December 2011 - Christmas with Mickey!! Who's Coming Along and Planning Help Thread!!

[PrincessSuzanne]

Hey there PrincessSuzanne, looks like we ill be there at the same time and the same place!

It's my first Christmas trip, so can't wait. ADRs have made me completely crazy. Have figured out the major holidays ones (Christmas Eve, Day and NYE and Day, but that's about it so far.)

Any suggestions?

This will be our 3rd Christmas week trip and 6th Dec trip.

We are doing several breakfasts (our favorites, since DH is so picky)and a couple of lunch and dinners. All of our breakfasts are character meals, one dinner is a character meal.

I have lots of suggestions, what do you have in mind? I'll get bored planning my own trip, but I love helping others, so ask away. If you'd rather PM me that is fine too.

Suzanne

 

[ciadriamom]

Three years in a row!! Wow, you are my hero.

My kids are 20 and 13, so while character meals are nice, they are not a "must do", with the exception of Chef Mickey (which we do every year). I was thinking about CRT on Christmas Night, do you know if they do anything special? Do you have a specfic recommendation for Christmas Night? That's the big dilemma right now.

Also, if you have to name an absolutely "do not miss this restuarant during Christmas" what would it be?

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Three years in a row!! Wow, you are my hero.

My kids are 20 and 13, so while character meals are nice, they are not a "must do", with the exception of Chef Mickey (which we do every year). I was thinking about CRT on Christmas Night, do you know if they do anything special? Do you have a specfic recommendation for Christmas Night? That's the big dilemma right now.

Also, if you have to name an absolutely "do not miss this restuarant during Christmas" what would it be?

I don't know about CRT on Christmas evening, but for Christmas morning breakfast, they had a special plated meal, they gave several options to choose from, I had a bananas foster french toast, with fresh fruit, I think DH had an omlet, but I can't say for sure.

We went to Crystal Palace on Christmas morning in 2010 and there wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but the food was really good. We were one of the first families seated and the food was really fresh.

I think Liberty Tree Tavern has a very Christmasy feel and the food is quite similar to what we would serve at home for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

We went to Biergarten for Christmas Eve dinner in 2009 and that was really special for us. We sat with a family from Canada and the father of the group, all adults, was a truck driver as my DH is and they talked for a long time. There was Christmas music and their oompah band played music and sang and danced with the crowd, that was alot of fun. The food was good, not my thing, but I enjoyed what I ate. We are going to do that one again, DH loves German food.

Don't miss the Holiday fireworks at MK (and the Christmas parade shown during the day), the Osborne Lights at DHS, the afternoon parade at AK and the extra special Illuminations at Epcot, and religious or not, try to see the Candlelight Processional at Epcot.

There are just 2 of us and we really love the character meals and seeing the characters, and it saves me from having to stand in line in the parks.

We are planning to eat at Chef Mickey's one morning this trip, I haven't been able to go back since my mom passed away in 2008, it was her favorite place.


Suzanne

 

[ciadriamom]

Thanks so much. Iwas actually planning on doing the CP Dinner Package for Christmas Eve (since I will miss my traditional midnight mass at home) and the Biergarten was one of my top choices, although I'm hoping for Le Celliar. We've eaten at the Biergarten and all enjoy it so it is a safe back up plan. Since Christmas is on a Sunday I am hoping to score a ressie for the HOB Gospel Brunch and then my youngest wants to spend the day at MK. So I thought a late dinner at CRT would work (planning on a 1:00 brunch time, so we can sleep in on Christmas morning). Although LTT sounds awesome and again it is a family favorite so that will definitely be the back up plan. Can you see any of the parades or fireworks from LTT? I don't think from my research that you can see either from CRT.

Planning on attending MVMCP on the 18th (or arrival day) because I can't wait to experience the parade and fireworks. I know they are run after that night, but the parade is only during the day and I love the nighttime parades best.

We will be there for 15 days, so I'm hoping to get a chance to experience everything.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Thanks so much. Iwas actually planning on doing the CP Dinner Package for Christmas Eve (since I will miss my traditional midnight mass at home) and the Biergarten was one of my top choices, although I'm hoping for Le Celliar. We've eaten at the Biergarten and all enjoy it so it is a safe back up plan. Since Christmas is on a Sunday I am hoping to score a ressie for the HOB Gospel Brunch and then my youngest wants to spend the day at MK. So I thought a late dinner at CRT would work (planning on a 1:00 brunch time, so we can sleep in on Christmas morning). Although LTT sounds awesome and again it is a family favorite so that will definitely be the back up plan. Can you see any of the parades or fireworks from LTT? I don't think from my research that you can see either from CRT.

