December Itinearies Please help me give me your opinion

[dimoe]

This the first time going this time of year. I love how you all help one another out and you guys are all experts so pleae look over my itinerary and tell me of any bugs you see.
Thanks inadvance

Sun Dec 3- Arrival day- Mk and then Chef Mickeys for supper

Mon Dec 4- Epcot - supper @ Marrkesh( good restaurant opinions please)

Tues Dec 5- not sure what park to go to - Crystal Palace for supper and xmas party

Wed Dec 6- hopefully sleep in a bit after a late night - afternoon not sure what park - no adrs for this day

Thurs Dec 7- MGM supper at Sci Fi

Friday Dec 8- Breakie @ Kona- MK - Supper at 1900 Park Fare

Sat Dec 9- Epcot supper at Le Celier

Sun Dec 10 - last day Mk then head home

So as you can see I havent fit in Ak at all and wonder when would be best to go? Tues and Wed are the ones I am wondering what park to do really?
Or should I make any other changes??? Does this all look doable?????
We dont plan on going to downtown disney( didnt really like it last time)
Oh and I need to fit in Fantasmic, Illuminations, Spectro and Wishes which nights do you think would be best and which days?
Again thanks you guys make planning so much easier.
If anyone else wants to share their Dec plans that would be great too.
Diane

 

[dimoe]

I am just bumping it back to the top I would love to know opinions. I am thinking that I have too many days in MK and not enough Ak or MGM.
what do you all think???????????????

 

[dimoe]

I am totally surprised not one person has responded back.

 

[ecpool]

The parks are nice but to go to one every day is very tiresome (especially if you have kids). Over the years of going to Disney, I have found that doing a park every other day works great. There is so much to do outside the parks, you can still have a great time. Just my opinion

 

[disneygal33]

A lot of people will tell you AK isn't worth it, but I for one LOVE it!!! I would go on the 6th. It's really a half day park. I would recommend CP or Tony's for dinner on your MVMCP night. What time are your ADR's for Chef Mickey's? The parade is only shown on certain nights because of the MVMCP and that night looks like your best shot at seeing it.

I don't know if I was much help. This is my first December trip also.

BTW there is no such thing as too much time at MK IMHO

 

[dimoe]

Thank you for responding back people on this board are usually so helpful.
Okay so on Sun chef mickeys is at 5:40. So if we arent too tired we might try to catch it because I dont want to miss spectro with so many mvmcps.
Dec 6 is when I thought of doing AK so that will work.
If we arent in the park everyday we are bored . We like to be a family on the go. Last trip we went to bed around 10 everynight and then got up around 8:30-9:00 without a clock( just my daughter who will be 8 this trip) and then headed off to the parks. Found we werent really that tired it worked awesome. I am sure though if the weather is warm enough my daughter will be wantting to spend some time around the pool at Coronado on the waterslide.
thanks Diane

 

[beck0321]

Go to AK Wednesday Dec 6. They have EMH that night so they're open a little later than 5. (Well as of now they are, I've heard they can change). Oh and Dh and I are going to MVMCP December 5 too!!! Maybe we'll see you there? Haha, if I knew who I was even looking for!
We're going from Dec 1-8 and staying at CSR. Where are yall staying?

 

[dimoe]

I am staying at csr too !!!!!!!!!! Hey I might just run into you. What parks are you doing and which days???

 

[SusanMomOf2]

I would suggest you go to Magic Kingdom on Tuesday since it should be a low-crowd day.

depending on what time your ADR's are in Epcot, either of the 2 nights should be fine for Illuminations.

 

[beck0321]

I am staying at csr too !!!!!!!!!! Hey I might just run into you. What parks are you doing and which days???

Cool! We requested the casitas. I think I will fax my request in a week before too. I know we aren't garunteed but it doesn't hurt to ask I guess.

