Visiting WDW after a hiatus

[areno79]

Hi everyone! DH and I are going to WDW after not having been since 2012! I know a lot has changed since then, like Magic Bands, and Fastpass+. This trip was kind of a last minute gift to each other, and I know that dining reservations are already booking up for our trip so I'm already feeling behind the 8-ball.
We'll be there from December 3-10, staying at AoA, and it's just the two of us. I feel like I need to start with some kind of touring plan so I can figure out our dining reservations, but I'm kind of lost right now.
We are planning to do MVMCP on one of the nights, but not sure if there is a better night to visit, or ones to avoid?
Also, we're going to Universal for 1 day to see HP world. This will be our first adults only trip since 2003, and while we want to do some fun adult activities, we are kids at heart and still want to go on rides and go to Chef Mickeys if we can get a res.
I'm basically looking for any info or direction at this point. I'm trying to figure out hours, but I don't believe I saw any EMH on your hours schedule I found.

I appreciate any feedback you wonderful Dis'ers have!!

 

[cdnjason]

I would start by deciding which days you will visit each of the parks. A good way to decide that is by looking at anticipated crowd calendars. Most on here rely on easywdw.com for their crowd calendars.

After that, which rides/attractions you wish to visit. Most here rely on the touringplans.com app to organize their touring plan. Of course, you'll have to tweak your touring plans once you book your FP+. But, that's not until 60 days before your trip.

Knowing the touring plan, I would then find ADRs that fit your schedule.

Side note: if your going to do Chef Mickey's, try for a breakfast ADR. I have not heard good things about their dinner buffet.

Hope this helps get you started.

 

[Tomh]

The official Disney World page also has hours listed, as well as the travel agents page https://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/WDWTravelAgent_December.pdf Keep in mind that park hours are very likely to change (be extended) and currently, that is happening just about half way through the previous month, so that would mean a change in closing times would likely be announced sometime in the middle of November. However, the EMH schedule is likely to stay the same.

With park hours, and EMH schedule in hand, I then look at when parades / fireworks are scheduled, and that gives me enough info to decide which days for which parks. Once you have that, you can either work our your touring plan, and fit your ADR's to that, OR make your ADR's, and then fit your touring plan around the meals. I've done both ways, they both work. I would say if you really want to cram in every ride possible, make the touring plan first. If you are ok with a little more relaxed touring, then plan your ADR's first, and fit your touring plan around it.

 

[areno79]

Thank you both for the info!! Having never visited in December, anything besides MVMCP we should consider doing? We love Christmas, so hoping the decorations are as amazing as we hope!

 

[mistysue]

The biggest change, once you pick your parks is going to be that you want to book your fastpasses at the 60 day mark. Since you are on-site they work as 60+10 the same way you get to do ADR's for a 10 day trip. The only difference is you have to have tickets linked to the people you are reserving them for and you can only book the number of days you have on your tickets.
Think of it as you get to schedule for when you want to be at that part of the park and now nobody has to run to get them. Once you've used the 3 you booked you can walk up to a kiosk and book another one. For this reason, you may want to avoid booking things for end of day unless you are really sleeping in. If you are a rope drop person, I would still do rope drop, then start FP+ an hour or two later, so you can book another FP by early after noon. If you only have 2 you want for that park, I get a stupid one for 9am- as long as it's either expired or used you can book another while you are in the park that day.

 

[Blsmith88]

If your trip allows, highly recommend touring the deluxe resorts especially GF, WL and AK, BW, BC and YC. The decorations to me may even be better than the parks! Additionally, get some gingerbread at GF or BW while you walk around!

 

[cdnjason]

Thank you both for the info!! Having never visited in December, anything besides MVMCP we should consider doing? We love Christmas, so hoping the decorations are as amazing as we hope!

If time permits, I highly recommend a visit to Wilderness Lodge Resort. Their Christmas decor is something special.

On edit:

If your trip allows, highly recommend touring the deluxe resorts especially GF, WL and AK, BW, BC and YC. The decorations to me may even be better than the parks! Additionally, get some gingerbread at GF or BW while you walk around!

Great minds...

 

[areno79]

Thank you all for the tips. I remember seeing a Travel Channel special years ago that featured decorations at GF, so I'll need to make sure we get over there at some point. We Love to visit BC/YC for Beaches & Cream so we'll be sure to look for decorations there too!

Mistysue- That is great info on FP+...thanks! I didn't realize you could get addl FP's day of as well. I am a bit nervous I'll miss something big with the changes that have been made.

 

[CynBeth]

Hi everyone! DH and I are going to WDW after not having been since 2012! I know a lot has changed since then, like Magic Bands, and Fastpass+. This trip was kind of a last minute gift to each other, and I know that dining reservations are already booking up for our trip so I'm already feeling behind the 8-ball.
We'll be there from December 3-10, staying at AoA, and it's just the two of us. I feel like I need to start with some kind of touring plan so I can figure out our dining reservations, but I'm kind of lost right now.
We are planning to do MVMCP on one of the nights, but not sure if there is a better night to visit, or ones to avoid?
Also, we're going to Universal for 1 day to see HP world. This will be our first adults only trip since 2003, and while we want to do some fun adult activities, we are kids at heart and still want to go on rides and go to Chef Mickeys if we can get a res.
I'm basically looking for any info or direction at this point. I'm trying to figure out hours, but I don't believe I saw any EMH on your hours schedule I found.

I appreciate any feedback you wonderful Dis'ers have!!

We arrive the day before you. With the MVMCP on certain days (Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday) there will only be certain days you can be at MK in the evening to see MSEP and regular Wishes so I would pick what day or days there first and build your schedule around that. I would recommend 2 days there and 2 days at Epcot so you have time to do FW and see the storytellers in WS plus some of movies/attractions. Also CP dining packages just opened. It is the only way to guarantee you get in to see the show. Unfortunately the narrators are TBD. Then 1 day at AK and 1 day at DHS. Make a little time to visit DS. Like others said try to take time to resort hop.

 

[Mikie]

Definitely take a look at this thread:

FastPass+ Frequently Asked Questions

It is long, but extremely well organized and extremely helpful. It will tell you everything you could possibly wonder about FP+

 

[hakepb]

Thank you both for the info!! Having never visited in December, anything besides MVMCP we should consider doing? We love Christmas, so hoping the decorations are as amazing as we hope!

Also the Candelite Processional. It is a beautiful telling of the biblical Christmas story, narrated by a celebrity, and a large choir.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/candlelight-processional/

 

[areno79]

We arrive the day before you. With the MVMCP on certain days (Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday) there will only be certain days you can be at MK in the evening to see MSEP and regular Wishes so I would pick what day or days there first and build your schedule around that. I would recommend 2 days there and 2 days at Epcot so you have time to do FW and see the storytellers in WS plus some of movies/attractions. Also CP dining packages just opened. It is the only way to guarantee you get in to see the show. Unfortunately the narrators are TBD. Then 1 day at AK and 1 day at DHS. Make a little time to visit DS. Like others said try to take time to resort hop.

I just saw the CP packages on the website last night Do you know if you can use your Disney Dining credits for the CP package?

 

[CynBeth]

I just saw the CP packages on the website last night Do you know if you can use your Disney Dining credits for the CP package?

I think you can. We are not on the plan we use a gift card. When you reserve you hold it with a credit card but don't pay until after the meal and that is when you get your show sticker.