Planning on attending MVMCP on the 18th (or arrival day) because I can't wait to experience the parade and fireworks. I know they are run after that night, but the parade is only during the day and I love the nighttime parades best.

We will be there for 15 days, so I'm hoping to get a chance to experience everything.

We went to HoB in April, just for dinner. One day I am going to try the Gospel Brunch, it sounds exciting. No, you can't see fireworks from LTT, you might be able to see MSEP from there, if you get a table by the windows, but I think there are few of those.

No, sleeping in on Christmas Day if you want to get in to the MK. We have been at the gates at 6:45am the last 2 years and gone right in for Am EMH. It will reach capacity by mid-morning, think 10am. We left at 1:30pm lst year and they were turning people around at the TTC, and there were signs on the highway warning that MK was closed. We took an afternoon nap, then went to DHS, then went to DTD for dinner at Cooke's of Dublin.

I think the last MVMCP is on Dec 16, possibly 17th. It is usually the last Friday before Christmas week, in this case Dec 16.

I think with 15 days, you will be able to see and do everything. I think it will be pretty easy going until Dec 21 or 22, then it will start to pick up. That has been our experience.

Suzanne

 

[swwake]

Suzanne and ciadriamom - thanks so much for sharing your suggestions and ideas openly here. Now I'm trying to adjust my ADR requests to squeeze in a candlelight processional dinner package at Biergarten. My family doesn't like for me to have everything all planned out on a schedule, but I have to do it with the ADRs. I just don't know what to drop now, in order to squeeze in Biergarten.

If you don't mind, I'll share my plan and maybe you can add some input:
Saturday - arrive Poly after the day at US/IOA. Probably no later than 7pm, so we could probably do dinner somewhere, but I don't have anything on my ADR request for that night.
Sunday - Epcot, 'Ohana early dinner, MK for MVMCP
Monday - Kona late breakfast, Epcot, California Grill dinner
Tuesday - AK, Boma dinner
Wednesday - DHS, 50's Prime Time Lunch, WCC dinner

We want to see WL, AKL, and BC resorts all decorated, and we have park-hoppers so we will likely not stay at any one park all day. If I had to give up a meal, it would be WCC (kids are two girls 16 and 19 - not sure if it would be that much fun for them, but we've never been).

Should I move WCC to Saturday night after check-in at the resort and plug in Biergarten CP package Wednesday night? Or I could move California Grill to Wednesday night (our last night of vacation, and likely easier to get our ADR being later in the 180+10 window) and slide Biergarten CP package in on Monday (already an Epcot day)?

I could also do Biergarten CP package for lunch one day instead. Any thoughts?

 

[SRUAlmn]

I think the last MVMCP is on Dec 16, possibly 17th. It is usually the last Friday before Christmas week, in this case Dec 16.
Suzanne

The last party this year is on Sunday, December 18. I know this because we've been going back and forth about whether or not to go

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

The last party this year is on Sunday, December 18. I know this because we've been going back and forth about whether or not to go

Interesting, I have never seen them carry them over that late. We will miss it by one day, but I didn't want to pay extra when we can see everything that next week for free.

Suzanne

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Suzanne and ciadriamom - thanks so much for sharing your suggestions and ideas openly here. Now I'm trying to adjust my ADR requests to squeeze in a candlelight processional dinner package at Biergarten. My family doesn't like for me to have everything all planned out on a schedule, but I have to do it with the ADRs. I just don't know what to drop now, in order to squeeze in Biergarten.

If you don't mind, I'll share my plan and maybe you can add some input:
Saturday - arrive Poly after the day at US/IOA. Probably no later than 7pm, so we could probably do dinner somewhere, but I don't have anything on my ADR request for that night.
Sunday - Epcot, 'Ohana early dinner, MK for MVMCP
Monday - Kona late breakfast, Epcot, California Grill dinner
Tuesday - AK, Boma dinner
Wednesday - DHS, 50's Prime Time Lunch, WCC dinner

We want to see WL, AKL, and BC resorts all decorated, and we have park-hoppers so we will likely not stay at any one park all day. If I had to give up a meal, it would be WCC (kids are two girls 16 and 19 - not sure if it would be that much fun for them, but we've never been).

