November 2012 Code Watch!!

[joy13]

Just a head's up that Josh's November Crowd Calendar is up. Heading down the 10-17th, for those who've been do MVMCP, do you expect a big diff. in crowd levels from the Thur. party that week vs. the Fri. party? Fri. would work so much better for our schedule as we leave the next day so easy to make it a "sleep in/resort" morning after the party. But of course don't want to be creamed by crowds after paying the $$ to attend. Would you completely avoid Fri. or should it not be much different than Thur. since they're only a day apart?

Last year we went to the Friday night party on Nov. 18th (there was no Thursday night party) and it wasn't overly crowded, IMO.

 

[joy13]

If I already have theme park tickets is the dining plan still worth it? I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and my husband and myself, I was thinking of doing the deluxe since we love doing character meals for breakfast and another sit down at dinner, but the deluxe is a lot of food

You have to book a package that included at least one days park ticket per person on the dining plan, so I'm not sure it's an option, depending who you purchased your tickets through.

 

[madaboutMickey]

Prior to the November 2012 calendar coming out, I was referring to last years calendar to do some pre-planning for the week of Thanksgiving. Now that the November 2012 calendar has been released, I notice the main difference between the November 2011 and 2012 calendar is that November 2012 only has one Fantasmic performance each night at 6:30, but in 2011 there were two performances: 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Also, there is only one performance of the Main Street Electrical Light Parade at 9:00 p.m., but in 2011 there was also a performance at 11:00 p.m. Does anyone know if it is typical of Disney to wait until closer to November to add Fantasmic and Electrical Light Parade performances or if it is to be assumed there will only be one performance per night of these specific attractions?

I'm not surprised at all that they have gone lean on the night entertainment. It's really common for them to add more when it gets closer to the date.

As it gets closer to November, they will probably add more parades and F! performances and extend hours too. At least that's what I've noticed the last couple of years. If you noticed my other post, the MK was open till midnight quite a few nights that week. Those hours were added I think sometime in Oct lasst year.

 

[AquaDame]

I was tempted to do the F! package meal until I noticed there doesn't seem to be any DINNERS available... I looked out into October and only saw 1:45 seatings for MM and BD. Is that typical? HV did have dinner but only at 4pm ish - too early for us. I'm thinking it might just be easier to wait and see if they offer a second seating even though it means missing out on booking the package. How long do you typically have to wait for that one?

 

[FunkyDuck]

Looking at my dates (Thanksgiving 15th-23rd) and the Josh & Touring Plans ratings on crowds...I'm screwed either way!!! So for a week like Thanksgiving...I'm assuming that it does NOT matter when you are in MK...it's going to be wall to wall during our stay no matter what. Sigh...I'm getting less and less excited about this trip.

Actually thinking of cancelling...now that I read these.

 

[AquaDame]

I wouldn't cancel, but I would be there at rope drop if possible then take a break and come back later.. There is a TON of things to do for the holidays that does not include having to be in a line for a ride (they have nothing to do with holidays anyway!)

 

[pirategirl34]

Looking at my dates (Thanksgiving 15th-23rd) and the Josh & Touring Plans ratings on crowds...I'm screwed either way!!! So for a week like Thanksgiving...I'm assuming that it does NOT matter when you are in MK...it's going to be wall to wall during our stay no matter what. Sigh...I'm getting less and less excited about this trip.

Actually thinking of cancelling...now that I read these.

it is honestly not that bad. We have gone around Thanksgiving 3 Times and the ony truly bad day we ever had was HS on thanksgiving day one year. I won't do that agian. We are planning AK on thanksgiving day. it is the best place we have found to be. we will stay from ope drop through about 2 and te rest, have a resort dinner and catch fireworks at either MK or Epcot. We are arriving the 15th as well, and have gotten there the Thursday before in the past. the crowds in the past have not been bad until late Sunday and not been really oppressive until Thanksgiving day.

