Trip PLANNING strategy with SWGE pending...

[momof2n2]

Talk about help strategizing, I'm in a tough place and I am sure I am not alone.

Until just a few days ago, I was thinking the biggest possible deterrent to a December/MVMCP trip was if I could not get affordable airfare.

I want to take my four daughters for a mother/daughter Christmastime visit. My *plan* was that if/when SWA drops their flight schedules I would (hopefully) grab airline tickets, grab an AirBnB in Kissimmee and immerse myself in the fun of planning.

But I just got my handy-dandy Unofficial Guide 2019 and I am shocked at just what DHS/WDW might look like after SWGE opens. Now I feel like I can't plan a trip until I know when that is opening. Even if SWA posted super cheap flights tomorrow, I'd be afraid to commit.

Is anyone else waiting on this to plan dates? Is anyone else concerned about this? Or will there be so many people visiting PRE-SWGE that it is just going to be a ridiculously busy fall no matter how you cut it?

And I don't think it would be just as simple as avoiding DHS (which I'd hate to do because I love DHS) because guests will want to visit all the parks.

I don't have to decide to day. Airfare isn't available yet... but now my head is churning.

I *could* potentially do MVMCP before Thanksgiving, but then I might not see the parks and resorts in their finery.

I'm glad this is the toughest thing on my plate right now.

 

[EddieValiant]

Sounds like you want to avoid it if Galaxy's Edge opens?

I don't know anything about when to book flights, I always drive.

You should still have plenty of time to decide. The Galaxy's Edge opening will still be announced well in advance. I tracked down on Google that Toy Story Land's June 30th opening was announced on February 16th. Pandora's opening for May 27th was announced on February 7th.

I'm interested in the opening day to see if I want to go & face it quickly. Personally Thanksgiving is my cutoff. If Galaxy's Edge opens before Thanksgiving, I'm all in for a November trip. If not, I'm waiting until at least the spring after. I don't like to do wintertime trips.

The MVMCP's started on November 8th this year; I was there the week of Veterans Day. You'll still get that if you went right after the start.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Follow this Stickied Thread for all the up to date SWGE info:
***Official*** Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Information Thread

 

[momof2n2]

Sounds like you want to avoid it if Galaxy's Edge opens?

I don't know anything about when to book flights, I always drive.

You should still have plenty of time to decide. The Galaxy's Edge opening will still be announced well in advance. I tracked down on Google that Toy Story Land's June 30th opening was announced on February 16th. Pandora's opening for May 27th was announced on February 7th.

I'm interested in the opening day to see if I want to go & face it quickly. Personally Thanksgiving is my cutoff. If Galaxy's Edge opens before Thanksgiving, I'm all in for a November trip. If not, I'm waiting until at least the spring after. I don't like to do wintertime trips.

The MVMCP's started on November 8th this year; I was there the week of Veterans Day. You'll still get that if you went right after the start.

Yes - flying puts a twist on it I am not used to. We haven't flown down since 2007 as we also prefer to drive, but without DH we figured flying from NY would be less stressful.

Thank you for tracking down the announcement times. I appreciate you doing that and sharing it. It does cement my concerns, however.... a 3-4 month lead time is way inside the 180 days for dining. I am hoping we get airfare information by early April...

I guess I will revisit going before Thanksgiving. When you went the week of Veterans Day did you have substantial Christmas feel to the parks and resorts? The upside is the weather will likely be better!

 

[mamaofsix]

Yes, the parks will be busy due to SWGE opening. BUT, if you are wanting a special Christmas trip, it's going to be busy in 2020, too. And in 2021 for the 50th Anniversary with all the new attractions that will entail. You're looking at busy Decembers for many years to come. My opinion? Go this year and enjoy it Early December will certainly be less busy than late December.

Rope drop, have your fps booked, resort hop to see decorations during the busy afternoon hours, make ADRs to enjoy the atmosphere and escape crowds. You will have a great time!

 

[momof2n2]

Yes, the parks will be busy due to SWGE opening. BUT, if you are wanting a special Christmas trip, it's going to be busy in 2020, too. And in 2021 for the 50th Anniversary with all the new attractions that will entail. You're looking at busy Decembers for many years to come. My opinion? Go this year and enjoy it Early December will certainly be less busy than late December.

Rope drop, have your fps booked, resort hop to see decorations during the busy afternoon hours, make ADRs to enjoy the atmosphere and escape crowds. You will have a great time!

I do like this cheerful attitude! Maybe my take home will have to be just do MVMCP and maybe an after hours event elsewhere? Perhaps a vacation of character meals and resort hopping is a good strategy.


I don't want to misquote Unofficial Guide, but they generally suggest that the entry queues to even access DHS could be hours long. They cited the opening of Hogsmeade in 2010 and how people waited up to ten hours to enter IOA (not the land within the park but the park itself), and they pointed out that the SW fan base is likely even broader than that of HP.

 

[momof2n2]

Follow this Stickied Thread for all the up to date SWGE info:
***Official*** Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Information Thread

Thank you. I had not read through that thread (I am notorious for scrolling past stickies) and did not realize mods wanted to keep SWGE conversations to a confined spot. Oops.

