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

[mystery222184]

So is anyone else still hoping Rivers of Light is ready for our trip? Seems like it may be unlikely, but hoping for the best after seeing some of the Jungle Book reviews.

 

[Lisa F]

@Talby thanks so much for continuing to look for the rest of us! I'm so glad you got your H&V dinner! The sad thing is...I already have a F! H&V dinner booked on 12/3, but I'd much rather move it to 12/6 so I can do the SW dessert party on 12/3. I also have a 6:20 H&V dinner (non-F!) booked on 12/6 , but that's just too late to catch F!, and 12/6 is really the only night I can fit that in. I feel bad for holding onto an extra ADR, but I'm still waiting for them to announce SW dessert party days/times.



I have heard that the other parks (especially Epcot) are busier during MVMCP nights, but I've never been to witness it. Maybe if ROL is open at AK, that will help alleviate some of the potential Epcot crowd. Also, I think I missed that you're staying at AoA...so are we! I'm not going to lie, pretty psyched that I am staying in a Little Mermaid room. LOL

So, now that I FINALLY got my HDDR , I'm only waiting on 2 ADR's. I currently have H&V and 'Ohana booked, but the days/times just don't work out for our plans. Really hoping to switch my 'Ohana dinner from 12/6 to 12/8 so we can go before MVMCP, and then hoping to switch my F! H&V from 12/3 to 12/6.

I talked to DH tonight about EMM, and he's very much on the fence like I am. They are offering it on 12/4 (which was our planned MK day anyway), but I'm just having a hard time justifying the money for only 3 rides. I wish they opened up the rest of Fantasyland, then it would be a no-brainer.

that would be so funny if you got both of those things because that's when I have both of those things. lol @Candycane83 is also at 'Ohana on 12/8 before the party.

 

[Lisa F]

So is anyone else still hoping Rivers of Light is ready for our trip? Seems like it may be unlikely, but hoping for the best after seeing some of the Jungle Book reviews.

it is looking more likely than ever before. A lot of the bigwig sites are saying predicted end of October.

 

[Lisa F]

haha, they must be updating the system. I am stalking MK EMM and just noticed that the entire description on the page is referencing HS! Star Tours, etc... https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/early-morning-magic/

same description is on the HS EMM page too: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/morning-magic/

you have total obsessed stalker status now, lol!

 

[Lisa F]

Thanks for tagging me! So nice of you to remember. I actually got a Touring plans alert and was able to book it for Dec. 17!!! Now I just have to stalk a BOG late lunch/early dinner for MVMCP day on the 15th and I'm set.

We arrived at Hershey PA late last night for a couple days of "practice" for the "big show" in December. We're curious to see how our DS2 does after a day in Hershey Park today as a way to gauge if our DW plans are realistic or not. DD8 is so excited to be here. She went to sleep at 1:00am last night and when DW and I woke up this morning at 6:00am she was showered, dressed, shoes on, sunscreen on and sitting eating Lucky Charms at the table. She's ready to rock!!!

My kid SOMEHOW is ready to go so much more quickly even after a late night on vacation too. Wonder why that is lol

 

[Candycane83]

that would be so funny if you got both of those things because that's when I have both of those things. lol @Candycane83 is also at 'Ohana on 12/8 before the party.

@Maryemcd actually if I find an earlier BOG that day I would most likely give up my ohana reservation for 3 at 3:30pm

 

[Wood Nymph]

So is anyone else still hoping Rivers of Light is ready for our trip? Seems like it may be unlikely, but hoping for the best after seeing some of the Jungle Book reviews.

We have been looking forward to this show since a CM told us about it back in January. We were hoping that it would be ready for our June trip, but then they had technical difficulties and threw together the Jungle Book show instead (which we didn't see.) Then we were hoping to see it when we are there in October, but that doesn't look likely either. So now I have my Yak & Yeti dinner reservation all ready to go for Dec 5th, hoping to see ROL after dinner.

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

@Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL Hershey Park is a whole different animal than WDW. It's really hot right now, there are only two indoor attractions (PB/Choc and theater show) and there are some really big hills. WDW has many indoor attractions (albeit much larger than HP), hopefully will not be this hot and is pretty flat, so WDW should be easier in many regards. Have fun!

