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

[Winniebell10]

Thank you! Your little one is adorable as well!!

She won't know we are going to WDW until that morning. We will arrive at 9:30. Hoping to get her to nap since we have to be at the airport at 4am!! Chef Mickey at 2pm, and then heading on over!! Hoping it will be the best birthday surprise ever (She turns 5 on the 9th!).

Trying again, our oldest turns 14 on the 9th. Great day for a birthday. Should be an awesome surprise for your daughter! Our son knows about the trip, but he is really excited.

 

[JamieOak]

Have any of y'all played around with the personalized plans on Touring Plans website? I just spent way too much time fussing with an Epcot and Animal Kingdom one before I gave up. I finally got my Epcot one to look semi-logical, but it did not like me trying to make logically physically close stops at attractions in Animal Kingdom for some reason. Thinking my usual plan of attack, which is plan my fast passes and wing everything else is making more sense than trying to plan out a legit touring plan.

I did my Animal Kingdom day yesterday on TP and it really did take a while to get familiar with it. I agree with a previous poster that it did not seem to do the most logical order of things when you "optimize". I'm guessing that has something to do with optimizing wait times vs walking. So I let it create the plan, but then I moved everything (many times!) while I also had my own park map open to look at. I did have to put in a "break" to represent my Wild Africa Trek, because that isn't in the system to select. I finally like the flow of it and I let it suggest where to add FPs until I had 6 chosen. Yes, you can tell it you will have 6 FPs instead of the usual 3 under Advanced Options. From that, I can then pick which 3 I should pre-book on my FP day. The other 3 I will hope I can get SDFP, or I will be flexible.

I just worry that using TP will cause me to overplan days. But so far I've only done 1 AK day and started one for MVMCP. I think as I get more of them I will see where I have too much and can relax the plan. I showed the AK day plan to my husband and his eyes got big, but then he said "Oh that's cool." Totally not the response I was expecting since he hates having schedules and plans. Maybe he's just being nice today for some self-motivated reason.

 

[JamieOak]

I wish there was a good way to post the Touring Plan here. Copy/pasting is ugly. I did see you can "make it public" and then provide the website for people to see it. That is one way we could share our plans in TP if we'd like to for comments/questions.

 

[Candycane83]

I wish there was a good way to post the Touring Plan here. Copy/pasting is ugly. I did see you can "make it public" and then provide the website for people to see it. That is one way we could share our plans in TP if we'd like to for comments/questions.

A screenshot would probably work on a PC I had the same issue with optimizing and not having FPs booked plus some character meets in between... I think I'll try again tomorrow and maybe post what I get

 

[Iowamomof4]

I'm going to see if I can get a little more detailed with my current plans and see if anything sticks out to anyone as a bad idea.

11/26 - arrive at MCO around 11 pm, hopefully asleep by 2 am at Pop.
11/27 (Sunday) - around 11 am - Go to AK and activate tickets a day early. See about SDFP for DINOSAUR and EE, possibly KS (though I don't know what SDFP availability looks like for it these days). Otherwise, we want to hit Flights of Wonder and explore around primarily Dinoland and Asia for the afternoon. We'll also pick up a Wilderness Explorer guide and maybe do some of the badges for it. Oh, and give the younger kids a chance to play at the Boneyard.

11/28 - Move to AoA as early as possible, then get over to DHS for the day. FP+ TSMM, ToT, and ST - we'll probably aim for beginning our FP's around 11 am to give ourselves wiggle room in case we hit a snag in our transfer from Pop to AoA. 5:35 dinner at H&V (currently have ADR for 4, hope to add 2 at some point for roughly the same time)
Catch SW fireworks after dinner. We'll be pushing it to find a good spot if the fireworks are at 7, I'm hoping they'll extend the close of DHS a bit later. SW fireworks are the priority, so if they're scheduled for 7, we'll ask for the check right away and just eat kind of quickly. We don't really care about the characters, we just want a buffet in the park.

