2018 Happy Merry Birthday Christmas

Which Resort would you choose?


  • Total voters
    14
Welcome! :welcome:

:rotfl2:You cracked me up with the drama of my resort choice. I’m a little torn about the choice but that just means another trip right.
Yes! Poly seems perfect for that vacation tropical feel. For me, Contemporary feels like home and we LP. The theme park view. Definitely another trip so you can experience that!
 
Tentative Plans:

Thursday November 29th- Arrival Day

Work and school for 1/2 day most likely. Southwest has a non stop that leaves around 3:30 and arrives in Orlando around 6:00. I'm hoping this gives enough time for an O'hana ADR for around 8:00-8:30. I'd love input on if this is doable or not. I feel like it is but I'm not sure.

ADRs
Dinner - O'hana 8:00 pm

No Park Day

Friday November 30th-

This should be a MVMCP day so that is in the plans. I have park tickets for this day right now but I might drop down to only 3 days of park tickets and just wait to head to MK at 4:00 and relax at the resort for this day. If its nice we might try to reserve one of the cabanas at the Poly Oasis pool. Originally I thought of an early BOG breakfast and in the park for a couple hours then resting until dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern. But now I'm not sure, I don't want to be tired and not enjoy the party. We aren't big on waiting in lines for character meets so won't wait in the crazy Jack Skellington or Seven Dwarfs lines so that isn't an issue.

MVMCP/MK Park Day
FP+ 7DMT, BTMR, Space Mtn. (this may change some depending on if we do park in the morning or just before MVMCP)

ADRs
Breakfast - 8:00 am either BOG or Kona Café
Lunch - No Lunch ADR
Dinner - 5:00 pm Liberty Tree Tavern


Saturday December 1st- DS's Birthday!!
AK Park Day
FP+ FOP, Safari, Expedition Everest

ADRs

Breakfast - Resort QS
Lunch - Satu'li Canteen or Flame Tree BBQ
Dinner - 6:00 pm Tusker House

Sunday December 2nd
Epcot Park Day
FP+ Test Track, Mission Space, Spaceship Earth (I prefer Sorin' but we missed Test Track on our last trip so its a must do)

ADRs
Breakfast - Resort QS
Lunch -Sunshine Seasons
Dinner - 5:00 pm Via Napoli (possibly Candlelight Processional package)

Monday December 3rd
HS Park Day/Home
FP+ Hopefully Slinky Dog work everything else around that. In lieu of Slinky Dog Tower or Terror, Rock 'n Roller Coaster or TSM

ADRs
Breakfast - Resort QS
Lunch - 12:00 pm Sci-Fi Dine In
Dinner - Airport BOOOOO

Southwest has a departing flight at 5:55 right now hopefully the schedule remains the same for early December. If that works we will need to be back at Poly by 1:30 - 2:00 for Not so Magical Express. We should be home by 8:00 pmish. And, back to work and school by Tuesday.

I've never taken my son out of school for a vacation, except his Kindergarten year he missed the last 3 days of school because of make up snow days and we already had a cruise. He's a good student so I'm not too worried about it.
 


Work and school for 1/2 day most likely. Southwest has a non stop that leaves around 3:30 and arrives in Orlando around 6:00. I'm hoping this gives enough time for an O'hana ADR for around 8:00-8:30. I'd love input on if this is doable or not. I feel like it is but I'm not sure.

Since you’re staying at Poly and you do online check in, it seems doable to me as long as there’s no delays on flight. How do you know the schedule for southwest? I’ve tried looking up past flights from previous year but no luck.
 
Since you’re staying at Poly and you do online check in, it seems doable to me as long as there’s no delays on flight. How do you know the schedule for southwest? I’ve tried looking up past flights from previous year but no luck.

I always fly Southwest so I'm just guessing based on what flight schedules were for December this year and the flights I normally take.
 
Hi all, I welcome you to read along. I'm going to try out doing a pre-trip report and using it as sort of a stream of conciseness sort of planning tool. Plus, as of starting the report we are 15 months out which is the farthest out I've ever planned a trip so yikes the wait might kill me! I tried doing a trip report for our last trip and kind of dropped the ball when life got in the way so hopefully I'll do better this time :rolleyes1.

Now on to the basic plan, as of right now. We'll be going for my son's birthday so the date isn't going to change everything else is fair game lol. Dates will be November 29 - December 2, 2018. DS's birthday is the 1st, which is a Saturday, so we'll get to celebrate! It will most likely be myself and DS, but my mom might join also. We'll for sure do MVMCP otherwise the plan is open. Our last trip was a few weeks before Pandora opened so AK is probably in the cards and most likely we'll want to check out the new Toy Story Land otherwise I'm not sure of anything.

