The OFFICIAL December 2014 - Christmas Magic

[Mydreams]

If you're on the dining plan, I believe you can be in category 2 OR 3. 2 does have some seating on the main level; this was the view from my cat. 2 table in March.

We were all the way to the right, in the outer ring of tables. We had booked only one month in advance. Booking earlier might get you more centered but further back, or it might put you up in the center of the balcony. They did have some of the cast go up into the balcony at points!

Thanks for the picture! I was attempting to book category 2 and it did not show up for our Dining plan, so I switched to category 3 and it was accepting it. Maybe I will try calling instead of doing it on line and see what they say, lol!

 

[ladurant2982]

Just returned from a 2 week WDW vacation and upgraded our passes to annual passes so now planning on a December visit, but leaning more towards end of December beginning of January. Let the planning begin!

 

[lilluv117]

Just returned from a 2 week WDW vacation and upgraded our passes to annual passes so now planning on a December visit, but leaning more towards end of December beginning of January. Let the planning begin!

Just wondering, as I plan to do the same. Will they give you the difference back if your passes were more expensive than the annual pass? I have a 10 day ticket booked so that we could get free dining but plan to upgrade to the Florida resident seasonal pass. I think it's actually cheaper than the 10 day. I wonder if it is possible to upgrade and what happens to the cost difference. I don't mind either way.

 

[lam0037]

Just wondering, as I plan to do the same. Will they give you the difference back if your passes were more expensive than the annual pass? I have a 10 day ticket booked so that we could get free dining but plan to upgrade to the Florida resident seasonal pass. I think it's actually cheaper than the 10 day. I wonder if it is possible to upgrade and what happens to the cost difference. I don't mind either way.

Is there a particular reason you want 10 days? I'm assuming you will be upgrading at the end of your 10 days. You only have to do a two or three day ticket for free dining. If you upgrade the shorter ticket, it will be cheaper. And regardless if you have a 3, 7, or 10 day ticket and upgrade to an annual pass, the expiration date will still be the first day you used the package tickets. So, I would go with the minimum day ticket needed for free dining and then upgrade. Because I'm not sure if Disney will give the difference back.

 

[bellebookworm9]

Just wondering, as I plan to do the same. Will they give you the difference back if your passes were more expensive than the annual pass? I have a 10 day ticket booked so that we could get free dining but plan to upgrade to the Florida resident seasonal pass. I think it's actually cheaper than the 10 day. I wonder if it is possible to upgrade and what happens to the cost difference. I don't mind either way.

I'm looking into this for you, waiting to hear back from a friend who used to work at the ticket booths.

 

[lilluv117]

Is there a particular reason you want 10 days? I'm assuming you will be upgrading at the end of your 10 days. You only have to do a two or three day ticket for free dining. If you upgrade the shorter ticket, it will be cheaper. And regardless if you have a 3, 7, or 10 day ticket and upgrade to an annual pass, the expiration date will still be the first day you used the package tickets. So, I would go with the minimum day ticket needed for free dining and then upgrade. Because I'm not sure if Disney will give the difference back.

My September trip is 13 days long and I was hoping to book as many fastpass days as I could. I wasn't sure if I had a 3 day ticket, if it would let me book fastpasses for the rest of the days... :/

 

[selina4disney]

My September trip is 13 days long and I was hoping to book as many fastpass days as I could. I wasn't sure if I had a 3 day ticket, if it would let me book fastpasses for the rest of the days... :/

No, they won't. You can only book as many days FP+ as you have ticket days. We're using leftover one day tickets from old trips (which we bought to get free dining) and will upgrade to APs when we get there on our August trip and we can only book one day FP+.

 

[jcemom]

Help!

I was just about to book the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue and I started doubting that decision. Has anyone ever been there with a 3 year old and a 4 year old? I really am not sure that they will sit there for a 2 hour show. Especially after a day at the Parks. Is it entertaining enough to keep them going for 2 hours?

Cathy

All kids are different so it's kind of tough to say. My DD never had a problem sitting through the entire show, but her enjoyment level varied at different ages. At 2 1/2 she loved it, laughed and clapped the whole time. At 3 1/2 she said it was too loud, though she did get down from her chair and dance a little bit next to the table. I think she was 5 the next time we went and she was back to loving it. (I can't find the pics, but she really enjoyed waving her napkin and playing the washboard that trip.)

2 1/2

3 1/2 LOL

 

[lilluv117]

No, they won't. You can only book as many days FP+ as you have ticket days. We're using leftover one day tickets from old trips (which we bought to get free dining) and will upgrade to APs when we get there on our August trip and we can only book one day FP+.

