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

[Wood Nymph]

I have a question about FPs... how does it look like? Does it give you a confirmation number like an ADR?

Since I have linked tickets, can I try making an FP and just cancel? It won't affect my FPs on booking date will it??

You can practice making fp+s for the next 30 days if you have tickets that are not package tickets. They would have to be tickets that are not marked Magic My Way tickets.

 

[Candycane83]

You can practice making fp+s for the next 30 days if you have tickets that are not package tickets. They would have to be tickets that are not marked Magic My Way tickets.

Thanks! Yes, mine just says 9 day tickets!

 

[mexxican]

My in-laws are driving down from MD for their trip (10 days), and they kept saying we should join them for at least part of it. One day the the margaritas were strong enough because I researched flights on my phone and came up with a crazy idea that 'just might work' and after some short discussion (Me:Should we? DW:Why not?) we booked flights. So we leave at 6:20 from BWI (which means I have to wake up like at 4) to Tampa (MCO was too expensive), rent a car and go to Busch Gardens. Then we head to Universal for 3 nights before moving to PopCentury for the MVMCP (right after brunch at CM), maybe a breakfast the following morning before checking in our luggage at MDE and heading off to SeaWorld on our last day. Our flight home isn't until 10:20 pm, so we have time for dinner after SW closes before heading to MCO. My wife only has to take 3 personal days off of work (she's a teacher and that's her limit), and we were able to use Rapid Reward points, Disney Gift Cards & Disney Visa Redemption points ($250 from referring my in-laws with the $200GC offer), Universal's B1G2 day ticket offer as well as a 2 night voucher for Royal Pacific that I bought last spring. Enough savings and cost-cutting to justify the short, yet packed 5-day vacation. We also want to surprise our kids with the trip and try to get T-shirts made for MVMCP for our Xmas card (last year we all had matching PJs from Target).

 

[JamieOak]

I'm so curious about your farm...what sort of animals do you have? (Because there aren't enough fabulous conversations going on all around this! lol LOVE this thread!)

Ok there's a warning for anyone who wants to stick to reading Disney!

We're just a hobby farm and we both have full time jobs. My DH is a carpenter and I'm an engineer. Currently we have 32 animals (I think). We have the basics....3 dogs and 8 cats. All indoors because I hate having outdoor cats. We fostered cats for a rescue and somehow kept some when we moved. And then my husband brought home 3 kittens last year that ended up staying. Then I named them after SW characters.

When we moved 3 years ago for my job, we got a house with land in the country and we built a horse barn and put up fencing so we could move my horse to our house instead of having to board him somewhere. So now I have 2 horses (you can't have just one of course), and I force my husband to ride sometimes.

This year we acquired 8 chickens, 7 ducks, and 4 turkeys and built them all houses. We are currently working on finishing their pens and getting electricity up there before winter.

Also this year we did a large garden that forced me to learn canning. Since we've moved in, we have planted 8 fruit trees, 3 grape vines, and 7 berry bushes.

Next year we plan to get a calf or two.

So now it should be clear why our honeymoon is 4 years belated! We are so busy and have been pouring all our money into the house/land since we've moved.

 

[areno79]

I actually love to fly too... More because it's faster and I hate wasting time. That's a great way to look at all the positives though!

We used to drive for our Disney trips, but the first time we flew (nonstop) and got there in 3 hours vs. 24, I was hooked!! Of course I would never rule out a road trip, because we don't mind them, but flying (especially to Disney) is SO much more relaxing!

So funny... I actually just had an apt today to talk to my dr. about that nothing like starting off a family Disney vacation with some pills and booze!

Sounds like my kind of trip!!

 

[rasadkowski]

We used to drive for our Disney trips, but the first time we flew (nonstop) and got there in 3 hours vs. 24, I was hooked!! Of course I would never rule out a road trip, because we don't mind them, but flying (especially to Disney) is SO much more relaxing!



Sounds like my kind of trip!!

Haha! Literally!

 

[rasadkowski]

Ok there's a warning for anyone who wants to stick to reading Disney!

We're just a hobby farm and we both have full time jobs. My DH is a carpenter and I'm an engineer. Currently we have 32 animals (I think). We have the basics....3 dogs and 8 cats. All indoors because I hate having outdoor cats. We fostered cats for a rescue and somehow kept some when we moved. And then my husband brought home 3 kittens last year that ended up staying. Then I named them after SW characters.

When we moved 3 years ago for my job, we got a house with land in the country and we built a horse barn and put up fencing so we could move my horse to our house instead of having to board him somewhere. So now I have 2 horses (you can't have just one of course), and I force my husband to ride sometimes.

