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

[houstonmama]

Hi everybody

Disney 1st timer here! I realize that Im very,very, late to the party but I hope to catch up! Being our (Moi, DH, DD 3yrs, DS 8mos) first time Im so glad I found this board. Planning has been quite overwhelming to say the least. Thanks to all you for sharing your experiences and plans..it really helps!

We hope (not booked yet) to visit from Dec 10-15 (might add 1 day to beg or end) and stay at The Contemporary. Ive read that its the not most Disneyesque resort but I think that the transportation/proximity to MK is gonna help us. Once I've actually been and get a feel for where and how far everything is I can choose a different (and hopefully less expensive ) resort for our next trip.

Im sure I'll have lots of questions so your patience is appreciated

 

[BDL]

Welcome aboard houstonmama.

Your kids will like the Contemporary. They can look out the lobby window (if not their own) and see the Magic Kingdom. They'll get a kick out of having a monorail go through their lobby. And also at Christmas time, there is the life-sized gingerbread Christmas tree in the lobby.

 

[nickle831]

okay if you have the dining plan are you able to pick the fantasmic package and just pay the difference to use TSC or it has to be seperate OOP expense? Thanks

 

[trixidixie]

As mentioned above, we (family of 3) will be arriving at the Contemporary (theme park view room) on November 30 and departing on December 9. My girlfriend and her family (total of 5) will be arriving December 2 and leaving December 8.

192 days until Disney!!!!

 

[Groomer Gal]

Thanks BDL and kappyfan!!!

I really appreciate the info. I will absolutely keep it in mind!

 

[JLa01844]

Hi everybody

Disney 1st timer here! I realize that Im very,very, late to the party but I hope to catch up! Being our (Moi, DH, DD 3yrs, DS 8mos) first time Im so glad I found this board. Planning has been quite overwhelming to say the least. Thanks to all you for sharing your experiences and plans..it really helps!

We hope (not booked yet) to visit from Dec 10-15 (might add 1 day to beg or end) and stay at The Contemporary. Ive read that its the not most Disneyesque resort but I think that the transportation/proximity to MK is gonna help us. Once I've actually been and get a feel for where and how far everything is I can choose a different (and hopefully less expensive ) resort for our next trip.

Im sure I'll have lots of questions so your patience is appreciated

Welcome! The contemporary is really neat! You'll like it! But I just want to let you know that ALL Disney Resorts have free transportation to all parks, Downtown Disney and teh Transportation and Ticket Center....as well as the Magical Express Bus that picks you up at the airport and brings you back! It really is a fantastic feature for Disney Resort Guests.

 

[JLa01844]

I'm kinda having Disney planning burn out. I keep starting and stopping. I wish I could just sit down and do it, and be done with it...so I can book ADR's soon!

 

[Valgoof]

I'm kinda having Disney planning burn out. I keep starting and stopping. I wish I could just sit down and do it, and be done with it...so I can book ADR's soon!

Me too!! I actually told my DH to stop talking about Disney a couple nights ago. He was shocked!! I think I have our park days planned and know the ADRs I want, but I still have a few weeks so I'm guessing those will change. Still trying to decide to do MVMCP or not.

 

[EeyoreJen]

I'm so excited to have found this thread!

My family and extended family (nine people total) will be heading to Kidani Village on December 2nd! We're sooooo excited!! We'll be staying in the two bedroom villa w/ savannah view.

My kids and I went last year from Dec 25 - Jan 1 and had THE BEST TIME! It was just amazing, sooooo, we're heading back for more Disney December magic; I just cannot imagine a trip to Disney without those gorgeous decorations!

I'm curious - which park did you do on Christmas?

Thanks

Jen

 

[Groomer Gal]

I'm kinda having Disney planning burn out. I keep starting and stopping. I wish I could just sit down and do it, and be done with it...so I can book ADR's soon!

Yep! Me too.

I've figured out my ADR's and park days....changed it once easywdw came out with its plan....now just waiting for the daily breakdown to have it set in stone...then make ADR's (well, my TA will do that) THEN, I'm taking a break for a bit.

We have so many graduation parties and other activities coming up so I will be preoccupied with all that for a few weeks.

But THEN...I plan on really hunkering down and making a touring plan for each park.
I want to try and space it out!

