***Official December 2017 thread!

[LindyWebb]

Wow. There is a lot of great information on this thread. Many of you have been planning for a long time! I am booked at the Beach Club from December 28 to January 3 with ds14 and dd 11. I have to figure of my ADRs and put some thought into all of this! It is so exciting to plan! I love it.

 

[Astryd]

I suspect this will be a budget trip for us. We went all out last year, and I will be at F&W in October. We will most likely do California Grill one of the party nights to watch the fireworks, Tiffins and when Candlelight Processional narrators are announced, I might book a dining package. I still havent figured out even a rough plan of what parks we will go to.

I cant believe hours for December havent been released yet. Its getting pretty late in the month to still be waiting.

 

[shanew21]

I suspect this will be a budget trip for us. We went all out last year, and I will be at F&W in October. We will most likely do California Grill one of the party nights to watch the fireworks, Tiffins and when Candlelight Processional narrators are announced, I might book a dining package. I still havent figured out even a rough plan of what parks we will go to.

I cant believe hours for December havent been released yet. Its getting pretty late in the month to still be waiting.

This trip is our all-out trip. We may do a small one next year but we're going all out again for Star Wars in 2019.

 

[FinnsMom7]

Is there a forum strictly for Epcot's HATW? Last year I didn't think to "plan" for that and this year I was hoping to get a better feel - our first day we plan to go to Epcot for the entire day/night so I will pick up the passport brochure/booklet that day but was hoping to head a little extra ahead of time planning in.

Thanks!

 

[dnllmz]

Is there a forum strictly for Epcot's HATW? Last year I didn't think to "plan" for that and this year I was hoping to get a better feel - our first day we plan to go to Epcot for the entire day/night so I will pick up the passport brochure/booklet that day but was hoping to head a little extra ahead of time planning in.

Thanks!

Not sure about this year but last year there was a thread dedicated to all the special holiday things in DW. Last year, Disney tourist blog had some great write ups about the storytellers and the snacks in the Epcot Holidays Around the World.

 

[Travelstovegas]

Hello! We're taking a trip with extended family and are staying at the Wilderness Lodge 11/30-12/4, then we're headed to AoA from 12/4-12/8. It's me, my husband, our DD (who will be 6) and our DS (who will have just turned 4). Then it's my Mom, my sister/her husband and their 3 kids (6, 4 & 1.5). First Disney visits for all the kids, and the adults have all been at least once, some twice.

This is a big "splurge" trip for us, as we want to take our kids while they still believe in the Princesses & characters. We're headed to MVMCP on 12/5 and are SO EXCITED about that!

We're getting close to our 180 day ADR date, and we don't have much interest in TS restaurants but hope to nab an Akershus ADR on 12/1 for breakfast. I'm confused about timing, though. If we do a pre-rope drop breakfast around 8am, I've read that the princesses don't start coming out until around 830am, which means that I bet we won't get out of there until 945 or so if we want to meet them all (which we do). So does that mean that we would be in bad shape to head right to FEA or Anna/Elsa meet and greet?

Should we aim for an Akershus ADR more around 1030am and do Soarin' & Test Track at rope drop, then eat & hope for a FEA FPP?

I'm really confused on this one - any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[hjbvet]

I suspect this will be a budget trip for us. We went all out last year, and I will be at F&W in October. We will most likely do California Grill one of the party nights to watch the fireworks, Tiffins and when Candlelight Processional narrators are announced, I might book a dining package. I still havent figured out even a rough plan of what parks we will go to.

I cant believe hours for December havent been released yet. Its getting pretty late in the month to still be waiting.

I also can't believe hours haven't come out yet!!

('Small' vent) I LOVE planning Disney trips. Promise. However... Disney wants us to plan 6-11 MONTHS in advance... without park hours?? How can we plan dining times/locations without knowing when a park opens/closes?
**vent over**

 

[tribus121]

Dec 18 /26 pop

 

[tribus121]

Not Sure if this is the right forum but is any one interested in a dec 25 meet and gift exchange

 

[FinnsMom7]

I also can't believe hours haven't come out yet!!

