**Official December 2010 Thread!!**

[Marblies]

I've got another countdown that makes me happy, too. 37 days until the Harry Potter movie!!! (My DS8 installed a countdown app on my phone last night. )

In all the excitement, I'd almost forgotten. Hurrah! My girls (DD20 and DD19) grew up with the whole Hogwarts clan. Funny enough, DH "forbids" us from going to Universal until our next trip when he can go to the wizarding world too.

This time of year just flies - so much to do - we'll be there before we know it!

 

[TruBlu]

In all the excitement, I'd almost forgotten. Hurrah! My girls (DD20 and DD19) grew up with the whole Hogwarts clan. Funny enough, DH "forbids" us from going to Universal until our next trip when he can go to the wizarding world too.

This time of year just flies - so much to do - we'll be there before we know it!

I just finished reading all 7 books outloud to my boys, so we are SUPER excited to see this movie! Reading the last book was quite a challenge for me - try reading outloud while you are crying! BUT - I loved all the books. Such great stories.

 

[weber1188]

In all the excitement, I'd almost forgotten. Hurrah! My girls (DD20 and DD19) grew up with the whole Hogwarts clan. Funny enough, DH "forbids" us from going to Universal until our next trip when he can go to the wizarding world too.

This time of year just flies - so much to do - we'll be there before we know it!

I can't wait for part 1, it opens the day after my birthday! I remember when the first movie came out, it was on my 13 birthday so naturally I had a Harry Potter cake and a bunch of my friends and I went to the movie. My mom and I are planning on going to WWOHP on our first full day in Florida, well more like me forcing her to go since I'm the only HP fan in the family, my dad and brother will be golfing that morning.

 

[weber1188]

So after reading some good and not so good things about MK on Christmas I am really torn as to what to do. I understand Christmas day at MK is basically the busiest day of the year, but that's probably because like me a lot of people feel what better place to be that day. I basically spent a half hour before I feel asleep thinking about changing our schedule. Tentatively this is what we have so far: Dec. 23-Golfing/WWOHP/DTD Dec. 24-Epcot
Dec. 25-MK Dec. 26-Hollywood Studios Dec. 27-AK Dec. 28-Open (probably Epcot again) please let me know if you have any other ideas for our schedule I am willing to change any date (even Christmas). Thanks! Hope everyone is having a great day!

 

[PoppyGirl]

So after reading some good and not so good things about MK on Christmas I am really torn as to what to do. I understand Christmas day at MK is basically the busiest day of the year, but that's probably because like me a lot of people feel what better place to be that day. I basically spent a half hour before I feel asleep thinking about changing our schedule. Tentatively this is what we have so far: Dec. 23-Golfing/WWOHP/DTD Dec. 24-Epcot
Dec. 25-MK Dec. 26-Hollywood Studios Dec. 27-AK Dec. 28-Open (probably Epcot again) please let me know if you have any other ideas for our schedule I am willing to change any date (even Christmas). Thanks! Hope everyone is having a great day!

It seems like the biggest issue would be to just get there early and be prepared to deal with the crowds. You would need to decide what matters to you most: where you are? (MK) or dealing with the crowds? The park may close due to reaching capacity. DHS and AK will be least crowded that day. I read somewhere that the park sometimes opens at 7:00am on Christmas....

I totally understand your dilemma. How would you feel about going EARLY on Christmas and bailing out later to do something else with your family? Do you have a dinner ADR somewhere?

 

[weber1188]

It seems like the biggest issue would be to just get there early and be prepared to deal with the crowds. You would need to decide what matters to you most: where you are? (MK) or dealing with the crowds? The park may close due to reaching capacity. DHS and AK will be least crowded that day. I read somewhere that the park sometimes opens at 7:00am on Christmas....

I totally understand your dilemma. How would you feel about going EARLY on Christmas and bailing out later to do something else with your family? Do you have a dinner ADR somewhere?

