So basically all has been for nothing? Won't get in?

[whiporee]

You'll get in. I'm sure if that.

You won't be able to do anything you don't have a fast pass for, though. That may have been what people were telling you. You'll have to camp out early for parade seats and expect a 30+ minute wait for your BOG reservation.

I was just there on days that were listed as 5s and any of the in-demand rides were 40-minute waits until after midnight. Except splash mountain because it was cold.

So you'll be able to get in but beyond that expect to be frustrated.

 

[pooch]

Wow, I'm surprised at the posts of kids who don't get out until the 23rd and go back the 2nd. Looks like it is mostly east coast?

We are in the Midwest and here and in the surrounding states the kids get 10 school days (2 weeks) off. Most places it starts the Friday before Christmas Eve, so if Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday, then they would not get out until the 23rd, but would wind up out more days in January. This year, their last day is the 19th and they go back the 5th (Monday). The cousins in the state below us and in a state 2 away from us, are all on that same schedule.

We've been that way since I was a kid...which was a pretty long time ago!

In my very small corner of my very small state, kids go back to school the day after Labor Day (if LD fall before 9/4) or the Tuesday before (if it falls on or after 9/4). They get approximately 12/23 to 1/2 off for Xmas break, then a week in February and April (some school systems do just one week in March) and typically get out around June 20th depending on snow days. Mandated 180 days of school and must end prior to July 1.

 

[silenttuba]

In my very small corner of my very small state, kids go back to school the day after Labor Day (if LD fall before 9/4) or the Tuesday before (if it falls on or after 9/4). They get approximately 12/23 to 1/2 off for Xmas break, then a week in February and April (some school systems do just one week in March) and typically get out around June 20th depending on snow days. Mandated 180 days of school and must end prior to July 1.

Exactly the same here in NJ, which is why I'm going to WDW in February; I'm a school teacher, so my flexibility is limited.

 

[pooch]

is a northeast thing.

 

[gtpoohbear]

Wow, I'm surprised at the posts of kids who don't get out until the 23rd and go back the 2nd. Looks like it is mostly east coast?

I was surprised by that too! It does seem to be all NE posters, guess it's a regional thing.

That would be disastrous for us, as we have to travel for Christmas every other year (from Colorado to Florida to visit my family), and they do their big celebration on Christmas Eve. There's no way we would make it if the kids were still in school on the 23rd. It just seems kind of Scrooge-ish to not give families any time at all before Christmas to travel and prepare.

I grew up in the south, and our schedule there was similar to how it is here- always out by the 20th or 21sr, and usually go back around the 5th or 6th.

 

[pooch]

I was surprised by that too! It does seem to be all NE posters, guess it's a regional thing.

That would be disastrous for us, as we have to travel for Christmas every other year (from Colorado to Florida to visit my family), and they do their big celebration on Christmas Eve. There's no way we would make it if the kids were still in school on the 23rd. It just seems kind of Scrooge-ish to not give families any time at all before Christmas to travel and prepare.

I grew up in the south, and our schedule there was similar to how it is here- always out by the 20th or 21sr, and usually go back around the 5th or 6th.

But I would go crazy trying to arrange childcare. Even at 1+ weeks off, finding somewhere for the kids to be while DH & I worked was beyond challenging. We certainly didn't have that kind of time off during the holidays (I was a retail manager, got NO time off between Thanksgiving and New Years!!)

 

[ariane37]

Wow, I'm surprised at the posts of kids who don't get out until the 23rd and go back the 2nd. Looks like it is mostly east coast?

QUOTE]

Yeah well, this East Coast gals kids are out this Fri. the 19th through the 5th! And I am not ashamed to say I'm jealous of all the E. Coasters' whose kids DO go to school through the 23rd lol

OP, I haven't been to Disney in Dec. in almost 30 years but I really don't think you have to worry about any closures on the 20th. Enjoy your trip!

 

[disneydude365]

What? Do you have to use one of your 3 FP+ selections for the scheduled thunderstorm?

You have to do them in order if the rides closed you miss your time and I've had it where when going to the second fast pass option it won't let you go in due to you never going to the first
Thunderstorms will close certain rides

However I'm trying to keep positive !

 

[disneydude365]

OP I don't blame you for freaking out, because quite honestly, I would be too. I am an uber planner and tend to get anxious if things have a chance of not going as I have planned.

That being said, even if the parks reach a Phase 3 closure, you will still be able to get in because of your ADR. And even if it reaches a Phase 4 (which I highly doubt it will), as a PP said, it will not last all day.

Try not to worry about it (I know easier said than done) as this is something that is completely out of your hands.

Take a deep breath, put on your mouse ears, and have a great trip!!

Glad to see someone didn't find me totally insane for the freakout

And I'm sure once the EMH hit things will be smoother as well!

 

[pooch]

You have to do them in order if the rides closed you miss your time and I've had it where when going to the second fast pass option it won't let you go in due to you never going to the first Thunderstorms will close certain rides However I'm trying to keep positive !

Have never heard that. I'm guessing people miss FP+'s for lots of reasons. Can't imagine why that would interfere with subsequent FP?

 

[Cloudless Nights]

You have to do them in order if the rides closed you miss your time and I've had it where when going to the second fast pass option it won't let you go in due to you never going to the first
Thunderstorms will close certain rides

However I'm trying to keep positive !

That's not AT ALL how it works--they aren't connected in that way. You can skip any of them you like, and you won't be denied entry to the next scheduled FP+ (i.e. if I sleep in and miss my 9AM FP+, I can go right on my second 10AM FP+ with no problem).

