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

[Talby]

We are looking for 11/28.... we are a party of 3. I would take a 12/4 and switch our DHS day... I currently have a MM with F! booked for the 11/28.

I'm relatively convinced my search feature for H&V F! is broken. It just has not budged from "No Tables Available"! It's been the hardest ADR for me to get. I haven't even gotten an alert from Touring Plans. I know that they disappear at lightning speed when they do become available, but I'll PM you if I happen to see availability on 11/28 or 12/4 for 3.

 

[SilSprBea]

Hi all-- can I join this lovely group? We're going to be checking into Port Orleans Riverside on Sunday 12/4 and checking out Saturday 12/10. I've been before but its the first trip for my kids who 3 (boy) and soon to be 5 (girl). We're doing 5 days in the parks. This is our park schedule:

• Monday- Magic Kingdom
• Tuesday- Hollywood Studios
• Wednesday- Epcot (it's my daughter's 5th bday so we will have a princess dinner at Akershus)
• Thursday- Animal Kingdom
• Friday- Magic Kingdom

Still trying to fine tune all my ADRs since I booked after the 180 mark. I feel like it's all starting to come together!

We're all so excited about this trip, and really hoping that it isn't super crowded. I didn't realize it was Pop Warner week (didn't even know what Pop Warner was!) until after we'd booked our trip.

 

[Talby]

Hi @SilSprBea!! Yay, I recognize you from the other thread. It's so much fun here!!

 

[SilSprBea]

Hi @SilSprBea!! Yay, I recognize you from the other thread. It's so much fun here!!

Thanks! You guys look like you are having so much fun. I've been seeing some of your posts and I wanted to join in the fun!!!

 

[BDFmom]

Hi all-- can I join this lovely group? We're going to be checking into Port Orleans Riverside on Sunday 12/4 and checking out Saturday 12/10. I've been before but its the first trip for my kids who 3 (boy) and soon to be 5 (girl). We're doing 5 days in the parks. This is our park schedule:

• Monday- Magic Kingdom
• Tuesday- Hollywood Studios
• Wednesday- Epcot (it's my daughter's 5th bday so we will have a princess dinner at Akershus)
• Thursday- Animal Kingdom
• Friday- Magic Kingdom

Still trying to fine tune all my ADRs since I booked after the 180 mark. I feel like it's all starting to come together!

We're all so excited about this trip, and really hoping that it isn't super crowded. I didn't realize it was Pop Warner week (didn't even know what Pop Warner was!) until after we'd booked our trip.

My trip is actually 11/26 to 12/6 staying at CBR with DD 17 and DS 14. This is a fantastic and inspiring thread !
A very chatty and helpful bunch!

 

[Lisa F]

Honestly, a big part of the reason I joined here was that my kids were thinking I was talking about Disney TOO much! I mean...how is that a thing? lol They don't understand why I keep going over and over things. "Isn't it already planned, mom?" We had a great time going over menus and different extras, and I still ask their opinion when I'm looking to shake things up in some way, but to them it's all set so no point in rehashing things. There are so many details to obsess over still!!

haha I have no one else to talk to about it. The boyfriend does not like disney (he went once with his ex and kids when they were still married years ago and was blah on the whole thing, but he is very cheap so that kind of sets him up for the major grumpies about it all). I mean, he loves nightmare before christmas and certain disney stuff but crowds and planning and paying high prices for what he considers mediocre food is not his thing. He travels a lot for work and has no desire to go to disney norway when he has spent weeks in the real one. that kind of a thing. Though he WAS an eager participant in my "grapefruit beer" experiment and I told him it was a test for the german restaurant in disney, that I wanted to try it when it was $2.25 for a half liter rather than $9.50 at Disney... which lead to another rant about the high prices of things at Disney (I get to listen to it about the high prices of things here too... skinny margarita is $9.50 at my favorite place and god forbid I order two, lol).

Kiddo is excited but not interested in the ins and outs of planning. just wants to know what we're doing and give me his list of wants.

so you guys get it all!

 

[Lisa F]

Hi all-- can I join this lovely group? We're going to be checking into Port Orleans Riverside on Sunday 12/4 and checking out Saturday 12/10. I've been before but its the first trip for my kids who 3 (boy) and soon to be 5 (girl). We're doing 5 days in the parks. This is our park schedule:

• Monday- Magic Kingdom
• Tuesday- Hollywood Studios
• Wednesday- Epcot (it's my daughter's 5th bday so we will have a princess dinner at Akershus)
• Thursday- Animal Kingdom
• Friday- Magic Kingdom

Still trying to fine tune all my ADRs since I booked after the 180 mark. I feel like it's all starting to come together!

