I checked again this morning and suddenly thereās tons of availability!!It's not unusual for a restaurant to hold back reservations. Just keep checking.
I checked again this morning and suddenly thereās tons of availability!!It's not unusual for a restaurant to hold back reservations. Just keep checking.
My suggestion would be HS in PM on Friday over Epcot due to crowds.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.
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.- 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!
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.- 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?
MK: Casey's Corner (and we always leave and go to Gasparilla at the Grand Floridian)- What are your best 2 quick service locations in each park that can't be missed?
Have a great trip (and have fun planning).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
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.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.
Thanks. This is helpful!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.
Iāve heard Epcot crowds are quite bad on the weekends - but maybe itās 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 NPHās Candlelight Processional narration gig so I feel like Epcot will probably be a madhouse regardless!My suggestion would be HS in PM on Friday over Epcot due to crowds.
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.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!
I donāt know if the system will be functioning properly but thatās true a lot with Disney IT. 6:00 am Eastern time it should be live.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 son is doing the CP and called me to ask if he should park his car in the DS garages when the hurricane hits. āUmmmm, noooo. What if you need to evacuate??ā I told him. Fingers crossed for allGosh 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.
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!
Most ADRs open at 5:45 am est (so 4:45 am cst) esp if youāre trying for high demand ADRs like Topolinos or Space220.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 just saw that the hurricane strengthened. Stay safe.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. āUmmmm, noooo. What if you need to evacuate??ā I told him. Fingers crossed for all
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!
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.