11/29 - EMM at MK!!! We're all looking forward to this as much or more than anything else on our trip! We'll get our fill of 7dmt (assuming it's operating), Pooh, and PP during the first hour. As soon as the rope drops, the girls and I will head to meet Rapunzel while Dh takes the boys to Space Mountain. We'll all meet at Speedway for a quick ride there before heading over to Adventureland and Frontierland for the rest of the morning. I hope to FP BTMRR, PoTC, and Jingle Cruise. We'll grab a bite at Pecos Bill's if we get hungry or I also currently have an ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern at 1:00. The plan is to stay at MK until we get too tired or bored, then go back to AoA for dinner and head to bed early.

11/30 - Epcot, rope drop! At rope drop we'll head directly to Joy and Sadness first, then to Soarin'. If the wait at Soarin' is too long already, we'll divert to LWTL. ADR at GG at 10:25 AM. FP priority is FEA but I'll happily settle for a Soarin' fastpass if we can't get FEA. We'll also have fastpasses for Spaceship Earth and possibly Mission:Space. We'll spend the whole day at Epcot and hope to spend a good chunk of time in WS. ADR at Biergarten at 4:35.

12/1 - MVMCP day! 10:55 breakfast at Boma. Dh and the younger kids might stick around AKL for awhile to do some activities after breakfast (or before if we get there early). Teens and I might head to Disney Springs for a bit. At 3:00 we'll all plan to be back at AoA so we can head to the party together or we might all meet at Disney Springs and ride to the Contemporary and walk over from there. We'll see. It's a very flexible day other than the party and our ADR.

12/2 - Epcot, late arrival. 11:15 breakfast ADR at Captain's Grille (Yacht Club). I hope to FP FEA in the early afternoon and probably set up fastpasses for the morning that will go unused so we have a chance to pick up a SDFP for either TT, Soarin', or something over at another park. This will be a flexible afternoon where Dh might take the younger kids back to swim at AoA and DS15 might decide to head out to AK or DHS on his own while DD16 and I work our way through more of World Showcase. We'll just play it all by ear other than our FEA fastpass (assuming I can secure one).

12/3 - AK EMH and stay until we're bored, then hop to DHS where we'll have our fastpasses booked for RnRR, ToT, and ST. Just quick service for this day as long as we can get H&V done on the previous Monday like I hope to. We'll finish the night with SW fireworks again if we want.

12/4 - MK rope drop. 10:35 AM Crystal Palace ADR. FP+ at 7DMT, BTMRR, Space, and possibly something else for myself and dd8 (assuming she doesn't want to do Space Mountain). Stay and play all day until 5:30 when we'll leave for our 6:30 Whispering Canyon ADR.

12/5 (Mon) - Epcot. By now, I don't know if we'll be worrying about hitting rope drops. Again, FP at FEA (hopefully at 11) with other fastpasses scheduled earlier and allowed to expire. Tutto Italia 12:35 pm. Rest of the day is available for whatever we want to do, either to stay at Epcot, hop to another park, hit Disney Springs again, or head back for swimming at the resort.

12/6 - MK rope drop, finish evening at DHS. We'll probably do our Fastpasses at MK for the roller coasters again. We'll make sure to hit anything we've missed up to this point and then say "good bye" to the castle one last time. 50's Prime Time at 6:35 pm. We'll arrive at DHS at whatever time we want to, possibly get in one last ride or two, then eat dinner and head back for packing. We'll probably have a gazillion snacks to buy for the trip home and whatnot.

12/7 - Pack up and check out by 11, grab lunch at Landscape of Flavors early and be ready for Tragical Express around noon for our 3:00 pm flight out of MCO. (oh, we'll make sure to have our bags to RAC early)

EDIT: Total park times: MK - 2 full days, 2 partial days; Epcot - 3 full days; DHS - 1 full day, 2 afternoons; AK - 1 full, 1 morning

 

[rasadkowski]

I've seen others complaining about the same thing....
I got a text a week ago for a CP lunch...and several others before that.
This was the first BOG dinner on my date that came and went

Which day/ time do you need crystal palace? Are you still searching? I have two I reserved waiting for EMM that I still haven't dropped!

