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

[Lisa F]

^^^^ YES, this is me too! I've been looking through everyone else's posts and it's amazing that we all have such different plans!! I started to post mine on Saturday, but then had the failed BOG ADR pickup and was second-guessing myself too.

let's see it.

 

[Candycane83]

Who just woke up to find a TP reservation finder text, and booked their BOG dinner for 12/10?

This girl!!!

At 4:05pm, it's a little earlier than I'd have liked, but especially for now, I will take it!!

Anybody need a BOG table for a party of 2? I've got a 12/6 dinner during MVMCP at 7:00pm and a 12/10 breakfast at 8:40am to drop. I'll put it on the December cancellation thread sometime tomorrow if nobody here needs it.

Congrats on finding the BOG reservation!!

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Well, talked to M and he was on board with Toothsome and now thinks maybe we should spend a day at Universal--not something I really thought to do

@Talby I'm pretty sure you asked about Pan. Have you thought about the Family Magic Tour? There is a special guest at the end

@rasadkowski I would choose a day at DHS. I know a lot is closed, but there are some really fun things to do there.

@jillyh I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Mal6586]

ok everyone. it is getting real.

last night I dreamed that I showed up to Disney right off the flight (which is my previous plans). I forgot I wanted to do AK first so parked at the MK. Dropped the kid's coat in coat check (there is a coat check? lol) and my extra battery for my phone was in there. We go to the MK and it's dark already even though it is middle of the morning and we get on the queue for the Haunted Mansion. My kid runs ahead and I'm trying to keep an eye on him and catch up to him. Then I remember, crap, I meant to go to AK first! so I grab him off the line and tell him that we need to be flexible and we are going to AK, but already we have missed early entry... but at least I have my SDFPs... but then I realize that my SDFP bands never arrived. I realize they were due to ship on 10/31 and I go to my phone to check the date but the battery is completely dead and my extra battery is with the kid's coat. So we go back to coat check so I can get a charge on my phone and we can switch to AK but they can't find his coat. Instead they keep bringing out one after the other items of clothing that he has lost. I insist it was in section 73 but then I realize the CAR was in section 73, I have no idea what section we left the coat in. while the guy is off searching I see something with the date and it is october... and I'm trying to decide if I want to continue my trip just for the weekend or fly back home and wondering why they would let me on a plane on the wrong date. Maybe now that we're here we just do MK for the weekend and then fly back and do our real trip in december. Then I guess we decided to go to MK but we have to run between two speeding monorails to get to the MK parking lot, timing our jump just as they pass each other and before the two next ones come through. I look back at the MK and it looks like a fair with fair type cheesy lit up rides and start trying to find my car, but every time i follow the sign to section 73 I end up in some other section. I remember thinking "what am I going to say on the boards about all this?" and my child kept disappearing on me. then i woke up.

Also my counter says 102 days again. pretty sure i was under 99 the other day!

That was wild! I actually love dreams like that. It may seem crazy, but I always wake up from them like I've seen a really great movie.

 

[SilSprBea]

@Lisa F my counter has been going crazy too. It has gone up and down in the last few dates. And what a strange dream, or should I say total nightmare!

@Mal6586 congrats on the BOG reservation. I'm so jealous your TP worked for a harder to find restaurant. Mine has never found one for me, but in am still getting the random resfinder texts for not my dates. Ugh!

@Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL so impressed you are a guy and planned the whole trip. My husband would never in a million years plan anything! And he can't even hear me talking about Disney without rolling his eyes, hence I'm on here!

 

[Talby]

HDDMR was definitely a waste of time. So I decided not to do it on MVMCP night. Might try to fit in another night but at this point there's not much room in our itinerary. I really appreciate all the good advice on here. Sometimes it's difficult to imagine all of the logistics and trying to do too much can sometimes spoil the fun (if that makes any sense?)

You received lots of great advice, but just wanted to say I hear you on the logistics spoiling the fun. I think plans can look a certain way on paper but when the reality of the logistics comes into play...maybe not quite as fun. And high 5 back for Africa Trek!!

