**December 2012 Roll Call** Holidays, FLE Opening & MVMCP!! A very, merry thread!

[hollygolitely93]

I am feeling so lucky about our December trip. We went last year and there is so much new this year that feels like a much improved trip

FLE, clearly!
Rapunzel in the theater with FP!
Ariel in her fin!
The new magic memories show!
Phineas and Ferb mission at Epcot
Test Track redone (if it is indeed...nervous about this as 12/1 is our Epcot date!)
All the new FP attractions
BOG reservations!
POR Royal Rooms
Refillable mugs with the free dining!
DHS soft opening

And yet we seem to be getting in before FOLK closes!

Pinch me! Does it not feel like the perfect time to visit the world?. Now may the weather just cooperate for us and it should be a very magical vacation!

 

[ciao_gina]

I know this won't win me points but we are not IASW fans...so it isn't on the list.

I agree that the ride is a disappointment at WDW. DL is soooo much better

 

[ciao_gina]

Maybe it'll remain open for MVMCP for those of us that like it in the dark. Also, at least in December, it gets dark fairly early so, absent huge lines, riding in the dark might still be possible.

I hope they are taking this opportunity to make some repairs and return it to EMH, at least during the warmer months.

Looks like 5:30 is sunset:

http://www.sunrisesunset.com/predefined.asp

 

[Tltorrez]

The new Segway tour has thrown a monkey wrench into my plans. I had booked under the old tour for 2 hours starting at 7:45. Now it's 3 hours, probably starting at 8 or 8:30. I don't know what to do.

Here’s the scenario - the main purpose of this trip, besides the holiday stuff, is to introduce my in-laws to Disney. To show them that Disney is not just an amusement park with rides and not just for kids. My in-laws have a vacation home in Florida now so I anticipate that after this first trip, they are likely to go regularly on their own. For us, this will be our 4th trip in a little over two years. All of us will have APs when this trip is over so we’ll clearly be returning soon.

So my modus operandi for park plans is to pick the things in each park that I think the in-laws would most appreciate plus our family favorites plus the holiday stuff, and eliminate everything else. That eliminates a surprising amount of stuff and puts our trip at a slow pace. I should also add that my MIL doesn’t do “rides”. We have made significant progress to narrow that down to things that spin, go fast, drop and otherwise constitute thrill rides. She’s fine with trains, boats, cars and anything that resembles a slow ride through IASW. In Epcot, specifically, our mode is always to wander around FW until 11am and then spend the rest of the day in WS. We love WS.

So Epcot will actually be our first park on an AM EMH day. I’m planning to start with Spaceship Earth then do Test Track (which my inlaws surely won’t ride but being new, we want to try). Then at 9:00 we’ll do Character Spot and Figment (FIL is a huge Absent-Minded Professor fan), followed by whatever else fits in until 11am (Living with the Land, Nemo, etc.). OK, so far so good. Several days later we will return to Epcot. The original plan basically had us doing Soarin and Sum of All Thrills (my husband’s favorite) then whatever else to kill time until 11. Then I booked the tour. With the original tour we’d get to Soarin by 10 to either ride or get FPs depending on the line. Then go do Sum of All Thrills. No problem. But now we’re looking at getting to Soarin by 11 or later. And maybe Sum of All Thrills doesn’t fit in. Not sure.

I should mention here that one of my goals is to get my MIL to ride Soarin. I think she could really enjoy it but I might have to get past her initial defenses. That’s why I don’t have Soarin on Day 1. I also didn’t want our first day to be a whole lot of things my in-laws wouldn’t actually ride so that they were just waiting around for us. I should also mention that DS10 isn’t old enough for the tour. He and I currently have a 7:45 breakfast at Cape May instead. Then we’ll go ride whatever he wants in FW until we meet up with the others. We could, in theory, ditch Soarin altogether as a group. It’s DS’s favorite but he and I can go on it first thing in the morning. But I don’t know.

I guess where I’m struggling is to balance – seeing the highlights for a first-timer vs. making extra magic vs. just relaxing because we all know we’ll be back. The tour is something that DH has always wanted to do and my in-laws recently did a Segway tour in Naples, FL and loved it. So I know it’s something they’ll love. And of course, just being in an empty WS is awesome. But when I first booked it, we weren’t really giving anything else up to do it. With the new tour, it looks like we would be. I just can’t decide if it matters. So do I dump the tour and just see the park? Do I keep the tour and dump the other rides? Or do I keep the tour and try to squeeze the other rides in elsewhere? Which one best fits with my trip goals?

I know, that's a lot of info but I'm really struggling and the tour is a surprise so I needed someone to discuss it with.

 

[Tltorrez]

OK, when I start getting philosophical about the purpose of my trip, it may be time to walk away from the plans. I'm starting to look fondly on the trip that I booked 5 days out.

 

[grrrlennyl]

DHS soft opening

What's that you say? Does DHS mean Disney's Hollywood Studios? (I'm new and I swear I searched.)

 

[barbeml]

I already have the old tour booked so I'm waiting to see what's different/special about this one. What time did you book? What were the options?

We have a 7:45 start and it's 2 hours. I really don't want to give up another park hour, especially not to eat at Sunshine Seasons. I'm already worried about managing Soarin that day.

7:45, three hours total. I can understand your concern, we go frequently so I am OK with the longer tour.

Not sure what the options are, as I had my Dreams Agent book for me...I just told her the day I wanted.

 

[Valgoof]

The new Segway tour has thrown a monkey wrench into my plans. I had booked under the old tour for 2 hours starting at 7:45. Now it's 3 hours, probably starting at 8 or 8:30. I don't know what to do.

The tour is something that DH has always wanted to do and my in-laws recently did a Segway tour in Naples, FL and loved it. So I know it is something they'll love. Which one best fits with my trip goals?

