What's the first thing I should do?

[sfeisen]

Help! I just booked a last minute visit (December 29-30) so my husband can spend his 50th birthday in the World! We are using points to stay at the Marriott World Center, and we have a few days on unexpired hoppers.

So, we haven't been since 2015 (and that quick visit only included MK), and I don't think there were magic bands. I used to be so Disney savvy, and now I feel completely lost.

I realize I'm too late to the party to make special dining reservations, but I want to do everything I can to make it special for him. His "must do's" include the new Soaring, and Pandora. Any thoughts on what else we should make a priority?

 

[HandsofReiki]

touringplans.com has helped me tremendously. worth the 10 bucks to get the personalized touring plans.

they also have free res finder you can use to snag ressies.

 

[sfeisen]

Thank you! I definitely will renew my subscription.

 

[sharonabe]

Help! I just booked a last minute visit (December 29-30) so my husband can spend his 50th birthday in the World! We are using points to stay at the Marriott World Center, and we have a few days on unexpired hoppers.

So, we haven't been since 2015 (and that quick visit only included MK), and I don't think there were magic bands. I used to be so Disney savvy, and now I feel completely lost.

I realize I'm too late to the party to make special dining reservations, but I want to do everything I can to make it special for him. His "must do's" include the new Soaring, and Pandora. Any thoughts on what else we should make a priority?

First thing I would do is call Disney and get your unexpired tickets somehow linked to your MDE if they can be. You'll be able to make FP at 30 days out, and that will help a little bit. You don't need to have a magic band, but you can purchase one to use if you choose. Otherwise, you'll probably need to have your existing ticket converted into a credit card type ticket so the readers can read it. My guess is, you would do that at guest services, but when you call Disney, they may be able to mail you one. HELP ticket people!! How do they do this???

To do Soarin' and Flight of Passage, you're going to want to either rope drop each park or close each park. For Soarin', just be at EP about 30 min before opening and head straight to Soarin' OR try to get a PPO Garden Grill ressie, so you're right there once you finish eating breakfast. Personally, I wouldn't do Soarin' at the end of the night, because I would want to see Illuminations. For FOP, you'll need to be at AK about an hour before opening and follow the crowd to FOP OR wait and ride it just before closing.

 

[cassie58]

I wouldn't give up on dining reservations yet - do you have a MDE account? If not, make one and get the app on your phone. Then go on and start looking for the meals you might want - keep in mind people change plans everyday and things open up, especially once you get under 30 days, and even week of and day before, as people finalize plans, and cancel what they don't need to avoid fees. With the app you can check for them whenever you have time throughout the day. Also find the December cancellation thread on the Restaurant forum, and sign up to watch it. People will post what they are going to cancel, and you can coordinate to try and grab one, if it is what you are waiting to get. and then sign up for Touring Plans Reservation Finder as PP mentioned - it is free, you just have to set up an account, and can put requests in at a time, and they will text you when one pops up, and you can try to snag it. Between all of these, I have been able to get mostly everything I wanted for each trip, and even helped friends going Christmas week, who didn't book till November - even got Ohana!

As far as plans, be ready by your 30 day mark(since you are offsite) to make any FP you would like - you will need to link tickets to your MDE acct before that to be eligible. You will want to FP Soarin if that is your priority, since you can only pick one of the top three rides(Test Track and Frozen) for your 1st FP, and two others for your other two, or be there at RD to do that, and FP one of the others. If one of your special restaurants is in Epcot, you could also try to do the Candlelight Processional Dining package to enjoy that show if you are interested. Pandora in AK has been crazy since it just opened in May, especially at busy times like you are going, so you can try to get a FP for one of the two rides(FoP will probably be unavailable, so you can try for the Navi River Journey). Otherwise you will want to get to AK at least an hour before opening, or maybe two that weekto not have a multi-hr wait, or can try at end of night to get in line. Pandora area is lit at night, as well as Tree of Life to check out. There is also the River of Light show if interested, which you would want to do dining package or FP for if you don't want to line up early.

I don't know if you have been at the holidays before, but I would not want to miss seeing the castle lit in MK! Main street is beautifully decorated as well, and on the 30th they show the same fireworks that you could see on NYE if you are into that, just get a spot early and be prepared for crowds!

 

[hiroMYhero]

There are a lot ADRs available for your dates for a party of 2. I’d book as soon as you have time to scroll through Dining on your MDE.

If you’ll be in AK, Tiffins has openings and would be a good spot for a birthday celebration. Then you can enjoy Pandora or RoL afterwards.

 

[cgattis]

If you haven't stayed there before, just realize it is HUGE and it will take you a bit to get in/out of the hotel; parking is a little time-consuming. But we had a massive room and the pool area is enormous, but sounds like you won't be spending much time at the hotel anyway. I also recall the food court was only open during the day, leaving only a sit-down restaurant at night (although I guess that may have changed), so you might check on that before you plan any meals there.