Magical Christmas Part two, but this time with a birthday too!

[pigletto]

Sooo My ADR day is FINALLY here Monday. I've been pretty nervously watching other December goers booking.

I will be up bright and early

Will let you know!

I've been passing the time helping a friend get ready for her trip in Sept. We've got her park plans ready, her ADRs done and today were planning her Fastpass+ selections.

Good Luck!!!
Mine was last Wednesday. I wasn't very prepared because my grandma fell ill and passed away on Tuesday evening
I knew a few that were must do's and got those and I will fill in the gaps soon. My head has just been too foggy and sad. Just in the last day I've started reading some trip reports and looking forward to the trip again. I am happy we have a bright spot in the near future to look forward to.
But enough about me.. what I meant to tell you was that when I did my ADR's , I was pleasantly surprised to see just about anything I would have wanted. There were still BOG reservations at decent times most days, and Ohana and other hard to get places. So here's hoping you are able to book everything you need.

 

[jewels1916]

Joining in! We're going in December too, although our trip will be long over when you arrive (insert pouty face here). Good luck with your ADRs! I was nervous the night before too, and set my alarm super early. And of course, then my dates didn't open up when they were supposed to. So after the first hour trying to book online, I gave up and called as soon as the phone lines opened. But we got everything we wanted within about an hour of when we wanted it. Good luck to you, hopefully if you are booking online it will go smoother!

Courtney

 

[1stvisit0909]

Good Luck!!!
Mine was last Wednesday. I wasn't very prepared because my grandma fell ill and passed away on Tuesday evening
I knew a few that were must do's and got those and I will fill in the gaps soon. My head has just been too foggy and sad. Just in the last day I've started reading some trip reports and looking forward to the trip again. I am happy we have a bright spot in the near future to look forward to.
But enough about me.. what I meant to tell you was that when I did my ADR's , I was pleasantly surprised to see just about anything I would have wanted. There were still BOG reservations at decent times most days, and Ohana and other hard to get places. So here's hoping you are able to book everything you need.

Im so sorry to hear that! Bless your heart. Thanks for the encouragement though. I am really wanting to try BOG this trip.

Joining in! We're going in December too, although our trip will be long over when you arrive (insert pouty face here). Good luck with your ADRs! I was nervous the night before too, and set my alarm super early. And of course, then my dates didn't open up when they were supposed to. So after the first hour trying to book online, I gave up and called as soon as the phone lines opened. But we got everything we wanted within about an hour of when we wanted it. Good luck to you, hopefully if you are booking online it will go smoother!

Courtney

EEK If online doesnt work I might Ive already spent an hour on the phone b/c my my disney experience was screwy - but its been ok since then. *fingers crossed* I need lots of pixie dust!

 

[1stvisit0909]

Well, today was our 180 day mark. We live in the central time zone, so I set my alarm for 430. I wanted to have enough time to get the links of the restaurants I was after loaded, and logged in to MDE and all that jazz.

I had plenty of time, and anxiously waited with Be Our Guest in the first tab. At 5:00 I clicked "find table" and BAM times appeared like magic

No trouble booking at all - except at some point I accidentally reserved Crystal Palace for June 23 at 11, for two? there was my only IT or it could have been an ID10T error. My computer nerd friends will get that one.

I was done in less than 10 mins, and I got the following:

12/21 Teppan Edo (7pm)
12/22 1900 Park Fare (8) and Biergarten (5) (hope to turn one of the EPCOT ones into a candlelight package).
12/23 The Wave (825)
12/24 BOG (! ) at 650
12/25 Tusker House (1030)

I then went back to bed, and when I got back up the second time called to try to beg my way out of the $10 per person fee for Crystal Palace, since after all we are 13 hours away from Disney. I told the CM what happened and she chuckled, and told me "it happens" and canceled it with no fee. I would have preferred transporting pixie dust to get me and my youngest magically there in time for breakfast, but she couldnt pull that off.

Later that morning, I asked my peeps on the DEC FB page about BBB being 180+10 or 180, and after being corrected to 180+10 I called and booked BBB for Christmas Eve at 11 in MK. I could have done 805 but I didnt want to give up the prime early morning hours for touring.

THEN My phone started blowing up because the wishes dessert party was booking for Christmas week, so I made like a mad woman to my desk and booked that for us too.

