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

[Jane VanTassel]

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.

WOW: sounds AMAZING, because those are my dates and almost exact same planning!! We will be there 12/8-16. with MVMCP on 10th/1st time as well and going to try JN as well on the 11th. "When in Rome". We want to try the Candle Light experience in EP when those dates come out. I also pined over which dates for MVMCP as that is why I choose the 10th also. Either way it will be a blast. Happy and safe travels to you!

 

[Jane VanTassel]

We will be there 12/8-12/16: plan to do as much as possible. So excited and fun to read everyone's plans and ideas. We will be at Beach Club.

 

[Jane VanTassel]

We will staying at the Gran Destino Tower November 28th-December 2nd. Will be cruising on the WISH from the 2nd through the 6th then back to the resort the 6th through the 8th! Looking forward to it!

We stayed at the Gran Destino Tower in 21 at Christmas time. Absolutely beautiful!!! I just Uber'ed everywhere and worked out very nicely for us. That lobby is BEYOND!! Happy travels.

 

[Jane VanTassel]

Our trip is Nov 28th-Dec 2nd then off to cruise on the Wish til the 6th. Back to WDW the 6th-8th. We probably won't qualify but hopefully something else comes out that we do!

Are you saying WDW then Disney Cruise THEN back to WDW?!?!? IF so, I love the way you think and plan!!! That sound absolutely amazing!!

 

[japanese maple]

We will be there 12/8-12/16: plan to do as much as possible. So excited and fun to read everyone's plans and ideas. We will be at Beach Club.

Welcome! I've added you to the list. Happy planning!

 

[japanese maple]

Gosh, sorry everyone! I was updating the list and I realized somehow I had gotten a lot of the dates out of order.
It's fixed now. Me and numbers = not good.

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

Have tentative plans for a December trip to follow up our September trip. Planning on booking a couple of nights at MVMCP & one at Jollywood nights, maybe a day or two at Epcot. Look forward to hearing more about everyone else's plans!

 

[Jane VanTassel]

We’ll be there December 3-6, currently booked at All-Star Music. Never visited at Xmas time before, and very excited to see all the decorations.

Debating whether to splurge on Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, but with our Canadian dollar it’s so pricey. Probably close to $1k for our family of four.

That sounds like fun, maybe drop a park ticket/have a pool/Disney Springs morning and just buy a MVMCP ticket instead?

 

[japanese maple]

Have tentative plans for a December trip to follow up our September trip. Planning on booking a couple of nights at MVMCP & one at Jollywood nights, maybe a day or two at Epcot. Look forward to hearing more about everyone else's plans!

Let me know when I can add you to the list!

We are also doing MVMCP and Jollywood Nights! I posted our tentative plans further up the thread.

 

[Jane VanTassel]

Now to decide which dates. I could do MVMCP on 12/10 and JN on 12/11 but 2 nights together may be a bit much. Also, 12/11 is DH's b'day and he doesn't have much interest in these parties. I would hate to drag him on his b'day. I could do it solo but I'd like to make other plans for that night for something he'd be interested in. So many decisions but sometimes that can be a good thing. I did want to avoid a Saturday night but I may have to settle for 12/14 since we're only there a week.

That is exactly what I have decided with MVMCP on 12/10 with JN on 12/11: we plan to have easy/sleep in mornings with pool day or Disney Springs to then go for the Parties. I thought it might be easier to cluster my party days: to then leave remaining vacation dates open and ready for whatever. I also thought about dropping park tickets by 2 days: but it's not that much of a savings and we now have lots of options if needed.

 

[behappyJules]

I don't think I let you know that we altered our plans slightly, again. When the party dates were dropped, and the last MVMCP was 12/20, we decided to shell out for a flight on Friday so we can attend the party. Way more $$ for the extra flight, party tickets and extra night, but it will be sooooo worth not having to drive 16 hours on Saturday to get down there and another 16 hours to get back home after our cruise. I also found a great nonstop flight to Sanford from our local airport, so no drive to and from Philly either! Our finalized (I promise!) dates at POP are 12/20-12/26.
To add to the fun...a friend is getting together a bus trip to New York City before Christmas and I mentioned to the kids that it might be fun to join, but we'll have to take that last day off from school to go. They only have a half a day, anyway and were thrilled. Seed planted. They have no idea we're doing Disney and a cruise, but now they know that we have something planned so if they hear me tell people we won't be around for our usual Christmas activities, they won't be suspicious! I can't wait!

