Week After Turkey Day Shenanigans

[Iowamomof4]

I haven't looked too much at the Christmas offerings at Epcot. Can you share what kind of entertainment you saw? I was considering doing candlelight processional. But I read a blog post from I believe Disney Dad andjt strongly discouraged it for toddlers. I don't want to torture ourselves trying to get my two year old to stay still.

Scroll down to "Epcot Christmas" about 1/2-way down the page: http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/christmas_world.htm

 

[Jgeauxmo]

Scroll down to "Epcot Christmas" about 1/2-way down the page: http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/christmas_world.htm

Thanks!!! I'm so curious if they are going to add anything to HS for Chrisfmas since they removed the lights.

 

[kimyinpink]

Thanks!!! I'm so curious if they are going to add anything to HS for Chrisfmas since they removed the lights.

I am hoping for this too. I loved the lights and my boys slept through them last year

 

[Iowamomof4]

I just gave my TA the go ahead to add a night to our reservation! I'm so happy to have this resolved. I hope she gets it for us before it disappears again now that we've decided to go ahead.

 

[Meeko5]

Is it just me or did SW prices go up A LOT? I was just looking at prices for sat flights towards end of October just to see what they were and holy cow. I can't see us paying almost $1400 for flights. And since it's a holiday weekend they will likely be even more when we go. That will be a dealbreaker for our trip

 

[Jgeauxmo]

How far are you guys? We drive every year. It's about 9 hours. A lot of people fly from where we live because there is a direct flight. I just can't justify paying to fly when my two year old needs his own ticket and won't sit in a seat.

 

[Jgeauxmo]

Christmas party tickets go on sale tomorrow!!!

 

[kellyjeanie]

Did everyone get the party tickets they wanted? Plans being finalized?

 

[Jgeauxmo]

I originally wanted to go two nights but after paying almost $300 for one night I think we may change our plans lol

 

[Iowamomof4]

Well, just when we got our length-of-trip question settled, the MVMCP tickets came out and now I'm torn again! We won't change the length of our trip again, but we may have to decide between our upgraded dining plan (up to regular from quick service) and MVMCP. It's around $580 for our family to do the party. I guess I knew it would be about that much, but still... it's harder when the numbers are staring you in the face. I even had thoughts of wanting to go to two parties, but I think that's out of the question now.

Two choices:
1. Go to MVMCP on Tuesday, November 29 or Thursday, December 1 (leaning toward the Tuesday one)

-or-

2. Go to MK all day Tuesday and leave before the party, then return the next night for Wishes and pm emh.

Ugh! I know Wednesday night will probably be BAD because it's surrounded by party nights, but at least the park doesn't close right after Wishes, so not everyone will be leaving right after the fireworks and we can hang around at some rides while half the park clears out. I don't know what to do. Number 2 is already paid for by staying in the bubble, but number 1 would be so fun!

 

[kellyjeanie]

#1 does sound like fun!

I'm not sure if we're going to be able to see Wishes in the park this year. I have Mon and Wed tentatively scheduled as AK and HS days, and with the nighttime AK stuff, and the SW fireworks at HS, there's just no way. We're not going to any of the parties, I'm hoping catch one of the holiday Wishes/water parade at the Poly beach and hopefully that will be good enough.

I know the official hours aren't out yet, do you guys have a tentative park schedule for the December part of this week? I was thinking Epcot Thursday and MK Friday, or maybe a split MK/EP on Friday if we felt we had more to see at Epcot. Touring Plans has some suggestions up but I'm not sure how accurate those are this far out. We're still looking at a couple weeks before the December hours come out, right?

 

[kimyinpink]

#1 does sound like fun!

I'm not sure if we're going to be able to see Wishes in the park this year. I have Mon and Wed tentatively scheduled as AK and HS days, and with the nighttime AK stuff, and the SW fireworks at HS, there's just no way. We're not going to any of the parties, I'm hoping catch one of the holiday Wishes/water parade at the Poly beach and hopefully that will be good enough.

I know the official hours aren't out yet, do you guys have a tentative park schedule for the December part of this week? I was thinking Epcot Thursday and MK Friday, or maybe a split MK/EP on Friday if we felt we had more to see at Epcot. Touring Plans has some suggestions up but I'm not sure how accurate those are this far out. We're still looking at a couple weeks before the December hours come out, right?

We are in the same boat. Trying to figure out if when we r going to see Wishes. Just struggling with planning this year altogether! Too much to see and do and have to remember to be more relaxed. Haha. We are not doing the party either. I just can't justify the cost when I know one child will be asleep.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Here's my tentative schedule:

Mon 11/28: Arrive - hit Epcot for a bit if time
Tu 11/29: MK (MVMCP if we decide to do a party)
We 11/30: Epcot (Epcot has emh on Tuesday and Thursday of this week, which should make Wednesday the least crowded day)
Th 12/1: DHS
Fr 12/2: AK
Sa 12/3: DHS (afternoon only, this will be a "down day" for us)
Su 12/4: MK (party day, so we'll leave MK around 4 or 5)
Mon 12/5: Epcot (no party at MK today and emh at Epcot tomorrow, so this should be a good day to be at Epcot)
Tu 12/6: AK
We 12/7: leave

 

[kellyjeanie]

Here's my tentative schedule:

This is really helpful. Good point on Epcot for 11/30. Looks like a great plan!

