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

[CynBeth]

We have an early morning flight on 12/2. We are staying at the YC. We figure by the time we get our luggage and rental car and drive to the resort it will be about 11 am. Originally we were going to not plan anything and have lunch and then maybe do mini golf or swim but when the CP dining package opened up and we saw Whoopie Goldberg is the narrator we booked dinner at Chefs for the 8:15 pm show. Once we arrive we will decide if we want to go over to Epcot and see some of the storytellers before dinner or if we want to just relax at the resort until it's time to walk over for dinner.

 

[JamieOak]

Our first WDW day is a split day with us being at USO in the morning, then taking a taxi over to the BWV in the afternoon to check-in or at least drop off luggage depending on the time. I'm still debating whether to do MVMCP that night or it would be a non-park evening and maybe doing something like the monorail bar crawl. I'm leaning towards MVMCP that evening because that would be a great way to start our WDW trip I think, plus we wouldn't have to use a park day on or regular ticket. We can do the monorail bar crawl another evening.

 

[Lisa F]

We have an early morning flight on 12/2. We are staying at the YC. We figure by the time we get our luggage and rental car and drive to the resort it will be about 11 am. Originally we were going to not plan anything and have lunch and then maybe do mini golf or swim but when the CP dining package opened up and we saw Whoopie Goldberg is the narrator we booked dinner at Chefs for the 8:15 pm show. Once we arrive we will decide if we want to go over to Epcot and see some of the storytellers before dinner or if we want to just relax at the resort until it's time to walk over for dinner.

that sounds like the perfect way to start your trip!

 

[Lisa F]

I moved my travel day from saturday 12/3 to friday 12/2. I have a 2pm flight that gets in around 5ish and a 6:45 ADR at Sanaa (we are staying at AKL kidani for the first night). Only plan is to have dinner and get an early night. I am counting on travel going smoothly. I know that people would jump all over me on the restaurant board but I figure the earlier reservation is going to be harder to get and if we arrive a bit later we will probably be able to walk in to Sanaa - I am sure I can get the $20 (for two of us) dealt with at the front desk while I am there... so I decided to risk it. We are getting a rental car and flying southwest - I know anything can happen but if things go normally it shouldn't take much more than an hour to get to Kidani. I am looking forward to trying Sanaa with my kiddo too, he is pretty picky but he would love the bread service, grilled chicken from the mickey check meals with a side of mac and cheese so the kid menu is actually pretty ideal for him even though the adult menu is more adventurous. Then we will walk around the resort a bit and live out of our bags until morning when we'll pack it up and go to AK to check in to BWV later in the day.

 

[Talby]

I wanna play! I love reading everyone's plans!! Our itinerary has seen many incarnations, but we're getting close to the final version.

Port Orleans Riverside: Friday 12/02 through Sunday 12/11

FRIDAY 12/2
Epcot
*Sunshine Seasons
*Coral Reef Dinner
*IllumiNations

SATURDAY 12/3
Magic Kingdom
*Pecos Bills
*Be Out Guest Dinner
*Wishes

SUNDAY 12/4
Animal Kingdom
*Boma Breakfast
*Flame Tree Dinner

MONDAY 12/5
Resort Day/MK Evening
*Earl of Sandwich Lunch (taking boat from resort to Disney Springs)
*Cindarella's Royal Table Dinner
*Wishes

TUESDAY 12/6
Morning: Magic Kingdom
Afternoon/Evening: Disney Springs
*T-REX (may be changing this to ??)
*Cirque Du Soleil

WEDNESDAY 12/7
Hollywood Studios
*Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic Dinner Package

THURSDAY 12/8
Epcot
*San Angel Inn Early Lunch
*Resort Time
*Teppan Edo Dinner
*IllumiNations

FRIDAY 12/9
Animal Kingdom
*Wild Africa Trek
*Yak and Yeti Dinner

SATURDAY 12/10
Magic Kingdom
*Crystal Palace Breakfast
*?? (hoping to get 'Ohana)
*Wishes

SUNDAY 12/11
POR Breakfast
Departure

 

[Candycane83]

Just read they are testing the floats for ROL again now!

