Do I need a plan for December 8-15?

[Levenseller215]

Heading to the World for our first vacation there, Dec 8-15.

On the QS Dining. Having BFast with Cindy on Friday. Beyond that and our arrival day, I'm not crazy about making more ADR's or touring plans. I would like to fly by the seat of our pants.

Will the crowds allow that this time of year?

Do I need to pick which parks for each day in advance?

Do I need touring plans for each park? Most likely we'll be rope droppers and we have a toddler, BTW.

Thanks.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[LSUfan4444]

No, you certainly don't need a plan, but I hope you don't mind wasting time.

http://www.easywdw.com/

I often see people stating that following the “crowd calendars” is more important in the summer than the “off-season.” “In reality,” the exact opposite is true. In the summer, when operating hours and entertainment are virtually identical every day, we don’t see the great drops in crowds from non-recommended days to recommended days. Going to the recommended Parks will still result in lower crowds and shorter waits, but we’re talking about a peak wait at it’s a small world that’s 25 minutes instead of 35 minutes. Or at Space Mountain, a peak wait of 60 minutes instead of 100 minutes. Fast forward to September, and it’s a small world might have a peak wait of 10 minutes on a most recommended Friday and 50 minutes on the non-recommended Saturday that follows it. At Space Mountain, the wait at 2pm might be 20 minutes instead of 120 minutes

 

[thelionqueen]

That is a great time to go as the crowd levels are lower. As long as you don't plan on making or attending any ADR's but Bfast w/Cindy you'll be fine with CS meals and little waiting for food or lines.

However, being your first trip you should definitely have a plan. Not a touring plan per se' but an idea on what park, what day. Look at the park hours, restaurants, transporation etc. Disney World isn't really a good time to "fly by the seat of your pants" if you're a first time visitor.

Starting here is a good idea. I also suggest allearsnet.com, an excellent source of all things Disney. Do research on the parks and what you want to get out of each. Get an idea of each parks layout so you can get a decent walking tour and easy flow.

 

[mesaboy2]

Heading to the World for our first vacation there, Dec 8-15.

On the QS Dining. Having BFast with Cindy on Friday. Beyond that and our arrival day, I'm not crazy about making more ADR's or touring plans. I would like to fly by the seat of our pants.

Will the crowds allow that this time of year?

Do I need to pick which parks for each day in advance?

Do I need touring plans for each park? Most likely we'll be rope droppers and we have a toddler, BTW.

Thanks.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

I think even a rough plan will serve you well. I'd use a site such as EasyWDW to gauge crowds at the parks your days and use that as a starting point. Beyond that, I'd just wing it and remain flexible.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Now, I do not believe you need a touring plan perse of what attractions to do in what order, but I do believe you need a plan of what parks to hit what day and when to hit those parks.

Even in the slow times Soarin can be on a 60 min wait one day, and exactly 24 hours later be on a 20 minute wait.

 

[siskaren]

I would recommend at least deciding what attraction you're going to do first at each park, although with a toddler you'll be a bit limited as to which headliners you can do unless you're planning to use baby swap.

 

[Karabee]

We went that time 2 years ago, this year we bumped up the trip for a week earlier than that. Honestly, some things were crowded and some were not. I was shocked at the crowds at MK, yet when we were at the resort is almost felt empty (and that was with Pop Warner!). I would have a basic plan of what you want to do, and which park you want to visit each day, but I wouldn't base everything on the Touring Plans recommendations, just use them as another resource to think about. I also wouldnt worry about too many ADRs. As long as you don't mind waiting for a table at a sit down service place, there will always be room (unless of course it's one of the extremely popular ones like O'hana or California Grill).

 

[ghtx]

Do I need to pick which parks for each day in advance?

It would be kind of cool if there were a "mystery bus" option at each resort, where you get on and the driver takes you to one of the four theme parks, without telling you.

Alas, there is no such bus, so yes, you have to decide which parks you will go to on your own.

 

[hollygolitely93]

Our first time in 2009 we just did parks oer day and kind of a section...like MK...tomorrow land and frontier land...next MK day we did fantasy and adventure...

We did very little research after that...and had a great time. Loved just soaking in by the minute as we had a toddler and were more into the kiddie rides and characters. We didn't do parent swap...so not many headliners...we did hit TSM first thing and Dumbo...the rest was by whim. I think most waits we're 5-20 minutes.

In 2010 my toddler was old enough for some coasters And I had more of a plan. We hit more rides for sure with less waiting time but less spontaneity...and a lot less characters. Our wait time with a plan was 0-10 minutes.

For that time of year I would say you can pick your park and go T rope drop nd be fine as long as you are not planning a lot of headliners!

Have fun and hope your toddler loves it!

 

[tofubeast]

I am going the same week as you with our toddler. I highly recommend at least looking at EasyWDW's crowd calendar and stay away from the parks not recommended. Here is Josh's Dec. calendar.

 

[Levenseller215]

Thanks everyone. Based on crowd predictions I am going to pick the order of parks the first four days, visiting each once, and leave two or three days for spontenaity. I'll probably pick two or three must rides for each day then just have fun.

I am hoping to do a Chef Mickey dinner on arrival day - but I can't find the time I want. Can you do any walk-ups for this, or is it no ADR, no eat?

Thanks

 

[siskaren]

I would seriously doubt you'd be able to do a walk-up at Chef Mickey's. I'd keep checking; people cancel all the time.

