Rate our FP+ and Plans for Christmas!

[PlutoTheDog89]

Booked FP+ for Christmas week and couldn't believe my success. What do you guys think?

A few things:
- We wanted to ride 7DMT once during the day, and once at night. We succeeded
- I always try and ride Tower of Terror once in the day and once at night. Check.
- My mom and sister don't go on Tower of Terror, so I booked it once for me and my dad, and again for them. We'll swap MagicBands
- My dad and mom don't go on Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. My sister and I will do the same for RnR as we do for Tower of Terror.

So here's the plan...

December 24th: Arrive at Disney. Relax and hang out - dinner at Trattoria Al Forno. "Early night" to get up early tomorrow.

December 25th: Wake up early. Totally expect Disney to expand Magic Kingdom's hours to 8am, with morning EMH at 7am. We'll arrive for 7:30am and run to Space Mountain (should be ~20-30 mins). We also do Jingle Cruise, Small World and Haunted Mansion.

Here's our FP+
9:50a - 10:50a: Buzz Lightyear
11:50a - 12:50p: Thunder Mountain
2:30p - 3:30p: 7DMT

After 7DMT, we'll head back to the hotel - relax and shower before heading to our dinner at Artist Point. We usually like to call it a night early on Christmas. We head back to the hotel and watch a movie.

December 26th: We'll wake up a little later today and then head over to Hollywood Studios.
10:35a - 11:25a: Tower of Terror
11:35a - 12:35p: Tower of Terror Encore
12:25p - 1:35p: Frozen Sing-along
1:55p - 2:55p: Toy Story Midway Mania

-- Still figuring out the rest of the day. We'll either head to EPCOT at night and do a QS/eat around the world for dinner then watch Illuminations, or stay/head back to Hollywood Studios after taking a break and eating at Port Orleans Riverside for dinner to watch Fantasmic!

10:20pm: Reservation at Beaches & Cream

December 27th:
10:00am reservation for breakfast at Cape May
After breakfast, we'll head to Animal Kingdom

12:50p - 1:50p: Kilimanjaro Safari (am I leaving enough time?)
2:20p - 3:20p: DINOSAUR
3:25p - 4:25p: Expedition Everest

Probably do dinner somewhere in Animal Kingdom (Harambe Market?)

We'll probably head back to the resort after this. Fully expecting Disney to add late-night EMH for Magic Kingdom tonight, so we'll get there in time for the last Wishes and parade, get caffeinated at Starbucks, and then ride Thunder Mountain, Pirates, the Goofy Coaster, Peter Pan and Winnie until they kick us out of the park.

December 28th:
Another day at Hollywood Studios. Here's our FP+:
10:25a - 11:25a: Rock n Roller Coaster
11:35a - 12:35p: Tower of Terror
1:20p - 2:20p: Star Tours
2:20p - 3:20p: Rock n Roller Coaster again

Leave Hollywood Studios and relax at the resort.

7:35p: Dinner at 'Ohana
Followed by drinks at Trader Sam's and possibly watching Wishes from the Poly Beach

December 29th:
9:05am Breakfast at Kona

Head to EPCOT later in the day.
2:30p - 3:30p: Character meet-and-greet
4:05p - 5:05p: Spaceship Earth

--6:00p - Dinner at Biergarten

8:05p - 9:05p: Test Track

- Probably watch Illuminations or head to HS for Fantasmic if we haven't seen it yet.

Wednesday, December 30th
We'll do something different in the day - either rent a boat, or try and hit a ride or park we haven't experienced yet.

Head to Magic Kingdom later in the day.

5:30p - 6:30p: Pirates of the Caribbean
6:45p - 7:45p: Thunder Mountain

--8:00pm: Dinner at Be Our Guest

9:05p - 10:05p: 7DMT

Watch the fireworks and NYE "dress rehearsal" countdown

December 31st:
Spend the day at Disney Springs. Probably grab breakfast at Wolfgang Puck Express. Shop and then relax all day.

Head to EPCOT around 6pm.

7:30p: Dinner at Teppan Edo

Drink, enjoy the fireworks and celebrate the new year.

January 1st:
Open Day
6:00p: Dinner at Raglan Road

January 2nd:
Fly Home

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Anyone?

 

[dvcmom14]

I think it looks like you are going to have one awesomely fun holiday season!

 

[5Hfan]

Dec 25 seems you'll be trekking across the park quite a bit from Tomorrowland to Frontierland and then back to Buzz fast pass? Christmas crowds will make that pretty painful! If you are at Space Mt for early am rope drop you will be able to ride Buzz too no problem. I'd consider changing Buzz fast pass to Jingle Cruise...

 

[SaintsManiac]

No Osborne lights?

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

No Osborne lights?

We'll do that when we go to Hollywood Studios for Fantasmic. Still waiting for the extended hours to make some updates. So frustrating that they can't release more hours yet...

 

[csjordan]

We'll do that when we go to Hollywood Studios for Fantasmic. Still waiting for the extended hours to make some updates. So frustrating that they can't release more hours yet...

Do they usually extend hours the week leading into Christmas? We will be there 12/17-12/24! Thanks!!

 

[thptrek]

We are going almost the same dates. My fp window opens tonight. I like your plans

 

[PirateD]

Sounds like a great trip! We will be there on the other side of Christmas. The excitement is building!

