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



Add me to the list! I woke up on Wednesday and decided just to see what hotel prices were for the first weekend in December, December 5-8. Disney didn't have anything, but I found 3 nights at the Hilton Vacation Club Cypress Pointe for less than 1 night at the rack rate for All-Star Sports, and went ahead and booked it! This will be my first trip to WDW since early 2020, my first trip at the holidays, and my first trip staying offsite. I'm going with my dad, who hasn't been since 2018 and is really looking forward to being at Disney again. Our priorities are 1) Star Wars, 2) rollercoasters (especially the Guardians ride), and 3) holiday-specific things.

I don't have much planning to do because we won't have party tickets, ADRs, early entry, dining packages, Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, or our own car. I do need advice on what park to go to when so I don't get overwhelmed when I'm there. Right now I'm thinking we'll start each morning at the following parks, but I'll happily take other suggestions:

Friday - MK @ 9 a.m. - Epcot OR HS in PM
Saturday - HS @ 9 a.m. (thinking this day is best because of the "party effect" from Jollywood Nights?) - Epcot OR MK in PM
Sunday - AK @ 8 a.m. ( need to leave parks by 6 p.m. for the airport) - hop wherever we want to wrap up in the PM

Here are my questions for the more advanced Disney-goers at the holidays:

- You have a Friday and a Saturday evening free at WDW during party season. Which park do you go to at night? You don't care about seeing the MK fireworks.
My suggestion would be HS in PM on Friday over Epcot due to crowds.
- Is there a way to experience the Candlelight Processional without paying $$$ for the dining package or waiting hours in standby? I don't even have to watch it, I just want to hear the music. I love choral music at Christmas!
That depends on who the narrator is. We had no problem at all last year without a dining package. We waited about a half hour in standby and had great seats but the scheduled narrator was Ann Margaret (not a huge draw) and actually she canceled at the last minute and we ended up with Ashley Eckstein. If it's someone popular like John Stamos, Brendan Fraser or Neil Patrick Harris, you will need a dining package and have to wait in a long line. You could probably still hear the music though outside the pavilion.
- Are Christmas lights at Magic Kingdom all lit up at night worth dealing with the hassle of fireworks crowds on a non-party Saturday night?
It is really beautiful at night but I always avoid the fireworks crowds. I would go in early enough to see the lights and then hit the road before the fireworks.
- What are your best 2 quick service locations in each park that can't be missed?
MK: Casey's Corner (and we always leave and go to Gasparilla at the Grand Floridian)
EP: festival booths
AK: Satuli Canteen, and maybe Flame Tree
HS: ABC Commissary, Ronto Roasters
I'm so happy I found this thread! My husband is sick of me running park strategies past him so now I get to share my excitement with you all :D
Have a great trip (and have fun planning).
 
Does anyone have recommendations for park days for Epcot and Hollywood Studios? I have Thursday, December 19th and Saturday, December 21st to plan and am not sure what days to do HS vs. Epcot. I see the pros of doing Epcot on Thursday in avoiding the weekend crowd but that means HS on Saturday when it closes at 7pm (Jollywood nights party that day). We also have park hoppers and are staying at Yacht Club so we can head to Epcot in the evenings on our other park days. Any advice is appreciated.
I would 100% do epcot on thurs and HS on Saturday and cross my fingers that crowds would avoid that park on Saturday because of the party. You can check the thrill data website once the parties start to get a better idea of crowds during party days.
 
I would 100% do epcot on thurs and HS on Saturday and cross my fingers that crowds would avoid that park on Saturday because of the party. You can check the thrill data website once the parties start to get a better idea of crowds during party days.
Thanks. This is helpful!
 


My suggestion would be HS in PM on Friday over Epcot due to crowds.
Iā€™ve heard Epcot crowds are quite bad on the weekends - but maybe itā€™s a wash with MK and HS closing early both nights and pushing those guests to Epcot (as the only park open past 7). That same weekend last year was NPHā€™s Candlelight Processional narration gig so I feel like Epcot will probably be a madhouse regardless!

Thank you for the other suggestions!
 