('Small' vent) I LOVE planning Disney trips. Promise. However... Disney wants us to plan 6-11 MONTHS in advance... without park hours?? How can we plan dining times/locations without knowing when a park opens/closes?
**vent over**

THIS - I also think fast passes should be booked before ADR - I don't know who thought people should know where they want to eat as one of the first sets of plans - not that it ever stops my love of planning but still

 

[CanadianKrista]

I would love the hours to be posted, and also I'm kinda stressing about the Star Wars Galactic nights - our whole family are huge Star Wars fans, I expect HS to be a big day for us. And we wanted to do the dessert party, but since it is December, I'm not even sure it will be running! I've heard the dessert party often doesn't get posted until 6 weeks before?

 

[sarahothomas]

I would love the hours to be posted, and also I'm kinda stressing about the Star Wars Galactic nights - our whole family are huge Star Wars fans, I expect HS to be a big day for us. And we wanted to do the dessert party, but since it is December, I'm not even sure it will be running! I've heard the dessert party often doesn't get posted until 6 weeks before?

6 weeks?! That's insane. How could anyone plan with just 6 weeks? My family and I are waiting to hear about a Last Jedi premiere party/event, since we will be there during the release. They had something for The Force Awakens but didn't announce anything until October. Ugh!

 

[CanadianKrista]

6 weeks?! That's insane. How could anyone plan with just 6 weeks? My family and I are waiting to hear about a Last Jedi premiere party/event, since we will be there during the release. They had something for The Force Awakens but didn't announce anything until October. Ugh!

We get there the day of the premiere, so I think we'll miss anything they do on that day, however I hope the premiere means they will be running Galactic nights that week!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We just got a call the other day from the club level concierge services and I must say that that really helped us get even more excited than we already were!! (Is that even possible??!) LOL!!!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I suspect this will be a budget trip for us. We went all out last year, and I will be at F&W in October. We will most likely do California Grill one of the party nights to watch the fireworks, Tiffins and when Candlelight Processional narrators are announced, I might book a dining package. I still havent figured out even a rough plan of what parks we will go to.

I cant believe hours for December havent been released yet. Its getting pretty late in the month to still be waiting.

I'm waiting on the processional narrators too!! We went twice last year and this year since we are going to be there the entire month of December and head to Mexico right after, seems that our trips always end up as budget trips but then go way overboard! LOL!!!! Hahaha!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

6 weeks?! That's insane. How could anyone plan with just 6 weeks? My family and I are waiting to hear about a Last Jedi premiere party/event, since we will be there during the release. They had something for The Force Awakens but didn't announce anything until October. Ugh!

We board one of their ships on premiere day and there are already the rumored activities along with the pins and such, so it should be working it's way unofficially around! LOL

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

21 days until we can make our ADR's!


Does anyone have experience booking for larger groups? There will be 14 of us. Wondering if I would have better luck splitting the group and trying for 2 reservations of 7 instead of 1 large party.

We had many large groups for our wedding and booking the reservations was such a pain, we ended up just calling the dining line instead of trying online, because it was no possible to find them online with one party and then breaking up into smaller groups made us get the reservations for some of the groups and not for the others. We pretty much just figured we would NOT be getting any of the big ticket numbers and picked restaurants we knew we would not have a problem with but I am proud to say that we had 32 people at Cinderella's Castle for Breakfast BEFORE park opening!! That was an awesome one to get, but that was also the first one I attempted online and I broke it up into 2 groups of 16 and when I called, I had them make sure that they noted we were together.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party List!!! Did you buy your party tickets already? Join us here and let us know what day you are going on in December!!!

JennLTx - 12/1
VRAjewski10513 12/5
TravelsToVegeas 12/5
MiniatureTim - 12/7
KjbLovesDisney - 12/7
DisneyMommyMichelle - 12/10
RickAt96 12/10
BrisbaneMum - 12/12
KariB - 12/12
Mobabee - 12/12
RickAt96 - 12/12
Neitzelt - 12/15
BrisbaneMum - 12/17
DisneyMommyMichelle - 12/21
ShaneW21 - 12/21
BrisbaneMum - 12/22


UPDATED 5/24/17

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

ALL ABOARD!!!

