Week After Turkey Day Shenanigans

[Meeko5]

I hate crowds. If I needed another MK day, I'd probably pick Thursday if Th and Fr were my two options. Tough call though.

I'm leaning towards switching, but MK on the last day just makes it seem so much more perfect. UGH. Thursday is AK day, and I don't want to make that our last park, it's the least "Disney" to me.

 

[Meeko5]

It's our last day there as well and we planned MK for that day. I almost always flock to the EMH days and I've never seemed to have an issue. It never got a point where I thought leaving the park would be a better option since the crowds never seemed too big. I think the evening EMH are worse. If people aren't early birds, the AM hours won't get as many people into the park as the PM ones would. With MK closing early that night, I think more people would go to DHS on Friday since they have PM EMH.

This is encouraging I need to sit down today with DH and see what he thinks...and then figure it out myself since he will inevitably say "whatever you want"

 

[missnikki411]

This is encouraging I need to sit down today with DH and see what he thinks...and then figure it out myself since he will inevitably say "whatever you want"

My husband is the same . He is crankier about lines than I am though and he even thinks EMH AM hours are worth it and don't have a negative effect on the rest of the day. I have to end on MK too to get my last dose of "magic" before going home.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Hope it's okay if I take a minute to lay out a struggle we're having about this trip.

We were originally supposed to arrive on Tuesday, Nov 29. Then when word leaked that free dining might be available from Nov 26-28, we switched to arrive on Monday because we thought those would be the cheapest flights of those three days. Well, SW has released their schedule now and Monday is NOT the cheapest day! Saturday was actually cheaper at first but now Friday is the only reasonable day (since Tuesday is obviously not an option). So we're faced with the possibility of either
A. find a different airport in the region to fly out of that might be cheaper but would obviously involve driving a few hours before we fly.
B. Take the cheaper Friday flight and try to move our dates so we begin our free dining package on Saturday instead of Monday.
C. Drive (20+ hours not including stops)
D. Cancel trip?

I don't know what to do. Yesterday, there was a suite at ASMu available from 11/26-12/7 and it would have only cost us about $136 more than our current package to get those two extra days. Dh kind of wanted to switch but I was scared we would hate ASMu and then we'd be stuck there for a long trip. Now that room is gone. Anyway, I thought we had things all settled and now I feel like we're all up in the air again! But it's not my fault flight prices for that Monday are so stupid!

 

[missnikki411]

A. find a different airport in the region to fly out of that might be cheaper but would obviously involve driving a few hours before we fly.
B. Take the cheaper Friday flight and try to move our dates so we begin our free dining package on Saturday instead of Monday.
C. Drive (20+ hours not including stops)
D. Cancel trip?

I would consider A&B. Are there connecting flights you can take to make things cheaper? Different airports are always an option if you don't mind the drive. Keep waiting to see if prices go down? I feel like with flights timing is everything and Tuesday afternoons usually have the lowest prices before they go up again.

I waited too long to book mine and they went up like $100 each. We are leaving a day earlier on either end then we were originally looking at too just to find the cheapest flight option.

 

[Iowamomof4]

I would consider A&B. Are there connecting flights you can take to make things cheaper? Different airports are always an option if you don't mind the drive. Keep waiting to see if prices go down? I feel like with flights timing is everything and Tuesday afternoons usually have the lowest prices before they go up again. I waited too long to book mine and they went up like $100 each.

Yeah, and I keep thinking prices will fall but then I'm worried because we have 6 people to book for! For example, as I was looking around yesterday, we went from getting flights on Friday for $172 each to getting that price for only 2 of us and the other 4 people would be over $190 each! Now I'm stuck wondering if I've completely missed out or if possibly those will come back? This is entirely too stressful for a newbie like me! lol

I asked on the SW thread if they knew when the cheaper fares would be released for the Sunday after Thanksgiving (thinking a drop in flight prices for Monday flights might coincide with that) and someone who seems to be "in the know" responded 2-3 weeks. So now I'm thinking I should just try to be patient and wait for those fares to come out. This is tough. None of us really wants to get stuck driving again but the current prices are NOT in the budget!

