***Official December 2017 thread!

[SanderMC]

That's exciting! I'm planning on working on a spreadsheet soon as well. Did you make one yourself, or did you find a template online?

I create my own. Mine is pretty simple. I use excel.
On the first tab I have:
Date
Resort Crowd Level
MK (For each park date I have the times, including early/late ours for resort guests, the recommended park and park crowd level) I do this for each park
EP
DS
AK
Daily Park Plan
Notes - here I put notes like ADR numbers, if something is going on that day at any of the parks, etc.
(And if I am staying offsite I add 2 columns - Dinning Planning Date and Fast Pass Planning Date. These get deleted after I don't need them anymore.)

I then create a sheet within the workbook for each day I am there. I paste pictures of my resort information, ADRs, Fastpasses, etc. That way if Disney's system goes down I have everyone in one place.

 

[shairpdrh]

Here's what I have tentatively scheduled so far:

Nov 29 - Arrive (driving) maybe hit Disney Springs depending on when we get there otherwise just stay at the resort
Nov 30 - EP concentrating on Future World either Akershus or Garden Grill for lunch
Dec 1 - MK with 1900 Park Fare for dinner
Dec 2 - AK
Dec 3 - MK with Crystal Palace for breakfast and attending the Christmas party that night
Dec 4 - Rest day to sleep in, visit resorts to see decorations and maybe hit Disney Springs
Dec 5 - AK
Dec 6 - Epcot concentrating on WS with Bon Voyage Breakfast (and hopefully can get Candlelight package)
Dec 7 - HS with Hollywood & Vine dinner
Dec 8 - MK with Be Our Guest Dinner
Dec 9 - Head home

I'm toying with adding a Tusker House ROL package.
I'm not sure how set I am with all of this but this is the version that I like the best so far.

I have had a spreadsheet for a few months and I love revisiting it and dreaming! Our Dec 1-4 look almost exactly the same as yours! I am planning a Tusker House ROL package as well. I am just hoping that the park hours don't totally throw everything off. Mostly hoping that there aren't even more nights of MVMCP so we have a few options for eves at MK.

 

[KaitMM]

I don't know about anyone else but I finally started the real planning this week. I now have a spreadsheet going with estimated hours (using last years hours) and figured out which park to go to on which day and what restaurants I want to go to. I will of course make changes once the official hours come out but I couldn't wait any longer to do something!

I just started this weekend too! Wish they released park hours this early but I know we have a while for that still. Eager for the Pandora opening to see what the times are like.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Welcome, Welcome!! I have a lot of updating to do, hopefully I can take care of it this week!!!

 

[dnllmz]

Here's what I have tentatively scheduled so far:

Nov 29 - Arrive (driving) maybe hit Disney Springs depending on when we get there otherwise just stay at the resort
Nov 30 - EP concentrating on Future World either Akershus or Garden Grill for lunch
Dec 1 - MK with 1900 Park Fare for dinner
Dec 2 - AK
Dec 3 - MK with Crystal Palace for breakfast and attending the Christmas party that night
Dec 4 - Rest day to sleep in, visit resorts to see decorations and maybe hit Disney Springs
Dec 5 - AK
Dec 6 - Epcot concentrating on WS with Bon Voyage Breakfast (and hopefully can get Candlelight package)
Dec 7 - HS with Hollywood & Vine dinner
Dec 8 - MK with Be Our Guest Dinner
Dec 9 - Head home

I'm toying with adding a Tusker House ROL package.
I'm not sure how set I am with all of this but this is the version that I like the best so far.

Thanks for sharing your plans! We are going to book the BW breakfast too. I've heard great things about 1900 for dinner but I can't get it to fit in with our plans this time. Especially since we are now staying at the Boardwalk. Plus I promised DS7 that I won't go princess crazy this time.

We are going to do a TH ROL package too. I really enjoyed TH last trip. I feel stuck on an Epcot ADR. We are going to do a Garden Grill early breakfast then Via Napoli for a pizza later. San Angel Inn on another night but I think one of our MK days will be on a party day & we are skipping the party this year so I think we'll hop over to Epcot & have dinner there but I'm having a hard time deciding on a place for my picky eaters OR maybe go to Cape May for dinner.

 

[SanderMC]

Thanks for sharing your plans! We are going to book the BW breakfast too. I've heard great things about 1900 for dinner but I can't get it to fit in with our plans this time. Especially since we are now staying at the Boardwalk. Plus I promised DS7 that I won't go princess crazy this time.

We are going to do a TH ROL package too. I really enjoyed TH last trip. I feel stuck on an Epcot ADR. We are going to do a Garden Grill early breakfast then Via Napoli for a pizza later. San Angel Inn on another night but I think one of our MK days will be on a party day & we are skipping the party this year so I think we'll hop over to Epcot & have dinner there but I'm having a hard time deciding on a place for my picky eaters OR maybe go to Cape May for dinner.

I actually haven't done 1900 Park Fare either. Like you I've head good things about it. I have an ADR for it for our June trip so I figure if I don't like it I can always remove it. I have a little girl who is princess crazy hence the multiple princess meals. Akershus is another place that will be a first time for us in June so that's why I'm up in the air whether to do that or Garden Grill in Dec. Both my daughter and I are picky eaters (my mom isn't) so I'm a little hesitant with it. I figure if we enjoy it in June we can do it again in Dec. If not, then we can go to the Garden Grill which I know we like.