 

[Candycane83]

I wanna play! I love reading everyone's plans!! Our itinerary has seen many incarnations, but we're getting close to the final version.

Port Orleans Riverside: Friday 12/02 through Sunday 12/11

FRIDAY 12/2
Epcot
*Sunshine Seasons
*Coral Reef Dinner
*IllumiNations

SATURDAY 12/3
Magic Kingdom
*Pecos Bills
*Be Out Guest Dinner
*Wishes

SUNDAY 12/4
Animal Kingdom
*Boma Breakfast
*Flame Tree Dinner

MONDAY 12/5
Resort Day/MK Evening
*Earl of Sandwich Lunch (taking boat from resort to Disney Springs)
*Cindarella's Royal Table Dinner
*Wishes

TUESDAY 12/6
Morning: Magic Kingdom
Afternoon/Evening: Disney Springs
*T-REX (may be changing this to ??)
*Cirque Du Soleil

WEDNESDAY 12/7
Hollywood Studios
*Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic Dinner Package

THURSDAY 12/8
Epcot
*San Angel Inn Early Lunch
*Resort Time
*Teppan Edo Dinner
*IllumiNations

FRIDAY 12/9
Animal Kingdom
*Wild Africa Trek
*Yak and Yeti Dinner

SATURDAY 12/10
Magic Kingdom
*Crystal Palace Breakfast
*?? (hoping to get 'Ohana)
*Wishes

SUNDAY 12/11
POR Breakfast
Departure

great plans! We will be at Disney springs on 12/6 too for the evening! What are u planning to change t-Rex to? I'm going back and forth on that restaurant since I think it'll be nice for my 2 year old but the foodie in me feels likes there's so much other restaurants to pass up for t-Rex

 

[Talby]

great plans! We will be at Disney springs on 12/6 too for the evening! What are u planning to change t-Rex to? I'm going back and forth on that restaurant since I think it'll be nice for my 2 year old but the foodie in me feels likes there's so much other restaurants to pass up for t-Rex

Thanks Candycane83! It's SoOoOoO hard to decide! I seem to keep coming back to Raglan Road. I face the same dilemma as you are looking at. I KNOW my 13-year-old son would absolutely love it, but the foodie in me is looking at the other seemingly great options. The more I think about it, I've decided we need to just keep TREX. It'll make me happiest for my son to be happy. This trip is to celebrate my daughter's upcoming high school graduation and quite a few of our plans focus on her preferences, so I think we need to keep this for my little man. "Talking" with you has helped me work it out in my mind though--so thanks for that! lol What else are you considering? It sure is a tough (but fun!) decision.

 

[Candycane83]

Thanks Candycane83! It's SoOoOoO hard to decide! I seem to keep coming back to Raglan Road. I face the same dilemma as you are looking at. I KNOW my 13-year-old son would absolutely love it, but the foodie in me is looking at the other seemingly great options. The more I think about it, I've decided we need to just keep TREX. It'll make me happiest for my son to be happy. This trip is to celebrate my daughter's upcoming high school graduation and quite a few of our plans focus on her preferences, so I think we need to keep this for my little man. "Talking" with you has helped me work it out in my mind though--so thanks for that! lol What else are you considering? It sure is a tough (but fun!) decision.

That's great! Congratulations to your daughter! Either way, if ever you do change your mind, I think it is easier to snag a raglan road ressie as opposed to tree. I had raglan road on my list but decided against it. I want to try for homecoming kitchen. (Not accepting online reservations yet) But nothing very entertaining there for my 2 year old except food. I was thinking of the boathouse too. I still have my T-Rex ADR for now. We do have a lot of character dining for my two year old too so I won't be too sad if we decide to go for something else.

