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

[melissac]

Ksromak. I don't see you are doing Osborne Lights at HS. They do have snow for that. It is really cool and a not to be missed.

 

[txtara]

I havent even begun roughing out which parks...I am already getting a little stressed...I have started reading about all there is to do at the parks and all I keep saying to myself is "I wanna do that!" UGH! I am now seriously considering the CP on Christmas Eve with Gary Sinise...would definitlely do the package though...and Osbourne Lights on Christmas night...oh so much to figure out!

 

[MrsCies]

Wowi feel really behind! We are going Dec 9-13th and dont have a thing planned! We went march 2011 and I had it all planned out: rides and everything to a -T-. Better get a move on!

 

[Phatoomch]

I havent even begun roughing out which parks...I am already getting a little stressed...I have started reading about all there is to do at the parks and all I keep saying to myself is "I wanna do that!" UGH! I am now seriously considering the CP on Christmas Eve with Gary Sinise...would definitlely do the package though...and Osbourne Lights on Christmas night...oh so much to figure out!

It'll all be good I concentrate on ADRs and 'events' like xmas party, CP, osbourne lights and everything in between I wing it

 

[Phatoomch]

I don't have our touring plans down to the ride yet, either, but here's our general park days and ADRs, and what I am most looking forward to at each park:

12/7: Travel Day. Kids will attend school half-day, then we will pull them out at twelve to go to the airport for our late afternoon flight. Arrive at MCO at dinner time. Probably go straight to the house, where my in-laws will be waiting for us. Eat and swim!

12/8: AK. ADR TH 8:20 . I didn't really enjoy AK as much as I think I could have the last time we were there, so I'm hoping to give it another shot and LOVE it this time! What I am looking forward to:
Trees at Camp Minnie Mickey
Kilimanjaro Safari
Festival of the Lion King
and things that we missed last time:
Expedition Everest
Finding Nemo
Wonders in Flight
and Rafiki's Planet Watch I know that's not popular, but I've got to throw something educational in there since they're missing school.
What we will NOT be doing:
Virtually anything in Dinoland USA . Dinosaur will be too loud for my DD, It's Tough to Be a Bug probably also too much for either of my kids, and don't get me started on the festival games they want you to shell out extra cash for. Uh, no.
Anywhooo....
Oh, the park closes at 5, so I'm thinking we'll head back to the house, refresh, and then go to DTD for dinner (Earl of Sandwich or Wolfgang Puck Express) and shopping.

12/9: MK, and DD's BIRTHDAY!! 8:10 appointment at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at the Castle!
As I said, I don't have specific plans down to the ride yet, but I usually follow the Unofficial Guide's suggestions. However, they, of course, do not have the Fantasyland expansion in their plans, so that will be interesting to see how that pans out.
Needless to say, we are excited about:
The Little Mermaid . We really hope it is open in time!
This is day one out of two days planned at MK, so whatever we don't get done here this day, we will hopefully get done on our second day.
I am planning on a mid-day break, however, because this is also our MVMCP night!
Birthday girl has her birthday dinner at CRT at 6:45pm (I know, wasting party time, but as I said, we've spent the day here, will come back again later, and the party lasts until midnight!)

12/10: Epcot Day One (World Showcase focus) which means we are sleeping in!
Get to WS around the time that it opens at 11.
Do the Agent Perry Missions.
Meet the different Father Christmases/national representatives
CS at Kringla Bakery in Norway for lunch.
This will be a short day ( at least for DH and I) because we have a date night ADR at Cali Grill at 5:45. Wishes is at 8:00, so hopefully we will be able to see it while we are finishing up dessert.

12/11: IoA Day. Get up early to be there half-hour before it opens. Head right over to Harry Potter, then to Seuss Landing, then whatever suits our fancy. We are not going to take a break on this day.

12/12: DHS Day. Again, there is so much we missed the last time we were here. We only did a half-day because we were going to MNSSHP that evening. Highlights of what I definitely want to see:
Beauty & the Beast
Toy Story Midway Mania
Animation Academy
Muppet Vision 3-D
The Great Movie Ride
Rock n Roller Coaster (rode this last time, but now DS is tall enough to ride!)
We will probably have to take a break for lunch, then we will return for our 4:35p ADR at Sci-Fi Dine-In , then head over to see the Osbourne Lights!

12/13: Epcot Day Two (Future World focus). We're going to shoot for Rope Drop on this one.
Today will be ride day. Take a break mid-day and return for our CP Dinner Package ADR at Via Napoli at 5:45 . Watch the Candlelight Processional Show at 8:15. Catch Illuminations at 9:30.

12/14: Magic Kingdom Day Two. Ride our favorites or anything we didn't ride on Saturday. If we can get by without taking a break, :thumbsup: This is a party night, so we will leave the park via the monorail for our goodbye dinner at 1900 Park Fare at 7pm . This will also allow us to see the gingerbread house, and maybe, if we're not too tired, we can ride the monorail over to the Polynesian and Contemporary also to see their decorations (though that might be pushing it). At least I'll have seen the Contemporary's while we're at the Cali Grill for dinner.

