The Real Deal This Time (uber-condensed Dec 2016 trip) PTR

[toonaspie]

You might remember about a year or so ago, I was trying to plan a Disney world trip on these boards for me and my friend who was graduating from college. Didn't exactly work out.

Well earlier this year, his mom decided to surprise us with a paid WDW vacation in December (since he should be able to finally graduate graduate then).

As happy as I am about going back, planning hasn't gone all that smoothly. His mom planned the trip through AAA and too many an error was made. This is what happens when WDW trips are planned without an expert like me.

The problems are getting remedied though with a touch of my hand.

So here's the basics:

We're arriving Sat Dec 17 - Due to the fact that it lies on the same day as my friend's graduation, we had to push the plane trip for an evening flight which means we wont arrive in Orlando until 10pm at night which means doing anything that night is out of the question.

On the upper hand we have a 4-day Park Hopper. Only problem is we don't have 4 days whole. The trip ends on Wed Dec 21st and our plane leaves at 4pm. I'm a bit worried that I don't have the info yet regarding the DME (Am I supposed to or do I not get that info until we arrive there?). But at any rate this means we technically have 3.5 (maybe less than a half) of actual time in WDW.

Now granted the flight times might change but I have my doubts that they will.

We are staying at All Star Music (pleasantly surprised to learn we got a preferred room which will be convenient as far as getting around).

We got the Quick Service Dining Plan but I managed to snag a few decent table service reservations for dinners (even one at Le Cellier, holy moly! )

We're not pool people so it's gonna be all about the parks for us.

Since neither of us have been to WDW since Dec 2007, this will be both our first times using the Magic Band, MyMagicBand, and FP+ stuff. To say I am nervous would be an understatement given the small time frame of this particular trip.

I think I've written enough for now. In my next post (this weekend) I'll provide more details as to what we hope to hit and how I plan to cut out the fat for a successful vacay. I'll have lots of questions so your helpful advice shall be appreciated.

 

[Gabisgramma]

We had to cancel our first trip last Dec, so I know how excited you must be. We are going Dec. 14th-21st and staying at Pop with our granddaughter who will be 6. I can't wait to see your plans. Have a great weekend!

 

[toonaspie]

 

[toonaspie]

Park Planning

Since my friend and I have done the parks before (and since not much has changed since our last visit 9 years ago), we're not concerned about doing every single thing in the parks. There are things we plan to do (especially the new stuff) but also things we plan to skip.

Magic Kingdom

• New Fantasyland - This land will be completely brand new to us and the biggest must dos will be The Little Mermaid and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
• Carousel of Progress - Wasn't able to do this one last time we were there and who knows how much longer it will be there.
• Country Bear Jamboree - We did this but the show broke halfway. So let's hope the show works all the way this time.
• Dumbo - Can you believe this was the only one of the aerial spinner rides we weren't able to do last time?
• Enchanted Tiki Room - Since they reverted back to the original, we might as well have a look see.
• Cinderella/Regal Carousel - Didn't do this one either but not too high a concern
• We also plan on doing our favorites - Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan, IASW, POTC, Splash Mt, BTTR, Haunted Mansion, but uh...not Space Mountain. Too intense for me.

Epcot

• Frozen Forever After - Welp...
• Test Track - It was redone since our last trip.
• Alot of stuff here is pretty skipable but I do enjoy Living with the Land, Soarin, and Spaceship Earth so we'll probably do those.
• I wish they had waited before getting rid of Captain EO

Studio

• Toy Story Mania - Brand new ride for us.
• Star Tours - This might be multiple visits since it's now a different experience everytime.
• Great Movie Ride - This ride won't be around much longer.
• Tower of Terror - Same might be possible for this one.

Animal Kingdom

• Expedition Everest - I was too scared to do last night. We might consider it. Maybe...
• Kali River Rapids
• Kilomanjaro Safaris - We wanna do the night version of this.
• River of Light - Provided the show is ready in time for our visit.

That's all I got time for now. My next post will go over scheduling and FPs and reservations.

 

[toonaspie]

The Initial Plan/Schedule (Part 01)

Originally it was gonna be

• MK on Dec 18 (4:30 Dinner Reservation @ MK)
• EP on Dec 19 (4:30 Dinner Reservation @ Epcot)
• DHS in the morning/DAK in the evening (5:30 Dinner Reservation @ DAK) on Dec 20
• ???? on Dec 21 before heading to the airport

Knowing that we were to skip one night show, Fantasmic seemed like the obvious choice due to the datedness of the show.

However, I recently learned about a Star Wars Fireworks Show (why didn't I learn about this until now? ) Anyway my friend is a uber SW fan so this now must be a must for us (as well as multiple rides on Star Tours).

