PART THREE! *December 2012 Roll Call* Holidays, FLE & MVMCP!! A very, merry thread!

[Devi8or]

Man, I love all the suggestions and stuff that I got. I've been sifting through menus and such for the past half hour. They all sound so good! It definitely didn't make the decision any easier to read all about the food lol.

I'll have to browse it with the wife later and we'll hopefully figure it out from there

 

[levenhopper]

It's possible to do both but not for switch-flip. You can do OL after Fantasmic. It stays open at least half an hour after park close.

Even if they have a second Fantasmic! showing?

 

[1stvisit0909]

Man, I love all the suggestions and stuff that I got. I've been sifting through menus and such for the past half hour. They all sound so good! It definitely didn't make the decision any easier to read all about the food lol.

I'll have to browse it with the wife later and we'll hopefully figure it out from there

Uh oh. Hope you don't end up in the make a plan, change it club. Lol several of us are members.

 

[SAT887]

Looks like the Character Spot in EPCOT will be closed during our visit to WDW.

What! Where will I get my free Disney Visa picture!!

 

[M&MGirl1]

Uh oh. Hope you don't end up in the make a plan, change it club. Lol several of us are members.

Speaking of changing plans - I just changed an ADR. Sissy and I realized we had one more credit than meals we can comfortably eat on the DxDDP, and after talking about it we swapped out our Kouzzina reservation on the last night of our trip for Category 1 seating at the 8:30 of Hoop De Doo! I think it'll be a really fun note to end the trip on and am really looking forward to going early to explore Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness and see all the decorations over there.

 

[DisneyDreamerMN]

Had a really rough day at work today. Can anyone cheer me up?

 

[ksromack]

We are arriving at MCo at 8:30 pm on Dec 1st which is the Christmas parade taping. I had read somewhere that sometime MK stays open later then posted at this time that day. Anyone have insite on this. It is always hard when you get in later to find something besides hangout at OKW to do. Any suggestions would be great.

What about doing some shopping at DTD? Or just walking around DTD. I've alloted several hours there on our first full disney day. I thought it would be a good way to ease in to the World, get some shopping done, and enjoy a cocktail and lunch ADR! I believe there are some holiday goings on there as well.......

So after looking at some of the itineraries that some of you have posted, I realized that I never posted mine. So here it is.

11/29 Arrival Day
Check in to CBR and head to DTD
Lunch/Dinner at T-Rex ADR time 4 pm

11/30 Epcot Day 1 with EMH
Lunch at R&C ADR time 12:05

12/1 AK
Dinner at RFC ADR time 5:30

12/2 DHS EMH night
Dinner at 50's PT ADR time 4:05

12/3 MK Day 1 EMH night
Dinner at LTT ADR time 4:15

12/4 Downtime Day 1
Sleep late, catch up on
Dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse ADR time 5:35

12/5 Epcot Day 2
Dinner at Tutto Itallia ADR time 4:30

12/6 MK Day 2 (Official opening of the new FTL)
Steam train tour booked for morning
Dinner at the Captain's Grille at YC ADR time 6:45

12/7 Downtime Day 2
Finish ?
Afternoon tea at GF with my mom ADR 2:10
Pack for next day check out

12/8 Check out day. Flight home to LI, NY scheduled for 7:55 pm
DTD planned since we have the time this trip

I like how you have a nice relaxed schedule! We're planning on DTD our first day as well.

I was able to get an ADR for CP for 12/14 at 9:55. That's the same day we are doing Tomorrowland Dessert Party and MVMCP. It's just BF and I. Is that too long of a day?

What's everyone's thoughts? I've been known to spend 12+ hours at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

I hope it isn't too long.....our MVMCP is just as long as yours. We have a CRT 8:05 am ADR and plan on staying at MK the entire day then the party afterwards.

Hi all!

I'm Gretchen. My mom and I will be traveling December 17-21, staying at Wilderness Lodge for the first time-courtyard view.

I did the Disney college program earlier this year, so was there from January-August. We've also been in October, but never December! Very excited for all the holiday stuff! I have a PTR started, link is in my sig, and I'd love it if you'd come read it!

Welcome, Gretchen! You are in for a double treat! Christmas-time is the most magical.....and the WL is the most special place to spend it I will add your PTR to others I like to collect

Thanks!!! It is at 9:55am. I have one for Wednesday for lunch but I'd prefer breakfast and then I can plan Wednesday at AK or DHS instead. I would like to Resort hop at some point. I need to bring a gingerbread shingle back for a friend.

