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

[Mintycake]

I agree with @Lisa F make a list for each park:
Must Do
Want to do
Take it or leave it
Not interested

That way, you can figure out what your priorities are and build the touring plans from there. Obviously if something like 7DMT is a must do, then rope drop it and add it as a FP as well. There are also some really great touring plans on easywdw that you can look at for inspiration.
Given the way EMH works when I'm there, after reviewing my ADRs and plans, it's not going to be worth it to change. We plan to RD most days so that means fairly early nights. We are also doing one day in MK on a non reccomended day because we aren't going to the party and we want to do the fireworks.

Speaking of, I hear you can watch fireworks from the beach at the Poly. Is that open to non guests?

 

[Mintycake]

My problem is that we are only going 3 days. 2 of the 3 days are party nights so we are going to MK the one non-party day which isn't recommended- but my son loves the night parade and fireworks. Then we are going to Epcot on a EMH morning because my kids are early risers and others in my group are planning on going back to the resort for afternoon naps. My kids are up between 5:30 and 6 every morning so even adding in time for them to sleep in from all the Disney excitement and I'm sure we can still make 8am park openings!

I'm just taking the recommended parks with a grain of salt. I'm a former cast member and we had season passes after I left Disney. So we don't have to do EVERY ride. We are also planning a big trip next year and my brother and sister in law were just there last year.

Any hints or insider tips for us, @dreaminginplaid ?

 

[dreaminginplaid]

Any hints or insider tips for us, @dreaminginplaid ?

Just being on this board and planning your trip puts you ahead of a lot of people! I know some guests who were SHOCKED at how busy the parks were on Thanksgiving Day/Christmas Day/New Year's Eve. They thought everyone would be home with their families instead of at the parks. They would have no dining, no clue how fastpasses worked, and usually - looking for Cinderella's castle at Epcot. I always felt so bad for them - to have spent the money to come to Disney and they came at the worst possible time!

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

So I just got our Fantasmic (happy dance), now waiting for CP in a couple weeks most likely, then on to Flying Fish, Frontera, Homecoming and then whenever the Tiffins ROL. This is the most frustrating, yet exciting time, waiting for all these ADRs.

 

[dreaminginplaid]

Ugh! I can't get Fantasmic for our group at Mama Melrose on 12/2 or 12/1! I guess I will be stalking the Cancelled thread and/or using a fastpass for the show!

Now the wait for CP begins...

 

[Iowamomof4]

Just being on this board and planning your trip puts you ahead of a lot of people! I know some guests who were SHOCKED at how busy the parks were on Thanksgiving Day/Christmas Day/New Year's Eve. They thought everyone would be home with their families instead of at the parks. They would have no dining, no clue how fastpasses worked, and usually - looking for Cinderella's castle at Epcot. I always felt so bad for them - to have spent the money to come to Disney and they came at the worst possible time!

It really does amaze me that so many people are okay with vacationing during those major holidays. We are always spending time with our extended family over Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think my family would revolt if I scheduled a trip to Disney then! lol

 

[dreaminginplaid]

It really does amaze me that so many people are okay with vacationing during those major holidays. We are always spending time with our extended family over Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think my family would revolt if I scheduled a trip to Disney then! lol

I had a mom tell me, completely seriously, that they thought this was the perfect time because her husband and her kids were off for Thanksgiving and they didn't have to take extra vacation time from work. I had to tell her that was exactly why everyone else was there too!

 

[Lisa F]

Ugh! I can't get Fantasmic for our group at Mama Melrose on 12/2 or 12/1! I guess I will be stalking the Cancelled thread and/or using a fastpass for the show!

Now the wait for CP begins...

keep reloading. I couldn't get anything other than 3:40 for 2
then I saw 4:30 for 4 and I took it (kind of cheating but sorry!)
then 4:30 came up for 2 and i just snagged it.

I am wondering if all of the inventory is not fully loaded yet.

 

[dreaminginplaid]

keep reloading. I couldn't get anything other than 3:40 for 2
then I saw 4:30 for 4 and I took it (kind of cheating but sorry!)
then 4:30 came up for 2 and i just snagged it.

I am wondering if all of the inventory is not fully loaded yet.

If the system crashes, it might be my fault for searching over and over. LOL!

