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

[junebugs]

Excited to be booked for December 9 -14 at Pop Century. It's been a while since our last trip and just couldn't resist a free dining offer! Hoping to convince my two 20-something kids to come along and enjoy the magic with us.

 

[japanese maple]

Excited to be booked for December 9 -14 at Pop Century. It's been a while since our last trip and just couldn't resist a free dining offer! Hoping to convince my two 20-something kids to come along and enjoy the magic with us.

Welcome to the group!

 

[Disturbia]

Excited to be booked for December 9 -14 at Pop Century. It's been a while since our last trip and just couldn't resist a free dining offer! Hoping to convince my two 20-something kids to come along and enjoy the magic with us.

I booked the free dining package as well for Dec 21-28 at AOA nemo (similar price as a Poly studio!) We upgraded to the regular dining plan. I calculated booking Dec 28-1/4) and it comes to the same price without hoppers but including dining (rooms are more expensive around Christmas)!

Now debating Christmas or move dates to around NYE (Christmas parade and fireworks run until 12/29 I believe). We loved the NYE parties Dec 2022. We always have snack credits left with dining and could do without the 2 hours at ADRs a few nights (don’t need a sit down every single night for 7 nights).

 

[Disturbia]

Changed our dates and booked flights with airmiles and the Disney Visa free dining offer!

12/21-12/31 Upgraded to Poly studio for now. Please go ahead and add us as dates are fixed.

We might change back to AOA Nemo if extended evening hours at AK (last year 12/28) and Epcot (last year was 12/21 and 12/25) don’t work in our favor; studios are a bit tight for 5 of us, but the Poly does have 2 baths.

Planning to do our first MVMCP hopefully still runs 12/22. We will be going to NYE MK party 12/30 and then fly back in time to celebrate actual NYE at home.

We don’t need park pass reservations? Not sure how this will work for overcrowding at MK 12/30.

 

[Mjs64ca]

My husband and I and our two 13 year old sons (step brothers) will be visiting for the first time Dec. 30-Jan. 5. We are doing a split stay: 4 nights Beach Club Villas and 2 nights in a suite at the Grand Floridian. We are so excited!

 

[japanese maple]

Changed our dates and booked flights with airmiles and the Disney Visa free dining offer!

12/21-12/31 Upgraded to Poly studio for now. Please go ahead and add us as dates are fixed.

We might change back to AOA Nemo if extended evening hours at AK (last year 12/28) and Epcot (last year was 12/21 and 12/25) don’t work in our favor; studios are a bit tight for 5 of us, but the Poly does have 2 baths.

Planning to do our first MVMCP hopefully still runs 12/22. We will be going to NYE MK party 12/30 and then fly back in time to celebrate actual NYE at home.

We don’t need park pass reservations? Not sure how this will work for overcrowding at MK 12/30.

My husband and I and our two 13 year old sons (step brothers) will be visiting for the first time Dec. 30-Jan. 5. We are doing a split stay: 4 nights Beach Club Villas and 2 nights in a suite at the Grand Floridian. We are so excited!

Welcome! Added you both to the list. Happy planning!

 

[Disturbia]

Hopefully AK and Hs get extended evening hours this year!

MK needs extra hours but they only had them back in 2022.

HS is probably going to be the Wed or Thur week before Christmas IF it returns (apparently hasn’t since 2022):

https://blogmickey.com/2023/10/delu...-january-2024-following-epcot-heavy-december/

 

[japanese maple]

Hopefully AK and Hs get extended evening hours this year!

MK needs extra hours but they only had them back in 2022.

HS is probably going to be the Wed or Thur week before Christmas IF it returns (apparently hasn’t since 2022):
View attachment 855127
https://blogmickey.com/2023/10/delu...-january-2024-following-epcot-heavy-december/

View attachment 855129

I hope we do get some during first two weeks of the month. We arrive on 12/3 (Tuesday) and staying at AKL, so would like to take advantage.

I'm guessing if they do Jollywood Nights, one would be on 12/4 - Wednesday.. Which, I'm not sure we would want to go yet.
Then we would do Christmas Party on Sunday I suppose.

 

[AussieFan8]

Hopefully AK and Hs get extended evening hours this year!

MK needs extra hours but they only had them back in 2022.

HS is probably going to be the Wed or Thur week before Christmas IF it returns (apparently hasn’t since 2022):

I'm hoping for this as well! We got very lucky when we went in 2022 and got extended hours at MK, Epcot, and DHS the week we were there. It was amazing!

 

[japanese maple]

Halloween party announced today, soon it will be our time to shine!