 

[Talby]

@Mal6586 Congratulations! Such a huge thrill when that happens!!

 

[Mintycake]

And a 12/8 MVMCP? Oh man, if we came, we'd have TWO double strollers to save spots for the parade and fireworks!

Anyone going 12/1?

I have not booked tix but if we do the only night it works is 12/6. I'm waffling due to cost and Kenny the pirate said Tuesdays are the busiest night

 

[Talby]

@Talby I'm pretty sure you asked about Pan. Have you thought about the Family Magic Tour? There is a special guest at the end

Hadn't thought of that...until now! lol I'll have to take a look at that, thanks!!

 

[Iowamomof4]

I have not booked tix but if we do the only night it works is 12/6. I'm waffling due to cost and Kenny the pirate said Tuesdays are the busiest night

I saw that, too, and it really surprised me!

 

[areno79]

@Lisa F That dream is wild! It reminds me of the dreams I used to get before my wedding...I was so consumed by planning that I started to get anxiety dreams about it. That will probably happen to me closer to Disney, too. It usually does before a big trip, so it must be common for us uber-planners!

@Mintycake I remember reading that yes, you can buy MB's in the parks, and I believe in DS as well. If it's for SDFP, just don't link them to you on your MDE app, or don't let the CM link it for you.

 

[Talby]

@Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL
I was just wondering on Saturday if there were any gents in this little group Can't tell from most screen names.

I read a review that said you don't have to make the dessert party a huge time killer (maybe Josh @easyWDW).... he said he checked in, then took off to do something else, then went right to the parade spot in time for the parade (maybe 7:25), then got in a quick M&G (right in town square?), and then went back for the desserts/fireworks. If I remember correctly, he said that you could stand against the railing in TT for the fireworks. I'm not sure if people have said that isn't true and you must stick to your seat now?? I think we have to wait for some HalloWishes reviews to see what happens.

I've never done HDDMR, but travelling to get there would be a huge waste of time for me. Prime parade spot is why I booked Holiday Wishes Dessert Party.

This is kind of what I was thinking or hoping. And it does save time of waiting for the parade, right? So maybe time spent eating desserts balances out time spent waiting for the parade and it's a wash? lol I did have a CM tell me recently no standing at the railing. But that was just one CM; I usually check with at least 2 before I consider it "official".

 

[Mintycake]

I am just finally caught up. Busy week so not sure how much I can post but I have a SDFP question. My friend went to dw with her family last year. If I borrow her magic bands can those be used for SDFP? I just want to ask before I ask if she has her bands still.

 

[areno79]

Looking at my plans, I'm kind of second guessing something. How long do you guys think it would take to get from Contemporary to Epcot in time for 9:30 Illuminations if my ADR is a little before 7pm? I was thinking monorail to TTC to monorail to Epcot would be fastest. I guess I could also do bus from Contemporary to Epcot. Thoughts?

 

[Candycane83]

Looking at my plans, I'm kind of second guessing something. How long do you guys think it would take to get from Contemporary to Epcot in time for 9:30 Illuminations if my ADR is a little before 7pm? I was thinking monorail to TTC to monorail to Epcot would be fastest. I guess I could also do bus from Contemporary to Epcot. Thoughts?

If the monorail is working, it would have to be by monorail. (No buses unless monorail is down I believe) I think it would take 45mins to an hour depending if there is any delays on the monorail... Might be a little tight unless you're willing to uber from CR to Epcot if you're running late.

 

[Talby]

you may have to give up the idea of doing it this time. I have to keep doing that with certain things I just can't fit in. it takes a while to come to come around to that though, lol.

AGREE!! I've been fighting it for a long time--the idea of giving up HDDR. Hmmm....if I just completely switch parks, swap out ADRS for 3 full days, if AK stays open late and I can do EMM....THEN I can do HDDR! Simple!! lol I just recently gave it up and it's quite freeing actually. We have lots of great stuff planned for this trip and HDDR will be there (hopefully!) next time we go. I plan on living vicariously through others post trip when I read about how amazing it was for them!