This year we acquired 8 chickens, 7 ducks, and 4 turkeys and built them all houses. We are currently working on finishing their pens and getting electricity up there before winter.

Also this year we did a large garden that forced me to learn canning. Since we've moved in, we have planted 8 fruit trees, 3 grape vines, and 7 berry bushes.

Next year we plan to get a calf or two.

So now it should be clear why our honeymoon is 4 years belated! We are so busy and have been pouring all our money into the house/land since we've moved.

this is so amazing what a way to live!! so much work, I am sure, but I am so jealous!

 

[Candycane83]

We used to drive for our Disney trips, but the first time we flew (nonstop) and got there in 3 hours vs. 24, I was hooked!! Of course I would never rule out a road trip, because we don't mind them, but flying (especially to Disney) is SO much more relaxing!



Sounds like my kind of trip!!

Actually I've never been on a real road trip before. Definitely should try it... when DS2 is much older. The most I have been on a car trip or bus is for 6 hours but I've flown many times for 20 hours or so. DS2's first trip was when he was 9 months and we flew non stop from Toronto to Hong Kong for 17 hours! That was fun...

 

[Candycane83]

Ok there's a warning for anyone who wants to stick to reading Disney!

We're just a hobby farm and we both have full time jobs. My DH is a carpenter and I'm an engineer. Currently we have 32 animals (I think). We have the basics....3 dogs and 8 cats. All indoors because I hate having outdoor cats. We fostered cats for a rescue and somehow kept some when we moved. And then my husband brought home 3 kittens last year that ended up staying. Then I named them after SW characters.

When we moved 3 years ago for my job, we got a house with land in the country and we built a horse barn and put up fencing so we could move my horse to our house instead of having to board him somewhere. So now I have 2 horses (you can't have just one of course), and I force my husband to ride sometimes.

This year we acquired 8 chickens, 7 ducks, and 4 turkeys and built them all houses. We are currently working on finishing their pens and getting electricity up there before winter.

Also this year we did a large garden that forced me to learn canning. Since we've moved in, we have planted 8 fruit trees, 3 grape vines, and 7 berry bushes.

Next year we plan to get a calf or two.

So now it should be clear why our honeymoon is 4 years belated! We are so busy and have been pouring all our money into the house/land since we've moved.

Wow!!! This is great! Must be hard work but a lot of fun!!! (and I refuse for DH to get a dog because of all the hard work it would entail... you just blew that out of the water!)

 

[rasadkowski]

hey all!
I finally got a chance to sit down and check out the AK map. I know you have all shared your thoughts and opinions about this park a lot, and I know a lot of you have some favorites there! And after looking at the map, I can see how the place is REALLY big and spread out. I didn't know you had to take a train to Rafiki's planet watch and petting zoo ! So my plan (thanks to several of you great disers was to actually tackle this park on two 1/2 days. One PM day and one AM day. But, I was recently thinking that I should try to just do the park in one day, just for logistical reasons of our trip.

My kids LOVE animals and zoos. from reading the descriptions on the maps, they make it sound like the animal trails are so amazing. Are they really? Do they really have a lot of cool animals? I know this is probably a really stupid question. I just think maybe it would be ideal to do the park in two days like I planned...Africa and then Asia/dino if these trails are really full of nice animals to look at. It's hard to tell! I feel like my girls could be the type to spend an hour at the boneyard. I want to be able to let them! Then again, we may be done with the whole place in 5 hours !!

not sure what's a better plan...one full day or two 1/2. I also figured for 1 full day we can't really go back to the poly to rest in the middle of the day because i think it's kinda far out?

I'm probably overthinking this? someone want to keep my crazy in check here?

 

[Candycane83]

Just wanted to share: http://www.kennythepirate.com/2016/...-finally-be-coming-to-disneys-animal-kingdom/

 

[CynBeth]

Is everyone settled on flights now? We have ours booked but I keep checking the flight down on SW to see if there's any chance I can move us to a morning one so we aren't getting to Disney SOOOO late. At this point though, I think we're probably stuck with what we have. Thanksgiving weekend is not a great time to fly, huh? lol

We always like to fly early either a first or second flight of a day. The last few years we have been using SW for our various Disney and non Disney vacations. We booked the day fares went on sale and I thought they were pretty reasonably priced for 3 people including the early bird check in both ways. It was $700 something from Baltimore on 12/2.