 

[tchr414]

hi everyone! its been awhile since I've posted- life has been so crazy around here...
i have a quick question, if we are staying 5 nights/6 days and free dining does come out- do you get 5 or 6 days of dining?

and we are still torn on where to stay... we would love to stay at WL, but can only do so if free dining comes out-.. we had tossed around CBR- but the pirate rooms are so far from everything so decided against it... i'm very nervous to book WL now and then if free dining doesn't come out- having to switch resorts and not having a very good selection of rooms available at that time... ok i'm rambling now...

 

[pirategirl34]

I was tempted to do the F! package meal until I noticed there doesn't seem to be any DINNERS available... I looked out into October and only saw 1:45 seatings for MM and BD. Is that typical? HV did have dinner but only at 4pm ish - too early for us. I'm thinking it might just be easier to wait and see if they offer a second seating even though it means missing out on booking the package. How long do you typically have to wait for that one?

we are not doing the package this year for just this reason. the last dinner is typically 4ish for a 630 show. I don't know how the schedule is going to work ow that they are offering it every day again. the last time we were there in 2010 there were not shows every night and lines were long. the dining plan seats are really not that great anyway. they are pretty far off to the right.

 

[pirategirl34]

hi everyone! its been awhile since I've posted- life has been so crazy around here...
i have a quick question, if we are staying 5 nights/6 days and free dining does come out- do you get 5 or 6 days of dining?

and we are still torn on where to stay... we would love to stay at WL, but can only do so if free dining comes out-.. we had tossed around CBR- but the pirate rooms are so far from everything so decided against it... i'm very nervous to book WL now and then if free dining doesn't come out- having to switch resorts and not having a very good selection of rooms available at that time... ok i'm rambling now...

you get as many dining days as resort nights so you would get 5 days of dining. I would book my worst case scenario plan and hope o be able to switch late if you truly cannot do WL without FD. I went ahead and booked AoA for that reason. if no discounts come out I have a guaranteed reservation or the value I WANT to stay at and would not have to settle for something else if it is old out.

 

[AquaDame]

we are not doing the package this year for just this reason. the last dinner is typically 4ish for a 630 show. I don't know how the schedule is going to work ow that they are offering it every day again. the last time we were there in 2010 there were not shows every night and lines were long. the dining plan seats are really not that great anyway. they are pretty far off to the right.

Good to know, thanks! If its to be we'll just stand in the line.

 

[Katty4WDW]

Just started planning.
Very new to planning a disney trip(without my mother and stepdad) and being the one that has to pay for everything.

I want to stay at the AofA from november 1st-4th. But with the budget the way it is right now, I think we will only be able to due 1st-3rd. With that said if free dining comes out we will be able to fit the 4 day into our budget.

So is it possible for me to book now from 1st-3rd, and then later if free dinning comes out add a night and get the FDP??

The package I want to book includes: TLM room(2 nights), 2(we already have a set) park tickets, and the standard dining plan.

Also, If I book and pay my deposit will it decrease my chances of getting a PIN code??

 

[smitch425]

Just started planning.
Very new to planning a disney trip(without my mother and stepdad) and being the one that has to pay for everything.

I want to stay at the AofA from november 1st-4th. But with the budget the way it is right now, I think we will only be able to due 1st-3rd. With that said if free dining comes out we will be able to fit the 4 day into our budget.

So is it possible for me to book now from 1st-3rd, and then later if free dinning comes out add a night and get the FDP??

The package I want to book includes: TLM room(2 nights), 2(we already have a set) park tickets, and the standard dining plan.

Also, If I book and pay my deposit will it decrease my chances of getting a PIN code??

I am a bit confused with your ticket situation. Do you have a total of 3 people? The reason I ask is that you cannot use a dining plan (free or paid) unless each person on the reservation has the exact same ticket option purchased on the package. Any ticket you already own will not work for what you are asking to do.

That said, you can definietly book a package with equal tickets for each person in the room, and if free dining comes out you can call to see if it can be applied to your reservation (and extend it by a day). It will depend on availability at your resort as they only allow a set number of rooms for each promotion. Being booked or not doesn't increase or decrease your odds of getting a PIN.

