mommy/daughter christmas trip

[gymjen]

Free dining offer arrived in the mail and I have been itching for a vacation so it looks like i am going to be taking the bait and booking a trip in the next few days. I am a single mom so it will be my daughter (Gabi, age 8) and myself. We went on another mom/daughter trip for her fourth birthday and it was wonderful but she has no memory and now, due to her age, it will be completely different. Looking at either All-Star Music or Sport or Caribbean or Port Orleans French Quarter depending on cost for upgrading from QSDP to DDP. We will stay for five nights and have a five day ticket with no park hoppers. Likely doing the christmas party as well. other than that no idea but i am keeping this a surprise for her as it will be her Christmas gift.

12/19 - arrival and party
12/20
12/21
12/22
12/23
12/24 - departure

I know we are going in peak season so planning will be super important and i hope to make a decision regarding which park when so i can get reservations called in ASAP but first I need to get pricing and book but that can't happen til the travel agent responds.

So lets start the planning - my favorite part of the trip

 

[gymjen]

so since my window will open soon I am thinking about meals. We will go with the DDP so 5 snacks, 5 counter services, and 5 table service. My daughter still is a child with regards to meal plan so I am trying to do buffets for TS in order for her to be able to eat what she likes and not be stuck to the kids menu. In order to figure out meals I had to figure out what parks on what days so here I go:

12/19 - christmas party in MK - quick service dinner either caseys or harbor house

12/20 - MK - stuck here

12/21 - Epcot - dinner at Biergarten with the candellight procession combo (2TS)

12/22 - HS - dinner Sci-Fi, i think its right up my daughter's alley and she will love it (1TS)

12/23 - AK - breakfast at Tusker House prior to rope drop (1TS), did this the last time we were here and it was my favorite meal

12/24 - departure day (not sure what park we will be in)

 

[ecotime47]

You and your daughter are gonna have a blast. She will never forget this special Christmas surprise!

 

[happybelle]

Joining in. FUN!

 

[gymjen]

finalized dinner plans for our MK day - going to do dinner at Kona at the Poly.

Now any insight on the various shows - planning on the christmas party, so then that leaves illuminations and the candellight procession at Epcot, and Fantasmic at HS. We will be doing rope drop so early mornings (with possible pre opening ADRS at Tuskar house and BBB at the castle) but i think for HS we will do morning - break - back for dinner and Fantasmic late showing. Is illuminations and the candellight processsion too much? or keep illuminations and candellight and skip fantasmic? we will have a late night on arrival day and HS day???

 

[happybelle]

I always think a little less is better than too much, just my 2 cents.

 

[gymjen]

final decisions on meals staying at ASMo with free DDP - input welcome as my 180 is quickly coming up. Trip is myself and DD (8). Tried to get main characters at meals (mickey/donald/ect @tuskar and princesses @akershus in order to avoid meet and greets in park but my daughter isn't that into characters anymore

12/19 MVMCP - dinner at BOG as close to 4pm as possible, back up dinner at 1900 park fare 1TS

12/20 MK - lunch at Pecos Bill due to touring plans, dinner at Ohana at 5pm 1QS, 1TS

12/21 Epcot - dinner at Akershus at 4:30pm 1TS

12/22 HS - lunch at Bill and Min @12 (part of fantasmic package) and eaten back at resort, dinner at Sci Fi @ 8pm 1TS 1QS

12/23 AK - breakfast at Tuskar House @ 8am, lunch at Yak and Yeti CS 1TS, 1QS

12/24 - departure day - downtown disney maybe lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express 1QS

total credits - 5TS, 4QS (remaining QS and Snack credits to be used around the park or at resort)

assuming order for ADRs will be BOG, Tuskar House, Ohana, Akershus, Sci Fi??? I have never done ADRs before - last time TA did them.

 

[gymjen]

so ADRs are done and I am actually happy about them. most were done by my TA but then i made some changes the past few days - but now i think i am set.

12/19 - arrival day, the Wave for lunch 2:30, the MVMCP
12/20 - MK day and dinner at 7:30 at 'Ohanna
12/21 - Epcot day and Arhaus for dinner at 5:25
12/22 - DHS dinner at Sci Fi at 8:00
12/23 - AK breakfast at Tusker House 10:15
12/24 - departure day, AK breakfast at 8:00 am

also have Pirates Leauge on 12/20 at noon

itinerary

12/19 - arrive at MCo @10, bus to MK to arrive at 2, head to contemporary, lunch, then into MK for MVMCP around 5

12/20 - MK rope drop till PL at noon, rest at hotel, MK at 5 till7pm. 'Ohanna

12/21 - Epcot rope drop, possible break around 1, back for Arhaus, Illuminations

12/22 - DHS rope drop, hoping for Bill and Min picnic lunch and Fantasmic! package, break from 12-4:30, head back to DHS for 6:30 Fantasmic!, lights, and Sci Fi

12/23 - AK rope drop, breakfast, tour till done OR Seaworld day

12/24 - DTD for lunch, head to MCO around 4pm; or AK EMH, breakfast, tour til ready to be done (if we do Seaworld)

so there you have it... now i am researching each park and taking time to develop touring plans. SO NERVOUS FOR CROWDS AND HORRIBLE LINES!!!!

it is still a surprise trip but its getting hard since i keep looking at WDW forums and I am dying to ask her what she wants to do...

 

[gymjen]

ugh! can't get pics to show up can anyone help

 

[gymjen]

Disney in feb 2009

 

[gymjen]

from Alaska cruise and Denali trip last june



and more current

 

[happybelle]

Love your pictures.

 

[happybelle]

Checking in.