*~~Official December 2016 Thread~~*

[xlsm]

First page updated to add @tonya clayton !!

 

[ckelly14]

Thanks @1437disney! I've been reading some pretty mixed reviews as well, but I have come across quite a few who really raved. I'm going to go for it, but the early show after further thought. I gotta do that hug my kids/watch the castle/cry thing on our way out of MK that last night! Wishing you luck in getting CRT!

I went in 2013 and thought the food and music was very good. A bit on the cheesy side, but I would definitely go again.

 

[Talby]

I went in 2013 and thought the food and music was very good. A bit on the cheesy side, but I would definitely go again.

Fantastic, thanks for the input @ckelly14! Cheesy actually works for us now and then! lol It's really nice to get feedback from those who have been before. I'm going to book it today! Yay!

 

[1437disney]

Thanks @1437disney! I've been reading some pretty mixed reviews as well, but I have come across quite a few who really raved. I'm going to go for it, but the early show after further thought. I gotta do that hug my kids/watch the castle/cry thing on our way out of MK that last night! Wishing you luck in getting CRT!

Thanks, I hope so too. If not I am sure we will enjoy spirit of aloha.

 

[Talby]

Thanks, I hope so too. If not I am sure we will enjoy spirit of aloha.

One of my favorite parts of the planning process is seeing this little gem...

Congratulations! Your dining reservation is set. A confirmation email has been sent too...

Just booked first SoA show and I'm excited.

What are your travel dates?

 

[1437disney]

One of my favorite parts of the planning process is seeing this little gem...

Congratulations! Your dining reservation is set. A confirmation email has been sent too...

Just booked first SoA show and I'm excited.

What are your travel dates?

We are going Nov. 26 to Dec 7 (it's actually considered the 8th, but we need to get on the bus at 3am, so I refuse to say the date). We are going with my parents and my sister's family. How about you?

 

[Talby]

That's a nice long trip! Wish we could go longer, but my kids will be missing 6 days of school and I just don't feel I can do more than that. We arrive in Orlando at noon on Fri 12/2 and depart (sob, sob) on Sun 12/11 early afternoon. It's my 2 monkeys as I call them and myself. I was asking about dates because I'm stalking (and I do mean seriously stalking!) CRT for an earlier ADR. Currently have Mon 12/5 at 8:25p for a party of 3. I was just thinking I'd let you know if I'm able to switch it. Hope that doesn't sound too weird, especially since it's clearly been established that I'm a stalker! lol You probably need one for a larger group though, yes? (That story about your daughter just really pulled at my heartstrings; I'm honestly not a REAL stalker!)

 

[1437disney]

That's a nice long trip! Wish we could go longer, but my kids will be missing 6 days of school and I just don't feel I can do more than that. We arrive in Orlando at noon on Fri 12/2 and depart (sob, sob) on Sun 12/11 early afternoon. It's my 2 monkeys as I call them and myself. I was asking about dates because I'm stalking (and I do mean seriously stalking!) CRT for an earlier ADR. Currently have Mon 12/5 at 8:25p for a party of 3. I was just thinking I'd let you know if I'm able to switch it. Hope that doesn't sound too weird, especially since it's clearly been established that I'm a stalker! lol You probably need one for a larger group though, yes? (That story about your daughter just really pulled at my heartstrings; I'm honestly not a REAL stalker!)

Lol. I believe your not a stalker, I think we follow a couple of the same threads. Thank you so much for thinking of me for CRT. I need 5 people, but 3 would be a good start. Either way I hope you get the time you want. It is my moms 60th birthday and she has never eaten there (well none of us has), but after the 180 mark she decided she wanted to go with all her grandkids to celebrate.

Thanks for commenting on my daughter. She is a blessing! I hope all your plans pull together and you have a magical vacation. I seen your kids are older, that is so awesome to have this time with them!

 

[Talby]

Lol. I believe your not a stalker, I think we follow a couple of the same threads. Thank you so much for thinking of me for CRT. I need 5 people, but 3 would be a good start. Either way I hope you get the time you want. It is my moms 60th birthday and she has never eaten there (well none of us has), but after the 180 mark she decided she wanted to go with all her grandkids to celebrate.

Thanks for commenting on my daughter. She is a blessing! I hope all your plans pull together and you have a magical vacation. I seen your kids are older, that is so awesome to have this time with them!

It's fun to "bump into" people we've talked to on other threads. I'll shoot you a PM if I'm able to do alter our CRT ADR. Do you watch the December ADR Cancellation thread? That might be helpful for you too!

 

[1437disney]

It's fun to "bump into" people we've talked to on other threads. I'll shoot you a PM if I'm able to do alter our CRT ADR. Do you watch the December ADR Cancellation thread? That might be helpful for you too!

Thanks again. I do watch it, but it is usually way after someone posted. Good luck and I am sure we will talk again!

 

[shb5007]

Hey all. Strongly considering a (surprise engagement) trip for my girlfriend December 8-11. Looking at 3 nights at the Port Orleans French Quarter. Does anyone know if there are usually any sales for early-mid December? Just wondering if I should go ahead and book. I am nervous to wait too long...trying to plan something special.