 

[mydisneyobsession]

I was tempted to do the F! package meal until I noticed there doesn't seem to be any DINNERS available... I looked out into October and only saw 1:45 seatings for MM and BD. Is that typical? HV did have dinner but only at 4pm ish - too early for us. I'm thinking it might just be easier to wait and see if they offer a second seating even though it means missing out on booking the package. How long do you typically have to wait for that one?

I've never actually done the Fantasmic package, but from what I understand they don't offer it for the second show. If you want to book the package, you have to eat early so you'll be ready for the first show. But I've also heard you don't really need the package for the second show because it's less crowded and easier to see.

Maybe someone with more experience can confirm that this is correct?

***Whoops! Sorry! I see someone beat me to it!***

 

[natter]

hi everyone! its been awhile since I've posted- life has been so crazy around here...
i have a quick question, if we are staying 5 nights/6 days and free dining does come out- do you get 5 or 6 days of dining?

You would get credits for 5 nights.
Ex: Mon-Fri (5Nights) Reg DP 5TS credits/5CS credits/5snacks per person
Credits start when you check in on Mon. and expire at midnight on check out day (Sat).

I was also confused by this at first because it seems like your actually getting an extra day.

 

[uscgmouse]

I am new to all reservations Disney..... what is a PIN and how do I get one? Do I call and see if they have anything to offer? How does it work?

 

[mommyof3princess27]

Just started planning.
Very new to planning a disney trip(without my mother and stepdad) and being the one that has to pay for everything.

I want to stay at the AofA from november 1st-4th. But with the budget the way it is right now, I think we will only be able to due 1st-3rd. With that said if free dining comes out we will be able to fit the 4 day into our budget.

So is it possible for me to book now from 1st-3rd, and then later if free dinning comes out add a night and get the FDP??

The package I want to book includes: TLM room(2 nights), 2(we already have a set) park tickets, and the standard dining plan.

Also, If I book and pay my deposit will it decrease my chances of getting a PIN code??

Ok tomake things simple, this is what I would do, I would book your MAX length of stay. Once FD comes out, it may be harder to gt another day w/o changing rooms. You do need to have a minimum of park tix on your ressie though. I think its 1 day but I have read 3 days. If we get FD, you already have the room booked, if we dont, simply call and take off the extra day and before I forget

I've never actually done the Fantasmic package, but from what I understand they don't offer it for the second show. If you want to book the package, you have to eat early so you'll be ready for the first show. But I've also heard you don't really need the package for the second show because it's less crowded and easier to see.

Maybe someone with more experience can confirm that this is correct?

***Whoops! Sorry! I see someone beat me to it!***

HA! I havent done the F! package either but I was contemplating a later lunch like 3 or 4 and then after the show having dinner maybe?!?! IDK

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I am new to all reservations Disney..... what is a PIN and how do I get one? Do I call and see if they have anything to offer? How does it work?

You can call and check to see if you have one. There is no rhyme or reason that some ppl get one. As long as you have a Disney account, and they have your email and home address, you could get one. NOW if a room only code or Free Dining code comes out, then that is a General Public code which everyone can use

 

[smitch425]

Ok tomake things simple, this is what I would do, I would book your MAX length of stay. Once FD comes out, it may be harder to gt another day w/o changing rooms. You do need to have a minimum of park tix on your ressie though. I think its 1 day but I have read 3 days. If we get FD, you already have the room booked, if we dont, simply call and take off the extra day and before I forget

Free dining packages require a minimum of 3 nights for your stay and a minimum of a 2-day ticket for each guest on the reservation ages 3 and up.

And I agree, book the longest stay and then take days off if you need to. That would be the easiest.

 

[AquaDame]

HA! I havent done the F! package either but I was contemplating a later lunch like 3 or 4 and then after the show having dinner maybe?!?! IDK

I thought about that too, but the price is MUCH easier to swallow for dinner than lunch...!