Help me plan for my friends!

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Okay, so here is the story, I've been to DL 2x this year... I have never been to WDW... I talked my friend into surprising their 4 kids (10, 11, 11 & 12) on Christmas morning, with "We are going to WDW tomorrow!!" She tells me yesterday that she isn't a planner, and was just going to wing it... I about had a heart attack! Dec 26 (they are taking the red-eye on the 25th) - January 2nd, with 4 kids, none of them have ever been, and they planned on winging it!!

Okay, so, I got over my shock, and said I'd plan the trip as if I was going on it--for my 1st time! She took me up on the offer (and promised to follow my plan). I have total control... they will be doing all the Early Magic Hours (I graphed out which parks have them when)... and I am choosing their sit-down dinners (they are doing the meal plan, with 1 quick service, 1 sit down, and 1 snack + wine)... and I have booked 4 so far... I mostly have them at 1 park on the EMH mornings, and then hopping to another park for the afternoon/dinner/evening.

Dinners I have booked so far:

Garden Grill (for their 1st night dinner)
Mama Melrose's (for night #2)
Coral Reef (for night #3)
Crystal Palace (for New Year's Eve)

I have 3 dinners I still need to pick... probably 1 at Animal Kingdom for the day they spend there... and 1 back near their hotel (Ft. Wilderness) for the day they spend at the waterparks...

I have the rides and major attractions worked out on a spreadsheet... but I need to fill in "must-see" shows (Nemo? Beauty & Beast? ??), parades, fireworks and fantasmic.

When will I be able to find out what times things are scheduled, and any recommendations on the best place to be to see all those "must-see" scheduled things...

1 last thing... any chance that on New Year's that they will close MK because it is at capacity? Should they plan on spending all day inside MK, to make sure they can be there for everything that evening??


Whew.... I know you guys can help me out...

Thank you!!

--Lisa

 

[AJKMOM]

From what I have read, it's a great bet that the Magic Kingdom will close on New Years Eve day. Even if they have dining reservations, they can't enter if the park is in the final stage of closure.

From our experience, New years Day was quiet until about noon, if that makes a difference.

 

[vicki_c]

I would not plan on an MK day for NYE -- I'd pick a different park.

Show schedules are available on Steve Soares' web site, but not until the week before.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Okay, so if not in MK for New Year's Eve... then where? I assume there is a special parade and fireworks that night... which park would you choose to be in??

Or should they plan on getting into MK after lunch, and staying put until the midnight crowd starts to leave?

--Lisa

 

[AJKMOM]

Okay, so if not in MK for New Year's Eve... then where? I assume there is a special parade and fireworks that night... which park would you choose to be in??

Or should they plan on getting into MK after lunch, and staying put until the midnight crowd starts to leave?

--Lisa

I would think they would have to arrive by 11am, but that makes for a really long day. Sorry, that's the best I can offer.

 

[gourmetgirl]

Well, if I HAD to be there on NYE, I'd probably go to EPCOT. It can hold large crowds better than the others.

I'd probably do MK on that Saturday before NYE and I'd probably do AK on New Year's Day.

That would probably be the best way to handle the crazy crowds. Of course, you'd have to put a gun to my head to get me to be there. I have claustrophobia.

 

[bookbabe626]

Well, if I HAD to be there on NYE, I'd probably go to EPCOT. It can hold large crowds better than the others.

We found just the opposite during our one holiday trip there. (We'll never go again...the crowds are just too much.)

Epcot was packed...wall to wall bodies...perhaps because the World Showcase is one big beer garden that night?

We left partway through the day and went over to MK, which was crowded, but not as stupid crowded, if you know what I mean.

Personally, with four kids, I think they're going to find more to do at MK for a long day than at Epcot. And, since they already have Crystal Palace for dinner there that night, it makes more sense to stick with that. There are plenty of places to take breaks within the park, which is probably what they're going to have to do that day. Leaving and going back to the hotel for a break won't be an option...

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

We found just the opposite during our one holiday trip there. (We'll never go again...the crowds are just too much.)

Epcot was packed...wall to wall bodies...perhaps because the World Showcase is one big beer garden that night?

We left partway through the day and went over to MK, which was crowded, but not as stupid crowded, if you know what I mean.

Personally, with four kids, I think they're going to find more to do at MK for a long day than at Epcot. And, since they already have Crystal Palace for dinner there that night, it makes more sense to stick with that. There are plenty of places to take breaks within the park, which is probably what they're going to have to do that day. Leaving and going back to the hotel for a break won't be an option...

Thanks, That is kinda what I thought... but I've never done Disney at a busy time... I plan to tell them to sleep in, get to the park at 11, and start collecting fast passes as soon as they get there, for anything that still has them... in the hopes that they can ride a couple rides... then maybe spend a better part of the day at TSI (they have 2 boys and a tomboy!)... I think if they can sleep in, they can make it till midnight and suffer through the crowds!

--Lisa

 

[jtopp]

It's good that you are planning the trip for them. We went to WDW for Christmas week last year, and will never do it again. They shut down individual parks twice for excessive attendance, and it was busier then I have ever seen it. I even made the mistake of going off property one night-forgetting that everyone who goes to disney does not stay at disney-forgetting that the locals are also out and about on holiday. Good luck with the planning. Since they are staying on site I'm sure you will do a great job at planning a perfect vacation for them. Good Luck!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Thanks, right now my head is spinning in the plans though! I am *this close* to doing the tour guide mike thing for them... cause I am worried that its going to be more crowded then I can even anticipate... and they will be miserable.

--Lisa

 

[gourmetgirl]

THat is the one time a year that I would absolutely shell out the $120/hour for a VIP guide. Especially in the MK.

 

[unionville]

Thanks, That is kinda what I thought... but I've never done Disney at a busy time... I plan to tell them to sleep in, get to the park at 11, and start collecting fast passes as soon as they get there, for anything that still has them... in the hopes that they can ride a couple rides... then maybe spend a better part of the day at TSI (they have 2 boys and a tomboy!)... I think if they can sleep in, they can make it till midnight and suffer through the crowds!

--Lisa

Just a thought - if you wait until 11 am some of the fast passes for popular rides will probably be gone for the day.