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

[Tltorrez]

Well, no luck on that. They can book Fantasmic package on the phone but the latest I could get was 2:55. And I really wanted something closer to dinner. We won't even be in the park that day; it's our off day. I just wanted to do dinner and then stroll over to Fantasmic and be done. But if we did dinner that early we'd have to eat again afterwards. I'm still second-guessing myself but I think I made the right call.

We'll just eat afterwards on the Boardwalk. Only downside to that is DS10 will get to bed a little later than I would prefer for an off-day.

 

[maxiesmom]

Add me to the list of people going in December!!!

My trip is booked for Dec 14-18 at the All Star Sports. But I'm still holding out hope for Free Dining or a great pin code that may end up in upgrading our resort or adding days. I would really love to stay at POR.

We are planning on doing the Christmas party on the 16th too.

 

[portobello_rd]

Made all my ADR's online and everything worked out- theres been some problems linking DVC stays with ADR's but I called afterwards and she could see everything i had made.
12/3 Artist point at 530 pm
12/4 Kona @ 745 am; Liberty Tree @ 1130 pm; and Fultons @ 7pm
12/5 Sci FI @ 1115 am; 50's Prime Time @ 6 pm
12/6 Via Napoli @ 1130 am; Les Chefs de France @ 450 pm
12/7 Yak and Yeti @ 11 am; Jiko @ 620 pm
12/8 grand floridian cafe @ 9am; Yachtsman @ 6 pm
12/9 Biergarten @ noon; San Angel Inn @ 630 pm- I wanted Le Cellier but since they have all of them blocked I wasnt going to wait and I have already eaten there. Never eaten at San Angel and it looked fun.
12/10 Royal Table @ 550 pm. this was all that was available for dinner
12/11 Kona @ 745 am; Plaza @ noon; OHANA @ 625 pm
12/12 Chef Mickeys @ 815 am; California Grill @ 725 pm

I will say NOTHING was available for Chef Mickeys on 12/13/12. Wanted to eat brunch there before leaving and i searched from 7 am to 2 pm.
But other than that, and no Le Cellier, got everything I wanted nearly around the time I wanted.
Plus Disney Dining could see my ressies under my account which is a plus after reading some horror stories over at the DVC forum. I wrote down my confirmation #s in triplicate.

 

[portobello_rd]

Ugh - this automated phone system is terrible. For future reference, what's the best way to get straight to a CM? Eventually I said Operator and it put me into the hold queue. Should I have said that right off?

"ask a question" is what i said this morning

 

[Tltorrez]

Glad you were able to book everything. I'm still second-guessing my Fantasmic decision but I think it was the right call. Now I just need to decide where to eat afterwards. Normally that would be an easy call (Flying Fish) but I have to consult DH about the in-laws.

 

[Disney-Chick]

Put me down from Nov. 29-Dec. 13 @ AOA - LM Section Made some ADR's but like everyone else just waiting for Le Cellier.

We haven't done ADR's in a long time since my DD always comes with us. But this year she decided to stay at home since she will be in High School. So I will be spending my birthday at Disney in HS!! And this will also be our honeymoon. (unless she changes her mind)

 

[houstonmama]

Please add us to the list! We arrive at the Poly on 12/4. We are Texans looking forward to COOL weather (hopefully COLD!) Our last trip was Thanksgiving 2010 & we missed the Candlelight Processional AND the Osbourne lights. I am thrilled (beyond words) to witness these two events/displays.


Hi Houstonmama! We have felt your pain I *usually* try to book our ADRs around the same (TX) time we normally eat. Soooo, if we eat supper at 6:30, I try to book ADRs for 7:30. I will be eating those words since I'm hoping to schedule a 7:30am Kona breakfast on our 1st morning this trip. Naps are our friends


I bought an extra large Mickey Head "hole punch", from Hobby Lobby, several years ago. I always buy fluorescent paper & punch my own LGMHs, that are about the same exact size as the Home Depot LGMHs. I take double sided tape & decorate my door/windows like a madwoman.

Hi WeHEARTmickey! Thanks for the info! I've never been to DW so all the info really helps. It's going to feel odd doing things at night...we are usually morning people, not by choice but because of the kiddos!!

Uhmm off topic but I see you've been to Destin? My in-laws are constantly bugging, I mean suggesting , we go there. How do you like it? We usually hit South Padre because imo it's the best beach in Texas and the drive isn't THAT bad. The prices have gotten a little out of hand...it's the gulf of Mexico not the Caribbean people! Whats the water like in Destin? Is it blue or that brown water we get here at our Texas beaches??

 

[tofubeast]

Made all my ADR's online and everything worked out- theres been some problems linking DVC stays with ADR's but I called afterwards and she could see everything i had made.

I will say NOTHING was available for Chef Mickeys on 12/13/12. Wanted to eat brunch there before leaving and i searched from 7 am to 2 pm.
But other than that, and no Le Cellier, got everything I wanted nearly around the time I wanted.
Plus Disney Dining could see my ressies under my account which is a plus after reading some horror stories over at the DVC forum. I wrote down my confirmation #s in triplicate.

Glad you got pretty much all your ADRs. Makes me nervous how some places were already totally booked for the day.

We are renting DVC points (not DVC owners). We have the res #. I entered the res to my Disney account and it recognized it. Is there anything else I need to do? Do I just go to the dining site? (Curious if you have some special way in since you are DVC owners.)

 

[portobello_rd]

Glad you got pretty much all your ADRs. Makes me nervous how some places were already totally booked for the day.

We are renting DVC points (not DVC owners). We have the res #. I entered the res to my Disney account and it recognized it. Is there anything else I need to do? Do I just go to the dining site? (Curious if you have some special way in since you are DVC owners.)