 

[kellyg403]

Thanks everyone. Based on crowd predictions I am going to pick the order of parks the first four days, visiting each once, and leave two or three days for spontenaity. I'll probably pick two or three must rides for each day then just have fun.

I am hoping to do a Chef Mickey dinner on arrival day - but I can't find the time I want. Can you do any walk-ups for this, or is it no ADR, no eat?

Thanks

Chef Mickey's is a hard one to get into if you are trying as a walkup. Heck its one of the harder ones to get an ADR for.

I will tell you not to get discouraged. There are plenty of trips I can remember making a alternative reservation and kept calling to get a wanted ADR. It seems like its easier to get something as the day gets closer. I have gotten some the day before.

Keep trying! I hope you have a wonderful time! This is our favorite time to go. As another posted, going to the most recommended park and avoiding the least, you will have very little problems doing must do rides.

Kelly

 

[ppony]

"Lower crowds" doesn't mean no crowds, nor does it mean not crowded (in places). Dec. has become a pretty popular time of year to visit now which is why we're trying some other months. We've been there 5 times in Dec. and each increased in people quite a bit. "Lower crowds".. lower than what?? Peak times, well yeah. Lower than around holidays and school breaks? Yeah. Even lower than most summer days? Sure. But that's still leaving a lot of room for people. But other than that, I'd recommend to at least have some idea of what you're doing. We plan less and less w/ each visit, but I'd never go in w/o some idea of where to go what days and a loose idea of what were going to do first and where we'll be eating.

I would not recommend trying to walk up to any of the most popular places. you COULD get lucky, sure, but you could most likely be like the family that got to Chef M's before us (we had an opening ADR but we were there 20 minutes before they came to the podium). They had waited half an hour only be be turned away because they had no ADRs and it was completely booked. I'd rather not waste all my time.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We have visited and enjoyed that particular week. It was overall, more crowded than we anticipated. It was not horrible , but not the very low crowds that we mostly find in January. It will be important to be aware at least of what parks have EMH and either take advantage or avoid those parks. I would plan out how to start each day and if you add the option to hop (I highly recommend this) you can do just that. Without ADR's you are pretty open. I however would not count on many walk-ups. We found this week to be quite busy as far as restaurants go. I think a lot of locals take advantage of coming to see the Christmas sites. We also found the year we went that week to be COLD. It's always a hit or miss but be prepared. We wore coats and gloves!
Leave some time to resort hop...decorations are beautiful! I would not do MVMCP with a toddler but be aware of the nights MK closes early for it if you do not have hoppers. Get your little ones picture made with Santa at the American Site in the WS. Mrs Clause is also there and it's a really neat shot. Consider the Candle Light Procession.

Let's see......decorate and shop before you go to WDW. Less stress knowing you are done with that. Take some Christmas clothes. They are some really nice pictures. Take your Christmas card picture there on your 1st day and send it to Sam's or somewhere on line and pick up the cards when you get home.
Enjoy your trip. Christmas at WDW is soooo special!

 

[Levenseller215]

Thanks again all.

So, we'll have a 2+ year old. I'm looking for suggestions if I can't get into Chef Mickey.

Early flight into Orlando (10 am-ish). Plan was to visit Fort Wilderness, take a boat to Chef Mickey, boat back to the Fort and enjoy the campfire with Chip & Dale.

If I can't get into Chef Mickey for an early seating - what are some things we could do for dinner that a) can get us back in time for the campfire and b) give my daughter a little taste of whats to come the following days.

First thought maybe to take visit monorail resorts for XMas decorations, but not sure where to eat. Second thought is a different character diner but I'm a little concerned with travel time.

Your thoughts?

 

[bytheblood]

No, you do not need a plan. Also, the crowd calendars are no longer a secret. Easy WDW pretty much copies exactly what TGM has and people use it, even people who have never seen the Disboards.

In Dec 2011, we intentionally split our party up and had half go to a "green" park and half go to a "red" park and on two of the days, the ones at the red park had shorter waits for attractions. I have seen others report this as well.

Perhaps all of the crowd calendar hype is having the opposite results.

As long as you have your TS meals lined up and realize which rides you want first int he morning (including fastpasses), you should not run into any real issues.

 

[disneydad78]

Crowd levels in DEC have grown and grown. I think the crowd calendars need a massive revamp. Dont be shocked when you go to a park and a wait time is well over a hr/hr adn half for a ride. We do stay onsite, but we avoid,AVOID the parks with the EMH. I dont understand why everyone staying at WDW goes to the EMH. Yes you get a extra hr or couple at night,but the price you pay for it during the day with all wdw resort guest in one park. Imagine all the resorts in WDW and over 8o percent are goin to the park with EMH.
I would make my ADRs , you cant go wrong with that. Walk ups are slim for the most popular places to eat. Go luck with your 2 y/o in Dec. Can get very cold , even for FL.

 

[MandeeLeigh]

We went the first week of December for our first visit last year (going the 2nd week this year). The crowds were very manageable and we had a great time.

In terms of planning, I'd look at calendars for recommended days and make some ADRs accordingly, especially if there are restaurants that you really want to go to. But I don't see a reason to plan each day with what rides and what order - we had no problems 'wandering' and most wait times were low.

Even with our ADRs, about half of our meals we were ready to eat a lot early than what we scheduled. We went to those places early to see if we could get seated anyway, and we did. Never waited for more than 10 minutes for a table. Even so, I'd make ADRs for the places you don't want to miss, just in case that doesn't happen.