD Magic Kingdom. Lunch at 11:10 at Liberty Tree Tavern. Afternoon break, and then a 6:10pm Chef Mickey's dinner. After, we'll enjoy the evening in MK!

December 4th -- Sleep in. Breakfast at 9:20 at GFC. We'll take it easy and tour the resort decorations. Long nap/rest time. We then have a 5:40 dinner at Frontera Cocina! After dinner, we'll mingle around Disney Springs.

December 5th -- DH and myself have a date at Universal Studios. Grandparents will watch the girls. They have a 5:50pm 1900 PF dinner! We'll eat in City Walk, probably Cow Fish. Not sure what park plans they have. I would guess Animal Kingdom!

December 6th -- RD Epcot! Garden Grill Breakfast at 9:20am. We'll tour Future World and then have a break for those that need it. Dinner that night is Cape May Cafe and Flying Fish (for a select few )

December 7th -- My birthday! I have an 8:30 KTTK tour with my mom. After it's completed, DH and the girls will meet up with us and we'll enjoy MK through the evening! We have a 5:50 dinner at Kona Cafe.

December 8th -- RD AK! Tusker House Lunch at 11:30. We then will hop to Epcot for a CP package at Via Napoli at 4:45 for an 8:15 show.

December 9th -- Breakfast at 'Ohana's , last few hours at MK. Will need to return to AKL by 1:45 for DME.

just sat down and focused (had phone all weekend and no computer. looks great! why 2 CP? are there two narrators you really wanted to see?

 

[Mintycake]

We need bug spray too? I'm a mosquito magnet so yokes

 

[Lisa F]

speaking of bags, most of the time I will carry around a backpack. It will have extra magic bands (both spares/clones of the ones we are wearing and SDFP), id, some cash (never leave home without either) and my disney visa card (in case MBs don't work), sweatshirts for us, autograph book and water bottle. I will apply sunscreen in the morning to my face but that's about it - it's december so the sun is not super intense. Will wear sunglasses and maybe a hat but maybe not. I did last time.

in the evening after CA Grill, Narcoossees, Ohana and H&V (basically all the times we will be at the resorts before dinner and then off to dinner) I will just carry the purse with extra MBs, money, id, credit card. Will wear sweatshirts and i'll buy water as i need it in the evenings (which will be less than during the day i'm guessing, especially when sometimes we're just doing fireworks and not walking around much).

Also this backpack happened last week:

@jillyh and anyone who loves the veras, this is the "campus backpack" which is the perfect park bag. it is nice and light and has front pocket for autograph book and pens, inside the main space pocket for ID, cards, cash, other little items. Disney discontinued a lot of the older vera patterns and they showed up at the outlets in florida. $125 backpack was $50 there, I got mine for $66.42 shipped. Let me know if you want me to send you a link to my seller, she must have bought a bunch and then is selling them on ebay. She also has the blue pattern, which is calling "disney dreaming" and she has lots of different ones to choose from. "placement" (where the pattern lays out" is very important to purse people and I like this seller because she posts actual items that allows you to pick your placement. I am not affiliated with her just happy with my purchase. And I NEEDED to purchase it because I had so much stuff I was losing track of it. right? So I needed my park backpack NOW so I can keep it all together. yeah, that's it!

I carried it the other night when we went for fireworks (my town does amazing fireworks in the summer. not disney but still nice. the boyfriend was looking at the map and discovered a small beach that most tourists don't even know about that seemed like it would have good sight lines and it did! So we went there and I described it to my kid like the difference between watching the fireworks at the contemporary and on main street, lol. It was awesome because they are not as loud and the beach was sparsely populated by locals. but I digress!) just a bonus fireworks show. I am super jazzed by how well my phone (which will also be carried in the bags sometimes) takes fireworks shots. It's the galaxy s7 which I upgraded to mostly because of its better low light camera. I can't wait to shoot disney fireworks!

fireworks photo just because.

