So basically I've screwed up this trip!?!?

[disneydude365]

Well this is heart shattering to hear we've only got one day the 20th Saturday to got to the park, won't even get to the park from the resort till 1pm no way we can afford Christmas party ticket but it's not even held that night so basically my trip is gonna be a bust great

I've gotten some really bad news regarding to high crowds long lines all merchandise being gone sold out

And honestly I'm sitting here crying I had worked so hard trying to turn this trip into something great and now it's seem to be falling apart faster than I thought possible

 

[robinb]

Well this is heart shattering to hear we've only got one day the 20th Saturday to got to the park, won't even get to the park from the resort till 1pm no way we can afford Christmas party ticket but it's not even held that night so basically my trip is gonna be a bust great

I've gotten some really bad news regarding to high crowds long lines all merchandise being gone sold out

And honestly I'm sitting here crying I had worked so hard trying to turn this trip into something great and now it's seem to be falling apart faster than I thought possible

Do you mean that you only have 12/20 off from your conference to go? What about evenings? Don't conferences offer special ticket pricing for evenings?

FWIW, 12/20 is supposed to be a good day and it's supposed to be fairly quiet. You can make the best out of it if you try.

 

[lugnut33]

I don't understand your dilema?

Were you only planning on going to one park for one day?

If you explain your problem better there are a lot of great people on the Dis willing to try and help get your ship righted.

 

[lugnut33]

Robinb is right.

There was one time I was really hung over (don't ask) and didn't go to the park until around 4 PM, it was the only day I could go to the MK. I sucked it up, spent my money to get in and had a great time. I think the park was open until midnight.

 

[kmb584]

Which merchandise?

 

[Airship Ariadne]

FWIW, 12/20 is supposed to be a good day and it's supposed to be fairly quiet. You can make the best out of it if you try.

And even if he can't make it in until 1 pm...the park is open till 1 am and EMH until 3 am that night (or next morning technically)

 

[JimmyV]

And honestly I'm sitting here crying I had worked so hard trying to turn this trip into something great and now it's seem to be falling apart faster than I thought possible

What situation has changed to make the trip fall apart? With all due respect, your post doesn't make much sense unless you flesh this out more. How many days will you be in Central Florida? What will you be doing while you are there? If there is no Christmas party on the 20th, then that means the park (you don't say which one) will likely be open late, so getting in at 1:00 p.m. might not be so bad. What merchandise do you think is going to sell out? If December 20 is setting up to be a bad time for you to go, then pick a different date.

 

[ORMom2Four]

Magic Kingdom will be open until 1am on the 20th, even if you are not staying onsite. It will not be a light crowd, the Christmas week is one of the busiest all year. Expect heavy crowds. That should not stop you from going or make you cry, but cheer up--you are going to Disney!

Book some fastpasses and just go with the expectation that it will be crowded and you will stand in lines.

Is there specific merchandise you are looking for?

 

[ziravan]

Several years ago, I went to a medical conference in Orlando. Several of the days, after sign-in and during first break, I ditched for Disney.

Depends on who is paying. That particular conference my employer wanted me to attend, but not enough to pay for it. Since I paid to be there, I didn't feel bad about ditching. Besides, I came home with all the right certificates for attending.

Not suggesting you do the same.

 

[robinb]

Magic Kingdom will be open until 1am on the 20th, even if you are not staying onsite. It will not be a light crowd, the Christmas week is one of the busiest all year. Expect heavy crowds. That should not stop you from going or make you cry, but cheer up--you are going to Disney!

Book some fastpasses and just go with the expectation that it will be crowded and you will stand in lines.

Is there specific merchandise you are looking for?

EasyWDW has the day at a 7/10. Busy, but not the 10/10 for the majority of the next 2 weeks after. I guess I used the word "fairly" in comparison to a 10/10 day!

 

[disneydude365]

Ok so our trip is the 17th-21st and we are being given 2 complimentary tickets from the MPS society conference for Saturday the 20th the rest of the week it's a game of Tetris with the time schedule so I've managed to book the fireworks pirates and palls hoping to get some garunteed time with character.
I've had people in person tell me I was in for a bad trip at the park being so close to Christmas with crowds being Major heavy and mostly just standing in a crowd all day.

As for merchandise same person told me that the special holiday merchandise that is exclusive to the season will be mostly picked through being so close to Christmas.

I just feel like its gonna be stressful trip at times with ppl I can be claustrophobic thanks to staying on site at Contemprary we will get the additional two hours so 1pm-3am in Magic kingdom.

Since we don't get tickets till day of or before we aren't able to use fast pass+ and we've been tying to book Table service restaurant at least one night for the past 3-4 months and our time windows are never available.

Let me say I love I'm getting inside WDW gates but I was hoping this trip to be extra special the conference is over 40 years of research, and I'm celebrating that I'm 22 and wasn't supposed to live past 11. And that I'm no longer in a wheel chair but use a walker or a cane. Plus my best friend is hopefully getting to go with us

And in person I've had so many ppl talking down to me stating how everything won't be magical and I'm just like... Hurt

 

[davedmaine]

Dude, just go. You'll have fun. Don't over think this..