Should I move WCC to Saturday night after check-in at the resort and plug in Biergarten CP package Wednesday night? Or I could move California Grill to Wednesday night (our last night of vacation, and likely easier to get our ADR being later in the 180+10 window) and slide Biergarten CP package in on Monday (already an Epcot day)?

I could also do Biergarten CP package for lunch one day instead. Any thoughts?

I don't mind sharing almost anything, in fact I love sharing my trip info and knowledge, it makes my planing less boring and yes, it can get that way sometimes.

I don't know, I think with your kids that age, they may not enjoy WCC as much as a younger child. DH has banned me from there, because of a ketchup incident on our 5th Anniversary, if you know WCC, you will know what I mean... But, then again, the food at WCC was really good, but so is Biergarten.

We have never eaten at Cali Grill, so getting rid of that one would be what I would do. It's hard to say for someone else. Being that you want a CP package, I might just see what day you can get for that, then rearrange all the others around it, when those packages come out, unless they have a package to fit your schedule.

We did the CP package in 2006, but since then, we just stand in the back for the show, that way we have the option to see the whole thing, or move on, which is what we have done the last couple of years, because of time constraints. This year, depending on who the narrators are, we might do a package or at least see the show again.

I don't like everything planned on a schedule, those never work out so well. I look at the hours on the calendar, then the EMH hours (we love EMH evenings) and then make a basic plan. Of course, we do have to book ADR's, but I try to be flexible with those, and then we do what we want when we want. Most of our ADR's are breakfasts, and we like an early seating, then we have the rest of the day to do what we please and we get hoppers for even more flexability.

When I get home, I will list my ADR plans by day. Below are where we are trying to book:

Tusker House-breakfast
Cape May Cafe-breakfast
Chef Mickey's-breakfast
Akerhaus-breakfast
Crystal Palace-breakfast
Garden Grill-dinner-not set on that one
Biergarten-late lunch or early dinner
House of Blues-late lunch or early dinner

I think that is all of them, all others will be CS

Suzanne

 

[Vickis3js]

Interesting, I have never seen them carry them over that late. We will miss it by one day, but I didn't want to pay extra when we can see everything that next week for free.

Suzanne

Yeah they started doing the last one on a Sunday last year. The 2 years prior we missed it by one day always getting there the sat. after the last party. Then they threw me off by doing it on Sunday last year. We decided to skip it for the same reason though.

 

[Vickis3js]

Three years in a row!! Wow, you are my hero.

My kids are 20 and 13, so while character meals are nice, they are not a "must do", with the exception of Chef Mickey (which we do every year). I was thinking about CRT on Christmas Night, do you know if they do anything special? Do you have a specfic recommendation for Christmas Night? That's the big dilemma right now.

Also, if you have to name an absolutely "do not miss this restuarant during Christmas" what would it be?

Can I make a suggestion? This will be our 4th Christmas in WDW and one of our fav Christmas meals was at WCC. We actually did WCC dinner one year and WCC breakfast another on Christmas and we enjoyed both of them. They have a special holiday skillet for dinner with turkey, roast chicken, brisket and pork wiht all the trimmings. Its a special set menu. The dessert wasn't that good but we didn't really mind it too much. WL is gorgeous at Christmas and with an open restaurant we got to admire their massive and gorgeous tree while we ate.

We've done Ohana and Chef Mickey's as well on Christmas and neither of them did anything special for Christmas. Although we did do CM for Christmas breakfast one year and it was a brunch and there was a lot more non breakfast foods then breakfast foods and I am odd and can't eat anything but breakfast foods for breakfast so I didn't enjoy it too much.

We stay away from the parks in the day. If the kids wnat to go to someplace at night we will call the front desk and see whats open. Each year MK has closed to capacity around 10-11am and stayed at some level of closure until atleast 2pm some years later then that. So if you want ot do the MK like Suzanne said there is no sleeping in.

Most of all remember to have fun.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Yeah they started doing the last one on a Sunday last year. The 2 years prior we missed it by one day always getting there the sat. after the last party. Then they threw me off by doing it on Sunday last year. We decided to skip it for the same reason though.