 

[Disturbia]

I'm hoping for this as well! We got very lucky when we went in 2022 and got extended hours at MK, Epcot, and DHS the week we were there. It was amazing!

They need to offer deluxe guests some MK extended evening benefits around Christmas as well. Or just offer resort guests across the board some hours.

Epcot isn’t a deciding factor for us (few rides, long walk from one to another) and GOTG take up too much time so you can barely ride 3 rides in 2 hours!

AK might be worth it, but there needs to be a buffer hour like the events where the day guests finish the rides vs take up the first hour (not much of a benefit), or close the tier1 rides 30 mins before like the meet and greets during the special events.

 

[japanese maple]

We've decided on one meal so far, a character breakfast at Garden Grill! Slowly making planning progress.

 

[brewhome]

We booked our trip today - my hubby and I and my sis and her hubby will be doing a split stay 12/15-12/20. The first two nights we have savannah view suites at AKL Kidani, and the last three nights we have suites at the Poly villas. We haven’t stayed at the Poly before so we are super excited for that… plus the new Poly tower will be opening in December so we will get to check that out, too!

The holidays are my most favorite time to visit - I love all the decorations, music, Festival of the Holidays, and all the holiday themed food and drinks everywhere!

Happy planning, everyone!

 

[Disturbia]

We've decided on one meal so far, a character breakfast at Garden Grill! Slowly making planning progress.

Are you on the dining plan? We are definitely booking Topolinos breakfast, Boma, Ohana and STK71.

 

[Disturbia]

We booked our trip today - my hubby and I and my sis and her hubby will be doing a split stay 12/15-12/20. The first two nights we have savannah view suites at AKL Kidani, and the last three nights we have suites at the Poly villas. We haven’t stayed at the Poly before so we are super excited for that… plus the new Poly tower will be opening in December so we will get to check that out, too!

The holidays are my most favorite time to visit - I love all the decorations, music, Festival of the Holidays, and all the holiday themed food and drinks everywhere!

Happy planning, everyone!

Not sure if the Poly tower will be open to regular guests with the Disney dining plan or be completely booked by the time it’s available to non DVC/APs. No detailed info on the rooms. I would consider giving up the free dining promo and try the resort. The dining plan (1 QS, 1TS) is saving about $3400 for us (3 dining adults 2 kids for 10 nights).

They should have given some discounts to Disney Visa cardholders like they did when AOA; Riviera opened. We booked a Nemo suite for $190 a night back then; we were booked in a 1 bedroom at Riviera but COVID cancelled our plans and we’ve never seen a 1 bedroom availability with a discount since.

 

[japanese maple]

We booked our trip today - my hubby and I and my sis and her hubby will be doing a split stay 12/15-12/20. The first two nights we have savannah view suites at AKL Kidani, and the last three nights we have suites at the Poly villas. We haven’t stayed at the Poly before so we are super excited for that… plus the new Poly tower will be opening in December so we will get to check that out, too!

The holidays are my most favorite time to visit - I love all the decorations, music, Festival of the Holidays, and all the holiday themed food and drinks everywhere!

Happy planning, everyone!

Welcome! Your dates are added!

 

[japanese maple]

Are you on the dining plan? We are definitely booking Topolinos breakfast, Boma, Ohana and STK71.

We thought about it, but in the end decided against it.

 

[brewhome]

Not sure if the Poly tower will be open to regular guests with the Disney dining plan or be completely booked by the time it’s available to non DVC/APs. No detailed info on the rooms. I would consider giving up the free dining promo and try the resort. The dining plan (1 QS, 1TS) is saving about $3400 for us (3 dining adults 2 kids for 10 nights).

They should have given some discounts to Disney Visa cardholders like they did when AOA; Riviera opened. We booked a Nemo suite for $190 a night back then; we were booked in a 1 bedroom at Riviera but COVID cancelled our plans and we’ve never seen a 1 bedroom availability with a discount since.

Our rooms are booked at the current Poly DVC; we are just looking forward to walking through the new resort to see what it’s like… I imagine they will at the least have a bar or two, and if they have a sit-down restaurant maybe we will luck out and be able to snag a reservation or try a walk up.

 

[Kurious Oranj]

Booked 2BR Copper Creek Villa Dec 10-15 the moment the 11 month window opened. Christmas at WL is magical!!

 

[japanese maple]

Booked 2BR Copper Creek Villa Dec 10-15 the moment the 11 month window opened. Christmas at WL is magical!!

Welcome! Yes we plan to have dinner or lunch on day there at Whispering Canyon to see the decorations. I'm excited to stay at AKL because they also have a large, beautiful tree!