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

[Mal6586]

My Re-Intro and Trip Details

Cast of Characters

Me (Amy): 51 years old, crochet designer/instructor, co-owner and Social Media Director of Crochetville, a large online community dedicated to crochet with our own message board with 67,000 members, a Facebook page with over 267,000 fans, and a blog. I also enjoy many other fiber arts such as knitting, spinning, weaving, and sbout to learn dyeing. I love to read (favorites are J K Rowling, L M Montgomery, J R R Tolkien, and lots of young adults authors); I love cozy mysteries, science fiction, and fantasy. I also enjoy reading comic books when I have the time. I also love cats (we have 6; the last 2 were accidents). I love the mountains (grew up in East Tennessee) and enjoy the beach.

DH (Mark): 55 years old, software engineer/manager for a company that does work for NASA and DoD; he's written all sorts of software for payload experiments on the old space shuttles and all sorts of experiments and life support systems for the International Space Station. He loves breeding saltwater fish when he has the time. He loves the beach and enjoys the mountains. In the Myers-Briggs personality testing, he's an ISTJ and I'm an INFP. He's about as introverted as you can get; I'm pretty much in the middle. In many ways we're opposites, but we complement each other well.

We have 2 kids. Our DD is 23 and just started her first year in grad school for a PhD at UNC Chapel Hill. She's mainly interested in genetics/genomics, but she could end up in cancer research. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 2011. Our DS is 20 and is attending community college in Tuscaloosa and working as a waiter while he figures out what he wants to do with his life.

When: November 26-Dec 5

Stopping now because I'm on the iPad. Will come back and edit to fill in the rest from the laptop.

Totally gonna be checking out Crochetville! My grandmother taught me, and while I still consider myself a slight beginner (the things I know how to make, I make really well, and anything else tends to suck until I make a LOT of whatever it is!), I LOVE it!

 

[pigletgirl]

For those touring USF, here is a good starting point!
https://www.universalorlando.com/Events/Holidays/Macys-Holiday-Parade.aspx

 

[Candycane83]

The holiday activities/decorations will be up by December 3rd. We'll be there the 5th so early in the holiday season!


Yep, they have Grinchmas, and the Macy's Holiday parade (with real balloons from The Macy's T-day Parade, in US). The parks will have decoration too, it seems, along with the HP areas.

Andddd, I just learned that Manheim Steamroller will kick of the holidays in USO with concerts on select nights! I would love to be able to do that, but it just isn't going to work this year.

I've been watching quite a bit of YouTube, as it helps a ton with figuring USO out.

Yup, we move to Disney on Dec 3 unfortunately. I would stay the day but we are planning to do the SW dessert party that night...

I don't think the HP areas are decorated unless that's something new this year? I saw people asking on the Universal boards and it seems like JK Rowling dictates what's allowed in the HP area?

 

[Candycane83]

My Re-Intro and Trip Details

Cast of Characters

Me (Amy): 51 years old, crochet designer/instructor, co-owner and Social Media Director of Crochetville, a large online community dedicated to crochet with our own message board with 67,000 members, a Facebook page with over 267,000 fans, and a blog. I also enjoy many other fiber arts such as knitting, spinning, weaving, and sbout to learn dyeing. I love to read (favorites are J K Rowling, L M Montgomery, J R R Tolkien, and lots of young adults authors); I love cozy mysteries, science fiction, and fantasy. I also enjoy reading comic books when I have the time. I also love cats (we have 6; the last 2 were accidents). I love the mountains (grew up in East Tennessee) and enjoy the beach.

DH (Mark): 55 years old, software engineer/manager for a company that does work for NASA and DoD; he's written all sorts of software for payload experiments on the old space shuttles and all sorts of experiments and life support systems for the International Space Station. He loves breeding saltwater fish when he has the time. He loves the beach and enjoys the mountains. In the Myers-Briggs personality testing, he's an ISTJ and I'm an INFP. He's about as introverted as you can get; I'm pretty much in the middle. In many ways we're opposites, but we complement each other well.

We have 2 kids. Our DD is 23 and just started her first year in grad school for a PhD at UNC Chapel Hill. She's mainly interested in genetics/genomics, but she could end up in cancer research. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 2011. Our DS is 20 and is attending community college in Tuscaloosa and working as a waiter while he figures out what he wants to do with his life.

