Now What Do We Do?

[dishm12/08]

I've started to read some of the threads on here and I see people have plans of attack for the parks. For instance, I read one thread about FP runners. We're going December 7-14 2008 and will be staying at AKL. Are we naive to think that the parks won't be sooooo busy that we need to make out strategies in advance? Like we know that we're making our ADR's in June, but do we have to make them for all three meals or just dinner?
Also weather. It seems that weather is in the 70s that time of the year. Will the water rides still be open and if so would it be too cold to go on them? We started shopping for out HM outfits. Most of my outfits contain comfy capris, but DF's contains jeans and shorts. Will we be okay with those types of clothes? Sorry for the twenty questions. I just feels like booking the HM was the easiest thing and now the hard works begins. Are there any words of wisdom that can be passed on to us newbies?
Thanks

 

[cbrfan]

It's never too early to start your planning, IMHO. December seems to be getting busier every year. If you're planning on eating all your meals at sit-down restaurants I would start researching now to find out which ones you're most interested in. Then I would book the ADR's as soon as you're able. Especially if you want something like breakfast w/Cindy. You can always cancel what you don't want later. Much easier to cancel than get a last-minute ADR. Weatherwise, we've been there in December numerous times and worn everything from shorts & tanks to winter coats, hats and gloves. The most constant seems to be that it cools off enough to need a jacket or sweatshirt at night. You'll know better when the time gets close enough to get a weather forecast. If they forecast sunny and 80's be sure to pack a coat and umbrella . And I would definately plan park strategy unless you're really fond of walking and waiting in line.

 

[sskem96]

We just returned from a trip on Dec. 8. The parks were definitely busier than we expected. The wait times for rides weren't bad, but it was harder to navigate than usual due to an increased number of ECVs. I don't know if it's a general trend that more people or using them or what, but between them and the strollers, it was very difficult to get through the parks. DH even got ran over by someone on an ECV who was letting their grandchild sit on their lap and "drive", and the child suddenly threw it in reverse!

We had to put on jackets around 10pm, but it was very nice otherwise. We even went to Blizzard Beach one day. It was in the low 80's and there was hardly anyone there! We had a great time! I wore capris most days, but shorts would have been fine too.

The touring plans in the UOG seem to work best for us. We tried a couple of the plans in the Passporter, and didn't have as much luck with reduced wait times and stuff. I tore out the touring plans in the back of the UOG and made any adjustments specific to things we did or didn't want to see, and we did fine getting everything in. DH would sometimes run and get fastpasses while I took the girls for a potty break, but for the most part we all stayed together.

As for meals, we do mostly counter service anyway, so we don't have to worry too much about ADRs. We did one dinner at 1900 Park Fare (great entertainment!), breakfast at Crystal Palace for DD11's b-day since Eeyore is her favorite, and Biergarten for the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package (food was so-so and the restaurant was way too loud). Otherwise, we ate breakfast in the room and didn't want to waste time at sit down meals when we could be touring the parks! If there's any places you have your heart set on eating at, go ahead and make your ADRs in June. You can always change later. When we decided we wanted to go to 1900 Park Fare, it was about 3-4 months away, and the only time they had available was 7:50pm, so it made for a long day.

One thing I wouldn't do again is MVMCP. I planned it for a Tuesday night thinking it wouldn't be too crowded, and it ended up being a sell-out! There were no lines for rides, but Main St. and the surrounding area were wall to wall people!

On the plane on the way home, DH reminded me that our APs don't expire for 8 more weeks, so we're going back for a couple days without the kids as our Christmas present to each other!

 

[B3LLE]

I haven't been to the Disney parks in December, but I have been during Spring Break which is definitely one of the busiest times of the year. A few tips I could give you about crowds and busier parks would be to:

1. Be sure to reserve a few dinners in advance. Guaranteed you will be searching frantically for a nice sit down place to eat if you don't make a reservation beforehand.

2. Be sure to go to the parks close to when they open to hit the big attractions first. Lines may not necessarily be an issue - especially if you have a fast pass but you can't ever be too sure.

3. Be organized. Take your time. Know where everyone is, where everything is, and know what you plan to do. If you're flustered, the crowds aren't going to help at all. Remember, you're in Disney! Have the time of your life and be sure to leisurely make your way around and have fun.

Also, take advantage of Disney around the holidays! I'm sure you can't wait to spent some holiday cheer in the happiest place on earth

 

[ZoZo]

We generally only eat one TS meal per day (if that, since we go during Food and Wine Festival time), but I think it's important to make your reservations well in advance, or you'll be disappointed. We do one TS breakfast during our trip, a couple of lunches, and usually one dinner. If you do too many TS meals, you spend much more of your time at meals. CS is great for quick meals, and there are lots of good options.

We usually go in October, so I can't advise you about the weather in December. From what I've read here, the weather can vary greatly in December. My advice is to check the 10-day forecast a few days before you leave, and let that help you decide what to bring. And plan to layer - it can be warm during the day but cool in the mornings and at night. We always do laundry mid-week, so if you bring a little bit of everything, you can always do a load of laundry if needed.