 

[bwr827]

That sounds like fun, maybe drop a park ticket/have a pool/Disney Springs morning and just buy a MVMCP ticket instead?

We did just that! Party tickets on Dec 5, and we’ll sleep in and relax that day, with late lunch at Wilderness Lodge before catching a boat to MK.

 

[japanese maple]

I don't think I let you know that we altered our plans slightly, again. When the party dates were dropped, and the last MVMCP was 12/20, we decided to shell out for a flight on Friday so we can attend the party. Way more $$ for the extra flight, party tickets and extra night, but it will be sooooo worth not having to drive 16 hours on Saturday to get down there and another 16 hours to get back home after our cruise. I also found a great nonstop flight to Sanford from our local airport, so no drive to and from Philly either! Our finalized (I promise!) dates at POP are 12/20-12/26.
To add to the fun...a friend is getting together a bus trip to New York City before Christmas and I mentioned to the kids that it might be fun to join, but we'll have to take that last day off from school to go. They only have a half a day, anyway and were thrilled. Seed planted. They have no idea we're doing Disney and a cruise, but now they know that we have something planned so if they hear me tell people we won't be around for our usual Christmas activities, they won't be suspicious! I can't wait!

Updated!

 

[srdavidson]

Are you saying WDW then Disney Cruise THEN back to WDW?!?!? IF so, I love the way you think and plan!!! That sound absolutely amazing!!

Yes! Super excited!

 

[japanese maple]

Hello there on a Wednesday in July, counting the days!

Are you guys thinking ahead on how you might reserve rides in advance? I'm starting to.
As a group we just decided to purchase for each day of trip (outside arrival and departure). We know there are days when maybe we wouldn't have needed it, but honestly I'm doing all the planning and it's just easier this way!

I plan to purchase/reserve our party days first so I can book Slinky before Jollywood Nights starts and then Tiana before Christmas party starts. Get those out of the way in case they have long lines during party. Also will purchase Tron for before party starts. And if we can buy 2 (which I don't think so) also Mine Train.

After those two days, I'll just buy/reserve in order of park days I guess. It's been since 2017 since I've actually had to reserve rides ahead of time. I'm rusty!

 

[Disturbia]

Hello there on a Wednesday in July, counting the days!

Are you guys thinking ahead on how you might reserve rides in advance? I'm starting to.
As a group we just decided to purchase for each day of trip (outside arrival and departure). We know there are days when maybe we wouldn't have needed it, but honestly I'm doing all the planning and it's just easier this way!

I plan to purchase/reserve our party days first so I can book Slinky before Jollywood Nights starts and then Tiana before Christmas party starts. Get those out of the way in case they have long lines during party. Also will purchase Tron for before party starts. And if we can buy 2 (which I don't think so) also Mine Train.

After those two days, I'll just buy/reserve in order of park days I guess. It's been since 2017 since I've actually had to reserve rides ahead of time. I'm rusty!

I just looked at the LL prices (from
2023) and for 7 days for 5 of us:

MK $39 LLMP+ $20 Tron+$12 SDMT (Tiana?)
Epcot $39 LLMP+$17 GOTG
HS $39 LLMP+$25 ROTR
AK $39 LLMP+$16 FOP

Times two!!! Times 5 ppl… so we will
Probably skip ROTR and Epcot and AK LLMP to save costs:

The week or so we are going 12/21+ will have no parties or Jollywood (arriving too late).

Our general plan at MK is usually to book 3 am passes in one area.

MK day 1: BTM, POC and JC (buy LLSP for Tron 6 pm+). VQ Tiana then VQ Tron

MK day 2: Buzz, Space and SDMT or PPF (buy LLSP Tron for 5 pm+). VQ Tron then VQ Tiana

AK: hopefully extended evening 12/26 or 12/28; rope drop FOP

Epcot: festival of the holidays day 1; VQ GOtG

Epcot day 2: Soarin am; Frozen and Remy pm (eating world showcase, watching fireworks pm); VQ GOTG. Test track is down until 2025

HS: SDD, MMRR and TOT

HS day 2: SDD, MMRR and MFSR

AK (optional LLMP): Safari ride, Navi and Everest

 

[japanese maple]

I just looked at the LL prices and for 7 days for 5 of us:

MK $39 LLMP+ $20 Tron+$12 SDMT (Tiana?)
Epcot $39 LLMP+$17 GOTG
HS $39 LLMP+$25 ROTR
AK $39 LLMP+$16 FOP

Times two!!! Times 5 ppl… so we will
Probably skip ROTR and Epcot and AK LLMP to save costs:

The week or so we are going 12/21+ will have no parties or Jollywood (arriving too late).

