***Official December 2022 Thread***

[Tk0021]

Arrival day for us is the 24th. Wanted to see if anyone knows anything about pin trading. Last time my kids really enjoyed it (pre pandemic) and they are looking forward to to it again. Last I heard the cast members didn’t wear them around their neck, but there were boards set up with pins. Is that true?

 

[Kirsti]

Just don’t eat a big meal before getting on GOTG and you’ll be fine.

Well I took the risk and bought the ILL this morning and loved it so much I got in the virtual queue at 1pm to ride it again tonight. It’s amazing. And I had no wooziness or nausea at all. I think this will be a must for my other scheduled Epcot days. Even if I am riding alone because nobody else in my group wants to.

 

[Disturbia]

Well I took the risk and bought the ILL this morning and loved it so much I got in the virtual queue at 1pm to ride it again tonight. It’s amazing. And I had no wooziness or nausea at all. I think this will be a must for my other scheduled Epcot days. Even if I am riding alone because nobody else in my group wants to.

It was a lot of fun. I did scream a lot (was really hard to resist). I had eaten just before riding (they had guardians themed popcorn!). By the time we switched the wait time posted was up to 60 mins so we didn’t ride again. Buses didn’t drop us until 10:40 pm (I suppose the CEO and higher ups opened the event and then the buses started from the resorts; took us 20+ mins to get from the Ritz).

There were only 3 rides open for us - Test Track, Mission Space and Guardians (all had 60 min waits an hour into it).

 

[Gentry2004]

I am starting to get things together for our trip. We leave next Friday after work. I just bought some light sweaters today, not realizing that I may actually need them on the trip. I’m hoping it doesn’t get too cold, we are supposed to go to Blizzard Beach for the first time. Does anyone know what the temperature has to be, for the water parks to close?

I’m not sure. We also have a waterpark day on our conference tickets but I’m not sure if we will end up using it. I would like the forecasted high to be 70 for us to go. Even then I’m probably not getting wet and just letting DH and the kids go around. Such a bummer, the weather is great right up until the day we arrive. Our last park day is the 23 so fingers crossed that it gets warm by then and I can switch park reservations to accommodate. Obviously I won’t be switching MK since it’s sold out that week.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Arrival day for us is the 24th. Wanted to see if anyone knows anything about pin trading. Last time my kids really enjoyed it (pre pandemic) and they are looking forward to to it again. Last I heard the cast members didn’t wear them around their neck, but there were boards set up with pins. Is that true?

Pin trading is still going on. We saw cast members holding pin boards and trading with guests.

 

[elaine amj]

I have been really loathing park reservations. So far I have always been able to go where I want - but it is an extra layer of nuisance. We do long trips and I often change things up last minute. With juggling so many balls, I often get confused switching things up and sometimes walk up to the gate thinking I changed the reservations properly and sometimes find I didn’t. In October, there were a couple of days I was standing at the gate after Mickey turned blue frantically changing the reservation on my phone.

Rather nervous about MK on Dec 30 as we plan on hopping there at 7pm (after first fireworks when we assume many ppl with little kids will leave). Really really hoping that even if the close to hopping in the afternoon…that it will be fine after 7pm.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

We had a really magical moment with another family last night as we settled in to watch the fireworks on Main Street. My kids were nervous they wouldn't be able to see anything and this other family was reassuring them it would be fine.

Then a guy stepped into the middle of the street and put his Mickey ear wearing kid on his shoulders. It was SO OBNOXIOUS! My kids and a lot of adults around us were very obviously disgruntled and a mom actually went up to confront him and he rebuffed her saying she couldn't see. And she was like "now no one behind you can see anything either." He did end up putting her down and leaving a few minutes later. But the people around us were fantastic at shuffling the kids this way and that to make sure they had at least some view. My kids were very nervous they were going to miss seeing Tinkerbell, so the other family made sure they pointed out when she was going to make her flight.

The dad said that one of his best memories from the trip would be seeing my eight year old's face the moment Tinkerbell lit up. I thanked them profusely and told them it was our last night and the first night seeing fireworks and they made it really magical!

Also watch the fireworks from main street! Then you don't have to wonder if you should be looking at the castle or the sky AND they light up the shops!

 

[Disturbia]

We had a really magical moment with another family last night as we settled in to watch the fireworks on Main Street. My kids were nervous they wouldn't be able to see anything and this other family was reassuring them it would be fine.

