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

[Iowamomof4]

Ah... yet another reason to do EMM on the first Tuesday and keep the party on Thursday: my 7yo (will be 8 when we go) has decided she wants to try 7dmt! She even requested that we go to MK first so she could ride it right away. She was okay when I told her the plan was to go to AK because she's looking forward to trying out The Boneyard playground (we missed that last time). I'm starting to be happy about the trip again! Maybe something at H&V will open up at the end of September/beginning of Oct as people make their fastpasses and make final decisions about their trips.

 

[Iowamomof4]

I'm just imagining the difference in our trip if she finds out near the beginning that she likes the coasters. Game.Changer.

She's a kid I could totally see going nutso over all the coasters and rides if she would just give them a try. She's full of spunk and energy but has a tendency to shy away from new things. I'm really hopeful about this though.

 

[Lisa F]

I just love food. Especially carbs. If there is pasta at a buffet it is GAME OVER. I love sweets too. That's why I'm not on the dining plan...it would be porker time! Dh of course is thin and eats what he likes. We hope the walking will help! I often make a meal of a couple of appetizers and dessert. Same with dd.

the walking does help me. I think exercise in general regulates my appetite too. Of course disney food is so salty and travel makes me retain water so I always gain a bit but it is gone in like a week of drinking water (with a few friends).

 

[rasadkowski]

I love hearing all about the Christmas party!! The snow, and the characters.. It sounds so fun! Have any of you been before? Or Have any of you been to the HAlloween party? Looking at the posted photos it looks like soooo much fun. Maybe our next trip when the girls are older I'll plan for that!! I l Love Halloween it'll be hard to choose between the two!

 

[Lisa F]

I love hearing all about the Christmas party!! The snow, and the characters.. It sounds so fun! Have any of you been before? Or Have any of you been to the HAlloween party? Looking at the posted photos it looks like soooo much fun. Maybe our next trip when the girls are older I'll plan for that!! I l Love Halloween it'll be hard to choose between the two!

I have done both. I did the christmas party YEARS ago and honestly don't remember a whole lot about it. I vaguely remember the snow (they used to set off snow in the streets for the Osborne Lights at the studios another thing I am sad is gone) but I don't remember much else. the 360 fireworks (at BOTH parties) are truly amazing to behold. IF you can manage to see regular wishes before you see the holiday ones, you should see them in that order. I have seen both more than once so it doesn't matter but holiday wishes will blow regular wishes OUT OF THE WATER. I love fireworks and will see some kind of evening show every night we are there, including both regular wishes and holiday wishes... but just saying if you've never done either I would def do regular first because you may be disappointed by them after Holiday

I have a bit of a preference for MNSSHP though. I think the after dark atmosphere is just even better for Halloween than xmas, and the addition of trick or treating and kiddos in costumes gives it the edge for me. I LOVED the parade. LOVED it. I have not seen the xmas parade in a very very long time though so I can't accurately compare right now but I have never been a huge fan of the daytime parade at WDW. It's always been "just okay" for me and for some reason in my head the christmas parade is a bit more like the daytime parade than the halloween parade is. But i haven't seen it in so long and it might be more fun at night for me. I vaguely remember a snowglobe float that took my breath away (I LOVE snowglobes) but I don't know if it's still even part of the parade. I think I also have a preference for fall and "pumpkin spice" time of year over winter and "peppermint and gingerbread" time of year.

All that said I never hesitated for a second to do MVMCP. we had an awesome time at MNSSHP even though we left right after fireworks so I am thinking that 2 more hours of rides will make up for whatever is slightly not as great for me as MNSSHP.

If you were planning a trip and only planned to do one in your lifetime i would pick MNSSHP.

edited to add, just looked up some pics of the christmas parade and I think this one benefits from being at night too. When I went it was definitely before the castle was all lit up for christmas the way it is - I have never seen it that way and it is STUNNING. stunning. There is a shot of the parade with the snow coming down and the castle in the background and I got a little choked up. So I think I'm gonna love this one too. And I think I have to see it from main street. And I think I have to see the early parade because it comes from that direction where it is backgrounded by the castle.

@Candycane83 we have to sit right here. IMO perfect view.

 

[pigletgirl]

I love looking at all of the parade pics! So fun! We can't wait!