I don't think we would have a problem getting up early, my brother and I are older so that makes it easier. As the official trip planner I decided not to make any ADRs due to the fact that my brother is so picky, but I do look once in a while to see if any ADRs have opened up at places I think he might like. We could easily come back to MK another night we are there probably one of the days we are at HS or AK since there is nothing going on at either of those parks at night. The main reason I have for wanting to go to MK either Christmas Eve or day is because I think it would be nice to see the parade/fireworks one of those nights. We could always go around looking at the decorations at other resorts during the afternoon/evening on Christmas day as well.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I don't think we would have a problem getting up early, my brother and I are older so that makes it easier. As the official trip planner I decided not to make any ADRs due to the fact that my brother is so picky, but I do look once in a while to see if any ADRs have opened up at places I think he might like. We could easily come back to MK another night we are there probably one of the days we are at HS or AK since there is nothing going on at either of those parks at night. The main reason I have for wanting to go to MK either Christmas Eve or day is because I think it would be nice to see the parade/fireworks one of those nights. We could always go around looking at the decorations at other resorts during the afternoon/evening on Christmas day as well.

We are doing MK on Christmas Day, and will be there prior to park opening, last year it was at 7am for resort guests. We have a breakfast reservation at Crystal Palace at 8:15am. We plan to stay the whole day, because we have a reservatin for the Holiday Wishes Dessert Party at 9pm. From Dec 25th on, you are probably going to be able to do very little park hopping, based on what I heard about park levels last year. We are at Epcot on Dec 24.

Suzanne

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

So after reading some good and not so good things about MK on Christmas I am really torn as to what to do. I understand Christmas day at MK is basically the busiest day of the year, but that's probably because like me a lot of people feel what better place to be that day. I basically spent a half hour before I feel asleep thinking about changing our schedule. Tentatively this is what we have so far: Dec. 23-Golfing/WWOHP/DTD Dec. 24-Epcot
Dec. 25-MK Dec. 26-Hollywood Studios Dec. 27-AK Dec. 28-Open (probably Epcot again) please let me know if you have any other ideas for our schedule I am willing to change any date (even Christmas). Thanks! Hope everyone is having a great day!

My family went to MK on Christmas Day in '08. It gets CROWDED. If there are any other days you can see the parade or Santa, do it on the other days and just enjoy your time walking around MK and the fact that you're spending Christmas at the happiest place on earth. We were able to do quite a few rides that day and we had an ADR at LTT at 4:30 PM. After eating, we went on a few more rides (do Jungle Cruise after dark!) then we left. Get there waaaaaaaaaaaay before rope drop. If you can get an ADR to get you in earlier, more power to you. Park opened at 7 the day I went and we showed up at 6 and it was already crowded. I did get the happiest feeling by being there on Christmas day, so if you're anything like me, you'll be fine.

 

[Flamingomo]

We will be there December 5th-9th. Staying at the All Star Movies. My baby boy will be ten months and its his first visit!!!

 

[Oceana]

How crowded will it be the 17th-23rd?

I thought pretty low, am I wrong?

 

[exwdwcm]

So after reading some good and not so good things about MK on Christmas I am really torn as to what to do. I understand Christmas day at MK is basically the busiest day of the year, but that's probably because like me a lot of people feel what better place to be that day. I basically spent a half hour before I feel asleep thinking about changing our schedule. Tentatively this is what we have so far: Dec. 23-Golfing/WWOHP/DTD Dec. 24-Epcot
Dec. 25-MK Dec. 26-Hollywood Studios Dec. 27-AK Dec. 28-Open (probably Epcot again) please let me know if you have any other ideas for our schedule I am willing to change any date (even Christmas). Thanks! Hope everyone is having a great day!

if you get there early, go in knowing you probably won't ride much and that hte crowds, even just in the walkways will be insane, then go. But be prepared that if you leave, you probably won't get back in as the parks almost always close to capacity (at least MK and Epcot). If you are there for the festive atmosphere and don't mind crowds, and don't have high expectations of doing much, then it might be just fine. I worked during the holidays, thanksgiving and christmas one year at the studios (on the college program). i worked at a cashier at hollywood and vine and i remember hte line out of our restaurant never stopped. it literally went out the door all day long and never ended. that is how crazy busy it was. IF you don't have ADRs, i would try and get something- it would be nice to sit down for a meal and relax if you plan to stay all day. getting something on christmas at this point might be pretty tough though. wishing you lots of luck for a great and magical time!

