Information for those going next year...My experience from December 26-January 1, 2016

[js]

Hi.

I wanted to post this now since there will be many planning their Christmas - New Years trips for next year and also with DVC, making ressies now.

I did a TON of planning before my trip between Christmas and New Years Day to make sure my family of four (dd-23 and ds-18) had a stress-free trip with minimal line waiting.

We did three parks, Epcot, AK and MK (in that order). My dd's friend works for Disney corporate and said we would be better off going to AK than MGM with all the construction so that is what we did. We are Disney vets, have been many, many times but never EVER during this extremely busy time.

We stayed at the THVs in SSR so we could have the three bedrooms so each "kid" had their own space. Since we were at SSR, I made most of our dining in DTD, which worked beautifully. I did not want to be wasting time at night waiting for overcrowded busses. We took the Boat from SSR to DTD most nights, which worked great. From THVs, we walked over to SSR Grandstand to get the bus. It was the first stop in SSR and the first stop coming back from the parks, lovely!

We arrived at the parks no later than 30 minutes prior to RD.

For Epcot, I made our FPs beginning about 10 am but did TT (twice), Soarin, Land, Ellen, Spaceship Earth (twice), hung out in the DVC member lounge and got a few MM pics taken (I was in a MM share). We left about noon, and came back to the countries and dinner in the evening. We never waited on one line. (Family had no interest in FEA).

For AK, did the same with our FPs since we were not returning in the evening.
Did Safari, Dinosaur, EE (twice), watched a live surgery on an animal, went to petting zoo LOL, did the trails and spent time enjoying the animals. We left about 1:00 pm I think after getting some MM pictures taken. Never waited on a line.

For MK, in this order, we did all of FL (my family did not want to do 7DMT so we skipped it although we have done before), Haunted, Splash, Tomorrowland (did not do Space since had a FP for evening).
We left approximately 11:30 am after getting some MM pictures taken, hung out at SSR and had dinner at Turf Club on site.

We did our FPs for beginning about 9 pm/9:30 pm at MK. Did Space (kids rode twice since my dh and I did not want to ride), did Splash again and I think Haunted but can't remember and I just looked on MDE and they are gone. We did Hall of Presidents, People Mover. We never waited on one line.

I can tell you, although we did not wait on any lines, by the time we were leaving the parks at noon, they were P A C K E D. When we got back Epcot and MK at night, it was P A C K E D. But that is when we used our FPs, took MM pictures, watched Fireworks and did the attractions that were big loaders (Hall of Presidents, Mickey's Philamagic, etc.).

At DTD, we ate at Boathouse for NYE (a FANTASTIC meal). Had an 8 pm reservation, told them we were staying there for fireworks and countdown. NEVER rushed us, always came by with our drinks. Got up from our table at 11:50 pm, went to the bar area and hung out until about 1 am. GREAT night!
We also ate at Homecoming, Fronteria Cocina (our least favorite meal of the trip but still okay but won't go back) and ate dinner/bowled at Splitsville (I reserved a lane last summer for our trip and it was well worth it). We always were sat immediately or within 10 minutes of checking in.

In Epcot we had dinner at Vila Napoli (our family favorite) and one night we ate at Turf Club at SSR (another new but must-do when staying at SSR).

All restaurants took my DVC discount, including the Boathouse on NYE (that is a definite must do again restaurant).

I thought I would put a link to my shutterfly book I created for my trip and eventually break the link after having it up for a week or two so you can see what times we went to each park (I took pictures of the bus date/clock LOL) and the difference in the crowds. You can also see that we arrived at MCO at 8:30 am and we were only a handful of people waiting for a bus (hit full screen so you can see the pictures better).

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to help since we all had a fabulous time due to all my planning LOL


http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0JcsWbds3YvcA

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

GREAT info. I like the tip about big loading rides for later on. smart. means more walking in the parks but we would rather walk than stand still in line. Great info! we arrive on the 31st this year and will either go into MK just for the entrance area, hopefully a Mickey meet and greet fast pass and I think Tink is still there too. few Memory Maker photos, castle shots for those who are first timers in our group, then off to dinner and relax. no midnight for us, we would rather be up early and waiting before rope drop in the morning of the 1st. Going to peek at your photos now!

 

[alex9179]

Thank you for sharing your album! Our plan for summer is similar to your Christmas one. Early mornings, enjoy the resort when it's crowded/hot, then back in the evening for the shows/fireworks. I hope ours works out as well as yours did!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

you were at the parks at 6am and at 7am ?? omg how early do they open .

 

[js]

GREAT info. I like the tip about big loading rides for later on. smart. means more walking in the parks but we would rather walk than stand still in line. Great info! we arrive on the 31st this year and will either go into MK just for the entrance area, hopefully a Mickey meet and greet fast pass and I think Tink is still there too. few Memory Maker photos, castle shots for those who are first timers in our group, then off to dinner and relax. no midnight for us, we would rather be up early and waiting before rope drop in the morning of the 1st. Going to peek at your photos now!

Enjoy and have a great time. We were in a MM share from a "face" group and paid about $20. It was so worth it.

Thank you for sharing your album! Our plan for summer is similar to your Christmas one. Early mornings, enjoy the resort when it's crowded/hot, then back in the evening for the shows/fireworks. I hope ours works out as well as yours did!

I am sure it will work out fine. You are already planning!

you were at the parks at 6am and at 7am ?? omg how early do they open .

Yes. MK opened at 7 am. By 6:40 am, the crowd behind us was very big. We were always in front of the crowds.
Epcot and AK opened at 8 am. Again, we were in front and always ahead of the crowds.

Getting there early before RD is KEY to not waiting in lines. I figured we only did three parks so we only had to get up early for three days. On our AK day, my ds, who is 18 and away in college, asked to sleep in the night before and not go with us. We let him sleep in, it was his vacation too and our tickets are non-expiring. If he was miserable in the parks, he would have made sure we all were. It was actually a very pleasant day spent just with my dd

 

[NH-to-FL]

Thanks for sharing! Always nice to hear about strategies that worked. As you say, being early to RD is the key to getting a lot done, especially during busy times.

 

[constanze]

Did you ever have any difficulties getting back into a park in the evening due to park capacity closures?

 

[karensi]

Thanks for posting. Loved the pictures!!!

 

[js]

Thanks for sharing! Always nice to hear about strategies that worked. As you say, being early to RD is the key to getting a lot done, especially during busy times.

Thank you! Yes, RD is essential to stay ahead of the crowds.

Did you ever have any difficulties getting back into a park in the evening due to park capacity closures?

No, we had no problems getting back in during ghe evening and never heard about any closures. Busses were fine going back. We were at MK on December 30 until about 1 am (wanted to stay till 3 am but my family was shot lol).

Thanks for posting. Loved the pictures!!!

Thanks mom!! You should have came with us and been in the pictures!! At least we have September and you have September AND November!!

 

[Cruisinskier]

Thanks! We were there Dec 28 - Jan 2. Totally agree that planning is what makes the trip!! I am also doing a review of our experiences with a condensed visit during a very busy time.....it can be done and can be enjoyable!!!
Jerry