Xmas Itinerary 12/3-12/11

[Viki]

OK, I've put a LOT of thought into this one and the time to book my ADRs is fast approaching, so here's the itinerary, and I would be glad for comments.

The chast of characters is me (47), my DP (dear partner, 43), our two teens (boy and a girl, 16 and 17), and two male friends (40ish), who have NEVER been to WDW, and one of whom swears this is his one and only trip (the pressure!). Although we are disney vets, this is our first time for the holidays. We will also be joined on Friday evening by my family from the area - mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and 3-year old niece.

I should also add that two of us in the party have health issues so we have to plan recovery time right into the schedule.

12/3- Check-in BCV, Epcot: Storytellers, 6 PM Tree Lighting, 7:30 Rose and Crown, 9:30 Illuminations

12/4- 9 AM MGM, 11:30 Sci-Fi Cafe, Break in the afternoon, 6PM The Flying Fish, Stroll the Boardwalk

12/5- 8 AM EMH Epcot, Counter Service in WS, Break in the afternoon, CP Dinner Package 5:30 Morrocco, 8:15 CP

12/6- Free Time in the morning, Counter Service BW or WS for lunch, 4 PM Crystal Palace, MVMCP till 12 midnight

12/7- Free Time until 4 PM dinner at Brown Derby (Fantasmic package), 8:00 PM Fantasmic, Osborne Family lights

12/8- Free Time L: Bongos, Disney Quest/Shopping, Planet Hollywood (snack/dessert), 8 PM Adventurers Club, 9 PM Mannequins

12/9- Free Time (might go over to WL for lunch and resort seeing), 5:30 OHANAS for whole family, 8:15 MK Cruise (if we can)

12/10- AK EMH, Tusker House, Break in afternoon, 7:30 California Grill, Wishes from Balcony

12/11- Cape May Cafe for breakfast and then back to our homes

 

[HayGan]

Looks good but just one question: Why are you eating so early on 12/6 & 12/7 with late nights planned those evenings? It certainly may work well for your group but our family definately has to eat (even if it is counter service) later on our late nights.

BTW, we will see you there as we will be there Dec 3- 10

 

[Viki]

Thanks for the feedback!

Let's see, on 12/6 we want to have dinner out of the way well before MVMCP begins; we're going to try and make the first showing of Mickey's Twas the Night Before Xmas over in Tommorrowland at 6:15. The rest of the evening we will be free to pick up treats - perhaps a hot fudge sundae in the middle of the evening to keep us fueled until midnight!

On 12/7, we'll eat at 4 PM, ride a couple rides, and then we're booked for the night, Fantasmic followed by the Osborne lights. We've actually done this exactly this way before and it worked great. It also saves room for a treat back at the BW or Beaches and Cream.

 

[Viki]

BTW, we will see you there as we will be there Dec 3- 10

That seems to be an ever more poplular week! Do you have your schedule yet?

 

[HayGan]

That seems to be an ever more poplular week! Do you have your schedule yet?

Yes, we do (although I'm still debating on ADR times but since we won't officially be on-site until Dec 6th, I can only start to make them on Sept.7th )

Here is our schedule:

12/3: arrive (Hilton DTD) and relax after 2 days and 16 hours of driving
12/4: DTD during the day and MVMCP at night
12/5: timeshare presenation in the am and dinner show (Pirate show we think)
12/6: Move to Poly Epcot day - LeCellier at 6:45pm (we will do the early CP show and tree lighting before dinner)
12/7: MK day - Crystal Palace breakfast 8:30am, counter service lunch and hopefully, 6:30pm dinner @ Cindy's
12/8: MGM day - Kona breakfast 9am, 'Ohana dinner at 5pm before heading back to MGM to see Osborne lights
12/9: AK/Epcot day: Kona breakfast 8:30am Whispering Canyon dinner 5pm
12/10: MK day: Chef Mickey's 8am, leave for home around 5pm

That is where it stands as of 9am this morning (times likely to change several times before Sept.7th )

 

[HayGan]

Thanks for the feedback!

Let's see, on 12/6 we want to have dinner out of the way well before MVMCP begins; we're going to try and make the first showing of Mickey's Twas the Night Before Xmas over in Tommorrowland at 6:15. The rest of the evening we will be free to pick up treats - perhaps a hot fudge sundae in the middle of the evening to keep us fueled until midnight!