 

[Lisa F]

We need bug spray too? I'm a mosquito magnet so yokes

I have never needed or worn bug spray at disney. Maybe she is being overly cautious due to the zika virus in southern states? Disney practices integrated pest management and they actively keep stagnant bodies of water where they might breed away from the parks and also release many insects that are mosquito predators into their environment. There are also bat houses and they do spray insecticide and larvacide to control the populations.I have never worn bug spray and not sure I remember ever getting bitten there. Not sure december is mosquito season anyway? maybe CC is thinking of having another kiddo

 

[Lisa F]

Asking again, is it confirmed about the SW dessert party for December? Little out of the loop, it's busy around here.

We're at our 100 day mark! Woot woot!

nothing confirmed but hopeful given that it is going every day in september after labor day when crowds are lighter (ie beyond the summer rush). we are sandwiched between thanksgiving and christmas so hoping they just run it straight through for that whole month. I think it looks good but then I never saw the MSEP leaving coming so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[Candycane83]

I have never needed or worn bug spray at disney. Maybe she is being overly cautious due to the zika virus in southern states? Disney practices integrated pest management and they actively keep stagnant bodies of water where they might breed away from the parks and also release many insects that are mosquito predators into their environment. There are also bat houses and they do spray insecticide and larvacide to control the populations.I have never worn bug spray and not sure I remember ever getting bitten there. Not sure december is mosquito season anyway? maybe CC is thinking of having another kiddo

Lol yes, just being overly cautious about that even though I'm never really a bug magnet.

 

[Candycane83]

speaking of bags, most of the time I will carry around a backpack. It will have extra magic bands (both spares/clones of the ones we are wearing and SDFP), id, some cash (never leave home without either) and my disney visa card (in case MBs don't work), sweatshirts for us, autograph book and water bottle. I will apply sunscreen in the morning to my face but that's about it - it's december so the sun is not super intense. Will wear sunglasses and maybe a hat but maybe not. I did last time.

in the evening after CA Grill, Narcoossees, Ohana and H&V (basically all the times we will be at the resorts before dinner and then off to dinner) I will just carry the purse with extra MBs, money, id, credit card. Will wear sweatshirts and i'll buy water as i need it in the evenings (which will be less than during the day i'm guessing, especially when sometimes we're just doing fireworks and not walking around much).

Also this backpack happened last week:

@jillyh and anyone who loves the veras, this is the "campus backpack" which is the perfect park bag. it is nice and light and has front pocket for autograph book and pens, inside the main space pocket for ID, cards, cash, other little items. Disney discontinued a lot of the older vera patterns and they showed up at the outlets in florida. $125 backpack was $50 there, I got mine for $66.42 shipped. Let me know if you want me to send you a link to my seller, she must have bought a bunch and then is selling them on ebay. She also has the blue pattern, which is calling "disney dreaming" and she has lots of different ones to choose from. "placement" (where the pattern lays out" is very important to purse people and I like this seller because she posts actual items that allows you to pick your placement. I am not affiliated with her just happy with my purchase. And I NEEDED to purchase it because I had so much stuff I was losing track of it. right? So I needed my park backpack NOW so I can keep it all together. yeah, that's it!

I carried it the other night when we went for fireworks (my town does amazing fireworks in the summer. not disney but still nice. the boyfriend was looking at the map and discovered a small beach that most tourists don't even know about that seemed like it would have good sight lines and it did! So we went there and I described it to my kid like the difference between watching the fireworks at the contemporary and on main street, lol. It was awesome because they are not as loud and the beach was sparsely populated by locals. but I digress!) just a bonus fireworks show. I am super jazzed by how well my phone (which will also be carried in the bags sometimes) takes fireworks shots. It's the galaxy s7 which I upgraded to mostly because of its better low light camera. I can't wait to shoot disney fireworks!

fireworks photo just because.

Nice! You're very well prepared! Hmm been trying to post the pic of the bag I got but it always come up as too big...

 

[Lisa F]

I think this is my problem too, @Talby ; my mind just gets so overwhelmed with the details that I'm making it harder to comprehend. I pretty much get the gist of the SDFP; it's the MB's that are throwing me off. DH isn't keen on me buying more MB's either, but he doesn't do any of the planning so ultimately it's not up to him.
We already picked out our skins on the MYB site

I don't remember my own name or whether i've eaten breakfast yet some days but this my mind comprehends.