Your plans seem very well thought out, lots of fun, and pretty doable.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I actually moved our FP+ back on Saturday, December 26th. Now our day will look like this:

- Wake up late and head to EPCOT
- Eat around the world into the afternoon. It'll count as a big, separated lunch/dinner.
- Leave Hollywood Studios around 3:30pm

4:00p: Arrive at Hollywood Studios
3:35p - 4:35p: FP+ for Tower of Terror (hope to make it in time, but if we don't, we have one for another day)
4:35p - 4:50p: FP+ for Frozen Sing Along
6:05p - 7:05p: Toy Story Midway Mania

6:30ish: See the Osborne Lights

Catch the 8:30p Fantasmic! (Hopefully it's at 8:30pm)

10:20p Reservation at Beaches and Cream

Get to Hollywood Studios for the last 30 minutes of our FP+ for Tower of Terror (3:35p - 4:35p)

 

[Enjoying Life]

I don't like the criss crossing on the 25th. Maybe change the Thunder Mountain to Space Mountain after Mine Train and before Buzz. If you are arriving early ride standby rides first and Fast Passes later and go in a circle around the park. Maybe:


Jungle Cruise – SB

Thunder Mountain – SB

Haunted Mansion – SB

It's a Small World – SB

Mine Train – FP

Space Mountain – FP

Buzz Lightyear - FP

 

[5Hfan]

I don't like the criss crossing on the 25th. Maybe change the Thunder Mountain to Space Mountain after Mine Train and before Buzz. If you are arriving early ride standby rides first and Fast Passes later and go in a circle around the park. Maybe:


Jungle Cruise – SB

Thunder Mountain – SB

Haunted Mansion – SB

It's a Small World – SB

Mine Train – FP

Space Mountain – FP

Buzz Lightyear - FP

If it's EMH though Frontierland won't be open the first hour.

 

[Mainemama]

Looks great! We will be at AK with you on the 27th! The only snafu I saw had to do with the SDMT on 12/25... Seemed to be timed with a big gap prior, during the busiest time of day. Maybe that is your lunch break? But other posters caught the bigger issue there. Also, curious... Why book 2 different FP times when you will be swapping bands, why not go back to back?

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Looks great! We will be at AK with you on the 27th! The only snafu I saw had to do with the SDMT on 12/25... Seemed to be timed with a big gap prior, during the busiest time of day. Maybe that is your lunch break? But other posters caught the bigger issue there. Also, curious... Why book 2 different FP times when you will be swapping bands, why not go back to back?

It's a mix between wanting to do 7DMT and doing the only time they had available and taking a break for lunch.

 

[dkrauss]

I'm curious about 12/26.............you were able to book the same ride twice on the same day? Really?

Doug

 

[5Hfan]

I'm curious about 12/26.............you were able to book the same ride twice on the same day? Really?

Doug

The OP said they have some in their group who don't ride, so they use their fast pass for double ride.

 

[dkrauss]

The OP said they have some in their group who don't ride, so they use their fast pass for double ride.

Oops.............my bad! Thanks.

Doug

 

[ELSA711]

This looks great. Would love to plan a Christmas trip next year.
I will be reading all the Christmas planning forums.
How bad is it really?!!

 

[heybravo626]

Not sure if I would wait until 6PM to head to EPCOT on NYE. You never know if it could hit capacity. Even if it does not, navigating in those crowds we be slow. Also on 12/29, I would hit the Test Track FP+ right at 8:00 if you are going to do Illuminations or Fantasmic after TT. In our experiences, the FP+ lines can really back up Christmas week, especially as the day goes on so the earlier you get on TT, the better. We have seen FP+ times grow to around 30 minutes at Christmas.

We are also waiting on the revised times but assuming they are coming. We utilize the 7AM EMH some days (especially in MK) and get there by 6;45. it's early but well worth it. That first 90 minutes or so it is near normal until the crowds really grow.

Have done 3 of the last 4 Christmas weeks and going again this year (12/28 - 1/5 - going a little later this year to get some crowd relief
later in trip).... Nice job on having full day plans, Being totally prepared for the insanity of Christmas week is key.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I don't like the criss crossing on the 25th. Maybe change the Thunder Mountain to Space Mountain after Mine Train and before Buzz. If you are arriving early ride standby rides first and Fast Passes later and go in a circle around the park. Maybe:


Jungle Cruise – SB

Thunder Mountain – SB

Haunted Mansion – SB

It's a Small World – SB

Mine Train – FP

Space Mountain – FP

Buzz Lightyear - FP

We usually hit Space Mountain first thing in the morning for EMH. I know it looks like a log

Not sure if I would wait until 6PM to head to EPCOT on NYE. You never know if it could hit capacity. Even if it does not, navigating in those crowds we be slow. Also on 12/29, I would hit the Test Track FP+ right at 8:00 if you are going to do Illuminations or Fantasmic after TT. In our experiences, the FP+ lines can really back up Christmas week, especially as the day goes on so the earlier you get on TT, the better. We have seen FP+ times grow to around 30 minutes at Christmas.

We are also waiting on the revised times but assuming they are coming. We utilize the 7AM EMH some days (especially in MK) and get there by 6;45. it's early but well worth it. That first 90 minutes or so it is near normal until the crowds really grow.

Have done 3 of the last 4 Christmas weeks and going again this year (12/28 - 1/5 - going a little later this year to get some crowd relief
later in trip).... Nice job on having full day plans, Being totally prepared for the insanity of Christmas week is key.

We've done NYE at that time before and never had a problem. For us, if we get turned away then we get turned away. We've never had a problem and if by the off chance we do, so be it. We may head there as early as 5pm, but not any earlier. The park is too crazy during the daytime and we like to relax and hang out at Disney Springs.

We usually get to MK for the last half hour of EMH and it works great. Really hoping they add to the hours soon!