***Official Planning Thread -DECEMBER 2024 - Welcome all!***

[Disturbia]

Yes, I'll be staying on site so will have Early Entry. Tbh the biggest appeal of buying LLMP might be to sleep in, haha! Animal Kingdom opens so early....

Looks like the consensus is that LLMP for Epcot is definitely worthwhile even if I only really get to use it for my original three selections and miss out on getting a second tier 1 ride.

I make the huge sacrifice to let my teen and DH go early entry while I stay back and monitor our younger child. It’s really difficult rolling myself slowly out of bed and wobbling over at maybe 9 am to make coffee while they wait in a 2 hour line. Yawn.

To be fair, I booked all the ADRs and LLs so I deserve a break.

 

[Disturbia]

old post

 

[Disturbia]

Watching NYEE 2019. Those used to be a lot of fireworks

 

[elaine amj]

Watching NYEE 2019. Those used to be a lot of fireworks

I was there for NYE 2019 and it was amazing. Super excited about this year

 

[Disturbia]

I was there for NYE 2019 and it was amazing. Super excited about this year

The dance parties are awesome. We did the Tomorrowland one (12/31/22) that was the highlight of our trip. Everyone was moving to the music and chill. Even our DD with sensory issues was dancing to baby shark. It was hot though (80s). It’s cooler this year hopefully the rain doesn’t hamper the evening too much.

The mood of the crowd changed drastically after people pushing and shoving earlier in the day (someone elbowed me hard while I was holding DD at the people mover to get past and didn’t even apologize).

 

[Disturbia]

Is it a good idea to do Boathouse on 12/29? I’m not sure how crowded Disney Springs will be on the Sunday before NYE. We have the option to go to STK71 instead.

 

[elaine amj]

It will be packed but should be fun! Be prepared to work your way slowly through giant crowds but there’ll be lots of live entertainment and be festive.

 

[Disturbia]

It will be packed but should be fun! Be prepared to work your way slowly through giant crowds but there’ll be lots of live entertainment and be festive.

How long will it take from the monorail resorts? Is it better to take a cab?

 

[Justrose]

Is it a good idea to do Boathouse on 12/29? I’m not sure how crowded Disney Springs will be on the Sunday before NYE. We have the option to go to STK71 instead.

We are going to DS 12/29, too! We are going in the evening after we get to POP and unpack a little. I am expecting it to be super busy.

 

[elaine amj]

How long will it take from the monorail resorts? Is it better to take a cab?

Cabs are faster because u don’t have to wait for the bus. Otherwise the buses should be fine although of course the monorail resorts are the furthest from DS.

 

[elaine amj]

We hit the road this morning for a long drive to WDW! Was planning to take I75 but at the last minute chose to take 64/77. Stopped in Charleston, WV for dinner at the Capitol Market and will crash for the night in Charlotte, SC. Tomorrow’s plans will be to have lunch in Savannah, GA and then spend the evening strolling around St Augustine, FL to check out the lights festival. Then another 1.5 hr drive to get to the outskirts of Orlando.

Then finally after 2 days and 2 nights, we will check in to Wyndham Bonnet Creek. So excited!!!!!

 

[HappyGal]

Y'ALL. My sisters are being squirrely about even getting together this year so I'm thinking of booking a last-minute Christmas trip! Considering the 23rd through the 26th. Would Mickey's Christmas parade take place every day and if so what time? And would the fireworks be the same ones from the MVMCP or just the regular ones?

 

[Disturbia]

Y'ALL. My sisters are being squirrely about even getting together this year so I'm thinking of booking a last-minute Christmas trip! Considering the 23rd through the 26th. Would Mickey's Christmas parade take place every day and if so what time? And would the fireworks be the same ones from the MVMCP or just the regular ones?

You get the Christmas parade and fireworks. It’s really cold today (we came from freezing temps/snow and kept our packable coats on in the evening; it will warm up slightly tomorrow.

https://blogmickey.com/2024/11/minn...ter-for-busy-christmas-week-at-magic-kingdom/

 

[Disturbia]

We got upgraded to a partial fireworks view and the kids had a blast watching them from the balcony. We can still hear the boat horn and they’re petty loud (corner room at the end of the lagoon in Tokelau). Bring ear plugs (thankfully I did).

 

[PrincessGidget]

My lake view GV at BLT last week…

We had such a great trip!
The highlights included and the Christmas parade. My FIL loved it and seeing him so happy made the entire trip. His health has declined rapidly and we all knew this would be the last family hurrah. We made the most out of it for sure.
(Also, the pot roast sandwich from Cosmic Rays was a HUGE hit!)

