I went to the 11/12 party. I went in with a little bit of a plan but was able to do more than expected. The lines weren’t bad at all! I know my plan isn’t the best, but it shows you can do some stuff at the party. We didn’t rush through anything and took the night pretty slowly, and still got what I think was my money’s worth! The treat lines had minimal waits. Even if there were a lot of people, the lines moved very quickly.
We were already in the park and ate around 3:30 with no lines at Casey’s or Columbia Harbor House (there were also no lines when we were done eating).
4:45 Got wristbands from Philharmagic with no line
5:00 got sorcerers of magic kingdom card with no wait
5:10 made it to the back tunnel. This was pretty crowded. There were 5-10 groups in front of us for most photo spots but the ornament had at least 15 groups and we chose to skip it. (The had PhotoPass with a wreath, nutcracker, a tree, and the MVMCP red ornament. PhotoPass was great about being efficient so the lines went quickly). They were selling some merch at a cart, which had no line. This is also where we got our Santa Mickey cookie. There were a lot of people in the tunnel. We stopped for 2 photos and were out at 5:22.
5:45 rode Many Adventures Winnie the Pooh with our fp (at this point, 7D meet was 2 hours long according to cm)
6:05 got in line for Tigger and friends with 1 group in front of us. They started meeting at 6:30, which is exactly when they came out. (We were done meeting them at 6:34)
I got a cookie from storybook circus at this time. A lot of people but I didn’t have to wait at all.
6:40 in line to meet Scrooge and Donald (started meeting at 7). I counted somewhere between 15-20 groups in front of us. Met them at 7:22
7:30 were in front of the castle for mickeys most merriest. Not too bad if looking at castle on the right side once you got past the parade crowds (which were already about 5 rows deep in front of the castle at this point).
Watched most merriest at 7:40 and castle lighting at 8:15 from same spot (done around 8:25)
Took pictures on the side of the castle with a cookie magic shot
8:45 Club tinsel with reindeer
8:50 treats from Cosmic Ray’s (a crowd, but no wait)
8:55 got in line for space mountain (posted 15 minute wait, but aside from walking the que only about a 5 minute wait) - off at 9:04
9:18 got snow cone and cookie from auntie gravity’s (a couple minute wait - lots of people but moved quickly)
9:30 - in line for space ranger spin- posted 10 or 15, on at 9:38
9:50 got treats from storybook treats (walked right up) and got spots for fireworks behind castle (definitely a good amount of people there, but there was room. It filled in once fireworks started. Most people sat so everyone could see)
10:20 got to Gaston’s for the egg nog treat but it was closed (I later found out it’s not sold at Gaston’s)
10:26 treats from village hause (lots of people but the cms were great about moving the line through!) - one of my favorite stops!
10:33 got spots for parade in Frontierland on the other side of the street of Diamond Horseshoe. Loved our spots!! We got the entertainment of the band before the parade and the country bears were walking around. We probably could have waited another 10 or 15 minutes to get seats so I went to Tortuga tavern for treats and met some of the country bears. The line was almost non existent for the pretzels. Also got my picture with the green ornament by haunted mansion and Columbia harbor house.
11:07 parade got to us and the last float and rope passed us at 11:25
Took my picture in Adventureland with the a frame with presents/gifts on it. Also got a Christmas Tink magic shot in my hand.
11:41 village hause treat stop (they were out of Fanta at this point) and my grandma went to storybook stop again (no line).
Made our way out right before the last castle show started. Some of the lines for photos on Main Street were long, though one or two photographers only had a couple people in line. However, when we exited we didn’t see the snow falling. Must have caught it when it wasn’t going off?
We got a bus back to our resort almost immediately.
I went in only expecting to get treats, meet Pooh and friends, and watch the shows. I was pleasantly surprised at the short wait times for attractions and the times people lined up for Tigger and friends and Scrooge and Donald! Even 7D and PPF had relatively short waits (I think I saw 7D at 30).