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

[chasingthtdream08]

Is anyone else disappointed with the Southwest schedules? I only show two Non-Stop options out of my city each day when typically we have at least four Non-Stop options. The times are just so inconvenient. Not what I was expecting at all....bummer.

 

[Lisa F]

Honestly, I think it's because of the dining plan I'm considering all these character meals! It's crazy (but not really since they are the most expensive cost-wise and mediocre in food ). So my thoughts are, since your son love character meals, go for it! 2 mediocre meals in one day would not kill you. As long as your son likes it, you and your son finds something edible, then it's all worth it! Mind you, if we actually push forward with our December plans, I have 4 character meals planned within our first 3 days! And then just 2 more for the rest of the trip (6 days). I'm still trying to tweak since I want to go to DS while I'm still on the dining plan to spend those snack credits! I think DS would be a great place to spend snack credits especially with all the new offerings. I can't wait to try Amorette! That hot chocolate sounds like it's a great use of snack credits!

My plan for our first full day at Disney is Chef Mickey right now is to do a 7:30am ressie then MK. (Figure it's a good idea to try rope drop for one day early in the trip and to start the trip at MK). We'll spend 2-3 hours then head back to AKL and have a meal at Sanaa using 1 credit only, pay partial OOP (So the meal would be lighter) At around 4pm, we would head to AK and have Tusker House for dinner on ROL! See I'm crazier than you! What do you think?

that's too many meals for me. I'm worried about my 11am sci fi breakfast with a 5pm CA Grill plan, lol

most of my character meals are breakfasts because I love breakfast buffets. The only dinner is H&V.

 

[Lisa F]

Is anyone else disappointed with the Southwest schedules? I only show two Non-Stop options out of my city each day when typically we have at least four Non-Stop options. The times are just so inconvenient. Not what I was expecting at all....bummer.

there was more availability than I was expecting though my flight out is a little later than I was expecting (not much).

Me too!

It feels "official" now that airfare is booked! No turning back now! I feel the prices were pretty good so I just committed to buying now and save myself the agony of constantly checking over and over just to save a couple bucks, then possibly miss out if my dates sell out or if prices go up.

I scored Long Island to MCO in December for $135 there and $155 back. I figure the lowest the will go is $129 each way so I'm not going to torture myself over $100~$200 savings.

And like you it's time for MVMCP tickets now because airfare fell into our budget limits. WHO WANTS HOT CHOCOLATE?!!!

ME!

not going to focus on my missed opportunity to have gotten flights for miles.

going to focus instead on having room, tickets and now flights ENTIRELY PAID OFF with 6 months to go!

 

[Tattylou]

I've been waiting for Southwest because they are the only airline that flies to Orlando from our regional airport which is about a 10 minute drive from our house and we get free parking there. If not Southwest then we would have to fly out of one of the 2 NY airports. Which means 1.5 hour drive (2.5 in rush hour traffic), parking fees or car service to and from the airport.

Well, that makes sense! I'd wait for them too if that was the case. We live relatively close to Logan airport (20 min with no traffic) so we have lots of options.

 

[Tattylou]

We are doing one MVMCP with out DD8. We are planning on doing it on our "off day". So we will sleep a little later, have late breakfast, resort hop to look at decorations etc. Then maybe go back to our room around 2~3 pm for naps/freshen up. After that I'm hoping we'll be ready for a late party night.

Thanks. We are only there for a short trip (3 park days) since we just did a long trip last month and this was sort of an impulsive "I want to see Disney at xmas" trip. So we will have to make the most of every day and probably won't sleep in, but we could do the 2-4 hour break mid day and then head back to the party. I'm so undecided.

 

[Candycane83]

You guys are so lucky with Southwest... my flights are going to cost me CAD500 per person!

that's too many meals for me. I'm worried about my 11am sci fi breakfast with a 5pm CA Grill plan, lol

most of my character meals are breakfasts because I love breakfast buffets. The only dinner is H&V.

Yes... I'm thinking about it... I may cut either Sanaa or Yak and Yeti from my list... Have you tried either? Any thoughts?

 

[CynBeth]

I got my tickets! WOOHOO. Flying out at 2pm on Friday 12/2 (earlier in the fall flights were like 1:30 but actually the 2pm flight allows me to take a bit of a later ferry so that's good) and returning 12:25 on Saturday 12/10, which is what I expected.