 

[Lisa F]

Thanks Candycane83! It's SoOoOoO hard to decide! I seem to keep coming back to Raglan Road. I face the same dilemma as you are looking at. I KNOW my 13-year-old son would absolutely love it, but the foodie in me is looking at the other seemingly great options. The more I think about it, I've decided we need to just keep TREX. It'll make me happiest for my son to be happy. This trip is to celebrate my daughter's upcoming high school graduation and quite a few of our plans focus on her preferences, so I think we need to keep this for my little man. "Talking" with you has helped me work it out in my mind though--so thanks for that! lol What else are you considering? It sure is a tough (but fun!) decision.

this is such a struggle for me too, lol. I have a few meals that are definitely more about me and most are all about the kiddo... but making sure the kiddo would love the ones about me too. It took a lot of menu scrutinizing. My kiddo is not super into dinos luckily but we are doing tons of characters, sci fi dine in, coral reef. Feeling super excited about our trip for some reason.

going to have to choose between RoL and star wars I think though. booo.

 

[Lisa F]

**STAR WARS FIREWORKS DESSERT PACKAGES RELEASED THROUGH 9/24 and it's EVERY DAY!***

This is significant to me because September is definitely one of the slower times - it picks up more through october and november with the F&W festival etc. I think this bodes well for it being every night in december. Which will also help with party availability as people are not all vying for like 420 spots for the entire week... 140 spots a night over 7 nights is easier than 140 for only 3 nights.

 

[Talby]

I was eyeing Boathouse a lot a swell. See, I just feel like a lobster dinner at Boathouse fits way better with our plans for Cirque that evening. Decisions, decisions!! I think I just need to plan a trip for when my kids are officially all grown up (though they are so close). We could do a trip that hits all the fabulous Deluxe Resort dining and signature places...with a funnel cake, Mickey bar, or Mickey pretzel thrown in here and there! Our family first went to Disney when my son was nearly 2 and my daughter was about 4-1/2. SUCH MAGICAL AGES to take them!! Have a FABULOUS trip with your 2-year-old cutie-patootie, whatever you decide!

 

[Candycane83]

I was eyeing Boathouse a lot a swell. See, I just feel like a lobster dinner at Boathouse fits way better with our plans for Cirque that evening. Decisions, decisions!! I think I just need to plan a trip for when my kids are officially all grown up (though they are so close). We could do a trip that hits all the fabulous Deluxe Resort dining and signature places...with a funnel cake, Mickey bar, or Mickey pretzel thrown in here and there! Our family first went to Disney when my son was nearly 2 and my daughter was about 4-1/2. SUCH MAGICAL AGES to take them!! Have a FABULOUS trip with your 2-year-old cutie-patootie, whatever you decide!

I've heard some mix reviews on boathouse which makes me hesitate a little but lately I've seen more positive reviews. I need to stop reading dining reviews!
That'll be a great trip with your kids! I see a lot of people go on trips to celebrate their kids being legal age to drink
I'm hoping my son will have a great time! I'm trying to see how he will do with late nights. Last night we went out with him and came back at 11pm. He seemed ok and was up by 7. He will get a nap soon though

 

[Talby]

@Candycane83 So guess what I'm thinking now? T-REX for appetizers, then a later dinner at Boathouse! I mean, why choose! lol We're seeing the 6:00 show, it's 90 minutes, I'm thinking light-ish apps at 3ish, dinner at 8:00. I may need to be looking into the Deluxe Dining Plan at this rate. I know what you mean about the mixed reviews. It works both ways--I'll read rave reviews and I think, hmmm...I should probably add that! Or, I'll have what I think is a great idea and the reviews are mixed so I question it. It's why our itinerary has had so many incarnations. I bet your son will have a BLAST. Two is SUCH a fun age (a lot of work, too--I remember!). The first trip is so special no matter what.

