My Christmas Trip is so disjointed - Help!

[tporter4]

I figure you won't judge me here of all places for being food focused

Very late planning and I have backed myself into some weird planning obstacles for a trip from 12/18 - 12/25 staying at GF, park hopper passes for every day, and deluxe dining. (Kids are 18, 10, 9) I'd love someone to just plan out and give me an itinerary b/c I have us all over the place. Are there people that do this? My obstacles are:

1. 12/18 - we don't arrive until 4:00 - Do we bother with a park? I can't get any "good" dinner reservations. Family does love Via Napoli and I have a 7:50 there.

2. 12/19 MVMCP - Kinda wish I hadn't signed up for this now. What time do you eat and where to make the most of the day? I was thinking another park until party time but then I wonder if MK wouldn't be less crowded on this day? I'd like to try Skipper Canteen, we haven't been. No reservations for this day yet.

3. 12/20 - Garden Grill B'fast for Candlelight with NPH but really wanted to do Animal Kingdom this day.

4. 12/21 - Festival of Fantasy reservation - I'm reading this isn't worth doing? Could also do Epcot and NPH this day - I'm holding a lunch at Garden Grill as well.

5. 12/22 - 8:05 Tusker House AND 12:45 Minnie's Seasonal Dine - ugh... which to choose?

6. 12/23 - Literally the only 'Ohana I could get and it's breakfast. Is it worth it to have breakfast there? At 9:15 therefore kind of eating up a weird chunk of day.

7. 12/24 - So many weird reservations I think I should cancel them all and start fresh. 8:10 - Hollywood & Vine, 10:20 Brunch at 1900, 1:15 Narcoossee's Brunch, 5:40 1900 Park Fare Cinderella, and a friend has 6:00 Beaches and Cream she said she could give me and I've wanted to eat there for so long (but - is it a good place for Christmas Eve, really?)

8. 12/25 - We leave at 5:00 PM - I don't know what would be special or good to do for Christmas. I may just try for brunch at GF early and go to MK?

 

[sharonabe]

Are you using DME from/to the airport? That plays a role in what I would do on arrival/departure days.

I will tell you that if you're wanting a FP+ for Flight of Passage, that will make some of your decisions for you. We just made our FP+ choices and had AK planned for our 4th day as so many had suggested, but we couldn't get one for anytime that day. We did get them for our 5th day, but that was not an AK day, so now we're having to rearrange some dining. Just want to give you a heads up if that is important to you.

You have Deluxe dining? You need a lot more reservations, but let's start with what you have.

VN on arrival day. This one depends on how much of a gambler you are. Assuming 4:00 is your arrival at MCO, you should have enough time to make the 7:50, but if there are ANY delays throughout the day, you risk missing it and being charged the $10 pp no-show fee. It's winter and Christmas travel, so all kinds of variables there. I might change this to one of the signatures there at GF just to make for a less stressful day and a great start to the vacation. You might even catch HEA outside the window.

MK will be less crowded during the day. Try to make your Skipper ADR for lunch through about 4:00. I would not be eating a TS anywhere much after 5:00 on a party day. I don't remember what the cancellation policy is, but if you CAN cancel, I probably would. Those last parties will sell out, and you'll be able to see the parade at MK in the afternoon once parties are done if you want to. I would try to find a breakfast reservation for this day too. Is CRT on anyone's list? This might be a good day for that.

As I said above, AK this early in your week would almost guarantee no FP+ for the best ride in all the parks. I'd leave GG and probably add VN for this day and/or look for a Beaches & Cream to open up on this day.

12/21 Yeah, FOF package doesn't appeal to me either. Try for that Minnie's Seasonal Dine for this day or a F! pkg at one of the other restaurants.

12/22 I'd keep that Tusker and use this day for AK. Maybe get a ROL pkg (if ROL is showing this day and IF they ever open up those packages). Is the new signature at AK an option?

12/23 Ohana breakfast is fun. That is a weird time of day, but by this time, you may be needing a bit of a sleep-in day. All the parks are going to be crowded by now. Flip a coin for where you want to head after breakfast, make a dinner ADR somewhere close and enjoy what you can.