I think I got in at the lowest tier and I doubt many people were fighting me for these dates, especially the friday dates - the return dates are already $9 higher than they were when I bought. But $461 total (will prob do early bird but just not right this second) - in september of 2014 I paid $448 and watching fares in the fall I was prepared to pay anywhere from $450-650. I had $400 in southwest gift cards already from rewards so only had to pay $61OOP.

I think the people who are most shaking now are the ones who are booking the holiday flights. no one fighting to fly out of providence the first week of december I'm guessing lol.

I guess it is time for me to see about buying my MVMCP tickets now. It is a little surreal that my flight is booked!!!!!!

We are also flying on 12/2 but early at 6:15 am and it is about a 2 hour flight. We fly back home on 12/11 at 7:25 am. I thought we really lucked out with the cost. It was $103 round trip per person for 3 adults plus the early bird check-in for $700 something. We are used to traveling in the summer or Thanksgiving so this is a bargain for us.

 

[nicynot]

Thanks. We are only there for a short trip (3 park days) since we just did a long trip last month and this was sort of an impulsive "I want to see Disney at xmas" trip. So we will have to make the most of every day and probably won't sleep in, but we could do the 2-4 hour break mid day and then head back to the party. I'm so undecided.

I think it is a tough call. If you have never been at Christmas, you will be blown away just at everything in general. You still get to see all the decorations. How do your boys like to sit through things that close to bed time? The fireworks at the party are awesome, but they will get to see regular fireworks another night?? the parade happens twice a night and is also great, but i find many people try to stake out good seats for the early one, so you might find yourself waiting a bit on the street waiting for the parade to start.. There are quite a few stage shows, will they like sitting and watching those?
Don't forget to head to GF and see they're grand tree and gingerbread house!
This is a tough call for a three day trip...

 

[Mintycake]

We are also flying on 12/2 but early at 6:15 am and it is about a 2 hour flight. We fly back home on 12/11 at 7:25 am. I thought we really lucked out with the cost. It was $103 round trip per person for 3 adults plus the early bird check-in for $700 something. We are used to traveling in the summer or Thanksgiving so this is a bargain for us.

Can I just interject my jaw hitting the floor here about US airline ticket costs? We really get hosed up here in Canada on flights. We paid $1500 for 2 adults and 1 child Canadian (though that's like $1100 US I guess). And that's with the travel agent discount. And on Air Canada, which nickel and dime you for extra bags, any changes, and HORRIBLE service (grumpiest stewardesses ever). In fact they just recently changed a ridiculous policy they had that parents had to pay an extra $40 pp to guarantee their kid would sit with them (media published a story and they were forced to get rid of the policy after a family with a 2 year old got split up).

Before DD we used to drive to Buffalo and fly out of there because even with the cost of gas, parking at airport etc we still saved a lot of money by doing it. The problem is Buffalo never had direct flights to anywhere we wanted to go so we had to connect. Not an issue when it was just 2 adults but no way I'm spending 9+ hours traveling with a kid.

In other news....is anyone else sweating about park hours in Dec not being out yet? I AM!

 

[DisneyBelle27]

So I'm looking for anyone who has had experience with the Candlelight Processional dining package. Obviously we've never done it, since this is our first Christmas season WDW trip, lol. I've read on only 2 websites that the dining package includes a viewing area for IllumiNations, but I've also heard that this is no longer the case. Does anyone have any personal anecdotal experience with this? We're still doing the package regardless, just curious if this was something else we'd get to look forward to!

 

[Lisa F]

So I'm looking for anyone who has had experience with the Candlelight Processional dining package. Obviously we've never done it, since this is our first Christmas season WDW trip, lol. I've read on only 2 websites that the dining package includes a viewing area for IllumiNations, but I've also heard that this is no longer the case. Does anyone have any personal anecdotal experience with this? We're still doing the package regardless, just curious if this was something else we'd get to look forward to!

I have not done the dining package in years but I can't imagine it would include a special viewing area for Illuminations. It didn't way back when and that was before disney found a way to squeeze every nickel out of guests with all of these extra parties etc. There is a reserved section in the american gardens theater for CP and you can't see illuminations from in there. I would just count on it being dinner and CP.

 

[Fall1]

So I'm looking for anyone who has had experience with the Candlelight Processional dining package. Obviously we've never done it, since this is our first Christmas season WDW trip, lol. I've read on only 2 websites that the dining package includes a viewing area for IllumiNations, but I've also heard that this is no longer the case. Does anyone have any personal anecdotal experience with this? We're still doing the package regardless, just curious if this was something else we'd get to look forward to!

