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

[Talby]

@Candycane83 yes I saw the October schedule. I'm really surprised that Disney is only giving out dates a month in advance. This could seriously screw up our ADR's if the December SW shows aren't on nights we hope they are.

Not to be all grumpy, but it doesn't necessarily scream magical to give a mere 30 days advance notice.

 

[Mintycake]

Not to be all grumpy, but it doesn't necessarily scream magical to give a mere 30 days advance notice.

Agree. What grinds my gears is we are forced to make adrs 180 days in advance and fp 60 days out (if onsite) and then you can still get messed up by disney changing their schedule!

 

[Iowamomof4]

I'm wondering if this is some sort of sign that they're expecting light crowds through October. That, or they're trying to force all the non-free dining people (since most of October was blacked out) to purchase hoppers. Or they're just taking penny pinching to a whole new level. I'm just so bummed about this development.

 

[rasadkowski]

Just curious!!updated the Google list and noticed ###### on some times. What does that mean? Thanks happy Saturday!

Nevermind! I must have created some dummy copy of the sheet. All set now

 

[rasadkowski]

I haven't read through yet, but I feel really badly for everyone wanting the Star Wars party. I'm sorry Disney keeps changing dates and being so last minute about these big desirable events. I don't know if this is normal or not since it's my first visit. It's how I felt about EMM and just making adrs in general. I hope everyone can still go the day they wanted and its fantastic!

 

[SilSprBea]

So I got a Fitbit a few weeks ago. I'd been wanting one and I thought it would help me track and build up my walking levels (yesterday o got 14,000 steps!). It has the capability to sink to my phone via Bluetooth and vibrates when I get a text.

So now to how helpful my Fitbit had turned out in Disney planning. I sleep heavily and never hear texts at night if I get them. Last night at 3:30 I feel a vibration on my wrist and wake up to see a text from touring plans. It was for a better time on my fantastic lunch. I was able to scoop it up. If it hadn't been for the Fitbit I wouldn't have seen it until morning and surely would have missed out.

Anyway, thought I'd share my Fitbit story. I wanted to tell someone and my husband would have just rolled his eyes at me!

 

[TiggerManiac]

Just curious!!updated the Google list and noticed ###### on some times. What does that mean? Thanks happy Saturday!

I think it just means the column isn't wide enough to display all the info. I'll try to go in later when I'm on the laptop and adjust column width. Unless somebody gets there and does it before me.

 

[TiggerManiac]

I haven't read through yet, but I feel really badly for everyone wanting the Star Wars party. I'm sorry Disney keeps changing dates and being so last minute about these big desirable events. I don't know if this is normal or not since it's my first visit. It's how I felt about EMM and just making adrs in general. I hope everyone can still go the day they wanted and its fantastic!

Disney really needs to get themselves on a firm schedule and commit to making all park plans X months ahead of time. Then adjust the timing for making ADRs and FP so all of that is done a week or so (or more) after the schedule is released so people can plan based on real info.

Of course, the schedule could be changed in extenuating circumstances, but those honestly shouldn't happen very often, especially if there was a 2 or 3 month schedule.

 

[Candycane83]

Totally agree with the one month notice being so un-magical! not only will ADRs be difficult to rearrange, I can't imagine it when FPs are booked! I really hope Saturday works or I would probably throw a fit.


@Mintycake everyone of us has to give up something that would not work out for us! I think it'll be a great trip anyway! By the way, have you booked your flight yet?

 

[Talby]

I'm wondering if this is some sort of sign that they're expecting light crowds through October. That, or they're trying to force all the non-free dining people (since most of October was blacked out) to purchase hoppers. Or they're just taking penny pinching to a whole new level. I'm just so bummed about this development.

In my perfect world, what Disney cares about is that each guest has the most magical vacation ever and that's all that ever matters. When I take my head out of the sand, I tend to lean toward it being motivated by money in some way.

 

[Talby]

@Candycane83 AWWWWW.....He is ADORABLE!!

 

[Mintycake]

Totally agree with the one month notice being so un-magical! not only will ADRs be difficult to rearrange, I can't imagine it when FPs are booked! I really hope Saturday works or I would probably throw a fit.


@Mintycake everyone of us has to give up something that would not work out for us! I think it'll be a great trip anyway! By the way, have you booked your flight yet?

Yes I booked flights ages ago when I booked my hotel. Now I'm kicking myself as there are better deals and times available. Unfortunately my tickets are non refundable

 

[Mintycake]

Also it's tough we keep waffling on the Christmas party. The things putting me off it tho are the cost, fear that my daughter will melt down, and that it will be very crowded. Both dh and dd don't do well in big crowds and long wait times.