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Immediately I'd like to figure out which resort we want to stay at. My favorite is POFQ, but DS wants to stay someplace we've never stayed. So my short list is; POP, Animal Kingdom Lodge (possibly renting points for DVC), Contemporary or Beach Club. Below are my thoughts on each and I think I'll add poll and you guys can help :worship:.

POP, obviously my least expensive option which is the most appealing.
Animal Kingdom Lodge, my son's choice. My concern here is transportation times. We like to take rests at the resort after lunches and I worry that travel back and forth will eat a lot of time at this resort. Thoughts?
Contemporary and Beach Club, both are desirable for the same reason, proximity to parks and we have wanted to stay at both. Although, as I'm thinking about it we might skip Epcot this trip so maybe BC is out.

Any other suggestions? My priority is new to us resort and ease of transportation. Resorts we've stayed at are; POFQ, POR, WL & ASM. All but POFQ we've only stayed at once and POFQ we've stayed at 5 times (I love it :love:).

Ok I think that's it for now. I'll probably go back in later and add some pictures and other planning thoughts. Look forward to your results of the poll and any suggestions.


Late to the party, but we had ZERO problems with transportation from AKL in october, there were more busses for there then when we went to CSR the second half of the trip. We also rented DVC points and it was amazing, so easy and so much cheaper! I bet he will love waking up and seeing animals outside the windows! Truly my most favorite resort!
 


AND....now that i caught up see you are at the Poly and that's an amazing resort too so forget above :crazy2: love your plan list too!
 
I was going through some pictures today and came across some of our last December trip, 7 years ago! It just makes me even more excited!!!!

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I thought I'd share a few of my favorites.


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In planning news I talked to my DS last night about if he'd rather do the Rivers of Light Dinning Package and see Rivers of Light or if he'd rather leave AK early and go to Hoop Dee Doo Review. We haven't done either. I was kind of hoping he'd pick Hoop Dee Doo but I'll let him pick because as of right now our AK day will be his actual Birthday. He picked Rivers of Light darn it!

On another planning note, has anyone ever done one of the in room celebrations? I'm thinking of doing that for DSs birthday.
 
On another planning note, has anyone ever done one of the in room celebrations? I'm thinking of doing that for DSs birthday.
I didn’t do the in room celebrations BUT I did do a special cake order that was delivered to restaurant at same resort we were staying at! It came out awesome! Yay for all the birthdays while y’all are at Wdw :love2:
 
If you haven't seen ROL its worth it, I really liked it, my DH not so much. Now the real question is Tusker house or is he "adult" enough for Tiffins?
 
If you haven't seen ROL its worth it, I really liked it, my DH not so much. Now the real question is Tusker house or is he "adult" enough for Tiffins?

I was leaning toward Tusker House we've never had dinner there. He is a very adventurous eater so maybe I should check out the menu for Tiffins. Thanks!
 
Nothing really new to report

I've been trying not to do much planning since my last update until closer to time to make ADRs. However I do think we've made a couple decisions (Always subject to change of course). As I've mentioned before our AK day is also DS's 12th Birthday so I'm kind of letting him make some of the decisions. He has decided he doesn't want to stay at AK for RoL instead he wants to go back to Poly for dinner, pool and to watch MK fireworks from the beach. So that will change that day a little bit. I was thinking we'd have a late arrival at AK, assuming I can get a FP+ for FOP. But now I think we'll get there right at park opening, not necessarily rope drop but close to it still assuming I get the FP+. Spend the morning there and lunch at Tusker House and then back to Poly sometime early afternoonish. I'd like to be at Trader Sam's right around 4:00 so DS and I can experience the fun. Anyone taken there kids there? I thought we might get some snacks there and then have some sushi at Kona Island for dinner and then out to watch the fireworks. Here is the new basic plan.

Saturday December 1st- DS's Birthday!!
AK Park Day

FP+ FOP, Safari, Expedition Everest

ADRs
Breakfast - Resort QS
Lunch -Tusker House 11:00 am
Dinner - Trader Sam's/Kona Island


I'm also thinking of doing a In-Room Celebration from Disney Florist for his birthday. Has anyone done one before, if so what was your experience?

In other non-Disney related news we're have quite a busy winter. DS had his first Robotics competition last weekend. His team did really well and made it finals but not quite good enough to go on to state competition. He also had the school science fair and came in 3rd for his grade which means he gets to move on to the regional science fair in a couple weeks. I'm also in the process of planning a quick long weekend trip to Kansas City for Spring Break and trying to decide what we want to do for a summer vacation. I try to keep one vacation per year not Disney related. I know sacrilege, I figure we need to be at least somewhat well rounded.

In closing, I'm ready for some Florida weather. My phone keeps taunting me with the temperature difference between home and Florida.