We've done it once and it didn't include any viewing for I. Just dinner and CP, still well worth it though!!

 

[Candycane83]

Can I just interject my jaw hitting the floor here about US airline ticket costs? We really get hosed up here in Canada on flights. We paid $1500 for 2 adults and 1 child Canadian (though that's like $1100 US I guess). And that's with the travel agent discount. And on Air Canada, which nickel and dime you for extra bags, any changes, and HORRIBLE service (grumpiest stewardesses ever). In fact they just recently changed a ridiculous policy they had that parents had to pay an extra $40 pp to guarantee their kid would sit with them (media published a story and they were forced to get rid of the policy after a family with a 2 year old got split up).

Before DD we used to drive to Buffalo and fly out of there because even with the cost of gas, parking at airport etc we still saved a lot of money by doing it. The problem is Buffalo never had direct flights to anywhere we wanted to go so we had to connect. Not an issue when it was just 2 adults but no way I'm spending 9+ hours traveling with a kid.

In other news....is anyone else sweating about park hours in Dec not being out yet? I AM!

I am with you on this! I looked at Westjet and it's over CAD1700 for DH, DS2 (2!!) and me!

I'm also with you on the December hours! I was hoping they would release it this week but nothing yet until today!!! They did release the Tiffins menu though... excited about that!

 

[Lisa F]

@Candycane83 I think I am going to not do chef mickey's and move my OOP ohana reservation to that slot. We are not saying at the poly yet but we are going to have a car and can drive there and have breakfast before going to Disney Springs. Then I won't do Ohana twice in one day and can do the lower priced Kona Cafe or even room service that day if we want to while we are OOP.

so we are doing

Friday 12/2: Arrive a 5:10pm MCO, go to AKL
Boma Dinner OOP

Saturday 12/3:Check into BWV, DxDDP
AK day
TH breakfast with package
Yak and Yeti dinner

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday might switch around depending on member mixer schedule - sunday is a red day for HS but I figure if we get there before rope drop/for EMH, sign up for the jedi training academy, have a snack at starring rolls for breakfast and then early Sci Fi lunch and do our 3 fast passes that will keep us busy and out of crowded situations for the day... I think they are expecting morning EMH that day which would make signing up for and getting Jedi Training Academy done early easier because we can sign up during EMH and only competing with resort guests... so fingers crossed on all that!

I am also assuming the merry member mixer is on Monday right now but if it is on sunday or tuesday will swap those days I guess. It has historically been on Monday or Tuesday and last year was Monday so not likely sunday.

Sunday 12/4:BWV, DxDDP
HS morning
11am Sci Fi lunch
5pm dinner at california grill
back to Epcot for fireworks

Monday 12/5: BWV, DxDDP
Epcot all day
Cape May Cafe breakfast
Coral Reef CP package 2:30 "lunch", merry member mixer, CP at 6ish show if they will let me do that, I read somewhere that they are letting you pick whatever show you want rather than assigning it based on dining time this year?

Tuesday 12/6: BWV, DxDDP
Ohana breakfast
Disney Springs
early dinner at Hollywood & Vine with F! package

Wednesday 12/7: check out BWV, check in Poly DxDDP
Epcot in the morning
Garden Grill Breakfast
Narcoossees dinner at 5pm
MK on non party night for MSEP and regular wishes.

Thursday 12/8: Poly Villas, OOP
Kona Cafe breakfast (WAS Ohana)
Resort day OR go to MK for a while then back to resort OR AK for a couple of things. totally flexible. will depend on weather too but would like to try out that poly pool!
Ohana dinner 3:45 (If i can get it, seems as hard as BoG!)
MVMCP

Friday 12/9: Poly Villas, OOP
Crystal Palace breakfast (9:45ish)
MK day
HDDR 4pm
relax at resort, pack, fireworks and electric water pagent either from room or beach (have lake view but if not higher floor will need to go to the beach... might want to anyway)

Saturday 12/10: departure day
room service or kona or capt cooks before we go.

My must get at 180+whatever days to get are in this order:
Ohana 3:45pm on MVMCP day
CP breakfast
TH Breakfast
H&V dinner (I might book one for both Monday and Tuesday so that I can drop the one I don't want once hours and schedules are released and hopefully the merry member mixer. Since I want to do CP package around 2:30PM anyway I should be able to hold both the 2:30 and the 4:30? maybe... hoping the Merry Member Mixer hours are released before or at same time as CP packages)
Ohana Breakfast
the rest I think should not be super difficult to book and will just kind of book them in order with character meals first. Dinners for 2 at signs at 5pm don't seem to book super fast.

