Barely Under 20 Days Left? Tell me About Your Trip!

[TreeOfLife]

OK, so the anxiety is really building up at home, although we booked at 331 days ahead of arrival. Booked in teh winter and we knew we had to go through all seasons while we waited. Time is so mistifying...

Those on our boat,tell me about your trip! How long beforehand did you book? What are your plans? What is your budget?

I'll be brief: We arrive on the niht of the 17th, are staying at AKL, made some ressies for Boma, got tickets for MVMCP the next day, Backstage Safari and Fantasmic Dinner package on the 22nd, Coral Reef the 23rd, Liberty Tree on Christmas Eve and on Christmas day we head out to Universal Studios until the 27th.

We are one of those budget families exploiting rewards, so we have nice savings piled up in certificates and such.

I am giving the boys their Christmas presents before we leave, however... OK, YOUR TURN!

 

[westjones]

Just wondering, with the backstage safari, do kids have to be 16 or older to do this? I have a daughter who just LOVES animals, but she is only 10, so I never looked into this because I thought kids needed to be older to do most of the WDW tours.

We have 2 days left on our park hopper tickets. We decided this trip at the last moment as far as I am concerned (last month--I usually plan a year in a advance, or 6 months at the very least).

We saw pictures of Pop Century and got excited about seeing that resort, so booked it for 2 nights. Then I started thinking that 2 nights was just too short for us, so when I saw that the Swan and Dolphin was offering rooms for $99 a night, and we like trying out new resorts, I booked two nights there (for a total of 4 nights).

We are going to get in some new experiences on this trip:
--Cinderella dinner at the 1900 Park Fare at GF
--Tonga Toast at the Kona Cafe
--The new 3 D show at MK
--Hopefully, the CP at Epcot (we don't have the dinner package, so we are just hoping to get in anyway).
--Fantastmic (no, we have never seen it before).
--Visit the Boardwalk bakery
--Pop Century Resort stay
--Swan Resort stay

The MK is open until 11:00 pm on Dec. 22, and we plan to close the park! Then on Dec. 23, we move to the Swan and take the day off to relax.

On Dec. 24, we plan to visit MGM and Epcot.

On Dec. 25, we check out and head for home.

On Dec. 26, we are home.

This trip will be a complete surprise to our twin DDs. We are not telling them until an hour before we leave! It is SOOOOO hard keeping this secret, but it is also SOOOOO fun!

Can't wait for our first Disney Christmas! Have fun everyone! It isn't long now (once it is December on Monday, it will seem even closer!).

DJ

 

[TreeOfLife]

Just wondering, with the backstage safari, do kids have to be 16 or older to do this?

I hear you... Mine is 14 and still can't come along! No, it is a liability issue and nobody under 16 is allowed. In fact, when I booked the tour I was told I had to show an ID. Even if I had paid the tour and had park admission, without ID I would not be able to go in and would get no refunds...

This trip will be a complete surprise to our twin DDs. We are not telling them until an hour before we leave! It is SOOOOO hard keeping this secret, but it is also SOOOOO fun!

Oh my, I should have done that too!

 

[anne60]

Our trip planning started thanks to a $200 credit on SWA that had to be used by the end of January, vacation time for DH that had to be used by the end of the year, and the $79 each way fares on SWA!

Things that are "firsts" on this trip: WISHES, the Electrical Water pageant, Mission Space (only me, DH gets sick in a canoe so he won't risk it), Philharmagic, dinner at San Angel, Cape May Buffet.

Repeat things that are "not to miss": Illuminations (plan to see it twice), Candlelight Processional, Spectromagic, a burger at Pecos Bills, the fountain at Epcot, tree lighting at Epcot.

We also plan to visit GF and WL to see the Christmas decorations.

Can't Wait!

 

[katerkat]

Booked? You people have booked your trips already? Bwahaha! OK, OK... My husband's in the Air Force, and we're STILL waiting for his training dates so we know if we can go. Should get them Monday.