Then a guy stepped into the middle of the street and put his Mickey ear wearing kid on his shoulders. It was SO OBNOXIOUS! My kids and a lot of adults around us were very obviously disgruntled and a mom actually went up to confront him and he rebuffed her saying she couldn't see. And she was like "now no one behind you can see anything either." He did end up putting her down and leaving a few minutes later. But the people around us were fantastic at shuffling the kids this way and that to make sure they had at least some view. My kids were very nervous they were going to miss seeing Tinkerbell, so the other family made sure they pointed out when she was going to make her flight.

The dad said that one of his best memories from the trip would be seeing my eight year old's face the moment Tinkerbell lit up. I thanked them profusely and told them it was our last night and the first night seeing fireworks and they made it really magical!

Also watch the fireworks from main street! Then you don't have to wonder if you should be looking at the castle or the sky AND they light up the shops!

I’ve watched a few videos of the fireworks from Main Street and it looks like little kids wouldn’t be able to see anything with the sea of adults on all sides (and then shop blocking any fireworks) without being lifted up. Were your kids able to see? Were you closer to the ice cream parlor?

Even in the dessert party area someone put their kid on their shoulder at the last min (there was no need) and the kid and her sibling had long glow sticks in both hands. The kid was having fun and my kids were further up so I didn’t say anything, although it was annoying to have a glow stick in all of my photos/videos.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

My kids are 8 and 6 and the 8 year old has delayed growth and they were fine. They couldn't see the bottom of the castle but you really only need to see the top and the sky.

 

[Disturbia]

My kids are 8 and 6 and the 8 year old has delayed growth and they were fine. They couldn't see the bottom of the castle but you really only need to see the top and the sky.

How long did you have to line up and were you near the hub or all the way at the end of Main Street?

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

How long did you have to line up and were you near the hub or all the way at the end of Main Street?

We were in the middle. We got there like five minutes before the fireworks started. While there were a lot of people there were still spaces you could get into.

 

[elaine amj]

My favourite spot is at the hub withe the fountains in front of me. That way I have a fence and little garden ahead so no one blocks my view and I get breathing room from the crowds.

But my DH has low vision issues now so asks the stand further back so he doesn’t have to strain his head upwards to see the fireworks.

So we have started staking out a spot next to the railing on Main street just past the intersection where Casey’s Corner is in. The railing means I get breathing space from the crowds (the garden is next to us) and I can also climb up on the fence to get a better view as I am short. Not quite as comfortable as my favourite spot in the hub, but better for DH.

Not sure where we will watch Dec 30 fireworks in MK. 3 years ago, we went maybe 3 hours early to stake out a spot in the hub closest to the Castle stage. Loved it as we could watch all the shows beforehand, dance wildly to the DJ spinning his tracks from the stage, and see the projections and fireworks. We might go to that spot again despite DH’s issues. Especially since dance parties are our priority.

 

[elaine amj]

Is anyone here going to be in MK on Dec 30 and would like Castle dinner reservations for 4ppl at 4:25pm?

I talked to my DD and we’ve decided to go to the Grand Floridian Cafe instead.

 

[Disturbia]

My favourite spot is at the hub withe the fountains in front of me. That way I have a fence and little garden ahead so no one blocks my view and I get breathing room from the crowds.

But my DH has low vision issues now so asks the stand further back so he doesn’t have to strain his head upwards to see the fireworks.

So we have started staking out a spot next to the railing on Main street just past the intersection where Casey’s Corner is in. The railing means I get breathing space from the crowds (the garden is next to us) and I can also climb up on the fence to get a better view as I am short. Not quite as comfortable as my favourite spot in the hub, but better for DH.

Not sure where we will watch Dec 30 fireworks in MK. 3 years ago, we went maybe 3 hours early to stake out a spot in the hub closest to the Castle stage. Loved it as we could watch all the shows beforehand, dance wildly to the DJ spinning his tracks from the stage, and see the projections and fireworks. We might go to that spot again despite DH’s issues. Especially since dance parties are our priority.

You might want to budget more than 3 hours for a spot like that. Crowds are more insane now.

 

[elaine amj]

You might want to budget more than 3 hours for a spot like that. Crowds are more insane now.

Good point. It’s crazy times these days!