 

[Lisa F]

I hear you guys about the park hours! I'm trying to plan my ADRs (coming up in 2 weeks!). We plan to RD most days and go for a break in the afternoon back to BC. Here's what I have so far. Would appreciate feedback!

Friday 12/2 - arrival BC around 8pm - we plan to walk to Boardwalk pizza for dinner and then ice cream at Ample Hills!
Saturday 12/3 - HS day. RD, Jedi training, rides. Breakfast in our room (we are ordering from Garden Grocer), Lunch ? not sure, Dinner: 50s prime time. I'm trying to figure out this day because not sure if we should lunch at 50s prime time instead or should we do Mama Melrose Fantasmic package?
Sunday 12/4 - Epcot - Breakfast PPO Akershus, Lunch: Les Halles Boulangers, Dinner: Katsura Grill
Monday 12/5 - MK - Breakfast 7:30am Ohana, Lunch: Pinnochio Village Haus, Dinner: Columbia Harbour House
Tues 12/6 - Epcot - Breakfast 7:30am Cape May, Lunch: Sunshine Seasons, Dinner: Kona Cafe (our daughter will go the kids club at Poly)
Wed 12/7 - MK - Breakfast in room, Lunch: Be our Guest, Dinner: The Plaza
Thurs 12/8 - MK - Breakfast in room, Lunch: Cosmic Rays (?) I am not sure here. Dinner: 1900 Park Fare
Friday 12/9 - Early Departure day - breakfast in room

I'm struggling with meals in the MK and HS...also we are not planning the Christmas party or AK.
TIA!

are you doing the DDP? you are planning like you are, lol. since you have a lot of CS planned it is prob not a big deal but I have found that 3 meals a day is a lot if some are TS, lol. But you can snack at those places and not get a full meal.
I am doing F! package at hollywood and vine and strugglign with it due to mixed reviews but I need to suck up and deal... kiddo wants to see the xmas characters adn I just need to keep perspective, but I'd prefer MM.
In MK I think you have decent choices but also maybe consider some of the snack choices if you are not DDP (i mean less fulls it down lunch places). Also the new Pecos bills looks good to me but you may not like that kind of food. there are also cheeseburger spring rolls and the mac adn cheese place with pot roast and that kind of stuff that are not traditional QS places and are nto QS on DDP but are good for a lighter meal.

 

[Lisa F]

We've been trying to hammer this out. June 3rd will be here soon! Here are the plans so far...DxDDP for 6 nights = 18 credits per person

11/30 - travel day, arrive @ 3:33pm, MDE to POFQ, dinner at Sassagoula's (1 credit used, 17 left)

12/1 - MK - Breakfast at CRT, lunch - snack credits?, dinner - Mickey's BBQ (4 credits used, 13 left)

12/2 - EP - Breakfast at Sassagoula's, lunch - Via Napoli (?), Dinner - San Angel or La Hacienda (?) (3 credits used, 10 left)

12/3 - AK - Breakfast at Tusker House, lunch/dinner depends on River of Light or Disney Springs(3 credit used, 7 left)

12/4 - MK - Breakfast - Main Street Bakery (snack credits), Lunch - Liberty Tree(?) , Dinner - HDDR (3 credits used, 4 left)

12/5 - HS - breakfast at Kona, lunch - snack credits (?), Dinner - 50's Prime Time (2 credits used, 2 left)

12/6 - ?? - breakfast - ?, lunch - ?, travel day leaving for MCO @ 3pm (0 credits left)

Items in green are probable, but still undecided. I would love to go to Kona for breakfast. We meant to last time and didn't make it. There is and there isn't a lot for us at HS. Rock N Roller and TOT are not big attractions for us. We want to see the Star Wars fireworks, especially since we won't be seeing the MK fireworks. (We are not doing the MVMMCP and both of our MK days are party days.) So, we thought a slow morning, arriving at HS for lunch time and plan to stay until close. We will get FP+ for TSMM, and everything else...meh.

We are leaving the last day a little more unscheduled so the kids can decide where to spend the day. We don't have a lot of time for Disney Springs...unless we go the first night?

The only one I can really comment on is lunch at liberty tree. I wish I could fit it into my plans without completely overstuffing myself, lol. I would do it for sure, it just barely got cut from my plans.

for AK day if you are doing RoL I would do the breakfast TH package instead of just regular TH, it will give you the most flexibility timewise later in your day I think! They released the package for that for the jungle book show so it seems like a sure thing.