We went to the party in Dec 2006 and then Dec 2008, but since then, we have gone Christmas week, so the parties are over by then. I guess it makes sense, since Christmas isn't until the following Sunday.

 

[ciadriamom]

Vicki, thanks so much, I had not thought of WCC. We've eaten there before and it was on the list of "must dos". Will definitely give it some serious thought! Sounds like the perfect menu as well! Was toying around with the thought of LTT and then a Wishes Desert Party on Christmas (although I don't want to be so full from dinner as to make the party a waste) So many decisions.

Suzanne, make sure to read the fine print on your Restaurant.com certificate (not all meals or days of the week are included, a lot of them specifically exclude weekends). I know for a fact that the HOB Brunch is not included.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Vicki, thanks so much, I had not thought of WCC. We've eaten there before and it was on the list of "must dos". Will definitely give it some serious thought! Sounds like the perfect menu as well! Was toying around with the thought of LTT and then a Wishes Desert Party on Christmas (although I don't want to be so full from dinner as to make the party a waste) So many decisions.

Suzanne, make sure to read the fine print on your Restaurant.com certificate (not all meals or days of the week are included, a lot of them specifically exclude weekends). I know for a fact that the HOB Brunch is not included.

Yeah, we have used a HoB certificate in April. We aren't going to do the Gospel Brunch. I think I will delete that tip. You also can't use it on a holiday evening. like Christmas Eve or Day.

Suzanne

 

[disneyjr77]

Hi Everyone! I'm relatively new to the boards...only been on a few times. We're heading to my happy place Dec 7 -17, this trip will have a few firsts for us Our first trip at Christmas, first trip with just the 3 of us, first stay on property, first time with the DDP, and most importantly my baby girl's 5th bday!!!!! We're doing a split stay between POR standard view and the Polynesian MK view (40% PIN...thank you Disney ) Here are our plans and if any of you have any suggestions please let me know.

wed Dec 7 - Arrival day - I was thinking take it easy (we're driving), check out the resort, walk over to POFQ for beignets (can't WAIT to try these..thank you Princess & the Frog lol), DTD , pizza in room and early to bed...parks tomorrow!
Thurs Dec 8 - BBB @ MK early then Akershus for bfast, Epcot and le Cellier for lunch, and finish the day with Illuminations
Friday - crystal Palace for bfast, MK for the day, Chef Mickey's for Dinner, and then depending on how we feel. HS for Osborne Lights, Tour the resorts...something, MK closes at 7 that night so we pretty much have the night free.
Saturday - Richard Petty Rookie exp for DH tour resorts, Whispering Canyon for dinner then a Ft. Wilderness for a sleigh ride.
Sunday - Moving day check in at the Polynesian, use whatever snack/CS credits we have that will expire at midnight, Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch and then MVMCP
Monday - EMH at AK, bfast at Tusker House, AK closes at 5 so again we're pretty much open that night.
Tuesday - 'Ohanas for bfast, Hollywood Studios, 50's prime time for dinner, Fantasmic!, and Osborne lights.
Wednesday - No plans...going to try to get Spirit of Aloha for either this night or thursday night.
Thursday - again no plans
Friday - MK and 1900 Park Fare for dinner. I'm thinking this would be a great last day for us
Sat - head home

WOW! my hands got tired typing this, how do people do trip reports lol i love reading them, but don't know that i could write one...thanks to those of you that do.

So there are my plans, sorry if i was long winded...please feel free to comment or make suggestions/changes! as you can see i'm super excited and am driving DH crazy with everything, but thankfully he puts up with it

 

[momabaarjo]

Hi Everyone! I'm relatively new to the boards...only been on a few times. We're heading to my happy place Dec 7 -17, this trip will have a few firsts for us Our first trip at Christmas, first trip with just the 3 of us, first stay on property, first time with the DDP, and most importantly my baby girl's 5th bday!!!!! We're doing a split stay between POR standard view and the Polynesian MK view (40% PIN...thank you Disney ) Here are our plans and if any of you have any suggestions please let me know.

wed Dec 7 - Arrival day - I was thinking take it easy (we're driving), check out the resort, walk over to POFQ for beignets (can't WAIT to try these..thank you Princess & the Frog lol), DTD , pizza in room and early to bed...parks tomorrow!
Thurs Dec 8 - BBB @ MK early then Akershus for bfast, Epcot and le Cellier for lunch, and finish the day with Illuminations

Honestly...not sure how you are going to manage BBB at MK and then get to Akershaus for bfast

Friday - crystal Palace for bfast, MK for the day, Chef Mickey's for Dinner, and then depending on how we feel. HS for Osborne Lights, Tour the resorts...something, MK closes at 7 that night so we pretty much have the night free.