@Lisa F I know, right?! It is Disney after all. I mean, the kiddos are going to have a great time regardless! It's just so much fun for me to find things that really fit with what my kids' interests are. My daughter is so obsessed with Japan, so I'm really thrilled about going to Teppan Edo and checking out Japan. My son's MUST HAVE was Coral Reef, so that's equally thrilling. They both adore the Beast, so our BOG dinner is highly anticipated. I'm thinking of adding the Pirates and Pals cruise to watch Wishes one night because Peter Pan is a favorite character of both of them. You know what I'm saying--there are so many examples and so many options! I've read that some people rate the Star Wars fireworks above Wishes so I can only imagine how fabulous those must be! It is SO HARD having to choose!! I hope the Star Wars fireworks and RoL will be happening in December--another hard thing is not knowing!

 

[Candycane83]

@Candycane83 So guess what I'm thinking now? T-REX for appetizers, then a later dinner at Boathouse! I mean, why choose! lol We're seeing the 6:00 show, it's 90 minutes, I'm thinking light-ish apps at 3ish, dinner at 8:00. I may need to be looking into the Deluxe Dining Plan at this rate. I know what you mean about the mixed reviews. It works both ways--I'll read rave reviews and I think, hmmm...I should probably add that! Or, I'll have what I think is a great idea and the reviews are mixed so I question it. It's why our itinerary has had so many incarnations. I bet your son will have a BLAST. Two is SUCH a fun age (a lot of work, too--I remember!). The first trip is so special no matter what.

@Lisa F I know, right?! It is Disney after all. I mean, the kiddos are going to have a great time regardless! It's just so much fun for me to find things that really fit with what my kids' interests are. My daughter is so obsessed with Japan, so I'm really thrilled about going to Teppan Edo and checking out Japan. My son's MUST HAVE was Coral Reef, so that's equally thrilling. They both adore the Beast, so our BOG dinner is highly anticipated. I'm thinking of adding the Pirates and Pals cruise to watch Wishes one night because Peter Pan is a favorite character of both of them. You know what I'm saying--there are so many examples and so many options! I've read that some people rate the Star Wars fireworks above Wishes so I can only imagine how fabulous those must be! It is SO HARD having to choose!! I hope the Star Wars fireworks and RoL will be happening in December--another hard thing is not knowing!

That's a great idea about the apps then dinner after. That way you experience both! True about the reviews but by now I know people will have different opinions about everything plus restaurants are not as consistent as you would like them to be. Luck of the draw sometimes.
It will be a lot of work but it'll be great for his first trip! It'll actually be his first long trip away from home so I'm excited for him. So excited I am trying my best not to cram too much into the iterinary but like you said, it is hard! I added the sleigh ride sometime last week but am thinking of cancelling now. Great idea then I second guess. I did add the DxDP on the longer part of our stay too and am in the process of rearranging ADRs! I thought about pirates n pals but hubby said MVMCP would be better.

 

[Talby]

@Candycane83 Oh goodness-I am so sorry! Geez, I didn't mean your son would be a lot of work at Disney. Darn it, I did NOT write that well and I apologize. Just meant 2 year olds, generally speaking-just everyday life--can be a lot of work but it's such a fun, awesome age regardless. I really loved that age as their little personalities emerge and they're so full of wonderment. I remember how in awe of everything my son was at 2 and he did great with napping in the stroller and such. It's heart-warming to see Disney through the eyes of your children. I get so excited when I hear about families taking their little ones for the first time.

MVMCP is WONDERFUL as I'm sure you've read. We attended that event in 2013. I keep thinking I need to draw the line somewhere and since we're doing a couple other "extras", I haven't purchased tickets yet, thinking we'd pass this time. We'll see how that ends up though! Like you, I'm trying not to over-cram the itinerary but that MVMPC is spectacular.

 

[Candycane83]

@Candycane83 Oh goodness-I am so sorry! Geez, I didn't mean your son would be a lot of work at Disney. Darn it, I did NOT write that well and I apologize. Just meant 2 year olds, generally speaking-just everyday life--can be a lot of work but it's such a fun, awesome age regardless. I really loved that age as their little personalities emerge and they're so full of wonderment. I remember how in awe of everything my son was at 2 and he did great with napping in the stroller and such. It's heart-warming to see Disney through the eyes of your children. I get so excited when I hear about families taking their little ones for the first time.