 

[Lisa F]

If the system crashes, it might be my fault for searching over and over. LOL!

actually for me this is what I think happened

I was holding 4:30 for 2 non package
I booked 4:30 for 4 (cheating I know, I still feel guilty lol). when I did that it released my 4:30 for 2 back into the system
when i went back and reloaded I got my same 4:30 for 2 that i had just released except with the package this time.

I don't know for sure that it works that way but I very well have just picked up my same reservation except under the package. Not sure that you would want to risk it though. But I think as people cancel what they were holding and rebook F! it might show some more availability.

just my wild @$$ guess.

edited to add I do believe this is what happened. I just checked regular (non package) H&V and the only time available is 3:40 which is the same time as the package (and also after 5pm which is too late for the package).

IF you are holding MM already and IF you have the stomach for it you could try to cancel and rebook under the package. You can maybe call up and see if they can do this for you more seamlessly.

 

[Candycane83]

keep reloading. I couldn't get anything other than 3:40 for 2
then I saw 4:30 for 4 and I took it (kind of cheating but sorry!)
then 4:30 came up for 2 and i just snagged it.

I am wondering if all of the inventory is not fully loaded yet.

Lol, I think they must be loading slowly. Someone from another thread said they couldn't see it past 12/15.

 

[dreaminginplaid]

actually for me this is what I think happened

I was holding 4:30 for 2 non package
I booked 4:30 for 4 (cheating I know, I still feel guilty lol). when I did that it released my 4:30 for 2 back into the system
when i went back and reloaded I got my same 4:30 for 2 that i had just released except with the package this time.

I don't know for sure that it works that way but I very well have just picked up my same reservation except under the package. Not sure that you would want to risk it though. But I think as people cancel what they were holding and rebook F! it might show some more availability.

just my wild @$$ guess.

Yeah I'm wondering if my two reservations for non package are keeping the package one from being available. But I'm too chicken to let it go and see! We are 11 so that's hard to find if I lose it!

 

[Candycane83]

I actually see no availability for 12/5 anymore! That was quick! Wow...

 

[Lisa F]

Yeah I'm wondering if my two reservations for non package are keeping the package one from being available. But I'm too chicken to let it go and see! We are 11 so that's hard to find if I lose it!

call them and ask if they can convert it for you. It doesn't hurt to try.

 

[Lisa F]

Lol, I think they must be loading slowly. Someone from another thread said they couldn't see it past 12/15.

12/15 is 180 days out I think?

 

[Lisa F]

can I just say that HOLY CRAP this is not an adrenaline rush that I need right now!

so what's left?
CP
RoL

 

[Candycane83]

12/15 is 180 days out I think?

I think 180 is to the 17th now. Not sure but good luck to them!

 

[Candycane83]

can I just say that HOLY CRAP this is not an adrenaline rush that I need right now!

so what's left?
CP
RoL

Yes!! Well I'm waiting for CP so I can get my coral reef ADR (w/o CP). I'm waiting for Florida Homecoming Kitchen and Flying Fish too

 

[Lisa F]

Yes!! Well I'm waiting for CP so I can get my coral reef ADR (w/o CP). I'm waiting for Florida Homecoming Kitchen and Flying Fish too

i'm staying at boardwalk and thought about doing FF but decided on CA Grill instead. you're doing the opposite lol, staying at CR and dining at boardwalk. Can't give up my cali grill. there's nothing else we want to give up for another signature.

BTW if anyone cares it is still listing the F! packages as 1TS... I know we were worrying after the "glitch" of some 2TS character buffets whether F! was delayed so they could make it 2Ts. It's still 1. I have a screen shot but can't figure out how to post it.

 

[Candycane83]

i'm staying at boardwalk and thought about doing FF but decided on CA Grill instead. you're doing the opposite lol, staying at CR and dining at boardwalk. Can't give up my cali grill. there's nothing else we want to give up for another signature.

BTW if anyone cares it is still listing the F! packages as 1TS... I know we were worrying after the "glitch" of some 2TS character buffets whether F! was delayed so they could make it 2Ts. It's still 1. I have a screen shot but can't figure out how to post it.

Lol, we're dining at Cali Grill for brunch during the first part of our stay. I figure Flying Fish might be a good last dinner. if not, bluezoo might be something good to try since we're not on the dining plan anyway. I'm a little hesitant about that though.
Yup I checked my email confirmation and it does say 1ts credit.