 

[Candycane83]

hey all!
I finally got a chance to sit down and check out the AK map. I know you have all shared your thoughts and opinions about this park a lot, and I know a lot of you have some favorites there! And after looking at the map, I can see how the place is REALLY big and spread out. I didn't know you had to take a train to Rafiki's planet watch and petting zoo ! So my plan (thanks to several of you great disers was to actually tackle this park on two 1/2 days. One PM day and one AM day. But, I was recently thinking that I should try to just do the park in one day, just for logistical reasons of our trip.

My kids LOVE animals and zoos. from reading the descriptions on the maps, they make it sound like the animal trails are so amazing. Are they really? Do they really have a lot of cool animals? I know this is probably a really stupid question. I just think maybe it would be ideal to do the park in two days like I planned...Africa and then Asia/dino if these trails are really full of nice animals to look at. It's hard to tell! I feel like my girls could be the type to spend an hour at the boneyard. I want to be able to let them! Then again, we may be done with the whole place in 5 hours !!

not sure what's a better plan...one full day or two 1/2. I also figured for 1 full day we can't really go back to the poly to rest in the middle of the day because i think it's kinda far out?

I'm probably overthinking this? someone want to keep my crazy in check here?

Hmm, I'm doing this in two half days. But my plans are like that because I wanted to take advantage of EMH in the morning but have dining (h&v)in the afternoon which I can't move... I thought you were not park hopping? Or did I mix you up with someone else? I think one whole day at AK would be nice

 

[Lisa F]

hey all!
I finally got a chance to sit down and check out the AK map. I know you have all shared your thoughts and opinions about this park a lot, and I know a lot of you have some favorites there! And after looking at the map, I can see how the place is REALLY big and spread out. I didn't know you had to take a train to Rafiki's planet watch and petting zoo ! So my plan (thanks to several of you great disers was to actually tackle this park on two 1/2 days. One PM day and one AM day. But, I was recently thinking that I should try to just do the park in one day, just for logistical reasons of our trip.

My kids LOVE animals and zoos. from reading the descriptions on the maps, they make it sound like the animal trails are so amazing. Are they really? Do they really have a lot of cool animals? I know this is probably a really stupid question. I just think maybe it would be ideal to do the park in two days like I planned...Africa and then Asia/dino if these trails are really full of nice animals to look at. It's hard to tell! I feel like my girls could be the type to spend an hour at the boneyard. I want to be able to let them! Then again, we may be done with the whole place in 5 hours !!

not sure what's a better plan...one full day or two 1/2. I also figured for 1 full day we can't really go back to the poly to rest in the middle of the day because i think it's kinda far out?

I'm probably overthinking this? someone want to keep my crazy in check here?

just my personal opinion but I enjoy some aspects of the "zoo" aspect of AK more than others. Like I'm not sure I'd want to take the time to find every little animal exhibit but I will tell you what I do really enjoy:

Maharajah Jungle Trek: I love cats so the tigers are awesome to me. I have planned some time to walk it a bit in a half hour of downtime before my Y&Y ADR. Also the Malayan Flying Fox, which are just big bats are AMAZING to me. I don't know why. I am not a fan of bats and would shriek like a catholic schoolgirl if one came near me but these creatures are just awesome. Not sure why lol. The whole thing is nicely themed with lots of "returning to the jungle" architectural ruins etc. I really enjoy that one.

The animals around the discovery island trails never really interest me that much. I'm not sure why. short attention span maybe.

the other big thing I enjoy directly related to animals is the bird show. but I've said that like 80 times.

I haven't been in years (because honestly I'm not much of a zoo person so one trail of animals and I am done) but I remember the gorilla trail being quite nice too. they are majestic creatures. There is nowhere a child can get in

I think those are the 3 main areas with animal viewing besides the safari. It's just mostly the hottest park (hopefully not an issue in december) and the most walking so it is EXHAUSTING to spend an entire day there. that is part of the reason I consider it a half day park. If I wanted to make it a full day I think I could. I would SDFP the safari again in the afternoon. I'd see the nemo show. I'd take my time on stuff I skip. It just is not my favorite. so we're doing a combo of rides/attractions, shows and just wandering and seeing the animals with two meals in the park.

 

[Talby]

Ok there's a warning for anyone who wants to stick to reading Disney!

We're just a hobby farm and we both have full time jobs. My DH is a carpenter and I'm an engineer. Currently we have 32 animals (I think). We have the basics....3 dogs and 8 cats. All indoors because I hate having outdoor cats. We fostered cats for a rescue and somehow kept some when we moved. And then my husband brought home 3 kittens last year that ended up staying. Then I named them after SW characters.