Over all, very productive day. (whohoo!) Only thing left is switching one of my EPCOT meals for CP - and then I may drop the Park Fare to keep us in the credit budget. or I may not. I've always wanted to meet Mary and after all this trip has my BIRTHDAY in it too.

Up next? Helping my friends get their FP+ sorted in early July, try for CP, and then wait (im)patiently for my own FP+ window! Oh, and paying this durned trip off!

 

[saysib]

Following for the December thread (and FB group )

My trip will also be over by the time you arrive, but your plans look great so far!

 

[1stvisit0909]

Normally we plan one trip at a time, but this Disney trip was a surprise to even us. HA. I was already in the middle of planning our beach vacation (didnt require much, we went to an island with little to do so we were on a TRUE vacation!), however, we are also in a 6 week count down to a mission trip to an orphanage i Honduras!

So, I need to pause my disney planning and pick up my Honduras planning. We received our flight schedule yesterday so now my DD13 and I are PUMPED -its just the two of us going on this trip, and we are SO excited!!

 

[1stvisit0909]

Got our boots and convertible pants ordered for Honduras. Yay!

Today I had a half day at work thanks to the holiday tomorrow. whohooo

So I've been tweaking plans. DH and I were reviewing the crowd calendars and 12/20 is the lowest crowd day - we are driving this time and were thinking we wouldnt get there in time to want to do anything.... BUT

We've decided to leave the day before. The latest we can leave is noon (we could get half way then)- but if DD13 doesnt need that day (60% day of school) for any make up finals or anything we will leave EARLY and try to get as close to Orlando as possible, so we can have at least a 1/2 park day on 12/20

So, I've been doing touring plans for DHS that day - I can see where the FP+ will be VERY handy for this stratgy!!

So now, 12/20 1/2 day at DHS with FP+ And fantasmic! (finally!)
12/21 morning at DHS to finish it up, and then hop to EPCOT for the WS, dinner at Teppen Edo and then Candlelight Processional

12/22 Morning is Future World at EPCOT with our FP+ selections. We will rope drop so we can get soarin and TT in. - Wishes Dessert Party that night.

12/23 MK part of the park (start at rope drop with the EMH in tomorrowland, then FPs in frontierland, and touring adventureland - Dinner at the WAVE


12/24 MK fantasyland (including A&E and BBB) and BOG for dinner ~we will probably stay from RD to our BOG dinner

12/25 AK in the morning, maybe illuminations that night.

12/26 sleep in and go home boo

 

[dutchdisneyfamily]

Followed your link from the FB group. We are going the 20-27 also stay in at CSR and we will be in the same parks much of the time, lol. In fact we may see you at Tusker House. Our ADR is a little before yours. It is fun planning and seeing what others are doing at the same time.

 

[1stvisit0909]

Followed your link from the FB group. We are going the 20-27 also stay in at CSR and we will be in the same parks much of the time, lol. In fact we may see you at Tusker House. Our ADR is a little before yours. It is fun planning and seeing what others are doing at the same time.

That's so cool! We will have to wave at each other !

 

[AmyKat]

Following from the facebook group.

 

[1stvisit0909]

I keep changin' those ADRs....



As of RIGHT NOW, RIGHT THIS MINUTE this is the plan.

12/21 Teppan Edo Candlelight Processional 5pm
12/22 1900 Park Fare 8am Wishes Dessert Party
12/23 Crystal Palace 2pm (not sure about this one still)
12/24 BOG 650pm
12/25 Tusker House 1030 am

 

[1stvisit0909]

Returned from a GREAT trip to Honduras with my oldest DD just this past Saturday.

And we found out that her drama troupe has been invited to Disney in the Spring of 15! Eek! might I get two trips in between now and summer 15??!



We find out the costs soon, I hope it doesnt derail our Christmas plans!!

 

[1stvisit0909]

Tonight was my 60 at 12 EST, which means 11 my time. No hitches, just some tweaking of times afterwards.

12/20 DHS in the evening to see the lights, so we booked 3 FPs. I will drop them if it doesnt look like we will get there in time to use them.
Toy Story, Tower of Terror and Star Tours.
No dining

12/21 Rope Drop at DHS
FPs: Toy Story, Star Tours and Frozen Sing a long.
5pm Candlelight Processional Dinner for 815 show.