 

[Lisa F]

@Maryemcd actually if I find an earlier BOG that day I would most likely give up my ohana reservation for 3 at 3:30pm

i think it is @areno79

 

[Candycane83]

i think it is @areno79

Oh oops! Lol

 

[rasadkowski]

@Maryemdc you're good!! I thought I was obsessed stalker!! I didn't even notice the HS description!!! Please keep us posted!! Does it just keep saying "no tables available" for you, too? I was like a kid in a candy store this morning, since HS updated the next morning with availability..I thought MK EMM would too!!!!

 

[Mintycake]

I love reading through all these messages! Such a fun group! I can't wait for the time for us to be able to book fast passes. I feel like I'm in planning limbo until then (of course, I still check for the few ADRs I'm missing-- earlier Chef Mickey dinner for 4 on 12/4, my PPO BOG for 4 on 12/5, Ohana breakfast for 6 on 12/10) but I'm not so hopeful of being able to snag those before people start dropping ADRs once their fast passes are booked! As much as we'd like, I don't think my family is going to do any of the other things--- EMM, dessert party, HDDR or Christmas parties-- i feel like my kids are really too young (or too short!) to either get much out of it to stay up late! I'm enjoying living vicariously through your planning and keep looking into all these suggestions. I'm totally going to have to keep these all written down for a future December trip when the kiddos are older!

Here's how our trip is shaping up. I think i have it pretty flushed out and just hope to perfect it with FP+ and a few more ADRs, but at this point I can't imagine changing too much around. It's obviously not final since it includes plans for some ADRs that I don't have yet:

Sun 12/4 (Magic Kingdom):

• Arrive in Orlando around 1pm from Cocoa Beach; check in and head over to MK
• Spend a few hours in MK using some FP and SDFP!
• Dinner at Chef Mickey (current res is at 8:30 so if we can't move it earlier we'll go back to the hotel and drive back to Contemporary). If we can move it up to 7/7:30 we'll just walk over to Contemporary from MK
• If we score the earlier Chef Mickey, we might stay and watch the Wishes Fireworks from the Contemporary since we're not doing a Xmas party

Mon 12/5 (Magic Kingdom):

• Dream ADR is a PPO BOG breakfast, but thinking that is highly doubtful!
• RD MK (yes, it's the busy day but we'd already planned our days before adding in Sunday at MK). FP and SDFP in the am, book any additional 4th FPs for evening!
• Leave around lunch time for a LONG break at our hotel
• Back to MK for 7:10 BOG dinner
• Few rides and Fireworks

Tues 12/6 (Hollywood Studios):

• Late arrival at HS due to late MK night (10:30ish)
• Rides (will probably FP TSMM, and possibly Star Tours
• Disney Jr. Lunch at Hollywood & Vine
• Rides
• Fantasmic if our kids last!

Wed 12/7 (Epcot to celebrate DD's 5th birthday!):

• RD Epcot
• Spend AM in Future World
• Leave around lunch time for a LONG break at our hotel
• Back to Epcot for Akershus birthday dinner
• Meet Ana & Elsa and FEA (hopefully will score this FP+)
• Illuminations

Thurs 12/8 (Animal Kingdom):

• Late arrival at AK due to late night at Epcot. My best friend and her DD join us for this part of our trip, so our foursome becomes a sixsome!
• Tour AK
• Dinner at Tusker House
• Hopefully see RoL or some nighttime lights at AK. If not nighttime activities may due lunch at Tusker instead of dinner

Friday 12/9 (Magic Kingdom):

• RD MK for EMH
• Lunch at Crystal Palace
• Rides
• Evening at Disney Springs

Saturday 12/10:

• Breakfast at 'Ohana (hopefully will find this!)
• Hang out at resort or Disney Springs
• Autotrain home!

Some days have naps/breaks and some have later starts because I couldn't figure out how to factor in long breaks on the days the parks aren't open late. I'm crossing my fingers and toes my DS doesn't have a meltdown without the break and can just nap in the stroller!

This all sounds great! Nice flow!

 

[Mintycake]

Some MVMCP crowd information:

Undercover Tourist says in the week of December 4th, the 6th or 8th would be the best dates.

Touring Plans gives their predictions based on waits for rides, which is helpful but doesn't always measure the overall crowds at parades, fireworks, and in general. They have good historical information for 2015: http://blog.touringplans.com/2016/04/07/least-crowded-disney-world-christmas-party-2016/

WDW Prep School says Tuesdays are usually less crowded than other days of the week.

