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

[areno79]

Was anyone here looking for an H&V F! on 12/4? I have one for 2 people I need to get rid of that's at 4:20. Also have a 12/3 H&V (non F!) for 2 people at 5:30. @JamieOak was it you looking for an H&V?

 

[Candycane83]

I was thinking the same...it's got to be from TA's or people who follow KTP or those sites. I'm really glad I booked that day when I did!!

Yeah me too. It's a hassle to call and expensive for me but I'm glad I did it anyway.

Now only if they release info on ROL! Bring it on Disney!!

 

[JamieOak]

Was anyone here looking for an H&V F! on 12/4? I have one for 2 people I need to get rid of that's at 4:20. Also have a 12/3 H&V (non F!) for 2 people at 5:30. @JamieOak was it you looking for an H&V?

Nope, not me, but thanks for checking!

 

[SilSprBea]

Was anyone here looking for an H&V F! on 12/4? I have one for 2 people I need to get rid of that's at 4:20. Also have a 12/3 H&V (non F!) for 2 people at 5:30. @JamieOak was it you looking for an H&V?

I found you one on Tuesday 12/6 but it's non fantasmic at 5:35. Let me know if you (or anyone else wants it) before I drop it back. I'm sure you could combine it with a fast pass for fantastic. The one I grabbed is for 4 people but could be modified down to 2.

 

[areno79]

I found you one on Tuesday 12/6 but it's non fantasmic at 5:35. Let me know if you (or anyone else wants it) before I drop it back. I'm sure you could combine it with a fast pass for fantastic. The one I grabbed is for 4 people but could be modified down to 2.

Ha, I just replied to your message!

 

[Maryemcd]

Whew, looks like parade taping won't affect us!
November 10 - 12

http://www.kennythepirate.com/2016/10/16/likely-dates-for-walt-disney-world-christmas-parade-taping/

 

[Lisa F]

I was thinking the same...it's got to be from TA's or people who follow KTP or those sites. I'm really glad I booked that day when I did!!

I was sort of going to wait for the website to show it but when people started having success and then reporting long hold times I figured better get what I want while I could (always book now, think about it later!) Still shocked the 3rd sold out so fast but it seemed like so many people not even in this thread were booking that day.

It feels like Dec 3rd will be a really busy day at WDW. First of all it is a Saturday, which is usually a busy day, then it is a big day for Pop Warner. I've heard that a lot of teams arrive on that day. Then the most telling of all, our airfare on SWA has been high for months. If plenty of people are traveling to Orlando then there is no reason for them to offer lower rates. We'll see if my predictions pan out.

SWA has been high for me for months too although recently began to drop again. I booked when it was lowest and it went up steadily until it was double what I paid and now back down to 1.5x what I paid. so I don't know.

What I DO know is that free dining is a huge resort-filling promo for WDW and allowing check in dates up to 11/28 will have some people showing up the week before and staying through til sunday the 4th. I think this is why EMM is sold out on 11/29 as well. That is literally the only check in window (after thanksgiving and until 11/28) where you can get all of the christmas stuff under free dining. Yes I know that MVMCP is going to be running in November and now JBJB in HS, but Holidays around the World is a HUGE draw too. Neil Patrick Harris is doing CP narration from 11/28-12/1 and HE is a huge draw. 12/1 is the thursday. so I think all of that is going to make the Disney resorts and Disney restaurants very busy until 12/3-12/4... but as we all found making our FP+ there was plenty of availability for that week for pretty much anything we wanted. I even got 7DMT for the last day of my trip more than a week after the 60+ day window opened up.

That said, and as I have said over and over, just because the disney onsite resorts are full to the gills, it doesn't mean the parks will be. But I am not surprised that all of the special amazing events that people who are in the know enough to get the free dining promo also know about are selling out for that time too. The 12/3 date is especially pivotal because a whole bunch of us wanted that date, but it is also a last night thing for people the week before (which as I've explained above will be a very popular week). But that said I have read that Disney occupancy is always 85%+ no matter what the season in their hotels... disney hotel occupancy does not drive in park crowds... it is the off site people... who are going to be on lower budgets in general and less likely to be booking this kind of stuff. I mean even in this thread... look at how many of us are staying onsite vs. offsite. there may be one or two people staying offsite that I've seen post in this thread. I think that is why 11/29 EMM is booked up too... it's just right in that sweet spot of the only free dining week that has all of the xmas stuff, NPH narrating and the rest of it. I'm not sure if you have to be an onsite guest to do EMM but it does seem like it is the kind of thing that would appeal to people with more generous budgets, staying onsite rather than staying off site and eating in the room and in offsite restaurants etc. Just two different types of trips IMO.

Anyway that is my theory about all of it lol.

 

[Lisa F]

Holiday drinks and desserts... mmmm... I'm hoping they would have the frozen Nutella still... hard to believe that dec 3 seems so busy... granted it's a Saturday but sold out in less than a day through the phone is insane. I wonder if it's not only the Disney sites like this but also TAs who informed their clients and got the booked right away...

lol I was up last night looking for reviews of last year's holiday party and they were mostly meh just because you really need to walk through osborne lights so kind of not worth the money though some people appreciated no crowds.