December Trip LIST ROLL CALL (Notify me of errors or changes Please)

​

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November Check-Ins:

DNllmz - 11/25 - 12/3 - BW - DH, DS 6, DD 4
DisneyJen34 - 11/25 - 12/9 - WL - Dsis & DNiece
DisneyDreamer1980 - 11/26 - 12/6 FW or ASMu still have not decided!
WithASmile&ASong - 11/28 to 12/8 - BWV & WLV - DH, DS9,DS8,DD3
SanderMC - 11/29 - 12/9 - POR (Princess) - DMom, DD5
HsMamaInVa - 11/29 - 12/9 POFQ
JennlTx - 11/29 - 12/3 - PVB - DS12
SoDAKDisneyMom- 11/30-12/7- BLT - DH, DD10, DS7, DS5, Friend
TravelsToVegas - 11/30 - 12/4 WL & 12/4 - 12/8 AOA Kids first time!!
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December 1st Check - Ins:

AtyKay - 12/1 - 12/4 - WL - DS3, DS8
Sarahcgfr - 12/1 to 12/5 - Wilderness Lodge - DBF
Shairpdrh - 12/1 - 12/8 - BWV & VGF - DH, DD1, grandparents, Friend
MamaCoop - 12/1 - 12/8 - ASMu - DH, DD16, DD14, DD6, DS3
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December 2nd Check - Ins
BrisbaneMum - 12/2-12/2 ASMu (DCL Cruise) 12/9 - 12/23 AsMu
Rasadkowski - 12/2 - 12/10 - Polynesian - DH, Dkids 7 & 5
JMW33 - 12/2 - 12/9 - Polynesian - DH, DS 9, DS 6, Inlaws
KjbLovesDisney - 12/2-12/10 - ASSports & POR
lmcarr49 - 12/2 - 12/9 - CBR - DH, DD, DS, DD
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December 3rd Check-Ins:

FinleyD - 12/3 - 12/9 - Polynesian - DD, DGS 4 - Celebrating DGS FIRST TRIP!
LisaEll - 12/2 -12/6 - CSR - Ladie's Trip!!
JKahne9 - 12/3 - 12/8
MiniatureTim - 12/3 - 12/13 - POP
BarryCF - 12/3 - 12/9 POP
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December 4th Check-Ins:

Vrajewski10513 - 12/4 - 12/9 - Polynesian
JessyP - 12/4 - 12/14 OKW
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December 5th Check-Ins:

DisneyMommyMichelle12/5-12/15(DCL12/15-12/18)12/18-12/20Contemporary Atrium Level- Fam of5
LucyBC80 - 12/5-12/8 AKL & 12/8-12/18 POR
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December 7th Check-Ins:

Nancy155 12/7-12/17 offsite
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December 8th Check-Ins:

BlueStarryHat - 12/8 - 12/14 - ASM
BG_Disney - 12/8 - 12/16 - Contemporary - DSister - It's a Surprise!!!
ElizabethBowman 12/8-12/16 - CSR - DD
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December 9th Check-Ins:

Hurt817 - 12/9-12/13th - BLT - DH & DS16 DS12 Christmas@The World!
ItsJustRyan - 12/9 - 12/16 - POP - DW, DSs 8,6,4,2 & 9 month old
HJBvet -12/9 -12/16 -BLT-DH, DD1(7),DS1 (6), DS2 (4), DD2 (2),Uncle, Gma, Gpa
ChinaRider - 12/9-12/16 - CSR - DCL - DM, DD22
MeanViking - 12/9-12/16 AOA
SparkyCo - 12/9 -12/16 - BWV -
Grandma4ever - 12/9-12/18 - ASM - DW,DS,DN,DNBFF*30 years celebration*
MoBaBee - 12/9 - 12/16 - CBR - DH, DS13, DS14, DD7, DD7
SarahSlay - 12/9 - 12/15 WL
AidansMommy - 12/9 - 12/16 - CBR
RastaHomie - 12/9 -12/16 ASMu
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December 10th Check-Ins:

Twix516 - 12/10 - 12/16 - Contemporary - DH, Twin 3 year olds
Rickat96 - 12/10 - 12/16 - CBR
LvsTink - 12/10-12/19 - AKV
RickAt96 - 12/10 - 12/16 - CSR
Amunet - 12/10 - 12/15 - CSR - DB & DRM
KariB - 12/10 - 12/17 - CSR - DH, DS7 & Big Family Reunion!
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December 11th Check-Ins:

CrystalDawn - 12/11 - 12/17 AKV/SSR - DD13,DD8, DS6 -Birthday Celebration!
MeAndNevaeh - 12/11 -12/15 - SSR - DD8, DS, DSs Fiance, Baby & DCL!
Memma05 - 12/11 - 12/22 - CBR
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December 13th Check-Ins:
BaxterSaysMeow 12/13 - 12/19
Neitzelt - Poly - 12/13 - 12/17
StephP - 12/13 - 12/18 DH, DD9, DD7
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December 14th Check-Ins:
Belle1986 - 12/14 - 12/17 - With DS
AngieRamp - 12/14 -12/22 - Contemporary
CanadianKrista - 12/14 - 12/21 - ASMu - DH, DS9, DD7
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December 15th Check-Ins:

DisneyObsessed87 - 12/15 - 12/17 - WL
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December 16th Check-Ins:

Hodad - 12/16 - 12/22 -CBR
BlueMoon9 - 12/16 - 12/22 - BLT/BWV - DD10, DD11,Mom
MickeyFanAchey1999 - 12/16 - 12/22 OKW - DW, DS6, DS15
KRD315 - 12/16 -12/23 - CBR - DH, DD, DGD 11, DGD 13, Mom
DisCookieMonsta - 12/16 - 12/28- ? - DH, DD 13, DD 10, DS (twins) 1
TarHeelGirl1975 - 12/16 -12/26 - WL
Attain - 12/16-12/22 - POP - DH, DS8, DD5
Kirk - 12/16 - 12/26 - FWC & WLV
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December 17th Check-Ins:

WAHKOMOM - 12/17 - 12/22 - AKV - DH, DD 19, DD 17
DJC9699 - 12/17-12/31 All Star Sports
GPC0321 - 12/17 - 12/20 VGF
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December 18th Check-Ins:

DisneyMom20 - 12/18 -12/27 - Fort Wilderness
RyansGirl96 - 12/18 - 12/23 BWV - Big Group of Family!
CanuckGirl78 - 12/18 - 12/22
Tribus - 12/18 -12/26 POP
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December 19th Check-Ins:

Shanew21 - 12/19 - 12/24 - WL
JTobyKrauss - 12/19 - 12/26 - CR
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December 21st Check-Ins:

Indyannamom - 12/21 - 1/1- AKV - DH, DD12, DS10, DD9 & Grandparents
InStitches - 12/21-12/28
JeremeyP - 12/21-12/26 - DW, DS11, DD 11 months, SSR
Barnhill9586 - 12/21 - 12/30 - Poly - DW, DD, DS
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December 22nd Check-Ins:

Karlecia26 - 12/22 -12/29 POR
PoohsMate - 12/22 - 1/6 - POP
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December 23rd Check-Ins:

GlamDRing269 - 12/23 - 12/28 VWL
JStouder - 12/23 - 12/31 - POR - DH & DS
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December 24th Check-Ins:

Constanze - 12/24 - 1/1 - Polynesian - DH, DD17, DS 20
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December 25th Check-Ins:

BlbRodger1 - 12/25 - 12/31
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December 26th Check-Ins:

Mbvisitor - 12/26 to 1/2 - CBR - DH, DS, DD
BusySpeechMom - 12/26 - 12/30 POP
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December 27th Check-Ins:

lea1267 - 12/27-1/3 - POP
Dizney73 - 12/27 - 1/1 - DH, DD12, DS8
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December 28th Check-Ins:

TeresaWen - 12/28 to 1/3 - Dolphin - DH *Over NYE @ EPCOT*
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December 30th Check-Ins:

Deirdres - 12/30 -1/6 - OKW - DH, DD14, DS21, DS24, DSGF 23
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- Updated 5/24/2017 - Join our Social Media Page: https://goo.gl/K8Fk65 - We are almost under 200 days!! -

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

So does that mean that we would be in bad shape to head right to FEA or Anna/Elsa meet and greet?

Should we aim for an Akershus ADR more around 1030am and do Soarin' & Test Track at rope drop, then eat & hope for a FEA FPP?

I'm really confused on this one - any advice would be much appreciated!

Yes, that is what it means and I would change it if that was a huge priority for you guys. The Frozen stuff has not had many long lines like in the beginning lately but if you are wanting to manage line time better, then yes I would change the reservation around. We NEVER get out of a character meal quickly because of the way they stagger the characters and you don't want to rush them when you have them either! LOL

I also can't believe hours haven't come out yet!!

('Small' vent) I LOVE planning Disney trips. Promise. However... Disney wants us to plan 6-11 MONTHS in advance... without park hours?? How can we plan dining times/locations without knowing when a park opens/closes?
**vent over**

All the November hours have been released, so starting tomorrow they will begin December one day at a time, BUT BEWARE as you get closer, these hours STILL tend to change. Our changed A LOT last year about 4-6 weeks out and it was frustrating but well what can you do! HAHA!