December 2015 Help Thread - What To See & Do (Crowd Calendar Added)

[csjordan]

I think that both days are probably going to have crowd levels of 10 so any difference in crowds will probably be pretty slight. It looks like December 30 will have evening EMH but it is generally expected that more EMH will be added to that week. I don't think anyone knows when they might be added though. Are you interested in using EMH? If so, Dec. 30 might be your best choice.

ETA--Just realized that they may preview the NYE fireworks show on December 30th so that will probably make it busier but it might be fun to be there for it! Can anyone confirm if they will preview the NYE fireworks or is that something they only do for the 4th of July?

They do preview the NYE fireworks. We were there last year, and if I remember correctly, we saw regular wishes at the normal time, and then the preview (which is a MUST SEE) close to midnight! Then we went to Epcot for the actual NYE fireworks (another MUST SEE).

 

[5Hfan]

We are only able to go to MK for one day. I can't decide between Sunday Dec. 27 or Wednesday Dec. 30. We are staying offsite but have 7 and 7:15 reservations for Crystal Palace in order to get in early we hope on one of those days. We are a party of 8 including two girlfriends, one of which has never been to Disney. Would the 27th be less crowded than the 30th?

Dec 27th will be wall to wall crowded...Wed Dec 30th will be wall to wall insane. Early am will definitely help you get some things done before the masses arrive. The 27th maybe better for MK because lots of people will choose that park for Christmas Eve/Day, but will then tour some of the others over the next few days before New Year's? Either way you will need a solid early morning plan, and a good fastpass+ plan.

 

[sharona]

I would shoot for EC on that arrival day. It's a quick walk and perfect for an arrival dinner. The not recommended aspect is irrelevant to me, and I agree you don't want two afternoon-only days at MK. You mention the late EMH... since you're arriving late and doing a half-day, would you stay late? Late EMH at Epcot, despite being crowded, is really nice. You can stay past Illuminations, then tour anything you want as the crowds dwindle and then walk casually back to the hotel w no mob.

Thing is tho, is then you end up with 2 EC days on a 5-day trip. If that's good for you, fine, but your trip ends up being...
EC-HS-EC-AK-MK-MK
I don't like that... all front loaded with EC and MK back to back at the end.

If I was to plan that from scratch, I'd do the party on 12/11.
10 (1/2) - EC
11 - AK & MK party
12 - HS
13 - EC
14 - MK

If you can't move your party date, then your options are more limited. In that case I'd do...
10 (1/2) - EC
11 - MK
12 - HS
13 - AK & MK party
14 - EC

Last option is just do arrival MK. 1 long day at EC, and 3 MK (1/2 arrival, 1/2 party, and 1 full on 14th)
That would be...
10 (1/2) - MK
11 - HS
12 - EC
13 - AK & MK party
14 - MK

Thanks for your ideas! We've pretty much decided on MK, HS, EP, AK & MVMCP then MK again. We're trying to avoid doing the party on a weekend in hopes of lesser crowds. Also, I've already got 2 pre park opening ADRS that I'm not willing to give up: TH at AK and CP at MK. These are important for us as my nephew has Aspergers and would not do well with big RD crowds but we want to take advantage of early morning riding.

 

[shortred]

Wall to wall crowded or insane crowded? That's what I thought! But glad for the confirmation. The only problem is I have better reservations on the 30th and am hoping I can snag a Wishes Desert Party reservation cuz it's my son's bday on the 30th and there are none available on the 27th. Anybody have an idea when those will open up for the 30th?

 

[Ginya]

I was just thinking about Christmas Eve, too. I am rethinking my initial plan to see the Osborne Lights and have an early Sci-Fi dinner. (We now have a chance to visit HS earlier in our trips, and are staying on the monorail, so am thinking of skipping the bus travel). There are still some decent options open, and I am curious... where are those in the World on Christmas Eve eating? We have young kids, so want a fairly early night!

We are eating Minnie's Holiday Dine for Christmas eve. For Christmas day, we are eating at the Biergarten as they are Supposed to have special Christmas dinner additions, no clue what that means though lol. I just thought the atmosphere of being inside a town square at night and the oompa band with the special menu would make it feel more like Christmas.

 

[Mainemama]

We are eating Minnie's Holiday Dine for Christmas eve. For Christmas day, we are eating at the Biergarten as they are Supposed to have special Christmas dinner additions, no clue what that means though lol. I just thought the atmosphere of being inside a town square at night and the oompa band with the special menu would make it feel more like Christmas.