In the case of thunderstorms and ride closures, they notify you (usually by email), to let you know and offer an alternative--including the ORIGINAL ride that is now closed and any other rides in that tier of FP+--that can be used for the remainder of day at any time (once the closed ride reopens, of course, if that is what to use it for). Your second FP+, again, is not affected by the "missing of your time" on the first FP+. Of course there are days where it rains all day, but more often you have short bouts of thunderstorms that eventually pass, and rides will reopen.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Also sometimes if the ride is shut down due to weather they MAY let you get on after your fp time. It's entirely up to them but most are pretty nice about helping out. I blew off several fps and it didn't affect the others in the least.

 

[pooch]

Gotta say, I don't know where you're getting this stuff. It's like you're making it up just to have something to worry about!

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I'd say the OP has a bit of misinformation, plus is just so nervous about all the pre-planning going awry. Just don't worry about it. I planned like crazy and found I wasn't having a good time so once I figured out to fp the long wait attractions and just go with the flow for the rest I had a great time. I spent 7 days at WDW and ended up cancelling all my fps and ADRs for the last 3 days and had a lot more fun than I did the first 4.

 

[dimndgal1]

You have to do them in order if the rides closed you miss your time and I've had it where when going to the second fast pass option it won't let you go in due to you never going to the first
Thunderstorms will close certain rides

However I'm trying to keep positive !

I was there in Sept and we rode Space 4 times during EMH... it was also our first FP+ of the day. Being thoroughly spent flying through space, we skipped our FP and wandered over to Fantasyland, met some characters, and hopped in the FP+ line for SDMT when our window opened with no problems. We also skipped a Figment FP+ because there was no standby line so it seemed silly to do FP... it had no effect on our Maelstrom. Ironically, we were thundered out of our TT FP+ later in the day; they closed the ride and as it was the last 30 minutes of the day, we did find we had a FP for Spaceship Earth appear... I assume it's because the FP wasn't usable.

Point being, wherever you are getting this information I would politely smile, nod, and then promptly ignore.

 

[JanaDee]

I am in WI. My kids have a full day on Dec 23rd and go back Jan 5th.

 

[bumbershoot]

You have to do them in order if the rides closed you miss your time and I've had it where when going to the second fast pass option it won't let you go in due to you never going to the first
Thunderstorms will close certain rides

However I'm trying to keep positive !

Something glitched for you.

That's not AT ALL how it works--they aren't connected in that way. You can skip any of them you like, and you won't be denied entry to the next scheduled FP+ (i.e. if I sleep in and miss my 9AM FP+, I can go right on my second 10AM FP+ with no problem).

In the case of thunderstorms and ride closures, they notify you (usually by email), to let you know and offer an alternative--including the ORIGINAL ride that is now closed and any other rides in that tier of FP+--that can be used for the remainder of day at any time (once the closed ride reopens, of course, if that is what to use it for). Your second FP+, again, is not affected by the "missing of your time" on the first FP+. Of course there are days where it rains all day, but more often you have short bouts of thunderstorms that eventually pass, and rides will reopen.

Yes.

I'm not sure why there was a closure, and I got the email later when I checked that account, but suddenly on my app there was a random, open, FP+ on our AK day. I wish I could remember the wording. We had missed our first FP+ and I thought I was out of luck, and we weren't even at the park for that FP+ so I do not know if it was because of a closure OR if it was because I missed it, but I could suddenly use it wherever. I walked up to Primeval Whirl, showed the guy my phone. He had never seen it before. I asked if I could just follow the instructions, and he said sure. So I put my MB up to the mickey head, it turned green for me and for my friend, and we got into the FP line!

it was very cool.

OP your situation was a glitch if that's what happened to you. Or that's how it was, and now it is better.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Something glitched for you.



Yes.

I'm not sure why there was a closure, and I got the email later when I checked that account, but suddenly on my app there was a random, open, FP+ on our AK day. I wish I could remember the wording. We had missed our first FP+ and I thought I was out of luck, and we weren't even at the park for that FP+ so I do not know if it was because of a closure OR if it was because I missed it, but I could suddenly use it wherever. I walked up to Primeval Whirl, showed the guy my phone. He had never seen it before. I asked if I could just follow the instructions, and he said sure. So I put my MB up to the mickey head, it turned green for me and for my friend, and we got into the FP line!

it was very cool.

OP your situation was a glitch if that's what happened to you. Or that's how it was, and now it is better.

Tossing this out there as I am not sure if it is true--
A CM at a ride told us to make sure we scanned our passes at the second FP+ Mickey because if we didn't, then our other FP's would not work.

I have no idea if this was true or if the CM was pulling my leg.

Just tossing that out there.

But we missed FP's on our last trip and it did not affect our ability to use other FP's.

 

[dimndgal1]

Tossing this out there as I am not sure if it is true--
A CM at a ride told us to make sure we scanned our passes at the second FP+ Mickey because if we didn't, then our other FP's would not work.

I have no idea if this was true or if the CM was pulling my leg.

Just tossing that out there.

But we missed FP's on our last trip and it did not affect our ability to use other FP's.

The first FP+ we used, DH didn't touch the second Mickey and didn't realize he needed to until we went to use our second FP+ and he saw me do it... it didn't seem to disrupt his FPs but it did give DD7 some fodder for joking around the rest of the trip - "Remember, Daddy, there are TWO Mickeys"

 

[tinkerbellmichelle]

Just a thought to OP - and none of this comes from facts - - just something I thought about.

Are you using one of those conference admission tickets that lets you in after a certain time of day... ? If so, are there black out days? Could that be what they are referring to? Or perhaps they are lowest priority for admission when things get busy?

I wouldn't worry about it at all. It sounds like you are getting info. from a bunch of uninformed people - I'd be more apt to trust what people are telling you here.

Not to mention - - the busiest times are between Christmas and NY. I think that is when the staged closers are more likely to appear.

But if you are worried about it I would call Disney and see what they say.