12/22 1900 Park Fare Breakfast
EPCOT: Soarin, Turtle Talk and Seas
Evening: Wishes Dessert party

12/23 MK
Enchanted Tales with Belle for us all
Lunch at Crystal Palace
Space Mountain for DH and oldest
Under the See for me and youngest
Mine Train for us all



12/24 MK!
BBB for youngest
Rapunzel and Cindy for youngest and I
Big Thunder for oldest and DH
A&E for us all
Mine Train for us all
Supper at BOG!

12/25
Rope Drop AK
Tuskar House

FPs for EPCOT in the evening
Test Track
Mission Space
Spaceship Earth

Now to fill out the touring plans work out our timing....

 

[1stvisit0909]

Well, I've decided I dont like my 12/23 plan of Crystal Palace at 2, so now I am stalking the ADR site for a Via Napoli for dinner.

Heaven help me I can't leave these plans alone!!!

 

[1stvisit0909]

12/21 Teppan Edo Candlelight Processional 5pm
12/22 1900 Park Fare 8am Wishes Dessert Party
12/23 Spice Road Table 8pm
12/24 BOG 650pm
12/25 Tusker House 1030 am

Well, I think I've finally decided on our 12/23 dinner plans. We will be in MK that day but I decided that I didn't want CP b/c we will most likely see Pooh at Park Fare.

So, we decided to go back to EPCOT. I was stalking and finally got a Via Napoli thanks to the FB december group. But, then I heard that Spice Road Table was taking ADRs and the DDP. So I decided to book that at 8pm.


what else has been accomplished?
The pet situation is taken care of, whohoo.
Sneakers ordered for the girls so they can break them in.
ordered our transfers for our custom shirts. We will have a set of Christmas shirts, and a set of Princess shirts with dad wearing a Princess Protection Shirt.
ordered some Alice themed shirts for our 1900 Park Fare Breakfast
Ordered some fleeces from disney store during their awesome sale.
I have three days of shirts planned so far

Coming together!!!

 

[1stvisit0909]

Well....

I keep changing my mind & plans but I about have it worked out.

I've changed my EPCOT ADR on 12/23 again - now we have Via Napoli at 7. I also tweaked the plans at MK on the same day, so that we will be there from rope drop until 2, so we can rest for dinner. then we can rest up for our long day at MK on 12/24.

Today, oldest was at a birthday party and hubs took youngest to see Big Hero 6, so I was able to work on our shirts.

I got the princess ones ones done

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And our Christmas ones done

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I have to get hubs princess protection agency shirt done and we will be good to go!

 

[1stvisit0909]

Reworked the plans slightly. I think Im finished tweaking (for real this time) but youngest came down with the flu yesterday She started on tamiful so maybe we will all be fine by next Friday. If not Im looking at moving to March or late May.

12/19: hit the road, spend the night in Gainesville.
12/20 up on the road to get to CSR ASAP! CS meal somewhere, and then we have FP for DHS, after fantasmic we plan to hop over to MK and enjoy the late night atmosphere.
12/21: we have morning FP for DHS, but we may release them and sleep in. We have dinner at EPCOT and the Candlelight processional at 815.
12/22: Breakfast with Mary and Alice at 1900 PF, and then mid morning/early afternoon FP at EPCOT. back to the resort fairly early, as we have WISHES dessert party to attend!
12/23 MK day - with FPs reserved for mid morning, with FP for lunch at BOG. We plan to jet outta there fairly early, and we have Via Napoli for dinner in EPCOT. early night, b/c we have a BIG day planned for 12/24

12/24 rope drop at MK! We plan to hit it hard at rope drop. youngest has a BBB at 11, then we will grab some lunch, and maybe the parade. We have our FP sprinkled in around our plans, and we have a 410 for A&E. Then we have a 650 BOG.

12/25 we have a mid morning breakfast at AK. If we are feeling froggy we will rope drop and then leave around 1-2pm. If not, we will get there in time for breakfast. We have a Beaches and Cream ADR for 630 - we totally plan to have the kitchen sink as our last blast for our trip as we leave on 12/26.

 

[1stvisit0909]

Told the kids!
They flipped appropriately!