Sounds great! We are sticking with HS on Christmas Eve., but have upgraded to HBD. We will hit up Sci-Fi earlier in the week. I love drive ins and burgers, but that wasn't quite the feel I was going for. We will also be in Epcot for Christmas Day... Rose and Crown (we are not buffet people... Until all my kids can handle their own plates, anyway!) and then we are hoping to get into a showing of Star Wars movie in DTD!

 

[Ginya]

Sounds great! We are sticking with HS on Christmas Eve., but have upgraded to HBD. We will hit up Sci-Fi earlier in the week. I love drive ins and burgers, but that wasn't quite the feel I was going for. We will also be in Epcot for Christmas Day... Rose and Crown (we are not buffet people... Until all my kids can handle their own plates, anyway!) and then we are hoping to get into a showing of Star Wars movie in DTD!

I was looking at Star wars movie our arrival night. We have boathouse ADR at 6:30. Just wasn't sure how the movie theatre works there? I know they have ones you eat in, but do they have regular ones as well? We are eating lunch at sci-fi Christmas eve. Our lunch for Christmas day is at BoG. Was not in my original plans to A. Be In MK on Christmas day and B. Park hop on Christmas day. But when we were there last in 2012, they had a preview day for New Fantasyland. The 7dmt was still under construction, but they had the ariel ride and beauty & the beast story thing open. We walked up to the Castle, but the restaurant was not open. They had a CM out front with a mock up of what the menu would be like. So, we ended up at Gaston's with a pork shank and some le frou brew and I promised my two DD's when we came back we would eat in that castle. Sigh, Christmas day at 1:15 was all I could get lol. I understand the no buffets until they can hold their plates, my DDs are 15 months apart and for many years buffets were a trial!

 

[Mainemama]

I was looking at Star wars movie our arrival night. We have boathouse ADR at 6:30. Just wasn't sure how the movie theatre works there? I know they have ones you eat in, but do they have regular ones as well? We are eating lunch at sci-fi Christmas eve. Our lunch for Christmas day is at BoG. Was not in my original plans to A. Be In MK on Christmas day and B. Park hop on Christmas day. But when we were there last in 2012, they had a preview day for New Fantasyland. The 7dmt was still under construction, but they had the ariel ride and beauty & the beast story thing open. We walked up to the Castle, but the restaurant was not open. They had a CM out front with a mock up of what the menu would be like. So, we ended up at Gaston's with a pork shank and some le frou brew and I promised my two DD's when we came back we would eat in that castle. Sigh, Christmas day at 1:15 was all I could get lol. I understand the no buffets until they can hold their plates, my DDs are 15 months apart and for many years buffets were a trial!

I have not personally been to the AMC, but my DH took my big kids there and yes, they do have "regular" seating. It looks like show times are posted a week out. I would assume multiple screens for Star Wars, I just wish tickets could be reserved... Anyone know if they can? We are split on whether our 3 year old can handle the movie, too. I say nay, DH says yay. 3rd kid... She gets dragged everywhere! I will bow out if it doesn't feel right for her, but this is a must do for my DH and ds!

 

[Ginya]

I remember taking my DS to see one of the star wars when he was about that age. I sat him in the seat and it folded up on him! He was hollering help me muma! So, he sat in my lap for the movie and loved it. On the other hand, took my 2DDs to Finding nemo when they were three and four, and the three year old said she had to potty three times in the first 15 minutes. By 20 minutes in my DH hauled her out of the theatre. Turned out she was afraid of the dark. I don't think she went back in a movie theatre until Nimm's island when she was seven lol.

 

[Mainemama]

My 3 year old handled Jurassic Park. That's when we considered it. My 10 year old is really the bigger concern! Age is less important than personality!

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

In 2 weeks I can make FP+! It's getting so close! I'm super excited.
However, I'm still kind of bummed that Wishes is at 8 pm every night. That kind of kills the evening after dinner because we will basically need to find a spot for fireworks.

 

[sharona]

In 2 weeks I can make FP+! It's getting so close! I'm super excited.
However, I'm still kind of bummed that Wishes is at 8 pm every night. That kind of kills the evening after dinner because we will basically need to find a spot for fireworks.

You could go with the Wishes FP. I think that's what I'm going to do for our regular MK night. For the party we'll take our chances or watch from somewhere less than ideal.

