***Official Planning Thread -DECEMBER 2024 - Welcome all!***

[Disturbia]

So i think i have my trip all planned out. Did i mention that this will be my very 1st solo trip

Sat Nov 30 - Arrive, hit hotel then Disney Springs (no, i did not type out Downtown Disney first because i can not grasp the Disney Springs lol)
Sun Dec 1- Magic Kingdom. Will do EE and LLMP
Mon Dec 2- Animal Kingdom. Will do EE but not LLMP
Wed Dec 4 - Hollywood Studios. Will do EE and LLMP
Thurs Dec 5- rest day, check out some hotels, swim etc
Fri Dec 6 - Epcot. Will do EE BUT not LLMP, try for VQ for GOG and if needed purchase LLSP
Sat Dec 7 - ridiculously early (being picked up by mears at 330AM!! Why do i do this!!) flight Home
I hope that this is a nice itinerary with some rest days to sleep in (all those early entry days lol). My general plan is to go hard in the AM park hours then slow down after lunch. I'm too old for hardcore go go go! lol

Do watch videos on early entry. It depends on each park and transportation options and eventhough Disney says it’s 30 mins early they start letting people go through the turnstiles earlier.

The Skyliner line is pretty fast at Pop century (AOA guests have to walk over and join there) eventhough it looks long but the CBR line has taken us 35+ mins and we were late and closer to park opening when we lined up:

 

[Disturbia]

At HS you can probably get 1 headliner done during the 30 min early entry unless you do TOT and RnRC (most crowds head to Toy Story lane and Star Wars land).

Tip: hold batteries and umbrellas out infront of you when going through the scanner

 

[DenaRox]

Do watch videos on early entry. It depends on each park and transportation options and even though Disney says it’s 30 mins early they start letting people go through the turnstiles earlier.

Thank you! I am a current Minnie Scout (so worth every patreon penny spent), think I have watched every single Ear Scouts video there is, love them . I think I have a decent plan in my head (I’m a huge planner, you should see all my documents and tables and my wardrobe list lmao I’d probably scare you. I am also good with throwing plans to the wind as needed).

The Skyliner line is pretty fast at Pop century (AOA guests have to walk over and join there) eventhough it looks long but the CBR line has taken us 35+ mins and we were late and closer to park opening when we lined up:

I’m a night owl & not a big sleeper (oh how I wish I was) so getting up at 5 to get ready (I’m an au natural kind of gal so if needed I can be ready in 15) is actually normal for me (Florida is 2 hrs later than home time too so that’s a bonus) so I plan to be on first bus/skyliner.

At HS you can probably get 1 headliner done during the 30 min early entry unless you do TOT and RnRC (most crowds head to Toy Story lane and Star Wars land).

I think I’m going to go for it and head to ROR then runaway railroad until my LLMP kicks in, but if ROR is down, or too long by the time I’m there I’ll head to Slinky/Rockin Rollercoaster. My plans have backup plans hahaha

Tip: hold batteries and umbrellas out infront of you when going through the scanner

Ahh good plan. I knew my long arms would come in handy some day Thanks so much for the wealth of info, it is greatly appreciated

 

[Danicat77]

Our family will be there Dec 3-6! Hoping to rent DVC through a BRV owner but currently on a waitlist as they were already gone at her 11 month mark! If DVC doesn’t work out back up is POR (trying to decide whether or not to book and cancel or just keep waiting longer. Tried to talk my older daughter out of going (she doesn’t love it there) as then we could have 4 instead of 5 ppl which would give us more options, but she wants to go more than she wants to skip it.

So we are now booked at Caribbean Beach, Dec 3-7. Leave very early on the 7th fora long 2 day drive home. Fingers are still crossed for DVC waitlist to come through but not feeling very good about that. On a spur we decided CBR for the skyliner. No discount on our room. We thought the kids might like this better than POR.
Trying to decide our itinerary. We’ll drive down Thursday (Thanksgiving)/Friday, free-ish day Saturday. Hoping it’ll work that day to meet up for lunch over in Tampa with a past classmate, and see the manatees somewhere. Then Sunday check in universal hotel (RP) go to the parks that day and Monday, then Tuesday morning go over to Disney. This is where I’m not sure-we can either get Christmas party tickets this day and get to MK a little later and make it a long day but also be more laid back since we’d have so much time there, Wednesday off and roam the resorts and swim, then Epcot Thursday and Hollywood Friday. Or Tuesday as a free day, skip the Christmas party (I want to go, my husband not so much) and then those 3 parks W-F, Or get up super early Tuesday to get to Epcot after leave bags at the resort, Hollywood Wednesday and MK Thursday (with Christmas party) with free day on Friday before the long drive home. Long post! Sorry! Thoughts?

 

[dancergirlsmom]

Changed our resort stay from POP to The Swan today. Dates are the same December 26 - January 2 but managed to get a great AP rate at the Swan. Was hoping that an AP rate would come out for our week in one of the Disney resorts but seems like they are only through December 25. The rate I got ended up being cheaper than a moderate at the current rate so a great deal. We also love the Epcot area and are excited about staying in that area for the Holiday period.

 

[Danicat77]

Changed our resort stay from POP to The Swan today. Dates are the same December 26 - January 2 but managed to get a great AP rate at the Swan. Was hoping that an AP rate would come out for our week in one of the Disney resorts but seems like they are only through December 25. The rate I got ended up being cheaper than a moderate at the current rate so a great deal. We also love the Epcot area and are excited about staying in that area for the Holiday period.