 

[Iowamomof4]

I have done both. I did the christmas party YEARS ago and honestly don't remember a whole lot about it. I vaguely remember the snow (they used to set off snow in the streets for the Osborne Lights at the studios another thing I am sad is gone) but I don't remember much else. the 360 fireworks (at BOTH parties) are truly amazing to behold. IF you can manage to see regular wishes before you see the holiday ones, you should see them in that order. I have seen both more than once so it doesn't matter but holiday wishes will blow regular wishes OUT OF THE WATER. I love fireworks and will see some kind of evening show every night we are there, including both regular wishes and holiday wishes... but just saying if you've never done either I would def do regular first because you may be disappointed by them after Holiday

I have a bit of a preference for MNSSHP though. I think the after dark atmosphere is just even better for Halloween than xmas, and the addition of trick or treating and kiddos in costumes gives it the edge for me. I LOVED the parade. LOVED it. I have not seen the xmas parade in a very very long time though so I can't accurately compare right now but I have never been a huge fan of the daytime parade at WDW. It's always been "just okay" for me and for some reason in my head the christmas parade is a bit more like the daytime parade than the halloween parade is. But i haven't seen it in so long and it might be more fun at night for me. I vaguely remember a snowglobe float that took my breath away (I LOVE snowglobes) but I don't know if it's still even part of the parade. I think I also have a preference for fall and "pumpkin spice" time of year over winter and "peppermint and gingerbread" time of year.

All that said I never hesitated for a second to do MVMCP. we had an awesome time at MNSSHP even though we left right after fireworks so I am thinking that 2 more hours of rides will make up for whatever is slightly not as great for me as MNSSHP.

If you were planning a trip and only planned to do one in your lifetime i would pick MNSSHP.

edited to add, just looked up some pics of the christmas parade and I think this one benefits from being at night too. When I went it was definitely before the castle was all lit up for christmas the way it is - I have never seen it that way and it is STUNNING. stunning. There is a shot of the parade with the snow coming down and the castle in the background and I got a little choked up. So I think I'm gonna love this one too. And I think I have to see it from main street. And I think I have to see the early parade because it comes from that direction where it is backgrounded by the castle.

@Candycane83 we have to sit right here. IMO perfect view.

Wait, as to the bolded, are you saying the parade moves in the opposite direction for the 2nd run? I hadn't heard that before!

 

[Mal6586]

I love hearing all about the Christmas party!! The snow, and the characters.. It sounds so fun! Have any of you been before? Or Have any of you been to the HAlloween party? Looking at the posted photos it looks like soooo much fun. Maybe our next trip when the girls are older I'll plan for that!! I l Love Halloween it'll be hard to choose between the two!

This is our first Christmas party! We did the Halloween party in 2014 and LOVED it. I didn't care a whole lot about trick or treating, but I got to meet Jack and Sally in my genderbent Jack Skellington costume, and it was amazing. They checked out the details on my costume, and Sally told me she loved my spiders (on my earrings and hairbow), and that she had spider friends too.

Also riding Haunted Mansion during MNSSHP is a totally different experience. We must have ridden it at least 4 times that night.

My only regret was that we decided to go to the second parade, and we got caught up in the queue for something or another and got to a spot just as it was starting, so we missed the Headless Horseman's ride.

 

[Lisa F]

Wait, as to the bolded, are you saying the parade moves in the opposite direction for the 2nd run? I hadn't heard that before!

i don't know about the christmas parade in particular but in general when there are two parades in one day/evening they line up at one end and go in one direction and then go in the opposite direction for the second one. The MSEP does this - starts at main street one time and frontierland once.

edited to add: I think this is old info (it has been a long time since I paid attention). it seems like all of the party parades run "backwards" (frontierland to Main street). The daytime parade runs from main street to frontierland. Not sure about MSEP as it doesn't matter anymore. I took a keys to the kingdom tour a long time ago and at the time they explained that when they ran two parades they ran one in one direction and then one back but I think the view at night with the lit up castle is too good so they must run them both "backwards" for party parades. I think MSEP when it's run twice now always starts at main street.

 

[Lisa F]

This is our first Christmas party! We did the Halloween party in 2014 and LOVED it. I didn't care a whole lot about trick or treating, but I got to meet Jack and Sally in my genderbent Jack Skellington costume, and it was amazing. They checked out the details on my costume, and Sally told me she loved my spiders (on my earrings and hairbow), and that she had spider friends too.

Also riding Haunted Mansion during MNSSHP is a totally different experience. We must have ridden it at least 4 times that night.