 

[JJ2017]

So this has always been planned as a non-park trip as it's only a couple of days in Orlando during a drive down to Miami. But - luck changed when our tickets were finally recovered from the park disruption during our Storm Nicole trip in mid-November. So yay! We have one park hopper ticket each to use. Our only full day is on 12/27 and now I want to plan full force as a 3 or 4 park "highlights" day. Not sure how much we can really accomplish, but we'll have our car and if anything, it will be an adventure.

Any tips for visiting 4 parks in one day with MK closing the latest? We are offsite and have our car - it's just that MK parking is the biggest pain of them all.

We also can choose to hold on to these tickets - have to see if we really think we will be back before their expiration date next December (I will be back for springtime surprise - but solo).

 

[elaine amj]

With park hopping after 2pm, that really can cramp your style.

Also are you onsite or offsite? Will you be using Genie+? I do like it for a hopping day to max the use of it.

I’d start with the park with rides you really want to rope drop. AK is of course the easiest to rope drop and do almost everything without Genie+ or early entry (other than FoP - you can do all the rides at rope drop easily).

However, if you start with Epcot, you can VQ Guardians and rope drop either Soarin or Frozen. (Soarin should have shorter lines).

If you start with DHS, you may be able to do Mickey and Minnie or even Smuggler’s Run at rope drop.

I’d personally prob start with Epcot, VQ’ing Guardians and RDing Soarin’ and stacking LLs at DHS starting at 7am. Late morning, wander WS enjouing all the Christmas stuff. Then hop to DHS at 2pm to ride the stacked LL. Start stacking some rides at AK. Around 5/6pm, hop to AK for a couple of rides with LL, entering the FoP queue at close, expecting an hour’s standby wait.

Then onwards to MK around 9ishpm for the last 1-2hours. Parking up close will be easy at that time (after fireworks) and total time to AK to walking inside MK should be under half an hour. Then use up stacked MK LLs, jumping on 7 Dwarves/PP/Space as the last ride of the day (we often do 2-3 rounds of BTMR since that is our favourite).

That’s what I envision anyway. I am not a Genie+ expert - still a shock to my FP+ system but I *think* something like that could work.

 

[ItsMEH]

Arrival day for us is the 24th. Wanted to see if anyone knows anything about pin trading. Last time my kids really enjoyed it (pre pandemic) and they are looking forward to to it again. Last I heard the cast members didn’t wear them around their neck, but there were boards set up with pins. Is that true?

Yes, we just got back yesterday and they had boards with pins in them with a cast member standing right next to it.

 

[JJ2017]

With park hopping after 2pm, that really can cramp your style.

Also are you onsite or offsite? Will you be using Genie+? I do like it for a hopping day to max the use of it.

I’d start with the park with rides you really want to rope drop. AK is of course the easiest to rope drop and do almost everything without Genie+ or early entry (other than FoP - you can do all the rides at rope drop easily).

However, if you start with Epcot, you can VQ Guardians and rope drop either Soarin or Frozen. (Soarin should have shorter lines).

If you start with DHS, you may be able to do Mickey and Minnie or even Smuggler’s Run at rope drop.

I’d personally prob start with Epcot, VQ’ing Guardians and RDing Soarin’ and stacking LLs at DHS starting at 7am. Late morning, wander WS enjouing all the Christmas stuff. Then hop to DHS at 2pm to ride the stacked LL. Start stacking some rides at AK. Around 5/6pm, hop to AK for a couple of rides with LL, entering the FoP queue at close, expecting an hour’s standby wait.

Then onwards to MK around 9ishpm for the last 1-2hours. Parking up close will be easy at that time (after fireworks) and total time to AK to walking inside MK should be under half an hour. Then use up stacked MK LLs, jumping on 7 Dwarves/PP/Space as the last ride of the day (we often do 2-3 rounds of BTMR since that is our favourite).

That’s what I envision anyway. I am not a Genie+ expert - still a shock to my FP+ system but I *think* something like that could work.

oh wow - thanks for all this advice!!!! i'm going to study it we have to def start in epcot b/c it's the only park available to reserve!

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

Oh I meant to point out a couple of things from our trip that might help other people:

-On days when MK closes at 6 for the Christmas party Epcot gets PACKED. Get there before 6.
-We found most wait times (except for one case) to be VERY inflated. One night Rise of the Resistance was listed as 50 minutes (which honestly was great and we would've waited), but it was almost a literal walk on. We maybe waited 25. Tops. This was late in the night, 8 pmish. But we generally found wait times were listed around 20 minutes over what we would actually wait. Or less!