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Its been a hot minute since I stopped in to check in. We are getting so excited for our trip. However, in the meantime we have been traveling and getting ready to travel quite a bit. We just got back from a trip to Illinois for my nephews wedding. I was surprised at how cute Peoria, IL is they have a really nice museum on the riverfront. At this museum that had a fun exhibit by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) which has lots fun sports type activities to try out. And oddly enough a giant Abraham Lincoln standing with Perry Como, not quite sure of the connection there. I'm pretty sure they didn't know each other.

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They also had the Emancipation Proclamation desk.
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And, I even found a little bit of Disney magic.

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Then on the way home we took a little detour down Route 66 visited some more giants and stopped in to see President Lincoln at his home in Springfield.

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We love visiting National Parks as much as we do Walt Disney World. They are an awesome resource and we are trying to go to as many sights as we can. For anyone that doesn't know most sites have Jr. Ranger Badges kids can earn while at the parks. Max likes to get these whenever he can. He earned his 12th at Lincoln's Home.

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Now we're getting ready to visit friends for spring break and trying to decide where to go for summer vacation. I'm leaning toward Tybee Island, GA. We've been before but Max doesn't remember it he was only 1 1/2.
 
Its official!!! I purchased our MVMCP tickets this weekend!!

I can't wait. Each step makes it feel closer. Only 47 days until I can make our ADR's and 45 days until Southwest releases flights for the end of the year. Depending on the flight schedule we will most likely be changing our ADR schedule around a little bit. I originally had 'Ohana scheduled for our arrival day but now I think that might need to be pushed to another day and just have resort QS for our arrival. If I can get a flight that gets us to Orlando by 6:00ish without having to leave home before 12:00 I'll keep our original 'Ohana plan, if not we'll movie it to December 1st. It should still work out ok without changing any of our other plans.

Only 227 days and counting.
 
I love 'Ohana, but its always so hard to get a reservation during prime time, and typically I dont like to eat at 4pm or 9pm. I almost always have to make our reservation for the end of our trip so I have the best chance of getting a 5-8pm time slot. Good Luck! I am 56 days out, so a few behind you so looking forward to hearing how ADR morning goes!
 
Its getting real! 207 Days till Arrival, 147 Days to FP+, 27 days to ADRs, 25 days till Southwest releases flights.

I think I have our final ADR plans set and a pretty good idea of our days. I've given up my plan for "Ohana on our arrival day. I don't want to have to take off work that day or take DS out of school. As of right now Southwest has a scheduled non stop that should work and I'll only have to leave work early and DS can go to school. That is of course assuming they keep that same schedule when they release the flight schedule for the end of the year. Instead we'll do "Ohana on DS's Birthday instead. it works out well and won't need to change park plans.

So without further ado here are the final (mostly, maybe, not for sure) ADR plans I hope to make:


ADR's

11/30/18 Kona Grill 8:00 AM
11/30/18 Liberty Tree Tavern 5:00 PM
12/1/18 Tusker House 11:30 AM
12/1/18 Ohana 7:30 PM
12/2/18 Garden Grill/CP 7:30 AM
12/2/17 Via Nappoli/CP 5:00 PM
12/3/17 Sci-Fi Dine In* 11:00 AM


Quick Service
11/29/18 Trader Sam's Apps for late dinner/snack after arrival and checkin
11/30/18 Resort QS Lunch
12/1/18 Resort QS Breakfast
12/2/17 Sunshine Seasons lunch/resort QS
12/3/17 Resort QS Breakfast

I hope this all works out as planned. in the past I've always been able to get the reservations we've wanted so fingers crossed.

I'm pretty sure I have the start of some good touring plans for the parks set and our desired FP's thought out. I'll share more of that as we get closer. We are pretty casual park tourers, I like to take a break int he afternoons so we don't get to tired and grumpy. I'm not one to go rope drop to close comando style. I decided long ago that Walt Disney World vacations are much more enjoyable for us this way and I don't feel like if I don't get to ride something my vacation will be ruined. Maybe if this was a once in a lifetime vacation I'd feel that way but I know its not. We also like time for stopping to smell the roses and I don't use a rigid plan that can't be changed, we want to stop and see a character with a short line or we feel free to sit with our Dole Whip and people watch. If that means we miss a fast pass so be it.
 
Flights are booked!!!

Southwest released their flight schedule today through January 2019. Me being the type A need a plan for everything person that I am hurried up an booked. I'll keep an eye on prices and cancel and rebook if they go down. The price is on par and better times than the other airlines so I'm happy if they don't go down.

Now I'm second guessing my ADR times. I have until Saturday to figure it out. :scared:
 
Okay, admittedly I'm a terrible DISer. I stopped with the updates for a while because it made it seem like so long before the trip and there wasn't much to report after my ADR's were made. However, things have been moving right along. Here are the way things stand as of now, as you all know until we’re on the plane everything is subject to tweaks.

