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

[LBlovesM&WDW]

@Tattylou I've read that they can be there as well, but more of an overflow. You can always contact POP (407)938-4000 and ask them.

 

[Tattylou]

@Tattylou I've read that they can be there as well, but more of an overflow. You can always contact POP (407)938-4000 and ask them.

Thx. I called, but they weren't overly forth coming. Oh well. I booked all star music. We are 11/30-12/4 so I can do a day or two overlap with them. I survived the cheerleaders at Sports a couple weeks ago.

 

[Darbylaine]

Hello! Hope it's not too late to join in! We (2 adults and a newly 6 year old) will be staying in the Cars Suites at AoA from 11/28-12/5!

 

[TiggerManiac]

How did I just see this thread? We'll be at CBR from 11/27 - 12/5.

Still trying figure out which ADRs we want and which parks we'll be in on which days so I can figure out the ADR schedule.

 

[Tattylou]

I'm so excited to go at the holiday time of year. We have always gone in April, but I cant wait to be there around Christmas!!

 

[pigletgirl]

In regards to Pop Warner -- those that have gone in prior years have stated that they really cannot tell the difference with them being there during the day. In the evenings however, the parks and Disney Springs is busy.

I just figure to plan for ourselves accordingly. I think it'll be fine.

For our family group, really the only thing I'm planning are the meals. I'm letting each nuclear family pick their own FP+ and other tours, etc. It just feels like I'm micromanaging otherwise and I want everyone to enjoy their vacation!

So, knowing that our ADR day is June 2nd, this is what we've planned on so far.

Arrival day - Arrive in the evening, grab dinner at MCO, take ME to BCV and head to bed. (I really struggled with this day, DH wanted to work 1/2 day prior to leaving and I wanted to leave in the morning and spend some time in Epcot, but ultimately I let him make the decision. DD1 will be a nutcase that day!)

Day 1 - Sleep in. Epcot for lunch/MK PM fireworks, etc
Day 2 - Transfer luggage to AKL; Take the boat to HS for Star Wars. Lunch at 50's Prime Time. Afternoon nap for girls and MVMCP in the evening
Day 3 - Sleep in; Boma breakfast; Pool time (if weather allows) or Disney Springs; Evening entertainment in Animal Kingdom
Day 4 - Sleep in; Guys go play golf; Ladies tend to little ones with shopping at Disney Springs; MK in the evening
Day 5 - Day trip to Kennedy Space Center; Dinner at Squid Lips in Cocoa. Back to AKL late (10ish?) (Couple of reasons for this side trip, my husband, father, father in law and brother in law have this deep interest in Space. I'm really not sure where that has come from, but we knew we couldn't visit central Florida and not go. This also happens to be the day our villa gets a deep cleaning. )
Day 6 - Sleep in; Rope Drop AK; PM Epcot with CP.
Day 7 - Universal day! Arrive at park opening; Late lunch/early dinner in city walk. (daughters with grandparents, their treat!)
Day 8 - MY BIRTHDAY! - Ladies KTTK tour; Tour resorts for holiday decorations; Meet the guys with the kiddos for dinner at 'Ohana. MK evening
Day 9 - HS morning; Epcot PM with illuminations
Day 10 - Check out -- Chef Mickey's brunch; Flight home at 3pm.

So that's our most recent tentative itinerary. This is all subject to change.

As for ADR's, we're on the deluxe plan so we really need to decide where we want to eat.

 

[DisneyBelle27]

Ok everyone, I need all of your fingers and toes crossed!!! I spoke with the friend who we're renting DVC from yesterday, since our Disney dates are 12/6-12/11 and yesterday was the 7 month non-home resort booking window. It turns out that the resort we REALLY REALLY REALLY want is available 12/8-12/11, and we would do the first 2 nights at a different DVC resort (cool with me since it's a place I've never stayed at before!). This means though, that now we can't book the resort we REALLY REALLY want until tomorrow, since that reservation would start on the 8th! So, I need all the positive vibes and thoughts and wishes that at 8am tomorrow, those 3 nights will still be available!!! Eeeeeeeek, I'm totally freaking out over here!!! lol

 

[Tattylou]

I'm interested in the Minnie's holiday dinner at Hollywood and Vine. Has anyone done it? Is it a buffet? Do I just do it as a regular reservation at the 180 day mark? TIA.