This is my December Itinerary:

Dec 1: Our flight was switched to a later time so we're arriving at MCO at 2pm. We have ADR at Ohana for 5:30, so I'm hoping we can make them, which I'm sure we will. I want to surprise DH with an anniversary cake from Ohana, so I need to make sure to call that in a week advance. We want to go to EPCOT that night after dinner because of the EMH.

Dec 2: I really just don't know. I think DH will probably want to go to Magic Kingdom, which would be fine with me, but it will be crowded I'm sure. For dinner we have ADR at Wolfgang Pucks at 8pm for our 1-yr anniversary.

Dec 3: Again, I don't know where we'll be during the day but Magic Kingdom has EMH at night so we'll be there for that. We have ADR at Teppenyaki in EPCOT for 7:15pm, so I have a feeling we'll be in EPCOT during the day.

Dec 4: Probably MGM all day since we have ADR at 50's Prime Time for 5:30pm and there are EMH that night.

Dec 5: Maybe Magic Kingdom or EPCOT again (maybe we'll split the day between the two). Then we have MVMCP that night so we'll be in MK til midnight! YAY! I didn't make any ADRs for this night, so I don't know where we're eating.

Dec 6: Doing Animal Kingdom this day. Table service is ??? again. Maybe Boma, because DH's mom and sis are staying at AKL.

Dec 7: MGM again and EPCOT for dinner at LeCellier - 8:30pm.

You can see that I am just not too good at planning this kind of stuff. Everything else, I can do but I can never decide beforehand where I want to go each day. Also, I won't know where we're eating those two days until I talk to the front desk at CSR and see what dining locations have openings left. DH likes to be spontanious, so I gave him two nights that are "up in the air."

Also, I want to visit the Grand Floridian sometime and see the gingerbread house shop and possibly buy one.

 

[starling72]

This is our first December trip, too...we usually go in January/February and don't usually need to make ADR's when we go, but I might try it this year and see if it changes anything for us (our longest non-ADR wait for a nice on-site restaurant has been 30 minutes). For some reason, "party of 3" seems to get us in quickly...who knows, perhaps we're just always lucky?

Here's our current itinerary (wow, we're going to be there the same time as you!)...it's just me, DW and DS4 this time:

Friday, Dec 1 - arrive very late and head for bed.

Saturday, Dec 2 - hang out in Orlando (and surrounding area) and see some of the non-Disney stuff we've always wanted to see, but didn't ever make time for.

Sunday, Dec 3 - hope for good weather...pool day!

Monday, Dec 4 - Epcot, here we come! Soarin', Test Track, Turtle Talk and every Kidcot station in the WS.

Tuesday, Dec 5 - Magic Kingdom (ok, mostly just Fantasyland and Toontown) in a.m., pool in the afternoon, then MVMCP at night.

Wednesday, Dec 6 - MGM, making time to see Osborne Lights and Fantasmic (if we can).

Thursday, Dec 7 - Animal Kingdom, some pool time later in the day, followed by Cirque at night.

Friday, Dec 8 - Magic Kingdom for as long as our legs and DS4 will allow, followed by soak in whirlpool tub and jump in the pool.

Saturday, Dec 9 - Epcot all day...end with Candlelight Processional and Illuminations.

Sunday, Dec 10 - sleep in, check out late and head home.

Our biggest change this year is that we're not using hoppers...we've always used them in the past. This time, we're going to save the $120 difference for the 3 of us and put it towards seeing La Nouba. DS4 has never seen a Cirque show and I think he'll love it.

 

[beck0321]

This is our first December trip, too...we usually go in January/February and don't usually need to make ADR's when we go, but I might try it this year and see if it changes anything for us (our longest non-ADR wait for a nice on-site restaurant has been 30 minutes). For some reason, "party of 3" seems to get us in quickly...who knows, perhaps we're just always lucky?

Here's our current itinerary (wow, we're going to be there the same time as you!)...it's just me, DW and DS4 this time:

Friday, Dec 1 - arrive very late and head for bed.