We're all so excited about this trip, and really hoping that it isn't super crowded. I didn't realize it was Pop Warner week (didn't even know what Pop Warner was!) until after we'd booked our trip.

the pop warner thing should not affect you. You are not staying at any of the resorts that they are staying at and they have a private party on wednesday typically at HS so that shouldn't affect you either. With kids your age a day a park and a second day for the MK is perfection! what ADRs do you have? And yes of course,

 

[Lisa F]

Yes! Just one more little thing that we need to take care of tomorrow and we should be ok!!! Yay!!!

again!!!!!!! lol

 

[Candycane83]

Hi all-- can I join this lovely group? We're going to be checking into Port Orleans Riverside on Sunday 12/4 and checking out Saturday 12/10. I've been before but its the first trip for my kids who 3 (boy) and soon to be 5 (girl). We're doing 5 days in the parks. This is our park schedule:

• Monday- Magic Kingdom
• Tuesday- Hollywood Studios
• Wednesday- Epcot (it's my daughter's 5th bday so we will have a princess dinner at Akershus)
• Thursday- Animal Kingdom
• Friday- Magic Kingdom

Still trying to fine tune all my ADRs since I booked after the 180 mark. I feel like it's all starting to come together!

We're all so excited about this trip, and really hoping that it isn't super crowded. I didn't realize it was Pop Warner week (didn't even know what Pop Warner was!) until after we'd booked our trip.

Looks like a magical trip shaping up! I'm bringing my 2 year old too so we can compare kiddy notes! LOL

 

[Candycane83]

again!!!!!!! lol

LOL, thanks! I'm getting super excited now and am really looking into how to tour now. (didn't want to be too invested in it when I was half sure)

By the way, I found a Tusker House breakfast ressie so I'm thinking of switching things (AGAIN...)
Dec 4 - DHS AM EMH
Plan will be to go to DHS for AM EMH, walk/ boat over to EPCOT for lunch and then bus to AK
(L) Garden Grill 11:30am
(D) Yak and Yeti 5:45pm

Dec 5- AK AM EMH
Plan will be to go to AK then bus to DHS for the afternoon to F!
(B) Tusker House 10:20am
(D) H&V 4:30pm

Was initially thinking of spending Dec 4 the whole day at AK and Dec 5 the whole day at DHS except for hopping to EPCOT for 11:30am lunch at Garden Grill...

What do you think? worth hopping around??

 

[areno79]

ARGH!!! I went to buy my airfare this morning and price went up $75 per person!!! Guess I'm waiting a little longer.....

Make sure you're clearing your cookies before you search. The airline sites and 3rd party sites save your cookies, which can show a higher price because they know you looked previously.

 

[Mintycake]

Thanks! You guys look like you are having so much fun. I've been seeing some of your posts and I wanted to join in the fun!!!

We are a fun and welcoming group! Welcome!

 

[Talby]

Souvenirs anyone? Do you have any traditional Disney souvenirs you buy? Do you carve out dedicated shopping time or do you make purchases just whenever you happen to see something you like? I cannot recall the name of the big store in Disney Springs where we went in 2013, but we did buy ornaments from there and had them shipped home which I plan on doing again this trip. We are interested in t-shirts and/or hoodies, and the silhouette of my kids for sure. My daughter is obsessed with Japanese culture and my son is a big Pokemon fan so I'm sure they'll pick out things in Japan at Epcot. I'm thinking of secretly getting a few stocking stuffers since Christmas will be right around the corner. Cookbooks are a consideration too, I definitely want to check some of those out. We don't go berserk with souvenirs but we have a few must haves for sure. Do you have any souvenir plans?

 

[Mal6586]

I'm relatively convinced my search feature for H&V F! is broken. It just has not budged from "No Tables Available"! It's been the hardest ADR for me to get. I haven't even gotten an alert from Touring Plans. I know that they disappear at lightning speed when they do become available, but I'll PM you if I happen to see availability on 11/28 or 12/4 for 3.

I just got mine booked for 12/7 in the wee hours of Monday morning. I've had the text alert set for WEEKS, and the first ping happened at like 2am Monday morning. I saw it when I woke up and glanced at my phone at 3:30am. Luckily anyone else looking for that day must still have been sleeping because it was still there!

 

[Candycane83]

Souvenirs anyone? Do you have any traditional Disney souvenirs you buy? Do you carve out dedicated shopping time or do you make purchases just whenever you happen to see something you like? I cannot recall the name of the big store in Disney Springs where we went in 2013, but we did buy ornaments from there and had them shipped home which I plan on doing again this trip. We are interested in t-shirts and/or hoodies, and the silhouette of my kids for sure. My daughter is obsessed with Japanese culture and my son is a big Pokemon fan so I'm sure they'll pick out things in Japan at Epcot. I'm thinking of secretly getting a few stocking stuffers since Christmas will be right around the corner. Cookbooks are a consideration too, I definitely want to check some of those out. We don't go berserk with souvenirs but we have a few must haves for sure. Do you have any souvenir plans?

Ohh! I have not thought about this too much yet but I do want to do the silhouette for my son. Was considering the starbucks mugs too (collecting mugs is bad... very heavy ) Maybe some clothing but not sure what else...

