Critique plans 6 days in December

[redsbe]

Just booked Dec 12-18th in Pop Century (free counter dining) for myself and mom (72 with scooter), no park hopping, are both WDW veterans, first time with FP+, regular RD to closing visitors (with mid day hotel pool break if need rest). I have reviewed crowd calenders and hours (based on 2013), avoiding EMHs and came up with this schedule with possible meal venues (we are always flexible to change day of) and highlights only, fill open times with less busy rides plus walking, breaks, snack etc..., would welcome comments and suggestions:

Fri Dec 12th, arrive mid afternoon, dinner at Pop Century, purchased ticket for MK Christmas Party 4p-11p for evening parades, fireworks, perhaps a few rides if not busy;

Sat Dec 13th, 9a-9p Epcot RD, Soarin, mid day FP+ for TT, Spaceship Earth, Maelstrom, lunch at Yorkshire Fish, afternoon in World Showcase, dinner at Sunshine Seasons, stay for IllumiNations;

Sun Dec 14th: 9a-7p MK RD, Peter Pan, Haunted, Splash, Pirates, mid day FP+ for Mines, Buzz, Jungle, lunch at Columbia House, afternoon parade, dinner at Cosmic Rays (park closes 7p for party);

Mon Dec 15th: 9a-8p HS RD, TSM, mid day FP+ for TSM, Star Tours, Great Movie Ride, lunch at Studio Catering, afternoon shows, dinner at Fairfax Fare, Osborne lights?, evening Fantasmic!

Tues Dec 16th: 9a-6p AK RD, Safaris, mid day FP+ for Everest, Dinosaur, ?, lunch at Restaurantosaurus, afternoon shows, dinner at Flame Tree BBQ

Weds Dec 17th: MK 9a-11p FP+ rides missed on previous days or repeats (will book 3 place holders to change day before), lunch at Be Our Guest?, afternoon resort pool break?, return for dinner at Pinocchio Village Haus, evening parade/fireworks

Thurs Dec 18th: MK or shopping in morning, depart to airport 3pm

 

[Dan Murphy]

It looks fine to me, reds. If those are the low crowd parks each day, sounds like a plan. Enjoy.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Looks great except I would take that "?" away from Osborne Lights!

 

[redsbe]

Looks great except I would take that "?" away from Osborne Lights!

The ? I had was from what I have been able to determine the Osborne lights come on at 600 or 615p and Fantasmic is only one showing at 630p that evening (based on December 2013 hours), so may not be possible to do both on same evening.

We have both seen Fantasmic previously on several occasions (and I find it somewhat overrated given the attention and crowds it receives), if we have to choose between both, Osborne Lights will win out as we have never seen.

 

[minniegirl19]

You can see the lights after fantasmic! They are on from 615ish till after the park closes!

 

[redsbe]

It looks fine to me, reds. If those are the low crowd parks each day, sounds like a plan. Enjoy.

from a crowd calendar website (Based on December 2013) the day crowd levels look like this:

Sat Dec 13th EPCOT 6 Highly recommended
Sun Dec 14th MK 6 Highly recommended
Mon Dec 15th HS 4 Highly recommended
Tues Dec 16th AK 4 Highly recommended
Weds Dec 17th: MK 5 Highly recommended

and on another site:

Sat Dec 13th EPCOT 6 not recommended (why?)
Sun Dec 14th MK 6 not recommended (due to short hours)
Mon Dec 15th HS 5 Recommended
Tues Dec 16th AK 5 Recommended
Weds Dec 17th: MK 7 Recommended

 

[redsbe]

You can see the lights after fantasmic! They are on from 615ish till after the park closes!

Great, is there any special lighting event that we would miss at 615p while in crowd for Fantasmic showing? Fantasmic is at 630p and park closes at 8p, but I understand lights stay on for another hour after park, so it would be possible to head over to the lights after end of Fantasmic.

 

[wareagle57]

Looks good! The only thing I see is that you have a FP for Test Track and Maelstrom which I didn't think was possible since both are tier 1.

 

[redsbe]

Looks good! The only thing I see is that you have a FP for Test Track and Maelstrom which I didn't think was possible since both are tier 1.

Opps my mistake you are correct, not sure what we would use two FP+ selections for from Tier 2 at Epcot, we have no great interest in any from that tier and I doubt many will have waits to begin with, perhaps go with Living with Land and Spaceship Earth if for no other reason to book for mid day, so able to "use" and then book 4th FP+ for TT or Soarn?

 

[ArwenMarie]

The ? I had was from what I have been able to determine the Osborne lights come on at 600 or 615p and Fantasmic is only one showing at 630p that evening (based on December 2013 hours), so may not be possible to do both on same evening. We have both seen Fantasmic previously on several occasions (and I find it somewhat overrated given the attention and crowds it receives), if we have to choose between both, Osborne Lights will win out as we have never seen.

If you haven't seen the Osborne Lights before and have seen Fantasmic, I would prioritize seeing the lights, whether skipping F! or going after. Leave enough time to really take it all in. I think they are one of the best things at WDW!

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Looks great and tons of fun. In addition to Osborne Lights and the Storytellers in Epcot, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing some resort decorations too. The Epcot resorts, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and AK lodge all had some fun stuff going on

Totally up to you, but for Epcot, I might be tempted to use FP+ first thing from 9-10, 10-11, and 11-12 to see if you can get a decent tier 1 for a 4th FP. It's all based on availability so I'm thinking the sooner I can pick a 4th, the better chance I have at getting a 2nd ride on Soarin' using FP+.

 

[minniegirl19]

you would miss the lighting of them at 615 but they play that same song throughout the night its up to you if you would rather see it go from off to on or walk up to them with them on already thats your preference! no matter what they are amazing and you will really enjoy them! definitely stay after the park closes I have stayed an hour after watching them and taking it in and there was only a few other families there then! it makes for great pictures with hardly anyone behind you

 

[redsbe]

Looks great and tons of fun. In addition to Osborne Lights and the Storytellers in Epcot, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing some resort decorations too. The Epcot resorts, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and AK lodge all had some fun stuff going on

Totally up to you, but for Epcot, I might be tempted to use FP+ first thing from 9-10, 10-11, and 11-12 to see if you can get a decent tier 1 for a 4th FP. It's all based on availability so I'm thinking the sooner I can pick a 4th, the better chance I have at getting a 2nd ride on Soarin' using FP+.

Good idea that I will have to consider, although not a big fan of letting FP+ selections drive the rest of my day and with that two tiers keeps us close in that part of the park all morning, and we do both like Soarin and TT, but not to point of needing to experience both in the same day, we find plenty in Epcot to see and do for a full day as it is.

 

[redsbe]

you would miss the lighting of them at 615 but they play that same song throughout the night its up to you if you would rather see it go from off to on or walk up to them with them on already thats your preference! no matter what they are amazing and you will really enjoy them! definitely stay after the park closes I have stayed an hour after watching them and taking it in and there was only a few other families there then! it makes for great pictures with hardly anyone behind you

thanks for the advice, really helpful