MVMCP is WONDERFUL as I'm sure you've read. We attended that event in 2013. I keep thinking I need to draw the line somewhere and since we're doing a couple other "extras", I haven't purchased tickets yet, thinking we'd pass this time. We'll see how that ends up though! Like you, I'm trying not to over-cram the itinerary but that MVMPC is spectacular.

No worries @Talby he is a lot of work! Lol! Toddlers are generally a lot of work but a lot of fun too like you said!
Yes we attended MVMCP for DH's first trip in 2012! We loved it so I guess that is our choice for DS this time around. are you attending this trip? i didn't see it in your plans.

 

[Mintycake]

**STAR WARS FIREWORKS DESSERT PACKAGES RELEASED THROUGH 9/24 and it's EVERY DAY!***

This is significant to me because September is definitely one of the slower times - it picks up more through october and november with the F&W festival etc. I think this bodes well for it being every night in december. Which will also help with party availability as people are not all vying for like 420 spots for the entire week... 140 spots a night over 7 nights is easier than 140 for only 3 nights.

YAAAAAASSSSSSSS! I was freaking out thinking I might need to move my HS day to squeeze this in (or spend money on park hoppers). So I'm hoping you're right! I mean, why wouldn't Disney do this? They're making mad money doing it.

 

[Talby]

@Candycane83 Well, I wasn't planning on it initially. But.....I think we might now! I mean, we'll be RIGHT THERE! lol

 

[CynBeth]

I wanna play! I love reading everyone's plans!! Our itinerary has seen many incarnations, but we're getting close to the final version.

Port Orleans Riverside: Friday 12/02 through Sunday 12/11

FRIDAY 12/2
Epcot
*Sunshine Seasons
*Coral Reef Dinner
*IllumiNations

SATURDAY 12/3
Magic Kingdom
*Pecos Bills
*Be Out Guest Dinner
*Wishes

SUNDAY 12/4
Animal Kingdom
*Boma Breakfast
*Flame Tree Dinner

MONDAY 12/5
Resort Day/MK Evening
*Earl of Sandwich Lunch (taking boat from resort to Disney Springs)
*Cindarella's Royal Table Dinner
*Wishes

TUESDAY 12/6
Morning: Magic Kingdom
Afternoon/Evening: Disney Springs
*T-REX (may be changing this to ??)
*Cirque Du Soleil

WEDNESDAY 12/7
Hollywood Studios
*Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic Dinner Package

THURSDAY 12/8
Epcot
*San Angel Inn Early Lunch
*Resort Time
*Teppan Edo Dinner
*IllumiNations

FRIDAY 12/9
Animal Kingdom
*Wild Africa Trek
*Yak and Yeti Dinner

SATURDAY 12/10
Magic Kingdom
*Crystal Palace Breakfast
*?? (hoping to get 'Ohana)
*Wishes

SUNDAY 12/11
POR Breakfast
Departure

We will be there the same dates but staying at YC. Are you doing the CP? Here is our schedule:

12/2 - arrive early morning. Open day except for CP dinner at Chefs and 8:15 pm show.
12/3 - Sea World Day. Breakfast at CG
12/4 - Epcot Day. Breakfast at Trattoria. CS lunch. Dinner at LC.
12/5 -MK Day. Breakfast at WCC. Lunch at LTT. Dinner at Tony's.
12/6 -Epcot and Disney Springs Day. Breakfast at Garden Grove. Lunch at Tutto. Dinner at TRex.
12/7- Gatorland Day. Breakfast at Cape May. 4:00 pm HDDR (hopefully it won't get cancelled).
12/8- MK and MVMCP Day. Breakfast at CP. CS lunch. Dinner at BOG.
12/9- AK Day. Dining might change depending on what happens with ROL but at the moment Breakfast at TH. Lunch at RC. Dinner at Boma.
12/10. DHS Day. Breakfast at CG. Lunch at SciFi. Dinner at 50's PTC.