 

[TiggerManiac]

Dd16 took her PSAT/NMSQT today and feels really good about it! She said she got done with the calculator portion early enough to double- and triple-check most of her answers. Now we wait and see.

Fabulous! If she ends up a National Merit Scholar, she'll have a guaranteed almost-full ride (definitely full tuition) at the University of Alabama. Of course, that's quite a ways from home for y'all.

 

[TiggerManiac]

I just wanted to say that i'm sorry for all of those who were really looking forward to the star wars fireworks. For me, I am only a moderate star wars fan. I love the holidays too so I don't mind in theory a holiday fireworks show... I just did not want to disappoint kiddo with no fireworks, no dessert party after losing MSEP. My big concern with the show is that it will not be well thought out and will suck like the jungle book show. I guess we will see and even if it sucks, we will go in with appropriate expectations but I won't be cancelling due to how excited the kiddo is. A lot of ups and downs with this trip for all of us. I know it will be great but I'm sure we all at this point have something that is not quite how we wanted. I guess that is life. but this is not supposed to be life.. it's Disney! oh well

We are very disapppointed about the lack of SW fireworks, but we'll get over it. I'm not really too enthused about the replacement, but I'll wait to read the reviews until making a final decision. Right now, we can be finished at HS by 5:30, or closer to 4:30 if we don't watch the Indiana Jones show. We've seen Indiana plenty of times, so I'm thinking we might head on over to MK since it's open late that night. I know crowds might be insane, but we're okay with that.

 

[nicynot]

So I think I finally have my schedual sorted out.... I have told myself I am not going to play around with it anymore..
Again, I have planned for four people, staying in two rooms at pofq! My "roomie" has never been, the other two, a married couple were there a few times, but not since the 90's.

December 1st
Fly out at 530 am, get to MCO around 1230.
I made fastpasses the other night for HS after I booked the dessert party
405-505- Muppets
510-610- Toy Story Mania!
545 - Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!! Fireworks start at 6:45
Disney Springs for the night?

December 2nd Epcot Day
820 Garden Grill Breakfast
Head right to soarin'
FP 920- Living with the land
Head to seas pavilion
FP 10:45 - seas with Nemo
Coca Cola? Spaceship earth?
FP 1250 - test track
Head to the lands pavilion start on Mexico side. I plan on eating a quick serve at the American pavilion around 4, and then heading into Candlelight Processional at 5pm with Whoopi!
No plans after the show, we we spilt up and take a break from the "groupness". Might head to GF to see the tree, and then disneysprings, cause I can boat home!

Saturday December 3rd - AK morning, MK evening
EMH at AK! Head to Everest and ride!
FP-915 at the safari
I need to see tough to be a bug, flights of wonder, and walk the trails!
FP 1115- Everest
FP 1255 - Dinosaur
Festival of lion king at 3
530 ADR at Tusker House. Hope to se the tree awakening, and maybe ROL

Head to MK until I midnight, or we can't walk any longer. Wishes at 10, and I have no touring plan

Sunday December 4th MVMCP night
"Free morning" no plans as a group for the morning/afternoon. I might head to HS for EMH and ride RNR, and then take the bus to AKL where I have an ADR for Boma @ 1030, and I'll see the tree and decorations there
Any tips on AKL and how to navigate around there?

FP 220 Haunted Mansion
FP 335 SDMT
FP 455 Peter Pans Flight

6pm Crystal Palace
MVMCP - no touring plan yet
Stay until 12

Monday December 5th HS morning
Head to TSM no FP, head to RNR, no FP
FP 945 TOT
FP 1150 TSM
FP 140 Star Tours
I will need to see Indian Jones, the launch bay, and so on.

345 ADR at Minnie's Seasonal Dine at HNV with a fantasmic FP!!
7p, fantasmic!

"Free night" but I also have made a reservation at Planet Hollywood, pobably just for fries or an app/dessert, I just want to see the renovation!

Tuesday December 6th MK morning Epcot evening
MK opens at 9, and I have a PPO ADR at BOG for 840. I have no fastpasses for the morning, since I needed to book FEA in the evening, No touring plan yet, but will probably see the 3pm parade, and make my way to Trails ENd BBQ buffet!! Before heading to Epcot
FP 630-730 Spaceship earth
FP730-830 FEA
FP 835-935 Mission Space

Illuminations at 930

EMH until 1130

Wednesday December 7th
Departure day : (
I like that I am a boat ride from DS so we will shop a little and have lunch at Rainforest Cafe
Out flight is at 5, so we will take it easy that day since I won't get off the second plane until midnight, and then it's a two hour ride home, and I work the next morning at 830

 

[areno79]