My only regret was that we decided to go to the second parade, and we got caught up in the queue for something or another and got to a spot just as it was starting, so we missed the Headless Horseman's ride.

my kiddo of course was into ToT but even when i used to go as an adult we'd ToT at the end of the night and they would give us candy by the handfuls (they just honestly did not want to have to pack it all up by then). we used to bring home 3-4 gallon ziploc bags full of really decent mixed candies and put them out for the local kids at Halloween. Hey that much candy around Halloween would have been $30 or something! lol

 

[Mal6586]

my kiddo of course was into ToT but even when i used to go as an adult we'd ToT at the end of the night and they would give us candy by the handfuls (they just honestly did not want to have to pack it all up by then). we used to bring home 3-4 gallon ziploc bags full of really decent mixed candies and put them out for the local kids at Halloween. Hey that much candy around Halloween would have been $30 or something! lol

Now that's just plain resourceful!!

I might have been more into it if I hadn't been trying to be all cute in my costume and didn't take a decent sized purse with me. (Cue the "She's so vain" song! Haha!) I had this little clutch thing that kind of went with my outfit, and I found my candy bag a little cumbersome. If I had had the purse I used the whole rest of the trip on me (a pretty decent sized crossbody Kavu bag), I would probably have done it more since I wouldn't have had to carry it in my hand. I paid for my vanity though because it straight up downpoured for about thirty minutes in the middle of the party, and while I did have a cheap poncho in my clutch, it was literally the only time I didn't have a small umbrella with me the whole trip, and it was the only time it rained!

 

[Candycane83]

I have done both. I did the christmas party YEARS ago and honestly don't remember a whole lot about it. I vaguely remember the snow (they used to set off snow in the streets for the Osborne Lights at the studios another thing I am sad is gone) but I don't remember much else. the 360 fireworks (at BOTH parties) are truly amazing to behold. IF you can manage to see regular wishes before you see the holiday ones, you should see them in that order. I have seen both more than once so it doesn't matter but holiday wishes will blow regular wishes OUT OF THE WATER. I love fireworks and will see some kind of evening show every night we are there, including both regular wishes and holiday wishes... but just saying if you've never done either I would def do regular first because you may be disappointed by them after Holiday

I have a bit of a preference for MNSSHP though. I think the after dark atmosphere is just even better for Halloween than xmas, and the addition of trick or treating and kiddos in costumes gives it the edge for me. I LOVED the parade. LOVED it. I have not seen the xmas parade in a very very long time though so I can't accurately compare right now but I have never been a huge fan of the daytime parade at WDW. It's always been "just okay" for me and for some reason in my head the christmas parade is a bit more like the daytime parade than the halloween parade is. But i haven't seen it in so long and it might be more fun at night for me. I vaguely remember a snowglobe float that took my breath away (I LOVE snowglobes) but I don't know if it's still even part of the parade. I think I also have a preference for fall and "pumpkin spice" time of year over winter and "peppermint and gingerbread" time of year.

All that said I never hesitated for a second to do MVMCP. we had an awesome time at MNSSHP even though we left right after fireworks so I am thinking that 2 more hours of rides will make up for whatever is slightly not as great for me as MNSSHP.

If you were planning a trip and only planned to do one in your lifetime i would pick MNSSHP.

edited to add, just looked up some pics of the christmas parade and I think this one benefits from being at night too. When I went it was definitely before the castle was all lit up for christmas the way it is - I have never seen it that way and it is STUNNING. stunning. There is a shot of the parade with the snow coming down and the castle in the background and I got a little choked up. So I think I'm gonna love this one too. And I think I have to see it from main street. And I think I have to see the early parade because it comes from that direction where it is backgrounded by the castle.

@Candycane83 we have to sit right here. IMO perfect view.

Ok, I'm in love with that view!!! How early would we need to wait for that spot though??? Also, where exactly is the dessert party reserved space? I know by the flagpole but is that facing the gates? I can't seem to picture it in my head what direction it would be facing. After watching the parade there, we'd probably need to hustle to the hub to save space for fireworks?

 

[Candycane83]

I love hearing all about the Christmas party!! The snow, and the characters.. It sounds so fun! Have any of you been before? Or Have any of you been to the HAlloween party? Looking at the posted photos it looks like soooo much fun. Maybe our next trip when the girls are older I'll plan for that!! I l Love Halloween it'll be hard to choose between the two!

I've been to both in 2012. Last Halloween party and first Christmas party plus f&w that week! It was DH's first trip ever to Disney so I wanted to impress him it wasn't a full success (he's not going back every year or buying DVC) but we're going back now so I still see it as victory! Lol! Next time we probably go will be if and when I have a second one before turning 3. Hahaha! Sorry

Anyway going back, we loved the parade and fireworks but most of all the fireworks. The snow in Main Street was really nice too but I think it wasn't as special as it'll be this year since Osborne lights had it too (that impressed DH and me the most that trip so really sad to see it gone). We loved meeting all the characters too we didn't do too many shows or rides, mostly meeting characters parade and fireworks. I still don't know what we will do this year but I'm guessing DS2 would only last until after the fireworks if ever.