The plans, IF we can go, include:
*Sunday, Dec. 14, staying off-property, through Sunday, Dec. 21
*Wishes fireworks cruise, Dec. 20 (did Illuminations last year, can't wait to try this one!)
*MVMCP, Tuesday, Dec. 16 (never been)
*Candelight Processional, Thursday, Dec. 18 (never been, looking forward to our narrator, who I loved on West Wing!)
*Trying Mission: Space (with the bonafide pilot with me!) and Mickey's Philharmagic
*Several NEW restaurants (Narcosesse's, Prime Time, Flying Fish, Trail's End, Garden Grill)
*Some old restaurants (Plaza Pavilion, Whispering Canyon, Le Cellier, 'Ohana)
*Meeting a good friend who I've known for almost 3 years, but never met

And, most important, seeing DH fall madly in love with Disney, understanding why I want to go every year. Or at least like it enough so I can go back every other year or so.

 

[CamColt]

Great thread! This will be tough to keep short, LOL!

The trip came about because last Christmas we had a big fight with DH's family and we joked about just taking off for WDW. Then a few days later, DH forgot my birthday. Again I joked he owes me big time, maybe a trip next year would make up for it. Then we had such a horrible winter we finally said, lets really do it! We have APs this year so that made it possible.

We will arrive 12/20, spend 4 nights at the Swan, then move to the Poly on 12/24 for 5 nights. Thank goodness for AP rates! My main goal for this trip is to do all the Christmas stuff. Since we were just there in August and are going back in July, we dont feel pressured to do all the usual rides again, so Im not too worried about crowds Im just hoping its not cold.

So far we plan to see the Christmas Parade, Spectro, Wishes, AK Parade, Illuminations, and Fantasmic. I hope to catch the tree lighting ceremonies at Epcot & MK, and check out all the decorations in the resorts. We will do the CP on Christmas Eve, and Santa is bringing the kids and DH a sleigh ride for Christmas night(its killing me keeping it secret!). We will have Christmas breakfast in the Castle, and are trying a few new restaurants this time(Ohana, Le Cellier, Beaches & Cream).

OK, Im getting excited now, if you couldnt tell.

 

[goofy4tink]

We booked this trip very last minute. My dd, 10, and I are being sent away, so to speak, by my dh for some fun with the mouse!!! We booked about 3 weeks ago. We'll be arriving on Dec 12, staying at ASMu, and leaving on Dec. 17. We were just there in August also, so hoping for dry weather!!! We've never been at Christmastime, so that in itself is a first. We'll be doing CP, MVMCP for the first time also. We just can't wait. Then, next Christmas, dh gets to join us on our first trip 'home' to BWV's!!!

 

[crazzydisneyfan22]

I love hearing everyones planned trips. Here's Mine:
We booked in August and it seemed so far away but to think we have less than 20 days now it's amazing..
- Arrive December 20th
- AK in the morning and Hoop-De-Do ressies on the 21st
- Monday we're all the rides done in MK before the huge crowds come
- Tuesday is a relax day and PS at Chef Mickeys, the entire family arrives this day for our FIRST CHRISTMAS IN DISNEY!
- 24th UO - IOA AND US
- 25th - MAGIC KINGDOM ON CHRISTMAS DAY! HOW MAGICAL! AND THEN THE CP AT EPCOT WITH A PS AT ROSE N CROWN AND ILLUMINATIONS TO FINISH OUT THE NIGHT! INCREDIBLE!
- 26th MGM
-27th leave orlando and head to the gulf coast for a few days
- 30th, back to disney at the swan
- 31st NEW YEARS EVE AT EPCOT!
- 1st heading home

 

[maidmarion]

We booked everything in August and decided to go in July, so i can't believe the time has come! It is just me and my partner, we are in our twenties. We're staying six nights- Dec 13-19. I haven't been since i was a kid and went with my parents. We stayed off-site and ate McDs and didn't do any extras, but it was still the most happy memory of my life. So, I have been dying to go back. My partner has never been.

We are on somewhat of a budget, but being childless helps make it more affordable. We got the Winter Dreammaker package off of expedia the first day it was out for a great rate- cheaper than AP rates! We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge, which will be beautiful for the holidays!

We have PSes at Boma, Ohana, Crystal palace (MVMCP), Hollywood and Vine (Fantasmic), and Kona. We also hope to make one for Fresh! And we will probably eat in a bunch of the World Showcase restaurants.

MVMCP is on the 16th for us! Also, we hope to book a sleigh ride.

We can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TreeOfLife]

WOW! What an awesome response to this thread! Your plans are giving us even more ideas...