 

[TiggerManiac]

Day 5 - Day trip to Kennedy Space Center; Dinner at Squid Lips in Cocoa. Back to AKL late (10ish?) (Couple of reasons for this side trip, my husband, father, father in law and brother in law have this deep interest in Space. I'm really not sure where that has come from, but we knew we couldn't visit central Florida and not go. This also happens to be the day our villa gets a deep cleaning. )

The guys are going to have a fabulous time at Kennedy Space Center. It's also pretty interesting for those who aren't as deeply interested in space.

My husband is a software engineer who wrote a lot of the software for the crystal growth and microgravity experiments that used to take place on the space shuttle. Now he works with a lot of the programs up on the space station. He used to spend a lot of time in the shuttle bay at Kennedy installing the experiment hardware.

One time we got to go down to watch a very early morning launch. It was great, except it was so cloudy that day, the shuttle was behind the clouds in about 5 seconds, so we didn't see as much. It it was still pretty awesome to be there.

If you ever get a chance, come up to Huntsville and visit our Space and Rocket Center. It's pretty amazing, too! There's also Space Camp if your girls are ever interested in that when they're older.

 

[CynBeth]

Oh wow, then dining package for CP isn't until July? So I guess I should hold off on Epcot restaurants until then!

I would not hold off on making ADRs at EPCOT restaurants so when your day to book arrives you have them in place or else you might be out of luck trying to get them later and then when the time comes for CP packages you can always cancel. Or, designate 1 night to do the CP no matter who the narrator is and leave that open but book all other EPCOT restaurants and then once the CP packages open you can add it.

 

[CynBeth]

I'm so excited to go at the holiday time of year. We have always gone in April, but I cant wait to be there around Christmas!!

Once you start you will become addicted. We used to go in early June not as frequently as now as we don't have kids but always wanted to go holiday time and then finally went for Thanksgiving Week in 2011 and now pretty much always want to go around this time. We roughly visit every few years and have been twice that week and once the beginning of Dec and will go the beginning of Dec this year. We do want to try Halloween plus Flower and Garden.

 

[pigletgirl]

The guys are going to have a fabulous time at Kennedy Space Center. It's also pretty interesting for those who aren't as deeply interested in space.

My husband is a software engineer who wrote a lot of the software for the crystal growth and microgravity experiments that used to take place on the space shuttle. Now he works with a lot of the programs up on the space station. He used to spend a lot of time in the shuttle bay at Kennedy installing the experiment hardware.

One time we got to go down to watch a very early morning launch. It was great, except it was so cloudy that day, the shuttle was behind the clouds in about 5 seconds, so we didn't see as much. It it was still pretty awesome to be there.

If you ever get a chance, come up to Huntsville and visit our Space and Rocket Center. It's pretty amazing, too! There's also Space Camp if your girls are ever interested in that when they're older.

Kennedy Space Center looks amazing, especially the Atlantis exhibit!

Oooh and Space and Rocket Center. That sounds amazing!

 

[DisneyBelle27]

Ok, so the 7 month window for the DVC stay we were looking for was this morning, and unfortunately we didn't end up getting our top pick, which was AKL. Ughhh. However, we did manage to book all 5 nights in DVC studios, with a split stay between Saratoga Springs and Old Key West! Other than being disappointed in missing out on AKL (and there's always next time, I have stayed there once before, but not the bf), I am just thrilled that we were able to get 5 nights in deluxe resorts for only $20/night more than the cheapest Value option! And these will be 2 resorts we've never stayed in before, since the only deluxe I've EVER stayed at was AKL. So now, decked out in all their holiday glory, we will have 2 Saratoga nights and 3 Old Key West nights.