Our general plan at MK is usually to book 3 am passes in one area.

MK day 1: BTM, POC and JC (buy LLSP for Tron 6 pm+). VQ Tiana then VQ Tron

MK day 2: Buzz, Space and SDMT or PPF (buy LLSP Tron for 5 pm+). VQ Tron then VQ Tiana

AK: hopefully extended evening 12/26 or 12/28; rope drop FOP

Epcot: festival of the holidays day 1; VQ GOtG

Epcot day 2: Soarin am; Frozen and Remy pm (eating world showcase, watching fireworks pm); VQ GOTG. Test track is down until 2025

HS: SDD, MMRR and TOT

HS day 2: SDD, MMRR and MFSR

AK (optional LLMP): Safari ride, Navi and Everest

Do they already have the prices out for the LLMP?

 

[JBelle19]

Y'all, I am terrified of the Christmas crowds. We have never been this time of year, only during summer months, so I don't know what to expect. Add the new LLMP system in and my brain is zigging and zagging everywhere.

Our original plan was to check in 12/20, and arrive around 6 PM. However, I think we are going to start our drive on 12/19. We are 6.5 hours away so I'm not sure if we will try and make it all the way (have to leave after work on the 19th, so around 4:30 central time) or get maybe an hour out and stop for the night. Problem is...December 19th is my birthday, and I really just want to be on Disney property! POFQ is sold out that night and I don't want to add a night there anyway, b/c I don't want to add the dining plan another night. I'm toying with booking one of the All Stars for the 19th and getting over to POFQ super early on the 20th.

Right now my thought process is:

Friday, 12/20: Epcot, as early as we can get there. Hopefully by 10 at the latest
Saturday, 12/21: Animal Kingdom. Best choice for Saturday?
Sunday, 12/22: Hollywood Studios. December 22nd is DH's birthday and this is his favorite park, so I really want to be at Studios on 12/22
Monday, 12/23: Magic Kingdom. The last party is the 20th, so I'm thinking the 21st and 22nd will be super busy at MK, especially because it is the weekend as well. That would leave the 23rd as our best option, I'm hoping. Maybe many people will either go the weekend, or save MK for the actual days of Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, leaving December 23rd not as much of a madhouse? Am I crazy?

I'm scurred lol.

 

[japanese maple]

Y'all, I am terrified of the Christmas crowds. We have never been this time of year, only during summer months, so I don't know what to expect. Add the new LLMP system in and my brain is zigging and zagging everywhere.

Our original plan was to check in 12/20, and arrive around 6 PM. However, I think we are going to start our drive on 12/19. We are 6.5 hours away so I'm not sure if we will try and make it all the way (have to leave after work on the 19th, so around 4:30 central time) or get maybe an hour out and stop for the night. Problem is...December 19th is my birthday, and I really just want to be on Disney property! POFQ is sold out that night and I don't want to add a night there anyway, b/c I don't want to add the dining plan another night. I'm toying with booking one of the All Stars for the 19th and getting over to POFQ super early on the 20th.

Right now my thought process is:

Friday, 12/20: Epcot, as early as we can get there. Hopefully by 10 at the latest
Saturday, 12/21: Animal Kingdom. Best choice for Saturday?
Sunday, 12/22: Hollywood Studios. December 22nd is DH's birthday and this is his favorite park, so I really want to be at Studios on 12/22
Monday, 12/23: Magic Kingdom. The last party is the 20th, so I'm thinking the 21st and 22nd will be super busy at MK, especially because it is the weekend as well. That would leave the 23rd as our best option, I'm hoping. Maybe many people will either go the weekend, or save MK for the actual days of Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, leaving December 23rd not as much of a madhouse? Am I crazy?

I'm scurred lol.

I think with being able to reserve rides 7 days out, you will have a leg up on a LOT of people so I wouldn't be as worried. What day do you leave?

 

[JBelle19]

I think with being able to reserve rides 7 days out, you will have a leg up on a LOT of people so I wouldn't be as worried. What day do you leave?

We check in on 12/20 and out on Christmas Eve.

I'm hoping I'm not priced out of LLMP. That's one reason we aren't going to do the Christmas party the day we get there on the 20th. I would rather use that money for LLMP. There are four of us, so it could end up being about equal to four party tickets...that's my thinking right now, anyway.