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

[Meeko5]

Morning, all! I have a question for everyone! I was wondering, what is everyone's favorite must do at each park aside from things you can fp Or reserve!
Including shows/ snacks etc! Any ONE thing that you just have to do!
Sorry if this has been discussed

MK: Peoplemover for sure. Just so classic and relaxing. (2nd would have to be Gaston's Tavern for a cinnamon roll and LeFou's Brew. SO GOOD)
HS: It was Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground SO SAD that is gone now - luckily I got pics of both kids (and me!) on "the ant" last year. Now I don't know!
AK: Dino dig area - we spent about 30 min there last trip and the boys coulkd have spent hours. just wish they would let parents bring drinks in because that would be so much more tolerable with a beverage
EP: Strolling the WS with a drink in hand - kids loved the trains in Germany too. And feeding the ducks!

 

[pigletgirl]

Hi Everyone!

I am a quiet lurker on this thread and post intermittently. Anyways, is anyone in this thread headed to Universal for a day during their vaca? Are you planning on doing both parks? If so, all in one day or more?

We're going to try and fit it in all in one day. It'll just be my husband and I,so I think we have a better chance of doing that!

 

[Talby]

@JamieOak I GET THAT!! lol Thanks so much! Oh my gosh, I was so frustrated with that part. I wasn't doing anything with the Arrival Window Start; that was the issue.

I get your rationale for wanting to do something before Africa Trek, and it looks like that is part of what makes it so back and forth? We're going to have that same dilemma on our Africa Trek day. I haven't gotten to AK yet in TP...but Epcot is mostly nailed down and 1 MK day. AK is big for us though and there's a whole lot we want to do, so I should get going on that next!! THANKS AGAIN!! I'm even more excited to get back in there and mess around some more.

 

[Candycane83]

my 22 month old was just happy to do whatever we did. he only had a few minor meltdowns and that was right before he conked out for a midday nap in the stroller. My the 6yo was obsessed with watching park ride videos so the little one got excited too and would happily watch anything disney related but didn't "get" it anyway.

Once were there I was pleasantly surprised at how he did. He's never sat in a stroller more than 20 minutes at home, and only ever napped in his bed. Yes at times he insisted on walking or being carried, but that was expected. He loved just running around empty areas jumping in puddles, chasing lizards, etc. His absolute favorite non-attraction was actually watching the rides - SDMT was his favorite thing to watch, then Splash mountain. He would scream in excitement everytime a boat came down the hill. It was awesome We never waited more than 20 minutes in any line with him and he did great just people watching.

Best advice - be prepared with tools to curb any meltdowns. Treats, snacks, stickers, etc. Give him lots of time to run and walk when he can.

Thanks so much for the advice!!! I could see the jumping and running around...

Aww, I never thought he would enjoy watching the boats at splash mountain! That's a great idea! Maybe we could see if he likes watching and take turns riding, LOL!

I plan to bring a suitcase full of snacks and small toys... really need to do some shopping at the dollar store!

 

[pigletgirl]

You all are on it! We also have a TP subscription, but I seems to give up after day 2 or so. But, @JamieOak this makes sense! Thanks!

 

[areno79]

I subbed to TP last night and put in my AK day and my MK day. It has us finishing AK at 12:45, and that's with a slow pace!
Also, I can't figure out how to enter our EMM on MK day.
Hopefully I'll get to take a deeper dive tonight; jury's still out for me at this point.

 

[Meeko5]

Thanks so much for the advice!!! I could see the jumping and running around...

Aww, I never thought he would enjoy watching the boats at splash mountain! That's a great idea! Maybe we could see if he likes watching and take turns riding, LOL!

I plan to bring a suitcase full of snacks and small toys... really need to do some shopping at the dollar store!

Things that worked great for keeping my kid occupied - both on the plane and in the stroller:

stickers and a small spiral bound notecard pack to put them on
little playdoh containers
glow sticks
silly putty
an ipad haha

 

[SilSprBea]

Do you all think it would be too cold for Splash Mountain and Kali River Rapids when we all go in December? I'm thinking Splash Mountain might be doable for us, but that Kali River Rapids would be too wet. Trying to decide if either of these is worth a fastpass, or just wing it or SDFP if the weather is warm? The last time I was in Orlando was in early/mid November (around Veterans Day). It was warm during the day (shorts warm) but cool at night (sweatshirt). If we did a "wet" ride even though it was warm, we were really cold. It was just me and DH that time so I'm a little worried our kiddos will be cold.

 

[BDFmom]

I subbed to TP last night and put in my AK day and my MK day. It has us finishing AK at 12:45, and that's with a slow pace!
Also, I can't figure out how to enter our EMM on MK day.
Hopefully I'll get to take a deeper dive tonight; jury's still out for me at this point.

