biggest tip the week after christmas....

[ducky_love]

Phew - folks are braver than me! I went to MK today to catch the parade and heard the announcement that they were extending hours to 1am over the park speakers! The wait for Space Mountain was 155 min around 4pm!

I may be back but I won't really plan to be able to do much of anything. Best of luck to folks that are here!!

 

[neville04]

Get there at rope drop, collect Fastpasses everytime your window opens and most importanty, remember, FASTPASSES DO NOT EXPIRE UNTIL THE END OF THE PARK DAY!

actually we just got back from there a few weeks ago- and they were very strict on the fast pass times- if we "missed' the time frame - the fast pass was no longer good

 

[amylevan]

We'll be at Animal Kingdom on December 28th. We are committed to being there for 7:00 am EMH. Ride as much as we can before 11:00 am and collect FPs to use later in the day along with viewing animals on the trails, and maybe seeing FotLK or Nemo.

What we would really like to do is leave around 11:00 am and eat lunch, shop, and view animals on the savannah at Animal Kingdom Lodge and return to AK around 2:00 pm. I realize we run the risk of a capacity closure, but as resort guests using the bus from AKL, I think it would require a full closure of AK to affect us (which seems to be a pretty rare occurrence).

If, for some reason, we do experience a capacity closure, we'll have done most or all of what we wanted to. We would then probably drive over to the Boardwalk and/or DTD for the rest of the afternoon.

We've gone on days with crowd ratings of "10" around spring break before and had a great time (and managed to avoid most of the crowds), but this will be our first time at Christmas. My biggest concern is wall to wall people blocking the pathways. But as veterans with a touring plan, lots of FP savvy, and reasonable expectations, I think we'll be fine.

It's extremly rare for AK to experience a capacity closure so you should be fine to leave the park expecting to come back.

 

[mesaboy2]

actually we just got back from there a few weeks ago- and they were very strict on the fast pass times- if we "missed' the time frame - the fast pass was no longer good

Actually, this is wrong. I was also there a few weeks ago and used several if not all of my FPs past the printed window. CMs gave me not a second look even once.

If you plan to stand by this story, then I want specifics--dates, how many times were you turned away, which rides, what the CMs said, etc. You may have found a rogue CM.

 

[mousiemom]

Thanks everyone and keep them coming! We are veterans so we know how to work the fp but a cm tolds us once that depending on the season, you can use the fp all day, we've always used them all day but we always go off season. we are definately going to be @ the parks @ 7am on those days. we can zip thru the park on our path that we take but we will have 29 people following us. we have adrs everyday so i'm not worried about that. like everyone has said, enjoy it and just go with the flow!!
thanks everyone and i will be reporting back on this trip. luckily, the family has their own private coach bus so we will definately use it for AK and HS day.

 

[mesaboy2]

Thanks everyone and keep them coming! We are veterans so we know how to work the fp but a cm tolds us once that depending on the season, you can use the fp all day, we've always used them all day but we always go off season. we are definately going to be @ the parks @ 7am on those days. we can zip thru the park on our path that we take but we will have 29 people following us. we have adrs everyday so i'm not worried about that. like everyone has said, enjoy it and just go with the flow!!
thanks everyone and i will be reporting back on this trip. luckily, the family has their own private coach bus so we will definately use it for AK and HS day.

If it helps your confidence, my day with "late" FPs was Thanksgiving Day in MK so it was very, very busy and I had no problems at any of the Mountains.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

actually we just got back from there a few weeks ago- and they were very strict on the fast pass times- if we "missed' the time frame - the fast pass was no longer good

I'm sorry, but that is incorrect. I'm not sure what CM told you that, but the policy is still to accept late Fastpasses. I can assure that the Themeparks Board would be lit up like a Christmas Tree (excuse the pun) if that policy had, infact, changed.

 

[bopper]

From my millenium experience: If you are in Epcot at midnight on New Year's Eve, make sure you are near the exit of your choice at midnight or you will deeply deeply regret it.