 

[Jessma9902]

We were there from December 2-8 and the weather was wonderful! Capris each day for me, some days were in the 80's, so DH had shorts and short sleeves. Sweatshirts at night when it was dark and a bit chilly. We would usually head back to the room to change for night time wear with sweatshirts and jeans.

I would definitely get your ADRs made in June- for anything that you have your heart set on. I wanted to switch things around once I got down there but couldn't because everything was booked.

Must do's... (in my opinion)
Crystal Palace dinner
Le Celier dinner
Holiday Wishes fireworks at Magic Kingdom

I wouldn't do:
MVMCP- it was VERY busy the night we went! Sold out. There were minimal lines for rides, but the crowds were worse than any other EMH nights that we went!

And, yes, the water rides are open! If you do splash mountain at night, bring a poncho... it will save you! And, the kilamanjaro water ride at AK is a soaker! No getting off that without being drenched!

Have fun! Disney is awesome for the holidays!! So pretty and fun!!

 

[CleveRocks]

I've been to WDW with my small children twice in the past 2.5 years. I'm not a planner. If I felt I had to plan in advance which rides to go to in which order and felt I needed to follow that plan, I'd have an absolutely terrible time.

My wife and I work in stressful professions and we are raising a 7 year old and 5 year old. Between our full-time jobs, and Cub Scouts/dance lessons/ after school religious school/playing with friends for the kids (with not a nanny or babysitter in sight!), our daily lives are a highly structured, plan in advance affair. The last thing we want is for vacation to be the same.

We don't plan which park to be in on which day ... the kids decide the night before, or that morning. I don't devise an order of which rides/attractions to do at which times.

What I did before our first trip was read everything I could about experiencing WDW, so I knew what to expect. While I hate having to follow a plan or schedule, I enjoy thinking on my feet and figuring out what's best to do in any given situation. Without maing a list, I figure out which things we really want to do, which things would be neat to do, which things we can skip if need be, and, most importantly, what things we can do to kill time while waiting for FASTPASSes to mature.

Take Epcot for example. When we go to Epcot, my only real plan is to NOT get in line for Spaceship Earth first thing, since I've read (and now seen) that there is almost never a line later in the day (since it seems "obvious" to the uninitiated to get in line for it when they enter the park rather than breeze right past it). My plan then becomes go to any of the 3 rides we really want to do (Test Track, Mission:Space, Soarin') to get FASTPASSes, then wait in the standby line for one of the remaining 2. If we still need to kill some time after riding in order for those FASTPASSes to mature, I've read (and experienced) that Ellen's Energy Adventure is a pleasant 45-minute, fully-air conditioned, non-FASTPASS diversion. On the other side of the park, the same can be said for the new ride in The Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion. If you time it just right if you are waiting for Soarin' FASTPASSes to mature, you can combine your wait with the Nemo ride AND lunch in the same pavilion as Soarin' at perhaps the best counter service location (an amazing food court) in all of WDW.

So this is just one example of what I mean. I have an idea of our priorities, but I don't make a battle plan. I know the terrain and how to operate there.

 

[MagicMe]

We were just there from 12/12 - 12/16.

Crowds - a lot more than I expected. If you didn't get to the parks early, you could have a 60 minute wait for the major rides (with fast pass wait going out about 2-2 1/2 hours). I was down in early December five years ago and it was not nearly has crowded as this time. Don't get me wrong, it was still a lot lighter than summer months but I agree with the above poster in that there seemed to be a lot of ECV's and strollers.

Weather - this time we never even needed a jacket. We were at the MVMCP and sat on Main Street around 10:30 for the second parade and never wore a jacket - short sleeves and capris! The weather was in the 80's and never went out of the 70's at night. Except the last day (the 16th) the weather turned and it was barely 70 during the day and it was supposed to go into the 30's/40's that night. Our trip five years ago, it was nice in the day and cooler at night (sweatshirts).

ADR's - if you plan a sit down, you'll need ADR's. People were being turned away from LeCellier, 50's Prime Time, etc. We were able to snag a spot at the Sci-Fi one night but shortly after we asked they were turning people away. I wouldn't count on a walk-up for a sit-down. The counter service was not crazy. It was crowded but only about 3-4 deep and we were always able to snag a table.

MVMCP - we still enjoyed this (it was not sold out our night) but I think we would have enjoyed it better if the weather was cooler. We bypassed most of the hot chocolate and cookie spots as it was just too warm to be drinking hot chocolate. Again, five years ago, we hit every hot chocolate spot!!

Water parks - Blizzard Beach was open but Typhoon Lagoon was closed for it's annual refurbishment. We didn't go so I can't tell you what it was like but there were people going!

Bottom line - you can't plan for the weather! It could be warm or they could be getting a cold front and you'll need jackets.