On 12/7, we'll eat at 4 PM, ride a couple rides, and then we're booked for the night, Fantasmic followed by the Osborne lights. We've actually done this exactly this way before and it worked great. It also saves room for a treat back at the BW or Beaches and Cream.

Sounds like you have got a good plan. We will probably grab something from Cosmic Ray's during MVMCP. It's always a good thing to plan around the snacks/treats too

Make sure if you see us (I'll always have my lime green Mickey on my backpack or something) that you say

 

[Viki]

Make sure if you see us (I'll always have my lime green Mickey on my backpack or something) that you say

LOL! From what I can see, when I compare our two schedules, we miss each other at every single turn! I don't think we'll ever occupy the same park on the same day, but I'll look for you and we'd be hard to miss: two white moms, two african-american teenagers, and two male buddies along for the ride!

We may even stand out more; I'm flirting with the idea of getting us some really busy sweatshirts with "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas" and santa-clad, 100-acre wood characters printed on them!

 

[Viki]

shameless bump

 

[Brikate]

Looks good but just one question: Why are you eating so early on 12/6 & 12/7 with late nights planned those evenings?

Also, if you check out the menus for the different restaurants that you are planning to eat at, you'll see that the lunch prices are a LOT cheaper than the dinner prices for the about the same amount of food (and just about the same choices). We always make our ADR for the latest possible lunch seating and have never had to wait or feel rushed.

Like Viki said, there's plenty of room for treats! yum!!! And you get to walk off the big meal.

BTW ... we're there too - 12/2 - 11 and doin' the party on 12/4

 

[Viki]

OOOh, Kath, I love your home resort "strip" photos. We have the same resort homes!

Have you made your itinerary yet?

 

[MelFas]

12/3- Check-in BCV, Epcot: Storytellers, 6 PM Tree Lighting, 7:30 Rose and Crown, 9:30 Illuminations

12/4- 9 AM MGM, 11:30 Sci-Fi Cafe, Break in the afternoon, 6PM The Flying Fish, Stroll the Boardwalk

12/5- 8 AM EMH Epcot, Counter Service in WS, Break in the afternoon, CP Dinner Package 5:30 Morrocco, 8:15 CP

12/6- Free Time in the morning, Counter Service BW or WS for lunch, 4 PM Crystal Palace, MVMCP till 12 midnight

12/7- Free Time until 4 PM dinner at Brown Derby (Fantasmic package), 8:00 PM Fantasmic, Osborne Family lights

12/8- Free Time L: Bongos, Disney Quest/Shopping, Planet Hollywood (snack/dessert), 8 PM Adventurers Club, 9 PM Mannequins

12/9- Free Time (might go over to WL for lunch and resort seeing), 5:30 OHANAS for whole family, 8:15 MK Cruise (if we can)

12/10- AK EMH, Tusker House, Break in afternoon, 7:30 California Grill, Wishes from Balcony :

We get to our offsite condo on the 4th and I thought about doing a leasuirly (sp?) walk thru the countries in Epcot and possibly trying for a Rose and Crown to watch the fireworks that night.

I was thinking AK Monday (5th) with an 11:30 breakfast/lunch Character meal at Restaurantosaurus.

Tuesday (6th) is our MK day too... with the Christmas Party that night. I was thinking along the same lines as yesterday... 11:30 at Crystal Palace.

Thats about all I've actually thought about so far. I will be with my DH and DS3. I dont know how he is going to be, he NEVER takes a nap so I dont know how he will handle all day at the parks.

My thoughts are maybe go back to Epcot Wed (7th), remeber we'll be up till midnight the night before

I think MGM will be his favorite so was thinking of doing that Thursday (8th)

What are your thoughts? I've never planned a trip before and I'm going by what I've learned from this board!

We should try to meet up at the MVMCP.

 

[LoveMickey]

Don't forget to tour the Epcot resorts and see the Christmas Decorations. You mentioned WL, they have a beautiful tree there too.

BW has a set up, as do BC and YC.

Since you are staying in EPCOT resort, don't forget to stop and see the front entrance at EPCOT

If you take the monorail back from MK, it's a great way to see EPCOT all decked out for Christmas and see the EPCOT entrance at the same time.

I love it that time of the year.

 

[MelFas]

I just realized that today is 100 days to go...

which means Viki... you are down to double digits!!