I am excited about trying CP for breakfast...the breakfast Lasana and pooh's puffed french toast look awesome


Saturday - Richard Petty Rookie exp for DH tour resorts, Whispering Canyon for dinner then a Ft. Wilderness for a sleigh ride.
Sunday - Moving day check in at the Polynesian, use whatever snack/CS credits we have that will expire at midnight, Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch and then MVMCP
Monday - EMH at AK, bfast at Tusker House, AK closes at 5 so again we're pretty much open that night.
Tuesday - 'Ohanas for bfast, Hollywood Studios, 50's prime time for dinner, Fantasmic!, and Osborne lights.

I loved 50s prime...the milkshakes and boston cream pie cupcakes were awesome! Make sure you put your elbows on the table!!
Wednesday - No plans...going to try to get Spirit of Aloha for either this night or thursday night.
Thursday - again no plans
Friday - MK and 1900 Park Fare for dinner. I'm thinking this would be a great last day for us
Sat - head home

WOW! my hands got tired typing this, how do people do trip reports lol i love reading them, but don't know that i could write one...thanks to those of you that do.

So there are my plans, sorry if i was long winded...please feel free to comment or make suggestions/changes! as you can see i'm super excited and am driving DH crazy with everything, but thankfully he puts up with it

Just my thoughts!

 

[disneyjr77]

Just my thoughts!

we're excited about 50's prime time, we'll def put our elbows on the table, thanks! i also can't wait for the shakes

We've done CP for breakfast before and loved it, Pooh is DD's all time fav and it's her birthday so she'll get ot start her day with Pooh and friends.

My plan (fingers crossed) is to get an 8 or 8:30 ressie for BBB and the latest possible breakfast ressie at Akershus. I'm thinking if i can pull that off we should be good. I would do lunch but i'm a picky eater and the menu didn't have much i would eat.

 

[lovethattink]

we're excited about 50's prime time, we'll def put our elbows on the table, thanks! i also can't wait for the shakes

We've done CP for breakfast before and loved it, Pooh is DD's all time fav and it's her birthday so she'll get ot start her day with Pooh and friends.

My plan (fingers crossed) is to get an 8 or 8:30 ressie for BBB and the latest possible breakfast ressie at Akershus. I'm thinking if i can pull that off we should be good. I would do lunch but i'm a picky eater and the menu didn't have much i would eat.

We ate at 50'sPTC on Saturday and we had a great experience! DH had was so naughty he had to take his dishes back to the kitchen! DS got the clean plate award!

I hope all goes well with the resies for BBB and breakfast!

 

[Vickis3js]

Vicki, thanks so much, I had not thought of WCC. We've eaten there before and it was on the list of "must dos". Will definitely give it some serious thought! Sounds like the perfect menu as well! Was toying around with the thought of LTT and then a Wishes Desert Party on Christmas (although I don't want to be so full from dinner as to make the party a waste) So many decisions.

Suzanne, make sure to read the fine print on your Restaurant.com certificate (not all meals or days of the week are included, a lot of them specifically exclude weekends). I know for a fact that the HOB Brunch is not included.

We do the Desert Party on Christmas Eve and we just eat a later lunch so we are not too full. Its on my list again for this year as well. Its awesome we loved doing it last year. DH is diabetic and I made sure it was noted on our ADR and they brought out sugar free stuff for DH. The manager was awesome. He was so good I made a point to write to Disney about him.

We did LTT around 2 last year for lunch and then the party. Great way to see the fireworks!

 

[ciadriamom]

Vicki, that sounds like a really good plan, do you know if they have the Desert Party on Christmas Day? Am I correct in that it starts an hour before the fireworks? That would be an awesome way to end the day. What do you think the odds are of getting into the park at around 6:00 on Christmas Day?

If the MVMCP Parade is run during the day, what parade if any is done at night?