You are doing two dinner shows and the BBQ gets soso reviews? I might consider swapping another sig for that for the 2 credits... I think HDDR is the MUCH better dinner show. Not sure what your party makeup is (can't keep track lol) but my kiddo is pretty picky and his favorite meal of our last trip was CA Grill.

 

[Lisa F]

12/5 - RD AK. Once we know the scoop on night time there, I'll have a better idea of how this will play out. Sounds like if night time is awesome, we may want to leave the park and head back again for evening. If not, just stay til we're tired. Either way, thinking of Tusker House or Yak and Yeti for dining. Maybe there will be some sort of dining package thing by December. Who knows.

12/6 - MVMCP from 4 to midnight. Not sure how much to plan for the daytime. Want to sleep in and kids to be rested. Then maybe swim, tour Xmas decorations at resorts, maybe a late heavy lunch somewhere. Could be a good time to get in T-Rex....I don't know if there is ever a good time for T-Rex, but the kids love it, so it's special to us.

12/7 - I don't know. Don't want to plan an early day after MVMCP, but wanting to get in a RD Epcot morning. Definitely a park this day, but not early. Can't decide. Maybe sleep until we want, then do some Sorcerer's at MK. Boys have wanted to do that. Then maybe leisurely non party eve at MK.

12/8 - RD Epcot. Eat lunch at GG. MK in afternoon. Watch MVMCP fireworks from room.

12/9 - son's actual birthday. Hoping to get early HDDR dining. Then head back to MK.

12/10 - check out day. May try to get an O'hana breakfast, it won't be a trip without that...but may try another. May do Disney Springs some, or just head home.

Well, now I'm glad I wrote that out. I actually see that I have tons of room in there as we find out more info on dates, etc. I still have more dining I want to fit in, but just hate to be overbooked. Want to go to Sanaa. Possibly tea at GF.

Only thing I really want is instead of 12/4 HS day is to start RD at MK, (especially since we are staying at CR), do a couple of quick favorite rides at MK, then head to HS. But I guess we wouldn't be able to get into Jedi Training then huh? Does anyone have experience with how early you need to be there to get in?

Another thing, we may actually be able to start the whole trip earlier...like maybe get there Thursday instead. That would give us more time for the xmas decoration enjoying, etc that I have stuck in my head. However, we Won't know until several months from now. Husband usually has a work trip this week and can't get home until late Thursday night. If we can go earlier, we'll just get there and stay where we stay, then move to CR 12/3.

Ok, I'd love input and suggestions. I'm really just excited. I've never been at xmas and want to really see it all but also enjoy it. Let me know if any thoughts. Oh, and I want to do an in room small birthday thing for son from Disney floral and gifts. And I really want one of their dang Christmas trees delivered. They don't have them out yet, but I'm ready when they do. I know they are the price of gold, but I have my heart set on one. (I'll let you guys know if it was worth it).

Dining package for the jungle book show which is the placeholder for RoL was released and TH is on it for sure (as speculated) along with Tiffin. The menu at Tiffin does not really appeal to me (I had hoped it would but nothing strikes me honestly - maybe i will feel different when pictures of food and reviews come out?). I am planning to do TH dining package with night time show whatever it is and Yak and Yeti early dinner.

We are planning to do early HDDR on 12/9 as well! How old is your son again?

what is RD? adn Sorcerer's at MK? I am usually pretty good at that stuff lol.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Dining package for the jungle book show which is the placeholder for RoL was released and TH is on it for sure (as speculated) along with Tiffin. The menu at Tiffin does not really appeal to me (I had hoped it would but nothing strikes me honestly - maybe i will feel different when pictures of food and reviews come out?). I am planning to do TH dining package with night time show whatever it is and Yak and Yeti early dinner.

We are planning to do early HDDR on 12/9 as well! How old is your son again?

what is RD? adn Sorcerer's at MK? I am usually pretty good at that stuff lol.

RD=Rope Drop

 

[Lisa F]

RD=Rope Drop

oh ha and duh. lol.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

oh ha and duh. lol.

I know. Sometimes I get so hung up on memorizing the more advanced acronyms that I totally space out on the basic ones.

I noticed you'll be there in Dec. we will too but the week after you. Looks like the new AK offerings (Tiffins and TH w/JB and eventually ROL) are quickly becoming the hottest tickets in town. What do think? Are these the new BOG and CRT ADRs?......Meaning, are you moving them to the top of your list when 180+10 opens up for you?