Opinions on our Plan of Attack.....

[amscherm]

So we are planning on being at Disney (renting DVC to VWL) Dec.22-27th. I have heard how incredibly crowded it will be - but it is Disney and we want to be there... AND we want to be at MK on Christmas day.... I know we are probably crazy... but that is why I have been trying to come up with a plan of attack....

We are thinking of getting the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan... I know people have thier opinion on the DDP... but we LOVE to eat and enjoy the atmosphere of many of the restaurants. So for us it is worth it. We are pretty early risers, so making it to a half way early breakfast is not a big deal either.

So granted I don't know EMH yet, and I don't know if the MVMCP will be going on while we are there - I am really hoping it is, this is what I am thinking of....

Mon 12/22 - Arrive in the morning, hit DTD, and then do the HDDR at 5pm, head to Epcot for Illuminations.

Tues 12/23 - Breakfast at Boma's, hit AK for the day and go to O'hana's for Dinner. Then head to MK for Wishes.

Wed 12/24 - Breakfast at Chef Mickey's, then Monorail to Epcot. Do a lunch at Coral Reef, and hit a dinner for Candlelight Processional show at LeCellier. If we don't get to Illuminations on Monday, then stay for it now.

Thurs 12/25 - Up early and go to Crystal Palace for Breakfast, hit Liberty Tree Tavern late afternoon for "Christmas Dinner". If we get hungary hit up Columbia Harbor or another CS meal. Watch Wishes, if we don't see it on Tuesday or watch it again

Friday 12/26 - Up for Breakfast at Hollywood & Vine, spend the day at DHS, then do the Brown Derby for dinner for the Fantasmic pacakage. Watch Fantasmic.

Sat 12/27 - Up and have Breakfast at Whispering Canyon, Head to Epcot for a bit and then to Beaches & Cream for a sandwhich around late afternoon... Head Home in the evening

So we would be paying for the deluxe dining plan but really only eating 2 CS meals off of it - not to bad....

I know it sounds like a lot of meals - that is the thing I can't get pass either... but I am thinking it is going to be so crowded that we really need to concentrate on just "being" at Disney and trying to get in the 2 or 3 things we really want to do and just enjoy the atmosphere the rest of the time...

So what do you think... sound like a plan? Thanks!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Do you have VWL booked already? If not, you'll need to get it very soon.

Is it just the two of you or do you have children? Crowds will be horrid and really test your sanity. Your plan sounds very aggressive. Hope it works for you.

MVMCP will be over by the time you arrive.

 

[mikeandkarla]

I would not recommend staying around for Holiday Wishes in the park. You wouldn't believe the crowds! We went last Christmas and Christmas eve to the MK. We got stuck in the crowds for wishes and didn't plan to stay for the show. On Christmas Eve we got caught back in Adventure land at 8:15 and thought we had plenty of time to make it out of the park before wishes. My DW and I got seperated trying to push two strollers to the exit. Thankfully we had cell phones. The crowd was so bad heading down Main Street, I was detoured behind The Plaza Resaurant and behind the shops by a CM and ended up by Exposition Hall where I finally met my DW. Christmas night we had a fireworks cruise booked. That was MUCH better. I would strongly recommend a fireworks cruise, Polynesian beach or somewhere other than MK to view Holiday Wishes. MK is doable on Christmas until late afternoon, then get out.

 

[Tamar]

I'd hesitate to do the dining plan, just because crowds can really throw a wrench in your timing. Imagine standing in line for an hour for a ride you really want to go on, and then having to break out of the line for an ADR because you've prepaid for the food and you won't be able to get in at any other restaurants if you don't make this ADR. Or being the first people to have to wait for the next bus/boat, which doesn't come for 30 minutes. It would add tremendously to my stress if I'd prepaid for meals, where without the DDP, I'd be tempted to grab something at CS if something else I wanted to do took longer than expected.

 

[vbarry]

I read somewhere that the prices go up for holiday meals- so I would probably stick with the dining plan..maybe just make some of your ADR's at the resorts. Have fun. I am also planning a holiday trip!!

 

[Coach81]

Wow, I guess the moral of this story is avoid Disney Christmas week?

 

[becca-becca]

Do you have VWL booked already? If not, you'll need to get it very soon.

