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

[Candycane83]

I know. I am a single mom, which makes money tighter but at the same time meals are much more affordable for just one adult and one child. I get a TON of sit down meals for the $1k I am planning on spending... I choke when I see the budgets for bigger families (or even individual restaurant bills, lol). Doing the DxDDP and saving about 30% for what is on that part of the plan helps too. If he wants to do it, we're doing it. We do not go frequently to disney - his dad and I share the DVC and we each get it every other year which gives me enough time to save up for a no compromises trip. In fact as of 2 weeks ago (my birthday lol) I hit my savings goal for this trip. Everything that can be paid off is paid off and I have enough in savings to cover the rest of the incidentals like tips, mommy juice, souveniers and OOP meals and snacks and car rental. WOOHOO! I'd like to do the star wars party if I can fit it in so fingers crossed I can... I might keep that a surprise for him when we get there since I haven't mentioned it.

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

 

[Lisa F]

Holiday Wishes is $79 if I'm not mistaken.

Oh huh. Ask me if I even know what I paid, lol. I thought it was $69!

 

[Lisa F]

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

lol thanks. I know because my dad gave me a check for my vacation that put me over the top for my savings goal! hey whatever works!

 

[Lisa F]

LOL, I'm jamming it all in now (I have 5 planned out I think including FF) while DS2 is still ok to eat out of our plates!

Well honestly for me it is more a characters and menu thing. I want my kiddo to enjoy his dinner too and without some "cool" factor sigs are not his thing. He LOVED CA grill, and is looking forward to Narcoossees. Truth be told I think he'd like flying fish as well but it would mean giving up H&V F! (absolutely not, F! was one of his top requests and not giving up the package at this point) or leaving the park on AK day or having 3 meals on the day I am planning to do CP (the day I can possibly do star wars). it doesn't really fit. which is sad, I have great memories of FF the year we bought into BWV, we sat at a table next to Pat Sajak (from wheel of fortune!) and his family!

It's like the tony's town square thing... man i want to fit it in but how? Add another day? lol.

 

[Lisa F]

Not good news for RoL
http://www.disboards.com/threads/rivers-of-light-when-will-it-open.3522481/

am I a bad person for kind of hoping that it doesn't go off by then because then it frees me up for a likely saturday night fireworks dessert party at HS?

Also could maybe do FF instead of Y&Y

 

[Candycane83]

I saw that and was going to post it here too!!! I'm disappointed but i guess we will see

 

[Lisa F]

I saw that and was going to post it here too!!! I'm disappointed but i guess we will see

it's that psychic connection lol

Honestly it would take some of the pressure off getting everything done. I'd be shocked if there was no fireworks on a saturday night and it would be a great thing to do our first real night there. start off with a bang so to speak. but prob would not give up RoL for it. no interest in the jungle book show.

 

[Candycane83]

Well honestly for me it is more a characters and menu thing. I want my kiddo to enjoy his dinner too and without some "cool" factor sigs are not his thing. He LOVED CA grill, and is looking forward to Narcoossees. Truth be told I think he'd like flying fish as well but it would mean giving up H&V F! (absolutely not, F! was one of his top requests and not giving up the package at this point) or leaving the park on AK day or having 3 meals on the day I am planning to do CP (the day I can possibly do star wars). it doesn't really fit. which is sad, I have great memories of FF the year we bought into BWV, we sat at a table next to Pat Sajak (from wheel of fortune!) and his family!

It's like the tony's town square thing... man i want to fit it in but how? Add another day? lol.

I think I have mostly have character meals and signatures. Or we're there a little longer which affords me to try more places...

The MSEP package, I would probably insert it if I find availability and then juggle other reservations.. LOL, such fun if I find availability of that...

 

[Candycane83]

it's that psychic connection lol

Honestly it would take some of the pressure off getting everything done. I'd be shocked if there was no fireworks on a saturday night and it would be a great thing to do our first real night there. start off with a bang so to speak. but prob would not give up RoL for it. no interest in the jungle book show.

Same here... DH does not have any interest in AK in general so I guess the one night I allotted for it should be enough especially if there's no ROL. I guess that way, we would not be waiting on dining packages either.

 

[Lisa F]

I think I have mostly have character meals and signatures. Or we're there a little longer which affords me to try more places...

The MSEP package, I would probably insert it if I find availability and then juggle other reservations.. LOL, such fun if I find availability of that...

