Fall 2016 planning (continuation of 2016 Free Dining Watch)

[ldauksch]

I'm still debating on MVMCP, even if it is still in our price range. My daughter will almost be 3 and I don't know if it will just be a waste of money if she is konked out at 9. The rest of us have done it before and this trip is for her and for us to see it through her eyes at this age.
Anybody have any advice or experience with my situation?

We took our 22 month old last year. She did fine. She made it until after Wishes and the second parade but she's a pretty good little night owl. We plan on going again this December and she will be a month shy of 3 so I'm hoping she does even better. But only you can really know if it would be a waste for your family since you know your daughter best. Some kids really can't handle a break in their routine or can fall asleep in the middle of a party with thousands of people around. We tried it last year since she was free so we could see if it would be worth it to continue going once she was older and we had to pay for her. Good luck in deciding!

 

[VACamm]

Happy Sunday everyone!!!! I've been researching and I've never gone in December before this year. I was surprised to see that Candlelight Processional ticket packages require purchasing dinner vs using the dining plan, as for Fantasmic. So, at this point, with 4 Disney adults, I'm not sure we will do the reserved seating or not. Decisions, decisions!!

We did this last December 25th for Christmas day.... lunch Candlelight Processional tickets... and dinner at Rose and Crown with FD. We were so full that day! The Processional was worth every penny!!! We did the lunch at Via Napoli.

 

[VACamm]

I booked our Airfare today.... there is NO TURNING BACK NOW!!! September 3rd can't get here fast enough!!

Has everyone else booked their flights yet?

 

[revdisney33]

I booked our Airfare today.... there is NO TURNING BACK NOW!!! September 3rd can't get here fast enough!!

Has everyone else booked their flights yet?

I booked my before I even was sure we were going. Got an incredible deal out of Bangor Maine for $250 each for five of us. Could not pass the deal up and decided we would either do Disney at regular price for FD or just visit Orlando LOL

 

[Disneylover99]

I booked our Airfare today.... there is NO TURNING BACK NOW!!! September 3rd can't get here fast enough!!

Has everyone else booked their flights yet?

We're driving for the first time.
I'm gonna check flights right now.

 

[Meeko5]

I booked our Airfare today.... there is NO TURNING BACK NOW!!! September 3rd can't get here fast enough!!

Has everyone else booked their flights yet?

Woo!!! Waiting for SW to release their schedule for our dates to figure out just how screwed we are for flying out weekend after thanksgiving

 

[VACamm]

I booked my before I even was sure we were going. Got an incredible deal out of Bangor Maine for $250 each for five of us. Could not pass the deal up and decided we would either do Disney at regular price for FD or just visit Orlando LOL

That's awesome

 

[VACamm]

I feel like airfare was way more expensive this year for some reason... I need to look back to see how much I normally pay. There was no rate deals out there for dates this year....boooooooooooo!

 

[Mandoo]

I booked our Airfare today.... there is NO TURNING BACK NOW!!! September 3rd can't get here fast enough!!

Has everyone else booked their flights yet?

I wish! My husband just got a new job, so we don't know if he can take the week we picked yet! *finger crossed I don't have to find a new week with availability!*

 

[brittanidp]

Woo!!! Waiting for SW to release their schedule for our dates to figure out just how screwed we are for flying out weekend after thanksgiving

They're released on June 2nd!

 

[Meeko5]

I feel like airfare was way more expensive this year for some reason... I need to look back to see how much I normally pay. There was no rate deals out there for dates this year....boooooooooooo!

I'm really dreading this. If it's too crazy we will have to cancel the trip because I'm a tightwad lol

 

[Disneylover99]

I feel like airfare was way more expensive this year for some reason... I need to look back to see how much I normally pay. There was no rate deals out there for dates this year....boooooooooooo!

I agree. For the past few years we got our airfare for $200 each return. This year it was double that, so we decided to drive. Now it's about $350 per person, and I kind of want to pull the trigger.

 

[SunnieRN]

We did this last December 25th for Christmas day.... lunch Candlelight Processional tickets... and dinner at Rose and Crown with FD. We were so full that day! The Processional was worth every penny!!! We did the lunch at Via Napoli.