So, for anyone who is interested, here's our whole trip itinerary so far, and feel free to ignore if you're bored by it, hehe

Miami:
11/30-12/2 - Hotel Astor, Miami Beach
Florida Keys:
12/2-12/3 - Seashell Beach Resort, Marathon
12/3-12/5 - Coconut Beach Resort, Key West
12/5-12/6 - Seafarer Resort and Beach, Key Largo
WDW:
12/6-12/8 - Saratoga Springs DVC studio
12/8-12/11 - Old Key West DVC studio

park plans so far:
Tues, 12/6: 4.5 hr drive from Key Largo - check in to Saratoga Springs, get settled, relax. Walk to Disney Springs to soak in the Christmasy stuff there
Wed, 12/7: Epcot - might scope out Candlelight Processional
Thurs, 12/8: morning - transfer to Old Key West. Monorail tour of resorts to see Christmas decorations. afternoon/evening - MVMCP in MK (4pm-midnight)
Fri, 12/9: Hollywood Studios
Sat, 12/10: Animal Kingdom
Sun, 12/11: fly home

 

[Tattylou]

Once you start you will become addicted. We used to go in early June not as frequently as now as we don't have kids but always wanted to go holiday time and then finally went for Thanksgiving Week in 2011 and now pretty much always want to go around this time. We roughly visit every few years and have been twice that week and once the beginning of Dec and will go the beginning of Dec this year. We do want to try Halloween plus Flower and Garden.

We are usually there for Flower and Garden! The weather is perfect in April. My friend also told me that we will get hooked on this time of year! We usually have to go on school vacation weeks b/c DH is a teacher. If we veer from school vacation weeks (like we will in Dec) then the most he can take off is 2 personal days. So this time of year has to be a short one for us unless we do Xmas break (which I hear is insanity). Although I already feel like I could do it again next year at this time just from the pictures and we haven't even gone at the holidays yet!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Thurs, 12/8: morning - transfer to Old Key West. Monorail tour of resorts to see Christmas decorations. afternoon/evening - MVMCP in MK (4pm-midnight)

The best decorations are at the Grand Floridian and the Wilderness Lodge. You can take a boat from the Contemporary boat dock to the WL and look around at both the main lodge and the villas building. Both are beautiful.

 

[nicynot]

I NEED PARK HOURS

 

[Lisa F]

Ok. I know I've asked this already, but......how are you guys deciding your days now? I see the crowd predictors, but how do you plan dining and what parks you'll be at on what days without knowing the park schedules yet. Meaning, I hate to book a pre park opening breakfast in the magic kingdom if it were to be a day that will have early EMH. Or I'd hate to book a dinner at Epcot if I realize it's going to be better to be in another park once the schedule comes out. Does that make sense? We do have some set things to go around so that helps....... 12/6 we'll be our MVMCP evening. Our son's actual birthday is the 9th, I'd like to get in at HDDR early.
I guess I may be over thinking it. When we went in September, the only hard to get dining we did was as Sci-Fi and we just went around the dining that day. This trip, the only difficult dining will be HDDR and I think we want to do BOG early. Other than that, was thinking Garden Grill and other places that I don't think are that difficult. But then wondering about going around RoL and AK in the evening too.
Anyway, just picking you awesome folks brains about your planning thinking.....

I'm not doing any PPO meals... I'm planning to do slightly later breakfasts (an hour after regular opening or so) so that we have the option of going at rope drop but if we don't get moving so fast it's not a big deal. I think we have enough days that with fast passes we'll be good on everything.