From what ive read over there, nothing else needs to be done differently. If there is an error you will have it right away. I still lurk over there so Ill keep you posted. This was my first time booking under DVC. I just called and double checked that all ADR's were able to be seen on their end and ill print my confirmation emails and bring them along- but i always do that. you never know!

 

[tofubeast]

From what ive read over there, nothing else needs to be done differently. If there is an error you will have it right away. I still lurk over there so Ill keep you posted. This was my first time booking under DVC. I just called and double checked that all ADR's were able to be seen on their end and ill print my confirmation emails and bring them along- but i always do that. you never know!

Thanks! Did you book via normal Disney dining web site or via some 'special' dvc owner link/site?

 

[JLa01844]

Welcome newcomers! I'm glad everyone is getting their ADR's made! How exciting!!!! I really want that Le Cellier ADR, so I'm going to cross my fingers that some do open up later on.

It's funny because you read all these articles that WDW is low-crowds and the best time of the year to go is the first two weeks in December and it seems like that it's possibly could be just as busy as the rest of the year. Is there truly anytime that WDW is slow?? We are already contemplating a 2013 Trip at AKL. We weren't sure if we wanted to do Halloween or Christmas but, I think I will be able to make that call once we are there for this year's trip.

On another note, Does anyone know when does the Tommorrowland Terrace Dessert Party open up? I wanted to book it for 12/3. Thanks!!

 

[Destructsean]

Booked our first ADR this morning for the Honeymoon!!

Can't wait to stuff my face at 'Ohana!!

 

[tofubeast]

On another note, Does anyone know when does the Tommorrowland Terrace Dessert Party open up? I wanted to book it for 12/3. Thanks!!

If it is anything like last year, it won't open till October. Follow this thread.

 

[portobello_rd]

Welcome newcomers! I'm glad everyone is getting their ADR's made! How exciting!!!! I really want that Le Cellier ADR, so I'm going to cross my fingers that some do open up later on.

It's funny because you read all these articles that WDW is low-crowds and the best time of the year to go is the first two weeks in December and it seems like that it's possibly could be just as busy as the rest of the year. Is there truly anytime that WDW is slow?? We are already contemplating a 2013 Trip at AKL. We weren't sure if we wanted to do Halloween or Christmas but, I think I will be able to make that call once we are there for this year's trip.

On another note, Does anyone know when does the Tommorrowland Terrace Dessert Party open up? I wanted to book it for 12/3. Thanks!!

September is slow. we went 6-16th last year and it was very slow. rode EE 5 times IN A ROW no wait. Most we waited for any ride the whole trip was 20 minutes. and that was TSM. which we were able to also grab 2 fastpasses for that day.
it is just very.very.very.hot.

Thanks! Did you book via normal Disney dining web site or via some 'special' dvc owner link/site?

Yep. the Normal site. It will just have a pop up asking how you booked. Just pick a DVC reservation and VIOLA!

 

[JLa01844]

If anyone would like a Lime Green Mickey Head, here you go

You can get the image here: Lime Green Mickey Head December 2012

I made it so it would fit on a 4x6, so you can have it printed at one hour photo or what other photo processing place you use. (Figured it was universal in case someone didn't have a quality printer or thicker paper).

My suggestion is to get it in Matte if you have the option. The paper is a little sturdier. Then to hole punch a hole in the top....then laminate it. Then you can go ahead and make a smaller hole, then slide through a string or whatever you have. Like this DISer's idea here:

 

[Tltorrez]

It's funny because you read all these articles that WDW is low-crowds and the best time of the year to go is the first two weeks in December and it seems like that it's possibly could be just as busy as the rest of the year. Is there truly anytime that WDW is slow?? We are already contemplating a 2013 Trip at AKL. We weren't sure if we wanted to do Halloween or Christmas but, I think I will be able to make that call once we are there for this year's trip.

We went at the end of Jan - beginning of Feb in 2011 and it was super slow. No crowds at all anywhere. And one day we overslept and got to Epcot well after opening and other than Soarin, there were still no lines. There was a CM outside Mission Space calling people onto the ride like a carnival barker. They were running it with not all the seats being full. One day we were at AK and rode Dinosaur twice in a row and the second time we were the only people on the ride.

Looking at the crowd calendar there are clearly some very slow days in early December. But there are also some high days. It's not too hard to avoid them, but in Jan-Feb we hardly needed a plan at all because every day was like that.

 

[JLa01844]

If it is anything like last year, it won't open till October. Follow this thread.

Wow that awhile to wait for the dessert party!

 

[Tltorrez]

So I discussed it with the family and we booked Flying Fish (our favorite) for after Fantasmic. So now I am done with all the ADRs I can do at the moment.

I still have
- Le Cellier and R&C (July?)
- Yak & Yeti (need to wait until my split stay 180 next week)
- Be Our Guest (???)

And maybe I'll take a peek at the Fantasmic packages on the exact 180 to see if they release any more. Maybe.

These open loops are going to drive me crazy. I just want to be done.

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

Thanks so much everyone for tips on CP!! I can't wait to see that and the Osbourne Lights...and MVMCP....and everything!!

We're in the process of looking at flights through SW. We too have enough points for DH and I, and will buy DD with cash. Does anyone know if kids under 3 are cheaper? I'm sure airlines could justify not simply because they do occupy an actual seat.

One more thing, my ARD day is quickly approaching! Should I try to book Garden Grill for dinner the night we plan to CP and then switch it when we can book CP package in July? Again, not completely sure how it works...

I'm sure I'll have more questions. Thank you all so much for your help!

 

[nickle831]

How does Fantasmic and Osborne lights work during the Holidays. Do they do both everynight? Are they at the same time?