 

[Lisa F]

I love grapefruit beer too. Our local brewery, Left Field, does a good one.
Yes that's true @Candycane83 although there is some sticker shock with food prices at Disney I imagine being from Toronto makes it a little more bearable!
FYI I am headed to the Disney store this week and will ask about magic bands.

food is ridiculous on the vineyard (about disney prices for many things. not all... but it's hardly "cheap" either!) but booze is only a little more than the mainland. I didn't realize it was so pricey in canada. Is wine as pricey too? We did a wine tasting yesterday and tasted like 12 wines for $7 and got to keep the glass. it was nice!

 

[Lisa F]

OK going back to plans, here are mine (with FP+ included). Not counting arrival and departure day since we get in late and leave early. Staying at BC.
Dec 3 - Hollywood studios
8:05 Hollywood and Vine breakfast (for Jedi sign up)
12:25pm Mama Melrose F! package (will cancel if SWDP opens up)
4:15pm 50s Prime time diner
FP+ Tier 1: Rock and Roller coaster
FP+Tier 2: ? not sure. Star tours and Tower of Terror I think.
Early morning: hit Toy Story, Great movie ride.
I'm going to have to study a map to figure out the best touring plan this day. I would ideally like to leave the park at noon and go for a break at our hotel and then come back for 50s prime time and Star Wars Dessert Party. Not sure if a break will work. We want to see the princess shows. I think she might be too old for Disney JR and no interest in Muppets or Indiana Jones. Do we have time for a break?

Dec 4 - MK day
8:10 BoG breakfast
QS Lunch
4:30 - 5:30pm drop off DD at Lilo's playhouse at the Poly
5:45pm dinner at Kona Cafe (may drop this to just eat snacks at Tambu lounge)
FP+ = 7DMT, ? what else is critical? We plan to stay in Fantasyland mostly. Maybe talking Mickey.
Early morning: PP, meet Merrida, Princess Fairytale Hall, Fantasyland stuff
No plans for going back to BC this day for a break...

Dec 5 - Epcot
7:30am Cape May Cafe
QS lunch (Sunshine Seasons)
4:10pm Teppan Edo (will cancel and probably have QS at Katsura instead)
FP+ Tier 1 FEA, Tier 2, Mission Space, Meet Disney Pals at Character spot
Early morning: Meet Joy and Sadness (DH to Test Track), Soarin, Living with the Land.
May build in a break this day as we plan to watch Illuminations tonight.

Dec 6 - Epcot
Breakfast: QS or in our room
Akershus 10:50am (Brunch)
Dinner: Date night? Have Beaches and Cream booked, Teppan Edo, and Il Mulino. May scrap all of these...
FP+ Tier 1: FEA, Tier 2, not sure?
Meet Anna and Elsa day...focus on International showcase, re-ride anything else we feel like riding. No big rush to rope drop this day.
This day is a bit up in the air as we may potentially do MVMCP. If so, we will likely leave Epcot after lunch if we get an early start or we will just go to Epcot for Brunch and start the day there, and then go on the Monorail to MK for party. We don't have party tickets yet so not sure. Originally we were going to do a date night and drop my daughter at the Sandcastle club but she's already got a night at Lilo's playhouse so I'm waffling about the Christmas party obviously.

Dec 7 - MK
I originally had pirate cruise booked this day but tomorrow we're headed out to the one in Toronto (no aligators here!) so I will likely cancel this. I have this booked
11:20am 'Ohana (brunch) - nice and late so we can have a restful morning after the Christmas party
QS lunch
5:25pm Skippers Canteen dinner (will cancel) - probably do QS or maybe Tony's or The Plaza for dinner instead.
So this day depends really on what we do the day before. I think I'd like to move the Ohana to 10:30am ideally so we can still get a good day in at MK. No breaks planned. Would like to do the Mad Hatter party at GF if it's still offered.