I know, that's a lot of info but I'm really struggling and the tour is a surprise so I needed someone to discuss it with.

Always glad to give my opinion. I vote for DH and in-laws doing the tour. I think that best fits with your trip goals, as you said. You know they love it. With everything new they will be doing, it might be nice for them to do something they have already done, but in a new place. Also think it adds to the "Disney is not just for kids" argument. And it gives you and DS some free time together to do the thrill rides. I would think you could fit Soarin' in somewhere with 2 days in Epcot, but if not, you know you will be back.

 

[Valgoof]

Soooo....we are considering postponing our trip. Nothing for sure, and we at this point are still planning to go, but it has been discussed. I knew ordering the MVMCP tickets early was a bad idea.

 

[DisneyMom0709]

for the roll call my date needs to be changed to dec 13
thanks!

 

[DisneyMom0709]

for the roll call my date needs to be changed to dec 13
thanks!

its under the 8th but I changed my dates around

 

[mom2travel]

Soooo....we are considering postponing our trip. Nothing for sure, and we at this point are still planning to go, but it has been discussed. I knew ordering the MVMCP tickets early was a bad idea.

Oooooh sorry. I hope it works out that you don't need to change. That's why I'm waiting on buying mine; there's one possible thing that could make us change our dates, and we won't know for a few weeks. Can you try to sell them to someone else? I've never done MVMCP before and we bought MNSSHP tix the day before onsite so have never looked into policy other than to know they're non-refundable

Good luck!

 

[grrrlennyl]

its under the 8th but I changed my dates around

That's when we're getting there, too! Where are you staying?

 

[Mom2Cody06]

CP dinner question - We have ADRs for Via Napoli for dinner and seating for the 645 CP on 12/7. When I read the details of the CP dinner it says DDP not accepted but I know Via Napoli is on the dining plan. I had set aside 2 TS credits for the CP dinner package so can I use DDP or not? I'm confused.

 

[mom2rtk]

Soooo....we are considering postponing our trip. Nothing for sure, and we at this point are still planning to go, but it has been discussed. I knew ordering the MVMCP tickets early was a bad idea.

So sorry to hear that. But party tickets can be sold. I know people sell them on Ebay and Craig's List all the time.

But before you do that, at least try calling Disney to see if there's anything they can do. Probably not, but worth a couple minutes to try.

 

[BDL]

Don't forget the Castle Lights and Epcot Storytellers.

Ohhh... There's no way I could forget the Castle lighting (BDLsgal won't let me). Just kidding. It does make you wide eyed when you see it. Bibbidi... Bobbidi... BOOOOO! And I loved seeing the Monkey King and La Befana on our last trip. We'll try to see some of the international Santa-s this trip and Joyful!

Originally Posted by Tltorrez
The new Segway tour has thrown a monkey wrench into my plans. I had booked under the old tour for 2 hours starting at 7:45. Now it's 3 hours, probably starting at 8 or 8:30. I don't know what to do.

The tour is something that DH has always wanted to do and my in-laws recently did a Segway tour in Naples, FL and loved it. So I know it is something they'll love. Which one best fits with my trip goals?

I know, that's a lot of info but I'm really struggling and the tour is a surprise so I needed someone to discuss it with.

Always glad to give my opinion. I vote for DH and in-laws doing the tour. I think that best fits with your trip goals, as you said. You know they love it. With everything new they will be doing, it might be nice for them to do something they have already done, but in a new place. Also think it adds to the "Disney is not just for kids" argument. And it gives you and DS some free time together to do the thrill rides. I would think you could fit Soarin' in somewhere with 2 days in Epcot, but if not, you know you will be back.

I'm a firm believer in letting people do what they want on vacation. And when everyone else is happy (...or away), than the planner is happy (...and free to do what they want).

I'm sorry to hear about the possible postponement. I hope it isn't anything tragic.

 

[Tltorrez]

7:45, three hours total. I can understand your concern, we go frequently so I am OK with the longer tour.

Not sure what the options are, as I had my Dreams Agent book for me...I just told her the day I wanted.

It looks like the new tour, besides being longer, also start later. Like 8:00 or 8:30. There are also later times. But the CM I talked to didn't know how the change of start times would affect those of us already booked. So we have to wait until I get official notice that Disney is changing what I booked. Who knows how long that will take.

 

[Tltorrez]

Always glad to give my opinion. I vote for DH and in-laws doing the tour. I think that best fits with your trip goals, as you said. You know they love it. With everything new they will be doing, it might be nice for them to do something they have already done, but in a new place. Also think it adds to the "Disney is not just for kids" argument. And it gives you and DS some free time together to do the thrill rides. I would think you could fit Soarin' in somewhere with 2 days in Epcot, but if not, you know you will be back.

Thanks. I think that's where I'm leaning.

 

[Valgoof]

Ohhh... There's no way I could forget the Castle lighting (BDLsgal won't let me). Just kidding. It does make you wide eyed when you see it. Bibbidi... Bobbidi... BOOOOO! And I loved seeing the Monkey King and La Befana on our last trip. We'll try to see some of the international Santa-s this trip and Joyful!


I'm sorry to hear about the possible postponement. I hope it isn't anything tragic.

No, no. Nothing tragic. Just little things starting to add up. I am still hopeful we will go and not change anything. Will know more in October. Just had to post on here and get a little sympathy.

 

[Phatoomch]

CP dinner question - We have ADRs for Via Napoli for dinner and seating for the 645 CP on 12/7. When I read the details of the CP dinner it says DDP not accepted but I know Via Napoli is on the dining plan. I had set aside 2 TS credits for the CP dinner package so can I use DDP or not? I'm confused.

As far as I am aware it is. When I booked it the CM told me it was two TS credits