My planning has been foiled! What should I DO?? (sorry - long!)

[jmet]

I have been verrrry carefully planning our upcoming trip to the world for our group of 7 (myself, DH, DS12, DS6, plus my parents and my Adult mentally handicapped brother) and just found out last night my best laid plans might not be so great anymore. We are going 11/26 - 12/4 and have planned our MK day for 12/3 - this will be our only day at Magic Kingdom (except for our MVMCP day) well, I JUST found out that that day is slated for the taping of the Christmas parade!! I knew it is usually taped that first weekend in Dec., but I thought it wouldn't start till 12/4! Now I don't know what to do. I had everything planned around avoiding EE (since we are staying off site) and trying to make sure we had enough "down" time to keep everyone rested. How do you think the crowds will be at MK that day? Confined to main st. for the parade taping, or will it really make the park more busy in general? I am nervous about encountering large crowds since my parents & brother in particular, don't do well in those situations and may be overwhelmed. If I DO change the itinerary what do you suggest? I have my days planned like this:

Friday (11/26) Arrive early evening - dinner PS at O'Hana's

Sat. (11/27) - this day is "free" to grocery shop and hang out at the resort - 6:30 dinner show at Dixie Stampede (need to be there at 5:15)

Sun. (11/28) AK at open, 10:20 PS at Donald's, stay for parade and then hop to MGM for a 5:40 PS at 50's PT - see the osbourne lights after the crowds head into Fantasmic

Mon. (11/29) Epcot at open, 11:10 PS at PSB, tour until time for our CP package - PS for dinner at GG 5:30 pm, CP at 8:15 See illuminations after.

Tues. (11/30) Sleep in, 10:40 b-fast at 1900 PF, tour resorts to see decorations (this in conjuction with an event I have set up w/GOAL) 4:00 pm - go to MK for MVMCP.

Wed. (12/1) Sleep in again since it will be a very late night Tues., This day is free - we might do TL (if it's WARM!), DQ or Gatorland - depends on how we feel. We have a Wishes cruise set for this night and a PS for WC after.

Thursday (12/2) MGM at open, 4:00 PS for H&V (Fantasmic Dinner pkg)

Friday (12/3) MK - PS for Crystal Palace at 8:25 am and then planning to try out TE (park closes early for MVMCP).

Sat (12/4) This day is free - maybe DTD or go to Epcot for awhile?
Our flight leaves at 5:30ish...

Soooo....What would you DO? I COULD switch MGM and MK days around, but I think that's an EE day at MK and I was trying to avoid that ~ maybe it's better than the parade taping day though? HELP! I would love to hear any input you have for me...

Thanks! Jamie

 

[behappy]

Based on our experience of being at WDW two of the past three years, for the week you are going, I don't think you'll find the crowds very large, even if they are taping that day....(always been Saturday for the 'big' event at MK in the past...maybe they are just doing locations shots on Friday?). So many things can happen that change your plans....don't sweat it, do what seems right when you are there.

 

[kyirish25]

Also been the last 2 years during the filming. I found only Main Street and the filming areas to be super crowded. Once you made it down past the castle it was like any other day in the park during that time of year. Be sure to use the shops along Main St in order to make it past the crowds and able to get to your PS at Crystal Palace.

 

[jmet]

Thanks for the replies! Do you think the park will already be crowded when we enter (which is before the park opens for our 8:25 PS??) I was hoping that maybe if we at least get in the gatew/out the huge crowds it would a little less overwhelming, but if the crowds are pretty much limited to main street I think we could deal. In any event we are better off just knowing ahead of time what to expect. Thanks again for taking the time to post I really appreciate it! - anyone else?
Jamie

 

[TammyC]

We were there on the Friday before taping last year. They were taping some things and when we walked down main street noticed some areas roped off and were told we could be on TV if we wanted to stand there a while (we didn't). We arrived at the park around 9:00 and it was not overly crowded. My opinion is that it was busier than I expected for the supposedly slow time in December, but not a problem for doing all the things we wanted to do. If you are thinking of summer time or holiday crowds, I don't think you will see anything like that.

One other thing I recall is that we chose to see Spectro on the following Monday instead of the Saturday of pararde taping. It was PACKED, and some of the CM's said Saturday's Spectro was suprisingly less crowded.

Have a great trip!

 

[LisaR]

I just received an email confirming the dates of the taping. It is Dec. 4th and 5th (Saturday and Sunday).

Lisa

 

[Maddle]

Jamie - How did you find out about this taping in the first place? and Lisa - Who did you get the email from? Was it personal, or from a public source? (So I will know where to be on the lookout for next year) Thanks.

Maddle

 

[SB in KY]

If 10 years of planning disney trips for assorted family groups have taught me anything...it is to remember that in the end it is a vacation (and the only real goals are fun, fellowship and relaxation).....I plan obsessively and used to come unhinged if things did not go as planned....now I know that there is no way to predict crowds or weather or even family moods.

Make your plan, but don't worry if things seem out of whack....sometimes those unexpected moments make the happiest memories. I almost cried last year on my DD's birthday trip when on the AM of her BD it was gray and rained all day...but we went to the MK anyways, bought our "festive BD ponchos" and walked onto every attraction there....they still remember it as "the best day EVER at the MK"

Conversely this summer one day was hot enough to melt your sneakers and every human on the eastern seaboard was at MGM and it totally ruined my plans for the day.The girls and their friends went back to the room at noon...they ended up spending the entire afternoon in community hall (at OKW) playing foos ball and being entertained by some cute male cast member and all 6 of them insisted it was one of their 3 favorite things of the entire trip!!

Go to the Mk and join the parade festivities if it seems right, or do rides while everyone else is watching the parade....the crowds may be huge (but is that not the norm in the MK now??), but it could be cold and gray and no one shows up parade or no....there is just no way to plan for all possible outcomes....so just HAVE FUN!!