 

[Viki]

I just realized that today is 100 days to go...

which means Viki... you are down to double digits!!

Oh, my goodness, you're right!!!

 

[Viki]

What are your thoughts? I've never planned a trip before and I'm going by what I've learned from this board!

We should try to meet up at the MVMCP.

Hey, Melissa, your first trip, and during the holidays, too! You're going to have a blast.

The trip I outlined is pretty adult fare now that our "kids" are 16 and 17, but I do remember the days when our kids were much younger and one of the mistakes we would always make is to run them way too much. I remember them falling asleep at dinner and begging not to get up in the morning!

It sounds like you're going to hit all the parks and you're pretty sure about which days. My only advice is to make sure you make your ADRs for nice, quiet sit down meals - yes, early lunches, just like you note. Can you believe our window to do that is coming up so fast!

Like you, we plan to be at MVMCP from beginning to end, so, yes, let's try to say hi.

 

[Brikate]

OOOh, Kath, I love your home resort "strip" photos. We have the same resort homes!

Have you made your itinerary yet?

Thanks! Gotta love the Epcot resorts ... but ya know what ... we've owned at BVC for 3 over years now and have not ever stayed there! Mostly we stay between BWV and OKW with one (so far!) stay at SSR.

our loose itinerary goes like this:


12/2 ~ arrive with some of our group at 10am ~ Steak n' Shake for shakes (our little tradition) ~ outlets (Disney's Character Premiere) ~ check into Pop ~ lunch, swim, ~ DtD, dinner somewhere ~ 11pm p/u dh & dd's @ mco

12/3 ~ EMH @ A.K. for the awakening & late character breakfast ~ resort swim ~ M.K. (hopefully for Spectro, if not - catch the EWP at a MK resort or head to Epcot)

12/4 ~ check-in @ OKW !!! resort hop ~ groceries ~ swim ~ head to MVMCP @ 4pm and party!!

12/5 ~ Epcot until early afternoon ~ MGM, late lunch @ Sci-Fi ~ Fantasmic & Osborne Lights ~ possibly back to the MK area to watch EWP (Contemporary @ 10:05pm)

12/6 ~ Day off for most of our group breakfast, pool, boat rental, Disney Quest for the teens ~ DH & I to A.K. for parade and EMH (we have AP's), Epcot for Illuminations ~ find everyone else at Boardwalk for dessert.

12/7 ~ nothing scheduled for the whole day (yet) until 5pm C.P. @ Epcot with dinner in Italy @ 7:30 Illuminations! (for 4 of us - rest going to MK for EMH)

12/8 ~ AM no plans yet ~ late lunch at Wilderness Lodge ~ Sleigh Ride ~ probably back to Epcot for Illuminations (we could watch it every night!)

12/9 ~ non-park day ~ Chef Mickey's ~ some going to Kennedy SC ~ shop/pool/resort hop ~ pm - some go home :-(

12/10 ~ am - nothing scheduled yet ~ pm - A.K. for parade ~ ??

12/11 ~ pack up & check out ~ DtD to shop ~ outlets on the way to mco ~ fly home @ 6:30

That's it so far. only 97 more days!

 

[MelFas]

Kath,

how do you know what days are the EMH?

 

[Viki]

Kath,

how do you know what days are the EMH?

While it CAN change, generally speaking, the EMHs go like this:

Mon Epcot morning
Tues MGM morning, AK evening
Wed MK evening
Thurs Epcot evening
Fri Mk morning
Sat AK morning
Sun MGM evening

 

[Viki]

Let's wave if we see each other on Monday, Dec 5th at Epcot - we'll be there from 8 am on - four adults - 2 woman, 2 men, and 2 (African-American) teenagers, trying NOT to look commando as we do commando!

 

[Debs Disney]

Hi I am brand new to WDW. I have been following and trying to keep up with the boards for a month now. I have our MVMCP tickets for Dec 8 and CP dinner package @ Le Cellier for 5:30 cp at 8:15. We are a family of 4 our kids are 5 and 9. We will also have my Mom with us. She will need a scooter and breaks. SOOOOO we are trying not to over plan things. She would like to go to the tea at the grand floridian. I would like to surprise her with Victoria and Alberts or Brown Derby with an imagineer. It is all so overwhelming. I can't wait to get past the 90 making reservations mark!!!!
Oh yeah we are also going to try and get Breakfast or lunch at Cindy's Debi