I am seriously considering adding the TS ROL package. This is ANOTHER new restaurant for us that we are trying in June (As a ROL package). I'm concerned with being picky eaters if there will be enough on the buffet. Maybe I should try for a late breakfast and then we would be there for the changeover. Hmmm.... It's a good thing we have time to sort out all our ideas! I'd be in big trouble if ADR day was soon.

 

[shanew21]

Highly recommend Touring Plans. They have projected hours and wait times all the way through the end of the year. We've been doing all of our planning on that.

Arrival day - Hollywood Studios. Least amount of stuff, probably finish the park with Fantasmic and call it a day.
Day 2 - MK (supposedly open until 2am) all day. We want to knock out as much of Magic Kingdom as possible
Day 3 - AK all day. Will get a Sanaa reservation and stay in that area. With Pandora/ROL it should be an all day thing. Plus, we'll take lots of pictures
Day 4 - Epcot/MK. Future world in the morning, drink around the world in the afternoon, then either head over to MK or HS before finishing at Epcot for Illuminations
Day 5 - Whatever we feel like. We'll probably fastpass either MK or AK depending on what we get for the other fastpass days

Anybody have any suggestions?

 

[dnllmz]

I actually haven't done 1900 Park Fare either. Like you I've head good things about it. I have an ADR for it for our June trip so I figure if I don't like it I can always remove it. I have a little girl who is princess crazy hence the multiple princess meals. Akershus is another place that will be a first time for us in June so that's why I'm up in the air whether to do that or Garden Grill in Dec. Both my daughter and I are picky eaters (my mom isn't) so I'm a little hesitant with it. I figure if we enjoy it in June we can do it again in Dec. If not, then we can go to the Garden Grill which I know we like.

I am seriously considering adding the TS ROL package. This is ANOTHER new restaurant for us that we are trying in June (As a ROL package). I'm concerned with being picky eaters if there will be enough on the buffet. Maybe I should try for a late breakfast and then we would be there for the changeover. Hmmm.... It's a good thing we have time to sort out all our ideas! I'd be in big trouble if ADR day was soon.

We did a late TH breakfast & it was perfect. Picky eaters just stuck with traditional breakfast foods while I got to try some fun lunch choices. We'll most likely do the same thing.

 

[dnllmz]

I just saw in a FB Disney group that Southwest is opening up Nov-Jan flights on May 18th.

 

[WithASmile&ASong]

I just saw in a FB Disney group that Southwest is opening up Nov-Jan flights on May 18th.

I saw the prices on today's release through early November. Most flights were priced much higher than they have been. I hope they come back down, I had convinced DH that flights were not significantly more than driving. But prices are up 500-600 dollars for my family. I don't want to spend 4 days in the car RT.

 

[SanderMC]

I saw the prices on today's release through early November. Most flights were priced much higher than they have been. I hope they come back down, I had convinced DH that flights were not significantly more than driving. But prices are up 500-600 dollars for my family. I don't want to spend 4 days in the car RT.

I can't remember where I was reading this, but someone was checking as of 6am yesterday (because they needed flights during the timeframe that opened yesterday) and kept checking until she discovered the dates open around 6:30. By the time she found the flight she wanted and got her 4 tickets in the cart, she was halfway through the process of paying when the website told her that the tickets at the price were no longer available. She ended up having to spend an extra $30-40 a ticket (I can't remember which) and then she thought she'd go back later and see if there was anything and prices had gone up another $30-40 for the flights she was looking at. So depending on when you looked yesterday the prices may have already jumped anywhere from $60-80 a ticket.

 

[shanew21]

Getting somewhat anxious about flight times. Southwest has cut the direct flights out of my airport to 1 per day at 5pm and doesn't seem to change through November. Hopefully they'll add the early flight for December, or we'll have to fly out of a different airport. Don't want to waste a day!

 

[GPC0321]

Also watching Southwest with great eagerness. Prices are up and direct flights in and out are fewer through November for us too, but I'm hopeful that for our travel dates there will be more direct flights added since it will be a busier time. I can swing the prices right now with my RR points if I shift a few more UR points over via my CSP.

Things I'm ready for:
1. Having flights booked
2. MVMCP dates (not going, but still need to know the dates for planning)
3. Park Hours (especially AK and ROL shows...still deciding if we'll go this trip)

 

[krd315]

When do the candlelight processional and star wars dessert party reservations usually open? We would like to do both of these this year. So excited as we never been during the holidays.

 

[hsmamainva]

I want to say the CP reservations begin booking right around the 180 day mark with everything else. The narrator schedule will likely not be up though if you were waiting to pick a night to see it. Haven't done the dessert party, but I know the SW fireworks schedule has been late in opening up. They aren't even releasing the show times until a month or two beforehand.

 

[dnllmz]

When I went last December they didn't have the SW fireworks until the new movie came out so 12/16. They had Jingle Bell Jingle Bam & a dessert party for that instead. I'd love to see the SW fireworks this time.

 

[KaitMM]

Does anyone know when party dates are released usually for MVMCP? Like others have said, we aren't attending this year, just trying to plan our days.

 

[hsmamainva]

That's true! In December, HS will do the Jingle Jam show. They will probably not run the SW fireworks.

Park hours / party dates should be out in May at some point.

 

[Grandma4ever]

 

[Grandma4ever]

Well I tried to edit to put this info with my last post but ....


This is the spreadsheet I am using to make our plans. It is subject to change based on information on park hours and if the Christmas party is when it is expected to be. I will watch the expected crowd level between now and the 180 days out. But once I make my dinning ressies the plan will be set.

Anyone know if, as in the past, they might offer free dinning in December? I am hoping but not holding my breath!!!