 

[Meeko5]

Hope it's okay if I take a minute to lay out a struggle we're having about this trip.

We were originally supposed to arrive on Tuesday, Nov 29. Then when word leaked that free dining might be available from Nov 26-28, we switched to arrive on Monday because we thought those would be the cheapest flights of those three days. Well, SW has released their schedule now and Monday is NOT the cheapest day! Saturday was actually cheaper at first but now Friday is the only reasonable day (since Tuesday is obviously not an option). So we're faced with the possibility of either
A. find a different airport in the region to fly out of that might be cheaper but would obviously involve driving a few hours before we fly.
B. Take the cheaper Friday flight and try to move our dates so we begin our free dining package on Saturday instead of Monday.
C. Drive (20+ hours not including stops)
D. Cancel trip?

I don't know what to do. Yesterday, there was a suite at ASMu available from 11/26-12/7 and it would have only cost us about $136 more than our current package to get those two extra days. Dh kind of wanted to switch but I was scared we would hate ASMu and then we'd be stuck there for a long trip. Now that room is gone. Anyway, I thought we had things all settled and now I feel like we're all up in the air again! But it's not my fault flight prices for that Monday are so stupid!

I would try A or B. I was prepared to drive 2.5 hours to Detroit for cheaper flights if SW was too much. Would it be ideal? Heck no, but well worth it for a few hundred in savings. I'm jsut glad SW had cheapish fares for us, and was surprised they were cheapest flying out of the airport closes to us vs. the 2 bigger ones 2 and 2.5 hrs away!

We were planing to fly saturday but it was $350 cheaper to fly out Friday. So for that LESS than flying out saturday we booked a RO for the first night and can add an extra park day and still come out ahead. But we are only staying at a value to begin with, so savings is all dependent on room prices and such.

 

[missnikki411]

So now I'm thinking I should just try to be patient and wait for those fares to come out. This is tough. None of us really wants to get stuck driving again but the current prices are NOT in the budget!

I'd wait a few weeks and look for patterns in the ups and downs, that what I did and knew that I had to wait for a Tuesday. If we had booked the flights the day JB released their holiday schedule, we would have saved so much more, but you can't always know :-/. This trip is much more $$ than we anticipated but the free dining really helped us offset the cost.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Yeah, and I keep thinking prices will fall but then I'm worried because we have 6 people to book for! For example, as I was looking around yesterday, we went from getting flights on Friday for $172 each to getting that price for only 2 of us and the other 4 people would be over $190 each! Now I'm stuck wondering if I've completely missed out or if possibly those will come back? This is entirely too stressful for a newbie like me! lol

I asked on the SW thread if they knew when the cheaper fares would be released for the Sunday after Thanksgiving (thinking a drop in flight prices for Monday flights might coincide with that) and someone who seems to be "in the know" responded 2-3 weeks. So now I'm thinking I should just try to be patient and wait for those fares to come out. This is tough. None of us really wants to get stuck driving again but the current prices are NOT in the budget!

Flight rates won't drop lower until 2-3 month out from departure date. Hang in there.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

I'd wait a few weeks and look for patterns in the ups and downs, that what I did and knew that I had to wait for a Tuesday. If we had booked the flights the day JB released their holiday schedule, we would have saved so much more, but you can't always know :-/. This trip is much more $$ than we anticipated but the free dining really helped us offset the cost.

And yes, definitely a Tuesday

 

[Meeko5]

I'd wait a few weeks and look for patterns in the ups and downs, that what I did and knew that I had to wait for a Tuesday. If we had booked the flights the day JB released their holiday schedule, we would have saved so much more, but you can't always know :-/. This trip is much more $$ than we anticipated but the free dining really helped us offset the cost.