Thanks! That's what I thought. That's why I booked 10 day tickets and I'll upgrade to seasonal passes while there.

 

[lilluv117]

I'm looking into this for you, waiting to hear back from a friend who used to work at the ticket booths.

Thanks!

 

[lizaisabel]

I am booked from 13-20 under the free dining promotion on the CR and I am trying to add an additional night but I was not lucky. No availability any experiences on how to get that additional night?

 

[lilluv117]

I am booked from 13-20 under the free dining promotion on the CR and I am trying to add an additional night but I was not lucky. No availability any experiences on how to get that additional night?

You could do a split stay. Get the extra park ticket through the free dining package and you'd just have to pay for the meals for that extra day. We love staying at AKL for a night or two at the end of our trip. You could rent points from somewhere like the timeshare store and it's waaayyyy cheaper than going directly through Disney.

 

[Mydreams]

All kids are different so it's kind of tough to say. My DD never had a problem sitting through the entire show, but her enjoyment level varied at different ages. At 2 1/2 she loved it, laughed and clapped the whole time. At 3 1/2 she said it was too loud, though she did get down from her chair and dance a little bit next to the table. I think she was 5 the next time we went and she was back to loving it. (I can't find the pics, but she really enjoyed waving her napkin and playing the washboard that trip.)

2 1/2

3 1/2 LOL

Thanks, Tracey. I am glad you reminded me of the noise factor. I think my 3 yr old granddaughter will not like the noise. They were watching fireworks the other night and she was putting her fingers in her ears and saying, "It's loud!" and screeching periodically to show her dislike, I guess, as much as I wanted that all you can chicken and ribs, we should probably pass on this. I wish Mickey's BackYard BBQ wasn't sold out already, darn it! lol, maybe someone will cancel, (though we are a party of 10, so 10 people have to cancel, lol)

 

[jcemom]

Thanks, Tracey. I am glad you reminded me of the noise factor. I think my 3 yr old granddaughter will not like the noise. They were watching fireworks the other night and she was putting her fingers in her ears and saying, "It's loud!" and screeching periodically to show her dislike, I guess, as much as I wanted that all you can chicken and ribs, we should probably pass on this. I wish Mickey's BackYard BBQ wasn't sold out already, darn it! lol, maybe someone will cancel, (though we are a party of 10, so 10 people have to cancel, lol)

I've read about people using noise dampening headphones but I never tried them. My DD was only noise sensitive that one year and after that she was fine. It might be something worthwhile for you though, if it would keep you from missing HDDR (which we LOVE), Wishes, Illuminations, etc., especially if the rest of your party is interested in those things.

 

[AmyKat]

My oldest daughter (now 8) was very sensitive to noise. She loved HDDR at 2 1/2, 5, and 7. She laughed so hard I thought she was going to hurt herself. The noise didn't bother her at all. The firework noise in MK still bothers her. We take a packet of dental wax (like you use for braces). Pinch off a piece, ball it up and put it in her ear. Perfect sized ear plugs every time and you just throw them away when you are done.

 

[pigletto]

My dd was also very very sensitive to noise and still is at 17 to a certain extent. She will still put her fingers in her ears for certain parades and definitely fireworks. I just asked her and she didn't find hoop dee doo loud at all. We were up in the balcony with Cat 3 seats and had a nice time.

 

[jcemom]

Wanted to clarify, it was mainly the part where they hand out washboards and spoons for the guests to "play" that DD took issue with LOL.

Simple foam earplugs might be a good solution -- small, inexpensive, easy to carry with you and toss away when you're finished with them.

 

[Mydreams]

Thanks everyone for your input. At what point do they serve the meal? Just wondering if we would be able to eat and then leave if the kids get tired of it before it is over.

 

[AmyKat]

Food comes out immediately and you eat during the show. It doesn't feel like it lasts that long because you are eating and watching the whole time.

They don't bring out mac & cheese but you can request it. It's great!

 

[bellebookworm9]

Thanks everyone for your input. At what point do they serve the meal? Just wondering if we would be able to eat and then leave if the kids get tired of it before it is over.

Going by the timestamps on my photos from March rotfl2: We were at the 8:30 show. Corn bread and salad was brought out immediately after we were seated. Ribs, chicken, mashed potatoes, beans, and corn came out around 9. Strawberry shortcake was delivered (with song) about 10. So it's probably not practical to eat and then leave.