So far this is what I have:

Monday 12/10

1:30ish Arrive Amtrak
Take a taxi to BWI and check in
MK

Tuesday 12/11
EC
7:30 Le Cellier ADR
9:30 Illuminations

Wednesday 12/12
Park ??
2:20 CP ADR (cancelling?)

Thursday 12/13
Park ?? No ADR

Friday 12/14
MK
9:55a CP ADR
MVMCP
8:35 - TTDC ADR

Saturday 12/15
?? Possibly EC "drinking around the world" with a local friend.

Sunday 12/16​

??


Monday 12/17
Check out at 11
Taxi to Amtrak
1:30ish train back

I would hit the monorail resorts/WL on a day you plan on being at MK.....and Boardwalk/YC/BC on a DHS day.

Wow, just got back from being on the Disney Wonder for a week and the new thread is 43 pages in!! Guess I've got some reading to do ... need to see my ticket now to know how much longer until I can get my next Disney fix ...

The good news is while on board I went to some of the DVC presentations ... and at the second one I won $300 On Board Credit (non-refundable use-or-lose). So I got refunded my gratuities, and had some to spare ... after buying DS5 a few toys and smoothies, still had some non-refundable credit leftover. They let me spend it on a few Disney Park gift cards! More for the December trip! Yay! Its so weird coming home from a DCL cruise with more money than I left with ...

Awesome! How long is the DVC schpiel? Are they persistent? Do they offer incentives for listening to the talk while at WDW? I would love do do a Disney cruise!!!

Trying to figure out a way to save a bit more money. Had an unexpected expense come up & have to pull some from the trip budget!

So my thinking, since my 16 year old is now coming with us, is to not upgrade to the DxDDP & just pay OOP for breakfast each morning. I realize we lose the extra credits & the extra snack but last trip we had 4 snack credits left over & used them on Goofy's Candy Co bags to bring home. We'll also lose our apps with our TS meals but my DH will probably be the only one who cares about that, as long as I get to keep my dessert, i could care less about an app! Or we could pay OOP for 1 or 2 just for him. I already have it QS lunch & TS dinners, so that's no big deal at all. I'll just get rid of one of our 2 TS credit dinners, we have 2 booked.

Anyone know if AllEars menus have the up to date prices on their menus?

If so, I could keep most of our breakfast ADRs:
Crystal Palace
Hollywood & Vine
Tusker House
Akershus
Then we could do 2 QS breakfasts, one at Sunshine Seasons & one at Pop.

With AllEars prices, OOP for breakfasts & even extra snacks, is around $1050-$1100.

To upgrade from DDP to DxDDP it's $1586 for the 6 of us.

WWYD?

I would definitely keep with the DDP and not worry about deluxe. I'm upgrading our plan but it's only 2 of us and frankly, I think it'll totally encourage us to overeat. There is no way we'll be about to eat all that food......plus you will get to eat some CS and there are some great options for that! Some places have snack credit items that could totally fill you up for lunch (soups at various cs, AK fried rice, etc). You should come out ahead by not upgrading.

 

[mom2travel]

Speaking of changing plans - I just changed an ADR. Sissy and I realized we had one more credit than meals we can comfortably eat on the DxDDP, and after talking about it we swapped out our Kouzzina reservation on the last night of our trip for Category 1 seating at the 8:30 of Hoop De Doo! I think it'll be a really fun note to end the trip on and am really looking forward to going early to explore Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness and see all the decorations over there.

That sounds like a fun plan! I haven't been to HDD since I was a kid

 

[ksromack]

Yup, not upgrading! I can use that $400 somewhere else, like spending!

I'm trying to find other ways to cut costs but not sure what else to do. We're already staying value, free QSDP upgraded to DDP. Tips & some spending, that's about it!

& yea, I think my lunch on DHS day is going to be a cupcake, lol. Red Velvet to be exact!

Help me choose my 2 TS credit meal. Should I keep Le Cellier or Narcoossee's?

We're doing Narcoossee so hubby can have lobster. I would look at both menus and pick based on that. We're doing Le Cellier, but as a lunch so it's only 1 ts.

 

[tofubeast]

What! Where will I get my free Disney Visa picture!!

The Visa pic doesn't happen at the Character Spot. That is not affected.

 

[WedgieSock]

You better be careful how far you go with trying to "edgy" her out. I taught middle school for 2 years. And right before the Summer break, I heard a couple of the moms talking about taking their 14 yr old girls to New Hampshire to get mother/daughter tatoos (or go to tatoo parties). They felt it would be a bonding experience.

Now... If she wanted to get a Dis-friendly tat, that could be a different story.

I completely agree - I'm quite a strict Mum .... but I thought she'd go for a streak !

