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

[Candycane83]

Well, the only day I don't get on the computer early and they have RO discounts. Of course, WL wasn't available this afternoon--a few tears have happened since I messed up. M gets home and I tell him and he tells me it's not a big deal and let's just book elsewhere for a much better deal (but it's not WL boohoo. Now staying at Coronado Springs for a $1500 difference (more shopping money!!!). That will help me get over it.

I think you should
Keep checking for WL just in case (but that may reduce shopping money)

 

[JainaAlice]

Well, the only day I don't get on the computer early and they have RO discounts. Of course, WL wasn't available this afternoon--a few tears have happened since I messed up. M gets home and I tell him and he tells me it's not a big deal and let's just book elsewhere for a much better deal (but it's not WL boohoo. Now staying at Coronado Springs for a $1500 difference (more shopping money!!!). That will help me get over it.

Hi! This is my first post. I wanted to tell you that I was up and on the phone with Disney this morning about 7:20. To try for a discount at Poly. I happened to check Wilderness Lodge too and didn't see any availability online.
The person I spoke to also told me that it sometimes takes a day or 2 for the system update everything.

 

[BDFmom]

@ at the starwars dessert party peeps.

I too have reservations about the event due to the mixed reviews. The cost for us is three full priced tickets, one adult and two teens. My son is oogling all the desserts while my daughter won't eat any with chocolate and I'm not a big drinker. Therefore the food is not the draw but the exclusive experience. I think if they keep the number sold at the 140 it will be a great experience. Plus it's the only 'extra' that my son really wants.

I'm fairly convinced that it will offer the least hassle viewing experience which may be worth the price of admission.

If it the party was just about the desserts my daughter would have picked the Illuminations party and eaten her ticket price in creme brulle

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

@JainaAlice Thank you for that. I'll keep checking.

 

[Lisa F]

@ at the starwars dessert party peeps.

I too have reservations about the event due to the mixed reviews. The cost for us is three full priced tickets, one adult and two teens. My son is oogling all the desserts while my daughter won't eat any with chocolate and I'm not a big drinker. Therefore the food is not the draw but the exclusive experience. I think if they keep the number sold at the 140 it will be a great experience. Plus it's the only 'extra' that my son really wants.

I'm fairly convinced that it will offer the least hassle viewing experience. Which may just be worth the price of admission.

If it the party was just about the desserts my daughter would have picked the Illuminations party and eat her ticket price in creme brulle

my kiddo wants to do both, lol. He asked if there was an illuminations dessert party and I told him yes, there was and he asked about it. but they seem all sold out? not sure. I thought about it seriously, the menu does sound great. I mean... nacho bar? lol.

 

[Lisa F]

Hi! This is my first post. I wanted to tell you that I was up and on the phone with Disney this morning about 7:20. To try for a discount at Poly. I happened to check Wilderness Lodge too and didn't see any availability online.
The person I spoke to also told me that it sometimes takes a day or 2 for the system update everything.

welcome to our group! This is an awesome group of disney loving people. I hope you stick around and join in the fun!

 

[BDFmom]

my kiddo wants to do both, lol. He asked if there was an illuminations dessert party and I told him yes, there was and he asked about it. but they seem all sold out? not sure. I thought about it seriously, the menu does sound great. I mean... nacho bar? lol.

The dates all seems to be grayed passed October. I actually looked as an alternative to SW.

 

[Lisa F]

The dates all seems to be grayed passed October. I actually looked as an alternative to SW.

when I looked they weren't greyed but sold out. so maybe no inventory was released. I was just kidding anyway, I am not really much of a dessert person and I think I'd rather park my butt somewhere and wait with a $14 margarita and some sweet thing for the kid than stand for an hour and a half.

 

[Mintycake]

@Candycane83 @Mintycake and anyone else considering the star wars fireworks dessert party. What are you thinking of some of the mixed reviews lately? I know they are working out the kinks. I'm wondering if people have too high expectations. Someone said they feel like something else besides dessert should be offered - like a perk - but I was thinking, isn't that what the fireworks viewing is? Also I think how many people you are buying for affects your sense of value. For me and the kiddo it is a bit over $100 but if it were like nearly $300 for my family of 4 because the kids are disney adults I might feel differently about the value of it. Also I will have a few drinks... I know many do not and still pay the $69 (particularly minors). also the reports are so mixed on the viewing, some say there is not a bad spot because you can step back a bit and others say you are blocked if you're not tall and in front.

what are your thoughts?

I actually haven't seen the mixed reviews (just got back from being "unplugged" for a few days at the cottage) but DH and I plan to have a few drinks and I still think it's one of the cheapest "extras" to add on. Plus we have a kiddo who is too heavy to hoist onto dad's shoulders but still wants a good view. We have no patience for staking out a spot an hour or two in advance to see fireworks - for Wishes we are considering the Mad Tea party at GF if it is still there as well. Too many crowds and too long waiting will not fly with my crew. Now I have to check out these reviews lol thanks for the heads up!