BUT FREE DINING ISNT FREEEEEEEE

 

[missnikki411]

I think I finally have my schedule together so I am ready to go at 6AM on Memorial Day booking ADR's (seriously, it couldn't have been a workday?!)

11-26-Arrive-go downtown-lunch at TREX-DHS at night to hopefully see SW fireworks-otherwise to MK for Wishes
11-27-DHS EMH-lunch at Sci-Fi; hop to Epcot-dinner at Via Napoli
11-28-AK-hopefully with nighttime entertainment!
11-29-MK and MVMCP
11-30-Epcot EMH-lunch at Coral Reef-hop to MK for evening EMH-dinner at Tony's
12-1-DHS-dinner at Minnie's Holiday Dine and hopefully SW fireworks
12-2-departure day-EMH at MK until the Magical Express comes to take us home

I can't wait to see how many times these plans change over the next 6 months as we get more details on AK and DHS hopefully being open later for the new goodies.

 

[kellyjeanie]

Hope it's okay if I take a minute to lay out a struggle we're having about this trip.

We were originally supposed to arrive on Tuesday, Nov 29. Then when word leaked that free dining might be available from Nov 26-28, we switched to arrive on Monday because we thought those would be the cheapest flights of those three days. Well, SW has released their schedule now and Monday is NOT the cheapest day! Saturday was actually cheaper at first but now Friday is the only reasonable day (since Tuesday is obviously not an option). So we're faced with the possibility of either
A. find a different airport in the region to fly out of that might be cheaper but would obviously involve driving a few hours before we fly.
B. Take the cheaper Friday flight and try to move our dates so we begin our free dining package on Saturday instead of Monday.
C. Drive (20+ hours not including stops)
D. Cancel trip?

I don't know what to do. Yesterday, there was a suite at ASMu available from 11/26-12/7 and it would have only cost us about $136 more than our current package to get those two extra days. Dh kind of wanted to switch but I was scared we would hate ASMu and then we'd be stuck there for a long trip. Now that room is gone. Anyway, I thought we had things all settled and now I feel like we're all up in the air again! But it's not my fault flight prices for that Monday are so stupid!

I'm doing A&B - Driving 4(!) hours to get to an airport that has reasonable rates (I live in the boonies), and ended up flying in on Friday instead of Saturday. So that's my vote. Or wait - it seems like you might get better prices for Monday further on? DEFINITELY NOT D NO NO NO

 

[kellyjeanie]

I'm leaning towards switching, but MK on the last day just makes it seem so much more perfect. UGH. Thursday is AK day, and I don't want to make that our last park, it's the least "Disney" to me.

I have the same dilemma - had Thu as AK and Fri as MK. I wanted the AK day towards the middle of the week since we might be should be able to sleep in a bit on that day but I guess that's not happening. I'm going to switch it - I wanted MK to be our last park but I guess it's going to be AK. I'm hoping the new nighttime show will make it a good note to leave on.

Now looking at my schedule I have to work some break time in there or we are going to burn out. Last time my youngest was 2 so we took it pretty easy and it was honestly wonderful - no meltdowns, enough sleep, and still felt like we did a ton. Took a mid-week break day. This time I feel like I'm trying to cram too much in. I'm hoping HS day will give us a midday break and I think we're not going to try for rope drop on our full Epcot day, hopefully can get the Frozen stuff out of the way earlier in the week and maybe another Tier 1 if we go on Sat 11/26.

 

[kellyjeanie]

Did anyone else follow the major system crash Disney had a couple days ago? I was already kind of nervous about ADR day but now I am super worried!! I'm sure none of us want to spend the entire holiday trying to get things sorted out. Hopefully there are no more crashes!