Dec 8 - MK
7:30am Ohana breakfast (will likely cancel if I keep Dec 7 as an after party day)
12noon - Pirates League for DD
Festival of Fantasy parade
6:30pm 1900 park fare dinner
back to BC to pack for departure

I'm at a loss for FP ideas for my MK days really. I think I can cover the "big ones" that you need FP for within the three MK days I have planned.
Does this seem to flow? Obviously I'm torn about the Christmas party (I would like to go, just once but it's so pricey. Justifying though by cancelling a kids club night and the pirate cruise, and having less TS meals.).

I personally don't think you really have time for a break on 12/3 - you'd have to leave by 1ish to make it back in time for dinner and take an hour break in between traveling. I forget where you are staying but it is not a super late night anyway.

12/4 and MK FP+ I would say that the most critical are these (for me):
Fantasyland
*7DMT
*Peter Pan
*Pooh
the rest you can probably do standby if you get there at the right time. I can't believe small world is FP now.

Tomorrowland
*Space Mountain
Tomorrowland Speedway (my kiddo loves this and they always have long lines. good for a 4th FP/SDFP though)
Buzz (same as above though the line is nicer to wait in since it is indoors)

Adventureland
*Jungle Cruise
Magic Carpets
Pirates

Liberty Square
Haunted Mansion

Frontierland
*Big Thunder Mountain
*Splash Mountain

the starred ones to me are the most critical to plan in advance but I have also listed the next tier of them that I'd do (more likely as 4th FP/SDFP). if you have 3MK days you will have 9 book ahead FPs and I might be tempted to book some of my favorites on more than one day.

12/5, 12/6 no real comments. mvmcp is a VERY personal decision. I think at some point you will figure out what feels right. I will just say with a kiddo that age that the MK is most magical. Also I will say your plans flow very nicely with it. then i'll shut up

 

[Wood Nymph]

I'm still on the fence about bringing a bag into the park. Over the years I've tried a fanny pack (Dear God, still ashamed of the pics from that ), backpack, and small cross body purse, and still haven't found a bag I like or that works for me. Ideally I'd just bring my tiny pocket wallet with ID, cash, and credit card and nothing else, but realistically I know I'm a packrat and bring too much crap. LOL
DH likes bringing a backpack (which is great because then I don't have to carry anything), and it really comes in handy when we start out wearing sweatshirts in the AM, and are sweating in the PM. But, it kind of becomes bulky if we go on a coaster or water ride...plus you have to go through the bag check, which stinks.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

I've fallen in love with the string bag for the parks. I like to avoid the bag check lines when they are long, usually in the morning. I started bringing a string bag and I love it. It is thin enough to fold up and put in a large pocket or just carry it in my hand, all folded up. I wear the jacket or sweatshirt, hat and sunglasses, if necessary, then stuff the other things like cell phone and tissues, etc, in my pockets. It helps that my husband will often wear cargo pants. If I have an umbrella or bottle of water then I just carry it in. There are times, though, when I go through bag check, though, like when the lines aren't long or when we are using the International Gateway, where the lines aren't long.

And the string bag is comfortable to wear and easy to pull on or off. The only disadvantage is that it doesn't have outside pockets so I have to dig through it to find stuff.

On our last trip I used a runner's belt, the kind that runners use to hold their keys and cellphones when they run. I wore it under my shirt and it was great for accessing my cellphone easily, but it was kind of like using a fanny pack.

CONFIRMED??? No, not really. But we all expect there will be SW fireworks AND a dessert party each night. Disney has been so unpredictable this year, I feel like I can't count on anything until we're actually in the middle of DOING it!

I hope there will be SW fireworks every night, but I agree that you can't count on it. We were at WDW in early June and the SW fireworks were only shown three times a week.

 

[Lisa F]

Nice! You're very well prepared! Hmm been trying to post the pic of the bag I got but it always come up as too big...

I only sound prepared lol. A friend of mine went to Disneyland Paris and I asked her to get a paris autograph book for him so that will be fun. My stuff was so scattered, I had to consolidate it.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I personally don't think you really have time for a break on 12/3 - you'd have to leave by 1ish to make it back in time for dinner and take an hour break in between traveling. I forget where you are staying but it is not a super late night anyway.

I think they are staying at the Beach Club. I wouldn't want to eat table service meals that close together.