 

[Mandak22]

We're going from Dec 17th through the 24th. There are no evening EMH for HS while we are there, and it's starting to frustrate me that we may not get to see the Osborne lights due to this and our dinner reservations. We do park hoppers, so that's not a problem, but I do think my girls would love to see them. So far the only night they're open past 8 is the 18th, which we already have tickets for MVMCP as that is the last night. I'm really hoping that what I read earlier in this thread is true and that hours are changed later the closer it gets. It seems like such a short time to see the lights from 6 to 8, especially when that is also prime dining times. Have they in the past extended hours of HS? It's our first time in December, and probably our only time as we'll end up back to the summer times so we can drive instead of fly.

 

[lovndisney12]

We have been over this time and hours have been extended - don't remember specifically if that included in the evening at HS. I'm guessing with it being the last year for Osborne lights they may add hours as it gets closer if there is the demand.

 

[siskaren]

We're going from Dec 17th through the 24th. There are no evening EMH for HS while we are there, and it's starting to frustrate me that we may not get to see the Osborne lights due to this and our dinner reservations. We do park hoppers, so that's not a problem, but I do think my girls would love to see them. So far the only night they're open past 8 is the 18th, which we already have tickets for MVMCP as that is the last night. I'm really hoping that what I read earlier in this thread is true and that hours are changed later the closer it gets. It seems like such a short time to see the lights from 6 to 8, especially when that is also prime dining times. Have they in the past extended hours of HS? It's our first time in December, and probably our only time as we'll end up back to the summer times so we can drive instead of fly.

The lights typically stay on about an hour past official closing time because most people are watching Fanstamic (or in the theater waiting for it to start) between 6 and 8.

 

[God Of Thunder]

Does anybody know if they will still have Wishes on Dec 30 and Dec 31? And if so what time?

I have been wondering if / when they would offer the dessert party for New Years Eve, and if it is worth it. Clearly it would give me an assigned place to watch the fireworks, which is good. But, since it is a 360 fireworks show would I miss out on being able to see some of it because my view would be obstructed? Would love to hear from others who have done this, especially on NYE. Thanks!!

 

[sharona]

We're going from Dec 17th through the 24th. There are no evening EMH for HS while we are there, and it's starting to frustrate me that we may not get to see the Osborne lights due to this and our dinner reservations. We do park hoppers, so that's not a problem, but I do think my girls would love to see them. So far the only night they're open past 8 is the 18th, which we already have tickets for MVMCP as that is the last night. I'm really hoping that what I read earlier in this thread is true and that hours are changed later the closer it gets. It seems like such a short time to see the lights from 6 to 8, especially when that is also prime dining times. Have they in the past extended hours of HS? It's our first time in December, and probably our only time as we'll end up back to the summer times so we can drive instead of fly.

You can all dine out together at home anytime you want. Don't pass up something special for a (usually) mediocre, overpriced meal. Have a late lunch/early dinner then see the lights. Get snacks or order a pizza after if you're hungry later.

 

[wehrengrizz]

The lights typically stay on about an hour past official closing time because most people are watching Fanstamic (or in the theater waiting for it to start) between 6 and 8.

This is good to know, too, because we have 1 DHS day (no hoppers) and we've never gotten to see F! yet either. I don't want to miss the lights by any means, but was definitely planning to see Fantasmic! this time around. This is probably a silly question, but do the resort buses then keep going for a while, too? We've always stayed at SOG but left slightly before closing at the nonMK parks

 

[siskaren]

This is good to know, too, because we have 1 DHS day (no hoppers) and we've never gotten to see F! yet either. I don't want to miss the lights by any means, but was definitely planning to see Fantasmic! this time around. This is probably a silly question, but do the resort buses then keep going for a while, too? We've always stayed at SOG but left slightly before closing at the nonMK parks

The resort buses run until the parks are empty. I don't know if this also applies to SoG, but it's my understanding that SoG is basically across the street from the Poly so you could just take the Poly bus.

 

[wehrengrizz]

The resort buses run until the parks are empty. I don't know if this also applies to SoG, but it's my understanding that SoG is basically across the street from the Poly so you could just take the Poly bus.

oh, yes definitely! We stayed at SoG for our honeymoon and then again last year and absolutely used the Poly bus then walked that first time...then since we had our 4 kids along last year we used the SOG buses, but it must have been THOSE that had limited times. Thanks for jogging my memory!