ADR’s didn’t shake out exactly like I wanted but pretty close.

ADR’s

11/30/2018 Kona Grill 8:10 AM

11/30/2018 Liberty Tree Tavern 5:20 PM

12/1/2018 Tusker House 11:00 AM

12/1/2018 ‘Ohana 3:45 PM (I’m still hoping to find a later reservation for this)

12/2/2018 Garden Grill 8:50 AM (I’m still hoping to find an 8:00 am for this)

12/2/2017 Via Napoli/CP 4:55 PM

12/3/2017 Sci-Fi Dine In 11:00 AM

FP+ (I can make these Sunday 9/30!! Hopefully I get these)

11/30/2018 – MVMCP

Seven Drawfs Mine Train 4:00 PM
Haunted Mansion 4:15 PM
BTMR 6:00 PM

12/1/2018 - Animal Kingdom - EMH

Rope Drop Na'vi River Journey
Kilamanjaro Safari 11:30 AM
Expedition Everest 12:00 PM
Flight of Passage 12:30 PM

12/2/2018 - EPCOT

Test Track 10:00 AM
Mission Space 10:30 AM
Spaceship Earth 11:00 AM

12/3/2018 – Hollywood Studios/Departure Day

Extra Morning Magic Toy Story Land
Rock 'n Roller Coaster 9:30 AM
Tower of Terror 9:45 AM
Star Tours 10:30 AM


Daily Plans:

11/29/2018 – Arrival Day

Flight arrives at 8:00 pm, Magical Express to Poly. We’ll get settled in our room and head to Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace for a late-night snack/drink and hopefully catch the fireworks from MVMCP.

11/30/2018 – MVMCP

Breakfast at Kona Grill, I thought of making the ADR for closer to 9:00 but we are typically early risers and I think we’ll be ready for breakfast before 9:00 I might still change it to 8:30 if I can get one. MVMCP tickets are purchased for the 30th. The rest of the day will be hanging out at the resort and Monorail Resort Loop to check out their Christmas Decorations. We’ll most likely have lunch at the Contemporary QS and then rest up and get ready to be a MK by 4:00.

12/1/2018 - Animal Kingdom

HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY TO MY SON!!!! No breakfast reservations. I want to try to get to AK for rope drop but I’m not going to stress if that doesn’t happen. We have an early lunch at Tusker House and then plan to be back to Poly early for our 3:45 at ‘Ohana. Originally we planned to have a later ‘Ohana dinner and go to Trader Sam’s right at 4:00 now we’ll probably try to flip that assuming we can get in Trader Sam’s after dinner and before 8:00.

12/2/2018 - EPCOT

We have a breakfast ADR at Garden Grill. This is our favorite way to start a day at EPCOT. We’ll tour Future World in the morning and head back to the resort at lunch and have a couple hour rest. I’ve learned the hard way we cannot do EPCOT without a break. We have a 5:00 pm dinner at Via Napoli and the 8:15 Candlelight Processional show. I’m very excited to see the Candlelight Processional I just wish they would hurry up and post the narrator for that day.

12/3/2018 – Hollywood Studios/Departure Day ☹

I decided to get the Extra Morning Magic for Toy Story Land, this is a short day for us, so I wanted to be able make the most of it. We have lunch at Sci Fi Dine in and then will take a Minnie Van back to Poly to catch Tragical Express around 4:00ish. We might try to use our last QS credit for dinner before we leave the resort or get sandwiches to take with us if we aren’t hungry. Our plane leaves MCO at 7:30 and we’re back home around 10:00 hopefully we both make it through the next day back at work and school.

Other Plans Still in Progress

Birthday Surprise – I’m debating on an in-room celebration for my son from Disney Floral Dept. I don’t think I want to do the gigantic one and we don’t need the cake, but I’d like to do something fun to acknowledge it. If anyone has idea’s I’d love to hear them.

MVMCP Shirts – I was going to order us shirts off Etsy but the more I looked at them the more I thought I could do that. So, I bought myself a Cricut for my Birthday in August. I need to go ahead and get them made pretty quickly incase I still need to order something.

Other Completed Plans

Outfits – I’ve decided other than the MVMCP shirts I’m not going to go with Disney shirts this trip. I am going to try to DisneyBound Mary Poppins for our EPCOT day.

Ears – I ordered some ears from an Instagram shop (message me and I’ll be happy to share the name of the shop they were amazing!). The Mary Poppins ears are musical and the Toy Story bow and the Animal Kingdom bow are interchangeable. Plus, I have a pair of Disney Parks Christmas Ears that I got in a subscription box.

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Pictures are borrowed from the shop Instagram.
 

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