Not sure what to do for Xmas day now??

[DreaminDisney]

And here are some photos of Soarin' in Epcot on the last NYE. I think we entered The Land around 11:45 AM and reached Soarin' about 20 minutes later. The Fast Pass return time was MIDNIGHT!

GREAT Pics! The fast pass return was midnight???!!? WOW!

 

[robinb]

GREAT Pics! The fast pass return was midnight???!!? WOW!

Yup. Fast Pass return was at MIDNIGHT for FP's picked up at NOON. The stand-by line was OVER TWO HOURS LONG! There were plenty of angry people there who had just waltzed into the park and were trying to get their first FP for the day.

By the time we took that picture we had already ridden Soarin', Mission Space, Figment and the Nemo Ride (with a tour of the Living Seas) and we had a current FP for Test Track. We left The Land and headed out to the World Showcase and rode Rio de Tiempo (? Mexico) and then Malstrom with no wait. We used the TT Fast Pass later ... which is another hint for busy times. You can usually use an "expired" FP on the same day, even after after the time on the FP. So a good touring strategy is to keep up on your FP's and get the next FP as soon as your FP window opens up. Be aware that they are a little stricter on Soarin', though.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Frequently on major holidays (eg. July 4th and Christmas) MK gets closed.
2) When I say closed, I mean Phase-4 (aka. Stage-4).
3) This means no more people admitted
. . . even if they are staying on-site
. . . even if they were in the park early that day
. . . even if they have an ADR (even pre-paid ADR)
4) You can always go to MGM or Epcot instead.

NOTE: If you plan to visit MK on such a holiday, once you are in, I recommend staying inside. Going out can cause you to not be readmitted.

 

[digman6]

Oh my gosh that was not what I exspected to see at all!

Thanks for the tips! I think enough said we better not eat breakfast that morning at a resturant . it needs to be a meal on the go if we want to ride rides!

I thought I could pull it off but it is clear that is not possible, if they want to ride anything.

I will have to look up the Unoffical Guide and get a touring plan. Is that what you did as well, or did you just know from years or experience what to plan for?

We are eatting lunch at LTT at 1:15 and dinner is right now at 5:30, kinda close together but maybe something a bit alter will open. On the other hand if you have ADRs and if you don't get seated for about 20 minutes after that I am looking at close to 6pm anyhow.

I would like to breakfast at Ohana's but I think I will pick another day to do that if I can. I moved the time to a 7:30 ADR but its clear that going then is not even good enough either.

I can not thank you enough for the advice , I think knowing what I know now I just saved our last day from being a DISASTER!

 

[Doctor P]

During the holidays, trying to follow any touring plan is probably not a good idea. What we try to do is decide the two or three "must do" things and concentrate on making sure that we get a chance to do those. After that, we try to take advantage of opportunities to fill in the day. The last time we were at MK on Xmas day, we went to EMH and rode rides until 9:00 am in several sections of the park. After 9:00 am, we just filled in the rest of the day with shows, parades, people watching, and eating. We had a great time. If you are going there to "do" the park, I really would avoid Xmas day at MK especially. We now plan an off day on Xmas and resort hop to look at all the decorations. Much more relaxing, very enjoyable, and we don't miss the extreme crowds of Xmas day.

 

[digman6]

Well the goal is to get "1 more ride in" before we leave the next day . So I figure (not knowing if this is realistic or not )based on location and how long the wait is, if they are each able to pick 1 last ride to go on if they did not get on anymore that day ( thats 4 rides total).

I personally don't exspect to tour like a regular day,I just want them to get atleast 1 last ride in before its a 2-3 hour wait! then I thought do the what maybe simplier things, parades, shops, shows that stuff.

If the tour plan will make it more orgainzed for me all the better

I showed my 10 y/o the pictures and well the look was , I told him we need to get there early you guys ride what you want and then after that plan for shows, parades and taking it easy and enjoy whats around us ( decorations that is! )

 

[hlsemkiw]

We were there 5 years ago. The parks did close several times during the day. They would close, and then when maybe 5 people left, 5 people were allowed in. It was so crowded it was uncomfortable. We had small children we were holding onto for dear life. We could hardly walk. We decided it was not worth it and left to spend the rest of the day at the resort.

 

[Charleyann]

That if we leave the park to go to ADR"S then we our hand will be stamped at the exit. We will not be counted as leaving the park. Upon return, we show our stamped hand. We are already counted in the number, so therefore will be allowed back into the park....

I have reservation for Chef Mickey Christmas day around noon. I was worried for this reason. I explained I read it on the boards (leaving the park on holidays leave you at risk of not getting back in) and her statement was "The boards are not official Disney sites and people get it wrong?


Charleyann

 

[Alltiggeredout]

Our plan is to get to MK for opening and do rides until about 9or 10 then make our way back to our resort for a swim/cocktail,then lunch in our room before a game of mini-golf in the afternoon and then Kona Cafe for a 7pm adr.That way we get to experience MK on xmas day and still have a relaxing and enjoyable time.