Is it just the two of you or do you have children? Crowds will be horrid and really test your sanity. Your plan sounds very aggressive. Hope it works for you.

MVMCP will be over by the time you arrive.

What is your best guess for when MVMCP last day this year? Is it always the Friday before Christmas or is it a certain date?

 

[amscherm]

Do you have VWL booked already? If not, you'll need to get it very soon.

Is it just the two of you or do you have children? Crowds will be horrid and really test your sanity. Your plan sounds very aggressive. Hope it works for you.

MVMCP will be over by the time you arrive.

Yes, We have already booked the VWL... We have one child, who will be 5 when we go... Bummer that MVMCP will be over with... Guess that just means another trip down soon...

 

[amscherm]

Wow - I am shocked by the number of people that say "Stay Away".... Unfortunately this is the only time we can go... and while we are expecting tremedous crowds we are okay with that... we will manage. We aren't going on this trip to hit every ride and do everything we want to do... we are going just to be in Disney at christmas....

Thanks everyone... .We are still debating on getting the deluxe dining plan... but since it will give us "something to do" if/when the crowds get to us... I think we may stick with it....

I'm so bummed that we are going to miss MVMCP though... guess I will have to plan another trip - soon...

 

[Deb & Bill]

We are the type of guest who hits the parks for a few hours in the morning, back to the resort for a swim or rest, then back to the park in the late afternoon until close to park close. Once we were there on Christmas Eve (relocating from our main hotel to another for Christmas Eve night and then leaving on Christmas day). So we stayed in the MK all day long. We had the Family Magic Tour scheduled for the morning. LTT for dinner, etc. By 7PM we had had it and left to go back to the hotel. We had planned to go back the next morning for a few hours before we left for home, but blew that off. We headed home around 7:30 that morning because the MK had just worn us out.

If your little one looks tired or sounds grumpy, leave the park. Take a rest. The crowds will really get to you and sap your energy.

 

[MinnieFan]

Would you consider switching your days around so that you are at MK on a day other than Christmas day? The reason I ask is that you seem very disappointed at missing MVMCP, but you would be able to see a lot of the things from the party (parade, holiday Wishes, characters in holiday attire) in MK every day once the parties are over for the year. The only problem is that you might not get to see/enjoy these things on Christmas day itself due to the huge crowds. If you went to MK on 12/23 or 12/26, it would still be crowded, but probably not as bad as Christmas day itself.

I think you're smart to use the dining plan during this period, and to use mostly table service reservations. The menu prices are higher during holiday weeks, and it's very nice (especially with a 5 year old) to sit down and enjoy a nice relaxing meal after spending all day on your feet, in lines and crowds.

We've gone to WDW twice during the Christmas season, and if you just relax and don't get stressed out if you don't do every single thing on your agenda, you will have a great time.

 

[MinnieGi]

From the perspective of you child I might be very hesitant to do the Deluxe Dining Plan. We went Thanksgiving week this past year and too many sit-down meals was my kids only complaint of the week. My kids are 7 & 3. And these are kids who ADORE eating out!!!! We just did the regular DDP and by day three or four they were complained about having to go to another sit-down dinner b/c it was taking away from their resort/swim time. My kids are very easy going who like I said love to go out to eat and we often do, yet even they got felt it was taking away from some other fun stuff we could all have been doing. I know they really would have balked on the Deluxe Dining Plan with even more sit-down meals!!!!

Also in very crowded park times I would not give up my morning time for a sit-down breakfast. That is THE best time to ride and see the attractions without huge lines. We had a very successful trip b/c we used our morning solely for rides and shows we really wanted to see. By using the morning we did fantastic at having a great relaxing trip and doing lots of fun things. The rest of the day was for "being in the atmosphere of Disney" and then resort relaxation and night time shows. For us one TS meal a day was fun, but enough for the kids.

 

[amscherm]

Thanks everyone for the thought.... I have thought about being able to get a lot done in the morning... but I am hoping to get early breakfast ADR's before the parks open.... Alot of whether we do the Deluxe DDP will depend on what time I can get my ADR's for....

Also thanks for pointing out about MK - I am going to try and add it on there one more day... Maybe skip DHS... We weren't that found of that park anyway... or maybe just skip DTD on arrival day!!

Good thing all this planning is fun and worth it... or boy oh boy.. would I be stressing - LOL