 

[Lisa F]

Ok, so the 7 month window for the DVC stay we were looking for was this morning, and unfortunately we didn't end up getting our top pick, which was AKL. Ughhh. However, we did manage to book all 5 nights in DVC studios, with a split stay between Saratoga Springs and Old Key West! Other than being disappointed in missing out on AKL (and there's always next time, I have stayed there once before, but not the bf), I am just thrilled that we were able to get 5 nights in deluxe resorts for only $20/night more than the cheapest Value option! And these will be 2 resorts we've never stayed in before, since the only deluxe I've EVER stayed at was AKL. So now, decked out in all their holiday glory, we will have 2 Saratoga nights and 3 Old Key West nights.

So, for anyone who is interested, here's our whole trip itinerary so far, and feel free to ignore if you're bored by it, hehe

Miami:
11/30-12/2 - Hotel Astor, Miami Beach
Florida Keys:
12/2-12/3 - Seashell Beach Resort, Marathon
12/3-12/5 - Coconut Beach Resort, Key West
12/5-12/6 - Seafarer Resort and Beach, Key Largo
WDW:
12/6-12/8 - Saratoga Springs DVC studio
12/8-12/11 - Old Key West DVC studio

park plans so far:
Tues, 12/6: 4.5 hr drive from Key Largo - check in to Saratoga Springs, get settled, relax. Walk to Disney Springs to soak in the Christmasy stuff there
Wed, 12/7: Epcot - might scope out Candlelight Processional
Thurs, 12/8: morning - transfer to Old Key West. Monorail tour of resorts to see Christmas decorations. afternoon/evening - MVMCP in MK (4pm-midnight)
Fri, 12/9: Hollywood Studios
Sat, 12/10: Animal Kingdom
Sun, 12/11: fly home

see if your friend can put you on the wait list. Kidani village especially has a lot of rooms - there is a good chance something might open up as it is usually one of the last resorts to book up (after SS and OKW).

 

[Lisa F]

The best decorations are at the Grand Floridian and the Wilderness Lodge. You can take a boat from the Contemporary boat dock to the WL and look around at both the main lodge and the villas building. Both are beautiful.

I am definitely building in some time to see these decorations. We are staying at the BWV for 4 nights and poly for 3. We are having dinner at all 3 monorail resorts and hoop dee doo our last night and it will likely be the 4pm show. Now I'm thinking that might be a nice time to visit WL to see the last of the deluxe resort christmas decorations (we will also have breakfast at boma and breakfast at the beach club).

 

[Lisa F]

Kennedy Space Center looks amazing, especially the Atlantis exhibit!

Oooh and Space and Rocket Center. That sounds amazing!

The Atlantis exhibit IS amazing. My ex took my kid to KSC a year before I took him (when he was 5) and I think he was a bit young even though he is crazy for outer space. He was begging me to take him back when he was 6 in 2014 so I built it into the plan - I did not pay for the tickets because at the time you could get them free from your congressman if you asked right at 6 months, so at least there was that. But the only reason my kiddo wanted to go back was to go on the free play structure and the gift shop. He refused to do the bus tour, it was too long and boring for him (I think just too dense) but as long as I drove all the way out there and subjected myself to mediocre lunch that makes the worst disney CS look like gourmet food I wanted to do SOMETHING there so we went to the atlantis exhibit and ... omg.

It was completely breathtaking and I was completely blown away. The feeling you get when you are that close to a real space shuttle that has been in space and you see all of the burns and scarring is just indescribable. I am a cheapie about certain things and was feeling a little grumpy about being there in the first place (KSC not atlantis) but I even sprung for the photo of us there because with the lighting it is hard to take with a camera phone (the photographer did but it came out bad) and I just wanted a memory of the day. It was... I don't know. breathtakingly moving to be in that building with that shuttle. I am not even that much of a space buff but just enough. I still get chills thinking about it.

But I will say that my 6 year old was a bit young for KSC and I suspect he didn't get a whole lot out of it with his father either.