 

[Doctor P]

That if we leave the park to go to ADR"S then we our hand will be stamped at the exit. We will not be counted as leaving the park. Upon return, we show our stamped hand. We are already counted in the number, so therefore will be allowed back into the park....

I have reservation for Chef Mickey Christmas day around noon. I was worried for this reason. I explained I read it on the boards (leaving the park on holidays leave you at risk of not getting back in) and her statement was "The boards are not official Disney sites and people get it wrong?


Charleyann

And some Cast Members get it wrong, too. I have personally seen with my own eyes people with hand stamps being denied re-entry when the parks have been closed. You don't just "show your hand stamp" to re-enter any park after leaving. You must show your hand stamp AND a valid ticket (the hand stamp allows you to get in with a ticket that has been previously used for that day for that park). Unless they have changed their policy, which I doubt, you WILL NOT NECESSARILY be readmitted. Indeed, I was also told this by Guest Services at MK, by the Hotel Concierge, and by Guest Services at DD as I was going to need to leave the park during the middle of the day to go to the Contemporary Resort business center. I was told in no uncertain terms that even with a hand stamp they could not guarantee me reentry to the park when I returned in 30 minutes to an hour. We decided not to take the chance and I stayed in the park.

 

[digman6]

I don't know if I would personally take the chance in leaving incase you don't get back in. I think it would be a BIG RISK to leave and hope to get in.

If you happen to leave and don't get back into the park your out of luck to be in the park AND for your ADR. then you will have to try and find someplace else to eat last minute on Xmas Day. I personally have never been there then but I am going to guess that finding a place to sit down to eat will be impossible or at the least very difficult.

Thats why we are staying there and not leaving until we plan to not go back in for the day.

I have decided when it comes to something like this when a CM tells you something like that to take it with a grain of salt. I asked when I called to make my ADR and she said,"It makes no differnece if you have ADRs in the park or not, if they are full they are full." "They can not let you in to the park for safety, if it reaches capacity".
She told me that if I plan to eat in the park on certain days ( Like Xmas) I should sstay there or risk losing my ADR meal where its set to be at if I leave the park."

Good luck in your planning!

 

[robinb]

I showed my 10 y/o the pictures and well the look was , I told him we need to get there early you guys ride what you want and then after that plan for shows, parades and taking it easy and enjoy whats around us ( decorations that is! )

I'm sorry I scared you! Those pictures say it all, don't they?

I still think your lunch and dinner ADRs are too close and you won't be hungry for the second one. You should be fine grabbing a Counter Service lunch as long as you do it before 11:30.

FWIW, I'm not so sure that I would believe the CM who said things about "hand stamps" getting you back in. Disney NO LONGER stamps hands at all. Even on very busy days like NYE. All the information they need is on your ticket. So, although I still think it would be OK to take a break in the day and return around 5-6pm, I am not sure if I would take Charleyann's CM's advise as "gospel" since he is wrong about the hand stamps ... at least there were no hand stamps at Epcot on NYE 06/07 or at the MK on other days.

 

[digman6]

Well atleast i will be totally prepared for the worst it could be now!

We are planning to grab something at the bakery on Main Street now. then its head all over the land ride what we can and get ready to see some shows. I know the dinner one is rather early.

I am figuring just maybe that there will be a opening later on at CP . I figure at least at this point i have them and as we get closer and if we change our minds we can cancel. its easier to cancel then to add on.

Those pics are a reality check thats for sure.

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE WARNING!

 

[Copper3]

I'm sorry I scared you! Those pictures say it all, don't they?

I still think your lunch and dinner ADRs are too close and you won't be hungry for the second one. You should be fine grabbing a Counter Service lunch as long as you do it before 11:30.

FWIW, I'm not so sure that I would believe the CM who said things about "hand stamps" getting you back in. Disney NO LONGER stamps hands at all. Even on very busy days like NYE. All the information they need is on your ticket. So, although I still think it would be OK to take a break in the day and return around 5-6pm, I am not sure if I would take Charleyann's CM's advise as "gospel" since he is wrong about the hand stamps ... at least there were no hand stamps at Epcot on NYE 06/07 or at the MK on other days.

There were no handtstamps given at MGM on NYE 06/07. The park was busy during the day but not overwhelming and did not start to feel crowded until after 7PM, that's when it filled up. EMH evening was at MGM on NYE and was a ghost town.

 

[robinb]

There were no handtstamps given at MGM on NYE 06/07. The park was busy during the day but not overwhelming and did not start to feel crowded until after 7PM, that's when it filled up. EMH evening was at MGM on NYE and was a ghost town.

Just as an aside, how were the fireworks? We're thinking of seeing the fireworks there on 12/30 instead of going over to the MK.