I certainly wouldn't do tatoos - I cried when she wanted her ears pierced

How cool that you taught middle school! What subject?

 

[bellebookworm9]

Welcome to the group!!! Which area did you work in for the DCP? WL is soooo pretty at Christmastime!!!!!

Thank you! I worked at Epcot Main Entrance (turnstiles and toll plaza).

That sounds great!! How did you like DCP?

There were days that I loved it and days (mostly over the summer when I was seasonal and not a CP) that I hated it. But I would recommend it to anyone that has the opportunity.

I cut 4x6 white card stock, punch a hole in the corner and put it on a key ring. Every day I take off the signed cards and add new blanks as needed. Super easy and convenient to carry.

In May 2010, I made a binder, using the templates found over on the Creative DISign thread. Each character had their own space, with name and picture, and they all loved it-gave me extra special attention. But it did take up a lot of space and was awkward to carry around. Now I just use the Disney autograph book.

On AllEars, are their prices pretty accurate if the date they were last updated was in 2012? I like that most of their's have the tax added in.
I asked on the Restaurant board & was given a link to wdwinfo menus but wow, some of them are way different!
Like AllEars has breakfast at CP starting around $26 per adult, wdwinfo has $37?

If you PM me the restaurants you need specific prices for, I can get them for you.

The thing about me, I tend to research a lot lol. I just haven't started yet!

Here's one for you...

Aside from the CRT I honestly have no idea where to eat. Thankfully my kids are not picky eaters, but I just don't know where to go. Do you have any recommendations? If so please tell what they are spelled out if possible. I read through the thread like a total newbie and only know what about 50% of the abbreviations stand for lol

Like others have said, buffets are good choices. I love Crystal Palace for breakfast, and while some have had mediocre experiences at Chef Mickey's, my friends and I had a pretty stellar experience there for breakfast. 50s Prime Time is pretty fun if you aren't afraid to get into the act. 1900 Park Fare breakfast and Ohana dinner are just so-so in my opinion.

Does anyone know what Disney Junior characters are around DHS for autographs? Our TV is always on Disney Jr these days and well I have a request to find and meet Doc McStuffins and Jake and the Pirates.

I don't even know who that first one is, but I know Jake is available. Will PM you once I get a more definite answer about other characters. (The CM website is being finnicky.) Of course, characters are always subject to change. My advice would be do not make any promises to your kids, and when you get to DHS, ask any cast member to call the CHIP line and they can get specific appearance info for that day.

Welcome, Gretchen! You are in for a double treat! Christmas-time is the most magical.....and the WL is the most special place to spend it I will add your PTR to others I like to collect

Yay! I love new readers!

 

[ksromack]

Hi everyone! My name is Jason and I Just signed up and am happy to confirm our dates as 12/2-12/8. I'll be traveling with my wife and 2 girls, ages 6(7 when we're there) and 4. We're taking a family trip for the first time to DW. My wife and I had been there back in 2001, but not since. We're coming all the way from Alaska for my Daughters 7th birthday.

Basically I have no plans except for her birthday dinner. We made ADR for CRT on her birthday. Other then that I'm totally lost on what we need to do without coming home feeling like we missed out.

I'm looking at MVMCP and was strongly considering that. It's probably a dumb question, but is it worth it? I'm assuming it is as I know the kids would love it.

What tips do you guys and gals have that I can make my daughters birthday there one she'll always remember?

So you are staying at Port Orleans, Riverside? I love the ADR for CRT for your dd's birthday. Make sure you add a "celebration" to that ADR. I can't help with Rapunzel but I'm sure someone here can. I would definitely do the MVMCP. How is your younger daughter with her older sister getting lots of attention since it'll be her birthday? I would pick one day or meal where she can feel special as well (like maybe a favorite character meal or let her choose what type of food you eat. I would chose my park days based on where you would like to eat (it may prove to be more difficult to get some of the restaurants you would like since you are under 2 months.....maybe research where you would like to eat and base your park days on that.

Ok that comment on DD moving out and now you like her is funny BUT Wow can I relate!! My DS19 had to move out b/c he wouldn't accept house rules we argued constantly.. Now we get along great! Lol

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

It's called "tough love" and sometimes you have to do it. I know it takes a dose of reality for some kids to "get it"......and if moving out is what it takes, then it's the right thing!

Realistically the only must do on our agenda is the birthday dinner. Everything else is wide open lol. We'll be getting in early on the 2nd so I'm thinking of tackling a quieter type park to settle from the jet lag. I would consider doing 2 days at MK with the kids since we will most likely have to take a break.