 

[JimmyV]

The Conference agenda really touts this as a great chance to "explore the many parks of Walt Disney World" and leaves the weekend free to do so. And it seems as if you might even be getting in early. First event is Thursday evening. Conference is all day Friday with a "prom" dinner that night. And Saturday and Sunday are "free days". And it all takes place at the Contemporary, so EMHs are available to those who stay at the Conference site. You just have to squeeze in your Disney fun on Saturday and Sunday. Will it be typical of the types of vacations that many people here do for 10 days at a time? No. But I am certain that you will enjoy it.

 

[Bamagirl43]

You just said it all in your post. Don't miss the big picture. Celebrate, enjoy and make of it what you will. Things may not be perfect, but if I were you I'd throw down and have a good time.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

It is often all about the attitude...going in knowing the park will be crowded at least you can be prepared.

I fully expect that lines to shorten as the night wears on...In fact, we are going the same day...our plan isn't much different than yours except we will be there in the morning, but leave after 1 pm to take a nap, return at 6pm and close down the park at 3 am...we figured the worst of the crowds will be there in the afternoon as everyone starts to arrive for Christmas but I don't expect the crowds to last that late into the evening.

getting to the park at 1pm, if you can stay till close you will still have a 14 hour "day" in the park...plenty of time...you might want to plan on hitting the short wait rides during the peak time and then go for the more popular ones after the crowds trickle out...(or during fireworks since you have your cruise for those later in your stay) sure meeting Anna and Elsa might not be possible, but I can't imagine that you can't make the best of it.

And I wouldn't feel bad about no table service ressies being available, think of that as a blessing, if you have only one day, you don't want to be spending two hours of it waiting for a table then eating.

Storm that Castle! You are going to have a great time!

 

[pmaurer74]

I rarely like the merchandise in the pars anyway, maybe buy some stuff ahead of time? We went until Dec. 22 last year and had a great time!. Keep looking for those dining reservations I have been seeing them more frequently lately.

 

[darkwing818]

Dude, just go. You'll have fun. Don't over think this..

Great Advice......

 

[Michblue]

Sounds like you had a bad talk with a negative Nancy ( sorry to all the Nancys out there) and you just need to get back your Disney Magic feeling. It will be great! If you hate crowds consider going later. I have been at MK on busy days with EMH until 3am and most rides are practically walk on after midnight. Maybe take a nap in the afternoon then head over and stay until close. You are in the BEST spot! Monorail to MK= awesome! It will be great. And there will be plenty of Christmas merchandise. It will be great!

 

[disneydude365]

Dude, just go. You'll have fun. Don't over think this..

I'm honestly trying to not over think I just have OCD lol and want everything to go smoothly but I understand that getting too worked up I'll ruin my trip. Usually though once I'm there a lot of my walls go down and I'm a lot more loose and go with the flow*

You just said it all in your post. *Don't miss the big picture. Celebrate, enjoy and make of it what you will. *Things may not be perfect, but if I were you I'd throw down and have a good time.

Thank you and I agree don't want to miss the big picture making myself sick a over little details just sometimes I get wound up lol

It is often all about the attitude...going in knowing the park will be crowded at least you can be prepared.

I fully expect that lines to shorten as the night wears on...In fact, we are going the same day...our plan isn't much different than yours except we will be there in the morning, but leave after 1 pm to take a nap, return at 6pm and close down the park at 3 am...we figured the worst of the crowds will be there in the afternoon as everyone starts to arrive for Christmas but I don't expect the crowds to last that late into the evening.

getting to the park at 1pm, if you can stay till close you will still have a 14 hour "day" in the park...plenty of time...you might want to plan on hitting the short wait rides during the peak time and then go for the more popular ones after the crowds trickle out...(or during fireworks since you have your cruise for those later in your stay) sure meeting Anna and Elsa might not be possible, but I can't imagine that you can't make the best of it.

And I wouldn't feel bad about no table service ressies being available, think of that as a blessing, if you have only one day, you don't want to be spending two hours of it waiting for a table then eating.

Storm that Castle! You are going to have a great time!

I'd like to meet at least a couple characters lol in the park, and I'm hoping you're right about the crowds thinning out around later evening an we are planning on staying till close. I'll have to talk with my friend about skipping fireworks I go to WDW quite often but it's been forever since he's been so I'll be offering he make the hit or miss decisions.*

And I agree about the table service I just thought one would be fun since I've personally never experienced one. *I'm just hoping it to be a great trip since i haven't seen my friend in 5 months so I was hoping for some Disney magic extra along with the conference*


Honestly thank you to everyone trying to help unnerve me I know I seem high strung I'm honestly not just ready for the magic to begin I'm gonna try going in with the right attitude

 

[olwyngdh]

Don't let the Debbie Downers rob you of your joy. Look at what you have to celebrate, and revel in the fact that you are NOT in a wheelchair forced to look at everyone's butts!