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

[chiburple]

Anyone else spending their Sunday working on an excel spreadsheet with plans for each day including restaurant and possible ride reservations or is that just me?

Try making a custom plan on touring plans

 

[japanese maple]

Try making a custom plan on touring plans

I'm weird. I like making my own!

 

[japanese maple]

Hi! Just sharing this YouTube, I think it's a great tutorial about the new booking system. It's Molly formerly All Ears, now Mammoth Club.
Safe to click:

 

[cattycat2]

Hi! Just sharing this YouTube, I think it's a great tutorial about the new booking system. It's Molly formerly All Ears, now Mammoth Club.
Safe to click:

What a great video!!! Can't wait to Fiddle Faddle!! She answered so many questions I had about this new system! For instance, if you get into a park and it's not as crowded or the wait times are low, I can change/modify those rides to other rides.....that have longer wait times ---even in a different park. Thanks so much for sharing this available information.

Pixie Dust to you!!!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Anyone else spending their Sunday working on an excel spreadsheet with plans for each day including restaurant and possible ride reservations or is that just me?

It's nice to see another fan of Excel spreadsheets. I love using them.

 

[bwr827]

Anyone else spending their Sunday working on an excel spreadsheet with plans for each day including restaurant and possible ride reservations or is that just me?

I’ve done that before, but when I present it to my family they say, “You’re nuts.”

 

[bwr827]

I found this video from Ear Scouts very helpful. https://youtu.be/o9ElUCzkivM?si=SymZqndIwf-kISwj

 

[HappyGal]

Hi! Just sharing this YouTube, I think it's a great tutorial about the new booking system. It's Molly formerly All Ears, now Mammoth Club.
Safe to click:

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Justrose]

Who is going to be at WDW over New Years? What are your plans?

We are going to be at EPCOT on NYE - My daughter's 13th birthday!

New Years Day, we will be resting and not doing any parks

 

[Disturbia]

It's nice to see another fan of Excel spreadsheets. I love using them.

I used to use Excel and had a spreadsheet I would share with coworkers who were planning trips and how to book FP+ (loved having the printed map souvenirs that you could order for free as well; we would also print a map from google to plan around the Epcot festivals using food booth maps) but have it narrowed down in my mind. Kids have some ADRs that are must do’s and we have some days without TS (harder to plan with Genie+ esp @ HS)

Now that ADRs are in high demand (and free dining in Dec) we will probably have our parks set (haven’t park hopped in forever to keep things simple, but that throws in another complexity) and then 2-3 ADR choices based on availability. FP+: On booking day I usually have sticky notes/ruled paper with notes (multiple screens running for ADRs) on which land we want to hit first and what rides to book relative to dining and shows/parades/deluxe hours etc.

 

[japanese maple]

The Halloween Party menu came out! Looks good, more savory options I noticed.

I hope the Christmas party has at least a few savory options. I think I'm the only person on the planet who would rather have some salty fries over any kind of dessert!

 

[Three cats]

The Halloween Party menu came out! Looks good, more savory options I noticed.

I hope the Christmas party has at least a few savory options. I think I'm the only person on the planet who would rather have some salty fries over any kind of dessert!

I’m definitely with you on the salty stuff! I’d take that any day over the sweet stuff!

I haven’t gotten a notification for this thread in over a week - not sure why!? I came here to see if maybe I missed something and sure enough. - l did!

 

[Wood Nymph]

I hope the Christmas party has at least a few savory options. I think I'm the only person on the planet who would rather have some salty fries over any kind of dessert!

I wish they had more savory options, too.

 

[japanese maple]

What are you all most excited for this trip? I'll start.

(in no particular order)
First time during holidays. Can't wait to see the parks at night with the Christmas lights!
The Merry Menagerie at AK!
Festival of the Holidays at Epcot.
Seeing Luminous in person.
The Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights. We've done Halloween party a couple times, so this will be different!
Trying new restaurants.
Staying at AKL - can't wait for this!
I'm even excited to stay the night we fly in at the MCO Hyatt!

 

[Disturbia]

What are you all most excited for this trip? I'll start.

(in no particular order)
First time during holidays. Can't wait to see the parks at night with the Christmas lights!
The Merry Menagerie at AK!
Festival of the Holidays at Epcot.
Seeing Luminous in person.
The Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights. We've done Halloween party a couple times, so this will be different!
Trying new restaurants.
Staying at AKL - can't wait for this!
I'm even excited to stay the night we fly in at the MCO Hyatt!

We’ve stayed at the Hyatt before our recent cruise and didn’t realize that McCoys was open late and ate at McDonald’s in the food court. It’s a nice hotel but do check in on the app the day you fly in (can’t check in earlier; esp important with flights delays).

We will also be hitting the festival of the holidays for the first time. Our 2022 Dec trip we didn’t have Epcot booked before the festival ended.

Look up the activities calendar for AKL. It’s a beautiful resort. Wish the deluxe suites slept 5.

https://www.magicalresortguide.com/akl-homepage

 

[japanese maple]

We’ve stayed at the Hyatt before our recent cruise and didn’t realize that McCoys was open late and ate at McDonald’s in the food court. It’s a nice hotel but do check in on the app the day you fly in (can’t check in earlier; esp important with flights delays).

We will also be hitting the festival of the holidays for the first time. Our 2022 Dec trip we didn’t have Epcot booked before the festival ended.

Look up the activities calendar for AKL. It’s a beautiful resort. Wish the deluxe suites slept 5.

https://www.magicalresortguide.com/akl-homepage

Thanks for the tip! I did note on my reservation we would be landing after 10, but I will also check in online.

 

[Disturbia]

Thanks for the tip! I did note on my reservation we would be landing after 10, but I will also check in online.

We were scheduled to land around 9:30pm and did note that on our reservation, but flight was delayed by 6 hours (tornadoes) and they gave our room away. We got deplaned after 3 hours on the runway (completely at a standstill and blocked; no water-not sure how that was legal) and couldn’t find any available charging ports (we drained our phones, backup batteries trying to entertain kids and keep them calm). Checking in was the last thing on my mind. We got upgraded to the Presidential suite but only had one bed for 5 of us (2 slept on the very uncomfortable sofas). We had to check in to the cruise transportation at 8:30 am so barely slept.

We were told to always check in around 10am? the day we are coming in so our room won’t be given away.

 

[bwr827]

What are you all most excited for this trip? I'll start.

(in no particular order)
First time during holidays. Can't wait to see the parks at night with the Christmas lights!

First time during the holidays for us, too! Very excited.

Same with MVMCP.

Also excited to visit some of the other resorts: Polynesian and Wilderness Lodge for sure.

 

[Wood Nymph]

What are you all most excited for this trip?

We love all the special things they have for this time of year. The additional things at Epcot are the big draw for us. We also enjoy seeing the Christmas decorations at the resorts. This is one of our favorite times to go to WDW.

The only thing I don't like about December is that there are so many Christmas parties at MK that it makes the park very crowded on non-party days. Otherwise, it is a great time to go.

 

[HappyGal]

The Christmas Tree Stroll at Disney Springs is always fun!