 

[rasadkowski]

I think it just means the column isn't wide enough to display all the info. I'll try to go in later when I'm on the laptop and adjust column width. Unless somebody gets there and does it before me.

It was definitely something on my end!! I have idea what. I think I ended up making copies of the sheet or something when I kept trying to save it somewhere!

 

[TiggerManiac]

Also it's tough we keep waffling on the Christmas party. The things putting me off it tho are the cost, fear that my daughter will melt down, and that it will be very crowded. Both dh and dd don't do well in big crowds and long wait times.

Just play it by ear. Buy the tickets while you're there if you think everybody would handle it well.

I'm waiting until we get there to decide, too, because I also don't like dealing with huge crowds. If a night I want to go is nearly sold out, that's probably not a good night for me to be there. I'd just end up cranky and feeling as if I'd wasted my money, and that's not very magical!

I may also wait to hear from those of you who go on 12/1 to decide if I want to risk going on 12/4, our last night before moving over to Universal for two extra unplanned nights.

 

[rasadkowski]

Totally agree with the one month notice being so un-magical! not only will ADRs be difficult to rearrange, I can't imagine it when FPs are booked! I really hope Saturday works or I would probably throw a fit.


@Mintycake everyone of us has to give up something that would not work out for us! I think it'll be a great trip anyway! By the way, have you booked your flight yet?

Yes I booked flights ages ago when I booked my hotel. Now I'm kicking myself as there are better deals and times available. Unfortunately my tickets are non refundable

i completely get that. i know it probably doesn't make you feel any better, but I just say I'm glad to have them and not worry about availability. You just never know. Plus, I don't fly much ( at all) so I'm not that savvy with knowing when is the best time to book.

 

[rasadkowski]

In my perfect world, what Disney cares about is that each guest has the most magical vacation ever and that's all that ever matters. When I take my head out of the sand, I tend to lean toward it being motivated by money in some way.

Ohhhh @Talby absolutely I hate to say it.. Disney marketing is pure genius. Especially with all of the extra EMM, Xmas party, etc. I know there are some people that say things like "a regular park ticket gets you nothing now!" I do see their point "a bit," but if people are willing to pay and go for extras, why shouldn't disney offer them, you know? And I'm one of us that love the extras and want to do everything!
Kinda off topic, but as for Disney merchandise, I collect a few of the Disney store limited edition dolls. There are whole blogs and Facebook pages about them and the tricks and marketing ploys used by disney store are really really disappointing and sad They know how to create demands and panic among really REALLY serious collectors. It's a business for sure

(Buuuut.. It's all still magical )

 

[areno79]

Not to be all grumpy, but it doesn't necessarily scream magical to give a mere 30 days advance notice.

Exactly!!

Agree. What grinds my gears is we are forced to make adrs 180 days in advance and fp 60 days out (if onsite) and then you can still get messed up by disney changing their schedule!

This is my biggest issue too, @Mintycake ! They make us plan SOOO far in advance, but then it feels like they're just randomly changing hours or events because they can. It's very frustrating, and I bet people are holding onto ADR's so that they have backup plans for their backups!

So I got a Fitbit a few weeks ago. I'd been wanting one and I thought it would help me track and build up my walking levels (yesterday o got 14,000 steps!). It has the capability to sink to my phone via Bluetooth and vibrates when I get a text.

So now to how helpful my Fitbit had turned out in Disney planning. I sleep heavily and never hear texts at night if I get them. Last night at 3:30 I feel a vibration on my wrist and wake up to see a text from touring plans. It was for a better time on my fantastic lunch. I was able to scoop it up. If it hadn't been for the Fitbit I wouldn't have seen it until morning and surely would have missed out.

Anyway, thought I'd share my Fitbit story. I wanted to tell someone and my husband would have just rolled his eyes at me!

That's awesome!! We have a special Get Fit challenge at work right now where we can buy discounted Fitbits. I have a regular Charge, but thinking of upgrading to either the Charge HR or the Fitbit Blaze. I'm worried about how bulky the Blaze is though. The text capability is cool though.

 

[areno79]

I'm wondering if this is some sort of sign that they're expecting light crowds through October. That, or they're trying to force all the non-free dining people (since most of October was blacked out) to purchase hoppers. Or they're just taking penny pinching to a whole new level. I'm just so bummed about this development.

That does seem like something Disney would do. I wondered as well if it was a knee jerk reaction to the low attendance being reported in the parks, and they're expecting crowds to increase in November/December so they'll offer more SW shows at that point. They really need to do something about nighttime entertainment, especially with MSEP going away, and the uncertainty around ROL and SW.

 

[areno79]

Yes I booked flights ages ago when I booked my hotel. Now I'm kicking myself as there are better deals and times available. Unfortunately my tickets are non refundable

If you booked southwest, I believe they'll credit you something if the price goes down.