 

[areno79]

Hi everyone! Not sure how I missed this thread but I'm glad I found it. DH and I are going to WDW from 12/2-12/10, staying at AoA. We've been quite a few times, but never at Christmastime, so we're psyched about seeing the decorations and of course going to MVMCP! I am a little worried about crowds though with it being Pop Warner week. I haven't been to Disney since 2012 so trying to figure out Magic Bands, FP+, and anything else new we've missed by not going the last few years! I've gotten quite a few of the ADR's I wanted, but still looking for better days/times that fit into my preliminary plans. Hoping more opens up as I finalize my plans!

 

[Lisa F]

I actually haven't seen the mixed reviews (just got back from being "unplugged" for a few days at the cottage) but DH and I plan to have a few drinks and I still think it's one of the cheapest "extras" to add on. Plus we have a kiddo who is too heavy to hoist onto dad's shoulders but still wants a good view. We have no patience for staking out a spot an hour or two in advance to see fireworks - for Wishes we are considering the Mad Tea party at GF if it is still there as well. Too many crowds and too long waiting will not fly with my crew. Now I have to check out these reviews lol thanks for the heads up!

I think the mixed reviews boil down to very high expectations and the value of a few cupcakes for $69 if you don't drink. Also the smaller viewing area makes it a little less likely you'll have a perfect view, if there is such a thing of the new show.

 

[Lisa F]

Hi everyone! Not sure how I missed this thread but I'm glad I found it. DH and I are going to WDW from 12/2-12/10, staying at AoA. We've been quite a few times, but never at Christmastime, so we're psyched about seeing the decorations and of course going to MVMCP! I am a little worried about crowds though with it being Pop Warner week. I haven't been to Disney since 2012 so trying to figure out Magic Bands, FP+, and anything else new we've missed by not going the last few years! I've gotten quite a few of the ADR's I wanted, but still looking for better days/times that fit into my preliminary plans. Hoping more opens up as I finalize my plans!

most people don't even know that pop warner is there. They are mostly at the sports complex all day and then a bit at the parks at night but many people report that unless you are staying at the resort where they are (and I'm not sure where that is) you don't even know they are there. Good luck and welcome!

 

[areno79]

That's a relief...I hope that's true this year as well! Some of the rumblings I've heard from other frequent Disney visitors is that early December is now a pretty busy time at the parks. Not sure how true this is...I know it used to be known as a slow part of the season; I'm gathering it's more normal crowds now. I know ADR's have been difficult to get; but I'm wondering if it's that's because Disney isn't releasing more openings, or if they really are that busy. I have no frame of reference for this time of year so I feel like I'm floating along hoping for the best. lol

 

[CinderBelleDVC]

There's so much to these forums that even a search result is overwhelming ... what's the deal with pop Warner? How long is that, and is it really an issue? Sorry if I'm not posting in the right place.

 

[JainaAlice]

There's so much to these forums that even a search result is overwhelming ... what's the deal with pop Warner? How long is that, and is it really an issue? Sorry if I'm not posting in the right place.

I'm not an expert on this but...Pop Warner is a little league football and cheerleading group. Pop Warner week is their championships. I believe they spend most of their time competing. I stayed at All Star Music in 2011 during it and I would have never known. We never ran into any big groups.
I think the dates this year are December 4-10?

 

[Candycane83]

Has anyone seen the rumor that MSEP will be done as of September?

 

[Iowamomof4]

Has anyone seen the rumor that MSEP will be done as of September?

Yep.

 

[Lisa F]

Has anyone seen the rumor that MSEP will be done as of September?

I don't think they are going to go into the Holiday season with no nighttime show. I have also read that there are rumors of a refurb for MSEP. So I think either 1) it will be down for a time for refurb but back up by september or 2) the DL nighttime parade will come to WDW. Either way I'm good though I'd prefer to see MSEP one last time if it is going away and the new parade down the road. I don't think they would have been selling those Tony's packages if there was going ot be no nighttime parade at all.

 

[tacboze]

Mmmmkay. So although I've done Disney a few times, I've not done the FP+ system. I've found alllllll kinda of info on it online, but this is my question for y'all: with our ADR's having been so FREAKING hard to get, what happens if I go to pick my fp's for a park that I have ADR's at, and there's no fp's available for what I want? I have a party of 9....is it harder to get fp's for 9 people like it is getting ADR's for 9 people? Anyone have a strategy for getting fp's to line up with ADR's? I'm overwhelmed. really missing the old paper system.

 

[1437disney]

Mmmmkay. So although I've done Disney a few times, I've not done the FP+ system. I've found alllllll kinda of info on it online, but this is my question for y'all: with our ADR's having been so FREAKING hard to get, what happens if I go to pick my fp's for a park that I have ADR's at, and there's no fp's available for what I want? I have a party of 9....is it harder to get fp's for 9 people like it is getting ADR's for 9 people? Anyone have a strategy for getting fp's to line up with ADR's? I'm overwhelmed. really missing the old paper system.

I am trying for 10 people up to 14 on some days, I feel your stress. If you cant get 9, try to break it up into smaller groups and make sure the times have an overlap.