It is more fascinating than I thought to read about people's plans, over and beyond asking for and giving recommendations

Now, being it a fact that right on the days before Christmas the parks close early (on average, between 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM), here's an addition to your answers: How do you plan to spend the evenings? Quiet resort times, Downtown Disney, heading out to the park that closes at the latest time?

Keep them coming!

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

I am just a little over 20 days out but I can still post here right?

Our trip was booked in March when I was feeling very disillusioned with things here. I feel a bit better now and I have a special trip to look forward to as a consequence!

It'll just be me (age 30 but feel and look a lot younger) and my mum, a very youthful 55. We are leaving my dad and brother behind to fend for themselves from Dec 23rd to 31st.

PLANS
Staying at CBR for 8 nights - 11 trip to WDW, 1st stay onsite!
A long flight from Glasgow in Scotland, via Iceland.

Dec 24th - Candlelight Processional @ Akershus - 6.45 show.
Planning on going to AK in the morning to see the 1st Presbyterian Christmas bells at 10.30am.

Dec 25th - breakfast @ Chef Mickeys - 1st ever character meal.
Dinner at V&A - can't wait for this one!
Will walk from CM to MK just to feel the atmosphere and say I've been there, probably won't do any rides due to crowds. Park hop to AK or play miniature golf.

Dec 26th - breakfast @ Boma, dinner @ 1900 park faire
Maybe go to MGM.

Dec 27th - late lunch @ Marrakesh (EPCOT), Cirque de Soleil @6pm.

Dec 28th - breakfast @ Ohana, dinner @ Boma
No idea what we'll be doing today.

Dec 29th - lunch @ Crystal Palace, WL sleigh ride at 7pm.
Our main MK day, will use Fastpass often!

Dec 30th - Cape May Cafe dinner

Dec 31st - breakfast @ Crystal Palace
Fly home early evening, arrive in Scotland the next day!

We plan on seeing Return of the King at the AMC theatre sometime this week - I have been looking forward to this movie all year!

As you can see, we are focussing on FOOD this trip. All PS were made around the 90 day mark. Rides are great but I can do those on our summer trips. We plan on soaking up the festive atmosphere and sharing in the joy of the season. We are not going to stress about crowds, fastpass, wait times etc.

I have just bought a furry pen with a Santa on the top which I'm going to use to sign my credit card payments at the restaurants!


Louise

 

[southernwingz]

Well, we have 16 days left to count down. We booked in January. It'll be my BF, my DS11, and myself. This is our Christmas gift to us. We will be returning home on the 22nd though, because the rest of our family would be quite upset if we weren't at home to celebrate with them.

We have passes with left over days on them, but will be purchasing a pass for one of us.

On our arrival day we'll be taking it easy. Our only plans are to go to DTD and we have a PS at RFC for dinner, which we'll be paying for partially with a gift certificate I earned online.

First day will be spent at MK probably until about mid-day, when we'll head back to the CR for a little rest and regrouping before heading back for our PS at LTT and MVMCP.

The next day we have a PS for breakfast at Donald's Breakfastosaurus, and some friends that live in the area will be joining us for the day at AK.

Our plan for the next day is to tour Epcot. We have a PS for the luau at the Poly that night, but we're coming to terms with the fact that we may cancel if the weather is looking crummy and cold that weekend.

We plan on spending the next day at MGM and have a PS for lunch at Sci-Fi.

We figured we'd just play our other meals by ear. See what we're in the mood for at the time.

We haven't yet decided if we're going to spend the next day park hopping or go ahead and head for home after check out.

We're getting extremely excited about the trip and all the excitement in store for us!!!!

 

[maidmarion]

Originally posted by TreeOfLife

Now, being it a fact that right on the days before Christmas the parks close early (on average, between 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM), here's an addition to your answers: How do you plan to spend the evenings? Quiet resort times, Downtown Disney, heading out to the park that closes at the latest time?

We will definitely be at Pleasure Island a few of those nights, others we will be at the Wilderness Lodge playing in the hot tub and watching TV (we don't have TV at home, so watching TV is a special treat for us!), one night we're doing the campfire, two nights we have late PSes, and of course, Epcot Illuminations one night. If we have time, we hope to try DisneyQuest which I believe is open until 11.