 

[Mintycake]

haha I have no one else to talk to about it. The boyfriend does not like disney (he went once with his ex and kids when they were still married years ago and was blah on the whole thing, but he is very cheap so that kind of sets him up for the major grumpies about it all). I mean, he loves nightmare before christmas and certain disney stuff but crowds and planning and paying high prices for what he considers mediocre food is not his thing. He travels a lot for work and has no desire to go to disney norway when he has spent weeks in the real one. that kind of a thing. Though he WAS an eager participant in my "grapefruit beer" experiment and I told him it was a test for the german restaurant in disney, that I wanted to try it when it was $2.25 for a half liter rather than $9.50 at Disney... which lead to another rant about the high prices of things at Disney (I get to listen to it about the high prices of things here too... skinny margarita is $9.50 at my favorite place and god forbid I order two, lol).

Kiddo is excited but not interested in the ins and outs of planning. just wants to know what we're doing and give me his list of wants.

so you guys get it all!

I am so glad it's not just me. I was getting sulky about it because DH always makes remarks like "it's FINE, do whatever...I don't want input!" I told him if he's totally sure about that, then he has to be prepared to follow my plans to the letter without complaint. Which he will do...this is the way we plan all our vacations. I've just never had to do this much planning. I love planning, btw so for me it's mostly fun.

 

[Mal6586]

Souvenirs anyone? Do you have any traditional Disney souvenirs you buy? Do you carve out dedicated shopping time or do you make purchases just whenever you happen to see something you like? I cannot recall the name of the big store in Disney Springs where we went in 2013, but we did buy ornaments from there and had them shipped home which I plan on doing again this trip. We are interested in t-shirts and/or hoodies, and the silhouette of my kids for sure. My daughter is obsessed with Japanese culture and my son is a big Pokemon fan so I'm sure they'll pick out things in Japan at Epcot. I'm thinking of secretly getting a few stocking stuffers since Christmas will be right around the corner. Cookbooks are a consideration too, I definitely want to check some of those out. We don't go berserk with souvenirs but we have a few must haves for sure. Do you have any souvenir plans?

I spend SO MUCH time at both the Christmas shops in Disney Springs and MK. I did buy a set of personalized ornaments for the roomie, myself, and our dog-children last year, so that's done, but I would like to pick up some more ornaments.

My always must-do souvenirs are antenna toppers. I probably have a couple dozen and I swap them out on my vehicle every month or so. I just upgraded to a Mini Cooper, and OMG they are so cute on top of that little clown car! I dread the day I go looking for another vehicle and there are no more antennae. I know it's coming soon! Out of my 14 coworkers, only about 3 of us still have them!

 

[Talby]

I just got mine booked for 12/7 in the wee hours of Monday morning. I've had the text alert set for WEEKS, and the first ping happened at like 2am Monday morning. I saw it when I woke up and glanced at my phone at 3:30am. Luckily anyone else looking for that day must still have been sleeping because it was still there!

Thanks @Mal6586! I love hearing "success stories!" haha Gives me hope! Isn't it such a thrill to secure something you've been trying so hard to get? Such a great feeling!

 

[Lisa F]

Souvenirs anyone? Do you have any traditional Disney souvenirs you buy? Do you carve out dedicated shopping time or do you make purchases just whenever you happen to see something you like? I cannot recall the name of the big store in Disney Springs where we went in 2013, but we did buy ornaments from there and had them shipped home which I plan on doing again this trip. We are interested in t-shirts and/or hoodies, and the silhouette of my kids for sure. My daughter is obsessed with Japanese culture and my son is a big Pokemon fan so I'm sure they'll pick out things in Japan at Epcot. I'm thinking of secretly getting a few stocking stuffers since Christmas will be right around the corner. Cookbooks are a consideration too, I definitely want to check some of those out. We don't go berserk with souvenirs but we have a few must haves for sure. Do you have any souvenir plans?

I always do a personalized christmas ornament (or 2 or 3) and have them wrapped and shipped home (costs a fortune but if it breaks it is on them to replace it with personalization and all). I get it at the xmas shop at downtown disney. Kiddo picks one out for him, I get one for me and we do one to commemorate our trip. even before he was born I always got an ornament to commemorate our trip. Last year we got a couple of ear hat ornaments... a star wars droid for him and tigger for me (i love tigger!)

and also got a pretty blown glass one with swirly clear/white/blue and ears that commemorated our trip and had both of our names and the date on it. I spend a fortune on personalization but they are keepsakes forever.

 

[Lisa F]

I am so glad it's not just me. I was getting sulky about it because DH always makes remarks like "it's FINE, do whatever...I don't want input!" I told him if he's totally sure about that, then he has to be prepared to follow my plans to the letter without complaint. Which he will do...this is the way we plan all our vacations. I've just never had to do this much planning. I love planning, btw so for me it's mostly fun.

Well he is not even going with me, lol, so not only is he cheap and grumpy but he has no reason to be interested at all. So I spare him (or spare me the sarcasm and nasty remarks).

I LOVE planning. I love it almost as much as I love the trip. To me it is like when I was a kid and would lay down on the floor with the sears wish book and make my christmas list the day it came out and keep working on it right until xmas eve. The anticipation is sometimes as good as the actual thing