Swan seems like it’d be way better than pop-with great location. That’s awesome!

 

[roctavia]

We'll be arriving 11/30-12/5 before moving to Universal for a conference.

Staying at Pop with 4 park days, but skipping the holiday parties...

We've gone in January before, but never December... Is there a list of last year's park hours somewhere? Just trying to get an idea for planning... we'll have park hoppers for the first time, so hopefully can make the most of it. My search is just finding the hours for Christmas week.

 

[Disturbia]

Updated post: 12/20 MVMCP doesn’t sell out until Oct. No one wants to go to the party on travel day so that’s not in the works for us anymore. Jollywood nights is a hard pass.

 

[japanese maple]

We'll be arriving 11/30-12/5 before moving to Universal for a conference.

Staying at Pop with 4 park days, but skipping the holiday parties...

We've gone in January before, but never December... Is there a list of last year's park hours somewhere? Just trying to get an idea for planning... we'll have park hoppers for the first time, so hopefully can make the most of it. My search is just finding the hours for Christmas week.

Welcome! You are on the list!

I've also updated changes for everyone. If I've missed you or have wrong dates/hotels, please let me know and I will fix.

 

[Disturbia]

Jollywood is adding an (possibly ice) skating show!

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2024...?awt_a=BL3B&awt_l=9A2fW&awt_m=3VQVh5H5tjpgc3B

 

[disneydreamer781]

I just found out DH never put in for December vacation. I sent him the list for the year and he told me vacation dates were all set but now I find out he just put May dates in so December dates are in limbo. It's now July and not much left for DVC. I also borrowed points so now there are restrictions on them if I have to cancel. It's a good thing that I hesitated on buying party tickets because I was going to this week. His workplace has Christmas Week off so that could be an option but it's almost double the points on some accommodations and I can't do the parties which is a big reason why I was going mid-December. We did Christmas week last year and it was a one and done for me since it's way too crowded and no events. I hope for his sake, things work out!
No, I'm not going to kill him but I'm really mad!

 

[Drewsdad]

Just booked Christmas at the Beach Club. December 9-14… countdown is on..

 

[Disturbia]

Just booked Christmas at the Beach Club. December 9-14… countdown is on..

MVMCP is on multiple nights that week and park will close at 6 pm (10, 12 and 13). Jollywood nights (11, 14) will have HS close early as well. At least one night will have an extended evening at Epcot.

 

[japanese maple]

Just booked Christmas at the Beach Club. December 9-14… countdown is on..

Welcome! We've added you to the list! We love the Beach Club. If we weren't trying AKL this trip we'd probably be back there.

 

[japanese maple]

Good luck to everyone today purchasing party tickets!!!

Post here if you are going and we can all discuss!

 

[Joe Ryan]

Will be getting tickets for MVMCP for Dec 5 and still debating on if we will go to Jollywood nights on Dec 7. For Jollywood, I know last year there was a lot of negative feedback but I can not imagine stuff like that happening again, or am I being too optimistic lol. We have done After Hours and felt it was handles pretty good (we did HS AH in February this year)

 

[Disturbia]

Will be getting tickets for MVMCP for Dec 5 and still debating on if we will go to Jollywood nights on Dec 7. For Jollywood, I know last year there was a lot of negative feedback but I can not imagine stuff like that happening again, or am I being too optimistic lol. We have done After Hours and felt it was handles pretty good (we did HS AH in February this year)

I watched a few videos on Jollywood and the first 2 days the party had long lines. If you went after that, the reviews were more positive. The only option for us is 12/21 and with the crowds arriving for Christmas/NY week that will probably be a very busy night and we are flying so we chose not to make things more hectic.

Also if you’re going with older kids/teens you will probably have a great time with characters/rides. Wish we could have gone mid Dec. I’m debating if we could go last week of Nov and maybe hit MCMCP and Epcot food and wine (ends Nov 23).

 

[japanese maple]

Will be getting tickets for MVMCP for Dec 5 and still debating on if we will go to Jollywood nights on Dec 7. For Jollywood, I know last year there was a lot of negative feedback but I can not imagine stuff like that happening again, or am I being too optimistic lol. We have done After Hours and felt it was handles pretty good (we did HS AH in February this year)

Those are our exact party nights! I say go for it!!!

 

[cattycat2]

Tentative Plans so far:

Dec. 9--Early Arrival-- Epcot
Dec. 10--Tour Resorts- 1st MVMCP!!
Dec. 11--Hollywood Studios/ either AK-EP-? evening
Dec. 12--Epcot
Dec. 13--MK/AK evening
Dec. 14--Leave

Any thoughts?
It was hard deciding MVMCP ---I thought Friday, Dec. 13, would be crowded.

 

[Danicat77]

Tentative Plans so far:

Dec. 9--Early Arrival-- Epcot
Dec. 10--Tour Resorts- 1st MVMCP!!
Dec. 11--Hollywood Studios/ either AK-EP-? evening
Dec. 12--Epcot
Dec. 13--MK/AK evening
Dec. 14--Leave

Any thoughts?
It was hard deciding MVMCP ---I thought Friday, Dec. 13, would be crowded.

Just a reminder that AK isn’t open as late as the other parks. In the past we’ve done that one first then gone to another park if staying later in the evening. Also give yourself time to sleep in a little after the party night if you plan to be there late-it’ll be even later with how long it might take to get out of there.