12/24 My choice here would be to start the day at MK (it will probably be a 7 am EMH day, so be ready) and use some snack credits at Starbucks for breakfast. Keep the Narcossee brunch and make that my Christmas Eve special. Head to EP after brunch and maybe take that 6 pm B&C. I just don't know if you'll be hungry at 6:00. It would be sad to finally be there and have no appetite. I'd keep trying for one somewhere else in the trip and make a later ADR somewhere in EP. Spice Road Table would give you an Illuminations view.

12/25 Is 5:00 your plane take off time or your DME pick up time? If that's when the plane leaves, then you'll need to be AT GF no later than 1:45 for your 2:00 pick up. MK will be open at 7 am again, so that would give you some time there with a late morning ADR somewhere on the monorail loop. If 5:00 is your pick up time, then you have more options.

You need to fit in as many signature, 2TS meals as you can. That uses your plan well, but also reduces the time you're eating. If you do 3 TS meals a day, you'll be spending all your time eating instead of playing in the parks.

 

[NicoleLarson]

So first off start booking some signatures. We've eaten at all of them except Citricos and they are very good plus you have a ton of credits to use. Skip B&C espically on Christmas Eve and the DxDP it's a horrible use a credit and not a place I want to be in Xmas eve. Definitely keep Narcoosse brunch! Also I see you are a family of 5, try searching for parties of 6 instead. I find all of the time stuff won't come up for 5 but they will for 6.


1) Via napoli is great and you should be out in time for illuminations.

2) I would do MK on day 2 and take an afternoon break since you are so close. Maybe do breakfast then an early dinner around 4. Snack at the party.

3) Go to AK if that's what you want and then make day 4 your EP day and do lunch
4) as above

5) Tusker is really good, I would keep that then do a signature this night

6) We used to love Ohana breakfast but our last visit was not good so it's off our list at this time. I wouldn't waste valuable park time.

7) keep Narcoosse brunch, try to get an earlier time. Do a signature for dinner. I did a quick search for 6 and see some really good stuff. HBD at HS, Hoop de doo, Jiko and artist point.

8) The Wave usually does a wonderful Christmas brunch and there's a ton of reservations available. There's also an 11am Le Cellier or a 230 HBD.

I hope that helps!

 

[tporter4]

Okay you guys are AH-MAZING.

Let me focus on your recommendations and regroup and come back. Thank you so much.

Quick answers, though -

Yes, we have Magical Express on arrival/depart. Flight leaves at 5:10 on 12/25.

 

[tporter4]

PS - What is the penalty for reserving for 6 and showing with only 5?

 

[ShellieMimi]

PS - What is the penalty for reserving for 6 and showing with only 5?

None.

 

[sharonabe]

Okay you guys are AH-MAZING.

Let me focus on your recommendations and regroup and come back. Thank you so much.

Quick answers, though -

Yes, we have Magical Express on arrival/depart. Flight leaves at 5:10 on 12/25.

That would decide Dec 25 for me with an early MK for a few more rides, and then a good meal around 11:00 at one of the monorail restaurants. You'll want to be leaving the crush of crowds at MK by that time anyway.

 

[DisMommyTX]

If there is something you really want but can't get a big party for, try splitting into 3+2 or 4+2. Worst case you get to eat a meal or two at a different table than your kids We have never had a problem showing up with one person less than our reservation. Those who have btdt report that long as one person shows up, you don't get charged no matter how many are on your res.

Planning for that week was crazy for me too. With so many Christmas parties and early park closures, there is a lot of hopping involved! Yes, MK is less crowded on the morning/afternoon of party days. The few days that DON'T have a party will be insanely crowded, but you must brave it at least once to see HEA in it's full glory!

We like the character interaction (and the food) at Ohana breakfast. We much prefer H&V (especially in Christmas attire) to TH. I was not particularly fond of Tiffin's either, but some love it. I would definitely look for signature meals, but we don't make extra trips to different resorts just for a meal. I try to nail down the parks each day first, then see what I can get for nearby dining. Since you're staying at GF, late meals at Citrico's and Narcoossee's are great options. Maybe HBD or one of the nearby resorts for your Studios day. Meals at monorail resorts going to or from MK, etc.

This was my planning order.
1) List of favorite restaurants/meals we must do
2) Choose park days based on crowds and schedules (def put AK 4+ days into the schedule if you want FP for FoP)
3) Try to book 2 meals per day which fit with our park plans. Start with our fav's, then just see what's available and sounds interesting to fill in the rest. If any of our 'must-do' meals are only available on other days, then we maybe swap parks or plan a hop.