 

[AussieFan8]

We just returned last night from a week long stay at the Dolphin. We had a great time overall. We had a couple unfortunate surprises on this trip, including my bout with what I think was food poisoning that caused us to miss Jollywood Nights, which is what I was most looking forward to. The cast members were unbelievably kind and helpful when I got sick outside Fantasmic and ended up in first aid. We sent many cast member compliments throughout the week for service and kindness that we saw on multiple occasions, including this one, that went above and beyond.

Our first Candlelight Processional with NPH was amazing, and we got to meet Paging Mr. Morrow, who was as kind in person as he appears in his videos.

The crowds were much lower than we anticipated. It was crowded at Epcot when we were there for CP, but other than that, I was shocked at the relatively low wait times and space we enjoyed in the walkways considering the time of year! We had a lot of spotty rain and humidity that we aren't used to on our December trips, and then a cold night at MVMCP, but that just added to the ambience.

We felt like we saw many more characters walking around the parks than we usually do, which was wonderful, including the sweetest Donald Duck walking along looking in the shops with a little boy whose hand he was holding.

I hope all of you who are there or about to go enjoy great weather and lower crowds than you expect. Can't wait to go back next year!

 

[pixiedust2u]

We just returned last night from a week long stay at the Dolphin. We had a great time overall. We had a couple unfortunate surprises on this trip, including my bout with what I think was food poisoning that caused us to miss Jollywood Nights, which is what I was most looking forward to. The cast members were unbelievably kind and helpful when I got sick outside Fantasmic and ended up in first aid. We sent many cast member compliments throughout the week for service and kindness that we saw on multiple occasions, including this one, that went above and beyond.

Our first Candlelight Processional with NPH was amazing, and we got to meet Paging Mr. Morrow, who was as kind in person as he appears in his videos.

The crowds were much lower than we anticipated. It was crowded at Epcot when we were there for CP, but other than that, I was shocked at the relatively low wait times and space we enjoyed in the walkways considering the time of year! We had a lot of spotty rain and humidity that we aren't used to on our December trips, and then a cold night at MVMCP, but that just added to the ambience.

We felt like we saw many more characters walking around the parks than we usually do, which was wonderful, including the sweetest Donald Duck walking along looking in the shops with a little boy whose hand he was holding.

I hope all of you who are there or about to go enjoy great weather and lower crowds than you expect. Can't wait to go back next year!

Sorry to hear you were unwell. I hope you e recovered quickly. Just as an FYI there’s a lot of norovirus going around in Florida. So couldn’t been a bit of a bug too. Hopefully you can get to Jollywood another year

 

[AussieFan8]

Sorry to hear you were unwell. I hope you e recovered quickly. Just as an FYI there’s a lot of norovirus going around in Florida. So couldn’t been a bit of a bug too. Hopefully you can get to Jollywood another year

Thank you, we hope to get a ticket next year if they bring it back. I felt fortunate that whatever it was only lasted 24 hours and we were able to enjoy the rest of our trip.

 

[Disturbia]

We just returned last night from a week long stay at the Dolphin. We had a great time overall. We had a couple unfortunate surprises on this trip, including my bout with what I think was food poisoning that caused us to miss Jollywood Nights, which is what I was most looking forward to. The cast members were unbelievably kind and helpful when I got sick outside Fantasmic and ended up in first aid. We sent many cast member compliments throughout the week for service and kindness that we saw on multiple occasions, including this one, that went above and beyond.

Our first Candlelight Processional with NPH was amazing, and we got to meet Paging Mr. Morrow, who was as kind in person as he appears in his videos.

The crowds were much lower than we anticipated. It was crowded at Epcot when we were there for CP, but other than that, I was shocked at the relatively low wait times and space we enjoyed in the walkways considering the time of year! We had a lot of spotty rain and humidity that we aren't used to on our December trips, and then a cold night at MVMCP, but that just added to the ambience.

We felt like we saw many more characters walking around the parks than we usually do, which was wonderful, including the sweetest Donald Duck walking along looking in the shops with a little boy whose hand he was holding.

I hope all of you who are there or about to go enjoy great weather and lower crowds than you expect. Can't wait to go back next year!

We’ve had some little bumps but noticed the same thing. CMs going above and beyond and very kind. We’re only on our second day and did give cast compliments. Lots of extra magic-room upgrade, birthday card in room, Amazon small packages (non grocery) automatically delivered etc.

 

[Disturbia]

Almost 6 pm (AK closes at 7); FOP has a posted wait of 150 mins