 

[DisneyMom0709]

As mentioned above, we (family of 3) will be arriving at the Contemporary (theme park view room) on November 30 and departing on December 9. My girlfriend and her family (total of 5) will be arriving December 2 and leaving December 8.

192 days until Disney!!!!

so lucky how much is a room per night

 

[houstonmama]

Welcome! The contemporary is really neat! You'll like it! But I just want to let you know that ALL Disney Resorts have free transportation to all parks, Downtown Disney and teh Transportation and Ticket Center....as well as the Magical Express Bus that picks you up at the airport and brings you back! It really is a fantastic feature for Disney Resort Guests.

Thanks for the welcome! It does look like they have great transportation but Im wondering how long things take. For example, if we were to stay at AofA, can we take a bus directly to lets say MK? How long is the ride? Looking at the maps it doesn't seem far at all but I guess it's the wait times that is really the problem??

TIA

 

[houstonmama]

Welcome aboard houstonmama.

Your kids will like the Contemporary. They can look out the lobby window (if not their own) and see the Magic Kingdom. They'll get a kick out of having a monorail go through their lobby. And also at Christmas time, there is the life-sized gingerbread Christmas tree in the lobby.

Thanks BDL! DD is going to love the monorail..she loves trains! I didn't even think of that!

I was reading your PTR earlier. Great info...especially the link for the Nemo ride. She really loves marine animals so thats def on the list!

This trip planning is very exciting !

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for the welcome! It does look like they have great transportation but Im wondering how long things take. For example, if we were to stay at AofA, can we take a bus directly to lets say MK? How long is the ride? Looking at the maps it doesn't seem far at all but I guess it's the wait times that is really the problem??

TIA

The bus ride to the MK from the Pop Century was around 25 minutes. I'd expect about the same for AoA. This was actualy ride time, not time waiting for the bus to arrive.

 

[JLa01844]

Rides aren't very long on the bus. YOu do have to wait at the bus stop a little though. I would say average, from the moment you get to the bus stop to the moment you get to the park could be as short as 20 minutes or as long as 40. When parks close, sometimes there are lines for the buses, that can get a bit hectic. I'm not trying to stray you away from Contemporary, just making sure you know that you can get buses at every hotel.

All hotels will have buses that go to and from all parks, ticket and transportation center and downtown disney.

 

[JLa01844]

This is what I have thus far and I'm fading....I'm kinda up in the air on the second half:

Dec 2nd: Travel Day, Hotel by noon. Lunch, Explore, Unpack, Nap. Beaches & Cream for late dinner, Watch Illuminations from bridge on Boardwalk, hotel.

Dec 3rd: Rope Drop at Epcot, Character Spot, Biergarten for lunch, stay until 5ish, monorail to MK for Electrical Parade & Fireworks, hotel.

Dec 4th: Rope Drop at Magic Kingdom, Be Our Guest (fingers crossed for CS lunch), closes at 7pm, monorail to Poly, Ohana, watch Fireworks from beach, hotel.

Dec 5th: Hollywood Studios (not super important for me to be at "Rope Drop"), counter service meals, closes at 8, take friendship boat back to epcot/boardwalk, World Showcase entrance to leisurely stroll and see Illuminations, hotel.

Dec 6th: Lazy Day, Downtown Disney, 4pm MVMCP, maybe a ts meal right at 4??, hotel.

Dec 7th: Animal Kingdom during day... ??? Night, ??? Food

Dec 8th: Pick a Park Day or Park Hop (DHS, EP, AK) ??? NO IDEA!!!

Dec 9th: Kona Cafe at Poly for Breakfast, Magic Kingdom, ??? no plans for food or evening yet

Dec 10th: Travel Day don't need to catch ME until 4:30pm, I thought maybe character breakfast at Cape May or Chef Mickey's, See the Floridian Christmas Display (if we go to Chef Mickey's at Contemp.), then ??? DTD?

------
Other things I'd like to do that I want to fit in; I probably will want to see Osborne Lights a second time, I should plan that on my "Pick a Park Day". I'd like to see Wilderness Lodge, okay with eating around there as well to conserve transit time. I also want to try and do candlelight processional but am worried my daughter won't be quiet for it.