 

[Mintycake]

I saw that, too, and it really surprised me!

I think that goes against what josh says at easywdw

 

[areno79]

I think that goes against what josh says at easywdw

I thought I've read that non-school nights are the busiest because of locals (aka Friday and Saturdays are the busiest.)

 

[Lisa F]

AGREE!! I've been fighting it for a long time--the idea of giving up HDDR. Hmmm....if I just completely switch parks, swap out ADRS for 3 full days, if AK stays open late and I can do EMM....THEN I can do HDDR! Simple!! lol I just recently gave it up and it's quite freeing actually. We have lots of great stuff planned for this trip and HDDR will be there (hopefully!) next time we go. I plan on living vicariously through others post trip when I read about how amazing it was for them!

I planned HDDR from the beginning. it is on our last night, I really wanted 6:15, then when they started having ADR problems I was resigned to being happy with 4pm and then I was able to get the 6:15. I have to pack and we have a lake view poly so my idea was to go to the MK, take the boat direct to HDDR (undecided if we will leave early and do a sleigh ride there first or maybe after, haven't really sat and thought about that yet... may decided that more last minute and see how we feel) then back to the room to pack and hopefully watch fireworks from our balcony and have a relaxing last night. So that has kind of always anchored the end of my trip, I figured it would be something fun to do with the kiddo as a sendoff. To me it's something you do as part of a relaxing evening, not before another big event though. I think @Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL is making the right choice not doing it on party night. To me they are both big special events in their own right to be enjoyed and not crammed together.

I have not booked tix but if we do the only night it works is 12/6. I'm waffling due to cost and Kenny the pirate said Tuesdays are the busiest night

Tuesdays are? i thought they were the LEAST busy night. I thought friday was the worst, followed by Sunday, followed by thursday followed by tuesday. Not sure why I thought that though.

I am just finally caught up. Busy week so not sure how much I can post but I have a SDFP question. My friend went to dw with her family last year. If I borrow her magic bands can those be used for SDFP? I just want to ask before I ask if she has her bands still.

yes you can!

Looking at my plans, I'm kind of second guessing something. How long do you guys think it would take to get from Contemporary to Epcot in time for 9:30 Illuminations if my ADR is a little before 7pm? I was thinking monorail to TTC to monorail to Epcot would be fastest. I guess I could also do bus from Contemporary to Epcot. Thoughts?

uber to the boardwalk would be fastest. plus the international gateway bridge right when you walk in is pretty much my favorite viewing spot. (if you go to Epcot it will be to future world and you still need to walk to world showcase whereas if you come in the international gateway bridge you are already there). It is right over where the boats park. I usually grab a spot there early and just sit along the railing, it's not uncomfortable for floor sitting because you have back support. If there is no dessert party or special event the island near there is also a great place to watch from. Also Morocco is nice too, and you are not too far from that. If you get there early and have time you can position yourself closer to future world for easier exit but if you are running short on time you can pretty much walk there in 10-15 minutes and be right at a good viewing spot from where the bus drops you off whereas if you come in from future world it is a much longer walk (and also into much more crowded viewing areas).

If you don't want to uber I would walk from contemporary to the MK and grab a bus to the boardwalk. I still think it is better than the monorail transfer. that is if you are going to Epcot specifically for Illuminations. @areno79 I just added to my already lengthy advice lol

 

[Lisa F]

I think that goes against what josh says at easywdw

that is not what I have ever heard about any of the parties. Friday is the worst.

That said it is a hard ticket event that can sell out, so there is a cap at how busy it gets. I personally would just want to be prepared for how it will be if it sells out. what does it matter if Friday sells out 2 months in advance but Tuesday sells out day of? less demand, same end result.

I am kind of hoping the huge price jump keeps crowds down though.