I'm not jazzed about Tony's (which is prob why they are doing the package then, lol)

Would probably keep my 4pm Y&Y and spend the day at AK and then after dinner check in at the BW and grab our rooms and drop luggage then go for the fireworks dessert party at HS (assuming you have to be there at 7:30) that would be an awesome way to do it! Or could do FF instead. I will be running low on credits with so many 2TS meals over 5 days but can figure out where to pay OOP for the kiddo. Just not sure if a 5pm FF would be too close to the dessert party to really enjoy it and kind of was looking forward to Y&Y.

you are right btw about holiday wishes. $79/$49. I'd save myself $20! lol. Heck I'd do both maybe but I'm really unsure of the fireworks viewing area. Also burning party time at the dessert party but not sure what i'd do between parade and fireworks. Maybe I will just go totally crazy and do rides during the first parade and then catch the second. it seems like the flow would be better to get a spot on main street for fireworks at 10 and then as the place is emptying out park for the 11pm parade... you know you won't be waiting that long because everyone will be into wishes and not staking out parade territory. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Not good news for RoL
http://www.disboards.com/threads/rivers-of-light-when-will-it-open.3522481/

am I a bad person for kind of hoping that it doesn't go off by then because then it frees me up for a likely saturday night fireworks dessert party at HS?

Also could maybe do FF instead of Y&Y

I've been thinking the same thing -- that it's not the worst thing in the world if ROL isn't open by the time we go.

 

[Candycane83]

I'm not jazzed about Tony's (which is prob why they are doing the package then, lol)

Would probably keep my 4pm Y&Y and spend the day at AK and then after dinner check in at the BW and grab our rooms and drop luggage then go for the fireworks dessert party at HS (assuming you have to be there at 7:30) that would be an awesome way to do it! Or could do FF instead. I will be running low on credits with so many 2TS meals over 5 days but can figure out where to pay OOP for the kiddo. Just not sure if a 5pm FF would be too close to the dessert party to really enjoy it and kind of was looking forward to Y&Y.

you are right btw about holiday wishes. $79/$49. I'd save myself $20! lol. Heck I'd do both maybe but I'm really unsure of the fireworks viewing area. Also burning party time at the dessert party but not sure what i'd do between parade and fireworks. Maybe I will just go totally crazy and do rides during the first parade and then catch the second. it seems like the flow would be better to get a spot on main street for fireworks at 10 and then as the place is emptying out park for the 11pm parade... you know you won't be waiting that long because everyone will be into wishes and not staking out parade territory. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Yes, I thought it would not sell out so quick but I guess with MSEP only 3 times a week, it makes sense it's all gone. Mind you, there is still plenty of availability for Tony's, just not the package.

I have seen posts that you can be there by 7:30. I think if you are doing the dessert party, FF would be a little too much at 5? What am I saying, I have BOG at 6:20 and Wishes dessert party after! LOL! I think the dessert party would work out better after your CP package still, timing wise but thats just me. What did you have reserved for dinner that night? If you have Kona and Boma there, that's easily paid OOP. I think even Yak and Yeti is ok to pay OOP if you just plan on having mains.

LOL, I thought about doing both dessert parties too but feel it might be too much. Essentially though, as long as it saves time in waiting, it would work out great for me! Might have to cut out a signature somewhere though.

 

[Lisa F]

Yes, I thought it would not sell out so quick but I guess with MSEP only 3 times a week, it makes sense it's all gone. Mind you, there is still plenty of availability for Tony's, just not the package.

I have seen posts that you can be there by 7:30. I think if you are doing the dessert party, FF would be a little too much at 5? What am I saying, I have BOG at 6:20 and Wishes dessert party after! LOL! I think the dessert party would work out better after your CP package still, timing wise but thats just me. What did you have reserved for dinner that night? If you have Kona and Boma there, that's easily paid OOP. I think even Yak and Yeti is ok to pay OOP if you just plan on having mains.

LOL, I thought about doing both dessert parties too but feel it might be too much. Essentially though, as long as it saves time in waiting, it would work out great for me! Might have to cut out a signature somewhere though.

Actually I really kind of wanted to do Y&Y. Right now we have 9:45 TH hoping to get a safari in first (guess I can show up a few min late if I need to but maybe i should try to move it to 10 - it's sold out completely so i'd have to sign up with the ADR finder) and 4pm Y&Y which I am also searching on the ADR finder for something more like 4:30 BUT if we are going to do the dessert party then 4pm might be just right. We can always pop over to AK again morning of the xmas party if we feel the need - breakfast is at boma and planning nothing that day but will have the day on the parkhopper.