When: November 26-Dec 5

Stopping now because I'm on the iPad. Will come back and edit to fill in the rest from the laptop.

Oh fellow young adult book fan here!! Love HP too but basically read a lot of young adult fiction along with mystery thrillers DH on the other hand is a gaming geek and a bit more outdoorsy than me. I like staying home to read or plan for Disney.

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

It's just me (LB) and my hubby (M) this time. We have always gone with my niece and mom (except our Disneymoon), but are excited to have this adventure alone this time. We've been married 7 years and will start the adoption process in the new year, so hopefully this is the last trip without a lil one. We're staying at Coronado Springs (new for us) Dec. 3-13 without a dining plan (something else that is new) and will be attending MVMCP on Dec. 8. I've been planning this trip for over 460 days and we're finally in the 80s--woohoo!

 

[TiggerManiac]

Finished editing my Re-Intro post up above with new info that was easier to type on the laptop.

Totally gonna be checking out Crochetville! My grandmother taught me, and while I still consider myself a slight beginner (the things I know how to make, I make really well, and anything else tends to suck until I make a LOT of whatever it is!), I LOVE it!

Can't wait to see you somewhere in our crochet media empire! I love making garments and accessories.

Oh fellow young adult book fan here!! Love HP too but basically read a lot of young adult fiction along with mystery thrillers DH on the other hand is a gaming geek and a bit more outdoorsy than me. I like staying home to read or plan for Disney.

My favorites now are Rick Riordan, Pittacus Lore, and Cassandra Clare.

 

[rasadkowski]

I've been looking for an Ohana or a Chef Mickey's on 12/8 pre-party....if the 12/8 CM's is still available, let me know

@areno79 oh no!!! I thought you were just looking for an earlier Ohana!! I dropped this one right after a successful exchange with the other one I'm so sorry, I feel horrible!! I even have the Ohana search set up!! I'll keep at it! I did have to drop them ASAP though to pick up something else .

 

[Maryemcd]

Yikes, 10+ pages to catch up!
Good morning all!!!


@areno79 - Our group of 4 adults and one 8 year old went to Chef Mickey's for breakfast in November 2014. Only my sister didn't like it because she complained it was too much food for breakfast. All traditional breakfast fare (no surprises) and we got to meet all the advertised characters. Only about a 5 minute wait for us.

@Talby - see my comments above about CM. I would do it again, but you said you already have 2 other character meals so you may not need CM. In my 4 trips so far, that's my only character meal so we're going a little overboard with 4 character meals this trip but not CM again.

@ilovetotravel1977 - ouch! Although I like to plan and think of ideas far in advance, I don't usually book that far in advance. That's tough.

@rasadkowski - I haven't bought the tickets yet, but I'm planning 2 nights at MVMCP (one with the dessert party - unless the reviews are terrible). It gives us a chance at the party with lower crowds and lower waits for rides. Plus, I love the holiday vibes. We went in 2014 and felt like we didn't see much. We saw fireworks from some random spot without a full view. We did have a good spot for 2 of us for the parade, but the other 3 were too tired and sat back on a planter.
@Iowamomof4 - ditto!

@TiggerManiac - awesome updates to the spreadsheet! I'll update my dates soon.
My options for the SW Dessert Party are still 12/5 and then 12/3. Looks like so far they will be held on those dates.

Crochetville!! I've done some, but it isn't a passion. I love counted cross stitch and my mother-in-law and I used to do this together (I have dozens of framed pieces). Since she passed, I haven't done much but in cleaning out my basement I picked up a few unfinished things and started on them again this weekend. I'm an avid reader too - all types of novels.

@pigletgirl - don't give me any ideas about second guessing my itinerary!! I have a couple of ADRs on hold (with slightly different times), but overall I'm happy.

@LisaF - take care of yourself! I know I don't get enough sleep during the week and try to catch up a little bit on the weekends. As I get older (into my 40's), I definitely can tell my memory and thinking gets worse during the day if I haven't slept!

@SilSprBea - In January of 2011, the Stitch ride was themed for Aliens. That's when I went on it. Sometime between then and 2014 it was changed to Stitch. Sorry, I can't really help with your 'Ohana dilemma. Haven't been there or Cape May.

@mexxican - It is supposed to be a lower crowd week, but all of the online postings still say there is never a completely "dead" week at WDW.