Saturday, Dec 2 - hang out in Orlando (and surrounding area) and see some of the non-Disney stuff we've always wanted to see, but didn't ever make time for.

Sunday, Dec 3 - hope for good weather...pool day!

Monday, Dec 4 - Epcot, here we come! Soarin', Test Track, Turtle Talk and every Kidcot station in the WS.

Tuesday, Dec 5 - Magic Kingdom (ok, mostly just Fantasyland and Toontown) in a.m., pool in the afternoon, then MVMCP at night.

Wednesday, Dec 6 - MGM, making time to see Osborne Lights and Fantasmic (if we can).

Thursday, Dec 7 - Animal Kingdom, some pool time later in the day, followed by Cirque at night.

Friday, Dec 8 - Magic Kingdom for as long as our legs and DS4 will allow, followed by soak in whirlpool tub and jump in the pool.

Saturday, Dec 9 - Epcot all day...end with Candlelight Processional and Illuminations.

Sunday, Dec 10 - sleep in, check out late and head home.

Our biggest change this year is that we're not using hoppers...we've always used them in the past. This time, we're going to save the $120 difference for the 3 of us and put it towards seeing La Nouba. DS4 has never seen a Cirque show and I think he'll love it.

WOW that's three of us going to MVMCP!

Oh and are the pools open in December?

 

[starling72]

Well, the pools have been open every time I've visited, no matter which Disney resort or offsite hotel, and I usually go in January/February. I sure hope they're open in December!!

Water parks may be a different story...often depends on the temperature, I think.

 

[battlecat533]

Make it 4...we get there on Sunday the 3rd

Sunday 12/3 - Get to Orlando from Ohio at about 0900, check in @ the Poly and head to MK..gotta watch out for the parade taping that day and play it by ear for food

Monday 12/4 - Going to MGM Sci-Fi for Lunch, Melrose Package for Dinner

Tues 12/5 - MK Maybe Main Street Bakery for Brekfst MMM and LIberty Tree for DInner then MVMCP

Weds 12/6 Epcot Princesses for Breakfast and Le Cellier for Lunch

Thurs 12/7 - Maybe AK..Dont know..it is all by ear DTD??

Friday 12/8 - Whispering Canyon for Lunch and who knows what to do all day

Sat 12/0 - Ohana Stitch for Breakfast..>Wander around and then leave at 2 pm to go home


I figure on Thuirsay after AK, Friday and Saturday..we can play it by ear, wander, check out the hotels, and hit any place we liked before LIKE TOT, or EE, who knows.

Does this sound right to everyone, Should I make some changes??

 

[irisbud]

Arriving on December 3rd also, and heading for MK!

 

[Pats Dragon]

We're going in Dec. too. It's a tradition. Check out the hours of the parks on the official Disney world site. There are more MVMCP nights and the parks will close early with no spectro. We are going to mk 2 days plus the party and epcot 3 days and ak and mgm 1 day a piece. Try to see the monorail hotels and wl because the decorations are beautiful. There is a sleigh ride at WL. Also, we finally tried the putt putt courses and they are lots of fun.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Here's another going to CSR and MVMCP on the 5th!
My schedule is a little more compressed, but I'm going solo, so I'm a lot more flexible in what I end up doing.

12/4: Arrive MCO at 10:15, check in and hit Epcot WS by noon, grab lunch at CS, dinner R&C, tree lighting, either IllumiNations or boat to MGM to see Osborne Lights.
12/5: May hit Epcot EMH, otherwise a purely MK day, dinner at Artist Point, MVMCP
12/6:Open MGM, rest midday at pool, lunch @ Pepper market, dinner @ Cape May, IllumiNations Cruise, maybe PI late in evening.
12/7: Segway Tour at Epcot, stay until around lunch, hop to AK, lunch @ Tusker House, dinner@Boma, mini-DISmeet at Jellyrolls later.
12/8:Hit AK or any park I didn't get enough of! Plane leaves @ 5:30, so prob. be on DME by 2:30 or thereabouts.