I feel pretty good about my plans - since we are checking into the boardwalk and if RoL is a bust we can throw our luggage into the room and then take the boat over to HS and should be able to get there by 7:30 I'd imagine. It could work out quite nicely actually!

 

[Candycane83]

For anyone deciding to do the holiday wishes dessert party, this might help make the decision... Kenny the Pirate has a review on the hallowishes dessert party... http://www.kennythepirate.com/2015/09/17/review-happy-hallowishes-dessert-premium-package/

 

[Candycane83]

Actually I really kind of wanted to do Y&Y. Right now we have 9:45 TH hoping to get a safari in first (guess I can show up a few min late if I need to but maybe i should try to move it to 10 - it's sold out completely so i'd have to sign up with the ADR finder) and 4pm Y&Y which I am also searching on the ADR finder for something more like 4:30 BUT if we are going to do the dessert party then 4pm might be just right. We can always pop over to AK again morning of the xmas party if we feel the need - breakfast is at boma and planning nothing that day but will have the day on the parkhopper.

I feel pretty good about my plans - since we are checking into the boardwalk and if RoL is a bust we can throw our luggage into the room and then take the boat over to HS and should be able to get there by 7:30 I'd imagine. It could work out quite nicely actually!

The 7:30timeline is for summer though. By December, the schedule may be different. Do we know if there was a dessert party last year and what time the fireworks were?

 

[Lisa F]

The 7:30timeline is for summer though. By December, the schedule may be different. Do we know if there was a dessert party last year and what time the fireworks were?

last year there were no fireworks but there was a 7pm fantasmic and an 8:30pm fantasmic with 8pm closing time. Wondering if they will follow a similar schedule but with 8:30 fireworks and 8pm closing time. i doubt they'd do fireworks at the same time as fantasmic, they are too close i think.

 

[Mintycake]

It's funny, for me the Star Wars party is a no brainer over F! (I love Star Wars) but for DD I think she'd rather do F! (Seating, mickey, princesses etc). She does love fireworks and it seems the food they serve at the party is all stuff she'd pretty much eat. She just told me she doesn't like Star Wars (but this morning, she requested Princess Leia buns for school which I pinned her hair up in?) So confused. So verdict is you can do both if they run 2 F! shows?

I've been looking into CP too since you guys are all talking about it but I think it would just be too much. We may be able to overhear some of the music but to be honest I'm not a big Christmas fan (I know, I'm a scrooge...) since Christmas is always such a sh!tshow with my family (long story).

I'm also concerned about the food. I admit I am spoiled with food - living in Toronto with almost everything at your fingertips and amazing stuff. And our last few vacations have been cruise ships (hello delicious food!) and I'm worried Disney will dissapoint.

As for our date in Epcot, I'm thinking of grabbing fish and chips at the pub and maybe watching illuminations, or maybe trying out some of the snacks from Joy of Tea in China. Or maybe the QS Morroco which many seem to like (we are big fans of middle eastern food). I'm probably going to cancel my Teppan Edo reservation too - my daughter will be bored sitting through it, it's pricey, and we have a Benihana here if we want to do that. Best just to grab something from Katsura grill I think or go back to the bakery in France (or try some of the new Norway offerings!)

 

[Candycane83]

last year there were no fireworks but there was a 7pm fantasmic and an 8:30pm fantasmic with 8pm closing time. Wondering if they will follow a similar schedule but with 8:30 fireworks and 8pm closing time. i doubt they'd do fireworks at the same time as fantasmic, they are too close i think.

Hmm possibly... Fireworks usually happen 15 minutes after F? Or was it the other way around... Fireworks then 15 mins after is f. I feel that 8 might be too early for fireworks but I've never seen fireworks at DHS before. If the fireworks would happen at 8:30 though, I'm sure the dessert party will start earlier than 7:30.

 

[Candycane83]

It's funny, for me the Star Wars party is a no brainer over F! (I love Star Wars) but for DD I think she'd rather do F! (Seating, mickey, princesses etc). She does love fireworks and it seems the food they serve at the party is all stuff she'd pretty much eat. She just told me she doesn't like Star Wars (but this morning, she requested Princess Leia buns for school which I pinned her hair up in?) So confused. So verdict is you can do both if they run 2 F! shows?