 

[JamieOak]

Ok I'll test this. I think this is my first time posting pictures in general so I hope it's right. Sorry, it's pretty huge. My first thought is it seems like I have too much in there and should remove some and leave them for when I do another 1/2 day at AK later in the trip. Also, are the times for the shows even right? Do they have some shows at 6:00pm when the park is scheduled to close at 6:00pm?

 

[Candycane83]

Ok I'll test this. I think this is my first time posting pictures in general so I hope it's right. Sorry, it's pretty huge. My first thought is it seems like I have too much in there and should remove some and leave them for when I do another 1/2 day at AK later in the trip. Also, are the times for the shows even right? Do they have some shows at 6:00pm when the park is scheduled to close at 6:00pm?


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I haven't looked yet but some people reported being able to add in rivers of light in their plans... Did you see it by any chance? Also you seem to go back and forth a lot in these plans... I know it tried to optimize this but it looks a little tiring to me? Did you try fixing it by area and letting touring plans evaluate it instead of optimizing?

 

[JamieOak]

I haven't looked yet but some people reported being able to add in rivers of light in their plans... Did you see it by any chance? Also you seem to go back and forth a lot in these plans... I know it tried to optimize this but it looks a little tiring to me? Did you try fixing it by area and letting touring plans evaluate it instead of optimizing?

You can select ROL, but then it gives an error that it doesn't have a time so it needs removed to continue. With optimizaiton it had me bouncing around more than I am. So I chose the order and let TP evaluate it instead of optimize it. I can see that it could be better though, so I'm sure I'll keep playing with it. Once I got it where everything actually fit in the park hours, I quit. haha

 

[Candycane83]

You can select ROL, but then it gives an error that it doesn't have a time so it needs removed to continue. With optimizaiton it had me bouncing around more than I am. So I chose the order and let TP evaluate it instead of optimize it. I can see that it could be better though, so I'm sure I'll keep playing with it. Once I got it where everything actually fit in the park hours, I quit. haha

I know what you mean, it's like a jigsaw puzzle missing a piece!

 

[JamieOak]

I know what you mean, it's like a jigsaw puzzle missing a piece!

Yep! I'm moving on with my other days and I'll come back to it with fresh eyes and things will make more sense. I don't want to feel rushed either, I want to be able to stop in shops and see some shows that I currently don't have in there. I think my main goal was to see if I did think I needed more time at AK and the answer is yes!

 

[Tattylou]

Which day/ time do you need crystal palace? Are you still searching? I have two I reserved waiting for EMM that I still haven't dropped!

Can I jump in on this? I'm looking for a Crystal Palace breakfast for 6 on Dec 2. I didn't read all the threads, but saw that you said this and figured I'd ask. Thx!!

 

[Iowamomof4]

I posted this on my "other" thread but wanted to share it with all of you, too, because I'm just sure you can relate!

Oh my goodness, you guys! I'm having such a hard time making myself do my regular work!! I just want to plan, plan, plan then eat and plan some more! I'm supposed to be teaching my kids here... and doing my housework... but I find myself doing more and more of this... so I can and and and .

 

[areno79]

Have any of y'all played around with the personalized plans on Touring Plans website? I just spent way too much time fussing with an Epcot and Animal Kingdom one before I gave up. I finally got my Epcot one to look semi-logical, but it did not like me trying to make logically physically close stops at attractions in Animal Kingdom for some reason. Thinking my usual plan of attack, which is plan my fast passes and wing everything else is making more sense than trying to plan out a legit touring plan.

I've been trying all day to do the customized touring plans. I think I have most of my FP selections nailed down for non MK days.

I'm so frustrated with the reservation finder. It is no longer sending texts, just emails. I missed a BOG dinner for 12/5... I saw the email 3 hours after it was sent.
Going to go cry now...

Oh, that stinks @BDFmom !!! I just have to keep hoping that people will release ADR's we want as the time gets closer!

