The OFFICIAL December 2014 - Christmas Magic

[harbin]

Hello!
I just booked a stay at WL Dec 18-23! we always do a quick trip to DL at Christmas, but I have always wanted to go to WDW at that time of the year.... So I figured, why not this year! Our dates may change as DS school calendar is not out yet, but we are going! Can't wait!

 

[liball3]

Hello! I just booked a stay at WL Dec 18-23! we always do a quick trip to DL at Christmas, but I have always wanted to go to WDW at that time of the year.... So I figured, why not this year! Our dates may change as DS school calendar is not out yet, but we are going! Can't wait!

We will be there at the same time! How old are your kids- we will have 2 x 8, 10. & 5 yr olds

 

[CinderElsa]

Hi! I have a chart with my plans- but I don't know how to attach a word document? But I would love to have someone look over it who has some experience!

When I pre-plan I always use a chart. Best day to go worst day, this case when is MVMCP and scheduled days off. Chart it all and figure out the best plan. Once I've figured out the days I plan out when and where to eat. I'm a big fan of late lunch so we only have 1 big meal a day. Typically an english muffin for breakfast. Go out for lunch and (when home at VWL) we share a sandwich that we split for dinner.

I'm so glad other people make charts...

You can kind of see mine in this post. I use Google Spreadsheets, which is basically just a portable version of Excel.

You can copy your Word document into Pastebin or you can upload it as a public document in Google Docs. I'm sure many people would be glad to look it over for you.

 

[harbin]

Kids are 8 and 4....both boys!

 

[liball3]

Kids are 8 and 4....both boys!

Ours are boys too will need to do a meet-up!

 

[PeanutButterMom]

Hi! I have a chart with my plans- but I don't know how to attach a word document? But I would love to have someone look over it who has some experience!

When I pre-plan I always use a chart. Best day to go worst day, this case when is MVMCP and scheduled days off. Chart it all and figure out the best plan. Once I've figured out the days I plan out when and where to eat. I'm a big fan of late lunch so we only have 1 big meal a day. Typically an english muffin for breakfast. Go out for lunch and (when home at VWL) we share a sandwich that we split for dinner.

I made a little chart for our October trip. I'm on mobile but I'll take a screen shot once I get to my computer. I reference back to it now even to remember what time I had planned ADRs for or what park I went to what day.

ETA: I used this as my main "remember what the heck is happening when" sheet and updated as I made changes over the months. We had multiple meet-ups throughout our trip, hence the box with other people's trip dates

 

[hanksgirl]

We are going to be arriving on 12/2-12/11 and we can't wait!! What is the difference between southwest and AirTran.. I have flown AirTran and it had terrible leg space .. Is southwest better or pretty much the same?? Also I am starting my planning any absolute things to do first ?

 

[Anna114]

We are going to be arriving on 12/2-12/11 and we can't wait!! What is the difference between southwest and AirTran.. I have flown AirTran and it had terrible leg space .. Is southwest better or pretty much the same?? Also I am starting my planning any absolute things to do first ?

My guess would be about the same. SW is not exactly known for their spacious seating lol.

 

[PeanutButterMom]

We are going to be arriving on 12/2-12/11 and we can't wait!! What is the difference between southwest and AirTran.. I have flown AirTran and it had terrible leg space .. Is southwest better or pretty much the same?? Also I am starting my planning any absolute things to do first ?

Well, Southwest bought AirTran, so really... nothing. I've booked through Southwest (you can tell which are AirTran flights because the flight numbers are different and I think it says "airtran" underneath) so I get the free bags I flew both interchangably for 3 trips (6 flights) over the past year and I didn't experience a noticable difference.

 

[jcemom]

Well, Southwest bought AirTran, so really... nothing. I've booked through Southwest (you can tell which are AirTran flights because the flight numbers are different and I think it says "airtran" underneath) so I get the free bags I flew both interchangably for 3 trips (6 flights) over the past year and I didn't experience a noticable difference.

Did you have any issues with seating assignments and sitting together on Airtran flights booked through Southwest? I thought I read that you can't do advanced seating assignments but anyone booking through Airtran can. Doesn't that leave you with the leftover seats by the time you check in?

 

[KanataDad]

So glad I found this forum.

Our very first trip to DW was in 2013 from Dec 10-14 at AoA Lion King suites. We did MVMCP on first night (Dec 13), and then a 3 day park hopper. Dec 14-21 was our 2nd Disney Cruise on the Fantasy (first one was in Dec 2010 on the Wonder).

We booked a DW BB offer for Dec 13-20, 2014 at POFQ!!!

We're also hoping to do another Disney cruise in Dec 2015 is we can save up.

Don't know about everyone else, but we found DW (and Disney cruise) magical during in December with all the decorations at the parks and resorts.