When we moved 3 years ago for my job, we got a house with land in the country and we built a horse barn and put up fencing so we could move my horse to our house instead of having to board him somewhere. So now I have 2 horses (you can't have just one of course), and I force my husband to ride sometimes.

This year we acquired 8 chickens, 7 ducks, and 4 turkeys and built them all houses. We are currently working on finishing their pens and getting electricity up there before winter.

Also this year we did a large garden that forced me to learn canning. Since we've moved in, we have planted 8 fruit trees, 3 grape vines, and 7 berry bushes.

Next year we plan to get a calf or two.

So now it should be clear why our honeymoon is 4 years belated! We are so busy and have been pouring all our money into the house/land since we've moved.

Lol...wow, yes, a well-earned/deserved belated honeymoon I'd say!! I respect the hard work involved most definitely, but man does that sound fabulous!! So glad you shared that--thanks!!

 

[rasadkowski]

Hmm, I'm doing this in two half days. But my plans are like that because I wanted to take advantage of EMH in the morning but have dining (h&v)in the afternoon which I can't move... I thought you were not park hopping? Or did I mix you up with someone else? I think one whole day at AK would be nice

No, you're right! I'm not park hopping. But, my plan is to relax at the pool one morning (our only official rest time) and go to AK in the pm. (REALLY hoping for rol) and then the next AM AK day is the morning of MVMCP.
but yes, I'm debating back and forth about 1 full day

 

[Talby]

Word! Logan (and Boston traffic in general sucks!)
You can always ask your doctor for a pill for the trip. Most of them are happy to right you a script for a couple of pills if you have flying anxiety. I take a Xanax pre-flight and have no issues...it doesn't even make me sleepy!!

I'm going to echo your sentiment on this post and just say.............WORD!!! Such a love/hate relationship I have with flying. I mostly love it, except for that pesky anxiety part!!

@Mal6586 I have a whole childhood full of every summer road trips all over the country. I could tell stories for days (I'll spare you! lol) about those awesome memories. Love a great road trip!!

 

[rasadkowski]

just my personal opinion but I enjoy some aspects of the "zoo" aspect of AK more than others. Like I'm not sure I'd want to take the time to find every little animal exhibit but I will tell you what I do really enjoy:

Maharajah Jungle Trek: I love cats so the tigers are awesome to me. I have planned some time to walk it a bit in a half hour of downtime before my Y&Y ADR. Also the Malayan Flying Fox, which are just big bats are AMAZING to me. I don't know why. I am not a fan of bats and would shriek like a catholic schoolgirl if one came near me but these creatures are just awesome. Not sure why lol. The whole thing is nicely themed with lots of "returning to the jungle" architectural ruins etc. I really enjoy that one.

The animals around the discovery island trails never really interest me that much. I'm not sure why. short attention span maybe.

the other big thing I enjoy directly related to animals is the bird show. but I've said that like 80 times.

I haven't been in years (because honestly I'm not much of a zoo person so one trail of animals and I am done) but I remember the gorilla trail being quite nice too. they are majestic creatures. There is nowhere a child can get in

I think those are the 3 main areas with animal viewing besides the safari. It's just mostly the hottest park (hopefully not an issue in december) and the most walking so it is EXHAUSTING to spend an entire day there. that is part of the reason I consider it a half day park. If I wanted to make it a full day I think I could. I would SDFP the safari again in the afternoon. I'd see the nemo show. I'd take my time on stuff I skip. It just is not my favorite. so we're doing a combo of rides/attractions, shows and just wandering and seeing the animals with two meals in the park.

makes complete sense! Thank you @Lisa F

 

[JamieOak]

I was wanting the same thing about the trails in AK, but I scheduled them in and could skip then or go quickly if we decide we aren't into it or too tired. AK does have a lot of 30 minute shows today help break up all the walking. Plus meals, and the safari ride is another 20 minutes of sitting. So I'm hopping we can do almost all of it in 1 day and visit another half day if we want.

I did schedule it as our first Disney day, after a half day at Universal and transferring to Disney property. I plan to be well rested for our AK day to prepare for all the walking!

 

[Candycane83]

No, you're right! I'm not park hopping. But, my plan is to relax at the pool one morning (our only official rest time) and go to AK in the pm. (REALLY hoping for rol) and then the next AM AK day is the morning of MVMCP.
but yes, I'm debating back and forth about 1 full day

That actually makes sense too! It would be nice to have a rest day and go to AK in the afternoon. I think two half days are fine as long as you have a plan on how to go about it and a sense of what can be accomplished in that amount of time. Which resort are you staying in again?