12/15: Departure Day. Must be to airport early. Such a rude ending to what I'm sure will be an amazing vacation!

Did you ask for advice on the DIS for that?

Awesome plan - so much more organised than me!

 

[Phatoomch]

Wowi feel really behind! We are going Dec 9-13th and dont have a thing planned! We went march 2011 and I had it all planned out: rides and everything to a -T-. Better get a move on!

We went last year - our first trip (I don't count the two when I was kid in the 80's) and I didn't plan a thing and it was awesome. Then the DISboards came into my life

 

[pequele]

Do you guys write out your plans or use some sort of app/program and get all technical? I have a vague idea of what we are doing (not specifically in the parks but just meals, which parks, things like CP and MVMCP). But im also still waiting on Wishes and Pirate and Pals to fill in the last of the major details! Of course I don't have my plan here at the moment but I did decide last night we are going to do TWO nights of MVMCP! That way my 3yo can get lots of autographs and we can also fit in some rides without feeling too pressured for time I hope!

 

[Leger13]

Do you guys write out your plans or use some sort of app/program and get all technical? I have a vague idea of what we are doing (not specifically in the parks but just meals, which parks, things like CP and MVMCP). But im also still waiting on Wishes and Pirate and Pals to fill in the last of the major details! Of course I don't have my plan here at the moment but I did decide last night we are going to do TWO nights of MVMCP! That way my 3yo can get lots of autographs and we can also fit in some rides without feeling too pressured for time I hope!

I just use the notes app on my iPhone. Put my plans in there as well as ADR #'s. it's worked great in the past but I'm sure there's an app for that

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[BDL]

I havent even begun roughing out which parks...I am already getting a little stressed...I have started reading about all there is to do at the parks and all I keep saying to myself is "I wanna do that!" UGH! I am now seriously considering the CP on Christmas Eve with Gary Sinise...would definitlely do the package though...and Osbourne Lights on Christmas night...oh so much to figure out!

It'll all be good I concentrate on ADRs and 'events' like xmas party, CP, osbourne lights and everything in between I wing it

Phatmooch is right. Secure what you can lock in, and the plans will sort of make themselves. Besides, once you get down there, even the most Griswald-ian among us, can and will deviate from their iron-clad plans. There are just so many outside stimuli. Especially at Christmas time.

-On your way to the Animal Kingdom bus depot, to catch the next bus to another park, you could find you and your family in the perfect setting for next year's Christmas card.
-At EPCOT, you may be moving through the World Showcase to head to Test Track and you pass by the Monkey King story teller in China and are captivated by his tale and how he tells it.
-Or you just simply lose track of time, continuously, staring around in a circle taking in the Osbourne Lights.

The rides and shows will (most likely) always be there and can be seen any time of the year. At Christmas time, take a breath, and enjoy the surroundings and seasonal events (and Gary Sinise ).

 

[BDL]

Do you guys write out your plans or use some sort of app/program and get all technical? I have a vague idea of what we are doing (not specifically in the parks but just meals, which parks, things like CP and MVMCP). But im also still waiting on Wishes and Pirate and Pals to fill in the last of the major details! Of course I don't have my plan here at the moment but I did decide last night we are going to do TWO nights of MVMCP! That way my 3yo can get lots of autographs and we can also fit in some rides without feeling too pressured for time I hope!

That is awesome that you are going to 2 MVMCP's. And, what I do for my planning, I create a WORD doc that has ADR times and other time sensative appointments, I print out a few copies, and keep 1 in my back pocket throughout the day. That's as technical as I get with my planning. Plus it give me a piece of scrap paper to jot things down if I need to.

 

[pequele]

Whew, glad I was planning out pretty much the same way. That's how we did our first trip. Plan the big stuff and fill in with the rides and shows and snacks etc. I figured the 2 MVMCP would be ok as I don't know how long it will be before we go back for Christmas (next year we will aim for Halloween hahaha). Plus my son is only young once. I figure if we have meltdown on the first night at least we have a back up!

 

[heathies2]

DSNYMama- I love your avatar! that is precious. I had a similiar picture of my daughter, at the time 5 when she saw the castle. It is the only time since she started talking that she was speachless!

 

[Phatoomch]

Do you guys write out your plans or use some sort of app/program and get all technical? I have a vague idea of what we are doing (not specifically in the parks but just meals, which parks, things like CP and MVMCP). But im also still waiting on Wishes and Pirate and Pals to fill in the last of the major details! Of course I don't have my plan here at the moment but I did decide last night we are going to do TWO nights of MVMCP! That way my 3yo can get lots of autographs and we can also fit in some rides without feeling too pressured for time I hope!

Mine is in good old-fashioned pen and paper at the moment - I have a big notebook and I jot down down my rough plan of which parks, my ADRs with ressie numbers and then little stuff I find out on here like where a certain character will be (wanna take my Mum to see Tink ), that I can pick a pearl in Japan .... really looking forward to this I'm going to treat my Mum & my daughter, and yesterday found out there is a great little coffee/book shop in DHS which is great for a moment to chill

Once I have all my info, I'll stick it in an Excel sheet (only to keep it all neat) then print it and take with us.