I just bought the Unofficial Guide for 2017 today!! Can't wait to get out of work and check it out, and sign up for Touring Plans. I'm interested to see what it comes up with!

 

[rasadkowski]

Can I jump in on this? I'm looking for a Crystal Palace breakfast for 6 on Dec 2. I didn't read all the threads, but saw that you said this and figured I'd ask. Thx!!

Ohh I'd love to help, but my trip starts 12/3, and our first mk day is 12/4. Do you have another day further in that would work?

 

[BDFmom]

I'm going to see if I can get a little more detailed with my current plans and see if anything sticks out to anyone as a bad idea.

11/26 - arrive at MCO around 11 pm, hopefully asleep by 2 am at Pop.
11/27 (Sunday) - around 11 am - Go to AK and activate tickets a day early. See about SDFP for DINOSAUR and EE, possibly KS (though I don't know what SDFP availability looks like for it these days). Otherwise, we want to hit Flights of Wonder and explore around primarily Dinoland and Asia for the afternoon. We'll also pick up a Wilderness Explorer guide and maybe do some of the badges for it. Oh, and give the younger kids a chance to play at the Boneyard.

11/28 - Move to AoA as early as possible, then get over to DHS for the day. FP+ TSMM, ToT, and ST - we'll probably aim for beginning our FP's around 11 am to give ourselves wiggle room in case we hit a snag in our transfer from Pop to AoA. 5:35 dinner at H&V (currently have ADR for 4, hope to add 2 at some point for roughly the same time)
Catch SW fireworks after dinner. We'll be pushing it to find a good spot if the fireworks are at 7, I'm hoping they'll extend the close of DHS a bit later. SW fireworks are the priority, so if they're scheduled for 7, we'll ask for the check right away and just eat kind of quickly. We don't really care about the characters, we just want a buffet in the park.

11/29 - EMM at MK!!! We're all looking forward to this as much or more than anything else on our trip! We'll get our fill of 7dmt (assuming it's operating), Pooh, and PP during the first hour. As soon as the rope drops, the girls and I will head to meet Rapunzel while Dh takes the boys to Space Mountain. We'll all meet at Speedway for a quick ride there before heading over to Adventureland and Frontierland for the rest of the morning. I hope to FP BTMRR, PoTC, and Jingle Cruise. We'll grab a bite at Pecos Bill's if we get hungry or I also currently have an ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern at 1:00. The plan is to stay at MK until we get too tired or bored, then go back to AoA for dinner and head to bed early.

11/30 - Epcot, rope drop! At rope drop we'll head directly to Joy and Sadness first, then to Soarin'. If the wait at Soarin' is too long already, we'll divert to LWTL. ADR at GG at 10:25 AM. FP priority is FEA but I'll happily settle for a Soarin' fastpass if we can't get FEA. We'll also have fastpasses for Spaceship Earth and possibly Mission:Space. We'll spend the whole day at Epcot and hope to spend a good chunk of time in WS. ADR at Biergarten at 4:35.

12/1 - MVMCP day! 10:55 breakfast at Boma. Dh and the younger kids might stick around AKL for awhile to do some activities after breakfast (or before if we get there early). Teens and I might head to Disney Springs for a bit. At 3:00 we'll all plan to be back at AoA so we can head to the party together or we might all meet at Disney Springs and ride to the Contemporary and walk over from there. We'll see. It's a very flexible day other than the party and our ADR.

12/2 - Epcot, late arrival. 11:15 breakfast ADR at Captain's Grille (Yacht Club). I hope to FP FEA in the early afternoon and probably set up fastpasses for the morning that will go unused so we have a chance to pick up a SDFP for either TT, Soarin', or something over at another park. This will be a flexible afternoon where Dh might take the younger kids back to swim at AoA and DS15 might decide to head out to AK or DHS on his own while DD16 and I work our way through more of World Showcase. We'll just play it all by ear other than our FEA fastpass (assuming I can secure one).

12/3 - AK EMH and stay until we're bored, then hop to DHS where we'll have our fastpasses booked for RnRR, ToT, and ST. Just quick service for this day as long as we can get H&V done on the previous Monday like I hope to. We'll finish the night with SW fireworks again if we want.