Thank you that's why I was thinking 12/6 if we do Christmas party.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

Thank you to all for the welcome! I love how friendly this group is! I have been reading through the thread slowly but surely - lots of great tips and advice even for those of us who have been many times...you can never get too much WDW planning advice IMO

Welcome, you pretty much have the same dates we do! Hope your planning is going well.

Thank you!!! Yeah it looks like you get there the day before me and stay a day longer...my plans have changed about a billion times and seem to still be changing at times But yes, for the most part it's going well...I hope yours is too!

another vet here who hasn't been back around xmas time in AGES. I can't wait either!

Thank you! There is just nothing like WDW at Christmas...it's magical! I can't wait to experience it again!

Welcome @HomeSweetDisney! (Great name! ) Super helpful and friendly group here--hope you enjoy it!

Thank you! I picked my name when I joined the DIS boards about a billion years ago so luckily I am still happy with it

And yes, this seems like an awesome group! I am happy I found ya'll!

 

[rasadkowski]

no boat to be in, truly. This won't affect you at all. By the time the RD lets you through to 7DMT the EMM people will be barfing in the bushes after riding it 12 times in a row.

Uuuhhhh uh oh!!! Does this ride give a lot of people motion sickness?! I'm totally avoiding soarin for that reason

 

[Mintycake]

no boat to be in, truly. This won't affect you at all. By the time the RD lets you through to 7DMT the EMM people will be barfing in the bushes after riding it 12 times in a row.

Okay. We are only planning to be at mk early on Sunday. The other 2 days will be late starts due to late nights prior so was bummed to hear about emm on the one day I scored a ppo breakfast at BOG. I am wondering if we can still get on 7dmt and pan before Rd crowd and then hoof it to princess fairytale hall or to merida m&g. That one is important to dd and I hear it's hard to meet her. Would love to see Alice at teacups too.

Does anyone know where to get good maps for the parks? I feel it would help when planning fp.

 

[rasadkowski]

Okay. We are only planning to be at mk early on Sunday. The other 2 days will be late starts due to late nights prior so was bummed to hear about emm on the one day I scored a ppo breakfast at BOG. I am wondering if we can still get on 7dmt and pan before Rd crowd and then hoof it to princess fairytale hall or to merida m&g. That one is important to dd and I hear it's hard to meet her. Would love to see Alice at teacups too.

Does anyone know where to get good maps for the parks? I feel it would help when planning fp.

I haven't been, so I don't know for certain but could you try to get fp early for the princesses?

 

[Lisa F]

Uuuhhhh uh oh!!! Does this ride give a lot of people motion sickness?! I'm totally avoiding soarin for that reason

haha I don't know but I think any roller coaster done 12 times in a row would lol. I would NOT avoid soarin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! seriously

remember disney quest? I got SO nauseous doing the VR stuff there. one was worse than the next. Soarin' has absolutely no motion sickness. it's just LOVELY. you have to try it at least once!

 

[rasadkowski]

haha I don't know but I think any roller coaster done 12 times in a row would lol. I would NOT avoid soarin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! seriously

remember disney quest? I got SO nauseous doing the VR stuff there. one was worse than the next. Soarin' has absolutely no motion sickness. it's just LOVELY. you have to try it at least once!

That's what I thought you were referring to ... About soarin.... I'll keep that in mind!!! Hahaha I get SEVERE motion sickness, and when I read some threads about that I made a mental check " nope!"

 

[Lisa F]

Okay. We are only planning to be at mk early on Sunday. The other 2 days will be late starts due to late nights prior so was bummed to hear about emm on the one day I scored a ppo breakfast at BOG. I am wondering if we can still get on 7dmt and pan before Rd crowd and then hoof it to princess fairytale hall or to merida m&g. That one is important to dd and I hear it's hard to meet her. Would love to see Alice at teacups too.

Does anyone know where to get good maps for the parks? I feel it would help when planning fp.

From what I have read (and it makes sense to me) there is zero impact on RD. there are so few people, and they are all doing the rides the RD people want to do before the RD people will be let in, so by the time RD happens it should be like any other RD. it's not like extra magic hours where there are tons of people filling up the queues before regular RD. It's what, 150 people or something? who will have had their fill of the mine train by the time you get there. No worries! scratch that one off your list (the concerns, not the plans!) Also it is pretty much a guarantee they won't open the MK at 8AM, which WOULD screw up your PPO in a big way... because they are not going to take everyone's money and then tell them they need to be there at 6:30am. not sure the sun is even up then that time of year!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/index.htm

the dis has them right here, they are large enough to get full detail.