@sharkyandbones - We loved US too and I'd love to go back for a third time. Since I still haven't seen all of WDW, this trip is focused on that. Multi-day tickets are cheaper too so it makes sense to spend more days at that park on another trip (e.g., buy 2 days get 3 free).


...speaking of pumpkin spice. I'm not an uber-fan, but I did pick up Pumpkin Spice Cheerios the other day. Pretty good.

Hi to everyone else and have a great day.

 

[Maryemcd]

Travelers: Me (Mary)(IT Business Partner at a pharmaceutical company - I fulfill numerous technology requests, manage projects, and I'm a general jill-of-all trades for one of our U.S. sales forces), sister (Rosanna)(General Manager at a Wyndam resort), and our 10-year old nephew. Our better halves and his parents are staying home.

Staying: off-site at a timeshare resort

Dates: December 2 - December 8

Activities:
Wild Africa Trek: December 3
MK EMM: December 4
MVMCP with dessert party December 4
MVMCP: December 6

Star Wars Dessert Party: Planning for December 5 (or 3rd)

ADRs: Only 5 that are finalized as of now. We're going to have breakfast snacks a couple of days and wing it in Epcot.

 

[Lisa F]

It's just me (LB) and my hubby (M) this time. We have always gone with my niece and mom (except our Disneymoon), but are excited to have this adventure alone this time. We've been married 7 years and will start the adoption process in the new year, so hopefully this is the last trip without a lil one. We're staying at Coronado Springs (new for us) Dec. 3-13 without a dining plan (something else that is new) and will be attending MVMCP on Dec. 8. I've been planning this trip for over 460 days and we're finally in the 80s--woohoo!

I used to love to go to WDW without kids (when I was married, have never been solo... it was one of the things we truly enjoyed together). Went for years and years. Nothing is as awesome as going with your kids. Congrats on beginning the process of starting your family! it is an exciting time for you! you're about to embark on a whole new stage both of your life but also of Disney vacationing! Good luck with all of it!

 

[rasadkowski]

DGood morning everyone!

I don't think I have actually formally introduced myself But, I'm traveling 12/3-12/10 with my parents, husband and two little girls (6 and 4) We are staying at the Poly. I;ve always wanted to stay there when we would pass by it on the monorail
I grew up in FL, so we would go to Disney for day trips all of the time. I loved it so much!! I have not been there in almost 20 years!!! And I am so very excited to go back and visit with my girls. I am a bit anxious too (well, more than a bit.) about all of the changes there are! FP, ADRs, no MSEP , and just a complete overall change in the atmosphere. I know it will be as magical as it always was. I am just anxious about how different it will be.

I don't even remember how many times i've changed my plans. I actually do not even remember what my original plans were!! We are VERY early risers, which I think I have mentioned So, we have early days and early nights. Except I am hoping for Fantasmic and Rol My plan would be to go, and get the heck out of there asap to get them in bed!
But, right now, this is what I have and would L O V E
I am very aware that we have an absurd amount of character meals

12/3 arrival day. Maybe go to T-Rex for lunch or just a quick service and we have Chef Mickey's for dinner
12/4 EMM MK. spend the day there and return to the Poly. 1900 Park Fare for very early dinner (410)
12/5 Crystal palace breakfast and day at MK. Return to Poly. (REALLY HOPING FOR H&V! HERE!!!! or if not Ohana 400)
12/6 PPO BOG and MK. (Or Ohana Breakfast and hang out at pool for a bit if exhausted.) Back to Poly. swim (i hope!) and 500 Ohana. (OR could have H&V! here if possible.)
12/7 PPO Akershus breakfast and day at Epcot. Back to Poly. Dinner at CRT 425
12/8 AK Tusker House breakfast and day at AK. Back to Poly
Plan A: Dinner at Yak and Yeti and RoL
Plan B: H&V! at HS if I can get it on this day!
Plan C Dinner at Biergarten Epcot
12/9 Not sure yet...Either back to Epcot or Back to MK. Dinner at BOG 515
12/10 Pout on the way to the Airport

I have never dealt with staying onsite, adrs, planning such a detailed itinerary without knowing key info or events that aren't yet actually IN my plans , or park hopping, so I really don't know how this schedule will work...And....as always....still a work in progress

 

[Lisa F]

DGood morning everyone!