 

[maybethisyear]

Hello everyone. I just found this thread after being on the watch thread since the very first day.
We were able to get CBR for 11/27-12/2, which is actually a day longer than originally planned. It's our little family of 3, plus my parents that will be staying in the same room (disaster waiting to happen, lol). This is our VERY FIRST trip to Disney, kid's first time on an airplane and in a hotel even (4 years old). This is a pretty big deal.
To be completely honest, everyday I keep going back and forth on cancelling the entire thing. We have the luxury of living close to Storyland in NH and we just go at off times and walk onto any ride and do the storybook stuff. Disney frightens me with the lines, people, planning, heat, and did I mention the people? I do want to go though. I suppose I have until airline ticket purchasing time to decide.

How do you choose which park to attend on which day? I've checked out two crowd calendars. When comparing, they both say MK on Tuesday that week is expected to be lower - but that's a party day. Is it really lower crowd? We really only have one day in each park (trying to hit them all), and being kicked out early means I hope that we can fit everything in with lower crowds. There is the idea that we will make Friday a second MK day until we have to leave for our flights.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Hello everyone. I just found this thread after being on the watch thread since the very first day.
We were able to get CBR for 11/27-12/2, which is actually a day longer than originally planned. It's our little family of 3, plus my parents that will be staying in the same room (disaster waiting to happen, lol). This is our VERY FIRST trip to Disney, kid's first time on an airplane and in a hotel even (4 years old). This is a pretty big deal.
To be completely honest, everyday I keep going back and forth on cancelling the entire thing. We have the luxury of living close to Storyland in NH and we just go at off times and walk onto any ride and do the storybook stuff. Disney frightens me with the lines, people, planning, heat, and did I mention the people? I do want to go though. I suppose I have until airline ticket purchasing time to decide.

How do you choose which park to attend on which day? I've checked out two crowd calendars. When comparing, they both say MK on Tuesday that week is expected to be lower - but that's a party day. Is it really lower crowd? We really only have one day in each park (trying to hit them all), and being kicked out early means I hope that we can fit everything in with lower crowds. There is the idea that we will make Friday a second MK day until we have to leave for our flights.

Party days tend to be better than non-party days, but last year party days were more crowded than they had been previously. The problem with non-party days is that there are so few of them during party season that EVERYONE goes on those days because the park has the longest hours (and it's their only chance to catch the night time parades and fireworks w/o paying for a party). We're planning to go on Tuesday because I figure the Thanksgiving crowds should all be gone by then yet the Pop Warner people won't be there yet. It should be the best day of the week to be at MK, which isn't to say it'll be empty. There's also a chance they'll begin taping the Christmas parade that day. If they do, the area around the castle and possibly Main St. will be really crowded but the rest of the park should be pretty manageable. Your best bet is to get to MK as early as possible, either at rope drop or right after, and then have a plan in mind. We found making decisions to be one of the most tiring things about our trip! So having a plan in mind (or even on paper or on your phone) will help just keep everyone going in the same direction.

 

[kellyjeanie]

Party days tend to be better than non-party days, but last year party days were more crowded than they had been previously. The problem with non-party days is that there are so few of them during party season that EVERYONE goes on those days because the park has the longest hours (and it's their only chance to catch the night time parades and fireworks w/o paying for a party). We're planning to go on Tuesday because I figure the Thanksgiving crowds should all be gone by then yet the Pop Warner people won't be there yet. It should be the best day of the week to be at MK, which isn't to say it'll be empty. There's also a chance they'll begin taping the Christmas parade that day. If they do, the area around the castle and possibly Main St. will be really crowded but the rest of the park should be pretty manageable. Your best bet is to get to MK as early as possible, either at rope drop or right after, and then have a plan in mind. We found making decisions to be one of the most tiring things about our trip! So having a plan in mind (or even on paper or on your phone) will help just keep everyone going in the same direction.

Oh my gosh you're good at this. Ok I see your first park day is Monday, but if you were doing a park on Sunday 11/27, which would you choose?

 

[Iowamomof4]

Oh my gosh you're good at this. Ok I see your first park day is Monday, but if you were doing a park on Sunday 11/27, which would you choose?

Josh recommends MK, AK, or Epcot. I guess you could pretty much take your pick! If it were me, I'd have to take into account my other plans and figure out which park I had scheduled enough time in yet. Based on our current schedule, I'd probably take a day at MK on that Sunday, but I also anticipate that they will add emh for AK on Monday so I'd be tempted to go to AK on Sunday if they do that.

http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/november-2016-preliminary-crowd-calendar/

 

[heath92681]

The price of party tickets have gone up, just like everything else. We went to the Christmas party two years ago, and even at those prices, I don't feel it was worth it to do it again. There's no way we got our money's worth with the crowds the way they were!!

 

[kellyjeanie]

Josh recommends MK, AK, or Epcot. I guess you could pretty much take your pick! If it were me, I'd have to take into account my other plans and figure out which park I had scheduled enough time in yet. Based on our current schedule, I'd probably take a day at MK on that Sunday, but I also anticipate that they will add emh for AK on Monday so I'd be tempted to go to AK on Sunday if they do that.

http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/november-2016-preliminary-crowd-calendar/

I had MK based on Josh's recommendations but there are so many variables! Thanks for taking a look at it I'll watch for the EMH.