How crowded will it be the 17th-23rd?

I thought pretty low, am I wrong?

we were there last year from Dec 10-20th. The 20th was a sunday. By Friday the 18th, we noticed an upswing in crowds, but not too bad since it was raining heavily. But that saturday the 19th, it was a madhouse at the MK. the crowds easily tripled or even more than earlier in the week. WE could hardly walk down main street that night. it was night and day difference from earlier in the week. As soon as school is out is when you will notice bigger crowds, so with Christmas falling on a Saturday, not sure what most school schedules are, but around here, i think they get off that week, starting on the 20th- so you gotta imagine a lot of families will head down to disney starting on the 18th. I imagine that first weekend (18/19) is when it will start getting really really busy and only build to Christmas eve.

 

[Vickis3js]

How crowded will it be the 17th-23rd?

I thought pretty low, am I wrong?

Last year that week was more crowded then teh year before. The first day or two will be good but after that it gets noticeably more and more crowded. I would do DHS early in your trip. That was the ONLY park we had a hard time with both years. Get there early too. We made the mistake of going later in the am on our DHS day one year and we got NOTHING done. TSM had no FP left and the wait was 210 min., Indiana Jones was pretty much done for the day, and everything else had waits that were insane. Of course we were late because we were signing papers for DVC so I can't be too mad. That was Dec 20th or the 22nd I can't remember which but it was a mess.

 

[TruBlu]

Confession time...

How many times have you gone to the ADR site to see if it is back up and running???

Zero for me...

 

[BDL]

Confession time...

How many times have you gone to the ADR site to see if it is back up and running???

Zero for me...

LIAR!!!!!!!

As for me... About a dozen. Including twice this morning.

 

[snykymom]

In all the excitement, I'd almost forgotten. Hurrah! My girls (DD20 and DD19) grew up with the whole Hogwarts clan. Funny enough, DH "forbids" us from going to Universal until our next trip when he can go to the wizarding world too.

I was thinking about going to Universal - bought the tickets from MapleLeaf Tickets, and everything. Then I thought about it - my d (21) grew up with the books. She was in the same grade as Harry was when the books started! So how could I go to WWoHP for the first time without her??? Not happening. I need someone to share the excitement with, and my DH hasn't even read the books!

But since D's away from home now, I'll be seeing the movie solo!

 

[Vickis3js]

Confession time...

How many times have you gone to the ADR site to see if it is back up and running???

Zero for me...

I think you forgot the 1 in front of that 0 LOL.

I've checked the DVC site 3 times before reading on the home page right in front of my face that it won't launch until 9am LOL.

 

[nan214]

so glad im not the only one...checked twice this am. its driving me crazy!

 

[Vickis3js]

For my fellow DVC members DVC news has posted the Merry Mixer dates
December 2, 2010
December 9, 2010
December 16, 2010
December 23, 2010
December 30, 2010

We love going to this!! The kids last year got to Dance with Pluto. They got the coolest rice krispy treats too. Plus DH was able to snag all the DVC pins. We got lucky this year and don't need to change our plans to go to one!

We will be there Dec 23rd!

 

[RachaelA]

Ahhh I want the site to be back up. I need to check for an ADR (okay I don't need to, but I really want to check!). Plus I want to pay off our trip!

 

[TruBlu]

LIAR!!!!!!!

How did you know????? Hehe

I think you forgot the 1 in front of that 0 LOL.

Actually.... there was probably a 10 in front of that zero!