We are thinking of eating at Biergarten for lunch/tickets, paying out of pocket, while using our our TS entitlement for dinner. Thank you!

We're driving for the first time.
I'm gonna check flights right now.

The first time we went to Disneyworld, we drove, from central Texas, with a seven month old.! I will forever remember that drive.

We've driven three times since then with three trips flying mixed in. One time our flight got delayed, then cancelled so we had to drive to another airport, which was as stressful as driving lol.

 

[cassie58]

For those considering the Candlelight Processional package, I think it is worth it or do the dining, either using 2 credits or paying OOP, if it works for your budget. While Fantasmic only requires a one credit meal, if you don't choose a meal, you can either get a FP, or line up early, and usually with get seat with such a large stadium. You can also see it pretty well even from the back. The CP is much different, as there is limited seating, and being closer to the front is definitely better. If you do not get a reserved seat and get in the standby line, you may or may not get in, and will have to line up much earlier to try and get one. It depends on the narrator the week you are there, and how busy it is, but I'd rather not have to spend more of my park time in line. We did the second show since it is not always dark yet for the first, and ate dinner at 4:00 at Coral Reef, and then headed over to line up. Even for the reserved seats, first in gets first choice, so it's good to line up by/before the time you get to line up. It is a beautiful show, with the music and lighting, we'd love to do it again! When we went a few yrs. ago, tickets/packages didn't go on sale until Aug., but I know it has started in July as well.

 

[scard192]

I booked our Airfare today.... there is NO TURNING BACK NOW!!! September 3rd can't get here fast enough!!

Has everyone else booked their flights yet?

not yet, waiting for SW to release flights for our dates. Would prefer to fly Jet Blue out of Boston, but Providence and Manchester NH are doable too. Flew JB last trip from PVD, but now only am flight is 7AM, would have to get up at 4AM :-(.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

We're driving for the first time.
I'm gonna check flights right now.

You couldn't pay me to drive. Coming from NY it's about a 22hr drive straight through. I have made that trip dozens of times since I was a kid. (Not to DW, just to visit family for the summer).

Now that I'm a "big kid" and can pay for my own airfare I will NEVER make that drive again. Comparing the cost of taking my family of 4 driving vs. flying. It's a no-brainer. After gas, tolls, mileage on car (especially if your leasing), lack of sleep (which ruins your first day at DW), and the variables of car trouble and traffic I see no benefit to driving. Maybe if I lived in the southeast and could drive there in say, 8 hours or less I would consider it.

Just sayin'

 

[Sharongal74]

I booked our Airfare today.... there is NO TURNING BACK NOW!!! September 3rd can't get here fast enough!!

Has everyone else booked their flights yet?

Booked my flight down the other day! Was holding out on sw to drop rates and got it for $89! Bought the flight home a few weeks ago since it was down at the time. Aug 31st seems so far away lol

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Booked my flight down the other day! Was holding out on sw to drop rates and got it for $89! Bought the flight home a few weeks ago since it was down at the time. Aug 31st seems so far away lol

Don't know where your flying from but $89 is a heck of a deal from anywhere! More pocket money for the parks!!!

By any chance did you book your flights on a Tuesday? I've heard that's the best day to book airfare because that's when airlines adjust prices based on availability. Just wondering if there is any truth to that.

 

[kellyjeanie]

Woo!!! Waiting for SW to release their schedule for our dates to figure out just how screwed we are for flying out weekend after thanksgiving

We are too! I'm pretty optimistic - I looked at Delta's flights and did a little research and Saturday that weekend should have decent fares. Fingers crossed!

They're released on June 2nd!

I thought that too but the kind people here found out they had been moved to May 19! So we have less time to wait, woooo

 

[revdisney33]

I feel like airfare was way more expensive this year for some reason... I need to look back to see how much I normally pay. There was no rate deals out there for dates this year....boooooooooooo!

This is the cheapest I have ever done out of Bangor. I checked every day and these popped up with the times I needed on a Thursday....was able to hold the rate for 7 days for$44. So I held them to make sure all on board and ended up booking FD the next Monday!