So I'm thinking this is my new plan. Please lemme know if you think this is good. (we have 4-day parkhoppers)

Dec 18 - Hit DHS in the morning. Do Star Tours and Launch Bay. Head to Magic Kingdom in the PM and do the Christmas Party (buying tickets)
Dec 19 - Do Epcot in the morning. After Dinner go to DHS or DAK (depending on when the Star Wars fireworks dates are)
Dec 20 - ???? go to DAK for or after dinner for Rivers of Light.
Dec 21 - ???? Before going to the airport

Might hit MK again during those ???? times. This means Illuminations will be the night show to skip. No biggie as that show is dated too.

Thoughts?

Next post will be on implementing my FP+ reservations

 

[toonaspie]

FastPass +

I'm one month away from my FP+ reservation time. I might have to actually schedule time off work just to be at a computer in time for this. Some of my plans with this involve the park hopping but I'm still trying to figure out how that works.

In the meantime here are my FP+ hopefuls.

Magic Kingdom

1. SDMT
2. Peter Pan
3. Splash Mountain
4. (4th FP if I get it) Jungle Cruise

Epcot (I really hate the Tier setup at this park. They put all the rides that people only care about in Tier 1)

1. (Tier 1) Frozen Ever After
2. (Tier 2) Spaceship Earth
3. (Tier 2) Nemo or Living With the Land

Studios (Unlike Epcot, the tier system here works out perfectly for us and the high demand rides are evenly spread between the two tiers)

1. (Tier 1) TSMM
2. (Tier 2) Star Tours
3. (Tier 2) Tower of Terror

Animal Kingdom

1. Kilomajaro Safaris
2. Kali River Rapids
3. Expedition Everest (not sure if we will do this ride though. Might get traded out for a River of Lights reserved seating showing)

The challenge lies in the fact that I'm park hopping possibly 3 of the 4 days. There's one day where we might go to Epcot and DHS on the same day and that sorta throws our FP plans off a bit (depends when the SWaGS showings are which havent been posted yet for Dec). We do have a few blank/undecided hours in the schedule. So some of this might be subject to change. The day we go to Epcot we won't be there all day, I know this. We only have three nights to spend at the parks so we have to drop one night show and I decided on Illuminations since it's an older show.

The other nights are must dos. One night will be for the MVMCP at MK. One night will be for SWaGS in DHS (which I plan to get tickets for the dessert party). And one night will be for Rivers of Light at DAK.

 

[toonaspie]

I've done some changes to my main itinerary and I think I've improved on some things.

Day 1 (Sun Dec 18)

• Bus to Epcot by 9am
• Test Track @ Rope Drop
• Walk on Gran Fiesta Tour (and possibly one other walk on attraction)
• Monorail to Magic Kingdom
• FP+ for SDMT, PPF, and Splash Mountain
• Dinner ADR @ Jungle Skipper Canteen 4:30pm
• MVMCP

Day 2 (Mon Dec 19)

• Bus to Epcot by 9am
• Soarin @ Rope Drop
• FP+ for Spaceship Earth, LwtL or Nemo
• FP+ for FEA
• Lunch ADR @ Le Cellier 1pm
• Exit via Int. Gateway
• Walk or boat to DHS
• Get Fps for ST, ToT and TSMM or GMR if possible
• Star Wars Dessert Party
• SWAGS fireworks show

Day 3 (Tues Dec 20)

• Bus to Magic Kingdom by 8am (EMM)
• BTMR @ Rope Drop
• additional not yet done attractions
• Bus to Disney Springs
• Bus to Animal Kingdom in afternoon
• FP+ for KS, KRR
• Dinner ADR @ Yak and Yeti 5:30pm
• Reserved Seating FP for Rivers of Light

Day 4 Final (Wed Dec 21)

• Bus to DHS by 9am
• Rope Drop to TSMM or Star Tours
• FP ToT, GMR, and 1 additional attraction if needed
• Leave by Noon
• Bus to hotel for Lunch
• Leave for airport @ 1pm

Pros to New Plan
Getting to park by 9am on first day, instead of 8am. This will be needed since we won't be making it to our hotel till around midnight the night before.
We'll get to ride the monorail at least once during trip. (Maybe even ferry through the lagoon if we wanted to.)
Solves my problem with being able to do Soarin and TT without line buildup.

Cons to New Plan
This throws off our DHS situation a bit. Originally we were gonna start the trip with DHS and rope drop to TSMM. Now we have to gamble here. We will first be at DHS on mid afternoon Tuesday with no guarantee of getting additional FPs after using our Epcot ones. Depending on how much we accomplish at Magic Kingdom on Day 1, we might switch the parks for days 3 and 4. We only get 3 hrs on our final day regardless of what park we're in which stinks. But just in case, I wanna try and FP stuff in DHS for that day.

Of course ALOT of this is contingent on whether or not Rivers of Light will be running at DAK by December. If not, we will rearrange our schedule entirely again.