I don't think I have actually formally introduced myself But, I'm traveling 12/3-12/10 with my parents, husband and two little girls (6 and 4) We are staying at the Poly. I;ve always wanted to stay there when we would pass by it on the monorail
I grew up in FL, so we would go to Disney for day trips all of the time. I loved it so much!! I have not been there in almost 20 years!!! And I am so very excited to go back and visit with my girls. I am a bit anxious too (well, more than a bit.) about all of the changes there are! FP, ADRs, no MSEP , and just a complete overall change in the atmosphere. I know it will be as magical as it always was. I am just anxious about how different it will be.

I don't even remember how many times i've changed my plans. I actually do not even remember what my original plans were!! We are VERY early risers, which I think I have mentioned So, we have early days and early nights. Except I am hoping for Fantasmic and Rol My plan would be to go, and get the heck out of there asap to get them in bed!
But, right now, this is what I have and would L O V E

12/3 arrival day. Maybe go to T-Rex for lunch or just a quick service and we have Chef Mickey's for dinner
12/4 EMM MK. spend the day there and return to the Poly. 1900 Park Fare for very early dinner (410)
12/5 Crystal palace breakfast and day at MK. Return to Poly. (REALLY HOPING FOR H&V! HERE!!!! or if not Ohana 400)
12/6 PPO BOG and MK. Back to Poly. swim (i hope!) and 500 Ohana. (OR could have H&V! here if possible.)
12/7 PPO Akershus breakfast and day at Epcot. Back to Poly. Dinner at CRT 425
12/8 AK Tusker House breakfast and day at AK. Back to Poly
Plan A: Dinner at Yak and Yeti and RoL
Plan B: H&V! at HS if I can get it on this day!
Plan C Dinner at Biergarten Epcot
12/9 Not sure yet...Either back to Epcot or Back to MK. Dinner at BOG 515
12/10 Pout on the way to the Airport

I have never dealt with staying onsite, adrs, planning such a detailed itinerary without knowing key info or events that aren't yet actually IN my plans , or park hopping, so I really don't know how this schedule will work...And....as always....still a work in progress

I don't think you will find it all that different. I have been going for almost 20 years and the more things change, the more they stay the same. Still feels the same to me even with a lot of changes. You are going to have a great time! Your plans look good too!

 

[rasadkowski]

I don't think you will find it all that different. I have been going for almost 20 years and the more things change, the more they stay the same. Still feels the same to me even with a lot of changes. You are going to have a great time! Your plans look good too!

Thank you so much @Lisa F !! Your opinion really means a lot!

 

[Lisa F]

Thank you so much @Lisa F !! Your opinion really means a lot!

aw you're so sweet. Honestly I think that the people who have the worst opinions of the place are the people who go too much. What's too much? When everything starts losing its luster and shine you go too much, lol. A lot of people enjoy things through being critical of it. I read the disboards a bit before going in 2014 and it had been 4 years since I was last there. previous to that i was going once a year when the kiddo was 6 months and 18 months or so and before that we were going 3-4 times a year. If you read some posts by people who go all the time it's the end of the world as I knew it... but it wasn't, it was amazing! My great memories were eclipsed by the reality of going there with the person I love most in the world! It's still a great place even with budget cuts and whatever else. the reality is even with some things being cut there is more than you can do in a week anyway.

 

[areno79]

The holiday activities/decorations will be up by December 3rd. We'll be there the 5th so early in the holiday season!


Yep, they have Grinchmas, and the Macy's Holiday parade (with real balloons from The Macy's T-day Parade, in US). The parks will have decoration too, it seems, along with the HP areas.

Andddd, I just learned that Manheim Steamroller will kick of the holidays in USO with concerts on select nights! I would love to be able to do that, but it just isn't going to work this year.

I've been watching quite a bit of YouTube, as it helps a ton with figuring USO out.

Cool, I'll have to go check out YouTube. Thanks for the tip!

Totally gonna be checking out Crochetville! My grandmother taught me, and while I still consider myself a slight beginner (the things I know how to make, I make really well, and anything else tends to suck until I make a LOT of whatever it is!), I LOVE it!