12/4 - MK rope drop. 10:35 AM Crystal Palace ADR. FP+ at 7DMT, BTMRR, Space, and possibly something else for myself and dd8 (assuming she doesn't want to do Space Mountain). Stay and play all day until 5:30 when we'll leave for our 6:30 Whispering Canyon ADR.

12/5 (Mon) - Epcot. By now, I don't know if we'll be worrying about hitting rope drops. Again, FP at FEA (hopefully at 11) with other fastpasses scheduled earlier and allowed to expire. Tutto Italia 12:35 pm. Rest of the day is available for whatever we want to do, either to stay at Epcot, hop to another park, hit Disney Springs again, or head back for swimming at the resort.

12/6 - MK rope drop, finish evening at DHS. We'll probably do our Fastpasses at MK for the roller coasters again. We'll make sure to hit anything we've missed up to this point and then say "good bye" to the castle one last time. 50's Prime Time at 6:35 pm. We'll arrive at DHS at whatever time we want to, possibly get in one last ride or two, then eat dinner and head back for packing. We'll probably have a gazillion snacks to buy for the trip home and whatnot.

12/7 - Pack up and check out by 11, grab lunch at Landscape of Flavors early and be ready for Tragical Express around noon for our 3:00 pm flight out of MCO. (oh, we'll make sure to have our bags to RAC early)

EDIT: Total park times: MK - 2 full days, 2 partial days; Epcot - 3 full days; DHS - 1 full day, 2 afternoons; AK - 1 full, 1 morning

I love your plans!
I have some VERY similar days planned...
11/28 DHS full day... FP- ToT , FP- Toy story 10am, Star Tours 11am. At RP head straight to RnR. Add SDFP for RnR and ToT based on availability
11/29- EMM MK! Yay!
11/30- we are RP Epcot! Don't know what to FP ...
12/1 DS am and then MVMCP
12/3 AK

 

[BDFmom]

Which day/ time do you need crystal palace? Are you still searching? I have two I reserved waiting for EMM that I still haven't dropped!

I got a CP lunch via trade..

Just hoping for a BOG dinner on either 11/30 or 12/5... 12/5 is the one I really want.

I have a BOG for 12/2 at 4:50 (4people) and one on 12/4 @ 6:15 (3 people)... I'll drop both of those if I can get on the other dates.

With things still up in the air with ROL and SW Fireworks... I'm holding them and a couple in Epcot for those days.

 

[rasadkowski]

Ok I'll test this. I think this is my first time posting pictures in general so I hope it's right. Sorry, it's pretty huge. My first thought is it seems like I have too much in there and should remove some and leave them for when I do another 1/2 day at AK later in the trip. Also, are the times for the shows even right? Do they have some shows at 6:00pm when the park is scheduled to close at 6:00pm?


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This is really a neat tool! I'm getting so overwhelmed with ak!! I think because it's the only park I've never been to, and I'm having a hard time seeing what everything really is!! If it's like a zoo, then I'm hoping we can just pass by the maharajah jungle trek? And what is gorilla falls and rafikis planet watch? Are those just like animal exhibits?

@JamieOak I hope you don't mind me asking, I'm not sure if I'm reading your chart right, but do those yellow #s correspond with the order of activities you have planned? Does that program recommend that particular order or did you type in what and when you wanted? I am just curious because I've heard that the park is big, and on the map it seems like the order jumps around the park. I was probably going to just try to make our way around? But that's probably a bad plan. I need to really research this park a ton more.

 

[Candycane83]

For those who have toddlers, how do you get your toddlers interested? I tried showing mine videos of stuff and I have no luck in catching his attention I'm so scared he would not sit still for anything! At this point, I'm considering just not planning for any shows besides fireworks and F! I'm not even sure that would work...

 

[rasadkowski]

I know all families are different, and all wdwplans are different, but in general, what do you guys think is the ideal amount of time to spend at Epcot and AK?