 

[Meeko5]

I have the same dilemma - had Thu as AK and Fri as MK. I wanted the AK day towards the middle of the week since we might be should be able to sleep in a bit on that day but I guess that's not happening. I'm going to switch it - I wanted MK to be our last park but I guess it's going to be AK. I'm hoping the new nighttime show will make it a good note to leave on.

Now looking at my schedule I have to work some break time in there or we are going to burn out. Last time my youngest was 2 so we took it pretty easy and it was honestly wonderful - no meltdowns, enough sleep, and still felt like we did a ton. Took a mid-week break day. This time I feel like I'm trying to cram too much in. I'm hoping HS day will give us a midday break and I think we're not going to try for rope drop on our full Epcot day, hopefully can get the Frozen stuff out of the way earlier in the week and maybe another Tier 1 if we go on Sat 11/26.

AK was our least favorite park. It was hot, crowded, and my kids aren't into shows. I honestly don't think even with the nighttime stuff at AK we will stay too late. I was planning on that being a sleep in/chill morning and head over to AK late morning for lunch and our FP. I think it would be a big bummer for my crew to have that end our trip. My oldest LOVED Everest, but beyond that wasn't overly impressed with AK. Then again, we skipped all shows but Lion King (which they didnt like W T F), didnt do Kali River Rapids or It's Tough to be a Bug. And he didn't care for Dinosaur.

I think we will just have to do as much as possible on our first MK day in case crowds at MK Friday suck. I may shoot for a PPO BOG so we are in the park and ready to roll before RD on Tuesday. Then Friday plan to be there for EMH, FP late morning and hope for the best. I'm hoping to get BOG dinner that night too (earlyish, since we aren't staying for the party) and then head back to resort to pack when the party starts.

 

[Meeko5]

Did anyone else follow the major system crash Disney had a couple days ago? I was already kind of nervous about ADR day but now I am super worried!! I'm sure none of us want to spend the entire holiday trying to get things sorted out. Hopefully there are no more crashes!

Me! And yes I'm so nervous now! I would be SO mad if I missed out on ADRs because of that nonsense.

 

[heath92681]

Did anyone else follow the major system crash Disney had a couple days ago? I was already kind of nervous about ADR day but now I am super worried!! I'm sure none of us want to spend the entire holiday trying to get things sorted out. Hopefully there are no more crashes!

My app still won't work.... I might delete and try to reinstall...

 

[Iowamomof4]

Did anyone else follow the major system crash Disney had a couple days ago? I was already kind of nervous about ADR day but now I am super worried!! I'm sure none of us want to spend the entire holiday trying to get things sorted out. Hopefully there are no more crashes!

Me! And yes I'm so nervous now! I would be SO mad if I missed out on ADRs because of that nonsense.

Me too! That was a horrible day.

 

[kellyjeanie]

AK was our least favorite park. It was hot, crowded, and my kids aren't into shows. I honestly don't think even with the nighttime stuff at AK we will stay too late. I was planning on that being a sleep in/chill morning and head over to AK late morning for lunch and our FP. I think it would be a big bummer for my crew to have that end our trip. My oldest LOVED Everest, but beyond that wasn't overly impressed with AK. Then again, we skipped all shows but Lion King (which they didnt like W T F), didnt do Kali River Rapids or It's Tough to be a Bug. And he didn't care for Dinosaur.

I think we will just have to do as much as possible on our first MK day in case crowds at MK Friday suck. I may shoot for a PPO BOG so we are in the park and ready to roll before RD on Tuesday. Then Friday plan to be there for EMH, FP late morning and hope for the best. I'm hoping to get BOG dinner that night too (earlyish, since we aren't staying for the party) and then head back to resort to pack when the party starts.

That sounds like a good plan for MK, I'm sure it'll be fine.

We had one day planned in AK last time and it rained. The positive was ODS got to ride EE over and over between the lack of crowds and child swap. But we hardly got to explore the park at all, by the time we finished our fast passes and TH lunch we were soaked and done. I'm really hoping for a nice day at AK so we can see what's actually there!