I've been looking into CP too since you guys are all talking about it but I think it would just be too much. We may be able to overhear some of the music but to be honest I'm not a big Christmas fan (I know, I'm a scrooge...) since Christmas is always such a sh!tshow with my family (long story).

I'm also concerned about the food. I admit I am spoiled with food - living in Toronto with almost everything at your fingertips and amazing stuff. And our last few vacations have been cruise ships (hello delicious food!) and I'm worried Disney will dissapoint.

As for our date in Epcot, I'm thinking of grabbing fish and chips at the pub and maybe watching illuminations, or maybe trying out some of the snacks from Joy of Tea in China. Or maybe the QS Morroco which many seem to like (we are big fans of middle eastern food). I'm probably going to cancel my Teppan Edo reservation too - my daughter will be bored sitting through it, it's pricey, and we have a Benihana here if we want to do that. Best just to grab something from Katsura grill I think or go back to the bakery in France (or try some of the new Norway offerings!)

For the fireworks and F! I have seen other posters say it is possible as long as there is a 15 min difference.

I think CP may not be for you if you don't like Christmas in general. If you are interested to hear, I think you'd be able to hear from outside. I'm waiting for CP only to get more availability for garden grill and Akershus

Great you have a rough plan already for your date night! I think that having some idea helps so you don't just say, ok so what do you want to do and get an I don't know answer.

yes if you're from Toronto, there is one here plus so many other teppanyaki places that are even all you can eat.

 

[Lisa F]

It's funny, for me the Star Wars party is a no brainer over F! (I love Star Wars) but for DD I think she'd rather do F! (Seating, mickey, princesses etc). She does love fireworks and it seems the food they serve at the party is all stuff she'd pretty much eat. She just told me she doesn't like Star Wars (but this morning, she requested Princess Leia buns for school which I pinned her hair up in?) So confused. So verdict is you can do both if they run 2 F! shows?

I've been looking into CP too since you guys are all talking about it but I think it would just be too much. We may be able to overhear some of the music but to be honest I'm not a big Christmas fan (I know, I'm a scrooge...) since Christmas is always such a sh!tshow with my family (long story).

I'm also concerned about the food. I admit I am spoiled with food - living in Toronto with almost everything at your fingertips and amazing stuff. And our last few vacations have been cruise ships (hello delicious food!) and I'm worried Disney will dissapoint.

As for our date in Epcot, I'm thinking of grabbing fish and chips at the pub and maybe watching illuminations, or maybe trying out some of the snacks from Joy of Tea in China. Or maybe the QS Morroco which many seem to like (we are big fans of middle eastern food). I'm probably going to cancel my Teppan Edo reservation too - my daughter will be bored sitting through it, it's pricey, and we have a Benihana here if we want to do that. Best just to grab something from Katsura grill I think or go back to the bakery in France (or try some of the new Norway offerings!)

I don't think you can do both in one night (F! and fireworks party). You can see fireworks after F! but it is so close to F! that you can't get to the party in one night.

CP is maybe not appealing for small kids. I used to like the show (even more when I knew a CM who was in it back in the day) so i found a video on youtube and my kiddo said he'd like to see it, so we are. I am mostly jewish and not religious but the choir and orchestra is so nice it is worth seeing, also visually beautiful. I'm sure there will be subsequent discussions about the christmas story, lol.

I would say that Disney food is at least as good as cruise food (which is mass produced) but maybe a little bit better because it is cooked to order... it is hard to say really because different restaurants have different qualities but there are some outstanding chefs at Disney. Give me your rundown again of restaurants? In my previous life (married, no kid) I was a bit of a foodie and although my ADRs are heavily informed by having a kid I have been to many of the disney restaurants. I agree about teppan edo, I have been to hibachi plenty of times and I don't feel this is something I need to travel to florida to get.

Morocco is probably my favorite QS in WDW but that said it is decent middle eastern. If you have real middle eastern places near you and frequent them it will probably be middle of the road. It has been a very long time since i've been there but the hummus is prepackaged (I went to a turkish restaurant once with amazing homemade hummus and that is the pinnacle of hummus now for me lol). The meat is carved off of a spit at least so there is that... but you guys are veg so I'd guess you'd do the falafel, which I have no experience with.

Anyway remind me where you are going.