A while back I asked about recommendations for our last Disney meal. On Sat 12/10 our flight doesn't leave until 8pm, so we have almost all day to tour. We're planning on Epcot because I just don't think we'll get much time besides that during the week. Anyhow, today I booked a 1pm lunch at Le Cellier. We've never been there before, and while I'm not crazy about spending $50 on a steak at lunch, I think it's a nice "last" thing to do. Plus I showed DH a pic of the steak from a review and he's hungry so he told me to book it.
This way we can have a nice lunch, then get the DME around 5 and grab a quick dinner at the airport before our flight home. I'm still not 100% sold on Le Cellier, but I've got time to change my mind if I want.
Also, the more I look at my plans, the more I am convinced that ROL will show at 7pm. I *really* hope I'm wrong and they do a later show, but if it is at 7pm, the only night I will have open is 12/9. That would mean cancelling my 6:15 HDDR dinner. I could just cancel entirely, or maybe book the 4pm, but I just don't know when else I'd have time to fit it in. Unless they do an 8pm show on 12/3 and I try to get to AK after the JBJB show.
I just hate the uncertainty.

 

[nicynot]

Now that I have some plans set, I have a few ADRs to cancel, I'll do so next week, I have shotty internet, so I'll wait a bit to see if anyone wants these and post them in the cancelled thread.

December 1st
230 lunch for Coral Reef with a 5pm CP package
440 dinner for Coral Reef with a 815pm CP package

December 2nd
445 Garden Grill with a 815 CP package
510 Cape May Cafe

December 3rd
840 breakfast at Garden Grill with a 5pm cp package
545 Trails End BBQ Buffett

December 4th
120 fantasy of festival parade package at Tony's town square.

December 5th
545 1900 park fare

December 6th
12:10 BOG
550 Tusker House

 

[Lisa F]

We are very disapppointed about the lack of SW fireworks, but we'll get over it. I'm not really too enthused about the replacement, but I'll wait to read the reviews until making a final decision. Right now, we can be finished at HS by 5:30, or closer to 4:30 if we don't watch the Indiana Jones show. We've seen Indiana plenty of times, so I'm thinking we might head on over to MK since it's open late that night. I know crowds might be insane, but we're okay with that.

I am still not over MSEP or lack of osborne lights (I did know that going into planning this trip but still in mourning lol).

 

[rasadkowski]

A while back I asked about recommendations for our last Disney meal. On Sat 12/10 our flight doesn't leave until 8pm, so we have almost all day to tour. We're planning on Epcot because I just don't think we'll get much time besides that during the week. Anyhow, today I booked a 1pm lunch at Le Cellier. We've never been there before, and while I'm not crazy about spending $50 on a steak at lunch, I think it's a nice "last" thing to do. Plus I showed DH a pic of the steak from a review and he's hungry so he told me to book it.
This way we can have a nice lunch, then get the DME around 5 and grab a quick dinner at the airport before our flight home. I'm still not 100% sold on Le Cellier, but I've got time to change my mind if I want.
Also, the more I look at my plans, the more I am convinced that ROL will show at 7pm. I *really* hope I'm wrong and they do a later show, but if it is at 7pm, the only night I will have open is 12/9. That would mean cancelling my 6:15 HDDR dinner. I could just cancel entirely, or maybe book the 4pm, but I just don't know when else I'd have time to fit it in. Unless they do an 8pm show on 12/3 and I try to get to AK after the JBJB show.
I just hate the uncertainty.

im hoping for a 6 and 8 show

 

[Iowamomof4]

We did it! We moved our flight! I also booked EMM right away for Sunday morning just to be safe. I'm hoping to get our Christmas party tickets moved to Thursday so I'll call about that this afternoon. Things are falling into place now. Hopefully smooth-sailing from here on out.

 

[jillyh]

That's awesome Iowamomof4!!! That will be immensely better than the no sleep option

 

[Candycane83]

We did it! We moved our flight! I also booked EMM right away for Sunday morning just to be safe. I'm hoping to get our Christmas party tickets moved to Thursday so I'll call about that this afternoon. Things are falling into place now. Hopefully smooth-sailing from here on out.

That's awesome!!

 

[Mintycake]

We are very disapppointed about the lack of SW fireworks, but we'll get over it. I'm not really too enthused about the replacement, but I'll wait to read the reviews until making a final decision. Right now, we can be finished at HS by 5:30, or closer to 4:30 if we don't watch the Indiana Jones show. We've seen Indiana plenty of times, so I'm thinking we might head on over to MK since it's open late that night. I know crowds might be insane, but we're okay with that.

Same. I was so in shock/disappointed that when everyone was talking about the jbjb party I glossed over it. Then I asked my family and dd said she wanted to go and then I found out it is sold out. So I'm sad to miss you guys so now we have to decide if we do f! Or the jbjb (non party). We haven't seen either but at the end of a long day, f! Is appealing because I can FP it and it's seated.

I also think we will hang on to emm because of the great reviews plus it gives us a head start on meeting merida and ariel!

 

[Lisa F]

We did it! We moved our flight! I also booked EMM right away for Sunday morning just to be safe. I'm hoping to get our Christmas party tickets moved to Thursday so I'll call about that this afternoon. Things are falling into place now. Hopefully smooth-sailing from here on out.

yes! totally worth it!