 

[Lisa F]

I've fallen in love with the string bag for the parks. I like to avoid the bag check lines when they are long, usually in the morning. I started bringing a string bag and I love it. It is thin enough to fold up and put in a large pocket or just carry it in my hand, all folded up. I wear the jacket or sweatshirt, hat and sunglasses, if necessary, then stuff the other things like cell phone and tissues, etc, in my pockets. It helps that my husband will often wear cargo pants. If I have an umbrella or bottle of water then I just carry it in. There are times, though, when I go through bag check, though, like when the lines aren't long or when we are using the International Gateway, where the lines aren't long.

And the string bag is comfortable to wear and easy to pull on or off. The only disadvantage is that it doesn't have outside pockets so I have to dig through it to find stuff.

On our last trip I used a runner's belt, the kind that runners use to hold their keys and cellphones when they run. I wore it under my shirt and it was great for accessing my cellphone easily, but it was kind of like using a fanny pack.

I hope there will be SW fireworks every night, but I agree that you can't count on it. We were at WDW in early June and the SW fireworks were only shown three times a week.

I will just deal with the bag check. your idea is brilliant but I am not organized enough to pull that off and not forget half my stuff, lol.

 

[Lisa F]

I think they are staying at the Beach Club. I wouldn't want to eat table service meals that close together.

we've had that discussion already lol. I am trying to space mine out by 6 hours minimum myself and even then I worry about 2 a day sometimes. but breakfast and dinner are so different lol. Also someone HAS to remind me to not be a pig and order the liter of the grapefruit beer at biergarten. that will not sit well.

I am overweight but due to highly stressy habits and not enough exercise and eating the wrong way (I throw my metabolism into low gear every day by not eating til later in the day and then eating quick and unhealthy stuff). But beyond that i am not a huge eater (like I cannot sit down and eat like a fat person in any one sitting even though I am one). Yesterday I spent the day touristing in plymouth and we missed breakfast, by the time we had lunch I was struggling to put down my entire sandwich and side salad and for dinner we had a small cup of chowder and a small lobster roll with a small side of fries and I was struggling to finish that too. I can't eat enough to make most buffets worth it from a food point of view and will do my best at the meals that will have the appetizer but if I leave some behind I will have to be ok with it. So really hoping my schedule works but now it is paid for and I eat what I eat and it is about the experience for me.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I will just deal with the bag check. your idea is brilliant but I am not organized enough to pull that off and not forget half my stuff, lol.

I drive my husband nuts sometimes with my organization.

 

[Wood Nymph]

we've had that discussion already lol. I am trying to space mine out by 6 hours minimum myself and even then I worry about 2 a day sometimes. but breakfast and dinner are so different lol

We had free dining on our June trip so we had several table services meals. The closest we came was a 1:30 pm lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern and a 6:45 pm dinner at Boatwrights. It seemed like everyone was ready to eat dinner by then except DH. He just had soup and salad. But my 6 year old grandson was hungry enough to eat two children's cheeseburgers.

 

[Lisa F]

I drive my husband nuts sometimes with my organization.

I can hold FPs in my head for multiple parks and days and MBs but don't ask me where my damn keys are lol. in fact don't even ask me where my MB is. I'm awful!

 

[Lisa F]

We had free dining on our June trip so we had several table services meals. The closest we came was a 1:30 pm lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern and a 6:45 pm dinner at Boatwrights. It seemed like everyone was ready to eat dinner by then except DH. He just had soup and salad. But my 6 year old grandson was hungry enough to eat two children's cheeseburgers.

yes I have been paying attention when we go out for food when I'm hungry again and honestly I should be eating more frequently than that even. With all of the walking I will want to eat less too and I am planning for some snacks in between. I added more to above, I have the WORST eating habits of anyone I know, I just get so busy and stressed with life and put myself last.

 

[pigletgirl]

just sat down and focused (had phone all weekend and no computer. looks great! why 2 CP? are there two narrators you really wanted to see?

We have my parents who are coming in on Saturday 12/3,
and they wanted to see it. It was the only time we could fit it in. The other option is for them to stand by and see the 430 show. We'll see how it all pans out.