Which park 1st? WWYD for Sat Dec 2?

[dreamalittledream]

I need the experts advice from those of you who were there Dec 2005.
We arrive Fri Dec 1 and don't want to go to a park that day since MK closes at 5 for MVMCP. We will do dinner WCC or CM, visit resorts and relax.

So that makes Sat our first day at a park, which is also the Parade taping at MK!

I really want to go to MK first, nothing is better than seeing the Castle for the 1st time on the trip! But what kind of zoo will it be on Main Street in the am?

Should I:
1. make an ADR for CP before park opens so we can be done eating and in the park at 9:00? or go right at opening 9:00? do our "must dos" and then get the heck out of there by lunchtime.

2. Skip MK during the day (boo hoo) Go to AK and go to MK after Dinner since it is open tll 11:00?

3. any other suggestions?

We will be there 10 days and our touring style is early in, out for lunch and nap, return to another park for dinner and night fun. It works best for our girls.
thanks for the advice!

 

[JMCDisneyBound]

Just curious?
How do you know the 2006 schedule for Dec. (ie,MVMCP on 12/1 so MK closes at 5)? Also, what do you mean by "parade taping day" on 12/2? We will be in WDW 11/23-12/3 so I was just wondering for our own planning. Thanks

 

[bleeps]

Hello--
To answer both previous posts: the official schedule for MVMCP will not be released until this spring, but it's fairly safe and easy to extrapolate the schedule based on last year's. Same deal with the Christmas parade taping -- ABC taped the Christmas Day parade last year on the first Saturday and Sunday in December, so it's safe to assume that will happen again this year.

We arrived last year on Sat. Dec. 3 and we did go to MK (at about 1 p.m.). The deal was that Main St. was completely blocked off (and it is my understanding from all the posts last year that they start the parade prep at 7 a.m.). Everyone who arrives for the parks during the day is corralled through the stores that line the left side of Main St. as you face the castle -- they are all connected so you can walk from the head of Main St. right thru Caseys (and then hit the bridge over to Frontier or Adventure land).

Our experience was good -- we noticed a bit of a swell in the crowds in Fantasy land once the parade taping was over, but we just hit Frontier land at the point and rode BTMRR and SP without waits. We also went again on Sunday -- we got an early start, but again with that 7 a.m. for the parade folks, it was already in full swing when the park opened.

We're going again this year -- Dec. 1 to 10. As it happens, we won't be at MK that first weekend (largely because we're trying YC for the first time, and it's our first time off the MK loop of resorts). But, as long as you are OK with giving up that "first" experience of strolling down Main St. and seeing the castle right away, you don't necessarily have to avoid MK.

 

[dreamalittledream]

From the wonderful info here on the DIS, I am making assumptions for 2006 based on 2004 and 2005 info. The Christmas Parade is usually taped the first weekend in Dec. so that is Dec 2-3. and MK was open until 11pm this year on that Sat of the Parade taping.

MVMCP is usually Fri, Sun, Tue, and Th nights so Mk closes early for the party which is held at 7pm. ( I do not remember when the 1st night of the party is though)

it is also Pop Warner week so I know MGM will most likely be closed Fri night 12/8 for their event. I don't know the actual hours for Dec since they won't be out until June but we can make some good guesses.

I was hoping someone who just went thru it will have a fresh memory and some good advice for the Saturday am at MK.

 

[dreamalittledream]

Thanks! I was posting at the same time but that is exactly the info I needed. Thank you for the detail.

I won't worry about a ADR then and just get there at opening so I can get to the rides in Fantasyland. Do they allow parade extras into the park at 7 am? or is it roped off until 9 like usual. And what time is the taping over for the day? I know they let the extras stay in the park so I might want to get out of there if the timing is right.

I can deal with walking thru stores if it is ok once you get past the conjestion of Main Street. I'll be able to see my Castle as we come out from the tunnel under the Railroad and we will get our early am empty Main Street shots another day during the week. I just want to take the girls to MK on the first morining! DD is really looking forward to going back. (well I am too!)

 

[theostwalts]

would you reccommend going on a Sunday or Friday. We are starting our days in the parks on the Sunday after Thanksgiving and our last day will be the following Friday. We can either start or finish our vacation with MVMCP. What would you do?

 

[dreamalittledream]

From what I have read, Tuesday is the least crowded day for the party. The 1st party is usually busy, I think that would be the Sunday you suggest as is a Fri night. So I would pick Tues or Thursday.

 

[2giddy4wdw]

would you reccommend going on a Sunday or Friday. We are starting our days in the parks on the Sunday after Thanksgiving and our last day will be the following Friday. We can either start or finish our vacation with MVMCP. What would you do?

Go to both . We went to two of them last year. The first on was on a Sunday, and it was pretty crowded. Then we went again on Tuesday and that didn't seem to be as busy. Or we were in the right section of the park at the right time!!!!! We are going agian this year from Nov 25 - Dec 2. I love this time of the year.

I thought that taping was Friday and Saturday. I know that in 2004 they were taping on that Friday, it just happened to be our last day there. Same thing for 2005 on that Saturday. I know that there is a site that you can sign up to be an extra on. I just don't know if I would want to stand there for a few hours, and not see a real parade. It's just bits and pieces. MHI. I'd rather be riding the rides and eating the food!!!! LOL