 

[Lisa F]

Ok, I'm in love with that view!!! How early would we need to wait for that spot though??? Also, where exactly is the dessert party reserved space? I know by the flagpole but is that facing the gates? I can't seem to picture it in my head what direction it would be facing. After watching the parade there, we'd probably need to hustle to the hub to save space for fireworks?

I think it is by the flagpole (so further down main street) facing the castle (not with back to castle). But you get a head on vs. a side view of it. I kind of like the side view. I don't think you need to hustle to get a space for fireworks. you just have to cram yourself in lol. it's all standing room there! with the parade what you really want is curbside sitting view.

 

[Lisa F]

the flagpole is right in the middle of the purple (good viewing) area and you'd be no center watching the parade come down main street. I think this is the view from there:

http://www.**************.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/YMVM589746-800x400.jpg
Where I proposed sitting for the parade is in the orange area right below the green area sort of closer to the green area with a view a bit more on the oblique, a bit more like this:

I tried to pick equivalent times in the parade but I think being further away and straight on that the flagpole view of the castle might get obscured with larger floats coming your way, though probably not until they are quite close.

You'd just have to get up and stand in the street for good fireworks viewing. You could try to move up a few steps to get into the green, but I think main street closer to the castle is no worse than the hub. I'm not sure if the hub is considered "preferred" for the 360 fireworks because there are no buildings around however I have seen them from Main Street and they are spectacular. My concern with tomorrowland terrace is that you'd completely lose the effect being under cover.

 

[Lisa F]

I WANT TO SEE THIS PARADE SO BADLY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Candycane83]

the flagpole is right in the middle of the purple (good viewing) area and you'd be no center watching the parade come down main street. I think this is the view from there:

http://www.**************.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/YMVM589746-800x400.jpg
Where I proposed sitting for the parade is in the orange area right below the green area sort of closer to the green area with a view a bit more on the oblique, a bit more like this:

I tried to pick equivalent times in the parade but I think being further away and straight on that the flagpole view of the castle might get obscured with larger floats coming your way.

You'd just have to get up and stand in the street for good fireworks viewing. You could try to move up a few steps but I think it is no worse than the hub. I'm not sure if the hub is considered "preferred" for the 360 fireworks because there are no buildings around however I have seen them from Main Street and they are spectacular. My concern with tomorrowland terrace is that you'd completely lose the effect being under cover.

Sorry by hub, I really meant closer to Casey's or the Plaza. I think that's ideal for these fireworks. DH and I watched it from Casey's last time and we had the hedges/ plants in front of us so it was perfect.

So for the parade, if you want a side view of it, it would have to be either in front of Main Street Confectionery or the Emporium? I think the dessert party may have the head on view? possible you think?

 

[Lisa F]

Sorry by hub, I really meant closer to Casey's or the Plaza. I think that's ideal for these fireworks. DH and I watched it from Casey's last time and we had the hedges/ plants in front of us so it was perfect.

So for the parade, if you want a side view of it, it would have to be either in front of Main Street Confectionery or the Emporium? I think the dessert party may have the head on view? possible you think?

View attachment 193123

yes the dessert party is head on view. for the parade I'd want to sit a little further back toward the middle of main street. then you can get up and walk closer to the castle for fireworks. It has never been my experience that "good fireworks viewing" is impossible to find right after a parade.

 

[Candycane83]

yes the dessert party is head on view. for the parade I'd want to sit a little further back toward the middle of main street. then you can get up and walk closer to the castle for fireworks. It has never been my experience that "good fireworks viewing" is impossible to find right after a parade.

Hmmm, in that case, close to Main Street bakery would be nice for parade and area in front of plaza would be perfect for fireworks? What do you think? (by the way, not sure if my screenshots work properly...)

 

[Lisa F]

Hmmm, in that case, close to Main Street bakery would be nice for parade and area in front of plaza would be perfect for fireworks? What do you think? (by the way, not sure if my screenshots work properly...)

View attachment 193127

it's working. yes I think so. A lot of people also follow the parade down and there is a fairly decent time space between parade and fireworks. I don't think it will be a problem finding a good spot for fireworks, I think it is just likely to be very crowded (not sure how that will impact kiddo for viewing). Tomorrowland terrace I think is just too far to the side and too covered to really experience the 360. I would not quibble AT ALL about the straight on parade view if fireworks were also straight on. But the combo of the two is flipped from what I feel is ideal.