 

[PeanutButterMom]

Did you have any issues with seating assignments and sitting together on Airtran flights booked through Southwest? I thought I read that you can't do advanced seating assignments but anyone booking through Airtran can. Doesn't that leave you with the leftover seats by the time you check in?

When we got out seating assignments (it was the 4 of us to Disney, the other trips was business and I was on my own), they had us all separated (once with my 4yo by himself 14 rows behind the rest of us, lol). We just went up to the desk and had them re-arrange so that an adult was with each minor. It was no problem either time -they're GREAT at seating.

 

[CinderElsa]

So glad I found this forum.

Our very first trip to DW was in 2013 from Dec 10-14 at AoA Lion King suites. We did MVMCP on first night (Dec 13), and then a 3 day park hopper. Dec 14-21 was our 2nd Disney Cruise on the Fantasy (first one was in Dec 2010 on the Wonder).

We booked a DW BB offer for Dec 13-20, 2014 at POFQ!!!

We're also hoping to do another Disney cruise in Dec 2015 is we can save up.

Don't know about everyone else, but we found DW (and Disney cruise) magical during in December with all the decorations at the parks and resorts.

Welcome!

I would love to do a December cruise! I've done two summer cruises with Disney and both were great.

 

[gtpoohbear]

We are doing a very short trip in December!! Just got back last month from a not-quite-as-short trip, and having another visit to look forward to made the PDD more bearable, lol!

Staying 3 nights at WL just before Christmas. We are planning one full day at MK and a couple other non- park things as well.

Very nervous about airfare though, hopefully SW will have something reasonable when they come out next month. Right now everything is $800 + per person!! We have a non-refundable DVC rental, plus we have a standing agreement to visit my parents (who live in FL) for Christmas on "even" years. So there's no getting out of it. But the thought of dropping $3K on airfare is making me sick!! We always fly to FL for either Christmas or Thanksgiving each year and it's never been that much.

 

[fozziepitysthefool]

Booked Dec 18 - Jan 1 at AS Sports... WOOT!! (Now I hope there is a free dining deal in the fall!)

 

[mnjenlittle]

I just reserved this week for our November 28 to December 5th trip and we are so excited. First time for my kids, my mom, and myself! Hubby was there years ago. I also just requested to be added to the Facebook group. Don't know if that is still going or not.

 

[chrismb22]

Hey! I am on the November thread but I think I belong here we arrive mid afternoon on the 30th so with only 3 park hours on arrival day, my trip REALLY begins on the 1st of December.

I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!

Planning on doing MVMCP on Tuesday, the 2nd.

 

[bigjrfan88]

With all the Free Dining hype I was seeing on the Facebook page, I thought I might pull this from Mousesaver's historical discounts data page. According to them (and I trust them wholeheartedly) Free Dining was offered in 2013 for travel dates 9/29-12/22. The general public could start booking that package as of 8/1, and it expired on 9/15. It looks like in 2012 they released the package in July, and it was released in August of 2011. So I wouldnt put it past them to release December Free Dining before July, but its highly unlikely seeing as they havent released any late Summer or Fall discounts/packages yet other than the Memory Maker and % off deal that they have been pushing.

The only thing that Mousesavers doesnt show is blackout dates. Does anyone know what the blackout dates for Free Dining was last year? I would assume that Thanksgiving week was excluded, but what about the first week of December etc.?

 

[CinderElsa]

Hey! I am on the November thread but I think I belong here we arrive mid afternoon on the 30th so with only 3 park hours on arrival day, my trip REALLY begins on the 1st of December.

I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!

Planning on doing MVMCP on Tuesday, the 2nd.

Also planning on MVMCP that night!

With all the Free Dining hype I was seeing on the Facebook page, I thought I might pull this from Mousesaver's historical discounts data page. According to them (and I trust them wholeheartedly) Free Dining was offered in 2013 for travel dates 9/29-12/22. The general public could start booking that package as of 8/1, and it expired on 9/15. It looks like in 2012 they released the package in July, and it was released in August of 2011. So I wouldnt put it past them to release December Free Dining before July, but its highly unlikely seeing as they havent released any late Summer or Fall discounts/packages yet other than the Memory Maker and % off deal that they have been pushing.

The only thing that Mousesavers doesnt show is blackout dates. Does anyone know what the blackout dates for Free Dining was last year? I would assume that Thanksgiving week was excluded, but what about the first week of December etc.?

These were the valid dates for FD in 2013:

September 29 – October 2, 2013
October 18 – November 2, 2013
November 11 – 23, 2013
December 12 – 22, 2013

There may have been PIN offers for other dates.

 

[chrismb22]

Unfortunately it looks like first week of December is blacked out. :-( but I am still hoping until Disney officially says no