 

[ckelly14]

Hey all. Strongly considering a (surprise engagement) trip for my girlfriend December 8-11. Looking at 3 nights at the Port Orleans French Quarter. Does anyone know if there are usually any sales for early-mid December? Just wondering if I should go ahead and book. I am nervous to wait too long...trying to plan something special.

There was already a room only discount offered for that time frame. Also, PO French quarter is often excluded from these discounts. Definitely book, you can always cancel later!

Edit: the previous discount was only until Nov 11th, so there may be a future discount, but I doubt for POFQ.

 

[1437disney]

Does anyone know which princesses are at CRT and Akershus? Should we do both (if I can get CRT)?

 

[dnllmz]

I read that the princesses change so you don't know for sure who will be there. Right now we have both booked. I'm debating about doing GG instead of Akershus.

 

[1437disney]

I read that the princesses change so you don't know for sure who will be there. Right now we have both booked. I'm debating about doing GG instead of Akershus.

Thanks. We had a good time at GG on our last trip. The characters spent a good amount of time with us and came around a couple of times.

 

[Karla07559]

Hey all. Strongly considering a (surprise engagement) trip for my girlfriend December 8-11. Looking at 3 nights at the Port Orleans French Quarter. Does anyone know if there are usually any sales for early-mid December? Just wondering if I should go ahead and book. I am nervous to wait too long...trying to plan something special.

This is awesome! I'm getting engaged, it's not a surprise, well I know it's coming just don't know exactly when or how. My suggestion is to go ahead and book because if a discount does come up you can always apply it then when and if you find it. If you or your gf are military there is a discount I think maybe 15% but I don't remember exactly. That's the one we have applied to our stay, only thing I think it excludes is the little mermaid rooms at AoA.

 

[NicoleK1974]

So excited to be doing a December trip this year!

It happened because we usually do the Monday-Friday right after Thanksgiving weeeknd and we always stay club level and have NEVER had an issue getting a dining reservation or a BBB reservation for the day and time (within 20 minites or so).

This year we put in our requests with the IP, and about 8am CST the morning of our 180 day mark, I recieved an email with only 3 of the 12 requests that we had made.

One for O'Hana breakfast, where they had us sitting 3 and 3 instead of all 6 at one table.
A reservation for late evening for BBB....I think it was around 8:00PM, when we requested first available in the morning so she could enjoy it all day long.

Then we did get our requested day and time for Kona Cafe.

There was NO WAY I could take my niece on her very first Disney trip and tell her that she wouldn't be dining at BOG, CRT or even at Akershaus with the princesss, after reqesting all 3, plus things like Chef Mickey and 1900 Park Fare....

So we just changed the dates to 2 weeks later and got every single reservation we wanted, and somehow even ended up with an extra ressie for BBB within 10 minites of our other reservation.

So now we we will be at the Poly, Club Level from December 13-17 (unless a discount comes out for CR or GF and not for Poly, and we will be doing MVMCP on the 15th!
It is my Mom's very favorite thing about Disney, and she thinks this will be her last trip since her mobility is failing and she doesn't want to have to be there in a scooter....she is too embarassed about it...I keep reminding her about how many people use them at Disney, but she insists that she is just going to make the most of this, her "last trip".

A little bittersweet, but my 5 year old niece can't wait for her first trip, and my 8 year old, as it is her 4th trip, can't wait to play "tour guide" to and "be in charge" of the 5 year old, haha!

 

[Wsmagee]

Did anyone else notice that the TouringPlans crowd levels went up! Specifically Dec. 17th-22nd...they are showing to be at 10 now! At what point do you have to start worrying about park closures?

 

[BaxterSaysMeoww]

Did anyone else notice that the TouringPlans crowd levels went up! Specifically Dec. 17th-22nd...they are showing to be at 10 now! At what point do you have to start worrying about park closures?

Last year I was there the 15-21st and things didn't start to feel crazy until the 20th, we were thrilled it was our last day in the parks. I never pay attention to the calendar crowds so I don't know what they predicted last year but this year we'll be there 16-22nd which falls with the dates you mentioned and I don't really feel worried. We know last year it picked up a lot on the 20th so we might face a busy last two days but it'll be controllable.

 

[Wsmagee]

Last year I was there the 15-21st and things didn't start to feel crazy until the 20th, we were thrilled it was our last day in the parks. I never pay attention to the calendar crowds so I don't know what they predicted last year but this year we'll be there 16-22nd which falls with the dates you mentioned and I don't really feel worried. We know last year it picked up a lot on the 20th so we might face a busy last two days but it'll be controllable.

Oh good to hear! I guess we don't know what we don't know. I had heard that since Christmas falls on Sunday that a lot of schools are getting out later and that it originally wasn't expected to get so crazy until the 22nd. Keeping my fingers crossed!

I am curious to know during your trip last year were you ever able to get any additional FP+s or should I just go ahead and be happy with the 3 that we get? Also, did you feel the need to make more ADR's to not have to wait in crazy lines for food? Any other tips for first timers, and dealing with the crowds? This is the part of the trip that is making me most nervous! But if you guys are going back at the same time it must not be that bad