 

[disneyfand]

My opinion is, It sounds great, because it's ours too.
Dec 3: Arrive 10:20am, check in at CBR then off to AK & EE
Boma 5:40.
Dec 4: MGM all day ?
50's Prime Time 4:55
Dec 5: MK ALL DAY, MVMCP
CP 6:10
Dec 6:Epcot
'Ohana 6:45
Dec 7: Epcot
Coral Reef 7:00
Dec 8:AK
Chef Mick. 8:00 am
Dec 9: MK Leave by 3:00
See ya there. I WILL have my LGMHPC so please say Hi or give me the Focker.

 

[Rella Bella]

Sun Dec 3- Arrival day- Mk and then Chef Mickeys for supper

Mon Dec 4- Epcot - supper @ Marrkesh( good restaurant opinions please)

Tues Dec 5- not sure what park to go to - Crystal Palace for supper and xmas party

Wed Dec 6- hopefully sleep in a bit after a late night - afternoon not sure what park - no adrs for this day

Thurs Dec 7- MGM supper at Sci Fi

Friday Dec 8- Breakie @ Kona- MK - Supper at 1900 Park Fare

Sat Dec 9- Epcot supper at Le Celier

Sun Dec 10 - last day Mk then head home

I haven't read the other responses but I think your itinerary looks great.
I don't know the times of your ADRs but if it was me I would;

Walk back to MK after dinner at Chef M and stay for Wishes.

Monday do Illuminations after dinner at Marrekesh and Fantasmic & Osborne lights after SciFi on Thursday.

Then we would do Illuminations again on Sat night (we always do it again on on our last night).

You could do AK either Tues or Wed... and use the other day for which ever park you want to go back to.

And I wouldn't add any more ADR's... I like some flexibility... and some room for all the wonderful snacks and chocolate in World Showcase!!

We went that exact same time frame last year! It was wonderful... but we hit the coldest night of the whole winter. But it's unlikely it will fall during that week again. The other Dec we were there we just needed sweatshirts and wore shorts during the day... said all that to say... be prepared for ANYTHING!!

 

[yeahdisney]

Make it 8. And we are also going to MVMCP on the 5th!

Hey I'm Diane too, and my daughter will also be 8.

Yes the pools are opened, and heated. At Boardwalk we saw only one family swimming. The day we swam there was less than 5 families in the pool. Now that's a light crowd!
Arrive December 2 stay at Maritto Hotel. Get the car from the airport the next day 7 AM and hightail it to DISNEY. Staying at the Boardwalk


Dec 3 CRT 10:20A then stay at MK that day. Get daughter's face painted.

Dec 4 Animal Kingdom kids requested Rainforest Cafe for supper
We ride the Water ride several times, me in a raincoat and them in their swimsuits, then we change clothes in time for the parade.

Dec 5 Sleep in, if warm, swim in the pool, lunch, enforced NAP, then off to MVMCP, eating at CP reservations I think 5PM. Stay till closing. We brought coats, hats, gloves, double socks, and long johns, IT WAS COLD and we are from the Windy city. Free stroller that night.

Dec 6 Sleep in some? B Bobbi Bo appt 10:10AM Lunch downtown disney.
MGM in afternoon Reservations Sci Fi 5PM ish another request.

Dec 7 Can switch with Dec 8. Swim one day, the kids love it. Gatorland one day. Request of the son.

Dec 8 Open

Dec 9 ADR in MK 10:20AM. Flight out 6pm

Diane I thought your plans looked good. Free times are good. And we pace it to the kids, a lot calmer and no meltdowns. My 7 year old, actually stopped chewing her nails so she can get them done at BBB. What does your daughter love there best? What does she want to repeat do/try?