Ditto! My mom taught me to crochet when I was 9, and I'm just kind of self-taught from there. Last year I made 2 baby hats that I learned from watching a YouTube video, and I've made numerous (easy) scarves and blankets. My issue is that I'm not so great at following patterns. LOL

@areno79 oh no!!! I thought you were just looking for an earlier Ohana!! I dropped this one right after a successful exchange with the other one I'm so sorry, I feel horrible!! I even have the Ohana search set up!! I'll keep at it! I did have to drop them ASAP though to pick up something else .

Aww, don't even worry about it!! I have so many backups, it's not the end of the world. Please don't feel badly! I appreciate you checking for me

@Maryemcd Thanks for the Chef Mickey's review. It's for 7:15 which is crazy early, but I know it's highly coveted. I know I'm in the minority, but we love it for dinner, we've just never been for breakfast.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Here is a quick introduction:

travelers: just DH and I (Sue) - we are grandparents and until 2013 we only traveled to WDW once every year or two. But once we bought an annual pass, we were hooked. We've had quite a few trips to WDW in the past three years.

We have three children, all grown with kids of their own. Our trips have evolved from traveling to Disney with just the five of us to adding significant others, and then having the kids plan (and pay) for their own trips. We've gone to Disney with just the two of us and we've also gone with the kids, grandchildren and my sisters.

where: Grand Floridian - we originally had a reservation at the BC, our favorite resort, when our TA offered a free upgrade to GF. Since we haven't stayed at the GF since 1988 or 1989, we jumped at the offer. We are looking forward to exploring the monorail resorts but I know we will miss the convenience of walking into Epcot from the BC. But it is always fun to explore new resorts.

Dates: Dec 3rd to 7th - short trip. I still work full time and this year I am running out of vacation days at work. We like to travel, I promised DH that we would take a 6 day trip next year.

 

[Talby]

It's just me (LB) and my hubby (M) this time. We have always gone with my niece and mom (except our Disneymoon), but are excited to have this adventure alone this time. We've been married 7 years and will start the adoption process in the new year, so hopefully this is the last trip without a lil one. We're staying at Coronado Springs (new for us) Dec. 3-13 without a dining plan (something else that is new) and will be attending MVMCP on Dec. 8. I've been planning this trip for over 460 days and we're finally in the 80s--woohoo!

Congratulations to you, LB! Adoption is something very near and dear to my heart and I'm thrilled for you. I worked at an adoption agency for several years (both international/domestic). Part of my job involved being an escort for babies from Korea. I traveled to the orphanage in Seoul, got all the paperwork in order, and flew back with the babies. Usually it was 3 escorts at a time, each with 3 babies, so 9 babies total for a 16-hour flight from Seoul to Detroit! It was NOT boring! lol I was so attached to them by the time we got home! I'll tell you, not many feelings compare to literally handing a baby to his/her parents who have been eagerly anticipating their baby becoming part of their family. I've seen so many families' dreams come true through both international and domestic adoption and it warms my heart beyond words. Truly happy for you and wish you all the best! ----

 

[Mal6586]

Ditto! My mom taught me to crochet when I was 9, and I'm just kind of self-taught from there. Last year I made 2 baby hats that I learned from watching a YouTube video, and I've made numerous (easy) scarves and blankets. My issue is that I'm not so great at following patterns. LOL

Amen! The weird thing is that some patterns I can follow to a tee, and then others might as well be in German! I tried to start a pair of Converse sneaker style slippers the other day (my first foray into footwear), and it was a disaster. What should have fit my foot (ladies 9.5) might have fit a 3rd grader.

 

[Talby]

@ALL It's SO GREAT to get to know everyone better with these introductions!!

 

[Iowamomof4]

Our plans have changed. A lot. And just when I think.....ahhhhh, all set!....I get another bright idea to switch things up for some reason. So excited to know what the final version will be! lol

LOL - I so hear you on that! All along we had been planning to do the Tuesday night party (11/29) because I wanted to do it early in the trip and thought that particular Tuesday seemed the best hope for being the least crowded. However, just in the last week or so, we've switched our thinking to the Thursday night party. Thursday night happens to be when I have H&V dinner booked, so now I have to find a new ADR for that one on a new night! Dh and I took a walk last night though and I said, "Under what circumstances do you think we would switch back to thinking about the Tuesday party again?" I like planning, but sometimes I get frustrated that we can't know what itinerary we'll settle on until we actually get there. Like, why didn't I figure out our current plan BEFORE I made our initial ADR's?! It would have been so much easier.