I think what I am asking is what strategies people are/may be employing in planning a fall/Christmastime trip.

 

[mamaofsix]

I do like this cheerful attitude! Maybe my take home will have to be just do MVMCP and maybe an after hours event elsewhere? Perhaps a vacation of character meals and resort hopping is a good strategy.


I don't want to misquote Unofficial Guide, but they generally suggest that the entry queues to even access DHS could be hours long. They cited the opening of Hogsmeade in 2010 and how people waited up to ten hours to enter IOA (not the land within the park but the park itself), and they pointed out that the SW fan base is likely even broader than that of HP.

The good news is: if you're not that interested in SWGE, you can skip Hollywood Studios altogether and simply focus on the other 3 parks

 

[SaintsManiac]

We are going for Thanksgiving regardless of the SW opening. I’ll be fine either way. If it is open I am prepared to go by myself if it’s too much for my husband and daughter. They will do another park while I check it out.

If it isn’t open we will be back in 2021 or 2022.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I think what I am asking is what strategies people are/may be employing in planning a fall/Christmastime trip.

I think the same.

I’ve been in early November (10-14), early December, and New Year’s week. Holiday decorations will be much better towards the end of November but there will still be decor/trees up in Epcot, DHS, and AK in early November. And, you can fit in F&W and MVMCP.

 

[momof2n2]

The good news is: if you're not that interested in SWGE, you can skip Hollywood Studios altogether and simply focus on the other 3 parks

Welllllll - I loved DHS before TSL even, and I am super excited about TSL. I'm my own worst enemy. And I would love to see the new MMRR ride. And Characterpalooza (if that's still a thing) and - and - and...

 

[momof2n2]

I think the same.

I’ve been in early November (10-14), early December, and New Year’s week. Holiday decorations will be much better towards the end of November but there will still be decor/trees up in Epcot, DHS, and AK in early November. And, you can fit in F&W and MVMCP.

I have no need to make a hasty decision, but trip planning gets me through the winter months, so I can't help but wish I had a solid set of dates.
Maybe airfare will be so ridiculously high from WNY that this was all a waste anyway (NO! It can't be.)
November would work for a few reasons, and it's a reasonable plan B.... Thanks.

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

If you book jetblue out of buffalo the exact time of fare release, you should get a decent price on a direct flight to mco.

I have no need to make a hasty decision, but trip planning gets me through the winter months, so I can't help but wish I had a solid set of dates.
Maybe airfare will be so ridiculously high from WNY that this was all a waste anyway (NO! It can't be.)
November would work for a few reasons, and it's a reasonable plan B.... Thanks.

 

[Nancyg56]

I have a tentative December 2019 trip booked, and have no interest whatsoever in SWGE. I know that if it is open DHS is going to be a madhouse. I also know that if it is not open, DHS will likely be busy anyway, as will the other parks due to folks who want to miss the frenzy that SWGE may cause.

I am making my decision based on my finances and circumstances at the time.
In regards to park planning, I will play it by ear and if DHS looks like I will not care to manage it, I will go to different parks. I do not foresee a reduction in crowds over the coming two years, so I am not going to refrain from WDW. I think it will be an exercise in futility, LOL!

 

[momof2n2]

I have a tentative December 2019 trip booked, and have no interest whatsoever in SWGE. I know that if it is open DHS is going to be a madhouse. I also know that if it is not open, DHS will likely be busy anyway, as will the other parks due to folks who want to miss the frenzy that SWGE may cause.

I am making my decision based on my finances and circumstances at the time.
In regards to park planning, I will play it by ear and if DHS looks like I will not care to manage it, I will go to different parks. I do not foresee a reduction in crowds over the coming two years, so I am not going to refrain from WDW. I think it will be an exercise in futility, LOL!

Thank you for outlining your strategy.

 

[momof2n2]

If you book jetblue out of buffalo the exact time of fare release, you should get a decent price on a direct flight to mco.

My first choice is Southwest because of the free luggage, but thank you for reminding me about JetBlue. I had forgotten about them.

 

[Nancyg56]

Thank you for outlining your strategy.

LOL!!! You mean lack of strategy! LOL!!!

 

[momof2n2]

LOL!!! You mean lack of strategy! LOL!!!

Avoidance is a strategy. I've seen it many times at bath time, chore time, when it's time to leave somewhere... my kids are working at becoming masters.


Kidding aside, I'd hate to miss DHS. Some of my fondest memories of our last trip were meeting so many characters, and we'd love to see TSL. We are love the shows there, as well. But I'm not going to wait in line for hours to even enter a park... so I'll need multiple plans.
Maybe by the time I am 180 days out they will have shed more light on their plans... ok. Not likely, but I can hope. I'd have until June 7th.

I do think a fine plan B for me would be Discovery Cove and a pass to SeaWorld and Busch Gardens. I hear they do a marvelous job for Christmas. I could even to MVMCP twice and come in under what a five day ticket plus one MVMCP would cost. It might be a fun trip.

 

[amandolin]

Following since I'm planning a trip in December as well...

 

[V.I.N.CENT.]

I am flip flopping between early November and early December. One of the factors pushing me towards early November is hoping SWGE is not open then. My first trip to WDW, I can visit it out here in CA in a couple years.