 

[Valgoof]

That is awesome that you are going to 2 MVMCP's. And, what I do for my planning, I create a WORD doc that has ADR times and other time sensative appointments, I print out a few copies, and keep 1 in my back pocket throughout the day. That's as technical as I get with my planning. Plus it give me a piece of scrap paper to jot things down if I need to.

I do the same thing and everyone gets a copy. The guys just leave it in the room or throw it away at some point. But at least they have seen it so there is no surprise when I say it's time to hop to MK for this event or we're stopping to eat here. I feel a little less like a tyrant that way.

 

[JLa01844]

Man, my head is spinning. With the "announcement" that Free Dining will be released soon I have been weighing my options.

As it stands now:
12/2 - 12/10 | 8 nights
$880 Airfare
$685 Hotel (we have a 30% off Room Only)
$904 6 day Hoppers
$185 MVMCP
$1200 Food Budget (OOP)
= $3854

If I change our booking & return our UT tickets we end up with something like this:

11/29 - 12/9 | 10 nights ( DD & I would go down 2 days early and "relax" )
$880 Airfare
$2340 Hotel, 7 Day Hoppers, Free Quick Service
$185 MVMCP
$45 Return Ticket Fee to UT
= $3450

If I upgrade Free Dining to Regular it makes it $3848 + about $200 in tips for the TS meals.

I really don't know what to do. I don't want to spend more than our $4,000 budget. And all of these fall within that budget give or take.

The pro's to keeping it how we have it....don't need to hassle with changing everything, we can all fly down together, we aren't constrained to eating on the plan.

The pro's to changing it...we get "more for our money", 2 additional nights stay, 1 additional day for our park pass, if we upgrade to DDP than we'd actually we could have 1 TS a day (which we actually had skipped a couple days).

HELP ME!!!!!!!

 

[My2Qtz0205]

2 additional days in Disney sounds like a dream to me! I don't think I would upgrade from Free Dining if you did that, though. You want to leave wiggle room in your budget for souvenirs, and other incidentals.

 

[Valgoof]

Man, my head is spinning. With the "announcement" that Free Dining will be released soon I have been weighing my options.

As it stands now:
12/2 - 12/10 | 8 nights
$880 Airfare
$685 Hotel (we have a 30% off Room Only)
$904 6 day Hoppers
$185 MVMCP
$1200 Food Budget (OOP)
= $3854

If I change our booking & return our OT tickets we end up with something like this:

11/29 - 12/9 | 10 nights ( DD & I would go down 2 days early and "relax" )
$880 Airfare
$2340 Hotel, 7 Day Hoppers, Free Quick Service
$185 MVMCP
$45 Return Ticket Fee to OT
= $3450

If I upgrade Free Dining to Regular it makes it $3848 + about $200 in tips for the TS meals.

I really don't know what to do. I don't want to spend more than our $4,000 budget. And all of these fall within that budget give or take.

The pro's to keeping it how we have it....don't need to hassle with changing everything, we can all fly down together, we aren't constrained to eating on the plan.

The pro's to changing it...we get "more for our money", 2 additional nights stay, 1 additional day for our park pass, if we upgrade to DDP than we'd actually we could have 1 TS a day (which we actually had skipped a couple days).

HELP ME!!!!!!!

Paying OOP for food gives you a lot more flexibility. Are you happy with the places you are eating at now or are there a couple more TS places that you really wish you could eat at? Also--if you change from a room only to a package, the $$ you have paid so far will be refunded to you and a new reservation will be opened. You will have to pay the $200 deposit and the balance will be due 45 days before your arrival instead of the 5 days for a room only. Probably wont matter, but something to add to the pro of not changing everything.
I have the oppisite problem. Booked a package hoping for free dining. Wont be getting it so I should drop the DDP and just have a couple TS, but I really want to eat at all my TS.

 

[JLa01844]

2 additional days in Disney sounds like a dream to me! I don't think I would upgrade from Free Dining if you did that, though. You want to leave wiggle room in your budget for souvenirs, and other incidentals.

I'm not super concerned with souvenirs. Honestly I'm a no junk household type of person. So we usually pick one nice item for ourselves. Like I bought some new jammies for $50 last time....DH didn't even want a single thing. DD got a Figment stuffed animal. I know she'll want more this year but it won't be a "problem".

I really think I'm leaning to going early with DD.

 

[levenhopper]

Do you guys write out your plans or use some sort of app/program and get all technical?

I'm using the calendar program on my computer (iCal). It syncs automatically with my iPhone, and is helping me block timing (as much as I can guess it).

I have a vague idea of what we are doing (not specifically in the parks but just meals, which parks, things like CP and MVMCP).

That is exactly what we're going. I've got an ADR for each day, plus a tour (Seas Aqua) booked, plus Cirque du Soleil and MVMCP. Based on the ADRs I know which park we'll be in (since we're not getting the Park Hopper option), but I'm not planning rides yet.

 

[Phatoomch]

Don't forget to put your date in for the Christmas Party on the calendar that JLa01844 kindly created for us! Christmas Party Attendance