 

[sjs314]

This is what I have thus far and I'm fading....I'm kinda up in the air on the second half:

Dec 2nd: Travel Day, Hotel by noon. Lunch, Explore, Unpack, Nap. Beaches & Cream for late dinner, Watch Illuminations from bridge on Boardwalk, hotel.

Dec 3rd: Rope Drop at Epcot, Character Spot, Biergarten for lunch, stay until 5ish, monorail to MK for Electrical Parade & Fireworks, hotel.

Dec 4th: Rope Drop at Magic Kingdom, Be Our Guest (fingers crossed for CS lunch), closes at 7pm, monorail to Poly, Ohana, watch Fireworks from beach, hotel.

Dec 5th: Hollywood Studios (not super important for me to be at "Rope Drop"), counter service meals, closes at 8, take friendship boat back to epcot/boardwalk, World Showcase entrance to leisurely stroll and see Illuminations, hotel.

Dec 6th: Lazy Day, Downtown Disney, 4pm MVMCP, maybe a ts meal right at 4??, hotel.

Dec 7th: Animal Kingdom during day... ??? Night, ??? Food

Dec 8th: Pick a Park Day or Park Hop (DHS, EP, AK) ??? NO IDEA!!!

Dec 9th: Kona Cafe at Poly for Breakfast, Magic Kingdom, ??? no plans for food or evening yet

Dec 10th: Travel Day don't need to catch ME until 4:30pm, I thought maybe character breakfast at Cape May or Chef Mickey's, See the Floridian Christmas Display (if we go to Chef Mickey's at Contemp.), then ??? DTD?

------
Other things I'd like to do that I want to fit in; I probably will want to see Osborne Lights a second time, I should plan that on my "Pick a Park Day". I'd like to see Wilderness Lodge, okay with eating around there as well to conserve transit time. I also want to try and do candlelight processional but am worried my daughter won't be quiet for it.

I think your plan looks good. There is so much I want to do and see, my top three priorities are CP, Osbourne Lights and MVMCP, but as of now I only have one of my days decided for sure. The rest are still up in the air and I do need to sit down and decide for sure, I make my ADRs a week from Friday

 

[Valgoof]

This is what I have thus far and I'm fading....I'm kinda up in the air on the second half:

Dec 2nd: Travel Day, Hotel by noon. Lunch, Explore, Unpack, Nap. Beaches & Cream for late dinner, Watch Illuminations from bridge on Boardwalk, hotel.

Dec 3rd: Rope Drop at Epcot, Character Spot, Biergarten for lunch, stay until 5ish, monorail to MK for Electrical Parade & Fireworks, hotel.

Dec 4th: Rope Drop at Magic Kingdom, Be Our Guest (fingers crossed for CS lunch), closes at 7pm, monorail to Poly, Ohana, watch Fireworks from beach, hotel.

Dec 5th: Hollywood Studios (not super important for me to be at "Rope Drop"), counter service meals, closes at 8, take friendship boat back to epcot/boardwalk, World Showcase entrance to leisurely stroll and see Illuminations, hotel.

Dec 6th: Lazy Day, Downtown Disney, 4pm MVMCP, maybe a ts meal right at 4??, hotel.

Dec 7th: Animal Kingdom during day... ??? Night, ??? Food

Dec 8th: Pick a Park Day or Park Hop (DHS, EP, AK) ??? NO IDEA!!!

Dec 9th: Kona Cafe at Poly for Breakfast, Magic Kingdom, ??? no plans for food or evening yet

Dec 10th: Travel Day don't need to catch ME until 4:30pm, I thought maybe character breakfast at Cape May or Chef Mickey's, See the Floridian Christmas Display (if we go to Chef Mickey's at Contemp.), then ??? DTD?

------
Other things I'd like to do that I want to fit in; I probably will want to see Osborne Lights a second time, I should plan that on my "Pick a Park Day". I'd like to see Wilderness Lodge, okay with eating around there as well to conserve transit time. I also want to try and do candlelight processional but am worried my daughter won't be quiet for it.

I had to laugh at how different our plans are. DHS is the one I most care about rope drop!! Gotta get on TSMM. It's Dh's favorite thing so I promised him two mornings there. I am with you on the fingers crossed for Be Our Guest. My plan is to try and fight the masses for an ADR whenever those open up. But I at least want a CS lunch there. Maybe 2. Did you stop waiting on SW and get plane tickets with a different airline or are you just guessing at arrival and departure times from last year? I think you were the one talking about SW with me. I think we have decided to do MVMCP on 12/18 and will do DTD and hang out at the resort that day too.