 

[dpuck1998]

actually we just got back from there a few weeks ago- and they were very strict on the fast pass times- if we "missed' the time frame - the fast pass was no longer good

 

[robinb]

(1) Get to the parks early. Rope drop is best. If you can't be there at rope drop, avoid the EMH park.
(2) "Churn" fast passes. Get a new one as soon as you can. You can use them after the one-hour time period. We often use morning FPs at night.
(3) Don't eat at the "prime" lunch and dinner times. You'll spend a lot of time in line. Last year Disney was encouraging eating before noon or after 3 with 30% off coupons for certain CS restaurants. I loved those and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will offer them again this year.
(4) Don't feel you need to stay at your NYE park all day. We always leave in the early afternoon and return in the evening. Any time after the parade is good since a lot of people leave then. Make a dinner reservation if you have not done so already. Be aware that if you are staying off-site it may be problematic returning to the MK as the parking lot will be closed and the monorail from Epcot may be available for onsite guests only.
(5) See the MK NYE fireworks on 12/30 and go to DHS or Epcot for the fireworks on 12/31.
(6) Plan some down time. We swim even though it's usually a little chilly.
(7) Have fun and pack a LOT of patience!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

actually we just got back from there a few weeks ago- and they were very strict on the fast pass times- if we "missed' the time frame - the fast pass was no longer good

We used them late on several attractions in all 4 parks on thanksgiving weekend, some of them full fledged "10" days, and had no problems at all.

 

[♥Tinkerbell♥]

(3) Don't eat at the "prime" lunch and dinner times. You'll spend a lot of time in line. Last year Disney was encouraging eating before noon or after 3 with 30% off coupons for certain CS restaurants. I loved those and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will offer them again this year

I too have been waiting to see if this coupon is going to come out or not... we leave tomorrow and I will not be able to PRINT from the resort we are staying at... does anyone know if it has come out??? We used it a couple of times last year... saved money and we were actually able to find a seat in the eating area...

I love all the tips that everyone has given... we went last year from Boxing day to NYE... it was sooo amazing that we had to go back... we actually didnt find it too crazy.... but well I had a touring plan and we paced ourselves since we had been so many times before we already knew where everything in the park was already.... made it so much easier..

I do have a question about CHRISTMAS DAY... we wanted to spend it at MK... and well we have never been to ROPE DROP before.... anyone been on Christmas Day at MK for rope drop? And what time is RD this year on Christmas Day at MK?

 

[robinb]

The CS coupons were also available on the daily schedules last year.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There are five stages to Park Closings, based on number of people in a Park. The turnstile master computer at each park keeps track of both entries and exits. When a park capacity closes (which is done in stages) there has to be a certain number of people exiting, with the total "in park" below a certain number, before they start allowing people in again.

I am low enough on the totem pole that I have no idea what these numbers are.

Stage Zero - Due to limited available parking, Guests may be directed to alternate parking areas where they will use Resort transportation to travel to the park of their choice.

Stage 1 - At this stage each Guest in a vehicle must have a valid multi-day ticket. Also Guests with a Park Hopper or re-entering the Park, by showing a currently dated Parking Receipt, will be allowed in. Also, any Guests using Disney transportation are allowed.

Stage 2 - At this stage, Theme Park admission is limited to Disney Resort Guests*, Annual and Premium Annual Passholders, Guests with Park Hopper tickets crossing over from another Park, Guests re-entering this Park today. Guests with written confirmation of reservations for Dining or Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League within one hour are also admitted. Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted. Guests not meeting the above criteria are told the Theme Park has reached capacity.

Stage 3 - At this stage, Theme Park admission is limited to Disney Resort Guests*, Annual and Premium Annual Passholders. Guests with written confirmation of reservations for Dining or Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League within one hour are also admitted.

Stage 4 - Nobody is allowed in.

Also, if you are staying at a Disney owned and operated Resort and have a ticket, you are guaranteed entry into A park. Not necessarily the one you want (unless you want to go into AK). And if you have entered and left a park and do not have a hopper you may not get into anything.

*Guests of WDW Swan and Dolphin Hotels and Shades of Green at the Walt Disney World Resort are considered part of this group for Stages 2 and 3. In addition, Guests from Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels arriving by bus are included.