I really need to step up my research game and get it figured out. We're actually leaving on the 8th to go to a Philadelphia Eagles game down in Tampa then heading back to Orlando. My wife thought it would be neat to stay at the new Princess Tiana rooms since its my youngests favorite princess.

I'll have to sift through the remainder of this thread, as lengthy as it is.

Your first day could be at DHS. Osbourne Lights would be a really fun way to start your vacation and I think it, along with Animal Kingdom tends to be a "quieter" park. What about checking out the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for your girls? They could get "princessified". Not sure about availability though.

You guys are horrible, I just talked my mom into spending 50 bucks on 2012 shirts. I got a shirt the Donald Shirt for her, her favorite character is Donald, the purple long sleeve 2012 girl shirt for DD, and a blue 2012 men's shirt for DS and a 2012 pin for DS's pin collection.

Enablers all of you.

Ok so I'm looking at my ADRS and well I'm not sure they are going to work. I think some of our breakfasts are scheduled way too late. I need to fix this.

I don't like breakfast ADRs that cut into my park time.......I didn't realize this when I booked some of mine

Great.....now I have to check out the stupid Disney Store!

Welcome to the enablers and ADR tweaked club. There is a 12 step program, but we ignore it. Lol

Um..... Hello. My name is Kathy. I'm an enabler and a tweaker.

 

[SAT887]

Had a really rough day at work today. Can anyone cheer me up?

Did you look at your ticker?

 

[SAT887]

The Visa pic doesn't happen at the Character Spot. That is not affected.

Where is the Visa spot? we couldn't take advantage of it because of the time was right in nap time.... I thought it was the character spot... oops!

 

[DisneyDreamerMN]

Did you look at your ticker?

Good point

 

[sunnysideup3]

I can't wait to get Mickey Mail. With the trip paid off, that's the next BIG thing..... tick, tock, tick, tock.....

 

[mom2travel]

I can't wait to get Mickey Mail. With the trip paid off, that's the next BIG thing..... tick, tock, tick, tock.....

Ooooh, yes... Mickey mail should be here soon! Wahoo!!

 

[ksromack]

This is what I have for ADRS , the only ones I am happy with are Whispering Canyon and 1900 Park Fare for Dinner. I could live with Trail's End but would like to change it for Chef Mickey's if possible. Excuse the semi-colons , my shift key is broken.

Trail's End - 12/10 4;30 pm

1900 Park Fare - 12/11 5;10 pm

Cape May - 12/12 9;15 am

Whispering Canyon - 12/13 12;05 pm

1900 Park Fare - 12/14 10;35 am

Akershus - 12/15 - 10;30 am

I don't know what I was thinking when I booked these crazy times. I was on a we're going to Disney World high apparently. But these late breakfasts especially at Akerhus will not work. We've BTDT and felt rush because they were setting up for lunch. I will keep it if I have to, but would prefer to move it earlier. This is going to be fun.

Intolerable. You must get your shift key fixed. You know that Whispering Canyon lunch doesn't have the skillet anymore, right? I just wanted to make sure you weren't going there strictly for the skillet......

 

[M&MGirl1]

What about doing some shopping at DTD? Or just walking around DTD. I've alloted several hours there on our first full disney day. I thought it would be a good way to ease in to the World, get some shopping done, and enjoy a cocktail and lunch ADR! I believe there are some holiday goings on there as well.......

I like how you have a nice relaxed schedule! We're planning on DTD our first day as well.

I hope it isn't too long.....our MVMCP is just as long as yours. We have a CRT 8:05 am ADR and plan on staying at MK the entire day then the party afterwards.

Welcome, Gretchen! You are in for a double treat! Christmas-time is the most magical.....and the WL is the most special place to spend it I will add your PTR to others I like to collect

I would hit the monorail resorts/WL on a day you plan on being at MK.....and Boardwalk/YC/BC on a DHS day.

Awesome! How long is the DVC schpiel? Are they persistent? Do they offer incentives for listening to the talk while at WDW? I would love do do a Disney cruise!!!

I would definitely keep with the DDP and not worry about deluxe. I'm upgrading our plan but it's only 2 of us and frankly, I think it'll totally encourage us to overeat. There is no way we'll be about to eat all that food......plus you will get to eat some CS and there are some great options for that! Some places have snack credit items that could totally fill you up for lunch (soups at various cs, AK fried rice, etc). You should come out ahead by not upgrading.

I hope that isn't too long a day. Our MVMCP day starts with an 8 am ADR at Tusker House, moves to shopping at DTD straight to a dinner ADR at Narcoossee's then the party. Sissy can handle it no problem - she chases kindergarteners around all day, I might be in trouble though!