 

[nickle831]

Okay I have a tenative schedule, but I'm pretty sure I'll be making changes. I still can't decide if I want to do MVMCP. We will have the deluxe dining plan.

Arrival Monday Dec 10th. I'm going for an earlier flight when SW posts. Check in leisure roaming of our resort (POR) and supper at Liberty Tavern. So we can check out Magic Kingdom some.

Tuesday 11th Epcot opens 8am
breakfast at Askersus before opening. probably at 7:30
Lunch~undecided
Supper Ohana's maybe go back for Illuminations but I think we will be done after supper. We are morning people for sure.

Wednesday 12th Magic Kingdom opens 9am Daughters 5th birthday
breakfast 8am Crystal Palace
lunch-?
supper CRT 6:30
Wishes 8pm
I'm hoping we will have dinner timed just right to finish around the time the fireworks will start so we can just pop on out. May change this supper time to 6pm. What do y'all think?
I am going to order a special birthday cake. I also haven't decided if I want to do BBB or dress her up myself. I know it's a fun experience but I don't want to cut into park time. She has a disney cinderella dress, and I do her bun all the time so was thinking of just bringing some glitter spray for her hair, add some blush and lip gloss.

Thursday 13th Animal Kingdom opens 9am
8am breakfast at Tuskers
late lunch at Yack&Yeti
afternoon break
MVMCP if we do it and we will do supper at Magic Kingdom (hoping Be our guest will be open)
I was thinking I could switch this day with Tuesday and keep the same schedule if I do MVMCP b/c I'd rather do the party on Tuesday.

Friday 14th Hollywood Studios opens 9am
Not sure ADR's yet
Osborne lights

Saturday
open on where we are going to be

Sunday leaving
breakfast Chef Mickey's

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Okay I have a tenative schedule, but I'm pretty sure I'll be making changes. I still can't decide if I want to do MVMCP. We will have the deluxe dining plan.

Arrival Monday Dec 10th. I'm going for an earlier flight when SW posts. Check in leisure roaming of our resort (POR) and supper at Liberty Tavern. So we can check out Magic Kingdom some.

Tuesday 11th Epcot opens 8am
breakfast at Askersus before opening. probably at 7:30
Lunch~undecided
Supper Ohana's maybe go back for Illuminations but I think we will be done after supper. We are morning people for sure.

Wednesday 12th Magic Kingdom opens 9am Daughters 5th birthday
breakfast 8am Crystal Palace
lunch-?
supper CRT 6:30
Wishes 8pm
I'm hoping we will have dinner timed just right to finish around the time the fireworks will start so we can just pop on out. May change this supper time to 6pm. What do y'all think?
I am going to order a special birthday cake. I also haven't decided if I want to do BBB or dress her up myself. I know it's a fun experience but I don't want to cut into park time. She has a disney cinderella dress, and I do her bun all the time so was thinking of just bringing some glitter spray for her hair, add some blush and lip gloss.

Thursday 13th Animal Kingdom opens 9am
8am breakfast at Tuskers
late lunch at Yack&Yeti
afternoon break
MVMCP if we do it and we will do supper at Magic Kingdom (hoping Be our guest will be open)
I was thinking I could switch this day with Tuesday and keep the same schedule if I do MVMCP b/c I'd rather do the party on Tuesday.

Friday 14th Hollywood Studios opens 9am
Not sure ADR's yet
Osborne lights

Saturday
open on where we are going to be

Sunday leaving
breakfast Chef Mickey's

We are doing our daughter's birthday dinner at CRT as well. Have you heard of the Her Royal Highness package at CRT? It includes a cake, balloon, and tiara. There are pics on the second page of the current cake thread on the Restaurants forum.

As for To BBB or Not To BBB, I think you could do it yourself and she would look just as beautiful! We are going to BBB first thing in the morning (hopefully) because we are not doing a breakfast ADR, and I don't want to have to pack a costume this year, and she is asking for a Sleeping Beauty costume for her birthday present. So Daddy has said that the Princess may have what the Princess wants.