Is there a way to experience the Candlelight Processional without paying $$$ for the dining package or waiting hours in standby? I don't even have to watch it, I just want to hear the music. I love choral music at Christmas!
You can hear the Candlelight Processional from outside the pavilion. There are tables to sit at, or just sit on the edge of the fountain in front of the American Pavilion. We've heard the music many times but only sat inside the pavilion one time. The narrator wasn't anyone famous, but he did a great job. There were plenty of seats inside the pavilion and we were able to walk right in. It will be less crowded on a weekday than on a weekend.

:)
 
Gosh I'm so worried about everyone in Florida and the hurricane that's coming. I'm worried about the cast members and all the animals at AK and AKL too. And honestly all the zoos, people's pets, etc. šŸ˜”

Anyone there please stay safe. Leave if you're told to.

Please check in here if you're scared or need a pick me up or to vent or anything! This is a safe space for you to release!

ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
 
My ADR 60+ day is 10/9. I realize that it is a very small thing and people have much, much more to be concerned about but do you think that the hurricane will have an effect on ADR's that day? If not, what time should I try to get on to the system (central time zone) that morning? I have heard 6am (central) but sometimes I hear earlier and later times.
 
My ADR 60+ day is 10/9. I realize that it is a very small thing and people have much, much more to be concerned about but do you think that the hurricane will have an effect on ADR's that day? If not, what time should I try to get on to the system (central time zone) that morning? I have heard 6am (central) but sometimes I hear earlier and later times.
I donā€™t know if the system will be functioning properly but thatā€™s true a lot with Disney IT. 6:00 am Eastern time it should be live.
 
Gosh I'm so worried about everyone in Florida and the hurricane that's coming. I'm worried about the cast members and all the animals at AK and AKL too. And honestly all the zoos, people's pets, etc. šŸ˜”

Anyone there please stay safe. Leave if you're told to.

Please check in here if you're scared or need a pick me up or to vent or anything! This is a safe space for you to release!

ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
My son is doing the CP and called me to ask if he should park his car in the DS garages when the hurricane hits. ā€œUmmmm, noooo. What if you need to evacuate??ā€ I told him. Fingers crossed for allšŸ¤ž
 
My ADR 60+ day is 10/9. I realize that it is a very small thing and people have much, much more to be concerned about but do you think that the hurricane will have an effect on ADR's that day? If not, what time should I try to get on to the system (central time zone) that morning? I have heard 6am (central) but sometimes I hear earlier and later times.
Most ADRs open at 5:45 am est (so 4:45 am cst) esp if youā€™re trying for high demand ADRs like Topolinos or Space220.

Enchanted extras like the dessert party, carriage rides open at midnight est.
 
Is anyone using dining credits to book CRT? I wanted to know if I need to prepay (in the past the app would glitch and not allow dining credits to be applied).
 
My son is doing the CP and called me to ask if he should park his car in the DS garages when the hurricane hits. ā€œUmmmm, noooo. What if you need to evacuate??ā€ I told him. Fingers crossed for allšŸ¤ž
I just saw that the hurricane strengthened. Stay safe.
 
Hi friends! Is there a candlelight processional narrator/dining package watch thread yet? I feel like by now we'd definitely have one but I didn't see it. Thanks!
 
Hi friends! Is there a candlelight processional narrator/dining package watch thread yet? I feel like by now we'd definitely have one but I didn't see it. Thanks!

I haven't seen one! I was hoping to get some info this week about all the Christmas stuff, but with everything going on I don't think we will. Maybe next week if things are okay!
 
I decided to switch up my plans again and use up my Hilton points I've been hoarding since 2020 (!) to book the Doubletree Suites instead of paying cash for the Hilton Cypress Pointe. I'm excited for saving $212, a better shuttle schedule for the parks, my own bed, more privacy for the bathroom (the bath and shower in the Cypress Pointe studio are visible from the bed unless you pulled down a curtain? Weird), and BEST of all, access to Early Entry! I'm feeling way better about our touring plans knowing we can knock out the biggest e-tickets first thing in the morning at each park.
 
DW and I will be at RIV (12/13-12/15), PVB (longhouse) 12/15-12/17, and PVB Island Tower (12/17-12/20).

We have never been to Candlelight Processional, but can't wait to go this year.
 














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