I just put a meal at BOG on EMM day engine at 10am. It was the closest thing to having me start in Fantasy Land.

@SilSprBea I have no plans for either. I don't want to be wet or carry extra clothes

 

[Talby]

I just put a meal at BOG on EMM day engine at 10am. It was the closest thing to having me start in Fantasy Land.

Great idea!!

 

[Talby]

@SilSprBea I think December can go either way? When we were there in December 2013, it was upper 70s/low to mid 80s every day and what we considered hot coming from Michigan December weather. We welcomed water rides that cooled us off!

ETA: We did bypass Kali River Rapids. Cooled off is one thing, soaked is another and we just weren't into the latter with the other parts of our plan that day. Kinda thinking about the possibility this time though!

 

[Meeko5]

@SilSprBea I think December can go either way? When we were there in December 2013, it was upper 70s/low 80s and what we considered hot coming from Michigan December weather. We welcomed water rides that cooled us off!

ETA: We did bypass Kali River Rapids. Cooled off is one thing, soaked is another and we just weren't into the latter with the other parts of our plan that day. Kinda thinking about the possibility this time though!

Hey, I'm in Grand Rapids!

 

[Meeko5]

Do you all think it would be too cold for Splash Mountain and Kali River Rapids when we all go in December? I'm thinking Splash Mountain might be doable for us, but that Kali River Rapids would be too wet. Trying to decide if either of these is worth a fastpass, or just wing it or SDFP if the weather is warm? The last time I was in Orlando was in early/mid November (around Veterans Day). It was warm during the day (shorts warm) but cool at night (sweatshirt). If we did a "wet" ride even though it was warm, we were really cold. It was just me and DH that time so I'm a little worried our kiddos will be cold.

We skipped it last trip because I didnt want to get soaked. I think my 7yo will love it though. I think we may buy ponchos and do it last on our AK day just to check it out.

Splash is a must do, but we got most wet in the front of the boat. Poncho would keep you dry either way though.

 

[SilSprBea]

I just put a meal at BOG on EMM day engine at 10am. It was the closest thing to having me start in Fantasy Land.

@SilSprBea I have no plans for either. I don't want to be wet or carry extra clothes

Yeah, I'm thinking Kali River Rapids would be out because we'd be soaked. I'll already be carrying so much that throwing extra clothes into the mix is not my idea of fun! It's Splash Mountain that I'm not sure of. It's been such a long time since I rode it. I remember getting wet, but not soaked. Might have to be a game day decision!

 

[Candycane83]

Things that worked great for keeping my kid occupied - both on the plane and in the stroller:

stickers and a small spiral bound notecard pack to put them on
little playdoh containers
glow sticks
silly putty
an ipad haha

agree with all especially the ipad! (yup, I'm one of those parents... )

 

[Talby]

Morning, all! I have a question for everyone! I was wondering, what is everyone's favorite must do at each park aside from things you can fp Or reserve!
Including shows/ snacks etc! Any ONE thing that you just have to do!
Sorry if this has been discussed

Mine would likely be:
MK: the tiki room! I think the girls will love that and want to go back!

EPCOT: I'd say it's visiting inside Mexico !! I'd say it was the Mexico ride but I haven't been there since they changed it!!

AK: never been there, but I'm going to guess the bird show, or some sort of snack there the food sounds great here!!

HS: never been

Really hard to pick one!!

MK: People Mover.
EPCOT: World Showcase (lol--is that cheating?)
AK: Festival of the Lion King
HS: ?? (my thoughts all go to FP things!

 

[SilSprBea]

We skipped it last trip because I didnt want to get soaked. I think my 7yo will love it though. I think we may buy ponchos and do it last on our AK day just to check it out.

Splash is a must do, but we got most wet in the front of the boat. Poncho would keep you dry either way though.

Great idea on the poncho! That would solve our problem for Splash. Or maybe I book it as fastpass right before our midday break so we can always change at the hotel if we are too wet? Thanks, all!

 

[Talby]

Hey, I'm in Grand Rapids!

So cool!! Greetings from Kalamazoo!!

 

[Candycane83]

So are any of you planning to ride the safari at 'sunset'? any idea what the optimal time would be?

 

[areno79]

Do you all think it would be too cold for Splash Mountain and Kali River Rapids when we all go in December? I'm thinking Splash Mountain might be doable for us, but that Kali River Rapids would be too wet. Trying to decide if either of these is worth a fastpass, or just wing it or SDFP if the weather is warm? The last time I was in Orlando was in early/mid November (around Veterans Day). It was warm during the day (shorts warm) but cool at night (sweatshirt). If we did a "wet" ride even though it was warm, we were really cold. It was just me and DH that time so I'm a little worried our kiddos will be cold.

We're planning on doing both, but in the afternoon. I'm wearing a poncho on Kali; it's so much fun that I can't *NOT* go on it! LOL